profile

After having completed my studies in Architecture at University College Dublin I decided to pursue my development abroad and relocated to Rome, Italy, to work for the renowned Italian architect, Massimiliano Fuksas, a figure that I had greatly admired during my student years in Dublin, Ireland. This development continued two years later when I was offered a position with Ateliers Jean Nouvel of Paris, where I remained for a total of 11 years obtaining the position of associate architect between the Rome and Paris bureaus. This part of my career was fundamental in honing skills at guiding complex, high-end projects through all design and construction phases where I was responsible for delivery of, amongst others, the new production and office facility for Ferrari at Maranello and the new exposition hall for the ‘Fiera di Genova’. At this point Fuksas asked would I be interested in returning to his main Rome office as Studio Director, responsible for overseeing an architectural staff of circa 80, guiding client relations on key projects and developing new markets and furthering the Fuksas brand overseas.

In 2014 the Rome Airport authority (ADR) invited me to take the role as Head of Architectural Design, (ADR Engineering/SPEA), for the new extensive expansion works underway at Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO), Rome. Thanks to an aggressive plan of expansion and investment in quality, both in terms of new design work, refurbishment of existing terminal and service spaces, airside infrastructure and the all-round service offering within the airport environment, a major shifted has occurred with FCO now being named by ACI Europe as Europe’s best airport 3 years in a row. Playing a part in this is a source of pride with me and delivery of quality facilities such as the 400m Euro Terminal 3 expansion (completed), the new Pier A design (nearing completion), the design for a self-sufficient low-cost terminal on the FCO campus and many interior overhauls such as new Passenger Wayfinding, ensured 5 years of intense activity in this role.

After being contacted by Dubai Airports and a lengthy interview process, I was offered the role as Director of Design Strategy for Dubai Airports and relocated to Dubai in August 2019. My mandate here was to grow an internal design team capable of driving a new phase of expansion of DXB from the current 90m pax per year to an estimated 120m by 2030. During my almost two years in this role, we set about establishing strategic frameworks whereby passenger capacity could grow both by expansion of the existing footprint of terminal spaces and by optimization of existing floor plate while also cultivating a new qualitative level in terms of architectural space, legibility of passenger journey and technological upgrades to create a seamless journey for our passengers.

I am passionate about great design. I believe that great design is the response to the tangible and emotional needs of people. I also believe that great design adds value, real economic value to a place. It has the capacity to create a bond between a brand and the user that in turn makes a promoter of that user, especially in a world where classic forms of advertising and promotion have lost ground to social media and the younger generations, from Gen Y to Gen Z, seek out real experience over a more established form of so-called quality. I have also had the honour of teaching at the Universita’ La Sapienza of Rome, one of the world’s oldest universities, teaching two annual lessons on ‘The development of Rome Airport’ and on ‘Air Terminal design with regard to the IATA Levels of service’, to graduate students.