KIRK Associates was established in 1998 to provide comprehensive facility economics and value management services.  Stephen J. Kirk, FAIA, is President of the firm and has over 25 years of experience in the field, having previously served as vice president and director of facility economics for one of the largest design and engineering firms in the USA.  He has a doctorate degree in architecture (Univ. of Michigan), is a Registered Architect, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, and a Certified Value Specialist. He also is Past President and a Fellow of SAVE International, the only professional society in the United States totally dedicated to advancing and promoting value management.

KIRK Associates works with owners, managers and other professionals from government and private industry to optimize operational performance, achieve environmental sustainability, increase profitability and lower life cycle costs through value enhanced planning, design, construction and operation of facilities. This is accomplished through economic analysis, cost estimating, choosing by advantages, life cycle cost analysis, and the clarification of the essential functions of the systems in the facility. Multi disciplinary teams consisting of the facility owner, user, designer, constructor and manager are formed to creatively explore fresh, practical ideas to achieve the best value for the owner or sponsor of the project. These real-time “workshops” are forums for decision-making, which foster friendly discussions and build team consensus prior to documenting a series of recommendations for management to implement.

Project experience includes universities, research & scientific buildings, educational facilities, national parks, offices, retail complexes, visitor centers, manufacturing, health care services, courthouses, wastewater treatment facilities and roads/transportation projects.

KIRK Associates also provides project planning and program management consulting services and seminars for corporations and government agencies. Because of the flexibility and sophistication of the value management methodology, the firm is able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of complex programs and the delivery of services in private businesses and public agencies.

Examples of experience in these kinds of activities include archives, training centers, judicial workload studies, the management of retail storeroom processes and long term facility planning in the space industry. 

Dr. Kirk maintains an extensive worldwide network of experts with benchmarking data to provide rapid assistance as required for specific customer needs and has established strategic alliances with several large design and engineering firms in the United States and overseas to meet a customer’s unique project requirements and time schedules.