Membership Spotlight - KAL Architects
Which SAME Posts are you a sustaining member of?
KAL Architects is a sustaining member of the Orange County and Sacramento (California) posts however, we regularly attend events hosted by the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego posts as well.
Why did you join SAME?
KAL Architects believes that an active SAME membership is a key component of a successful federal A/E contractor. It is the most effective way for Small Businesses to stay on the front lines of industry news, updates, trends, and opportunities. KAL officially became a sustaining member in the Orange County post in 2009, however Rita Kalwani, KAL Architects’ founder and president has served on National SAME steering committees since 2003.
What does SAME membership mean to KAL Architects?
A SAME membership enables KAL to be a part of the wider industry, to build strong teaming relationships with other large and small businesses, and to have a contributing voice in the government contracting community.
Tell us about your company history and background?
KAL is a full-service A/E firm, headquartered in Irvine, California with satellite offices in Sacramento, California and Leesburg, Virginia. KAL is a graduate of the US Small Business Administration’s 8(a) program and continues to be a Small, Minority Owned, Woman Owned business. Founded in 1991, KAL has served as a federal prime contractor on more than 27 IDC/IDIQ contracts throughout the United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.
In which industry sectors do you work?
KAL Architects has extensive programming, planning, design, and construction phase services experience working with federal agencies in sectors such as headquarters/admin facilities; training and operations facilities; dormitories and visiting officer’s quarters; a full range of healthcare and medical support facilities; aircraft hangars; scientific research laboratories; and civil works such as parking lots, roads, and bridges.
Global or national reach? How far?
KAL has successfully completed A/E projects throughout the lower 48 contiguous United States as well as in Alaska and Hawaii. Our Principal Engineer and several other architects and engineers have project experience outside of the US including in Africa, Dubai, Guam, Iran, Japan, Mozambique, the Marshall Islands, Nairobi, and New Zealand.
Number of employees?
35 Full Time employees including 16 licensed architects, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, and LEED accredited professionals.
Current projects to highlight?
Planning Charrette Report and Full Designs for the Renovation of Headquarters Building, Beale AFB, CA: KAL was selected by the USAF Air Force to provide Planning Charrette Report and full designs (100% plans and specifications) to Support Renovation of the Headquarters Building at Beale AFB. This project includes administrative and training facilities, site infrastructure and utilities, secured areas, historic preservation architecture subject to Section 106, seismic renovation compliant with (ASCE)-41, Anti Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) criteria, Vertical Transportation (Elevators), and the implementation of Energy Reduction and Sustainable Design to achieve LEED Silver certification. The project will be executed in multiple phases to allow for uninterrupted operations in the facility and minimize relocation of occupants to temporary facilities. Each user space will be right sized for the occupants planned in the space and compliant with space limitations in AFMAN 32-1084. Multiple SCIF spaces are not being relocated and will remain operational while others will be removed and reconstructed elsewhere in the facility. A new atrium is being constructed to house a new elevator, stairways, and circulation space on each floor. Architectural modernization also includes renovation and/or upgrades to the electrical, mechanical, communications, and fire protection facility equipment, and infrastructure utilities such as chilled water plants will be renovated to meet all current UFC codes and standards.
Facility Condition Assessment and Full Design for the Historic Building Renovation and Fence Repair, Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, CA: KAL Architects was asked to perform at Facility Condition Assessment for the renovation of all buildings, fencing, vehicular bridge, signage/wayfinding, flagpole, and irrigation/landscaping for Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno. The 161.5-acre site with 137,435 internments, was originally built in 1942 as one of many US Army-planned military cemeteries, providing burial opportunities in locations throughout the US in cities with large veteran populations. The site, including all structures, fencing, bridges, gates, flagpole, and grounds, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and all renovations require consultation and compliance with the California State Historic Preservation Office and follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. Following the completion and acceptance of the FCA Report, KAL was awarded an additional task order to provide a full design package for the recommended renovations and historic preservation for the buildings, fencing, and landscape/irrigation.
Does KAL Architects have any joint ventures or teaming arrangements?
KAL Architects has teaming arrangements with firms including AECOM, HDR, Leo A Daly, Jensen Hughes, and TetraTech for contracts with the USACE Sacramento and Little Rock Districts, AFCEC Western Region, the US Fish and Wildlife Services, and the General Services Administration.
Business Specialty or focus that people need to know about?
KAL Architects has an extensive MEDCOM and DHA healthcare facilities portfolio. This includes Master Planning, Independent Technical Review (AE-3), Full Design, and Construction Phase Services for VA, USAF, and US Army installation medical complexes, outpatient clinics, short and long-term community living centers, extended service delivery areas, and all related building systems infrastructure and commissioning. KAL’s healthcare portfolio with more than 250 task orders for facilities in 25 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.
KAL Architects Awards:
8(a) Graduate of the Year
SBA/Santa Ana Minority Business of the Year
SBA Small Business of the Year
Goldman Sachs 10K SBA Program
AFCEC Design Excellence Awards – Honorable Mention
Wood Institute Award for Innovative Use of Wood Products - Nomination
Rita Kalwani
KAL Architects | WOSB/SBE/WBE
12-J Mauchly | Irvine, CA 92618
949.450.8420 | c: 909.556.8917
www.kalarchitects.com
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linkedin.com/company/kal-architects-inc
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