Newsroom Articles

The leadership team at KOMA is proud to announce that Alisha Simones and Dan Jaeger have been named stockholders of the firm.

Established in 1985, KOMA is a versatile architecture, structural engineering, and interior design firm that serves a wide variety of clients and industries. As the KOMA team continues to build upon their achievements, they are excited to expand their ownership group to integrate fresh perspectives.

“Both Alisha and Dan have been with KOMA for many years and embody our company philosophy of respect, balance, and dedication,” said Steve Iaria, Managing Principal. “We are eager for them to play an even more important role in contributing to the success of our clients and team.”

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Please join us in congratulating Alisha and Dan!

Friends, I have news to share:

I am planning to retire from KOMA as of September 2, 2021.

After more than 44 years in the architectural design field and 34 years as part of the Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates (KOMA) family, I have decided that it is time to put down my drafting pens and magic markers, hang up my drafting board and T-square, and move my colored pencils to the side. It’s the right time, and I’m ready. And while I will truly miss being an architect, I am excited beyond words to spend more time with my family, especially with my two granddaughters, Riley (4 years) and Ella (2 ½ years). They are the sparkle in “Bumpa’s” eyes, keeping my mind and body in shape with their boundless energy, curiosity, and excitement.

I’m not exactly sure what the future holds for me, but please know that I will always be available for a round of golf, a chat over breakfast or lunch, or an occasional happy hour with friends and my favorite martini. Rest assured that the very bright, talented, and professional staff here will continue to handle your needs with great care and enthusiasm. 

What will I miss the most? Without a doubt it is the many friends I have made over the years. I’ve been blessed with some of the best relationships a person could ask for. Some of my most cherished memories are conversations not about work, but phone calls just to say “hi,” discussions that originate from distant airport waiting rooms, texts and calls at 6 a.m., and “quick check-ins” to inquire about our families. I hope all of this will continue to be part of my life, even in retirement.

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful opportunities I have had to be a part of your business and your life.

I have been blessed to have had a professional life that I have loved, and a wonderful family that loves me and has allowed me to pursue my dreams. I am proud to be leaving behind a very strong, stable, and successful company – a company built on the principles of family, integrity, and dedication. All of you have had a hand in our success and for that, you have my sincere thanks. Now on to retirement!!!

Brady Mueller
bradymueller90@gmail.com | 612-619-1123

Construction of our new office is well underway.

The KOMA team put a lot of consideration into the layout and design of our new office space and all staff members were encouraged to participate in the process. It has been very satisfying to see it come together and we can’t wait for the finished product!

KEY FEATURES OF THE NEW SPACE:

FOLLOW OUR PROGRESS

Stay tuned for our third edition: The Finished Product!

After more than 30 years in our current office space, KOMA is moving to a new location in Bloomington! Our growing team simply needs more room for collaboration and partnership. As architects, designers, and engineers, we love the challenge of being able to create a work environment that cultivates innovation and reflects our vibrant culture.

In March, we helped kick-off our project with a group visit to the demolition site. Design has been finalized and construction is underway.

We’re excited for the future of KOMA and continue to look forward with positive energy and enthusiasm!

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Stay tuned for our second edition: Construction!

October 2019 – St. Louis Park, Minn. – Yeshiva of Minneapolis, a nationally known Jewish high school for boys, provides students an opportunity to obtain a Jewish centered education and a place that they can live, play, and worship in a safe community environment. Due to its superb educational reputation and popularity, Yeshiva of Minneapolis needed to greatly increase the size of the facility to allow for more students to attend the school while living on campus. With the help of the design team, which included KOMA, Nor-Son Construction, Emanuelson-Podas Engineers, and Loucks Inc., a major expansion of the facility is nearing completion. The new addition, which doubles the size of the school, includes a full size gymnasium with clerestory windows to bring in natural light, new classrooms, new restrooms and shower areas, lounge and activity spaces on each floor, new offices for the staff, and 26 additional dormitory rooms.

Adding onto the existing facility posed several major challenges to the design team. One major challenge involved tying the existing and new facility into one cohesive design. Other challenges involved a 20 foot drop in elevation of the site from one corner to the opposite corner; a high water table that ran through the site, floors between the old and new structures that did not line up, plus designing bearing walls that extended over 15 feet into a hill. There were also major storm water management issues in designing for the proper drainage of water off such a small and tight site. “The addition was only two feet above the existing water table and each side of the new addition was very close to the property lines, therefore, we had to think very strategically about how to design the new facility to function as best as possible,” says architect Kevin Dummer, “we wanted to provide the owners with a building that could meet their goals and objectives since there was no additional square footage left on the site for any future additions.”

Finding solutions for these many challenges required working closely with St. Louis Park city staff from zoning approvals to final construction inspections. “We were thankful for our relationship with the City,” says architect Brady Mueller, “we have worked with them for over 25 years and value their support and assistance in finding the right solution to the many construction issues that arise. In fact, our entire design team, including the owners, worked extremely well together and that is so important in a complex project such as this one.”

“Despite all of the complications, this was a great project to be part of” says Kevin Dummer, “we are so honored to have helped the owners in achieving their dream with this school.”

October 2019 – St. Louis Park, Minn. – Over the past few years, the City of St. Louis Park has modernized their City Hall, transforming the three story space and the landscaping that surrounds it. The Chamber Council area was the most recent piece and along with the designers at KOMA, they brought the space up to date and creating a room that not only functioned well for the Council and City staff but was also warm and welcoming to the community.

KOMA’s interior designers worked with the City of St. Louis Park to redesign the first floor of the city hall (read more about that project here) and once complete, the city took the standard that was developed and applied it to all three floors of the building, creating a cohesive and updated facility top to bottom. The Council Chamber, which holds public forums, Council meetings and training sessions was the last major piece of the renovation. The goal was for this space to be functional and modern with current technology while remaining warm and inviting for members of the community who will utilize the space.

Reconfiguration of the room’s layout was a large part of the program. “Initially the room entrance, which had no visibility into the space, was set up behind the council which made for an uncomfortable entrance if a meeting was already in progress,” says interior designer Leanne Freed, “we wanted to provide an environment that was open and welcoming.” The room orientation was rotated 90 degrees so the entrance occurs in the back of the space with a glass wall and double door allowing visibility into the room prior to entering. “We added electronically switched glass which allows the windows to be clear if a public meeting is occurring or frosted if a staff training is being held.” says Freed.

The millwork has moveable components which allow the room to be rearranged for different types of meetings. The podium is mobile and holds a large screen and two additional screens are located on the adjacent walls so all parties can view presented materials. Strategically placed lighting was designed to illuminate the faces of the Council Members.

“Creating a space that functioned well and looked aesthetically pleasing in person and on television was a large factor in the design,” says interior designer Cindy Nagel, “we worked to create a clean space that showcased the city’s logo and had optimal lighting and acoustics.” Acoustical perforated wood panels were added to the walls and white floating, linear acoustical ceiling tile sections were added to the ceiling to not only add warmth and brighten the space but assist with sound attenuation.

To further brighten the space and bring in maximum natural light, the existing openings in the exterior wall were enlarged, creating two large windows which became the highlight of the space. Not only did this provide natural light and a view of the gardens below but it also provided additional aesthetics to the exterior. “We’re really proud of how this project turned out,” says Freed, “and I think it is a space that the city can be proud of for many years to come.”