What We Believe

We believe that at its most basic level, architecture is about the art of organizing space.  A new building can simply be an accommodation of function or it can be much more.  Each of our projects seeks to add significantly to the sizeable investment of new construction.

On one hand we create an important addition to the ongoing culture of the city.  Urban form is one of the most pure expressions of the culture of man, and as such each architectural effort has a responsibility to take its position in the continuum of history.  Cognizant of the past, built in the present, and oriented towards the future, our projects strive to achieve a timelessness and a freedom of current fashion.

The value of our buildings increases over time as compared to many others.  This derives from careful strategy about the emphasis of design impact.  We are known for our designs that create art from the essence of construction, and finesse of the details and materials.  Plans that provide for ultimate flexibility and simplicity of structure allow for continued utility over time.

We believe that while a building is an object, it often also creates a sense of place.  It is this characteristic that is associated with a collective understanding of ownership.  Our attitude about landscape, texture, materials and exterior design is seamless with the architectural expression, and in some cases can be more important.

Our design philosophy and approach sets us apart in substantive ways from architecture that is solely a manipulation of form. In fact our attitude is that throughout the design process the thousands of decisions that need to be made can be aligned from the general to the specific and divided into two categories; subjective and objective.  By organizing design decisions from general to specific the sequential action eliminates the potential of upsetting anything that has been previously decided.  By developing objective and subjective categories, the essential necessities of accommodation can be optimized within any given limitation.  The limitation is usually financial but in some cases can be environmental or spatial. Said differently, our process allows the building functionality to be achieved at its fullest without sacrifice, generating the highest order of quality possible while fully recognizing the reality of certain constraints.  This is architecture and realities of our times.  All too often in the recent past, our profession has rewarded the process that celebrates only form and reference while ignoring the purpose and need. 

Scale

Perception and the appropriate design response can be viewed from three perspectives.  From a distance, a building is seen against the backdrop of other buildings and as such has to achieve appropriate design interplay with the context.  From the view of the pedestrian, one is more conscious of the details, and the pattern of and grain of the materials.  Accordingly, we place greater intensity on our design efforts at this scale.  Finally, the user and occupants have yet again another experience at the interior.  Materials that need not respond to weather, and lighting that is not the single bright source of the sun, demands a specific design direction that responds to these positions as well.

Sustainability

We believe that all the above can be accomplished in a way that is respectful of the health of our environment.  We are committed to sustaining our world’s resources and applaud your commitment as well.
Keating Partners has evolved a relationship with the nearby California Institute of Technology to formulate attitudes for new building and material technology that can be affordably incorporated into each of our projects.  We have found ways to achieve the European standards of “double skins” within more reasonable costs, we are constantly probing for new materials that can make sense in our buildings and, of course, believe that master planning as is already at hand in any University setting can be a big step towards reasonable sustainability. 

Design

As a designer, the comprehension and accommodation of constraints is often the source of our finest work.

The evolution of an existing building from its first incarnation to the present inevitably is inconsistent in quality and function.  The life of the institution, let alone its culture, becomes an aspect of the design for the future.  A building in the public realm, especially with the longevity of a university building, must transcend the trendiness of currency and reach for the dignity of timelessness. 

Materials are often the glue of comprehension and re-inventing means of using these threads of community in fresh or re-interpretive ways is inherent in our design philosophy.  Technology of today presents many new opportunities to create a building about seeing and visualizing other times that it could easily become the driving force underlying the design concept. Circulation needs to be demandingly simple; where to go, how to find should not have to rely on graphics.

Beyond the statement of architecture that tests against all of our civic notions, timelessness and dignity, the joy of place is inherent in the underlying success of the building.  Examples such as the Pantheon come to mind.  This design must outlast the currency of trends yet represent our culture in a way that resonates with both our times as well as the larger fabric American society.

Accordingly, we would form a design intent that acknowledges the relevant past, yet is oriented toward the brightest aspects of the future.  Our design flows from not only the function, but also the making of art forms from the details of construction.  Technology in glass and energy as well as clarity of circulation and flexibility of exhibition will be our guiding light.  We will achieve a building that adds to the Pantheon of the University’s civic pride, not unlike the way our Williams Performing Arts Center adds to the Abilene Christian campus, or the Surgery Center at the University of Washington does to the UW campus.

It is ultimately the poetry of architecture that stimulates the soul of the observer.  The graceful lines of composition, proportions, and materials are our tools.  Mindful of purpose and function, yet achieving the level of dignity and character that transcends simple construction is our goal.  It is our pleasure to join our colleagues and clients in achieving this goal.

Firm History

K E A T I N G (Keating/Khang LLP) is a decade old while the practice of Richard Keating is over 30 years of consistent large-scale design quality. Long known as the architect for the sophisticated builder developer, he has enjoyed a longstanding practice of complex public and private buildings.  He has created over 50 million square feet of complex buildings throughout the United States and other countries.

K E A T I N G is a collaborative practice of Architecture formed to serve a wide variety of clients and a diverse scale of projects with excellence in design, service and management.

We are highly focused and operate in an atelier collaborative format.  Our reputation is based on high-level design with special emphasis on the practicalities of economics, precision of our craft, and a passion for detail and materials.

K E A T I N G is derived from the partners past practice, but is organized to capitalize on the realities of the present.  The firm is based on the concept of collaboration with other professionals, so that direct partner involvement can be maintained on all aspects of our work.  Seeing the increase in support bureaucracy and overhead required to maintain a larger architectural practice, The Partners seek to formulate a practice of personal focus and involvement with a number of key individuals and staff.  We practice around the world from our Los Angeles base.  We extend our work through web posting technology with all of our colleagues and consultants wherever they might be.  We aggressively seek projects that are additive to the overall cultural meaning of our world.