Company Profile
SMMA
Company Overview
SMMA remains one of Massachusett's most unique design firms due to its composition, reputation, and focus. Cambridge-based since its incorporation in 1955, the firm focuses on creating lasting relationships with strategic partners in both the public and private markets.
The firm was founded by MIT alumni who believed that the balance of architecture, engineering, interiors, and site design afforded clients the agility of a single source of creative and technical expertise. Today, SMMA continues its dedication to a flexible integrated approach while remaining guided by a shared pursuit of design excellence and social responsibility.
SMMA is organized into five studios of market focus: Corporate and Commercial, Federal Government, Higher Education, K-12, and Science and Technology. At SMMA, studios represent specialized communities of practice working together to foster knowledge flow around common interests. Together, the firm’s studios form a larger design ecosystem, sharing best practices and nurturing professional growth and project excellence.
Company History
Like every business startup, our firm began with an idea: approaching design through a dialogue of diverse perspectives and professional expertise.
Founded in 1955, SMMA was initially a division of a local construction company. After ending this formal association in 1958, a small team launched what is today one of the industry’s most well-regarded design firms, at the time called Symmes Maini and McKee.
A collaboration between three college graduates — Parker Symmes and Bill Maini from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with Jon McKee from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute School of Architecture — established SMMA as a pioneer of the multi-disciplinary design approach through combining architecture, engineering, and planning under a single roof.
Over 64 years later, SMMA enjoys a national reach devoted to the success of our clients and grounded in the values of responsible design. We have forged extraordinary long-term relationships with private sector clients, established an enviable record in educational design, and planned and designed state-of-the-art technical and specialized environments.
We stay true to our founders' vision under our fourth generation of leadership with Ara Krafian, CEO. Our expertise has evolved to include interior design, workplace strategies, educational planning, landscape design, commissioning, graphic design, and energy-permitting services. The heart of our firm resides in our talented and dedicated people who keep our culture innovative, research-based, and collaborative.