SERVICES | KMS Design Group

KMS DESIGN GROUP SERVICES

KMS Design Group, LLC is a Landscape Architecture firm located in Montgomery County, PA. KMS provides services to public, non-profit and private clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The firm is known for its professionalism, attention to detail and prompt response to client needs. KMS has proven itself a reliable consultant for many types of projects and appointments including:

Forensic Services

KMS provides expert services, reviewing and analyzing construction deficiencies and dangerous site conditions. Over the past 25 years, we have been called upon by dozens of attorneys. KMS can be relied on to render an honest opinion to help justice get served and help injured parties obtain due compensation. We have prepared expert reports and been deposed and testified in court cases as an expert witness. Cases have involved ●construction failures; ●damage to property from oil spills, flooding, and drainage problems; ●property infringement; ●poor design and property maintenance practices; ●ADA non-compliance; and, ●personal injuries from trips and falls. KMS has provided assistance for legal cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, South Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Illinois.

Trail Planning and Design

KMS’ trail planning, design, and construction document preparation expertise is well recognized regionally. KMS has completed township-wide greenway and trail master plans for several communities in eastern Pennsylvania, and prepared award-winning designs for a trail through Hopewell Furnace National Historical Park and a connecting trail through French Creek State Park. KMS also advises clients on repair/reconstruction of damaged trails. KMS Principal, Carl Kelemen served on the Pennsylvania State Trails Advisory Committee and Bike Montco Steering Committee for six years. He has served on the Montgomery County Parks, Trails, and Heritage Sites Advisory Board since 2015, and is the Board’s Vice President.

Native/Naturalized Landscapes

KMS is known for its knowledge and sensitivity to natural landscapes. Projects have included restoring damaged landscapes with native plant materials and replicating native ecosystems. KMS’ most notable projects include ●Chester County’s award-winning Black Rock Sanctuary wetland creation and meadow restoration project; ●Montgomery County’s Lower Perkiomen Valley trail corridor meadow restoration and reforestation plan; ●a natural burial garden in an historic Philadelphia-area cemetery; and, ●a college campus in Montgomery County that includes edible, teaching, and restorative landscapes to draw attention to the college’s carbon neutral goals.

Residential Landscape Design/Master Planning

KMS Design Group works with residential clients to bring their dreams to reality. Whether a client wants a quick consultation or fully detailed custom designs, KMS stands ready to fulfill their needs. KMS can prepare detailed landscape and construction plans that address clients’ interests for outdoor living and entertaining requirements. KMS also works with highly qualified contractors, assisting them with their projects to obtain approvals from municipal authorities. KMS Principal Carl Kelemen worked in the design/build arena for eight years and personally built decks, patios, walkways, and installed plantings of all sizes and types. Over the years, KMS has worked with contractors and residential clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

Park Master Planning and Design

KMS has provided its award-winning design and master planning services to local, county, and state agencies for park and recreation projects as small as one-half acre to those encompassing whole townships. Our expertise in park and recreation master planning, design, and construction document preparation spans forty years. Projects have run the gamut from specifying playing court repairs to preparing comprehensive open space and recreation plans for entire communities. Some of the communities for whom we have provided park planning help include the Townships of New Hanover, East Coventry, Lower Macungie, and Abington; Berks and Montgomery Counties; and, the Borough of Phoenixville.

Stormwater Best Management Practices Design

KMS has been working on projects using stormwater “Best Management Practices” for over twenty-five years, before they were required! In fact, while employed at a large interdisciplinary firm, KMS Principal Carl Kelemen designed major corporate campuses using infiltration beds and forebays during the early 1980’s. KMS is very familiar with BMPs including infiltration beds, rain gardens, forebays, and other green systems. Our philosophy is to control stormwater at, or near, the source to reduce the incidence of erosion, flooding, and flood damage.

Complete Streets

KMS offers design services for streetscapes using the “complete streets” philosophy which gives equal stature to all modes of transportation. We work closely with municipalities and revitalization committees to produce unique, context sensitive, ADA compliant designs for each streetscape project. Focusing on safety for bicyclists and pedestrians, KMS creates a unique sense of place while allowing for the efficient movement of vehicles. Among the streetscape clients in KMS’ portfolio are Abington and East Pikeland Townships and the Boroughs of Phoenixville, Downingtown, and Tullytown.

Urban Redevelopment - Housing

KMS provides design services for land development projects focusing on urban infill, redevelopment, brownfield and other difficult sites. Our services include preparing sketch and presentation plans, design feasibility and circulation analysis and design, sustainable landscape and stormwater best management practices, general land development plans necessary for approvals, and expert testimony. KMS has completed infill projects that include several low-income housing complexes in Phoenixville and Parkesburg.