Klara Komorous-Towey, President and CFO of Komorous-Towey Architects, brings extensive experience in the architectural profession to her projects. Klara has the unique ability to design to suit each client’s needs, site, context and budget. Born near Prague in the Czech Republic, Klara then moved to Canada and relocated to the U.S. for her architectural education and career.
Klara’s designs can be found throughout the Bay Area, California, Oregon, and Nevada. Her varied list of completed projects includes high rise condominiums, custom homes, retail outlets, parking structures, and restaurants as well as the renovation of historic buildings and hundreds of thousands of square feet of tenant improvements. She has worked in every aspect of the architectural field from project management to construction document preparation, construction administration and permit coordination.
Rapport is a key part of working relationships to Klara. She strives to understand each client’s project by listening carefully to the client, and analyzing their needs. The finished product serves as a witness to the mutual understanding between client and architect. KTA respects its clients by working to ensure that projects are completed within allotted schedules and budgets.
Klara demonstrates her appreciation for historic styles outside of KTA through her membership in the Art Deco Society of the Bay Area and the Heritage Roses Group.
A pattern emerges during a review of her many successful projects: a respect for the past that meets the needs of the present.
Former Board Chair:
• City of Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
Committee Member:
• Art Deco Society of California, Art Deco Preservation Committee
Registration:
• Licensed Architect #20011 – California
Education:
• Masters of Architecture, with honors, University of Minnesota
• B.A. Architecture, magna cum laude, University of Washington
Thomas J. Towey, CEO, Komorous-Towey Architects, is a gifted project manager who oversees the technical and quality control aspects of KTA projects. He provides vital continuity by carrying design concepts through all project phases from the earliest detail sketches to construction.
The final product – a new structure, a renovated building, or an office space – always meets the design intent, the client’s needs and the project budget thanks to T.J.’s direct involvement during the construction phase. He emphasizes the importance of thorough coordination, precise detailing in working drawings, and follow-up through bidding, negotiation and construction.
T.J. has worked in the architectural profession on projects from mixed-use retail/parking structures to high rise residential buildings to multi-family housing and commercial renovations. He is experienced in all aspects of architectural work including project management, preparation of contract documents and construction administration. T.J. was the vice president of architecture at the Watry Design Group, an architectural/structural engineering firm before joining KTA full-time in 1996. The experience of working closely with structural engineers as well as his own structural design prowess gives him the ability to design and work on the structure of the building which is unique among architects.
Committee Member:
• Art Deco Society of California, Art Deco Preservation Committee
Registration:
• Licensed Architect #19942 – California
• Licensed Architect #3407 – Nevada
• Licensed Architect #21640 – Minnesota
• NCARB Board Certified #45921
• CalOES Safety Assessment Program #73350
Education:
• Masters of Architecture, University of California, Berkeley
• B.A. Architecture, University of Washington
Wyman Yee, Partner, Komorous-Towey Architects, contributes experience encompassing all aspects of architectural practice; including field investigation, client/consultant, and agency coordination, design, specifications, cost estimating, construction documents, construction administration, and project coordination and documentation. Wyman’s meticulous attention to details and consistency in follow-through during construction phase ensures the success of each project, whether large or small in scale. He is also responsible for our computer operations for graphic and AutoCAD drawings.
His recent project experience includes the completion of several projects for Citibank/Citicorp in San Francisco, and construction documents and administration services on 543 Howard Street project. He was Project Architect coordinating the construction documents and construction administration of the San Francisco City Hall project, and led the construction phase effort.
Registration:
• Licensed Architect #24342 – State of California
Education:
• B.A. Architecture, University of California, Berkeley