California-based KTGY Group, Inc. has announced it has expanded into the Midwest with the opening of an office in downtown Chicago. The new studio, located at 343 W. Erie St., has been established through KTGY’s merger with Glen Ellyn-based PPK Architects, an architectural firm with a 65-year history in designing commercial and residential projects throughout Chicago and the Midwest.
The Chicago office will be headed by former PPK leadership and veteran designers, Craig R. Pryde and David M. Kennedy, who will both serve as principals at KTGY.
“Our aim has always been to help clients position their projects and communities ahead of their competition,” Pryde said in a news release. ”When the opportunity to merge with KTGY was presented, we knew combining the talent and resources of KTGY with our own would not only allow us to better serve our existing clients, but also reach an even larger array of clients who could benefit from our vast capabilities.”
Stan Braden, chairman of the KTGY Group Board of Directors, said: “KTGY is built on the foundation of collaboration – partners and principals working together to share ideas. With Craig and David having worked together so well for the last 23 years, they will fit perfectly within KTGY’s partnership structure.”
KTGY says in the news release that its “collaborative partnership structure is comprised of specialized studios with seasoned professionals throughout the country, enabling the firm to deploy the best talent for specific project types and/or geographical areas.”
The combined firms will provide architectural and planning services to clients in single-family, multi-family, civic/recreation, commercial office and retail, financial, medical/healthcare, hotels/hospitality, mixed-use and international markets.
“Craig and David are senior leaders with more than two decades’ experience working on precisely the types of projects in which KTGY has expertise,” said KTGY CEO Tricia Esser in the statement. “Craig and David have already begun collaborating with other KTGY principals to bring all the best resources to every project in the region.”
The news release says Pryde is a seasoned architect with more than 32 years of experience in the design and management of commercial and residential projects of all sizes, from new construction to renovation, adaptive reuse and expansion of existing buildings, including historical structures. Kennedy has more than 35 years of experience in the design of mixed-use residential projects and urban in-fill development projects, including large-scale commercial, and low-, mid- and high-rise residential developments. Together, Pryde and Kennedy have recently designed a number of innovative projects in the Chicago area, including: Lincoln Station, a four-building, mixed-use transit-oriented development in the heart of New Lenox; several new medical office suites for the expanding Family Practice groups of Northwestern Medicine; and, Vertical Endeavors, a 40,000-square-foot indoor climbing gym located in Glendale Heights.
“We have always admired KTGY’s creative work and reputation for establishing industry trends, and with our in-depth insights into the Midwestern markets, we’re excited to share our expertise on a national scale,” Kennedy said.
Founded in Irvine, California, KTGY also has offices in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, as well as Denver, Colorado, Tysons, Virginia, and one international location in Pune, India.