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ON THE MOVE WARE MALCOMB ANNOUNCES RAMZAH KHAN HAS JOINED AS STUDIO MANAGER IN DC OFFICE Ware Malcomb , an award-winning international design firm, announced Ramzah Khan has joined the Washington, D.C. office as Studio Manager, Interior Architecture & Design. In this role, she oversees the Interior Architecture & Design Studio for the Washington, D.C. office and manages select projects. “We are very excited to have Ramzah join our team in Washington, D.C.,” said Michael Christensen, Regional Director of Ware Malcomb’s Washington, D.C. office. “Her experience in both corporate interiors and commercial real estate will help strengthen Ware Malcomb’s ever-growing presence in the D.C. metro area and expand our reach in the market. We look forward to her contributions in the years ahead.”
Ramzah’s experience working in commercial and residential design includes a variety of project types such as corporate office, law firm, multifamily, nonprofit, associations and tech. In addition to her experience with project design and management, Ramzah also brings urban planning experience to the team. Ramzah earned a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and a master’s degree in interior design from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She holds the LEED Green Associate Accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council and has been involved in numerous industry organizations, including IIDA, CoreNet Global, USGBC, Commercial Real Estate Women, NAIOP Commercial Real Estate
Development Association and CREBA, and in prior leadership roles at the American Society of Interior Designers Chapter. Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a contemporary and expanding full service design firm providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding and building measurement services to corporate, commercial/residential developer and public/institutional clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the firm specializes in the design of commercial office, corporate, industrial, science and technology, healthcare, retail, auto, public/ institutional facilities and renovation projects. Ware Malcomb is recognized as a Hot Firm by Zweig Group.
DESIGN EXCELLENCE, from page 7
KS: Most individuals who are promoted to principal at Payette are promoted based on potential rather than their portfolio of clients. Design talent, marketing savvy, and business acumen are all part of the equation. There is no magic age, but I would say typically people are promoted on average in their mid- to late-40s. TZL: Payette received the 2019 AIA Architecture Firm Award. Please tell me a little about the project that provided you with this honor. KS: This is an award that recognizes design excellence and contributions to the profession over a 10-year period. We were honored with the award for our innovative approach to design, the FUSION of Design and Performance. The Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex at Northeastern University is the embodiment of this concept and was featured in our submission. It is an iconic building defined by its organically shaped solar veil and a cutting-edge culture for science within. It also received a 2019 AIA COTE Top 10 Award as one of the top 10 most sustainable projects in the world, along with the Harleston Parker Medal, awarded to the most beautiful building in Boston. TZL: Diversity and inclusion are lacking. What steps are you taking to address the issue? KS: We have been talking about diversity for a long time and measuring our progress across the practice in terms of our leadership, design staff, new hires, within our typologies and firm-wide. We are 177 people that hail from 32 different countries, 22 states, and we work in 20 different countries. Currently we are 45 percent women/55 percent men and 28 percent of our staff are minorities. We are extremely proud of our progress and we have become a very different firm from the one that I joined more than 30 years ago. We believe that diversity is essential to innovation and that a great idea can come from anyone at any time. It is part of our secret sauce, at least that is the part that I can share with you.
TZL: Ownership transition can be tricky, to say the least. What’s the key to ensuring a smooth passing of the baton? What is the biggest pitfall to avoid? KS: I think it is extremely important to focus on developing staff with leadership potential, especially individuals who are stronger and more talented than you are. This makes it obvious when it is time to promote someone; you have to do it and if the firm has to change to allow it to happen, the firm changes. You have no other choice. The biggest pitfall is waiting too long or waiting for the perfect moment in the economy. I feel often younger principals grow exponentially when they are promoted, and the firm benefits tremendously from their growth. “While we have always been a design- focused firm, we have consistently continued to raise the bar on design excellence in our practice. Thirty years ago, our firm was a strong regional firm. Now we are a national firm with a high visibility design practice working on high-profile projects around the world.” TZL: They say failure is a great teacher. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way? KS: A former mentor once told me, “Every crisis is an opportunity. Whenever you are in one of the most difficult moments of a project, don’t run away from it, dive into it. Real client loyalty comes from pulling through difficult moments together.” I always remember this advice during difficult moments and it is always true. TZL: How many years of experience – or large enough book of business – is enough to become a principal in your firm? Are you naming principals in their 20s or 30s?
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THE ZWEIG LETTER NOVEMBER 9, 2020, ISSUE 1367
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