Maha El-Nahas
Vice President Design And Construction
Cairo
Summary
Knowledgeable Interior Design with background in executive leadership. Guided strategic initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency and fostered organizational growth. Demonstrated expertise in leadership and strategic planning.
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Vice President of Design and Construction
ORA Hospitality
10.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Overseeing the design and construction of the Silversands brand, a collection of exclusive 5-star boutique hotels located in sought-after destinations.
- I joined ORA Hospitality to oversee the design and construction of the Silversands brand, a collection of exclusive 5-star boutique hotels located in sought-after destinations such as Granada, Mykonos, Abu Dhabi, North Coast Cairo, and Tunis.
- In my role, I am responsible for managing the selection of consultants, reviewing design submissions, and supervising the progress of construction on-site.
- I also oversee the commissioning and startup processes, ensuring a smooth transition to hotel operations.
- Overseeing the design and construction of the Silversands brand, a collection of exclusive 5-star boutique hotels located in sought-after destinations.
Senior Director of Architecture and Interiors
Boutique Hotel Group Development - PIF
04.2024 - 08.2024
- Company Overview: Overseeing the Department delivering three Royal Palaces converted into high end luxury boutique Hotels.
- Overseeing the Department delivering three Royal Palaces converted into high end luxury boutique Hotels.
- Establishing design brief, conducting competitions with selecting consultants, preparing RFP and issue for tender, negotiating contracts and overseeing the design to delivery in coordination with Culture, Heritage and Operations team.
- Overseeing the Department delivering three Royal Palaces converted into high end luxury boutique Hotels.
Project/Design Director
Omrania by Egis Architecture and Interior Consulting Group
06.2023 - 04.2024
- Company Overview: Working in their office in Paris/France.
- Assigned as the Project/Design Director for a confidential project designed by Jean Nouvel's working in their office in Paris/France.
- Assignment covers coordination for Architecture, interior design and Landscape design with multiple engineering and sub consulates disciplines.
- My role covered architecture, Interior design, Specifications, production for submissions and government approvals.
- Working in their office in Paris/France.
Design Director
WSP
02.2022 - 03.2023
- Joined the team to manage the Royal Art Complex (Bofill Architects from Spain - MBL contracting co) and King Salman Park, Visitors pavilion (Adjaye architects from London - Freyssinet contracting co), Nursery and Park (Gerber Landscape architect from Berlin- Nesma contracting co).
- The project is a joined PMCM management with Parsons, F+G (infrastructure) and client team.
- The role is to establish and hire the core design team and set the standards and approval procedures for all projects and Interior Design criteria and specifications.
- The role also included supervising the team in their review of the design submission, manage the international architects and act as the Design Guardian to build the projects as per approved design.
- Also responding to and approve pre-qualifications, RFI, RFC, Mockup approvals, review material submissions and quarry visit to select the natural stones, identify and flag risk, offer mitigations, set the parameters for the BIM model, review contracts, specifications and BOQ and responding to letters from the contractors.
- Projects were Design bid build and D+B.
Consultant
Freelance and Consulting Services
03.2021 - 05.2022
- Working with MLA - Multiple Real Estate Company on their residential development projects including: Cresey, Solterra and Keltic Development companies.
Design Director
Parsons Saudi Arabia Limited
02.2020 - 03.2021
- I joined Parsons SA as a Design Director in a PM role to assist with Architecture, Interior Design by DiLenardo International, F+B outlets and Fit out coordination with multiple stake holders for the New W/Marriot Hotel at KAFD (King Fahad Financial District) in Riyadh.
- My role included reviewing contracts, negotiating amendments, and setting up deliverables per design stage, engage in design options and workshops, and coordinate client review and approval of invoices and weekly reporting to client.
Business Consultant
Diriyah Gate Development Authority
09.2019 - 11.2019
- 3 months Business Consulting Assignment in the Design Department at Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
- Setting up Brief, RFP, Technical Scoring Evaluation matrix, Pre-Qualification Questionnaire and tender documents templates.
- Advising on consultants and set up of project start up kits and kick off meetings.
- Training the team on project protocol with Aconex and legal project document control standards.
- Contract ended due to family illness and I moved back to Canada.
Managing Principal
Kasian Qatar Consulting LLC
05.2018 - 07.2019
- Complete responsibility to manage and lead the office in Doha for the Architecture and interior design practice.
- My roles included: leading the Business Development efforts, staffing recruitment and evaluation, setting up teams per project, coordinate with design team locally and Canadian offices, ensuring profitable project delivery and overseeing the legal aspects of the business practice.
- Provide overall leadership to the team; engage sub-consultants and Project Management for projects, contract administration, client liaison, specialty consultants, and supervising production and deliverables of multiple phases of projects.
- Directing and coordinating authority approvals.
- Marketing and presentation to clients.
- Preparations of technical and commercial proposals.
- I also supervised the team to deliver contract administration and site design supervision for Interior Design for 3 Palaces (confidential).
- Design direction for the designer team and contractor for a three-level F+B restaurant for celebrity British Chef Tom Aiken for Qatar Museum authority. It was Fit-out Design built project.
Head of Architecture and Interior Design
Qatari Diar Development and Lusail City Development companies
08.2009 - 05.2018
- Company Overview: A government entity.
- My position was Head of Architecture and Interior Design in the Project Design and Delivery department for local and international projects.
- My role was to provide overall leadership on large complex projects and supervise the department team on active and future project.
- During that time, I lead the team for all efforts in de-scoping and close out of contracts for 3 projects with the PM/CM (Turner) and architectural consultants at the end of Design Development phase.
- Supervise the Tender stage submission and technical evaluation for two projects of 9 high-end residential towers with the department and PM/CM teams.
- I was also involved with Lusail Development - subsidiary company of Qatari Diar where the focus was local projects (Lusail city).
- My project was Seef Lusail - 2.4 km of retail, boutique hotels and residential plots total of 32 towers divided into 7 packages.
- Towers ranging from 7 to 30 floors.
- My role involves preparations of RFP, coordination with upper management to align Business plan with revenue forecast.
- Technical evaluations of proposals, interview architects, review of contracts, review and establish design guidelines, conduct design and VE workshops, review submissions and milestone stages and report to upper management with progress.
- It also involves supervising the PM/CM (Turner) and the architects/consultants with submission of all design stages: concept, schematic, detailed design and tender documents.
- Projects are still ongoing.
- A government entity.
Owner/Proprietor
Architectural Solutions
05.1997 - 08.2009
- Company Overview: Established a company that fills a niche in the market to bridge the technical gap and coordination between architecture, developments, real-estate marketing and graphic designers.
- My primary role includes assisting developers in the architectural design, interior design layout and conducting focus groups for the target market.
- I also coordinate the information between consultants, and prepare the final technical drawings of floor plans and presentation material to be market friendly for the buyers and for graphic designer's technical use.
- To complement this, I have provided assistance in the marketing campaign and sales centers.
- Through the evolution of the company, I am able to coordinate and assist in the selection of the right team for projects based on their scale and target audience.
- Established a company that fills a niche in the market to bridge the technical gap and coordination between architecture, developments, real-estate marketing and graphic designers.
Architect and Production Manager
Poon Gardner Garrett Architects
09.1990 - 04.1997
- Joined as an architect and production manager for project in all stages of design drawings.
- I also developed, trained staff and managed project on the firm's multi base system for drawings production and detailed design.
- Projects include: Setting up all protocol and drafting standards for production drawings for Royal Jubilee Hospital and coordinating the transfer of information to all engineering disciplines.
- Other projects include: Ladner Dawns offices in coordination with Gensler and associates in San Francisco, The Canadian High commission Expansion in New Delhi, 3D dimensional studies for Lion's Gate Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital.
Consultant
Free Lance Consulting
03.1990 - 09.1990
- Consulting with Digipen Computer Graphics in animations for architectural projects.
- Developing the three-dimensional analysis for the architectural community and city hall for approvals.
- Introduced and developed the animation program for the Vancouver Film School.
- Consulting with A&W restaurants to design and produce working drawings for two prototype free standing outlets.
Manager of Cadd and Drawings Production
Hubert Group
11.1988 - 03.1990
- Two years with Hubert Group as manager of Cadd and drawings production.
- Supervision of installation, training and production of drawings.
- Produced the 3D view analysis to the city of Vancouver and public hearings for the Expo site.
- My work was published in the Newspaper for media during the campaign for the project.
- Also lead a team from the office in Australia to submit two proposals for a competition involving two waterfront sites in Kuwait - Pearls of Kuwait.
- Coordinated all liaisons with the client and helped the team with cultural differences that affect design issues.
Architect
Pan Arab Consulting Engineers
04.1984 - 06.1987
- Company Overview: In associates of Skidmore Owing and Merill of Chicago (SOM) and TAC (the Architects Collaborates) of Boston.
- Three years of practice with Pan Arab Consulting Engineers in Kuwait.
- Participated in all aspect of architecture including presentations, working drawings and 3D analysis using Compuvison.
- Projects includes: mosque, waterfront villas, and office buildings.
- In associates of Skidmore Owing and Merill of Chicago (SOM) and TAC (the Architects Collaborates) of Boston.
Education
Bachelor of Science -
University of Oklahoma
04.2001 -
Skills
Team leadership
Strategic planning
Coaching and mentoring
Decision-making
Process improvement
Results-driven
Negotiation and persuasion
Critical thinking
Data analysis
Proposal writing
Budget oversight
Verbal and written communication
Project management
Timeline
Vice President of Design and Construction
ORA Hospitality
10.2024 - Current
Senior Director of Architecture and Interiors
Boutique Hotel Group Development - PIF
04.2024 - 08.2024
Project/Design Director
Omrania by Egis Architecture and Interior Consulting Group
06.2023 - 04.2024
Design Director
WSP
02.2022 - 03.2023
Consultant
Freelance and Consulting Services
03.2021 - 05.2022
Design Director
Parsons Saudi Arabia Limited
02.2020 - 03.2021
Business Consultant
Diriyah Gate Development Authority
09.2019 - 11.2019
Managing Principal
Kasian Qatar Consulting LLC
05.2018 - 07.2019
Head of Architecture and Interior Design
Qatari Diar Development and Lusail City Development companies
08.2009 - 05.2018
Bachelor of Science -
University of Oklahoma
04.2001 -
Owner/Proprietor
Architectural Solutions
05.1997 - 08.2009
Architect and Production Manager
Poon Gardner Garrett Architects
09.1990 - 04.1997
Consultant
Free Lance Consulting
03.1990 - 09.1990
Manager of Cadd and Drawings Production
Hubert Group
11.1988 - 03.1990
Architect
Pan Arab Consulting Engineers
04.1984 - 06.1987
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