Arup Initiates Three Americas Experts into Global Fellows Program

NEW YORK , Sept. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Arup, a multidisciplinary engineering and consulting firm with a reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable designs, announced today the naming of three additional Arup Fellows in the Americas. The Arup fellow designation is a highly selective and life-long honorary title awarded to exceptional individuals considered role models with world-class vision and initiative. New honorees Atila Zekioglu, PE, SE; Fiona Cousins, PE, CEng, LEED Fellow; and Chris Luebkeman, PhD; join Mahadev Raman, PE, CEng, LEED AP; Michael Willford, CEng; and Alisdair McGregor, PE, CEng, PhD, LEED AP as fellows in the Arup Americas region.  

The Arup Fellowship celebrates creative and technical excellence and an extraordinary ability to innovate. Committed to passing on their experience and best practice, and setting the best example of what can be achieved technically, Arup Fellows inspire and encourage innovative thinking at Arup and in the industry as a whole. The Arup fellowship recognizes design and technical experts as leaders within the firm.

"It's really quite humbling to be recognized by one's peers as a fellow. There are very few of us in the firm, and it's an accolade I will place above any other than I've ever received," said Mahadev Raman, chairman of Arup Americas. "As an Arup Fellow, I think there are three aspects to the role that I hope to deliver over the next few years. One is to keep our technical work and the quality of our design right at the highest level. The second aspect is developing young talent – Arup is best placed to develop the talent of the future. The third aspect is to create a strong external profile for the firm and to really make a difference in the world. The firm is all about shaping a better world and I think each one of us has a duty to do that in our own way."

The six Arup Fellows in the Americas include:

Atila Zekioglu, PE, SE, is a structural engineer and principal in the Los Angeles office. Throughout his 30-year career, Atila has focused on providing integrated building engineering ideas, cost-effective structural concepts, and pioneering innovative seismic solutions for some of the firm's most recognizable projects. His wide range of experience includes nearly every building type, with a particular focus on solving technical challenges. Passionate about performance-based design, Atila is a highly regarded global seismic expert who has led the seismic design of several base-isolated projects. In addition to being an Arup Fellow, Atila is also a member of the Americas Region board of directors.

Fiona Cousins, PE, CEng, LEED Fellow, is a mechanical engineer, sustainability consultant and principal in Arup's New York office, where she leads the sustainability team. She is a member of the Arup Americas board with particular responsibility for directing technical and research investments for the region. Fiona is inspired by working with other members of the design team to develop buildings that are both great to be in and look at, that also perform well for comfort, and energy and resource use. She believes that this is best achieved through clear goal-setting supported by integrated design practice. She has spent much of her career translating sustainable design concepts and goals, especially those related to energy, into practical programs of action, and is always looking for new ways to talk about energy use reduction. Fiona joined Arup as a pre-university trainee.

Dr. Chris Luebkeman is the leader of Arup's Global Foresight + Research + Innovation practice and works from Arup's San Francisco office. His training as a geologist, structural engineer and architect has led him to believe that successful design depends upon deep curiosity, a great breadth of knowledge and rigorous inquiry. He speaks widely on the forces that are driving global change and sustainability. His extensive travels and keen observational skills help him challenge preconceived notions of normal at Arup and with his clients in businesses of all kinds. He and his team help clients better understand the needs and desires of consumers, customers, and citizens. Chris' experiences have enabled him to specialize in being a generalist with a view to being "in league with the future".

Mahadev Raman, PE, CEng, LEED AP, is a mechanical engineer, a director of Arup Group Limited, chairman of the Americas region, member of Arup's management board, and the global sustainability director. As an expert in the design of sustainable, high-performance and energy-efficient buildings, environmentally-sensitive solutions are integral to Mahadev's work, as evidenced by his pioneering use of sophisticated analytical techniques to improve the performance of low-energy designs. Mahadev worked in Arup's London, Cambridge, UK, and Los Angeles offices before moving to New York.

Michael Willford, CEng, is a principal, structural and mechanical engineer in Arup's San Francisco office, and the global leader of Arup's Advanced Technology and Research practice, as well as Arup's Seismic Skills Network. An internationally recognized expert on performance based seismic design, and co-author of several NIST-funded joint venture studies, Michael has a wide range of experience in engineering design and analysis gained on a variety of projects including building, civil, and offshore structures.

Alisdair McGregor, PE, CEng, PhD, LEED AP, is a principal and mechanical engineer in Arup's San Francisco office with extensive experience in the use of natural ventilation, day lighting and water conservation, as well as examining the energy performance of buildings. As a leader in the field of sustainable design, Alisdair is always searching for environmentally sound solutions that make as small a demand as possible on the environment. In 2005, he was bestowed an Honorary Senior Fellowship by the Design Futures Council for his noteworthy leadership in the advancement of design solutions.

To learn more about the Arup Fellows program and to watch a video of Arup fellows talking about the program in their own words, please visit http://www.arup.com/About_us/Making_a_difference/Arup_Fellows.aspx

About Arup
Arup is the creative force at the heart of many of the world's most prominent projects in the built environment and across industry. Its engineers and consultants deliver innovative projects across the world. Arup opened its first US office 25 years ago, and now employs 1,000 in the Americas. The firm was founded in 1946 with an enduring set of values that fosters a distinctive culture, intellectual independence and collaborative approach. The people at Arup are driven to find a better way to deliver better solutions for their clients. (www.arup.com)

For further information please contact: 
Rebecca Maloney, LEED AP, CPSM
Arup
e [email protected]  
m +1 617 412-6632

Jennifer Shelby, CPSM
Rhino PR
e [email protected]  
m +1 508 685 0763

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SOURCE Arup