Our Story
"I’m very proud of the success of our firm. We started in 1978 with 3 people and currently provide a livelihood for 70 people and their families. In a general sense, we have made a permanent mark on the landscape, I hope, in a very positive way."
Jim Kratzat, Founding Principal
From our offices in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Indiana, MSKTD offers our Clients a full range of comprehensive design services – with in-house Architects, Interior Designers, Planners, Mechanical – Electrical – Energy – Civil – Structural Engineers, Estimators, Graphic Designers, and support personnel.
Founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1978 by three architects, MSKTD began as an Architectural firm; by 1982, we were a full service design and engineering firm. We have grown from a staff of 3 to over 70; built a new office and added onto it; established and grew an office in Indianapolis, and strengthened our expertise in the Higher Ed, Healthcare, and Food Facility/Advanced Manufacturing markets.
MSKTD’s growth and evolution has not only been in staff, physical space, and expertise; it also mirrors the changes in technology that have enhanced and challenged our industry in the ensuing years. Computer-aided drafting started with big clunky hardware with just a few CAD Techs doing all the drafting work for the company; now all disciplines have been trained in and use 3D REVIT software. Staff now work on workstation class laptops with multiple monitors; Zoom conferencing allows us to meet with all team members without being in the same physical space; our secure webserver reduces paper and enhances team communication; iPads are provided to all project managers and design staff. Sustainable design is the norm; embraced by MSKTD early on, we are proud to have designed the first – and largest at the time – LEED Platinum Certified commercial project in the state of Indiana – Sweetwater’s Corporate campus.
What hasn’t changed since 1978 and what won’t ever change is our commitment to our staff, to our clients and to our communities. We are proud to have staff who have been with us for over 25 years; to have client relationships that cover 3 decades, and to have contributed in some small way to the physical environment of communities we live and work in.
Culture
Client-focused design is only successfully accomplished with good people, and MSKTD’s people are the best around. They are a group of self-motivated, talented, and energetic professionals who enjoy working in a team-oriented environment – challenged by change, excited by new opportunities, and eager to find creative solutions for our Clients and their projects.
There are no offices with doors at either our Fort Wayne or Indianapolis offices – workspaces are organized in an open concept with low wall partitions to encourage collaboration between Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Management, and Administrative staff.
Keeping it loose and having fun is also part of the culture at MSKTD, and we have a variety of special events throughout the year. They include our Christmas Party, Co-ed Softball Team, Super Bowl Parties, Office Lunch Pitch-Ins, Summer Picnics (with helicopter rides, no less), Birthday Treats, Dessert competitions, and our annual 500 Race Cookout & Driver Pool – complete with an Indy race car.
