KAI Design & Build

What KAI Design & Build does

KAI Design & Build (legal entity: KAI Design & Build Enterprises, LLC) is a privately held, multi-disciplinary AEC firm founded in 1980 by Michael E. Kennedy, Sr. — Missouri's first licensed Black architect — and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The firm operates as KAI Enterprises with four wholly-owned subsidiaries: KAI Design (architecture, interior design, master planning, sustainable design), KAI Engineering (MEP/FP engineering including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, energy modeling, and commissioning), KAI Build (general contracting, construction management, preconstruction, and owner representation), and KAI 360 CS (program management, construction inspection, design management, and facility assessment). It has 160+ architects, engineers, interior designers, builders, and support staff across regional offices in St. Louis (HQ), Dallas-Fort Worth (70+ employees, established 1999), and Atlanta (expanded 2024).

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services contracts under a direct enterprise field-sales motion, primarily with government, K-12 education, aviation, healthcare, higher education, and community development clients. The flagship go-to-market is integrated design-build delivery under a single contract, supported by Building Information Modeling (BIM) for coordinated construction documentation. The firm is led by CEO Michael B. Kennedy, Jr. (founder's son) and President Darren L. James, FAIA, with a Managing Partner (Brad Simmons, FAIA) and presidents leading each subsidiary. Customer logos include major institutional buyers such as Dallas ISD, Fort Worth ISD, JPS Health Network, Mercy, Indiana University Health, DFW International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, City of DeSoto, Dallas County, St. Louis Community College, and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District. The firm emphasizes community-centered work — over 60% of projects are in underserved neighborhoods — and pursues cultural-signature projects (National Juneteenth Museum with BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group; The Covering House residential treatment facility) alongside large-scale public infrastructure work.

Name

KAI Design & Build

Legal name

KAI Design & Build Enterprises, LLC

Website

https://kai-db.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KAI Design & Build is a privately held, multi-disciplinary AEC firm founded in 1980, delivering integrated design-build services across architecture, engineering, construction, and program management for government, education, aviation, healthcare, and community clients from offices in St. Louis, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Atlanta.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (54141)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA), Building Information Modeling (BIM) & Digital Design Services (BPAHAKAK), Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA), Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Design-build services
• Architecture engineering construction
• MEP engineering services
• Construction management services
• Program management services

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Design Services: Architecture, interior design, master planning, and sustainable design services for commercial, institutional, and community projects
2. Engineering Services: MEP/FP engineering including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and systems design with energy modeling and commissioning
3. Construction/Build Services: General contracting, construction management, preconstruction services, and owner representation for build projects
4. 360 Construction Services (PMCM): Program management, construction inspection, design management, and facility assessment services
5. Design-Build Services: Integrated design-build delivery combining all services under single contract for maximum value and schedule efficiency

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KAI Design & Build is an integrated architecture-engineering-construction (AEC) firm that delivers design-build services through four specialized subsidiaries: KAI Design (architecture and interior design), KAI Engineering (MEP/FP engineering), KAI Build (general contracting and construction management), and KAI 360 CS (program management, construction inspection, and owner’s representation). The firm serves institutional and public-sector clients, applying BIM and integrated design-build delivery to coordinate planning, design, construction, and program management under unified contracts.

Product overview

KAI Enterprises operates as an integrated AEC (Architecture, Engineering, Construction) firm offering five interconnected service brands: KAI Design (architecture and interior design), KAI Engineering (MEP/FP engineering), KAI Build (general contracting and construction management), KAI 360 CS (construction services), and Design-Build Services (integrated delivery method). Founded in 1980, the firm provides start-to-finish design and build services through these specialized subsidiaries that work collaboratively to deliver projects across aviation, commercial, community, government, healthcare, higher education, K-12, mobility, residential, science & technology, sports & entertainment, and water sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 60%+ of projects focused on underserved communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, major and preferred vendor.

• BIG-Bjarke Ingels GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAI serves as Executive Architect and MEP Engineer alongside Lead Design Architect BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group for the National Juneteenth Museum project in Fort Worth, TX. The 50,000 SF museum is a landmark project celebrating Juneteenth history and African American heritage, scheduled for completion in 2026.
• SmithGroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAI partnered with SmithGroup to design the $53M Aquatics & Recreation Center (ARC) at McCowan Park for the City of DeSoto, TX. KAI provided architecture and engineering services while SmithGroup served as Senior Design Principal. The 75,000 SF, two-story facility opened in April 2026.
• Rigid Global Buildingspreferred vendorTechnology or IntegrationKAI partnered with Rigid Global Buildings as their preferred vendor for the Midwest region for industrial projects. Rigid's pre-engineered metal buildings offer lower construction costs, quick turnaround, design flexibility, structural stability, and energy efficiency, complementing KAI's design-build capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WATG: WATG is an integrated design firm with architecture, planning, and interior design expertise across hospitality, cultural, and civic sectors. Comparable to KAI in offering multi-disciplinary integrated design services with a focus on community-oriented projects.
• SmithGroup: SmithGroup is an integrated design firm with architecture, engineering, and planning capabilities across healthcare, education, and civic markets. Already a partner of KAI on the City of DeSoto project, making it a verified comparable on multi-disciplinary public-sector work.
• Perkins&Will: Perkins&Will is a global architecture and design firm with strong healthcare, education, and civic market presence. Directly comparable to KAI on multi-market integrated design projects, particularly healthcare and K-12.
• Page (Page Southerland Page): Page is an integrated architecture and engineering firm headquartered in Dallas with strong healthcare, education, and civic practices. Same geographic base and market overlap as KAI, with similar firm size and government-sector exposure.
• LEO A DALY: LEO A DALY is a privately-held integrated architecture, engineering, and interior design firm with a strong healthcare, aviation, and federal practice. Comparable to KAI in offering full-service design across market sectors under a single platform.
• HKS: HKS is a Dallas-headquartered integrated architecture/design firm with deep expertise in healthcare, sports, and education — directly overlapping KAI's K-12, higher education, and healthcare segments. Similar firm size and Southern U.S. base make it a close comparable.
• HOK: HOK is a global integrated design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm with a strong public-sector and healthcare practice. Comparable to KAI in offering full-service design across multiple market sectors with aviation, healthcare, and education expertise.

Broad incumbents

• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with major design, engineering, and construction management capabilities across aviation, transit, water, and government — a larger incumbent that competes with KAI on integrated delivery and public-sector programs.
• Jacobs Solutions: Jacobs is a large global professional services firm with deep government, aviation, and infrastructure design and program management capabilities. Significant overlap with KAI's 360 CS PMCM and aviation practices, but much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Stantec: Stantec is a large global design and engineering firm with strong water, infrastructure, and community development practices. Comparable to KAI on water/wastewater, civic, and government integrated design but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kai-enterprises
• Xx.com/kaidesignbuild
• Facebookfacebook.com/kaidesignbuild

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KAI Design & Build