Biographical Data

R.D. McDonnell, AIA, CSI

R.D. McDonnell, AIA

President and CEO

Area of Expertise Architecture, Planning, Civil Engineering and Construction
Years of Experience
R2KS Design + Build 1 year
McDonnell Group 26 years
Other Firms 17 years
Education Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-ARC), Studies in Architecture, (1978 to 1983)
University of Santa Clara, Studies in Civil Engineering, (1975/1976)
Active Registration/Certification 1993 / Architect / California / C-24134
Overview Mr. McDonnell is President and CEO of R2KS Design + Build. He possesses over 44 years of combined experience in the fields of architecture, planning, civil engineering and construction. As President and CEO, he has directed multi-discipline teams on over 400 projects during the past 10 years.
Professional Highlights &
Activities
Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Vice Chair Business Information (2018 to Present)
Whittier Community Foundation, Board Member (2017 to Present)
City of Whittier Planning Commission, Member and Past- Commission Chair (2001 to 2017)
City of Whittier Sign Task Force, Chair (2001 to 2002)
City of Whittier Historic Train Depot Task Force, Member (1997 to Present)
City of Whittier Design Review Board, Member and Past- Board Chair (1994 to 1998)
Rotary Club of Whittier, Club President (2008/2009)
Rotary Club of Whittier Annual All-Star High School Baseball/Softball Classic, Committee Chair (2008 to 2012)
Gateway Community Development Corporation, Board Member and Past Board-Chair (2001 to 2005)
Whittier Area Economic Development Corp, Board Member
AIA/LA Membership Committee Chair (1994)
AIA/LA Associates Board of Directors, President (1986)
State of California, Office of Emergency Services (OES), Safety Assessment Volunteer - Current
Project Experience In the field of architecture, Mr. McDonnell has experience in design, working drawings and construction management & administration. During an 8-year tenure with HNTB Corporation as Director of Construction & Special Services, his responsibilities included directing numerous projects simultaneously in the field of construction consulting services. These services included comparative construction cost estimates, construction document review, building condition analysis and construction monitoring.

Mr. McDonnell was also involved in directing the construction services for the Santa Monica Bay Towers Earthquake Repair project, Anaheim Convention Center Modernization and two (2) California State Prison projects.

As Principal of McDonnell Group, Mr. McDonnell directed staff engaged in providing various planning consulting services to Clients. Activities included the validation of Environmental Impact Reports, geotechnical and environmental assessments; verification of conformance with agency “conditions of approval”; opinions on assessment district cost impacts; and various other entitlement “due diligence” tasks.

Other relevant projects include the seismic retrofit, renovation and adaptive reuse of space at Long Beach Veterans Stadium. The scope of work included the construction of new food concessions, Press Box upgrades and a physical education facility.

While working for the firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, he was involved with Type I to III construction systems such as the 750,000 SF Getty Plaza Office Tower in Universal City, and the 350,000 SF Burbank Center.

While employed by MCA Recreation Services, Mr. McDonnell was directly responsible for the survey and preparation of as-built drawings of the Universal City Studios Tour Entertainment Center. Other experience includes Operations Management positions with the Universal Studios Tour and Amphitheater.

Professional Societies American Institute of Architects, Professional Member
Construction Specifications Institute, Professional Member
Rotary International, Member (2004 to 2013)
Whittier Chamber of Commerce, Member
Whittier Community Foundation, Member
Selected Projects Ancelle Apartments, Los Angeles, CA

The 1926 Historic property consists of 82 residential units contained within one (1) four-story plus partial basement building providing a combined 48,852 rentable square feet with surface parking lot on a parcel containing ± 0.71 acres (± 31,050 SF).

Amplify on Main, Nashville, TN

Amplify on Main consists of 74 residential units contained within five (5) buildings providing a combined 64,735 rentable square feet, including fifty-one (51) single-level apartment units in one (1) four-story building and twenty-three (23) two-level townhome units in four (4) two-story buildings on a 1.92 acres (± 83,463.54 SF) site. Construction was originally completed in 2014.

Sherwood Country Club Estates, Thousand Oaks, CA

The multiple custom single-family homes ranged in size from 5,000 square feet up to 10,000 square feet, and were sited along a private golf course with Greek Revival, Federal - Adams, Virginia Tidewater, Low Country Georgian and French Manor architectural styles. Construction was originally completed in 1990.

Eastown Apartments, Hollywood, CA

Eastown Apartments consists of a 535-unit, Class A multi-family apartment/retail complex containing a combined 413,456 square feet of rentable apartment space along with 72,044 rentable square feet of ground floor retail lease space in four (4) six-story buildings. The project is placed on a podium deck over a five-level subterranean parking garage containing 1,358 parking spaces. Gross building area is 485,500 square feet on a ± 4.22 acres (± 183,917 SF) site. Construction was originally completed in 2014.

Park Avenue West, Portland, OR

Park Avenue West is comprised of one (1) 30-story mixed-use building over a six-level subterranean parking garage comprised of a city block containing an area of ± 0.46 acres (± 20,042 square feet). Construction was originally completed in 2015.

University Village, Tampa, FL

The property is a senior lifestyle residential development, with Independent Living comprised of 446 units within three (3) one- to eight-story buildings, a one-story Commons Buildings and a 280 units/beds three-story Health Center that contain a combined area of approximately 756,514 square feet on a 17.56 acres (764,831 square feet) site. Construction was originally completed in 1988.

Royal Hawaiian Center, Honolulu, Oahu, HI

Royal Hawaiian Center consists of three (3) three- to six-story commercial mixed-use retail/office buildings and adjacent ten-level parking garage located along Kalākaua Avenue in the Waikiki Beach district of Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii. Construction of the subject property was originally completed in 1979 and a major renovation was performed in 2008.

HP San Diego Campus, Rancho Bernardo, CA

HP San Diego Campus consists of eight (8) one- to three-story office/R&D/amenities buildings containing a combined 782,211 square feet of rentable area. The irregular-shaped parcel contains 67.5 acres (± 2,940,300 square feet).