Kurt Petersen
Executive Vice President / Design & Construction
- 41 years of experience
- 19 years at KDC
Kurt Petersen
Executive Vice President / Design & Construction
Kurt Petersen might not wear a tailcoat and bow tie to work, but he has a lot in common with symphony conductors.
While conductors bring together hundreds of sounds to create beautiful music, Kurt brings together hundreds of elements to create beautiful buildings. He’s been involved in several high profile projects throughout his 25-plus year career including the development of CityLine.
My job is to maximize the resources we have and make sure our clients’ needs are fulfilled.
As an executive vice president at KDC, Kurt works with a large group of people to ensure the successful completion of a project. On a daily basis, he interfaces with clients such as State Farm and JPMorgan Chase, as well as orchestrates communication between architects, engineers, city officials, and others.
Kurt joined KDC in 2005 after spending more than 20 years with Dalmac Construction Co. where he worked on a variety of commercial projects including office buildings, shopping centers, and medical facilities.
It was during his time with Dalmac that Kurt first came to know KDC. He served as a project manager for one of KDC’s earlier projects, Overton Park Plaza in Fort Worth.
For Kurt, working at KDC is his dream job so he jumped at the opportunity to join the team. “I found my niche, and I’ve been happily working in the development and construction industry for nearly three decades.”
Kurt is a numbers guy, and he likes managing budgets and working with design and construction professionals to bring a client’s vision to life. “It’s so rewarding to be able to see the finished product and see employees come in and light up over their new environment.”
Kurt is a native Kansan who attended college at Kansas State University in Manhattan. Unlike many young adults, he knew exactly what kind of degree he wanted to pursue.
“During high school, I worked construction jobs in the summer to make extra money. I loved it, and when it was time to go to college, I felt like a degree in construction was within reach.”
In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from K-State, Kurt is also a LEED accredited professional. He expanded his knowledge basis in sustainable construction by working on projects for Chevron and AAA.
While Kurt is proud of all the projects he’s worked on, the most memorable one is a pro bono project for Vogel Alcove. The non-profit provides daycare for homeless children, and Kurt was involved in the construction of a new facility in Dallas.
“It was so gratifying to be involved in that project. When you see what an impact a facility like that can make in these kids’ lives, it brings you to tears.”
Kurt’s interests aren’t limited to construction. He’s a family man who married his college sweetheart, Stephanie, and the couple have two adult sons. One is a paramedic in the Metroplex, and the other is attending his father’s alma mater and following in his footsteps by majoring in construction.
Kurt loves the outdoors and enjoys hiking and biking. His favorite summer vacation spot is Colorado, anywhere in the mountains. In addition to those activities, he is an avid golfer and runner, and he likes to read non-fiction including accounts of the Revolutionary War and Civil War, sports stories, and business books.
