Transparent Approach to Construction
KDK Group LLC considers each project with end result in mind
Austin-based KDK Group LLC (KDK) is a general contractor and construction management firm with expertise in commercial and health care construction. Owners Deborah (Deb) Arizmendi-Kopack, CEO and President, and Kristopher (Kris) Kopack, PE, chief operating officer and director of field operations, have extensive experience in the industry, working on everything from occupied hospital projects, to building new commercial facilities, renovating existing spaces, tenant improvements and more.
They started KDK in 2016, establishing the company’s foundation on strong relationships with clients and subcontractors, and with a commitment to transparency.
Before launching KDK, Kris, a licensed professional engineer in Arizona and Texas, worked at several large national contractors. His responsibilities consisted of overseeing and managing large projects and coordinating field operations. Deb worked for a national construction management firm and as an owner’s representative/program manager in Texas. “Because of these experiences, we’re able to provide an extra level of care to clients. We do both consulting and construction, so we see both sides of the industry,” Deb says.
KDK is certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) in Texas.
“Other women-owned businesses looking to expand or renovate their current operations tell me they appreciate having a ‘woman- owner-to-woman-owner’ discussion about the work,” says Deb, a proud member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
Transparency Above All
Transparency is a core value of the company. As such, KDK walks clients and subcontractors through the entire process before a project starts. In addition, strong communication ensures these project partners have a clear understanding of the scope of work involved. That includes identifying the responsibilities of each trade, from project expectations and schedules to safety and communications.
“We pride ourselves on being transparent with all parties,” Deb says. “It goes hand-in-hand with communication. We want to be completely forthcoming on all details of a project.”
While this is important for all clients, “owners who are new to construction or renovation projects need more details in the pre-construction phase than is typically offered,” Deb says. This is an area where KDK stands out.
“The cost of construction is only about three-fourths of the total project cost an owner needs to budget for,” Deb says. “Clients aren’t necessarily familiar with the need to hire an architect/engineer or obtain required permitting, among other things. We don’t assume they know these parts of the process,” she adds.
Communicating Helps Clients Save Time, Money
Recently, an acupuncturist contacted KDK for a project estimate. The owner, who did not have previous experience with construction projects, said she projected a two-month turnaround time from the start of the project to the opening day of her business in the new space.
Deb walked her through the process, explaining it would take six to eight weeks—including securing an architect, having architectural drawings completed and obtaining permits—before an estimated three months of construction could begin.
The owner had previously talked to and obtained cost estimates from other construction companies. However, no one made the effort to educate the owner about the entire process; no one mentioned pre-construction or provided an estimated timeline.
During the discussion, KDK suggested the owner obtain old permit drawings for the site from the city and have an architect verify them, instead of hiring an architect to provide as-built drawings at a cost of approximately $3,000. It cost the client less than $100 to acquire the existing drawings. That advice also saved the time required to create new drawings.
“By taking the time to explain the process and discuss solutions, we were able to give her a better understanding of all the components of the total project budget she will incur, an accurate, start-to-finish timeline and advice on keeping her costs in line,” Deb says.
Deeper Understanding is Critical
KDK is passionate about bringing a deep understanding of the unique needs, safety considerations and challenges of each project. For example, it’s critical for construction companies to understand what precautions to take when working in health care environments—which is why KDK takes great care to ensure workers understand the sensitive nature of such projects.
KDK has technical expertise and experience in infection prevention and has completed multiple health care construction projects in Central Texas. Recent KDK projects include renovating an existing office building into a new health care clinic, improvements for an existing hospital psychiatric suite, renovation of a catheterization (“cath”) lab to accommodate MRI and other radiology equipment and refreshing an entire operating room and sterile core in a health care facility in 72 hours to minimize impact and loss of revenue to Owner.
Teaming up with Owner-Focused Subs
For KDK, it’s important to partner with subcontractors who keep the interests of owners top of mind, regardless of the client’s prestige or the size of the project. KDK works with a core group of trusted subcontractors it knows will give clients the best value and quality.
“Every client has a budget, and we respect that. With the experience we have, we’re able to offer options. We’ll explain different approaches to arrive at the same outcome to help clients make the most cost-effective and efficient decisions,” Deb says. “The subcontractors we select are a big part of providing clients with high-quality results that are within budget.”
KDK provides subcontractors with an upfront schedule, including how long crews will be on a job site. “We always obtain multiple bids for all of the trades. But there’s a good chance we’ll end up with same subs on every project because we have already developed good working relationships with them, and they know exactly what to expect from us. That helps us provide the best possible pricing,” she adds.
A Company Where Everyone Knows Your Name
Several KDK employees worked with Kris at previous companies or were subcontractors on his past projects. “We are glad to have continued these relationships,” he says.
While KDK is a smaller firm with 15 employees, Deb views this as an advantage for their staff and also for clients because the company has a more personable approach to projects. Kris, for example, visits every project at least once or twice a week and coordinates with every superintendent on a daily basis. He discusses the work with his crews and provides guidance as needed. He also strives to check in with the owners to provide project updates and address any questions or concerns. “How many companies have face-to-face time between their employees and owners on weekly basis?” Deb comments.
While ensuring quality work is important, Kris’ visits to job sites also enable him to share knowledge in a practical setting, which benefits his team’s capabilities and enhances project outcomes.
“Education is ongoing for our company and our people. There is always something new to learn in construction and construction technology,” Deb adds.
Communicating Owner to Owner
While a project is underway, KDK’s clients always deal with the same person: Kris. “Owners always talk to and exchange emails with Kris, whether the subject is cost, schedule, payment or a change in design. There’s a lot of benefit in communicating with the same project contact from start to finish. Information can easily be lost in translation if multiple people are part of ongoing conversations,” Deb explains.
She adds, “Things change from day to day in construction. The line of communication we have with others—clients, architecture and engineering firms, vendors, etc.—is huge. It ensures everyone is on the same page for the duration of the project.”
Deb and Kris are proud of the collaborative environment they’ve built. They are committed to quality work, transparency and close, continuous communications with customers and project teams, from pre-construction to project conclusion. Deb sums up KDK’s guiding principal: “We think with the end in mind.”