A Storied Legacy of Longevity and Professionalism
It's not every day that people get to celebrate 80 years of life, but our founder, Bob Koch, just hit the big 8-0! Bob has never wavered from his commitment to the firm and remains an impactful voice. A native of New York City, Bob earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Florida in 1963. He later partnered with Lyle Fugleberg to create the foundation of today's company. He is an award-winning architect with awards from the American Institute of Architects, American Resorts Development Association, Home Builders Association, and the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks. He is also a frequent speaker at national seminars/conventions concerning design trends and the industry's future.
Under Bob's watchful eye, FK evolved from a senior housing development company to a full-service firm of architects, designers, and planners serving clients in hospitality, multi-family, student housing, mixed-use, and commercial projects. His leadership and insightful thinking in the late 1980s, when the interiors division was created, helped FK establish itself as a nationally recognized firm in the 1990s. Bob has seen the firm expand from projects solely in Central Florida to projects spanning 19 different states, several Caribbean islands, and even as far as Mauritius off the coast of Eastern Africa.
It is rare for an individual to stay at one company for their entire professional career; however, Bob is a stalwart holdout. His professionalism, integrity, and loyalty to the firm have helped establish it as a premier architectural firm in the U.S.
Bob's example is felt throughout the firm, with various longstanding professionals staying at FK for decades, including:
· Gregg Hemann (Principal) – 29 Years
· Jim Kelley (Managing Principal) – 28 Years
· Ted Hunton (Managing Principal) – 27 Years
· Ken Linehan (Managing Principal) – 26 Years
· Ronaldo Culibao (Designer) – 25 Years
· Jesy Acosta (FK Interiors) – 25 Years
· Luis Rosado (Principal) – 25 Years
Bob's impact on the Orlando community was recently recognized in a personalized letter from Mayor Buddy Dyer, who thanked him for his contributions to shaping a stronger Orlando and wished him a happy birthday. All of us at FK wish him the happiest of birthdays and hope for many more to come!
As we move into the last part of 2022, our new leadership team strives to replicate Bob's impact as we write our story for the next 50 years!