Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Los Angeles Architecture Firm Specializing in Residential & Adaptive Reuse Projects
Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA) has been reshaping Los Angeles through purposeful, inspirational design since 1975. Our collaborative approach prioritizes listening to clients and communities, ensuring architecture actively engages users while balancing beauty, context, and functionality. With expertise in multifamily housing, adaptive reuse, campuses, and mixed-use developments, we specialize in transforming underutilized spaces into vibrant, sustainable environments. Our team of licensed professionals brings decades of experience in project management, entitlements, and permits, consistently delivering projects on time and within budget.Recognized with the 2016 AIA California Council Firm Award, we maintain a culture of innovation, diversity, and community service, reflected in our work across over 50 adaptive reuse projects and 18,000 housing units. Women hold over half of management roles, underscoring our commitment to equity, which we reaffirmed through the SoCal NOMA DEI Challenge. From transit-oriented developments to historic preservation, our designs aim to enhance neighborhoods while addressing Los Angeles' evolving urban challenges.
Services
Architecture
Master Planning
Affordable Housing
Historic Preservation
Adaptive Reuse
Campus Design
Mixed-Use Development
Urban Design
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- 46 years of experience shaping Los Angeles architecture since 1975
- Pioneers in adaptive reuse with over 50 transformed buildings
- Award-winning sustainable multifamily housing expertise
- Collaborative process prioritizing client and community needs
- Diverse team with specialized skills in urban redevelopment
What people say
Award-winning projects
Sustainable design expertise
Community impact focus
Historic preservation success
Collaborative approach
Services
Adaptive Reuse Architecture
We transform existing structures into modern functional spaces while preserving historical elements. Our expertise includes converting mid-century buildings into housing and repurposing historic sites for contemporary use. Projects like the Las Palmas Apartments demonstrate our ability to balance preservation with modernization, creating sustainable solutions that maintain architectural heritage while meeting current needs through creative engineering and design.
Affordable Housing Design
Specializing in multifamily affordable housing since 1988, we've completed 78 projects totaling 8,000+ units. Our approach combines thoughtful layouts with community amenities, focusing on dignity and sustainability. We work with developers to create mixed-income communities that address homelessness through innovative design solutions like modular construction and compact unit layouts that maximize livability within budget constraints.
Campus Master Planning
We create comprehensive development strategies for educational and institutional campuses across Southern California. Our plans integrate architecture, landscape, and infrastructure to create cohesive, walkable environments. Current projects include 200+ acre master plans that balance growth with sustainability, incorporating green spaces, transit access, and mixed-use zones to foster vibrant, interconnected communities that evolve with user needs.
Residential Architecture
Designing market-rate and mixed-use residential buildings since 1990, we've completed 300+ developments with 18,000+ units. Our approach prioritizes livability through smart layouts, natural light optimization, and community amenities. We specialize in urban infill projects that respond to neighborhood character while meeting density requirements, incorporating sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems to create modern living environments.
Historic Preservation
We protect and revitalize culturally significant buildings through meticulous preservation work. Our projects maintain original architectural details while updating structures for modern use. This includes restoring iconic facades like the Googie-style Safeway in Wilmington while integrating new construction, ensuring historical continuity while meeting contemporary building standards and creating functional spaces that honor a site's architectural legacy.
People
Lise Bornstein
Principal
AIA award-winning architect with 25+ years of experience in sustainable multifamily housing and adaptive reuse projects across Los Angeles.
John Arnold
Principal
Licensed architect specializing in campus planning and urban design, leading complex mixed-use developments that reshape Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Tarrah Beebe
Senior Associate
Architect and urban designer focusing on adaptive reuse strategies to address housing shortages through creative building transformations.
Jaime Olmos
Senior Associate
Project architect with expertise in entitlement processes and sustainable design implementation for multifamily housing developments.
Barbara Flammang
Founding Partner
FAIA recipient and co-founder instrumental in shaping LA's architectural landscape through innovative adaptive reuse projects since 1980.
Questions
What architectural services does KFA specialize in?
KFA specializes in residential housing, adaptive reuse, campus planning, mixed-use developments, and historic preservation projects across Southern California.
How does KFA approach sustainable design?
We integrate sustainability through energy-efficient systems, material reuse in adaptive projects, and net-zero strategies in multifamily housing developments.
What experience does KFA have with affordable housing?
Since 1990, we've designed 8,000+ affordable housing units including supportive housing for vulnerable populations across Los Angeles County.
Can KFA handle complex urban redevelopment projects?
Yes, our team has extensive experience with entitlements, zoning, and transforming underutilized urban sites into vibrant communities.
Is KFA involved in industry leadership?
We actively shape housing policy through participation in organizations like AIA|LA and advocacy for adaptive reuse ordinances.
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