About the Studio
Services
Projects are of various scope and scale including resorts, commercial, residential, academic, agricultural, recreational, pump-houses, swimming pools and floating-architectural structures. Architectural services encompass program development, schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding and negotiation, construction administration and/or construction management. In addition, floating-architectural structures include hydrostatics and hydrodynamics studies. Architectural Conservation services involve research, building assessment, documentation and material analysis to understand the building before making any changes, its architectural or historic significance, its structural performance and the pattern of air movement. They also involve energy and thermal modeling, solar and light studies, computational fluid dynamics to analyze wind and fluid flow, and building physics investigations. Building Services Engineering addresses the dynamics in a static structure, providing movement, facilities, communications and comfort. Construction management service is provided from conception to completion on approximately 75% of all projects.
About Joseph Michael Kelly
Michael maintains a geographically diverse studio with diverse projects. The work includes a wide range of architectural design activities and the design of engineering systems incidental to architecture practice. His expertise ranges from traditional architectural and engineering commissions to the conservation of historic buildings. The architectural approach is focused on integrating engineering technology to improve buildings' social and environmental performance, with sustainable and low-carbon design at the core of the decision-making process. His method of working involves landscape architects, artists, craftsmen, preservationists, technicians, and technologists early in the design phase, and he maintains a close relationship through the completion of construction to ensure the way things are detailed and go together.
Michael is dedicated to the deepest level of involvement in the design and construction of all projects to deliver the highest possible standards of excellence. He firmly believes in the modern technological concept of 'Master Builder' where there is no division between architect, engineer, and builder. The studio was established in 1961 by John William Kelly in Greenville, SC as "Kelly Architects." Work completed consists of over a thousand projects.
Michael continues to make regular contributions to academia as a guest critic; he was formerly a Research Fellow and Associate Professor in Architecture at Temple University, an Adjunct Professor at the American College of Building Arts, and an Instructor in Engineering Technology at Greenville Technical College. He holds a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University, a PD in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MSc in Building Services Engineering and an MSc in Building Conservation from Heriot-Watt University-Edinburgh, and a Diploma in Naval Architecture from the National Maritime Training Centre at North Kent College and Lloyd’s Maritime Academy. He is a Registered Architect in FL, GA, NC, NY, PA, SC, and holds an NCARB Certificate. He is also a Certified Construction Manager in SC. Michael is registered as a Chartered Engineer in the United Kingdom, European Engineer with FEANI and International Professional Engineer. He is a member of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers and Society of Facade Engineers.
Qualifications: EUR ING, BET, PD, MSc, RA, NCARB, CEng, MCIBSE, IntPE(UK)
About Sailing Vessel Beauty
Michael is an ardent sailor and merchant mariner. "Though it is fundamentally a commercial enterprise, the U.S. Merchant Marine has proven throughout history its capability to serve as an auxiliary to the Navy". Michael holds a 100-ton Master's license with the United States Coast Guard. Authorized to engage in Commercial Assistance Towing and Sailing Endorsement. Deck: Able Seaman-Sail and Lifeboatman. He has sailed thousands of nautical miles in the Gulf of Maine, North Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. Since 2005, he has been the skipper of the United States Documented sailing vessel "Beauty", which under the laws of the United States is permitted to engage in coastwise trade and function as the offshore studio, in and out of international waters. Beauty carries cargo, crew and provides all studio functions when sailing to different architectural project locations. Beauty is capable of blue-water sailing, set up to be single-handed and her hailing port is Charleston, SC.
Michael gets his inspiration for architecture and the Merchant Marine from many historic figures in his ancestry. Captain John Percival, Admiral Raphael Semmes, and Edward Conor Marshall O'Brien had an influence on his time at sea. Michael's ability to combine his architectural and engineering work with the freedom of sailing is a testament to his innovative spirit. By using "Beauty" as an offshore studio, he seamlessly integrates his professional responsibilities with the ability to work on distant shores. This setup allows him to work remotely, leveraging modern technology to stay connected and productive while enjoying the tranquility, challenges and dangers of solo ocean sailing. He is a member-at-large of the American Merchant Marine Veterans. Follow Sailing Vessel Beauty on her YouTube channel.
News
June 1, 2022 - Congratulations to Dr. Lolly Tai, Landscape Architect. Lolly's latest book is now published. "Letting Play Bloom, Designing Nature-Based Risky Play for Children." Temple University Press. Excellent book!
April 27, 2022 - The Venetian-Inspired Victorian Gothic Rivival Treasure that is Troy's Rice Building by Suzanne Spellen
February 7, 2022 - Supplying Victory: The History of Merchant Marine in World War II, Contributor Stephanie Hinnershitz, PhD.
Merchant Marines: Who They Are, What They Do, And How To Join
By Olivia Rigby. Famous Merchant Mariners.
March 11, 2021 - JMK live radio interview on the Podcast Business Network in New York to discuss growing up in a 7th generation Scots-Irish family in South Carolina, studio history and sailing to distant shores to work on building conservation projects.
September 3, 2020 - New York Almanack. The Rice Building: A Celebrated Troy Landmark by Suzanne Spellen.
Oklahoma College Start JMK Architectural Engineering Interview.
2019 - Three building conservation projects in Troy, NY have been included in a book by Diana S. Waite. The book entitled, "The Architecture of Downtown Troy, An Illustrated History" tells the stories behind many significant buildings and how they were designed and constructed. A brief overview of Troy, NY.
November/December 2018, Good Old Boat, The sailing magazine for the rest of us! Bristol 32. A lovely full-keel cruiser in the classic CCA style.
2017 - Lolly Tai, Landscape Architect has written another award winning book entitled, "The Magic of Children's Gardens: Inspiring Through Creative Design." Temple Univesity Press.
JMK interview about working in architectural engineering - North Dakota State Government
Brownstone Renovation – A work in Progress at # 13 First Street
Stone Residence on Lake Hartwell, Oconee County, SC is featured in a book celebrating the holiday house to introduce the reader to homes of rare wonder and beauty from Europe, North and South America, Australasia, the Caribbean and Far East. "50 + Vacation Homes." Images Publishing Group of Australia. Edited by Andrea Boekel
ARCC - Structural Analysis is an important subject in the Architecture curriculum at Temple University. Structural appraisal projects help a student understand architectural and structural integration, construction and technology, and address practitioners concerns for preparing students for practice.
PDF - Structural Appraisal: A Classical Way For Learning.
Employment: "Aide-toi et Dieu t’aidera" - "Tiocfaidh ár lá"
Carpenters - Self-employed individuals that specializes in maintenance, repair, building restoration or new construction wanted for hazardous building conservation work. Normally the projects last from a few months to a year. Bilingual - Both English and Spanish are spoken on the job. Working in extreme hot or cold weather depending on the location/season, long hours, long months away from your family/friends, constant challenges, dangerous work environment, etc. A working knowledge of other trades is a highly desirable skill. Individuals that suffer from seasickness (motion) or fear of heights should not apply. Although the work is highly rewarding, this job is not for the faint-hearted.
Masons - Self-employed individual that specializes in maintenance, repair, building restoration or new construction wanted for building conservation work (brick and stone). Traditional masonry skills. Normally the projects last from a few months to a year. Bilingual - Both English and Spanish are spoken on the job.