Lisa Pilorz

Lisa Pilorz

(she, her)
Associate Principal

Lisa joined KMA in 2010 and has served as an Associate Principal since 2020. In this role, she leads KMA’s largest business unit, the multifamily housing team. A tireless traveler, Lisa works nationally on large-scale projects, providing developers, construction teams, and architects with expert accessibility guidance at every phase of design and construction. Lisa’s expertise is typically reserved for projects of significant regulatory complexity, trainings for construction and design teams, and expert witness work in multifamily litigation. She has a deep understanding of accessibility compliance, a strong work ethic, and a direct communication style, all of which have helped her significantly grow KMA’s multifamily practice since taking primary responsibility for it in 2020. Thanks to Lisa’s efforts, KMA counts among our clients fully one third of the National Multifamily Housing Council’s “Top 25” developers for 2024.

After completing an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Art from Fairfield University and a Master of Art in Expressive Therapy from Lesley University, Lisa’s career began in social services.  As a case manager supervisor for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH), she worked directly with many people with disabilities – an experience she credits for first opening her eyes to the benefits of a service-oriented profession.  A mid-career change led Lisa to the Boston Architectural College (BAC), where she earned a Master of Architecture. While at the BAC, she worked for several architectural firms specializing in senior living and residential design, further cementing her passion for helping others.  She joined KMA shortly after graduation with the goal of merging a career in architecture with the values of her work at DMH.

Lisa owes her success as a woman in the male-dominated construction industry in part to the fact that she is as comfortable in a hard hat and work boots as she is behind a computer screen. But her expertise reaches far beyond KMA and her client list: Lisa is a former member of the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board and has contributed written material to several subcommittees of the ANSI A117.1 Committee of the International Code Council.

When she’s not on the road, Lisa enjoys traveling with her family and friends and creating mosaic art from her home studio. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout Massachusetts.

#principal #multifamilyhousing #mosaics

Education

  • M.Arch., Boston Architectural College, 2007
  • M.A., Expressive Therapy with Art Therapy concentration, Lesley University, 1985
  • B.A., Psychology and Art, Fairfield University, 1982

Registrations & Certifications

  • LEED AP BD+ Certified

Professional Associations

  • Member, American Institute of Architects
  • Member, Boston Society of Architects
  • Member, ICC Bathing Committee, 2020 – present
  • Member, Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, 2014 – 2015

Teaching

  • “Intro to Design,” Boston Architectural College, 2007 – 2008

Selected Presentations & Publications:

  • “Common Construction Errors in MFH Related to Accessibility,” Architecture Boston Expo (ABX), Boston, MA, 2019 and 2020.
  • “Common Construction Errors in MFH Related to Accessibility,” AIA Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 2022.
  • “Significant Changes A117./1-2017 + HUD Adoption of New ‘Safe Harbors’,” BSA-Access + Codes Committee, Boston, MA, 2021.
  • “When Compliance = Complacency Panel Discussion,” BSA Access + Design for Aging Committee, Boston, MA, 2022.
  • “Common Construction Errors in MFH Related to Accessibility,” BSA Summer CE Workshop series, Boston, MA, 2017 and 2018.
  • “Developing Accessible MFH,” Fair Housing Training (per litigation), remote, 2022.
  • Individual Developer/ Architect/ Construction Firms Training