Samer Najjar

Career

From architecture in Beirut to leading a construction business in Riyadh.

In practice since
1999
Licensed
Beirut 2001Riyadh 2013
Based
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

1994–1999

Architecture

Architectural education in Beirut, and the beginning of design authorship.

  • Bachelor of Architecture / Architectural EngineeringBeirut Arab UniversityBeirut, Lebanon1994–1999

1999–2013

Practice & development

Fourteen years working out of Beirut, and the point at which drawing a building stopped being the whole job. Early commissions were design and permit; the later ones were development, design and build. The work reaches the Gulf, Qatar and Moscow before the decade is out.

  • Architectural Engineer / Consultant Architect (licensed)Order of Engineers & Architects, Beirut — Licence #25041Beirut, Lebanon2001

Built and drawn in these years17

Architectural perspective drawing of two faceted towers, rendered in pencil and watercolour wash

2013–2017

Delivery in the Gulf

Licensed by the Saudi Council of Engineers in 2013. Palaces, corporate headquarters and hotel fit-out in Riyadh, delivered under commercial programme rather than drawn to a brief.

  • Architectural Engineer / Consultant Architect (licensed)Saudi Council of Engineers — Licence #141439Riyadh, Saudi Arabia2013

Built and drawn in these years11

Stone palace elevation under construction in Riyadh, scaffolding removed and paving unfinished

Recent years

Operations

Direction of delivery organisations rather than of individual projects — programme, resourcing and commercial control across a portfolio at once.

Present

Direction

Currently

Responsibility for a construction business rather than for its projects.

  • Managing DirectorVEGA Builders Co. Ltd.Riyadh, Saudi Arabia