KKE Architects in Pasadena, CA Names Former Gensler Architect Simon Park Director of Operations

PASADENA, CA – Award-winning KKE Architects, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, with offices in Las Vegas; Pasadena, Irvine and Newport Beach, Calif., announced today Simon Y. Park, AIA has joined KKE Architects as director of operations in its Pasadena office. Park comes to KKE from Gensler and will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of KKE’s office in Pasadena.

“Simon brings nearly 20 years of architectural expertise to KKE in a wide variety of project types including institutional, civic, justice, law enforcement, commercial, ground and air transportation facilities,” says KKE Managing Principal Brian Arial, AIA. “He is a well rounded architect and a veteran at project management, having successfully managed multi-disciplinary teams on several complicated projects and ensuring clear communication between all parties. Simon’s strength lies in his ability to build consensus among multiple user groups and create collaborative environments in an effort to always maintain team focus on a project’s primary goal and exceed client expectations.”

Before joining KKE, Park served as associate architect for Gensler and facilitated a variety of projects in Southern California including: the Los Angeles County Data Center in Downey; New Port Administration Building and Maintenance Facilities in Long Beach; The Strand, a retail/dining/hotel in Huntington Beach plus an adjacent parking structure; and a 140-room resort hotel, Fess Parker Waterfront Hotel in Santa Barbara.

Prior to Gensler, Park most recently served as an associate vice president for Cannon Design and as a project manager for Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (DMJM). At Cannon Design, his projects included: the Santa Monica Public Safety Facility in Santa Monica, CA; Beverly Hills Water Treatment Plant & Public Works Facility in Beverly Hills, CA; and UCLA Athletic Training Facility in Los Angeles. At DMJM, Park worked on several projects in Korea including the new 2.5 million-square-foot Inchon International Airport Transportation Center and numerous private and government office buildings in the western U.S. He also was involved in a statewide California Trial Court Facilities Study, which evaluated every trial court facility in the state and provided a master plan after gaining consensus among the state task force that included various judges and municipal and civic leaders.

“The decision to join KKE Architects was an easy one,” notes Park. “KKE Architects has a great reputation, the best people in the business, and are experts in a broad range of market segments. KKE has a very positive and exciting culture, which made it a very easy transition. I am thrilled to be a member of KKE’s outstanding team and look forward to utilizing my considerable experience to better serve KKE and its growing client base.”

Arial adds, “It was only three years ago that we opened KKE’s first West Coast office in Newport Beach. Now that we have nearly 70 people in three West Coast offices we need to make sure we continue to provide our clients with outstanding service. Simon’s vast project management experience will allow us to continue to grow with ease.”

Park received his Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. Additionally, he has earned professional accreditation for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and is a registered architect in California. He also held California Building Contractor Class A and B licenses. His professional affiliations include the American Institute of Architects where he currently serves on its Political Action Committee. He currently resides in Monterey Park with his family.


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 190 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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