Kaliski Urban Studio, John E
JKA (John Kaliski Architects) is a Los Angeles-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2001 that delivers master planning, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and civic facility design for government agencies, universities, healthcare nonprofits, and private developers across Southern California.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kaliski Urban Studio, John E does
JKA (John Kaliski Architects), founded in 2001 and headquartered at 3780 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 500 in Los Angeles, is a privately held architecture and urban design firm operating under a professional services model. The firm was originally known as Urban Studio when it completed its first project, the University of California Santa Barbara East Side Area Plan, and rebranded to JKA while maintaining its social-equity design mission. Its core services span housing and mixed-use architecture, placemaking, commercial and hospitality design, office tenant improvements, master and area planning, mobility/transit-oriented design, and healthcare/wellness facility architecture.
The firm's revenue model is project-based professional fees generated through direct client engagement, RFP processes, government procurement, and repeat-client referrals. It serves four primary verticals: government agencies (municipalities, county, transit authorities such as LA Metro), educational institutions (UCSB, CSU Dominguez Hills), healthcare organizations and nonprofits (Mission City Community Network, HealthRIGHT 360), and private real estate developers (AIMCO). Much of its work is delivered as a subconsultant to prime engineering, planning, and economics firms including Kimley-Horn, Environmental Science Associates, MIG, Dudek, Raimi + Associates, Fehr & Peers, and BAE Urban Economics.
The firm differentiates itself through a stated mission to foster places that advance social equity and well-being, supported by a multilingual community engagement methodology (English, Spanish, Thai workshops) and innovative visualization tools such as SIM City simulations. Its competitive moat rests on the principal's deep Los Angeles planning experience, demonstrated transit-oriented development expertise, and a portfolio that includes 1,400+ units of affordable housing overseen by its Director of Architecture. The firm operates exclusively within Southern California with no disclosed technology platform, funding rounds, or institutional investors.
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kaliski Urban Studio, John E
- Legal name
- JKA (John Kaliski Architects)
- Website
- https://jka-la.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- JKA (John Kaliski Architects) is a Los Angeles-based architecture and urban design firm founded in 2001 that delivers master planning, transit-oriented development, affordable housing, and civic facility design for government agencies, universities, healthcare nonprofits, and private developers across Southern California.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural and Urban Design Services
- NAICS
- Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Interior Design Services (541410), Landscape Architectural Services (54132)
- SIC
- Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)
Keywords
Where Kaliski Urban Studio, John E is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Professional fees for architecture and urban design projects, including master planning, specific plans, transit-oriented development, and building design. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with government agencies, institutions, and private developers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JKA is an architecture and urban design firm providing professional design services across housing and mixed-use, placemaking and community design, commercial, hospitality, offices, master and area planning, mobility/transit-oriented design, and wellness/healthcare facility categories. Services span master planning, specific plans, transit-oriented development feasibility studies and design guidelines, schematic design, construction administration, and participatory community engagement. The firm delivers project-based contracts to government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare nonprofits, and private developers throughout Southern California.
Product overview
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E (operating as John Kaliski Architects / JKA) is an architecture and urban design firm providing professional design services. The company does not offer a technology product or software platform but rather delivers architectural and planning services across multiple project categories. Services include housing and mixed-use design, placemaking and community design, commercial architecture, hospitality design, office tenant improvements, master and area planning, mobility/transit-oriented design, and wellness facility architecture. JKA serves public sector clients (cities, counties, universities), private developers, and non-profit organizations throughout Southern California, with projects ranging from civic center master plans to medical clinics to corporate offices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Housing and Mixed-Use Architecture Architecture design services for multifamily, affordable, transitional, and mixed-use housing projects, including schematic design through construction administration. Target clients include municipal agencies, affordable housing developers, and nonprofits.
- Placemaking and Community Design Design services for public spaces, community facilities, and cultural sites that foster community engagement and identity, including La Plaza de Cultura y Artes master plan for Los Angeles County.
- Commercial Architecture Architecture services for commercial buildings and tenant improvements, serving private developers and corporate clients.
- Hospitality Architecture Architecture services for hospitality projects including hotels and adaptive reuse of historic buildings, exemplified by the Found Hotel in San Diego's Gas Lamp District.
- Office and Tenant Improvement Architecture Architecture and interior services for corporate offices and tenant improvements, including the Lincoln Place Corporate Offices renovation for AIMCO Venezia LLC in Venice, California.
- Master and Area Planning Long-range master planning, specific plans, area plans, and design guidelines for municipalities and institutions, including the UCSB East Side Area Plan, Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan, East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan, El Segundo Smoky Hollow Specific Plan, and West Hollywood General Plan Update.
- Mobility and Transit-Oriented Design Urban design, feasibility studies, and development guidelines for transit corridors and station areas, including the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Line Joint Development, East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study, Santa Ana Train Station Depot Area Conceptual Design, and City of Los Angeles Station Neighborhood Area Plans (SNAP).
- Wellness and Healthcare Facility Architecture Architecture services for healthcare, community clinic, and wellness facilities, including the 15206 Parthenia Medical Clinic for Mission City Community Network (4,000 SF, 12 exam rooms) and the 2307 West 6th Street & 608 Grand View Medical Clinic for HealthRIGHT 360.
Companies that use Kaliski Urban Studio, John E
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Design SyndicateminorInterior architecture firm collaborated with on Lincoln Place Corporate Offices project. JKA worked with Design Syndicate to select materials, finishes, fixtures, furnishings, light fixtures and art for the corporate headquarters renovation.
- IDS GroupminorConsulting partner on CSU Dominguez Hills DIT Help Desk project. JKA worked with IDS Group on inventorying existing uses and equipment and preparing concept design.
- Kimley-HornminorLandscape architecture, traffic and parking planning, infrastructure/utilities consultant on Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan. Also engaged by City of Malibu as client representative for Labor Exchange Center project.
- RICK EngineeringminorPrime consultant on Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency Transmission and Distribution Office. JKA performed base architectural services and construction administration as subconsultant.
- Environmental Science Associates (ESA)minorLead consultant for East San Gabriel Valley Area Plan. JKA developed the urban design component as subconsultant to ESA.
- BAE Urban EconomicsminorBAE retained JKA to collaborate on Economic Feasibility Study for City of Santa Barbara, examining impact of shifting from density-based to FAR zoning standards.
- MIG Inc.minorLead consultant for El Segundo Smoky Hollow Specific Plan. JKA provided urban design standards, guidelines, visualization, and co-facilitation.
- Raimi + AssociatesminorLead planning consultant on West Hollywood General Plan Update and Thousand Oaks Downtown Core Master Plan. JKA provided urban design components as subconsultant.
- Hogle IrelandminorCo-consultant on West Hollywood General Plan Update. JKA worked for Hogle Ireland and the City of West Hollywood.
- DudekminorPrime consultant for City of Long Beach Boeing C-17 Globemaster Transition Plan. JKA collaborated as subconsultant on specific plan for decommissioned facility.
- KOA CorporationminorTransportation planning firm for East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Study. JKA led urban design and architecture as sub-consultant.
- Katz Okitsu & AssociatesminorTransportation planning partner on Santa Monica Crosswalk Enhancement Program. JKA worked with firm on pedestrian-vehicular conflict observation and design.
- Economic & Planning SystemsminorEconomic consulting partner on Memorial Park Neighborhood Plan. Also engaged on Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan.
- Fehr & PeersminorTransportation planning partner on Memorial Park Neighborhood Plan for Santa Monica transit station area.
- Buro HappoldminorEngineering services partner on Memorial Park Neighborhood Plan.
- Estolano LeSar AdvisorsminorOutreach and political consultants on La Plaza de Cultura y Artes master plan for Los Angeles County.
- James Suhr & Associates LLCminorDevelopment advisors partnered with JKA on La Plaza de Cultura y Artes master plan for County of Los Angeles.
- The Maxima GroupminorReal estate economists partnered on La Plaza de Cultura y Artes master plan.
- HR&A Advisors Inc.minorEconomic consultants on Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Line Joint Development project.
- The Robert GroupminorCommunity outreach partner on Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Line Joint Development project.
- HplusFminorAmphitheater consultants on Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan.
- Ellana Inc.minorCost estimating consultant on Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Perkins&Will: Global architecture firm with a Los Angeles office and established urban design practice that competes for the same civic, university, and transit-oriented master-planning RFPs as JKA.
Direct peers
- Studio-MLA: Los Angeles landscape architecture and urban design studio that frequently collaborates on civic, transit, and master-planning projects similar to JKA's TOD and civic center work.
- Rios: Los Angeles-based architecture and urban design firm with a similar emphasis on placemaking, civic architecture, and integrated urban design strategy.
- Torti Gallas + Partners: Architecture and urban design firm with a long-standing focus on TOD, urban infill, and mixed-use housing, similar to JKA's multifamily and community-design portfolio.
- Brooks + Scarpa: LA-based architecture firm recognized for affordable housing, civic, and community-focused projects, directly comparable to JKA's affordable-housing and equity-oriented mission.
- Frederick Fisher and Partners: LA-based architecture practice of comparable scale that designs cultural, civic, and residential projects with strong urban context, overlapping JKA's project typologies.
- Moule & Polyzoides: Pasadena-headquartered architecture and urban design firm with parallel focus on urbanism, housing, and TOD. Comparable to JKA in size, regional base, and emphasis on urban design within an architecture practice.
- Marmol Radziner: LA-based architecture and design-build practice working in residential, commercial, and hospitality, comparable in scale and LA footprint to JKA.
- Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chan: Los Angeles architecture firm with comparable size and a portfolio of civic, educational, and residential projects that intersects with JKA's institutional client base.
Regional players
- KTGY: California-based architecture and planning firm specializing in multifamily housing, mixed-use, and master planning across the western US, a strong regional comparator for JKA's housing and area-plan work.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E social profiles
Digital presenceKaliski Urban Studio, John E financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kaliski Urban Studio, John E
What does Kaliski Urban Studio, John E do?
JKA is an architecture and urban design firm providing professional design services across housing and mixed-use, placemaking and community design, commercial, hospitality, offices, master and area planning, mobility/transit-oriented design, and wellness/healthcare facility categories. Services span master planning, specific plans, transit-oriented development feasibility studies and design guidelines, schematic design, construction administration, and participatory community engagement. The firm delivers project-based contracts to government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare nonprofits, and private developers throughout Southern California.
Is Kaliski Urban Studio, John E a public or private company?
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kaliski Urban Studio, John E founded?
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kaliski Urban Studio, John E based?
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Kaliski Urban Studio, John E make money?
One revenue line is on record: architecture and Design Services.
Who are Kaliski Urban Studio, John E's main competitors?
Perkins&Will is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Studio-MLA, Rios, Torti Gallas + Partners, Brooks + Scarpa, Frederick Fisher and Partners, Moule & Polyzoides, Marmol Radziner and Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chan. KTGY is listed as a regional player.
Does Kaliski Urban Studio, John E have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kaliski Urban Studio, John E.
What industry is Kaliski Urban Studio, John E in?
Kaliski Urban Studio, John E's product category is Architectural and Urban Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 5413 and its SIC code is 8741.