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MKSK
Predecessor
  • KKG, LLC
  • Kinzelman Kline, Inc.
  • MSI Design
  • Myers Schmalenberger, Inc.
  • MSK2, LLC
Founded1990
Founder
  • Brian Kinzelman
  • Keith Myers
  • Timothy Schmalenberger
  • Mark Kline
Headquarters
Columbus, Ohio
Websitehttps://www.mksk.co.uk/

MKSK is an American planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1990. The firm is known for its work reshaping Central Ohio, particularly downtown Columbus.[1] MKSK is an employee-owned practice with a network of twelve metropolitan studios in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia.[2][3][4]

Attributes

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The company's designs aim to create pedestrian-friendly designs, including reconnecting neighborhoods divided by highways.[5] When working with communities or organizations, MKSK works to understand challenges associated with the project while capitalizing on opportunities that have the potential to benefit the community. Some of the ways the company achieves this is through surveys and research to understand previous initiatives.[6]

The company has been instrumental in envisioning Columbus' and other cities urban planning initiatives to accommodate for growth and community-focused public spaces.[6][7] In 2000, MKSK created masterplan for the Arena District and since then have master planned or designed a majority of projects that have transformed downtown Columbus. Their work has included Capitol Square, the Discovery District, Scioto Audubon Metro Park, and Quarry Trails Metro Park.[1]

History

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MKSK was founded in 2011, from a merger between MSI Design and Kinzelman Kline Gossman (KKG), both of which were founded in 1990.[8] The merger happened after the firms won a commission together at the Ohio State University and decided they could be stronger together than as competition.[9]

In 2019, the company reorganized its ownership from being held between ten partners into an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), making its employees the owners of the company.[8] CEO Brian Kinzelman described the change as driven by the desire to attract and retain employees through a sense of comraderie.[10]

In 2022, Kinzelman was replaced as CEO by Eric Lucas, a principal at the firm.[11] Prior to becoming CEO, Lucas had started firm offices in Indianapolis and Lafayette, Indiana.[12]

Designs

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Since about 2000, the firm or its predecessors have designed or created master plans for nearly every public space in downtown Columbus.[1]

Columbus

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Other cities

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Awards

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  • 2015 OCASLA Honor Award, Bike New Albany Plan, New Albany, Ohio[17]
  • 2022 OCASLA Honor Award, Buckeye Lake Pier Design & North Shore State Park Redevelopment Plan, Buckeye Lake, Ohio[18]
  • 2022 Award of Excellence, Rose Run Park Phase 1, New Albany, Ohio[18]
  • 2021 APA-KY Special Merit Award for Outstanding Neighborhood Plan, Butchertown, Phoenix & NuLu Neighborhood Plan. Louisville, Kentucky[19]
  • 2022 APA-IN Hoosier Planning Award Honorable Mention for Outstanding Economic Development, Castleton Strategic Revitalization Plan, Indianapolis, Indiana[20]
  • 2018 National Planning Achievement Award for Best Practice-Silver, City of Columbus Green Business and Urban Agriculture Strategic Plan/Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan/The City-County Joint Local Food Team, Columbus, Ohio[21]
  • 2017 APA Ohio Planning Award for a Best Practice, City of Columbus Green Business and Urban Agriculture Strategic Plan/Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan/The City-County Joint Local Food Team, Columbus, Ohio[22]
  • 2017 OCASLA Honor Award, Communications & Research, City of Columbus Green Business and Urban Agriculture Strategic Plan/Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Action Plan/The City-County Joint Local Food Team, Columbus, Ohio[23]
  • 2010 OCASLA Honor Award, Cheapside Park Entertainment District and Pavilion, Lexington, Kentucky[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Ghose, Carrie (November 26, 2018). "Making a full necklace out of disconnected pearls: One landscape architecture firm's vision reshaping Columbus' public spaces". Columbus Business First. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "MKSK, Inc". American Planning Association. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  3. ^ "MKSK". MKSK. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  4. ^ "Contact". MKSK. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  5. ^ a b Navera, Tristan (October 16, 2019). "This Columbus architecture firm is now owned by its employees". Columbus Business First. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Project aims to transform Buckeye Lake State Park". The Columbus Dispatch. April 2, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2023 – via Columbus Metropolitan Library.
  7. ^ "Communities share ideas for growth in western Licking County". The Columbus Dispatch. October 30, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2023 – via Columbus Metropolitan Library.
  8. ^ a b Weiker, Jim (October 16, 2019). "MKSK landscape architecture firm to become employee-owned". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Meibers, Bonnie (August 29, 2022). "How longtime MKSK CEO Brian Kinzelman has seen Columbus, architecture and design change". Columbus Business First. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "Employees buy into landscape architecture firm". The Columbus Dispatch. October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2023 – via Columbus Metropolitan Library.
  11. ^ Meibers, Bonnie (August 12, 2022). "MKSK's CEO is stepping down". Columbus Business First. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  12. ^ Meibers, Bonnie (September 13, 2022). "MKSK's new CEO plans to grow the firm with 'stretch projects,' regional offices". Columbus Business First. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "Columbus Crew unveils detailed renderings of Arena District soccer stadium". The Columbus Dispatch. September 24, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2023 – via Columbus Metropolitan Library.
  14. ^ MKSK (June 26, 2021). "Designing the Grandview Yard Master Plan and Implementation in Grandview Heights, Ohio". Columbus Underground (Press release). Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  15. ^ a b MKSK (May 29, 2021). "Designing The Scioto Peninsula in Columbus, Ohio". Columbus Underground (Press release). Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  16. ^ MKSK (June 12, 2021). "Designing the 15th and High Urban Framework Plan and Development in Columbus, Ohio". Columbus Underground (Press release). Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "OCASLA - Awards 2015". ohioasla.org. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  18. ^ a b "OCASLA - Awards 2022". ohioasla.org. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  19. ^ "Awards". APA-KY. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  20. ^ "2022 Award Winners". American Planning Association. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  21. ^ "National Planning Achievement Awards 2018". American Planning Association. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  22. ^ "2017 APA Ohio Planning Awards". ohioplanning.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  23. ^ "OCASLA - Awards 2017". ohioasla.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  24. ^ "OCASLA - Awards 2010". ohioasla.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
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