The Tech Herald

Soon after Kevin Kosciulek (B.ARCH. ’18) started at bKL Architecture, he earned a reputation as a tech troubleshooter. 

“It was definitely a role that I grew into over the years,” says Kosciulek, who specialized in digital design during his time at Illinois Tech’s School of Architecture. “You begin as someone that people come to with their problems and develop a sense for how to dig into them and have them solved.” 

Kosciulek was hired as an associate at bKL straight out of college after completing an internship there, and in January 2026 he was promoted to director, in part for his ability to integrate cutting-edge tech into the firm’s daily operations. 

All that troubleshooting experience helped him land a role, years ago, as the firm’s technology practice leader. That meant testing and integrating new software platforms, figuring out how teams could streamline workflows, modernizing processes and procedures, and creating new ways to implement designs. 

Now, he’s utilizing artificial intelligence in innovative ways. AI doesn’t just help with digital modeling and visualization, Kosciulek says, it can also create a database library of all of the firm’s past projects, quantify those projects, and then use that dataset to rapidly iterate new floor plans.  

In a fraction of the time it would normally take, “you use all that institutional knowledge base to create a proposal,” Kosciulek says. “I’ve had a lot of support from the principals and leadership team in understanding the investment and how important this type of training is.... AI is something you can’t ignore, and everyone wants to talk about it.” 

Kosciulek’s projects include mostly high-rise residential builds, including the “Millie on Michigan” at 300 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, a 50-story project completed in 2022 that incorporates the Citizen M hotel and comprises 280 hotel units and 289 apartments.  

In addition to staying on the cutting edge of tech trends, Kosciulek worked hard to achieve his architecture license, which he received in 2025. 

“It comes with a sense of authority and confidence, and opens other opportunities,” Kosciulek says of getting his license. In addition to allowing an architect to start their own firm, “it definitely means things to other people and our clients. It presents more opportunities to lead or interface.”  

For instance, Kosciulek is attending the American Institute of Architects convention in San Diego this summer, which would not have been possible if he were not a licensed member. 

“I’ve been fortunate, for sure,” he adds. “One of the best things about Illinois Institute of Technology is it taught us how to think and how to design, and I think that’s the differentiator.”