KAI Enterprises

We're proud to announce four well-deserved promotions in our Dallas-Fort Worth office, recognizing individuals whose leadership, expertise, and commitment continue to advance KAI's mission and strengthen our impact across the communities we serve.

Catherine Dalton, AIA, RID, LEED BD+C ➡️Principal
A K-12 Market Leader who brings 20+ years of design excellence to learning environments across the region.

Brien Graham, AIA, NOMA, NCARB ➡️Principal
Civic, Municipal & Cultural Market Leader who shapes the spaces that reflect community aspirations.

Derwin Broughton, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, WELL AP ➡️Senior Principal – Vice President
A citizen architect and advocate driving business development across our Design, Engineering, Build and 360 Construction Services units.

Blaik Ritchie, AIA ➡️ Senior Principal – Design Operations
With 30+ years of global project leadership, Blaik now strengthens collaboration and process excellence firmwide.

These promotions reflect the talent, passion, and dedication that define KAI's culture. We congratulate Catherine, Brien, Derwin, and Blaik on this well-earned achievement and look forward to their continued leadership and impact. 👏

Check out the link below to learn more about this exciting news!

https://kai-db.com/kai-elevates-design-team-leadership-with-four-promotions-in-dallas-fort-worth-tx-office/

National Intern Day is here!! 🎉

We're so proud to celebrate our summer interns, and even more excited to see where their careers take them from here! 👏

Across our offices this summer, these students came eager to learn more about each of our four divisions, and the services they provide. We appreciate their fresh perspectives and contributions, all of which have helped us make a real impact on the communities we're transforming!

Check out our post to see what they've been up to this summer, and much more!!

A project near and dear to our hearts has reached completion!

We are proud to celebrate the grand opening of The Covering House’s new Hope & Restoration Community Center. Estimated at $9 million, the 17,000-square-foot Level 3 residential facility provides 24/7 care for minors ages 12-18 who are survivors of s*x trafficking.

The facility features two residential wings and spaces that support individual and group therapy, a full in-house education program, recreation and sensory integration.

KAI provided design and construction services for the facility and was honored to be involved in a project so closely aligned with our mission of Transforming Communities. It is truly one we will never forget.

"Forty-five years ago, my father started KAI with the goal of transforming communities; not just the physical environment but also transforming the lives of people who use those facilities. For many of KAI’s employees, this project spoke to their hearts.” - KAI CEO Michael B. Kennedy.

We are thrilled to see The Covering House move into its new, larger home, where it can continue providing residents with hope, healing and a brighter future.

Read more about this transformative project at the link below! 🔗

https://kai-db.com/kai-completes-transformative-residential-treatment-facility-for-victims-of-s*x-trafficking/

Congratulations to Brien Graham, AIA, NOMA, NCARB, for receiving the Texas Society of Architects/AIA Award for Equitable Practice in Architecture in Honor of John S. Chase Jr., FAIA. This award is given each year to a TxA member who has made a lasting impact on equity, diversity, and inclusion within the profession in Texas.

Brien is a Principal and KAI's Civic, Municipal, & Cultural Market Leader whose commitment to advancing equity extends well beyond the firm. Throughout his career, he has held strategic equity leadership roles within AIA and the National Organization of Minority Architects while championing mentorship, supporting licensure candidates, advancing scholarship initiatives and engaging the next generation through youth outreach. He currently serves as NOMA South Region vice president, sits on TxA's Nominating Committee, and recently wrapped up a term on the AIA Strategic Council. Among his many achievements, Brien helped grow the EDI dialogue and co-founded an architecture summer camp at AIA Dallas.

We're incredibly proud to call Brien our colleague. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor! 🎉

Learn more: https://texasarchitects.org/2026/07/16/2026-honor-awards/

Listening to the community was at the heart of this project.

We are proud to celebrate the completion of another transformational community project with the grand opening of the City of DeSoto Parks & Recreation Department's new Aquatics & Recreation Center (ARC)!

After more than a decade of community anticipation, the 75,000-square-foot facility officially opened its doors, providing residents of all ages with a destination for recreation, wellness and competitive athletics. The new two-story ARC facility includes:

🏊 8-lane competition pool
🩱 Leisure pool with second-level observation decks
🏃 400-foot fitness track suspended
💪 State-of-the-art fitness and strength training area
📋 Administrative offices and meeting rooms
🏀 Gymnasiums and locker rooms
👥 Flexible social gathering spaces

KAI was proud to lead the community engagement effort for the project alongside SmithGroup, working closely with DeSoto residents and city leaders to ensure the design reflected the community's vision, history and values.

Congratulations to the City of DeSoto and everyone who helped bring this long-envisioned community destination to life!

Read more about the ARC at the link below! 🔗

https://kai-db.com/desoto-aquatics-recreation-center/