KieranTimberlake announced today it has transitioned from a founder-led partnership to a 100 percent employee-owned corporation. The award-winning Philadelphia office joins other employee-owned companies such as Gensler, Ayers Saint Gross, Zaha Hadid Architects, IA Interior Architects, BNIM, SHoP Architects, and others who have made the leap. For the past forty years, KieranTimberlake has been a founder-led firm. The transition to employee-ownership, the firm said in a statement, highlights our commitment to fostering a collaborative, innovative, and inclusive culture, ensuring the firms future is in the hands of those who have contributed to its success.Today, KieranTimberlake has nearly 90 employees. What employee-ownership means is KieranTimberlake has adopted an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), so employees will receive shares in the company as part of their compensation, which must be bought back at fair market value when the employee leaves the office. Historically, ESOPs have helped with succession, namely transferring ownership of a company from its founders to new leadership. According to National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) data from 2022, there are 6,548 ESOPs in the United States.Moving forward, Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake, the offices cofounders whove steered KieranTimberlake since 1984, will remain engaged in design and lead the firms strategy and vision, ensuring that the principles that have defined KieranTimberlake for four decades remain central to our work, the office said.It is a clear reflection of our belief that the strength of KieranTimberlake lies not only in our work, but in our culture and people, KieranTimberlake continued.This next step reinforces our values, ensuring that the future of the firm is shaped by the talented individuals who have been integral to our growth. As part of this transition, KieranTimberlake will continue to be governed by a seven-person management group, representing all areas of the practice, the office added. This expanded leadership structure will provide a balanced and forward-thinking approach to guiding the firm in the years to come.The announcement comes a few months after Billie Faircloth, former KieranTimberlake partner, joined the faculty at Cornell AAP.