Our Story

TKDA is more than 110 years strong and focused on the future

TKDA has provided forward-thinking architecture, engineering and planning to communities, government and private industries for more than 110 years. Throughout the decades, the company has maintained a strong commitment to quality design and service to both our community and our region’s infrastructure, playing a key role in designing the area’s roads, bridges, rail, mass transit, parks and trails as well as buildings and facilities for companies, schools and government agencies.

Founded in 1910 by Maximilian Toltz as the Toltz Engineering Company in Saint Paul, the company has played a significant role in designing the city’s landmarks, including the beloved Como Park Conservatory (now Marjorie McNeely Conservatory) the iconic Hamm Building and the Robert and Washaba Street bridges.

By 1956, Mr. Toltz added partners King, Duvall and Anderson. While the firm is now known as TKDA, we have never moved more than four blocks from our original offices in downtown Saint Paul. Over the years, TKDA has established ourselves as trusted experts who bring quality design and service in six distinct areas – architecture, aviation, facilities engineering, municipal services, rail and surface transportation. Our diversity, excellent reputation and capability to provide our clients with complete architectural, engineering and planning services has allowed our company to serve multiple markets, successfully weather challenging economic times and be well positioned for the future.

1910

TKDA Founded

German-born Structural Engineer Maximilian Toltz is Chief Engineer for the Great Northern Railroad, under its builder, James J. Hill. He founds the Toltz Engineering Company in the City of Saint Paul on August 1, 1910. The first offices are in the Pioneer Building. Civil/Structural Engineer Wesley King joins the firm that same year.

1913

Allouez Bay Ore Docks Complete

Allouez Bay Ore Docks on Lake Superior are completed for Northern Pacific Railway to ship from the region’s rich iron mines. The docks utilize the very latest in concrete slab techniques and are among the first in US to do so on such a massive scale.

1913

Commission from E. L. Masqueray

Toltz Engineering Company receives a commission from E. L. Masqueray to design the heating system for the Saint Paul Cathedral. Construction of this landmark takes eight years with the cornerstone being laid in June of 1907 and the church opens for worship in March of 1915. The Saint Paul Cathedral is designated a National Shrine by the US Council of Catholic Bishops in 2009.

1915

Como Park Conservatory Complete

Como Park Conservatory (now Marjorie McNeely Conservatory) is completed. Toltz Engineering Company is the Designer of Record. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building has provided a lush garden escape through a century of Minnesota winters.

1919

Gerald Anderson Joins the Firm

Architect, Gerald Anderson, joins the firm specializing in school facilities. It is said that during the post World War baby boom, superintendents and school boards would “wait in line” to work with Anderson on their next school.

1919

Company Name Change

Architect, Beaver Wade Day, joins the firm; company name is changed to Toltz, King & Day, Inc.

1919

Hamm Building Complete

Firm completes Hamm Building with design by firm Architect, Roy Childs Jones. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is unique in the Twin Cities with ornate terra-cotta cladding on three sides of the building. Following his career at the firm, Jones becomes the Dean of the School of Architecture at the University of Minnesota.

1920

County Courthouse Design Begins

Toltz, King & Day commences on design for Stearns County Courthouse in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

1923

Union Depot Complete

Union Depot is completed in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Toltz, King & Day provides Structural Engineering. The building is designed by Architect, Charles Frost, who also worked with Toltz, King & Day on James J. Hill’s headquarters building for the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific railroads (180 East Fifth Street) in Saint Paul.

1926

Robert Street Bridge Complete

The firm completes the art deco Robert Street Bridge in Saint Paul in 1926. The bridge is designed using a “rainbow arch” to accommodate a raised rail platform at Saint Paul Union Depot. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1927

Hotel Commissioned

Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton, Canada, is commissioned by Great Northern Railway.

1928

New President for TKDA

Wesley King becomes president of the firm after Max Toltz’s retirement.

1937

Treatment Plant Complete

Lanesboro, Minnesota – Sewage Treatment Plant is completed.

1941

Moderne Building Completed for 3M

Albert Kahn collaborates with Toltz, King & Day to complete a classic Moderne building for Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company’s (now 3M) new corporate office. Both companies have continued to grow since then and TKDA has completed hundreds of other projects for this iconic, Minnesota-born company.

1942

Wyoming Air Base Complete

Casper, Wyoming Air Base is designed, built and has the first plane land within six months during World War II. To complete it on time, 300 employees work on the project, including the students of the nearby School of Engineering, who are hired to do survey work. The base provides training for B-17 pilots during the war.

1950

TKDA Completes Major Study

During the 1950s, the firm completes a major study for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Sanitary District (now Metropolitan Council Environmental Services) for expansion of services to the Metro Twin Cities.

1956

Company Name Changes

Name changed to Toltz, King, Duvall, Anderson and Associates (TKDA) to acknowledge civil engineer Arndt Duvall, architect Gerald Anderson and the other employees of the firm.

1956

Rendering of Coon Rapids Junior High School

TKDA Designs School

Coon Rapids, Minnesota – Junior High School is designed by TKDA.

1959

Duvall New TKDA President

Arndt Duvall becomes President of the firm. He is instrumental in developing relationships with municipal clients throughout the Metro area. During his term as President, Duvall receives the University of Minnesota’s Outstanding Achievement Award. The University also establishes an engineering scholarship in Duvall’s name.

1960

TKDA Designs New Runway for MSP

During the 1960s, the north parallel Runway 12L–30R at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (Wold-Chamberlain Field) was designed and built first to 6,000 feet and then extended to 10,000 feet in length.

1960

Pig’s Eye Treatment Plant Expansion

During the 1960s, TKDA provides engineering and architectural design for the Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion at Pig’s Eye Lake.

1965

Space Tower Foundation Designed

The Space Tower foundation is designed for the Minnesota State Fair. This project begins a long-standing relationship providing renovation and expansion services to the Fair.

1970

Aerial photo of Pig's Eye Treatment Plant

Service Expansion at Pig’s Eye Plant

During the 1970s, expansion of services at Metropolitan Waste Control Commission Pig’s Eye Plant.

1979

Ryder New TKDA President

Civil Engineer, Robert Ryder becomes President. He is known for the special rapport he carries with clients such as the 3M Company, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Saint Paul Port Authority.

1981

Prew New TKDA President/CEO

Civil Engineer, Duane Prew becomes President/CEO. Prew proves to be a strong leader through tough economic times, setting the groundwork for the company to become employee-owned.

1983

TKDA Renovates Historic Buildings

Renovation of the Pioneer and Endicott Buildings in Saint Paul, Minnesota, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1989

U of M Aquatics Center

Mechanical, Electrical and Structural Engineering services are provided to the Stageberg Partners for completion of the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center.

1992

A New Office for TKDA

TKDA moves its office and expands its headquarters to four floors of 444 Cedar Street in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

1994

TKDA Sets Up an ESOP

TKDA creates an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to assist with ownership transition and create a stronger, more stable company as it moves forward.

1997

Berkowitz New TKDA President/CEO

Civil Engineer, Darrel Berkowitz becomes President/CEO. Berkowitz is integral to winning large transportation projects in the Twin Cities, including the Wabasha Street Bridge. He is known as a strong marketer and advocate for Minnesota’s transportation system.

1997

Photo of Erickson Center Wellness and Athletic Facility

Ericksen Center Complete

Ericksen Center Wellness and Athletic Facility is completed at Northwestern College in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

1998

Wabasha Street Bridge Complete

TKDA, together with Figg Engineering, completes the Wabasha Street Bridge, a cast-in-place segmental concrete bridge with split roadways. This, our second bridge spanning the Mississippi River in Downtown Saint Paul, has won several awards, including the Federal Highway Administration Excellence in Highway Design and the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers Seven Wonders of Engineering.

2000

Sobiech New TKDA President/CEO

Civil and Agricultural Engineer, Richard Sobiech becomes President/CEO. Sobiech reshapes the Employee Ownership culture and designs and implements a management structure to support TKDA’s new vision and to position the firm for growth.

2000

ESOP Process Complete

TKDA completes process to become a 100 percent employee-owned company.

2002

First Branch Office Opens

TKDA’s first branch office opens in Aurora, Illinois. The location is chosen to better serve our long-standing rail clients in the Chicago area and expand our services to eastern Class 1 railroads.

2003

TKDA Firm of the Year

TKDA wins Firm of the Year, presented by American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota (ACEC/MN).

2004

Light Rail Transit Project Complete

TKDA oversees design implementation and construction of 15 LRT stations and Operations and Maintenance Facility as part of the design/build team completing the Hiawatha Light Rail Transit project in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

2005

Westminster Junction Bridge

TKDA receives the ACEC Grand Award for Westminster Junction Bridge, our third major bridge design for the City of Saint Paul.

2005

TKDA Opens New Branch Office

TKDA opens an office in Tampa, Florida.

2006

New CEO and New President

TKDA promotes Civil and Structural Engineer William Deitner to CEO and Civil Engineer Vincent Montgomery to President. Bill’s TKDA career spans 30 years. Vince has been with the firm for over 20 years.

2006

Grand Award for Runway 17/35

TKDA wins the ACEC Grand Award for Runway 17/35 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The firm has provided services aiding the airport’s growth for over five decades.

2007

TKDA Expands to West Coast

Expansion takes TKDA to Irvine, California. This office is opened to serve existing clients, as well as grow already developed relationships in the area.

2008

I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge

The award-winning I-35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge is completed in Minneapolis. TKDA is the design engineer of record for the Interstate highway and local roadways, Second Street bridges, retaining walls, water resource engineering, pedestrian tunnel, signing, signals, utilities, lighting and maintenance of traffic on this critical bridge replacement.

2008

Fueling Platform Complete

Completion of a new mainline locomotive fueling platform for the BNSF Railway Company’s Hobson Yard in Lincoln, Nebraska. TKDA provided complete design and construction management services for this Project, which included mechanical systems of diesel fuel, lube oil, radiator water, heated wash water and sanding.

2009

Northstar Corridor Opens

TKDA completes track design and construction management for the Northstar Corridor Commuter Rail System, a commuter line within an existing freight railroad corridor. The Northstar Corridor opened on November 16, 2009. It is approximately 40 miles in length and extends from Minneapolis to Big Lake, Minnesota.

2009

TKDA Earns ACEC Grand Award

TKDA wins the ACEC Grand Award and national recognition for Andersen Corporation’s Steam Generating Facility. TKDA provides the planning and engineering design of the new facility which now produces 100 percent of its own steam production and heating requirements from renewable energy, eliminating reliance on coal-based steam.

2010

100 Years!

TKDA celebrates 100 years of service!

2012

Deitner Becomes President/CEO

Appointed as President, William Deitner becomes TKDA’s President/CEO. Under his leadership, TKDA has greatly increased in stock price value, grown staff count and opened new offices across the country to serve our clients from border to border, coast to coast.

2012

SJA Acquired

TKDA acquires SJA Architects and establishes an office in Duluth, Minnesota.

2012

District Energy Solar Thermal System

TKDA completed planning, design and construction assistance for the District Energy Solar Thermal System, one of the first commercial thermal solar projects integrated into a district heating system in the United States and is the largest project of its type in the Midwest.

2013

SustainABILITY Award Received

The University of Minnesota-Duluth’s Civil Engineering Building receives SustainABILITY Award from AIA Chicago and is included in the Top Ten Green Projects by AIA/COTE. TKDA served as the Firm of Record.

2014

Salo Engineering Acquired

TKDA acquires Salo Engineering in Duluth, Minnesota.

2014

Aerial photo of TH 169/I-494 interchange

TKDA & Jacobs Lead Design

TKDA and Jacobs led the design for the new TH 169/I-494 interchange, freeway and local road system. The project receives ACEC/MN Grand Conceptor Award.

2014

A Top Project of 2014

Target Field Station named one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Projects of 2014. TKDA provided design for the bridge which supports the light rail transit station and station canopy.

2014

Van White Memorial Boulevard

Van White Memorial Boulevard receives Engineering Excellence National Recognition Award from ACEC.

2015

New Office in Northwest

TKDA opens Seattle office to serve our transportation clients in the Northwest.

2015

Aerial photo of Park Rapids Municipal Airport

MCOA Project of the Year

Park Rapids Municipal Airport – Konshok Field receives MCOA Project of the Year for its crosswind runway and lighting project. TKDA provided planning, environmental assessments, design engineering, and construction phase services.

2015

Play Ball!

TKDA is part of the team involved in the restoration of Wade Stadium. Located in Duluth, Minnesota, the stadium is one of the last remaining Works Progress Administration ballparks in the country.

2016

TKDA Opens New Offices on Both Coasts

TKDA opens offices in San Bernardino, California, and Vero Beach, Florida.

2017

Giving Program Established

TKDA establishes a giving program that annually dedicates a portion of our profits to support education and community programs, including STEM education for students in kindergarten through high school, scholarships for engineering and architectural students at colleges and universities, and programs that strengthen the communities where we work and live.

2017

Rendering of the Pioneer Hall Transformation

Pioneer Hall Renovation

TKDA is selected to lead the $104.5 million transformation of the historic Pioneer Hall and Dining Center located on the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus. The project will increase the number of student beds from 693 to 756 and expand the dining hall capacity from 285 to 860 seats. TKDA is working with design partners KWK Architects of St. Louis on the project. The same design team members worked with TKDA on the U of M’s 17th Avenue Residence Hall and Dining Facility, completed in 2013.

2018

Stoneburner Becomes President/CEO

Thomas Stoneburner, PE, LEED AP, becomes the new president and CEO of TKDA. Stoneburner, who has led the Facilities Engineering Division for the past 12 years, is a 30-year TKDA employee and respected firm leader.

2019

TKDA Fully Funds Scholarship at UMN

TKDA creates a permanent scholarship for engineering and architectural students at the UMN in 2010 in recognition of the firm’s 100th year anniversary. With TKDA’s additional donation in 2018, the scholarship is fully funded, ensuring the scholarship will be awarded in perpetuity.

2020

Working in New Ways During COVID-19

TKDA leverages innovation to develop new ways to work, keeping our employee owners healthy and our clients’ plans and projects moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020

Pioneer Hall Design Wins Grand Award

The University of Minnesota’s Pioneer Hall expansion and renovation project receives an ACEC/MN Grand Award, and wins Best Higher Education/University Building, 2020 Design Awards, from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute.

2022

ACEC/MN Awards TKDA Two Grand Awards

The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Runway Conversion to Dual Use Taxiway and the Dale Street Bridge Reconstruction projects both receive Grand Awards from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota.

2022

TKDA Earns Minnesota Safety Council Governor’s Safety Award

TKDA is recognized for excellence in workplace safety and health by the Minnesota Safety Council. The annual Governor’s Safety Awards program honors Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance.