Parsons Hires Key Personnel for Middle East Africa Built Environment Division

PASADENA, CA (September 16, 2017) – As part of Parsons’ concerted strategy to develop its top-tier, talent-driven Built Environment business practice, the corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of four individuals in key roles for its Middle East Africa (MEA) Built Environment Division: Don Sharp, Director of Landscape Architecture; Bob Atwal, Director of Architecture; George Arvanitis, Urban Design Principal; and Mattia Gambardella, Design Director.

“These talented professionals have a broad range of experience in the design, construction, and management of complex buildings and developments projects,” said Gary Adams, Parsons Group President. “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. We are extremely excited that they have joined our team.”

Don Sharp is a leading landscape architect with extensive international experience designing and implementing complex landscape and urban development projects. He joins the company from Martha Schwartz Partners, where he led the London practice and was responsible for concept generation, design direction, and technical guidance and implementation.

Bob Atwal is an architect with vast international experience spanning more than 30 years, leading a variety of iconic landmark projects across the globe. Prior to joining Parsons, he worked with several renowned architecture firms, including extensive periods with Foster+Partners, Richard Rogers Partnership, and John Macaslan & Partners.

George Arvanitis is an architect and urban designer with more than 20 years of experience in Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. He has led project teams on a wide variety of projects with internationally renowned practices and has a proven track record of delivering large-scale complex developments. Prior to joining Parsons, Mr. Arvanitis was the Urban Design Studio Lead with Ove Arup Partnership in London.

Mattia Gambardella is an architect who has divided his career between design, research, and teaching in Europe and South Africa. His award-winning work on Generative Design and Responsive Architecture has been presented in Canada, Barcelona, and Taiwan. Mr. Gambardella is a leader in parametric design and digital techniques in delivering design solutions at all scales, and he joins Parsons from Zaha Hadid Architects in London.

Parsons has been working in the MEA region for more than 60 years and has offices in all GCC-member countries. Our portfolio of ongoing work in the region includes buildings, residential communities, master planning and urban development, landscape architecture, mixed-use developments, airports, highways, bridges, rail & transit, ports, water infrastructure, and energy projects.