When Kap Malik started his career at Gensler in 1991, it had 350 people in four offices. By the time he left in 2018, it had expanded to 4,000 employees in 50 offices.
He now sees the same opportunities at Irvine-based architectural firm MVE + Partners Inc., which he joined earlier this month as principal and member of the firm’s executive management team.
“We’re a boutique firm on the verge of explosion into major scale architecture, not only locally but internationally,” Malik told the Business Journal. “It’s a great fit for me. Also, I’m among friends. I have known Carl for more than 30 years.”
He’s referring to founder Carl McLarand, the M in MVE and who still continues as chairman and chief executive. McLarand is an architectural legend in Southern California who has designed projects like Water Garden, a 1.2 million-square-foot office that’s the largest ever approved by the city of Santa Monica.
He’s also designed many apartment complexes for Newport Beach’s Irvine Co., the largest owner of rental properties in the state.
After the 2008 financial crisis, his firm survived by designing 18 million square feet of projects in China, including 10 million square feet in the city of Wuhan.
Malik himself has developed quite a portfolio that includes the iconic 54-story tower for the Ritz-Carlton Residences and JW Marriott at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles; projects at Denver and San Diego’s international airports and the Shore Hotel in Santa Monica.
In addition to being a principal, his job will be to grow MVE’s projects globally within the high-end hospitality/mixed-use and aviation areas.
“MVE is a really good boutique firm that has a great culture,” Malik said. “We’re going to move that firm forward.”
The addition is the latest hire for MVE, which has boosted its number of licensed architects to 19 from 14 a year ago.
It ranks No. 7 on this week’s Business Journal list of Orange County’s largest architectural firms, reporting a 5.5% decline in OC billings to $20.8 million for the year ended June 30.
Gensler Mark
Malik joins MVE from CallisonRTKL Architects, where he was a principal and vice president for three years, heading that firm’s design efforts for both airport and hospitality developments. Among notable project he led design for the Guadalajara International Airport, Terminal 2.
It was at his prior stint at Gensler where he made his mark, serving as design director for its Southwest region during which he oversaw many noteworthy projects such as the Marriott Marquis McCormick Place Chicago; ITC Colombo Hotel and Residences in Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Parque Arauco Mixed-Use Development in Santiago, Chile.
“With his over four decades of industry experience, and the vast knowledge and qualifications that he brings with him, Kap will contribute to the growth of our firm at all levels of design and construction,” said MVE President Matt McLarand, who is the son of the founder.
“We are very pleased to have an architect of Kap Malik’s caliber and distinction as our newest principal, joining us in our continued mission of creating projects that are innovative and iconic.”
Among Malik’s more than 60 awards is his Fellowship in The American Institute of Architects (FAIA), the organization’s highest honor.
In announcing their new addition, MVE said that Malik’s work “merges architecture, sustainability, and urbanism in harmony to create new global paradigms that reconsider the possibilities of the built environment.”
While he’s been working for more than 40 years, he doesn’t consider retiring.
“Architects never retire,” quipped the Newport Beach resident.
“I still feel fresh and energetic. I’m passionate about architecture and they’re passionate about making a difference. I want to continue for a while.” Â
