JET SET
Once the Americans got in it all changed because of the depth of what we have and because of the ongoing education.
Wa View of Skybridge
View of North Build
Entrance View from Street
Exterio
ABOVE: KING ABDULLA FINANCIAL DISTRICT IN RIYADH - Courtesy of FXFOWLE (left) and Steven Miller (right)
YL: Why is it important to you to advocate for AIA?
K IN G A B DU L L A H FIN A N C IA L DIST R IC T PA R C E L 2 .0 9
next year, they approached us about additional projects for which they wanted to select 14 American architects. We supported their selection process. We ended up with 11. RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA
SM: Being an AIA member working overseas sets you apart from everyone else. The, AIA has a lot in their doctrine stating that we are the preeminent architectural organization. I’ve challenged that a lot of times because the Royal Institute of British Architects really was out there before we were. They were in Hong Kong, they were and are still in India, and they were in the Middle East before us. However, our membership is larger, stronger, and now diverse. In the Middle East, RIBA had maybe 250 members and they started five years before the AIA. We have 500 members and are in 17 countries. We have members as far away as Morocco and Iraq. This truly shows the pull of Americanism. The single greatest supporter of American architects of any country in the world, outside of America, is Saudi Arabia. I first worked in Saudi Arabia from 1974-79. In 2005, I was hired to be the architect on a whole new development that was going to include 54 major buildings. BuroHappold were the major engineers, but they insisted that BuroHappold use the American offices in L.A. and in New York -- not their main office in London. We did so well so fast that, the
Parcel 209 is a residential development that has facades that face a shared cul-de-sac to the north and access street to the east, a public square to the south and the Wadi to the west. The development is connected at the skywalk level to adjacent developments via a pedestrian bridge to the north, and another to the south. The access street provides a shared drop-off, as well as access to below grade parking and a landscaped pedestrian route to the Wadi. At the middle of the combined drop-off is a a landscaped pedestrian way leading to the residential lobby and beyond, with stair and elevator access to the Wadi below.
COMPLETION 2011
Most Americans do not understand process and the culture in Saudi Arabia. Once the Americans started to design our depth of profession related to ongoing education was very noticeable. Our chapter in the Middle East was the first chapter that said we wanted to have continuing education for our AIA International Associates, and they accepted it. By the way, next year, that’s going to become a requirement for all international Chapters. I think we’re going to start with six or eight credits and, every year, build up until you get the same hit that we get here. YL: What advice do you have for those of us who want to have a career practicing architecture overseas? SM: It all has to start with business development. If you’re an independent practitioner or you’re working for a firm, and you are asked to be involved internationally, you have to have a very substantial budget, and you need to know that the firm will provide the time required. Developing a successful business overseas really takes time. ■
Q2 - 2017
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