Design professor

Naga Architects includes fit out work among its skills.
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During the darkest days of the downturn, when design firms across the region were scaling back operations or shutting up shop, Naga Architects ramped up its hiring efforts and went on the search for new opportunities.

Part of this involved broadening its geographical scope – the Boston-headquartered design firm is now present in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, with plans to expand into Europe and the UK currently in the pipeline.

Diversification plans were also put into play, resulting in the recent launch of a new arm that focuses on fit-out work. Steering this success was Shams Eldien Naga, who founded the company in 2000 and has managed it ever since.

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With a BA and MS in Architecture from Alexandria University, Egypt, an MS in urban planning from Rutgers University in NJ, US and a Ph.D. in architecture theory from the University of Pennsylvania, US, Naga takes a very academic approach to the business of design. CID caught up him to find out more about the firm’s plans moving forward.

Tell us about Naga Architects.
Naga Architects is an American inter-disciplinary company based in Boston, with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. Proposed future offices will be opened in Europe and the UK.

We are a planning and design firm that revolves around the urban environment. We persevere to provide highly distinct levels of services in the fields of urban master planning and design, architectural and interior design, landscape, building engineering and construction management.

Having architectural design at its core, Naga has proven that good design requires a deep understanding of various social, economic, physical and environmental aspects.

Integrating such services has been among the most important ingredients in the success of Naga Architects since its inception in 2000.

Is diversification a key aspect of your growth strategy?
Yes. We have set up another arm that focuses on fit-out work, which enables us to take projects from initial to final stage of construction, starting with the brief and ending with handing the project over to the client.

Our contract with the French Consulate for their offices in Habtoor Towers, which includes design stage up to fit-out work is a sample of our complete turnkey process.

We were one of the few firms that increased hiring during the recession years, when the others laid off many and some shut down their branches. With our international team’s efforts we have not only survived, but also flourished.

During this time, we tried to maintain and develop our administrative system in house. For the flow of the project information we use a PIM (Project Information Management) system that addresses the basic needs of organising, finding, tracking, sharing, monitoring and reusing technical project information.

Also, with the support of BIM and Revit Software, we have excellent co-ordination, from architecture to structure, MEP and site supervision.