About
Ever since Kaiker Development + Construction Principal and Founder Kai Lewars was young, he made it clear that he wanted to be involved in construction.
Growing up Kai enjoyed seeing the positive impact that resulted from development and construction projects and their influence in transforming communities, businesses, and residents’ lives for the better. It was only a matter of time until he would realize the role he would play as he focused his education on the many niches of the construction process.
Motivated to excel by witnessing and learning from his family’s wisdom, hardships, and successes, Kai earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and studied Construction Engineering Management at Oregon State University. He began his career interning with Bremik Construction and later with Gores Construction in Portland, OR. Prior to graduating, Kai was offered a full-time salary position with Gores Construction to begin upon graduation as service manager and later took on additional roles as safety and quality control coordinator. Several years later, he accepted a position with the Portland Public Schools as a project manager for facilities and asset management, transitioning his career from construction to an owner’s representative for the school district where he grew up.
After living and working in the Pacific Northwest for most of his life, Kai eventually realized that it was time to make the leap of faith and take the risk to further grow in his career. His father, who had lived in Cincinnati for years, suggested relocating to the Queen City where Kai could take advantage of the real estate development market by growing his personal portfolio of properties as well as finding the right fit within the development and construction industries. In 2016, Kai sold his house, packed his bags, and purchased a portfolio of properties prior to moving to Cincinnati – without knowing anyone in the local development or construction market.
Kai turned over these properties selling some and holding onto others. Slowly gaining traction in the market Kai began offering his CM services to other investors and developers interested in 1–4-unit properties. Realizing the potential in the marketplace was so much more in the high volume residential and light commercial sector, but limited based on his network Kai decided not take any further active projects with KDC beyond his existing rental portfolio and personal small projects. Kai reached out to another up and coming commercial and industrial development and construction management firm that gave him the opportunity to grow in his career by taking on larger projects. Kai was the 2nd Project Manager at Cincinnati-based Terrex Development & Construction managing projects in the $5-15 million range until June 2021 when he left to scale and grow his own company, Kaiker Development + Construction.
In his free time, Kai enjoys traveling, playing and watching a variety of sports, attending music concerts, and spending time with his children, family, dogs, and friends. He especially likes being outside during the spring and summer months at music festivals, exploring nature and BBQing.
Bio
Principal and Founder, Kaiker Development + Construction.
Representative Project Experience:
Hale Ave TH - New Build Construction - Cincinnati, OH
o New build construction of 7 townhomes totaling 12,000 SF
Zolas Restaurant - New Tenant Buildout - Cincinnati, OH
o New Bar + Restaurant w/ stage and outdoor dining 4,000 SF
Evanston Home Improvement Program – Program Management/ CM Services - Cincinnati, OH
o Managed a portfolio of 20+ residential home improvements for community development partner
Avondale Home Improvement Program – Program Management/ CM Services - Cincinnati, OH
o Managed a portfolio of 50+ residential home improvements for community development partner
Community Matters Headquarter – Office Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Office Renovation converting open room into new ind. office space totaling 1,000 SF
Midland Building – Office Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Office Renovation of all new finishes totaling 5,000 SF
Seven Hills Trauma Center – Mixed Use Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Development, Stabilization, and Renovation of a 3 story Community Trauma Center totaling 4,000 SF
College Hill Business District Improvement Program – Commercial Renovations - Cincinnati, OH
o Marquet Outdoor Dining Space
o College Hill Yoga
o Kiki’s
o Marty’s
o Streetscape Improvement
o West Lot
o Dixon Building Renovation
o Hamilton Ave Apartment Renovation
o Moon Beauty
o Ourshop
o Total Indulgence
o Hollywood Apartments
Sedamsville Multi- Family Stabilizations- Cincinnati, OH
o Scatter site development phase 1 stabilizations of multi- family apartment buildings
Allez Bakery Madisonville – Commercial Stabilization - Cincinnati, OH
o Stabilization of a blighted 2 story building including demo of rear CMU block building totaling 7,500 SF
Central District Elm St. Compound Stabilization – Commercial Stabilization - Cincinnati, OH
o Stabilization of a compound of 4 building structures ranging from 2-4 stories tall totaling 22,000 SF
Opportunity Matters – Multi- Family Stabilization - Cincinnati, OH
o Stabilization of a blighted 4 story multi- family building including masonry roof deck extension totaling 7,500 SF
Beekman Stabilization – Multi- Family Stabilization - Cincinnati, OH
o Stabilization of a blighted 4 story multi – family building totaling 5,500 SF
Mohawk Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Historical Renovation of 2 buildings w/ addition into 7 apartment units totaling 6,000 SF
Elm St. Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Historical Renovation of 2 buildings into 12 apartment units totaling 16,000 SF
12th St. Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Historical Renovation of 2 buildings into 10 apartment units totaling 7,200 SF
5th St. Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Historical Renovation of 26 apartment units totaling 26,000 SF
Pleasant St. Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Historical Renovation with an addition into 8 apartment units totaling 4,000 SF
Neave Street Flats – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Renovation of 4 apartment units totaling 3,500 SF
Rack Ct. Apartments – Multi - Family Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Renovation of 4 apartment units totaling 3,000 SF
Meant 2 Be Fit - New Office Renovation - Cincinnati, OH
o Office Tenant Build Out totaling 2,000 SF
A Precious Home - Group Home Buildout - Cincinnati, OH
o Group Home Tenant Build Out totaling 1,000 SF
Ugo Gelato- New Tenant Buildout - Cincinnati, OH
o Gelato Shop Tenant Build Out totaling 1,000 SF
Elm Street Whitebox - Commercial Whitebox - Cincinnati, OH
o White box Build Out totaling 1,000 SF
Belcan Engineering Headquarters, Cincinnati, Ohio
o design-builder to their new Blue Ash regional headquarters staffing 700+ employees creating unique areas that advances the culture and philosophy of Belcan engaging newer talent totaling 34,000 SF
Freeman Trauma Center Stabilization - Phase 1 Stabilization - Cincinnati, OH
o Stabilization project featuring roof repairs, structural framing, and masonry repairs
Erie Development- Mixed- Use Development - Cincinnati, OH
o Fee development of new mixed- use 4 story building totaling 22,000 SF
Prus Construction - Renovation and Office Expansion – Cincinnati, OH
o Renovation and expansion of existing 5,400 SF office to 17,200 SF. Will include a high-bay training center and employee fitness center.
Schaefer Office Headquarters – New Office Renovation – Cincinnati, OH
o Design-Builder of 16,000 SF office featuring an open office concept with a focus on collaborative spaces, restoring some of the unique elements of the existing building.
Fayette Regional Hospital – Detox Center – Connersville, IN
o Construction of a 22,000 SF 4.0 Detoxification Unit including 46-beds located within Fayette Regional Hospital.
Fayette Memorial Hospital – Sleep Lab – Connersville, IN
o Design and construction of new 2,000 SF sleep lab including 4 monitored sleep rooms with private baths.
Thrive – Building Renovation and Office Expansion – Cincinnati, OH
o 5,000 SF Building renovation and expansion.
Blue Manatee – Building Construction and Renovation – Cincinnati, OH
o 5,600 SF mixed use building including first floor retail and second floor office space.
Reztark – New Office Renovation – Cincinnati, OH
o New office renovation of 9,696 SF featuring open office layout and collaboration spaces, preserving unique elements of the existing building.
Hilltop Condominiums – Building Envelope Construction Defect Repairs – Portland, OR
o 16 buildings with a total of 108 units of targeted scope of repairs on the exterior building envelope. This included, but was not limited to siding, decks membranes, deck railings, windows, and utility penetrations.
Portland Public Schools– Facilities and Asset Management – Portland, OR
o Owner’s Representative on numerous projects including but not limited to the School District’s Parking Lot Paving & Striping Budget, School Playgrounds, Athletic Facilities, Science Labs, Floor replacements, Asbestos/ Lead Abatement, Artistic Projects, etc.
Gores Construction– Multi-Family and Commercial Properties- Portland, OR
o Conducted 100’s of exterior building envelope destructive testing inspections for construction defect litigation cases related to exterior building envelope defects. Led an exterior building envelope maintenance program for multi- family and commercial properties.
Training, Affiliations and Certifications:
Urban Land Institute
HBA member
Allied Construction Industries
City of Cincinnati SBE + MBE
Ohio MBE + EDGE
OSHA 30 Hour Certification
o Lead Certification
First Aid/ AED/ CPR/ Bloodborne Pathogens Certification
James Hardie Installation Trained
Westcoat Specialty Coating Systems Trained
Education & Designations:
B.S. Business Administration, Oregon State University
Construction Engineering Management, Oregon State University