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Mauricio Amado, RIBA AIA NCARB MBA

Mauricio Amado, RIBA AIA NCARB MBA

Riyadh, SA

 
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About 

Mauricio graduated with a Bachelors Degree from the Universidad del Valle de Mexico in 1987. Obtained his first registration in 1988 and a Master of Architecture from the University of Idaho in 1992.  Subsequently, he achieved his architectural license in 2003. Continued his formal education with a Masters of Business Administration that Louisiana State University granted in 2005 and in 2006 received his NCARB Certificate (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) and in 2016 received his Chartered Membership with the Royal Institute of British Architects. In 2017 he receiver accreditation with the Saudi Council of Engineers in KSA.

He has participated as a speaker in conferences in America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Middle East.  For the last 15 years he has simultaneously enriched his practice of architecture as member of the Design faculty at graduate and undergraduate level in Universities of the countries where he has practiced. 

Professionally he has contributed to the field of architecture through his involvement with the American Institute of Architects; he is a past board member of AIA Baton Rouge, past-committee chair and co-founder of the Leadership Program for AIA Dallas, Board member of AIA Middle East as KSA Country Representative becoming in 2016 a Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. 

As a Design faculty he has developed study abroad programs for Japan, Turkey, Cambodia, Spain, France, and Germany.

He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, holds a certificate of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and Royal Institute of British Architects.

In 2009, After almost 20 years of practice in the United States he ventured internationally where he has been practicing. He has practiced in China, Nigeria, Saudí Arabia, Qatar, and Mexico. But his international exposure has gone beyond these countries.

Among his most significant projects we can mention his involvement in Arabia as a member of the QA/QC team with King Abdullah Financial District and in Mexico the recently concluded documentation as architect responsible for the Envelope of the New Mexico City International Airport.

He is currently Manager of the Architectural Design Department at Zuhair Fayez Partnership in Riyadh.

Employment 

Zuhair Fayez Partnership Consultants, Riyadh, SA, Manager of Architectural Design Department

Manages Architectural Design Department.
Plan for resources, and ensure teams are focused on company’s objectives and deliver results.
Accountable for results.
Directs review of technical and commercial proposals involving multiple disciplines.
Prepares RFP’s and assists on direction on strategies including Value Engineering assessments.
Works closely with consultants to deliver quality design product in a timely manner.
Works close with the urban planning, master planning and landscape design teams in the production of conceptual and detailed designs.
Estimates project(s) needs, schedules and manages Design Staff.
Assist the Quantity Surveyor department for the preparation of Preliminary cost estimates.

Jul 2017 - current
 

FR-EE / Foster and Partners, Mexico City, Project Leader - NAICM Envelope Project Manager

NAICM (Nuevo Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México) New International Mexico City Airport
Project Manager/Architect in charge to manage and coordinate the production of construction documents as well as the consultants necessary to produce an architectural project.
Signed Envelope Construction Documents

Jun 2016 - Jan 2017
 

MEINHARDT Group, Riyadh, KSA and Doha, Qatar, Senior Architect - Senior Project Manager, Architecture

Agree design criteria with client and prepare design brief for each project
Get clients sign off for the project brief
Disseminate design brief to all internal and external parties
Manage the quality and timely delivery of all design phases for the project
Agree procurement strategy with all stakeholders and implement it
Prequalify Contractors, manage the bid, tender interviews, evaluation, recommendations and award phases
Coordinate with the Project QS through all stages to prepare and update cost estimates including pre-tender estimates and obtain client's approval
Manage the construction phase, including the change orders and oversee QNQC to project completion.
Oversee testing and commissioning phase to ensure the project will operate safely and efficiently and is fit for occupation.
Oversee defects list from all consultants and ensure they are rectified, until defects liability period.
Assist in finalizing project close and final account.
Arranging, managing and attending all design, client's and construction stage meetings

Design:
Prepare architectural design options for the project and make presentations to the client.
Assist in Project Feasibility and provide info to QS for costing
Implement the approved scheme through all stages of design
Provide the design input to the Design Team to ensure all design and documentation is completed to a high standard, in a timely manner
Managing P&L on all projects for the company
Assist the CD in managing, marketing and maintaining profitability of the company
Undertaking architectural design and detailing
Carry out feasibility studies of various options (preferred by client) with the Design team.
Coordinate specifications, drawings etc with the Designers of other disciplines in Qatar and/or other offices.

Client Liaison and Business Development:
Assist the Marketing effort of the Company to secure new work.
Arrange meetings with new clients and maintain Market Intelligence for new Projects.
Attend Presentations with the teams to win Projects.
Build trust and respect with clients (most clients do not know the technical aspects of the project so we must put relationships in front).
Actively participate in Business Development/Marketing and improving the image of the Company.
Attend internal marketing meetings (whenever possible).
Ensuring we get new business to meet yearly budgets/targets set by the Group Board.
Develop and maintain liaison from a business development perspective with our existing clients and new clients.
Generate new opportunities for the business to bid in all recognized Business sectors.
Assist in the monthly performance of Qatar office from a sales perspective against yearly targets.
Lead presentations for new projects and co-ordinate with other offices where required.
Liaise with clients regularly and ensure their requests are dealt with efficiently.
Help to oversee Bid deadlines are met.
Monitor competitor activity and discuss internally to devise strategy.
Monitor the Business Development leads (best bets) and advise the Company accordingly.
Where possible, ensure all business development opportunities are maximized.

Mar 2014 - Jun 2016
 

Rees Associates, Mexico, Mexico City, Marketing Director

Responsible for Sales and Marketing department
Responsible for sales and marketing strategy
Produce preliminaries of design and assemble teams for design and construction
Client contact and point of distribution of information to the production team
Coordinate schedules of production and its correlations with cost and profit
Responsible to the client and the firm for results in design, quality, cost, profitability, deadlines, and client satisfactionMarketing Director

Jun 2013 - Apr 2014
 

Popham Walter Odusote, Lagos, NG, Director of Design / Senior Project Manager

Director of Design / Senior Project Manager
• Design Director in charge of quality, purpose, idea, and design objectives of the firm.
• Project Manager/Architect in charge to manage and coordinate the production of construction documents as well as the consultants necessary to produce an architectural project including all its specialties.
• Client contact and point of distribution of information to the production team
• Coordinate schedules of production and its correlations with cost and profit
• Business Development
• Responsible to the client and the firm for results in design, quality, cost, profitability, deadlines, and client satisfaction

Mar 2011 - Jun 2013
 

Rees Associates, Inc, Shanghai, CN, Senior Project Manager/International Business Development

Senior Project Manager/International Business Development

• Responsible for Business Development in the Senior Living emerging market in China
• Client contact and point of distribution of information to the production team
• Identify potential markets and leads

Oct 2009 - Mar 2011
 

Rees Associates, Inc, Dallas, TX, US, Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager
• Architect in charge to manage and coordinate the production of construction documents as well as the consultants necessary to produce an architectural project including all its specialties.
• Client contact and point of distribution of information to the production team
• Coordinate schedules of production and its correlations with cost and profit
• Responsible to the client and the firm for results in design, quality, cost, profitability, deadlines, and client satisfaction

May 2006 - Oct 2009
 

STBP Architects, Baton Rouge, LA, US, Studio Director

Studio Director

• Architect in charge to manage and coordinate design, production of construction documents as well as the consultants necessary to produce an architectural project including all its specialties, city permits and approvals.
• Client contact and point of distribution of information to the production team
• Coordinate schedules of production and its correlations with cost and profit
• Business Development
• Responsible to the client and the firm for results in design, quality, cost, profitability, deadlines, and client satisfaction

May 2002 - May 2006
 

3DInternational, Houston, TX, US, Senior Associate / Project Manager

Senior Associate / Project Manager

roject Manager in charge to manage and coordinate the production of construction documents as well as the consultants necessary to produce an architectural project including all its specialties.
• Coordinate schedules of production
• Responsible to the firm for results
• Architectural Corporate trainer

May 1997 - May 2002
 

Bani, Carville, & Brown Architects, Baton Rouge, LA, US, Architectural Intern

Architectural Intern

• Architect in training following to NCARB standards and requirements

May 1993 - May 1997
 

Somerset Homes, Liberty Lake, WA, US, Architectural Intern/Draftsman

Architectural Intern/Draftsman

May 1992 - May 1993
 

Education 

Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, US, Business-MBA

May 2003 - Dec 2005
 

University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, US, MArch, Architecture

Aug 1989 - May 1992
 

Universidad del Valle de México (UVM), Mexico City, BArch, Architecture

Aug 1983 - Dec 1987
 

Awards 

Architecture - A Global Perspective (Spanish), Other

Translated from: http://blog.universidaduvm.mx/la-arquitectura-desde-una-perspectiva-global#.VXcLMM9_Oko

Architecture: A Global Perspective. (55 Anniversary of the UVM - University of the Valley of Mexico, Lomas Verdes Campus - Mexico City - Outstanding Alumni)

As Alumni of the School of Architecture at the UVM Lomas Verdes Campus, Mauricio Amado has been practicing architecture for almost thirty years throughout the world. His effort, talent, and dedication, have taken him to practice in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

This great adventure began in the 1980´s at the UVM, where Mauricio began to learn about design, construction, cost… “It was a taste that made me want to learn more and encourage me to get a more specialized education”

“The university teaches you to learn and your teachers teach you to love your profession”. University life, UVM, puts you in touch with professionals that practice everyday that which you want to become. This atmosphere awaken my interest and drove me to push forward, to look beyond, and it was then when I began planning my Masters degree”

The Next step was to immigrate to the United States and study a Master of Architecture at the University of Idaho, degree that was granted in 1992. Afterwards, in 2005, Mauricio obtained an MBA from Louisiana State University and practiced architecture in the US for two decades. He was involved with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and focused his attention to obtain the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) certificate.
His next move was China and then Nigeria where he was Director of Design at PWO, one of the most prestigious firms in the country. Today, and since April 2014 his role is Senior Architect with Meinhardt Arabia. A company head quartered in Singapore and offices in more than 20 countries including Saudi Arabia.

In his own words, “my job today is highly specialized and highly technical in which we apply international codes. I am quality control for a development called KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District), a project we are building consisting of 50 towers that range from 25 to 80 floors”.
 
 
More international credentials
Among the projects that make this Alumnus proud are Eden Park Library in Baton Rouge Louisiana which received awards at a local level and the design of Omega Tower in Nigeria. Further, some of his work was selected in 2012 to be showcased in several cities in the state of Texas.

In your experience, What does a professional need to be more competitive in the world arena? Mauricio mentions several requirements. Among them, having a second even a third language. He also advises an unwavered will; aside from building experience in important firms he suggests important projects.
In thought: “one has to be dedicated, consistent, love your profession; that will push you forward. There are always hurdles along the road but that is part of living. But the better prepared you are, the more tools you will have to achieve your goals”.

June 5, 2015

2015
 

ENLACES-2013, Award

A traveling exhibition celebrating the work of Latino Architects and Designers in Dallas

2013
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills