Kasian Appoints Seven New Principals

Senior Positions Highlight Continued Growth, Development and Operational Excellence

VANCOUVER, Nov. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd (Kasian), one of Canada's largest global architecture, interior design and planning firms, has appointed three current and four newly-joined staff members to the role of Principal.

Promoted from within are Sarah Nelles, Sheldon Catarino and Ken Chiang, recognized for their strong leadership abilities and continued contributions to the development of the firm.

Sarah Nelles, a registered interior designer based in the Vancouver office, leads Kasian's Strategic Facilities Planning market sector, and is an integral part of the Interior Design leadership team. Sarah has over 30 years of design and project management experience, specializing in space-planning and the evolution of organizational culture and the work environment. A respected communicator and facilitator, Sarah's customer-focussed solutions allow companies to efficiently and effectively analyze their present and future needs.

Ken Chiang is the leader of Kasian's health care market sector in Calgary. Ken is also responsible for overseeing the deployment of the firm's resources on a company-wide basis, to ensure that we continue to meet and exceed client expectations. Prior to joining Kasian, as Executive Project Director for Alberta Health Services, Ken worked with the practice to develop the Alberta Children's Hospital, the first pediatric facility to be built in Canada in over 20 years. He is now overseeing the development of the 44-acre South Health Campus. This $1.3 billion tertiary/quaternary acute care project is the largest greenfield project currently under construction in North America, and will revolutionize the way that health care is delivered in the 21st Century.

Sheldon Catarino leads Kasian's Commercial market sector in Toronto. A senior LEED^® Accredited architect, Sheldon's expertise ranges from complex urban development and rezoning projects, to finely crafted architectural interiors. Prior to joining Kasian in 2007, as one of the Toronto office's first staff members, Sheldon was a director of an architecture and engineering firm in New York City. Here, he designed and managed several large scale projects, including performing arts spaces, academic buildings, corporate offices and retail developments.

Also in Toronto, Janine Grossmann has rejoined the firm as Principal, focusing on the development of strategic business partnerships to facilitate future growth. A dynamic and well-respected leader, Janine has more than 18 years of experience in the design and management of commercial, institutional, hospitality and corporate interiors projects. She is also a recipient of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's Urban Design Award and three Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) awards, for excellence, innovation and originality in interior design. Janine is currently President Elect for ARIDO, and will become President in March, 2013.

Three other Kasian Principals have also joined the firm as a result of recent mergers. Randy Krebes and Stewart Inglis of HIP Architects have joined our Edmonton office, and Brian Hulme of CJP Architects has joined our Vancouver office. These individuals bring a wealth of experience and significant business development capabilities to the Kasian team. Don Kasian, President of Kasian, comments, "It can be a challenge to find people that both broaden our product portfolio and complement our organizational culture. In HIP and CJP, we have found people that do both".

Kasian congratulates these seven individuals on their appointments to the role of Principal. The new leadership gained through the acquisition of HIP and CJP will broaden Kasian's expertise, and strengthen our ability to deliver exceptional project results and client service.

The promotion of Sarah, Sheldon, Janine and Ken reinforces the firm's commitment to recognizing and rewarding inspirational employees. "Kasian's pool of talent is large and multi-faceted. With the opportunities available to staff members that support and encourage their professional development, we are always pleased to see the firm grow from within", concluded Don Kasian.

ABOUT KASIAN
Kasian is one of the leading 100 architecture, interior design and planning firms in the world, with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. Our goal is to harness the collective expertise and imagination of our global team of innovative professionals to find feasible solutions to the complex questions posed by our clients. We employ an integrated, collaborative approach to design to create exceptional places and sustainable environments for people everywhere. Our award-winning projects range from the most advanced children's hospital in the world, to master plans for the most densely populated cities on the planet. To learn more, please visit us at www.kasian.com.

Kasian is on Facebook and Twitter. More information on these newly appointed Principals can be found on Kasian's Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/TGEGNz

SOURCE: Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.

Honor Morris
Kasian Media Relations Manager
604.631.8205
[email protected]