BA President/CEO Luis Ajamil called Woolpert 'a very high-tech company that will allow us to expand' and 'gives us access to five continents with over 60 offices and over 2,000 employees. This will give us more resources, and skills to serve all of our clients,' he said.
'We think this will be very good for all our clients,' Ajamil told Seatrade Cruise News. 'Bermello Ajamil will remain as is, and our team will be here as always.'
BA is a noted planner and designer of cruise line and port terminals worldwide and has created master plans for many cruise ports. Its work spans the globe, from PortMiami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral, to New York, Nassau Cruise Port, Seattle, Alaska, Mauritius, Durban, Hong Kong and beyond.
Some ongoing/recent projects
Some ongoing/recent BA projects include the Disney Cruise Line terminal at Port Everglades, Port of Galveston's Royal Caribbean world-first zero-energy terminal and design planning for the new Cruise Terminal 16, Haifa's new cruise terminal, Norwegian Cruise Line's LEED V4-certified 'Pearl of Miami' and Nassau Cruise Port.
According to a release on the acquisition, the combination of Woolpert and BA 'creates an ecosystem of integrated maritime solutions that leverages architecture, marine engineering, modeling, strategic consulting and geospatial services. These include acquiring topographic, bathymetric and hydrographic data and imagery along coastlines and the near-shore environment.'
Among the largest AE firms in South Florida, BA has more than 160 staff members with additional offices throughout Florida and an office in New York.
Willy Bermello-Luis Ajamil partnership
The firm has grown through a 30-year partnership between Chairman/Principal in Charge Willy Bermello, a leading architect in South Florida, and Ajamil, a planner and professional engineer known for his maritime industry expertise. They came together through a shared goal to meet client needs by integrating innovative design and technologies to produce functional, intelligent and sustainable solutions. BA has earned more than 200 awards for design excellence.
'Woolpert provides BA with the opportunity to expand and integrate technologies across markets, accelerate our growth in geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence, increase our geographic footprint and enrich what our talented staff can provide our clients,' Bermello said. 'Together with Woolpert, we will be able to develop and deliver comprehensive and potentially trailblazing services to coastal zones worldwide. Additionally, the combination will allow us to accelerate the growth of our aviation, health care, commercial and municipal markets.'
Geospatial solutions
'BA is a progressive and high-performing firm that embodies our core values,' said Suzette Stoler, VP and buildings sector leader, Woolpert. 'Gaining bench strength and adding geospatial solutions to their architecture, engineering and interior design capabilities will expand our collective ability to advance the built environment — whether we’re talking about ports and airports, health care facilities, educational facilities, municipal parks, hotels, etc. This combination makes us all stronger.'
Neil Churman, Woolpert chief corporate development officer, said he looks forward to working with this new team of architects and engineers.
'Willy and Luis have built BA with the same philosophy as Woolpert: To create a culture that is rooted in deep industry leadership and is continually motivated to drive innovation to benefit each client and the industry as a whole,' Churman said. 'We are very excited to welcome BA into our Woolpert family.'
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