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Wholistic Approach to the Design Process

ambler, pa

KMA employs a long-standing reputation for producing top quality projects that come in on time and within budget.

PORTFOLIO

Projects range from $1,000,000 to $100 million and the same level of detail, dedication and care is applied to projects regardless of their size.

market rate housing

The Crossings At Ambler Station

problem solved

This project saw the creation of much needed market-rate apartments in downtown Ambler. It includes home-like amenities, as well as interior live/workspace, community center, communal cooking areas, and more. It’s part of the larger development of the area in Ambler, surrounding the old boiler plant.  

it's special because

The exterior design intentionally features a form that is similar to the existing boiler plant structure. It also includes the extensive use of brick to create a cohesive aesthetic to the entire development area. The design includes enticing outdoor amenities including a 23,000 square foot landscaped Village Green and an enlivened multipurpose outdoor space. 

outstanding details

Cat and dog friendly, The Crossings At Ambler Station includes a dog park and pet grooming stations. It’s also conveniently located in Ambler downtown making it walkable to the many shops and restaurants that Ambler offers.

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EDUCATIONAL

Green Tree School & Services

problem solved

The newly constructed building allows all students to be consolidated from multiple buildings and campuses into a single location.

it's special because

The project was planned with Autism in mind. The design includes sensory rooms, safety precautions and easy wayfinding.

outstanding details

Curtain walls used to protect openings between floors became an opportunity for decorative glass featuring the Green Tree logo.

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RECREATIONAL YMCA

Haverford YMCA

problem solved

This state-of-the-art facility is now an integral part of a community that was previously underserved. Incredible local interest resulted in rapid membership growth, quickly rivaling the best-performing facilities in the region.

it's special because

All major spaces are visible from the lobby and walking track, making it easy for potential members to experience the facility.

outstanding details

The land was previously classified by the EPA as a brownfield site due to soil contamination. Indoor air quality through the facility is protected from radon and other harmful gasses using a vented dome system beneath the floating concrete slab.

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senior living

Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury

problem solved

Updated the outdated exterior facade and amenity spaces.

it's special because

Within six months of the renovations, occupancy improved from under 50% occupied to fully occupied. Resident rooms were modernized and under-utilized areas were converted to program spaces. This provided: new rehab rooms; nursing and administrative suites; a clubroom; great hall atrium; indoor garden; spa; arts & crafts; memory care; dining; living; activity and sunroom.

outstanding details

A two-story fireplace/accent wall now defines the living lounge and dining venue while still allowing an open layout.

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affordable housing

810 Arch Street

problem solved

This facility furthers Project HOME's mission to end homelessness by providing transitional housing in a location with proximity to numerous workplaces and necessary amenities. A significant number of residential units were provided, despite the extremely tight and oddly shaped Center City Philadelphia location.

it's special because

KMA worked with well-known artist Meg Saligman to include exterior features linking the building to its Chinatown surroundings. Those features include decorative grills, lanterns, and glazing patterns. One of Saligman’s installations was viewed by Pope Francis during his visit to Philadelphia before being moved to this site.

outstanding details

This highly sustainable design achieved LEED Gold through energy efficiency, water management, and controlled indoor environments, ensuring that this building is a good steward to the surrounding community as well as its residents.


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senior living

Granite Farms Estates

problem solved

The main entrance, lobby, pool and café were updated. Renovations improved circulation and convenience throughout many parts of the sprawling facility.

it's special because

The facility has been completely redefined by the large-scale renovations. The lobby and café have been re-energized with an upgraded look, more convenient connections, and a new outdoor space.

outstanding details

The porte cochère welcomes residents and visitors while tying in architectural features from other parts of the facility, creating a uniform façade. That welcoming feeling continues with a 360-degree fireplace in the lobby, as well as large sunlit windows and an exposed wood structure in the pool area.

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RECREATIONAL YMCA

Willow Grove YMCA

problem solved

Two undersized and outdated YMCAs were replaced with a single modern facility, allowing for more membership growth.

it's special because

It’s a total reimagining of the typical look of YMCAs in the region, creating a YMCA with a modern look and a new and updated feel.

outstanding details

The space frame roof over the lobby provides a light and modern look.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Gerald T. Langan Apartments

problem solved

Provided much-needed affordable housing wrapped around a community performance space.

it's special because

The abandoned historic school building was completely transformed into affordable and accommodating housing.

outstanding details

The coffered auditorium ceiling was completely restored. 

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senior living

Acts Heron Point Clubhouse

problem solved

Renovations updated the aging amenity spaces, including banquet hall style dining venue.

it's special because

The newly renovated central facility and restaurant-style dining venues now provide indoor and outdoor panoramic views of the Chester River and a sports bar.

outstanding details

The main dining area now features a chef action station and is preceded by an atrium with custom-designed guardrails inspired by seagrass and reeds from the surround landscape.

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senior living

ACTS Southampton Central Facility

problem solved

Renovations updated the central facility and dining venues.

it's special because

Four dining venues now include a courtyard bistro, library with coffee bar, lounge, in addition to the main dining. 

outstanding details

The new courtyard bistro is filled with natural light from a 40' long skylight.

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educational

Discovery Charter School

problem solved

The renovation converted an existing 50,000 SF warehouse into a two-story school, utilizing the receiving area as the main lobby and exposing the roof structure. Two stories of classrooms positioned around the perimeter of the building received new windows.

it's special because

An exterior tile mural by a local artist was incorporated at main entrance, and significant impervious surface was eliminated from the site.

outstanding details

The existing structural system was reused and modified to keep cost down while providing adequate space for the gymnasium in the center of the building. 

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commercial

Gift of Life House

problem solved

The Gift of Life Donor Program wanted to create a place where families could stay while they awaited a transplant or while their loved one recovered from one.  

it's special because

It is one-of-a-kind and was designed to make it easy for families who are focused on more important things. It's conveniently located close to many of the Philadelphia Hospitals and Gift of Life's main offices.  

outstanding details

The Family House is essentially a boutique hotel designed for support and comfort. It includes comfortable rooms to sleep in, a cozy living room set around a fireplace, and a kitchen that is set up for multiple families to use at one time and/or to support donated meals for the families staying there.

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affordable housing

North Penn Commons

problem solved

Four different uses (YMCA, senior affordable housing, food pantry, and senior center) share the site and common elements to provide services to the community.

it's special because

The shared lobby space brings together the community and provides for direct access to incredible services to the resident seniors. 

outstanding details

This project achieved LEED GOLD Certification. The lobby features wood ceilings and colorful suspended ribbons for sound diffusion.

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affordable housing

Veterans Village at Perry Point

problem solved

HELP USA renovated this site on the Chesapeake Bay to provide supportive housing for veterans in close proximity to the services they need. 

it's special because

First built in 1918 for the workers of a munitions plant nearby, these structures were part of a historic district. Many of the structures were rehabilitated, preserving the framing of the original structures. Some had deteriorated beyond saving, and new homes took their place, matching the existing structures’ appearance.  

outstanding details

A nearby solar panel array qualifies the development as a net-zero emissions project. It is a rare case where historic preservation and sustainability are both distinct focal points, simultaneously honoring the past and looking toward the future.

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Commercial

Centre Square Fire Company

problem solved

This facility provides a new home for a growing volunteer fire company, allowing future growth for full time firefighters.

it's special because

This 17,000 square foot, six-bay fire house includes a hose tower, meeting hall, offices, bunk rooms, exercise room, living quarters, and a training center. The hall is also fitted out to host catered events for 150 people.

outstanding details

A 45 foot tall fire tower can be used to dry hoses, while the lobby that displays Centre Square's 1900 Reo Fire Apparatus. An impactful memorial wall honors a fallen Centre Square Fire Fighter who did not return from military service in Iraq creating a focal point that draws the eye and invites reflection on the fire fighters’ risks and service.

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commercial

CubeSmart King of Prussia

problem solved

CubeSmart has been part of the King of Prussia Town Center development, and has taken place over the past several years. The planning included a new fire house and the provision of a self-storage complex for all the new residents. A decision was made to combine those disparate uses into one building. The building had very little land area with which to work; so a high-rise concept was developed, maximizing the amount of storage units and fitting the scale of the buildings adjacent to the site.

it's special because

It features a unique mix of occupancy types that also have a distinct appearance, and while these types of occupancy are different they are designed to blend seamlessly into one structure. Both uses serve the community in different and important ways.

outstanding details

A design that fits a uniquely sized and positioned site that accommodates pedestrian access from the town center as well as covered vehicular traffic and loading.

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Commercial

Holman BMW

problem solved

The site was set lower than the main road (Route 73). Displayed cars could not be seen by people driving by Holman. The company had a need to display the cars so that they could be viewed. KMA developed a sloping ramp that brought the showroom to the second floor and presented a better angle for presentation of the cars allowing them to be seen from the road.

it's special because

The ramp was an elliptical curve that served the purpose of raising the cars to a more visible level while also serving as the main architectural expression on the front of the building. The curve and angle were chosen to express movement and speed.  

outstanding details

The elliptical ramp required careful design and execution of the glass panels to precisely follow the dynamics of the ramp.

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commercial

Holman Enterprises Headquarters

problem solved

Holman is one of the largest car dealers and leasing companies in the country. However, they operated the company from an old office complex which no longer served their needs. KMA was asked to design a new state of the art building for the firm’s core executives and support teams.

it's special because

The building features many new and modern amenities and features; however it was important to the company that the building not depart too far from some older buildings on the campus. They wanted it to maintain and reflect the modest and hard-working attitudes of the Holman Legacy. More opulent and modern amenities were replaced with classic and solid spaces designed to reflect a hard-working, people driven approach.

outstanding details

The workplace is a mix of offices and meeting rooms and training rooms. Since Holman includes many different subsidiaries, they wanted to ensure that they could host events and training. They also wanted to foster communication throughout the organization. The lobby is a large glass atrium that features an original Ford Model T commemorating the Holman legacy as one of the first Ford Dealers in the country.

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educational

MCCC Child Care Center

problem solved

Montgomery County Community College needed to upgrade their childcare services for their employees and create a facility that could also support some of their early education curriculum. KMA designed a new building that created classrooms for children ages one through six years old. The facility also included observation rooms in which students of the college can observe and learn.

it's special because

The building has a strong inside to outside connection. Each classroom has direct access to its own playground. Additionally, classrooms have interior access to a large interior courtyard for play and learning. The interior courtyard features a realistic tree sculpture that is visible at all points.

outstanding details

The “tree” in the interior is a metal sculpture meant to look like a real Live Oak. This one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted piece was shipped from California in hundreds of pieces and assembled on site. It’s by a company named Nature Maker.

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educational

MCCC Fine Arts Center

problem solved

Montgomery County Community College was running their Arts Curriculum out of an old dairy barn that had been converted to classrooms many years prior. It was affectionately known as the “Art Barn”. They needed to upgrade their facility and curriculum but still maintain a connection to the “Art Barn”. KMA solved their challenge by designing an addition in a “farm house” style that complemented the original barn and included ‘clean’ arts; such as drawing, photography, graphic design, etc. while renovating the original barn to house the “dirtier” arts such as pottery, sculpture, glass blowing, etc. The two buildings were linked by a gallery and student lounge space.

it's special because

By combining a blend of new and historic, the structure was both fresh and innovative. maintaining the integrity of the original farmhouse and bringing a fresh, creative and unique feel to the building.

outstanding details

The grounds around the facility were landscaped and turned into a sculpture garden. This also included a new pedestrian bridge over a stream that better connected the complex to the main quad.

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