We are pleased to announce the appointment of six new Principals in our Chicago, London, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., studios. Each of these leaders brings complementary areas of expertise which together represent the range and depth of our practice. Their project work—ranging from advanced manufacturing campuses, rail infrastructure, corporate headquarters, and student housing—is making a substantial civic, cultural, and economic impact in cities and communities around the world. A focus on environmental design unites this work; this year’s promotions include elevating the practice leader of our Sustainable Engineering Studio as well as the appointment of SOM’s first Global Head of Climate Strategy.
Meet our new Principals
Jason Fisher
Jason Fisher is a Design Principal in Chicago, where he leads a studio designing civic, cultural, mixed-use, and large-scale projects. His work includes the expansion and renovation of the public library in his hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin; the Lincoln Yards masterplan in Chicago; and high-performance projects such as Alibaba’s Shanghai headquarters and the Mulva Cultural Center in Wisconsin. He combines advanced digital and AI tools with an interest in public space, urban connections, and community-centered design. Together with Jorge Rovira, Jason teaches in IIT’s Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program, exploring how tall buildings can contribute to the life of the city.
As SOM’s first Global Head of Climate Strategy, Mina Hasman defines, aligns, and drives the firm’s global climate agenda, integrating design, business, and operational priorities to embed climate-informed value across all regions and disciplines. Under her leadership, SOM achieved Science Based Targets initiative validation and became a carbon-neutral business. Based in the London studio, Mina is engaged on a wide variety of projects across Europe, the UK, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, bringing a deep understanding of the implications for sustainable and equitable design in different climatic, social and regulatory contexts. In 2022, she launched SOM’s Whole Life Carbon Consulting service—a methodology created to evaluate a building’s whole life carbon performance and embed carbon accountability throughout the design process. TIME Magazine included Mina on its inaugural list of top 100 climate leaders in 2023.
Jorge Rovira
Jorge Rovira bridges design and technical delivery, working closely with clients to bring ambitious visions to life. From supertall towers and advanced manufacturing campuses to luxury residences and the restoration of historic neighborhoods, his work combines a humanistic perspective with strategic thinking and rigorous attention to materials and detail. He co-leads SOM’s global Advanced Manufacturing practice, whose work includes the expansion of Rivian’s manufacturing campus in Illinois and its new plant in Stanton Springs, Georgia. He has designed AI-driven strategies to projects such as Shanghai’s West Bund Convention Center and Alibaba’s Xuhui headquarters. An alumnus of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), he now teaches in the Master of Tall Buildings and Vertical Urbanism program.
Marzia Sedino
Marzia Sedino is an environmental engineer who integrates passive design strategies with emerging technologies to improve environmental performance and resilience. Her experience spans urban masterplans, campuses, and large-scale architectural projects, including Dubai Holding Headquarters, Colby College’s new science complex, and The New York Climate Exchange. An advocate for decarbonization, she helped lead a transformational effort to reduce carbon in the firm’s business operations. She has applied this holistic decarbonization approach to the expansion of Rivian’s manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. A recognized leader in Chicago, she supports STEM education for young women and contributes to conversations about the future of infrastructure in the city.
Phil Wessell
Based in Washington, D.C., Phil Wessell leads large, integrated projects and teams across civic, government, transportation, and aviation markets. His work spans design-build, public-private partnerships, and evolving delivery models, bringing together design, technical, and construction expertise. Throughout nearly 20 years at SOM, Phil has led significant projects including the Baltimore/Washington International Airport and the Montgomery County Justice Center. He has played an essential role in guiding the public-private partnership to redevelop the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Phil works across the East Coast as co-leader of SOM’s rail transportation practice and expert in collaborative project delivery.
Tahmores Zandi
As a technical designer in SOM’s Los Angeles office, Tahmores “Tommy” Zandi brings more than two decades of experience leading the technical design and delivery of complex projects. Tommy is committed to integrating thoughtful technical decisions—including simple and passive environmental strategies—to improve performance without adding unnecessary complexity. He has guided major student housing projects at UC Santa Barbara and UC Berkeley, along with civic developments including the LAX Airport Police Facility, and served as Chair of AIA Los Angeles’ Committee on the Environment in 2024.
