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
—Lisa Valentin, H&L Partners
—Sunil Gupta, OLMM Consulting Engineers
—Barry Gardin, UCPGG
—Residential client
—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.”
—Authored by Ryan Smith
What we do
Architecture
Programming
Sustainable Design
Historical Preservation
Interior Design
