KSS Architects co-founder Allan Kehrt, FAIA, LEED AP, PP will step down from his role as senior design partner to an emeritus position at the beginning of 2012 - a move that has been ongoing for more than 10 years as part of the firm's ownership transition plan.
Since establishing KSS Architects in 1983 with colleagues Michael Shatken and Rafael Sharon, Kehrt has helped the firm grow from a staff of three focused on residential design, into a 40-person company with offices in Princeton and Philadelphia. With the leadership of its six partners - Kehrt, Shatken, Edmund Klimek, Pamela Lucas Rew, David Zaiser, and Merilee Meacock - KSS has risen above recent economic challenges and developed an award-winning portfolio of projects across the nation in the markets of higher education, K-12 education, industrial, commercial, corporate interiors, municipal design and sustainable design.
"The past year was one of the strongest we have had in the market," Shatken said. "Allan shaped our core values about design excellence as well as client relationships, which all of the partners have instilled throughout the firm. As a result, our breadth of work and our national presence continue to grow."
"I will admit it's hard to back away from KSS after 28 years," added Kehrt. "But it's is something we have been planning for many years. I have absolute confidence that Michael and our next generation will continue to add to the exceptional achievements of KSS for many, many years. It's been a great ride!"
Kehrt's legacy of projects include Rutgers University's Biomedical Engineering Building, the renovation and expansion of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, the recent new campus center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Princeton Township's Municipal Complex.
In 2001, Kehrt was elevated to the American Institute of Architects' College of Fellows, an honor bestowed to only 3 percent of all registered architects in the U.S. In 2008, Kehrt was nominated to the AIA's Jury of Fellows, a three-year post, and served as a chairman in 2010. Kehrt was also named Architect of the Year by AIA New Jersey in 2006.
Active in the design education community, Allan has served as faculty, guest lecturer, or juror at many colleges of architecture in the east, including the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia University, Moore College of Art & Design, New Jersey Institute of Technology and his alma mater Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he will continue on its Advisory Board. He has presented and lectured for many professional organizations including the American Institute of Architects and the Society of College and University Planning. BD+C
Related Stories
| Dec 4, 2012
Sto Corp. announces new distributor in the Carolinas
Company will now have coverage in several parts of North Carolina.
| Dec 4, 2012
Wirtz Beverage Illinois’ corporate headquarters completed
WBI Center, a new state-of-the-art facility, is designed by Ware Malcomb.
| Dec 4, 2012
Wagner joins Ghafari as Manager of Structural Engineering
Wagner comes to Ghafari from Walter P Moore, where he served as a principal, chaired the construction administration task force and led the design of numerous projects ranging in size from $10 million to $70 million.
| Dec 4, 2012
City of Gainesville to break ground on $33 million bus fleet maintenance and ops facility
The 140,000-sf facility will include dispatch, administrative and maintenance facilities.
| Nov 28, 2012
Project team to showcase design for first mixed-use retail center of its kind in Mexico City
Project reaching construction milestone, offering national model for urban development in Mexico.
| Nov 28, 2012
Cummins announces ratings classification for data center power systems
The Data Center Continuous ratings span the range of Cummins Power Generation’s high horsepower diesel generator sets, from 1 MW up to 2.5 MW, and will apply to both 50 Hz and 60 Hz configurations.
| Nov 28, 2012
Francis Cauffman appoints Stainbrook Director of Higher Education
Stainbrook has 16 years of experience as a strategic planner and urban designer working on complex projects on- and off-campus.
| Nov 27, 2012
SFIA releases technical guide for cold-formed steel framing products
The 114-page book covers both structural and non-structural applications, including section properties of SFIA member product profiles, and complete load and span tables for most applications.
| Nov 21, 2012
Architecture Billings Index positive for third straight month
All regions reporting positive business conditions
| Nov 20, 2012
PC Construction completes Juniper Hall at Champlain College
Juniper Hall is on track for LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.