Parsons bolsters Middle East, Africa built environment division

Parsons has strengthened its Middle East and Africa (MEA) built environment division with four senior appointments.

The US-headquartered consultancy has appointed Don Sharp as its MEA director of landscape architecture, Bob Atwal as director of architecture, George Arvanitis as urban design principal, and Mattia Gambardella as design director.

Gary Adams, Parsons’ MEA president, said that the recruits’ collective experience would serve to improve the service offering of the firm’s built environment division.

“These talented professionals have a broad range of experience in the design, construction, and management of complex buildings and development projects,” said Adams.

READ: Face to face with Parsons' William C “Bill” Bodie

“Their appointments are one of the key steps we are taking toward growing our built environment group, and ensuring comprehensive top-end services and solutions to our customer base,” he added.

Sharp, whose experience includes the design and implementation of complex landscape and urban development projects, has joined Parsons from Martha Schwartz Partners.

Atwal, has more than 30 years of industry experience, having worked for numerous high-profile architecture firms, including Foster+Partners, Richard Rogers Partnership, and John Macaslan & Partners.

Arvanitis, who most recently worked for Ove Arup Partnership, has more than 20 years of experience in Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

Gambardella, whose experience spans the fields of design, research, and teaching, has joined Parsons from Zaha Hadid Architects.

Parsons has been working in the MEA region for more than 60 years, and has offices across the GCC. The firm is working on a diverse portfolio of regional projects, covering the fields of commercial, residential, mixed-use, aviation, transport and infrastructure, and utilities.