KSS Architects

We believe that great architecture can create meaningful + lasting change for our clients, our society, and our world
April is #AutismAwarenessMonth. KSS’ longtime client Bancroft is celebrating with its Real Me campaign—featuring real people Bancroft has the privilege of supporting, sharing inspiring stories from real families,...Tangen Hall provides spaces for collaboration and innovation where Penn students can design what’s next. Completed in December 2020, the building has started to come to life with some programs and organizations...As North Valley Trade Center nears completion in the Lehigh Valley, its architectural features are starting to take shape. The Trammell Crow project features a freestanding concrete wall positioned in front of the...“When a young person, even a gifted one, grows up without proximate living examples of what she may aspired to become – whether a lawyer, a scientist, artist or leader in any realm – her goal remains abstract…But a...Recognized as a life sciences cluster and an established hub for cell and gene therapy, Philadelphia is experiencing exponential momentum in life sciences real estate and development. The region ranks third in the...Institutional resilience has never been more critical. To explore this important topic, KSS facilitated a discussion with representatives from the University of Pennsylvania, a leader in planning and designing for...Why do we diagram? To communicate information, to explain our thought process, to frame an argument or idea, to distill complex information into a series of succinct images—to tell our story.   Last week, KSS’...Today marks 30 years since our partner Ed Klimek joined KSS. With his future-forward perspective, insight into emerging trends, and willingness to take risks, Ed has spearheaded the growth of multiple markets, most...PennovationCOVID-19 has accelerated the already increasingly virtual nature of the modern college experience. When learning, communicating, and socializing can be accomplished online, what are the tangible values of a campus...For Neighborhood Charter School’s new K-8 charter school in the Bronx, KSS sought to craft an educational environment where students feel supported, included, and empowered. The design team facilitated the adaptive...Join our team! KSS is hiring for Marketing Coordinator and Senior Marketing Professional positions located in our Philadelphia or Princeton offices. Head to the link in our bio for detailed job descriptions and a...KSS’ Tangen Hall project was highlighted in the article “Precast Concrete’s Versatility,” a profile on how precast is meeting the changing needs of designers and owners. The façade of the future hub for student...Construction is full speed ahead at Discovery Hall at @rowanuniversity with anticipated completion this spring. The design of this 68,000-sf new academic building weaves together natural brick textures reminiscent...The unique value of our firm is our people.  Since our founding in 1983, KSS has grown from a local Princeton firm of three architects to an established design community of nearly 80 professionals, with three...

We Design to Inspire and Delight

Great places bring out the best in us, stir us to aspire to greater heights.  Great design can make a place unforgettable, bring it life with personality, energy, and promise. 

We create places that are gracious in context, and iconic to our clients’ communities.  We design for impact, bringing to life innovative places of learning, commerce and community. 

Innovating in the Intersections

KSS is relentless, fearless in imagining what places can be and how they can function. Yesterday’s solutions cannot solve today’s challenges.

We embrace developing the new place that straddles building archetypes, unlocking the potential within the complex program or the challenging context.

Congratulations to KSS’ own Bri Dazio, who recently achieved her goal of becoming an NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer! Bri is passionate about the power of design to positively impact lives. She puts that...Three years ago, we broke ground on the Barbara Walters Campus Center at Sarah Lawrence College. Today, the BWCC serves as a gathering place for students, faculty, and the greater community.   📷 by @magdabiernat...Congratulations to Jessica Mangin, KSS’ newest Registered Architect! Jessica, who became an Associate last year, is a driving force behind innovative projects such as Pennovation and Tangen Hall at the University of...2505 Bruckner is quickly evolving into the 968,000 sf, state of the art multi-level industrial facility the Tri-State area needs. Office and ramp steel erection is progressing swiftly, while preparations to begin...Congratulations to Jennie Himler who recently became a Registered Architect! Jennie joined KSS as an intern five years ago and has since become an invaluable member of our team (not to mention a co-recipient of 2020...2020 has undoubtedly been a challenging year for many, which makes us even more grateful for the achievements of our firm over this past year. As we close out this unique year, we reflect on our collective efforts,...

From Guidance Comes Greatness

Our ideation process is singular in the architecture profession. We are inclusive in our collaborative imagining, and deft in consensus-building. We think like owners, stewarding all resources to the greatest benefit.

Our clients trust us to lead them. And we trust our clients, involving them completely and collaboratively in a uniquely transparent process.

2020 @aiaphiladelphia Design Award for Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse recipient: The Remy Theatre. When the 1930s-built amphitheater risked demolition in 2018, @sarahlawrencecollege alumna Josie Merck saw the...Our annual holiday party looked a little different this year…In true 2020 fashion, KSS gathered on Zoom to celebrate the holiday season and toast one another as part of a virtual wine tasting with @voluptuarywine....
We are connected by a common passion to make our clients successful through great design
April is #AutismAwarenessMonth. KSS’ longtime client Bancroft is celebrating with its Real Me campaign—featuring real people Bancroft has the privilege of supporting, sharing inspiring stories from real families,...Tangen Hall provides spaces for collaboration and innovation where Penn students can design what’s next. Completed in December 2020, the building has started to come to life with some programs and organizations...As North Valley Trade Center nears completion in the Lehigh Valley, its architectural features are starting to take shape. The Trammell Crow project features a freestanding concrete wall positioned in front of the...“When a young person, even a gifted one, grows up without proximate living examples of what she may aspired to become – whether a lawyer, a scientist, artist or leader in any realm – her goal remains abstract…But a...Recognized as a life sciences cluster and an established hub for cell and gene therapy, Philadelphia is experiencing exponential momentum in life sciences real estate and development. The region ranks third in the...Institutional resilience has never been more critical. To explore this important topic, KSS facilitated a discussion with representatives from the University of Pennsylvania, a leader in planning and designing for...Why do we diagram? To communicate information, to explain our thought process, to frame an argument or idea, to distill complex information into a series of succinct images—to tell our story.   Last week, KSS’...Today marks 30 years since our partner Ed Klimek joined KSS. With his future-forward perspective, insight into emerging trends, and willingness to take risks, Ed has spearheaded the growth of multiple markets, most...COVID-19 has accelerated the already increasingly virtual nature of the modern college experience. When learning, communicating, and socializing can be accomplished online, what are the tangible values of a campus...For Neighborhood Charter School’s new K-8 charter school in the Bronx, KSS sought to craft an educational environment where students feel supported, included, and empowered. The design team facilitated the adaptive...Join our team! KSS is hiring for Marketing Coordinator and Senior Marketing Professional positions located in our Philadelphia or Princeton offices. Head to the link in our bio for detailed job descriptions and a...KSS’ Tangen Hall project was highlighted in the article “Precast Concrete’s Versatility,” a profile on how precast is meeting the changing needs of designers and owners. The façade of the future hub for student...Construction is full speed ahead at Discovery Hall at @rowanuniversity with anticipated completion this spring. The design of this 68,000-sf new academic building weaves together natural brick textures reminiscent...The unique value of our firm is our people.  Since our founding in 1983, KSS has grown from a local Princeton firm of three architects to an established design community of nearly 80 professionals, with three...Congratulations to KSS’ own Bri Dazio, who recently achieved her goal of becoming an NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer! Bri is passionate about the power of design to positively impact lives. She puts that...Three years ago, we broke ground on the Barbara Walters Campus Center at Sarah Lawrence College. Today, the BWCC serves as a gathering place for students, faculty, and the greater community.   📷 by @magdabiernat...Congratulations to Jessica Mangin, KSS’ newest Registered Architect! Jessica, who became an Associate last year, is a driving force behind innovative projects such as Pennovation and Tangen Hall at the University of...2505 Bruckner is quickly evolving into the 968,000 sf, state of the art multi-level industrial facility the Tri-State area needs. Office and ramp steel erection is progressing swiftly, while preparations to begin...Congratulations to Jennie Himler who recently became a Registered Architect! Jennie joined KSS as an intern five years ago and has since become an invaluable member of our team (not to mention a co-recipient of 2020...2020 has undoubtedly been a challenging year for many, which makes us even more grateful for the achievements of our firm over this past year. As we close out this unique year, we reflect on our collective efforts,...2020 @aiaphiladelphia Design Award for Historic Preservation/Adaptive Reuse recipient: The Remy Theatre. When the 1930s-built amphitheater risked demolition in 2018, @sarahlawrencecollege alumna Josie Merck saw the...Our annual holiday party looked a little different this year…In true 2020 fashion, KSS gathered on Zoom to celebrate the holiday season and toast one another as part of a virtual wine tasting with @voluptuarywine....Pamela Lucas Rew, FAIA, Partner at KSS Architects, will retire at the close of the 2020 calendar year. Over her 40-year career in architecture, Pam has been a visionary leader steadfast in building a creative,...KSS Architects is thrilled to announce three new Principals: Jason Chmura, Sven Schroeter, and David von Stappenbeck. Jason, Sven, and David have each made tremendous contributions to the sustained growth of the...How can communities turn underutilized schoolyards into outdoor classrooms that could enable students to safely return to school? KSS responded to this question, posed by the Community Design Collaborative through...KSS Architects is excited to announce the promotion of Ryan Bruce, Alicia Heinsen, and Mounir Tawadrous to Senior Associate. Recognized and respected as leaders and mentors, Ryan, Alicia, and Mounir have each made...KSS is excited to announce that the Remy Theatre has won an Honor Award for Historic Preservation from AIA New Jersey. The Remy is an adaptive re-use of a 1930s-built open-air theatre which was restored and...KSS Architects is pleased to announce the promotion of Ryan Drummond, Don Kim, Jessica Mangin, Becker Raab, and Jesse Wilks to Associate. We are proud to elevate these individuals in recognition of their dedication...KSS is thrilled to announce that the renovation and addition of Foundation Collegiate Academy has received an Honor Award from @aianewjersey. The renovated and expanded Foundation Collegiate Academy is designed to...The Barbara Walters Campus Center at Sarah Lawrence College is embedded in the ecology of its neighborhood and region—its layout carefully preserved the contours of the land, hills, indigenous rock formations, and...Join KSS at Green Building United’s Sustainability Symposium this week! You can catch KSSers presenting on WELL in the industrial workplace, how KSS developed a tailored sustainability methodology for our firm, and...How it started ➡️ How it’s going.   Last month, @WeAreVentureLab and @PennEngineering checked in on construction progress on Tangen Hall, the future home of entrepreneurship on campus. Swipe through to see the...KSS Architects is pleased to announce Mayva Donnon as a new partner. An exceptional architect and leader, Mayva has led several of KSS’ most noted projects and built many of the firm’s lasting client relationships....

We Are United by Design

We believe that design can only achieve greatness when built upon human relationships.

Trust—between client and their community, between architect and their client—rises from accountability. Within that trust we design places that facilitate and celebrate interwoven relationships, creating rich and rewarding communities.

Pamela Lucas Rew, FAIA, Partner at KSS Architects, will retire at the close of the 2020 calendar year. Over her 40-year career in architecture, Pam has been a visionary leader steadfast in building a creative,...KSS Architects is thrilled to announce three new Principals: Jason Chmura, Sven Schroeter, and David von Stappenbeck. Jason, Sven, and David have each made tremendous contributions to the sustained growth of the...How can communities turn underutilized schoolyards into outdoor classrooms that could enable students to safely return to school? KSS responded to this question, posed by the Community Design Collaborative through...