DesignMena: AIA Middle East News!
/Sherif Anis becomes president of AIA Middle East
Sherif Anis has been appointed president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Middle East chapter, taking over from Thierry Paret.
Anis has been on the AIA Middle East board since its inception in 2010, and currently works for Gulf Related as design manager.
Speaking to Middle East Architect, he commented: “It is my goal to continue the good work we have done and use AIA’s global reach and influence.
“In our region there are hundreds of foreign architects who have graduated with US architecture degrees, many right here in the UAE from the only internationally US accredited architecture program at AUS, with others soon to follow.”
With a total of 22 years’ experience in the USA, London and the GCC, Anis relocated to Abu Dhabi from Boston in 2008 and is actively involved in projects in both Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia.
He received a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University School of Architecture and is a member of the Boston Society of Architects and a registered architect in the State of Massachusetts.
Working to foster stronger ties between the AIA, regional architects and governments in the MENA region, Anis and the board seek to foster an understanding of the differences in professional practices between the US and the Middle East.
In addition the AIA will promote US training and design approaches; facilitate international recognition of US professional architectural credentials; and foster communications between AIA and its members who work and reside in the Middle East.
Anis added: “Here in the Middle East there are US firms who employ foreign national architects as well as regional firms who employ US registered architects and then there are even more US registered foreign architects. AIA Middle East will continue to make the most of these offshore relationships and global ties to our values, ethics and methods; we collectively benefit by this.”
Anis revealed that the AIA will look to intensify its export campaigns. He continued: “Member firms based in the US continue to become more active in our region and AIA Middle East can help propel them into this competitive environment.
“Much like the MENA region, ours is an increasingly diverse profession, in terms of ethnicity, language and cultural background and we look to foster an understanding of this richness and continue to apply our skills and knowledge in this dynamic regional market.”
