KKE Architects Names Kris V. Irwin Senior Interior Designer — Irwin to Expand Client Services in Las Vegas

July 28, 2005 (PRLEAP.COM) Lifestyle News
LAS VEGAS, NV – Award-winning KKE Architects, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, with offices in Las Vegas; Pasadena, Irvine and Newport Beach, Calif., announced today Kris Irwin has joined KKE Architects as senior interior designer in its Las Vegas office. Irwin brings over ten years of extensive space planning, interior design, tenant improvement and comprehensive project management expertise to the firm.

“Kris Irwin has outstanding experience working with Fortune 500 companies in many different industries. She will be an incredible asset to our planned growth in the Las Vegas area by offering our corporate, healthcare and hospitality clients space planning, interior design, project management and tenant improvements,” says Howard Thompson, AIA, founding partner of HFTA, a KKE Group of Companies. “There is a tremendous need in this marketplace for Kris’ superior design expertise in imaging centers such as for open MRIs, ambulatory care centers, cancer centers and eye surgery centers, as well as a variety of doctors’ offices.”

Before joining KKE, Irwin served as an interior designer/project manager and space planner for several companies where she was responsible for all aspects of corporate interior projects, project management, space planning, construction drawings/documents and construction administration, as well as finish selections and furniture specification (FF&E).

Some of her projects include the Northrop Grumman TASC’s IT headquarters with high security area, corporate interior projects for Nextel Communications' locations nationwide, renovations of law firms, and the design of healthcare, institutional and high-end residential units.

Among her many and varied healthcare projects, she designed imaging centers for open MRIs, including the Borg Imaging Group and multiple locations for the Eye Surgeons of Western New York. Her most recent position was with BeeryRio Architecture & Interiors in Springfield, VA.

Irwin attended Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences majoring in Architectural Studies and Rochester institute of Technology, Rochester, NY where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of Art and Design, Department of Interior Design. She has earned professional accreditation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and has received the National Council of Interior Designer Qualification (NCIDQ).

She is also a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility (SCIF) specialist for highly secure office space design and planning, and is a Washington Building Congress member.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Kris Irwin’s high caliber in helping us maximize our design services and provide these services locally,” adds Thompson. “She will also be available for projects in our Irvine and Pasadena offices and will be space planning and designing KKE’s new Irvine and Las Vegas offices to successfully manage our growing firm and work flow.”

Late last year, KKE Architects acquired Howard F. Thompson Associates (HFTA) and has continued to expand the company’s presence in the Las Vegas marketplace. Prior to the merger, HFTA was named the “Architectural Firm of the Year” for the second year in a row by the Las Vegas Chapter of National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP).


About KKE Architects, Inc.

After 37 years in the business, award-winning KKE Architects, Inc. has grown to become one of the top architectural firms in the country. With offices in Minneapolis; Las Vegas; Pasadena, Irvine and Newport Beach, Calif., KKE’s professional staff of 180 offers a unique blend of expertise across a broad range of market segments encompassing Retail/Lifestyle, Live Entertainment, Housing, Government, Hospitality, Aging, Education and Office/Private Development. Ideally suited for mixed-use developments, KKE applies its broad expertise to the delivery of “reality grounded” solutions in the disciplines of architecture, interior design and planning services.

KKE continues to grow through a keen focus upon maximizing their clients’ success; by expanding upon the vision of each client to accomplish more than they ever thought possible. For more information, visit www.kke.com.

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