Our team shares a vision for how to create and support community. These projects are the heart of our practice. We are very proud to have an extremely talented studio of professionals who have made a career specializing in the design of community projects. Over many years of working together and with repeat clients, our team has built long-lasting relationships that are a foundation for successful projects. From initial project programming through ribbon-cutting celebrations, our clients and projects benefit from staff continuity.
When you work with us, you become part of the K2A team. Principals Steve Kolm, Henry Kwong, and Joyce Nilo share a vision that guides our work. We invite you to learn more about us, and why we’re passionate about what we do.
As founder and principal of K2A, Steve has focused his over thirty-five year career working on academic, public sector, non-profit and urban design projects.
Steve is an architect who thinks like a client, he is talented at synthesizing a program with pragmatic constraints of budget and schedule. Always keeping an eye to the big picture, Steve marshals his talented staff with the fervor of an orchestra conductor.
Steve is a long time member of the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, and the California Community College Facilities Coalition. He has served as Vice Chair of the Mayor’s Citizens Reuse Committee for Treasure Island, as well as being a board member of several San Francisco non-profits. Steve is an enthusiastic outdoorsman, with an affinity to cycling and skiing.
Henry offers over thirty years of experience in design and management of community housing, commercial and non-profit workplaces, and bioscience projects. A principal and co-founder of K2A, Henry brings a vision to provide exceptional client service and innovative design, in a friendly and collaborative environment.
Direct involvement is paramount to Henry’s approach, providing creative solutions to meet the project’s program and budget, while making a unique architectural contribution. Henry provides quality assurance through all phases, working closely with owners and contractors teams to complete construction; he imparts a strong team ethic.
Henry is a LEED Accredited Professional, with extensive knowledge of green materials and systems. He incorporates sustainable-design as an integral part of developing spaces where we live, work, and play. Henry can often be found after hours listening to jazz, or swinging on the dance floor.
Joyce Nilo joined K2A in 1996 and has more than nineteen years of professional architectural experience in design, production and management of institutional and educational buildings. As principal, Joyce is responsible for providing direct supervision over projects. You can count on Joyce’s unwavering attention to detail, and her clear and direct communication. She is a hands-on principal, and natural leader in facilitating user engagement to build consensus.
