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. 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.