ABOUT US

We are architects, planners, and interior designers who are committed to contextual solutions.

Three men sit around a table in an office, reviewing large architectural blueprints related to historic preservation. Bookshelves and a cityscape photo are in the background. The mood is focused and collaborative.

Celebrating more than a half-century of building community.

As one of the first minority-owned businesses in the A/E/C industry, KMA has been providing services in Philadelphia and the region since 1976.

From the beginning, our goal has been to create outstanding places that reflect our clients’ vision implemented within their program requirements.

The practice has evolved over the years, embracing new clients, technologies, materials, and building types.

  1. Kelly Maiello Architects founded

  2. First public-sector commission secured

  3. Relocated to new office at 20th & Chestnut Street

  4. Became one of Philadelphia’s early certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) architecture firms

  5. Commission for the award-winning renovation of historic Regent Terrace Housing

  6. A fax machine accelerated communications with clients and consultants

  7. KMA’s first on-call contract with Philadelphia International Airport

  8. Adoption of CAD to augment hand drafting

  9. KMA’s first major historic preservation project wraps up at City Hall

  10. Moved to current address on Walnut Street

  11. Public-sector, education, and community facilities become core practice areas

  12. Pennsylvania Convention Center wins AIA National Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design

  13. Philadelphia Zoo Big Cat Falls wins Exhibit of the Year, Association of Zoos and Aquariums

  14. Navigated the Great Recession while maintaining staff and public-sector work

  15. Firm leadership expanded with new principals and associates

  16. Adoption of BIM workflows and digital collaboration tools

  17. Major partnership transition and launch of a new firm website

  18. Transitioned to remote and hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic

  19. Passing of KMA co-founder, Emanuel Kelly, FAIA

  20. Website redevelopment to reflect the firm’s history, people, and future

Our People

As a generalist practice, KMA staff possess the education, training, and collective expertise to tackle many different types of projects.

Meet our team
View Troy C. Leonard A middle-aged man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, stands in front of a red brick wall and smiles slightly at the camera. View James Karmolinski A Philadelphia architect with short gray hair and glasses stands in front of a red stone wall, wearing a navy blue patterned short-sleeve shirt and smiling slightly with his arms crossed, reflecting his passion for historic preservation. View Brian W. Yachysen A woman with long brown hair and a warm smile sits in front of a stone wall in Philadelphia, wearing a black top with decorative cutouts and a gold necklace. View Kathryn Babcock A woman with curly brown hair, glasses, and a striped navy and white top stands outdoors, smiling. She wears a colorful scarf, a pendant necklace, and earrings—an architect with a passion for historic preservation—against greenery and a stone wall. View Dori H. Bova View Robert Smith A bearded man wearing glasses and a plaid shirt over a white t-shirt leans against a concrete ledge outdoors in Philadelphia, with greenery and a blurred city street in the background. View Joshua E. Thomas A woman with long, wavy dark hair and red-framed glasses smiles slightly in an educational office setting in Philadelphia, with bright windows and a corkboard in the background. View Jillian Berry A smiling older man with a gray beard and glasses, wearing a light blue striped shirt and a patterned tie, stands in an educational indoor setting with soft natural light in the background. View Joseph P. Bridy A person with short, natural curly hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a black blazer, smiles in a brightly lit, modern indoor setting—an architect surrounded by blurred plants and lights that suggest an educational environment. View Nyasha Felder A young woman with long curly brown hair and a light patterned blouse smiles slightly while standing in front of a leafy green background, radiating a calm, educational presence. View Abigail Freed An older man with glasses and a friendly smile stands outdoors in Philadelphia, wearing a blue blazer and light blue shirt. Green foliage, a body of water, and his passion for civic engagement and historic preservation shine in the background. View Robert Glick A man with short brown hair, wearing a navy blue polo shirt, stands outdoors in front of green foliage and white flowers, smiling at the camera—an architect passionate about historic preservation and civic engagement. View Victor Guarino A woman with short light brown hair and a blue zip-up jacket stands indoors, softly smiling at the camera. The blurred background, featuring a TV screen and wooden shelves, hints at her interest in interior design. View Kelly Johnson An older man with a bald head and white beard smiles, wearing a blue shirt with a white floral pattern, in an educational setting in Philadelphia. View Frank Mallas A woman with dark hair pulled back, wearing a black blazer, black shirt, and gold necklace, smiles outdoors in a green, leafy garden or park setting in Philadelphia. View Ashley Matthews A smiling man with long brown hair in a ponytail and a goatee takes a selfie outdoors near a river or lake, with small boats, greenery, and buildings visible behind him on a cloudy day, showcasing his passion for architecture and educational pursuits. View Michel Saewert A middle-aged man with gray hair and a beard, dressed in a brown jacket, navy shirt, and polka-dot pocket square, stands outdoors by green leafy plants. The Philadelphia architect smiles slightly at the camera. View Kenneth Sebra A woman with curly brown hair, wearing a yellow scarf over a blue top, smiles outdoors in Philadelphia. The blurred background shows buildings and bare trees, suggesting a cool day. View Kelly Vresilovic A smiling older man with white hair and a beard, wearing a blue plaid shirt, stands outdoors in front of a large historic building in a city, reflecting his passion for historic preservation and educational architecture. View Francesco Zampetti