news

KMD’S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FACILITY DESIGN PHILOSOPHY REMAINS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.  
April 2024
Today’s goals trend toward longer term residential facilities that support rehabilitation within smaller groups. Such home-like settings for patients are becoming more common and required for licensing within many states.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR APPROACH & LATEST PROJECTS


KMD HAS REIMAGINED A NEW PSYCHIATRIC ENVIRONMENT TO BETTER SUPPORT THE CARE PROVIDED BY UCSF-LPPH CLINICIANS.  
November 2023
The acclaimed Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital has relocated and consolidated its 30-bed Inpatient Care Unit, Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs within the top floor of the older, mid-city UCSF Mt. Zion Medical Center.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


KMD IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE ROBERTO VELASCO AS OUR NEWLY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
October 2023
Roberto currently serves as Latin America Director and manages KMD’s Mexico City office, and he will continue to provide his valued leadership in these capacities. He will succeed Rob Matthew as the Chairman of the Board of KMD Architects. Rob recently retired from KMD. We are also pleased to announce that Mr. Matthew will continue to be an active part of the firm’s Board of Directors.

READ MORE ABOUT ROBERTO


BUILD ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
June 2023
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO We are proud to be recognized for our work in Mexico with a Best International Award for Mixed-Use Architecture & Design Firm 2023 by BUILD magazine. Our recent mixed-use projects include Ceiba Culiacan and Paseo Central Chihuahua. Read our feature here (page 48).


LOBSTERMAN, BUS DRIVER, HOUSEPAINTER, CARPENTER, BOATBUILDER, COAST GUARDSMAN…ARCHITECT.
February 2, 2023
SAN FRANCISCO, CA For the past 20 years, John LeBlanc has played an integral role in some of kmd’s most complicated projects.

READ MORE ABOUT JOHN


KAISER PERMANENTE’S NEW BERKELEY MEDICAL OFFICES HAVE ACHIEVED LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION FOR ID+C: CI, COMMERCIAL INTERIORS BY KMD ARCHITECTS.
November, 2022
BERKELEY, CA Previously, the core & shell (designed by Multistudio) was certified LEED Gold. KMD’s Tenant Improvements include many green features such as non-toxic construction materials and LED lighting throughout for not only environmental health but also occupant comfort. With the goal to extend primary care services into North Berkeley, Kaiser Permanente identified the 62,175 SF building shell, originally intended for research laboratory tenants. KMD was retained to collaborate with the owner and developer team including the core and shell architect, to repurpose the three-story building to incorporate the healthcare provider’s next generation planning and design concepts for medical offices.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


THE NEW CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO BE EFFICIENT AND COMMUNITY-FRIENDLY.
September 1, 2022
MARTINEZ, CA Our design for a new county government center blends civic character with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The project included the master planning and strategic phasing of several blocks in downtown Martinez to include parking and civic plazas carefully designed to bring cohesion and better flow to the government district.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


April 14, 2022
SEATTLE, WA Earlier this year, the new KODA—a 17-story, 201-unit condominium highrise in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (C-ID)—won the People’s Choice award from NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Residents at the new kmd designed high rise help to build community by holding fundraising dinners in the building’s spacious lobby for local institutions needing support. Read about this unique community in the NW Asian Weekly and click here to see more images of the project.


“EACH PERSON’S LIFE IS A KALEIDOSCOPE OF EXPERIENCES THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENRICH ANY ENDEAVOR.”
February 24, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, CA Charles Parks has been with kmd since 2001 and is a Senior Medical Planner and Programmer with a strong, healthcare focused architecture, design and technical background.

READ MORE ABOUT CHARLES


THIS NEW FACILITY WILL HELP SNOHOMISH COUNTY ADDRESS CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
February 16, 2022
EVERETT, WA Previously, individuals eligible for treatment were forced to travel across the state, making it difficult for family engagement and education. The only local options for treatment were emergency rooms or jail.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


MARIA IS A REVIT WIZ WITH A PASSION FOR ZEN GARDENING & WOODWORKING.
January 31, 2022
SAN FRANCISCO, CA With a life journey that took her from Vietnam to China to the San Francisco Bay Area, Maria’s skills and personality are an asset to her kmd team.

READ MORE ABOUT MARIA


KMD’s KEY OBJECTIVE WAS TO ‘KAISERIZE’ A NEW COLD SHELL BUILDING BY INCORPORATING NEXT GENERATION CONCEPTS, ENHANCING MEMBER EXPERIENCE, & IMPROVING EFFICENCY.
November 16, 2021
BERKELEY, CA Late Spring of 2021 saw the opening of Kaiser Permanente’s first Medical Office Building in Berkeley. The new facility, which has a warm, welcoming design, increases options for the many members who live between Oakland and Richmond and will decrease member demand pressures in Oakland.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


KMD’s TEAM DELIVERED A NEW ICU THAT COMBINES THE LATEST IN HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY, COMPASSIONATE DESIGN, AND INCLUSIVE FUNCTIONALITY.
July 15, 2021
KIRKLAND, WA In February 2020, EvergreenHealth Medical Center became the first U.S. hospital to receive Covid-19 patients. At the time, kmd was finalizing Construction Documents for a new 20-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to be built in shelled space occupying the third floor of the hospital’s Silver Tower.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


News_story_HSHFF.jpg

KMD PLANNERS & HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STAKEHOLDERS DESIGNED THE FACILITY WITH CLEAR LINES OF SIGHT TO MAINTAIN OPTIMUM SAFETY PROTOCOLS.
June 2021
KANEOHE, HI This Spring, a long-awaited secure facility for court-appointed behavioral health patients completed construction and the staff onboarding process began.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


News_story_CCCA-LEED-Gold.jpg

COMPLETED IN FALL 2020, THIS NEW KMD DESIGNED CIVIC FACILITY HAS RECEIVED OFFICAL LEED GOLD CERTIFICATION.
February 25, 2021
MARTINEZ, CA The New County Administration Building replaced the McBrien Building and is designed to be more efficient and community-friendly. It stands at four stories tall and houses a variety of county departments, along with the Board of Supervisors meeting chamber. Our design blends civic character with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


News_story_allenmore-ED.jpg

NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION AND RENOVATIONS ARE COMPLETE FOR PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 FOR MULTICARE’S ALLENMORE HOSPITAL.
October 6, 2020
TACOMA, WA Phase 2 expansions and renovations to the MultiCare Allenmore Emergency Department have been completed and will improve access to care for the Tacoma, Washington community. Some services will be shared between the ED department and the new crisis stabilization unit recently built as part of the new adjacent 120 bed behavioral health hospital (also designed by kmd).

READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


News_story_Lummi-cover-2.jpg

NEW FACILITY WILL INCLUDE MEDICAL AND DENTAL CLINICS, PHARMACY, CHILDCARE CENTER, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, DEMONSTRATION KITCHEN, COMMUNITY ROOMS AND AREAS TO PRACTICE TRIBAL ARTS.
September 16, 2020
BELLINGHAM, WA Earlier this year we were completing Construction Documents for the new Lummi Nation Wellness Center in Bellingham, Washington when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. The tribe took proactive measures and asked kmd to redesign portions of the new facility.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


Web_Graphic_Deneke_Ephrata_2.jpg

EPHRATA IS PASSIONATE ABOUT COMMUNITY-ENGAGED DESIGN.
June 16, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO, CA Ephrata Deneke grew up with a cultural ethos of interdependence in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is interested in community-engaged design and believes spaces that reflect their environments can be both cultural generators and tools for engagement. Ephrata joined kmd after attaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from California College of the Arts in San Francisco. She donates her time graciously and has volunteered with various community efforts.

READ MORE ABOUT EPHRATA


News_story_CHA-Ilsan_opening.jpg

WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE PLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN DELIVERING THE LARGEST GENERAL HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN IN KOREA
June 12, 2020
ILSAN, SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA The opening ceremony was held virtually today for the CHA Ilsan Women's & Children's Hospital. An international effort, the project was designed by kmd from the USA, Alessandro Mendini from Italy, and HAEAHN Architecture from Korea.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

VIDEO TOUR


BUILDINGS CONSUME 40% OF OUR ENERGY & 70% OF OUR ELECTRICITY AND EMIT OVER 1/3 OF US GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS—MORE THAN ANY OTHER SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY.
December 6, 2019
In this time of rising climate consciousness check out ecomedes’ video showing how we utilize their portal to easily specify environmentally preferable products in our design work.


News_story_allenmore-ed.jpg

OPENING OF PHASE I OF MULTICARE ALLENMORE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT EXPANSION
November 20, 2019
TACOMA, WA We celebrated the opening of Phase I of the MultiCare Allenmore Hospital Emergency Department Expansion and improved access to care it will provide for the Tacoma area. The project includes both an internal renovation (700 SF) and expansion (14,738 SF) of MultiCare Allenmore Hospital’s existing Emergency Department. Some services will be shared between the ED department and the recently completed crisis stabilization unit at the new 120 bed Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital (also designed by KMD).

Photos: DCI Engineers/Aaron Yang.

READ MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT


News_story_DESC.jpg

KMD SUPPORTS FIRST NATIONS & SEATTLE’S DESC
October 25, 2019

SEATTLE, WA Chief Seattle Club members, including KMD staff, attended this morning's DESC (Downtown Emergency Service Center) Breakfast of Champions. The event celebrates the team that makes DESC's work possible. The DESC provides integrated services including housing, emergency shelter, crisis intervention and healthcare to thousands of homeless and formerly homeless people in Seattle every day. The Chief Seattle Club is dedicated to physically and spiritually supporting American Indian and Alaska Native people.


News_story_Wellfound-Open-House.jpg

NEW BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HOSPITAL
January 19, 2019
TACOMA, WA The need for behavioral health services continues to increase. One in five adults will experience symptoms associated with a diagnosable behavioral health disorder this year. Wellfound Behavioral Health Hospital will greatly improve access to adults needing inpatient mental health care and improve bed availability, nearly doubling the average bed capacity per 100,000 residents in this region of Washington State.

READ MORE


LAPL_CC.jpg

CAREER CONVERSATIONS WITH KMD'S OMAR BÁRCENA
March 14, 2018
KMD's Omar Bárcena (second from left) took part in Los Angeles Public Library's Teen 'Scape Career Conversations: Architecture. Also participating were Lizbeth Bárcena and Paul Locke from Gehry Partners. Check out the Podcast to hear their words of wisdom.

LISTEN


DESIGN EXCELLENCE HONORABLE MENTION
Art is often an important component of building design. KMD is proud to have received a Design Excellence Honorable Mention for the incorporation of Artwork throughout the new Kaiser Permanente Mission Bay Medical Offices. Murals by Anthony Holdsworth emphasize a particular San Francisco neighborhood theme on each level of the building. Follow the link below and see if you can recognize each San Francisco neighborhood depicted.

SEE MORE