About

The Firm

RMKM Architecture provides clients extraordinary passion for design excellence and a mandate to push the boundaries of the professional services we offer. Since 1995 RMKM has built a formidable reputation and an impressive body of work for municipal, state, education, and university clients. RMKM’s design approach is responsive to New Mexico and the Southwest’s unique sense of place, tri-cultural population, and high desert climate; our built work strongly reflects those influences. Key RMKM building type specialties include museums, libraries, community centers, law enforcement/public safety/courts, healthcare, primary, secondary and higher education, and the occasional private residence. More than 50 professional awards and countless accolades from clients and users are testimony to the firm’s consistent commitment to design, the art of architecture, and service excellence. In 2015 RMKM was named AIA New Mexico Firm of the Year.

Our Team

Our success stems from a culture of passion for quality architecture and client satisfaction.

Mark Rohde, FAIAFounding Principal

Don H. May, FAIA, NCARB, IALEPFounding Principal

Dave Williams, AIA, NCARBPrincipal

Dan Caruso, AIA, NCARB, LEED APPrincipal

Bob Mallory, AIASenior Architect

Peter Rehn, AIA, NCARB, CPHDSenior Architect

Mildred Ortiz, RAStaff Architect

James KampsProject Manager

Antoni Baca, AAIAIntern Architect

Susan SmrtBusiness Manager

Katie LindsayOffice Manager

Process

We consider our design process to be flexible and intuitive. It begins with an exploration of the essence of the project, aimed at uncovering the subtleties of programmatic goals and the deeper layers of meaning in a project’s context and site. Once we understand the full extent of the problem to be solved, we firmly believe that solutions are best achieved through meaningful collaboration with all project stakeholders. Through effective collaboration, and the consideration of many well developed concepts, we have the ability to achieve design solutions that successfully create enhanced value for the stakeholders, as well as the social and physical environment.

Services

Architecture

RMKM is accustomed to providing our clients with a broad range of architectural services, beginning with the earliest assessmen tof needs. Our time-tested, technical methodology follows with an inclusive process aimed at full exposing and defining the design problem. We believe facilitating team input benefits everyone involved.

Our design process focuses on responsiveness to clients and is based on the seamless integration of programming and design. In our process, the distinct boundary between programming and design is erased. Instead, an ongoing conversation about established goals and their relationship to the proposed design solutions is emphasized and tested. This approach has proven to ensure that these objectives are not forgotten but continue to ignite the design process. Each stage of design, from Scematics through Contract documents, includes a review and summary of original programatic goals.

Interior Design

RMKM acknowledges the importance of Interior Design as a significant componenet of a building’s ultimate character and function. It is a force that has the power to positively affect the interaction between users and their immediate environment. We value the input of all user groups by carefully listening to their needs as the related to their daily and long term functions. We can assist users in visualizing spatial character of the building in the design process through interior renderings, video animations and the presentation of product samples. Our orchestration of finishes and materials emphasizes the longevity, character and function of the building.

Planning / Programming

Programming is primarily a “pre-design’ endeavor, but serves as the basis for generating master plan concepts and preliminary building design approaches.

We gather and confirm important project crieteria through direct, “on on one” interaction. Questionnaires are tailored to project type and distributed to all pertinent divisions of the identified user agencies to gather detailed data and ideas. We conduct in-person interviews with each participating user/owner entityt to clarify questionnaire responses, refine performance criteria and to seek other relevant input. We compile this programmatic data and reference precedent successes for all of the project goals, facts and needs.

Sustainable Design

We have passionately embraced the principles of sustainable design for many years, long before LEED has been in place. For us, good architecture has always considered site impact, water efficiency, energy usage, materials and resources and quality indoor environments. Regardless of the level of LEED certification, we offer our commitment to a process that thinks beyond LEED “points” to true green architecture.