After receiving several design awards for projects in Seattle, and drawing inspiration from the work he had performed in Rome, Rod Knipper decided that it was time to open his own firm. In 1973, using his faith as a cornerstone, he set up his practice in Yakima Washington in order to bring his belief in the positive impact of design back to his home town. The idea was simple; provide good quality design, have a positive impact on people’s lives, and do everything with honesty. With those principles as a foundation, Rod began with small design work and steadily grew into larger commercial, educational, and healthcare markets. Similarly, his firm grew from a one-man practice into a multi-partner firm. KDA’s partners have embraced Rod’s principles and brought an unwavering dedication to caring for clients. Their passion for design and thorough approach have built a list of repeat clients that believe in Rod’s vision and trust the knowledge and creativity of KDA’s design team. Carlos Olivares, the CEO of Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic said “The culture of the patients that we serve is clearly important to KDA Architecture, [and is] revealed by the way they help us design our facilities. They are an incredibly creative firm that takes the time to listen to our needs”. Although working primarily in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, KDA’s commitment to making a difference in people’s lives has also taken them to Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, and Uganda where they have designed hospitals, clinics, and specialty care facilities that support women, children, and areas without an existing healthcare infrastructure. Mission and pro-bono projects allow KDA to use their knowledge to support humanitarian efforts, caregivers, and organizations that help those in need. KDA Architecture started with a single Architect with a vision. Since then it has grown, won numerous awards, and been recognized as a design leader in their region. However, it isn’t the awards that keep clients coming back. Clients return to KDA because they trust their three foundational principles; provide good quality design, have a positive impact on people’s lives, and do everything with honesty.