ARTICLE | PRO BONO / NON-PROFIT WORK
SERVICE THROUGH PRACTICE
AN INTERVIEW WITH KYLE RENDALL, AIA BY YU-NGOK LO
Kyle Rendall, AIA is an architect at KSS Architectcs. He manages projects in all stages of design and construction within the PreK-12 market team. Rendall has past experience volunteering for Habitat for Humanity in Trenton and Newark, as well as being an ACE mentor in Newark. He has also procured and carried-out several pro bono projects on his personal time with great success, which has greatly added to his architectural experience. Additionally, Rendall ls Deputy Fire Chief of the Princeton Fire Department, which is a great passion of his.
In 2015, Kyle Rendall was recognized with the AIA New Jersey Young Architect of the Year Award. The announcement specifically noted his commitment to community service, including pro bono work. Despite his busy schedule as an architect with KSS, he is a volunteer firefighter and heavily involved with Womanspace Inc. Our CONNECTION team reached out to Kyle to find out more about his passion for serving his community. YL: You have been involved with many pre-K to K-12 markets with school-district clients. Why is this type of work important to you and to the local communities? Kyle Rendall (KR): KSS has been instrumental in the design of a significant base of community-based projects in our area, particularly K-12 schools that range from small fit-outs within existing buildings to entire school campuses with multiple facilities. Clients have ranged from long-established public school districts to brand-new charter schools, located within urban centers or in rural suburbs. Through working on such a variety of projects within this market, it has become evident that the primary goal transcends the individual project – to provide safe, resilient spaces that foster the education of our nation’s future leaders, all within a responsible budget. To me, K-12 projects are some of the most important and rewarding projects that we have the opportunity to design. They spark palpable excitement in their communities and build new educational opportunities for children. We have also seen new or renovated schools leading to development of surrounding properties to support the growth and vibrancy of a neighborhood, magnifying the impact of our work. YL: Can you describe your pro bono design services with Womanspace?
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CONNECTION
THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN JOURNAL OF THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM
KR: Several years ago, I was approached by Womanspace to support the design of their administrative headquarters following my involvement at their annual fundraising events. Working through KSS, I was able to offer my services to them on a pro bono basis, including working with them from property acquisition through occupancy. I provided full construction documentation, limited construction-administration services, and general oversight over the project. We renovated an existing 6,000-square-foot, two-story office building, completely removing interior partitions and finishes, rearranging the existing structural system, and fitting out both floors, along with replacing the exterior window assemblies and cladding. I remain involved with the organization through participation on the Advisory Board – these meetings are held in the conference room we designed together. It was a truly humbling experience to be able to support such a great organization and to continue to experience the building as a user to this day. YL: You are a volunteer firefighter for the Princeton Fire Department. Tell us a little bit about that. KR: I presently serve as deputy fire chief for the Princeton Fire Department and also as a firefighter near my home in Montgomery Township, N.J. I am tasked with a variety of responsibilities, ranging from commanding and operating at fire incidents to managing budget negotiations and purchasing with local officials. I grew up familiar with the fire service through the involvement of several of my family members, which left a great impression of the importance of community on me. Not only do members of the department come together as one to serve the residents of the town, but also, through their outreach, they foster a sense of place and pride in the local community. This comes full circle as these actions influence new community members to get involved, sustaining these valuable local organizations.