Global architecture and design firm Woods Bagot says it has promoted award-winning architect and lecturer Matthew Engele to the position of principal within the company’s Middle East Studio.

Engele has been an integral part of the studio’s development in recent years designing large scale projects in the MENA region. In his new position, Engele will be “managing future strategic growth with the Regional Executive management team and will continue to lead the Middle East studio’s high performance design teams,” the company said in a statement.

Before joining Woods Bagot, Engele was the regional design director at DWP and has also worked for Zaha Hadid and OMA. He won the Middle East & North Africa Architect of The Year award in 2016 and has been listed as one of the region’s 40 most powerful architects by one regional magazine. He is a regular critic and guest lecturer at various universities in the UK, USA and UAE.

“Matthew has over a decade of international experience in the Middle East, USA and Europe and joined Woods Bagot as the Regional Design Leader,” said the firm “He is an award-winning architect whose experience includes a wide-range of projects including cultural and community developments, urban design and renewal, high density residential, education, retail, hotels and large-scale complex mixed used developments.”

Richard Fenne, principal and studio chair at Woods Bagot, commented: “We are proud to recognise the accomplishments of Matthew who has made significant contributions through design excellence and creating important client relationships. He truly embodies Woods Bagot’s values and is a champion of our People Architecture Design Manifesto.”

Engele added that he was excited by the new role: “Woods Bagot has a fantastic multi-disciplinary approach and proven track record of providing creative design solutions through a global studio model. I am excited to work with my fellow Principals to build on our strong foundations as an innovative design practice, by continuing to provide bespoke services that meet the goals of our diverse client base.”