Business Details
50 Years
experience
Architectural Services for Community Projects
Founded in 1976, Roark Kramer Kosowski Design has dedicated its practice to delivering architectural solutions for community-based non-profits and neighborhood organizations. Our expertise spans housing rehabilitation, healthcare clinics, educational facilities, and childcare centers, with occasional single-family residential and commercial projects. With decades of experience, we prioritize client needs through collaborative design, political navigation, and problem-solving tailored to low- and moderate-income communities.Our team has worked on over 300 housing units and projects across the U.S. and internationally, emphasizing sustainability and public art integration. We maintain a hands-on approach, combining traditional drawing techniques with modern design challenges to serve diverse regional and global communities.
Services
Housing Rehabilitation
Healthcare Facility Design
Educational Facility Planning
Childcare Center Architecture
Public Art Integration
Community Planning
Single-Family Residential Design
Sustainable Design
Historic Preservation
International Projects
Details
- Year established: 1976
Highlights and features
- We have over 45 years of experience in community-focused architectural design.
- Our team specializes in navigating complex non-profit housing and healthcare projects.
- We integrate public art and sustainability into every community-driven project.
- Our regional and international portfolio demonstrates adaptability across diverse contexts.
- We maintain direct client collaboration from concept through project completion.
Services
Housing Rehabilitation
We specialize in rehabilitating multi-family housing units for non-profit organizations. Our approach combines structural upgrades with energy efficiency systems like the proprietary 'House Cats' program. Projects range from small-scale renovations to 200+ unit developments for homeless veterans, ensuring compliance with federal and local housing standards.
Healthcare Facility Design
Our healthcare design focuses on community clinics and specialized facilities. We create functional environments that meet strict regulatory requirements while prioritizing patient comfort. Recent projects include Native American health clinics and accessible facilities for deaf-blind services, integrating universal design principles.
Educational Facility Planning
We design K-12 schools, charter institutions, and early learning centers. Our work includes adaptive reuse of historic buildings and creating outdoor learning spaces. Projects like the University of Minnesota childcare center demonstrate our commitment to child-friendly, stimulating educational environments.
Public Art Integration
Public art is embedded in our architectural process through collaborations with artists. We've created interactive sculptures like the 'House to Touch the Wind' and integrated permanent installations in schools and community centers, enhancing public spaces with meaningful artistic elements.
Community Planning
Our planning services focus on neighborhood revitalization and sustainable development. We work with local stakeholders to create master plans that balance growth with community needs, as seen in Phillips neighborhood initiatives and multi-family housing projects across the Midwest.
People
Peter Kramer
Architect
Peter Kramer founded the firm in 1976 and continues as a principal designer. He chairs Public Art Saint Paul and has authored publications on architectural philosophy, maintaining a hands-on role in project design and client relations.
Steve Kosowski
Architect
Steve Kosowski joined the firm in 1983, bringing expertise in complex project execution. He specializes in translating client visions into functional designs, with a focus on non-profit housing and community infrastructure projects across diverse geographic regions.
Howard Roark
Senior Partner
Named after the fictional architect from 'The Fountainhead,' Howard Roark serves as our marketing representative. This fictional persona embodies the firm's commitment to principled design and client advocacy in architectural practice.
Questions
What types of projects does Roark Kramer Kosowski DESIGN specialize in?
We specialize in non-profit and community-driven projects including housing rehabilitation, healthcare clinics, educational facilities, childcare centers, and public art integration.
How long has the firm been in operation?
Roark Kramer Kosowski DESIGN has provided architectural services since 1976, with founders maintaining continuous practice for over four decades.
Do you work on international projects?
Yes, while based in Minneapolis, we've completed projects in Argentina, Mexico, and Madagascar, alongside domestic work across the U.S.
Can you handle complex non-profit housing developments?
Our team has rehabilitated over 300 housing units and developed specialized programs like the 'House Cats' energy efficiency system for non-profits.
How do you incorporate public art into your projects?
We collaborate with artists on installations like the 'House to Touch the Wind' sculpture and integrate art into community spaces as vessels of public life.
