Komorous Towey ArchitectsAbout Us

Company Profile

Founded in 1989, Komorous-Towey Architects is an energetic and resourceful firm that thrives on a great variety of projects of all types and sizes. KTA has successfully completed a broad spectrum of large and small projects for a wide range of clients, including commercial, corporate, retail, residential, private, institutional, church and government. This past experience is a tremendous resource for us as we take on new projects.

Client Service

Our clients receive personal, responsive attention from the firm’s principals. Each project reflects a process of collaboration with the client.

We invite our clients’ participation throughout the design and construction process. We help identify their needs and goals and respond with innovative design solutions to meet these goals.

We respect our clients’ budget and help to carefully manage it. Our work is geared to include budget considerations in all aspects of the work, starting with planning. We have a realistic approach to design and detailing, and our design solutions are developed with constructability in mind. We welcome the creative challenge of conserving and making the most of our clients’ resources.

Project Types

Our projects range from new construction of mixed-use projects, high rise housing, parking structures and retail buildings to building conversions, additions and adaptive reuse of existing buildings. We have completed hundreds of thousands of square feet of tenant improvements.

We welcome the challenge of solving the problems of integrating new IT services, access for the disabled, life safety system upgrades, repair and seismic strengthening while retaining the aesthetic and architectural integrity of both new and existing buildings including single family homes.

Our residential experience includes new custom homes as well as additions and renovations of all types. Homeowner’s tastes and needs are the uppermost concern in these projects. Residential projects, whether single-family homes, additions, or high rise condominium buildings, suit their surroundings. Our designs are sensitive to their context, whether it is a building or a neighborhood.

Sustainable Building Design

KTA is committed to “green” building design. We work to incorporate sustainable building design, enhancing the environmental and economic performance of our client’s buildings. We are members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and have undergone LEED training. KTA was the architect for the first commercial office building to be LEED registered in San Francisco.

Design Tools and Technology

KTA uses the latest hardware and software for design, drawing preparation and document production and management. With high speed Internet access we are able to exchange files and drawings, allowing smooth communication with clients and consultants. We merge the benefits of technology with our respect for materials and aesthetics to create outstanding architecture.

Awards

KTA has received many national, regional, and local awards. The most important award to KTA though, is a satisfied client.

KTA is a certified woman-owned architectural firm.

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Klara Komorous-Towey

President

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Thomas J. Towey

CEO

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Wyman Yee

Partner

Testimonials

When you work with KT Architecture, you’re in great hands. Klara and TJ have a great expanse of knowledge with all things architectural, with a special knowledge toward historical architecture. They are great about working with existing building elements and are also great at suggesting ideas and materials that will compliment any structural elements that you’re hoping to maintain. They worked with us to create realistic budgets and make sure that the contractors stick to them. They are creative at bringing forth alternative solutions if something needs to be cut, or redesigned for structural, aesthetic, or budget considerations to help maintain the integrity of the project. The team at KT Architecture work to create and maintain good communicating channels with the client, construction crews and contractors. At times our project had its challenges and surprises. They were always solution based and budget conscientious. They had our best interest at heart. TJ, Klara and their team are great at coming up with ideas for fixes should any unforeseen hiccups arise during construction and fast-action is needed. They not only designed and managed the internal structural re-design of building, but they also did our interior design. They understood the needs of our company and our employees by creating a modern, warm and collaborative interior design through the selection of furniture, materials, fabrics, and workspaces. The team behind the scenes at KT is so great! Shouts out to Wyman and Elisa! They are knowledgeable, helpful, professional and keep a sense of humor. The whole team is great when needing quick responses and very thoughtful with planning and sharing information and materials to make the process easy to understand. The KT Team was always willing to take the time to explain how things would look either through renderings, samples or pictures. We really have had a wonderful working relationship with them. The results speak for themselves. We would definitely work on another project with them in the future.

—Lisa Valentin, H&L Partners

My wife and I have known TJ and Klara, Principals of Komorous Towey Architects, for many years. They are an absolute delight to work with. They are creative, practical, sensible, and quick. Over the last few years we sought their advice for couple of our homes in northern California. One of these projects required a substantial addition to our existing home that included a new master suite at the ground level. Their ideas and suggestions for how to best situate the new master suite on our odd-shaped lot and to harmonize it with the existing spaces was invaluable.

—Sunil Gupta, OLMM Consulting Engineers

I’ve had the opportunity to work with KTA on a number of projects (commercial and most recently residential). The residential project involved expanding our home as part of a kitchen family room remodel. Their team developed a good understanding of the project objective and desired outcome (good listeners) and their creativity and expertise were extremely beneficial to the projects success.

—Barry Gardin, UCPGG

Architectural plans for major remodel/addition of turn of the century Berkeley home in 1991. Collaborated and acted as expert adviser during interior gutting/remodel in 2009. Provided invaluable advice on lighting and deck plans. Tom and Klara are friendly, thoughtful and knowledgeable with creative ideas on converting/opening up spaces.

—Residential client

We hired Komorous-Towey Architects to do a total remodel of our home. This involved a total reorganization of the living space; a teardown of most of the house to the foundation; a major increase in square footage of the home; and a functional design of all of the rooms. The house is spectacularly beautiful and incredibly functional. We have raised our children in the remodeled home; have used the house for our home office; and have regularly entertained our extended family and friends in the home. We couldn’t ask for a more attractive and comfortable place to live.

—Residential client

Featured in

East Oaklanders band together in the face of coronavirus threat

We are so proud of our client Shop Rite! Ali Albasiery, the owner of Shop Rite, is doing everything he can to support his East Oakland community in this time of crisis. He has kept prices below market rate, is donating food and other necessary items and is working with his customers to make sure they can get everything they need.

—San Francisco Chronicle

Acoustics in Office Interiors

Klara Komorous-Towey is a presenter for the live webinar “Acoustics in Office Interiors” on January 29th, 2020, at 2:00 PM EST, 11:00 AM PST. Klara will be talking about acoustical challenges and solutions for two of our recently completed office buildings. For more information, or to register for the webinar, click on the link below!

—Acoustics Academy

Lighting Spaces: The Art & Science of Architectural Lighting

Lighting is an integral component of interior design and architecture. Thirty of the world’s top lighting designers and consultants, including Komorous-Towey Architects, showcase their finest accomplishments in this volume. The selected examples illustrate how high quality, thoughtful design can be the visual cornerstone of a successful project. In over 500 beautifully-reproduced photographs you will see how light can establish moods and manipulate attitudes, reinforce feelings and heighten excitement.

—Authored by Roger Yee

City by Design: An Architectural Perspective of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area

An inspiring history of one of the country’s most beloved regions, this celebration exhibits the work of the firms responsible for creating the Bay Area’s architectural fabric, which includes Komorous-Towey Architects. Featured works include the restoration of San Francisco City Hall, the extensive additions to the AIA San Francisco’s headquarters, mixed-use row-house development, and the state-of-the-art de Young Museum.

—Published by Panache Partners, LLC

Choosing the Right Design for Your New Construction Home

“Thomas J. Towey, CEO, Komorous-Towey Architects: Designing a custom home is a rare opportunity. Take the time to think about how you want the new home to feel. Is it a clean, sharp look that lets you relax just being there, or richly detailed, warm wood enveloping the spaces? Think less about the number of rooms (the easy part) and more about the spaces inside. Raise your ceilings but watch out for hard-to-heat double-high spaces.”