Kate Ascher was named Partner for Cities Group in New York. The company says she is an expert in strategic consulting for urban development and infrastructure planning. Ascher leads BuroHappold's Cities group in North America, working with local governments and communities to craft long-term solutions for meeting critical environmental, infrastructure, and economic challenges. Before joining BuroHappold in 2011, Ascher served as executive vice president for infrastructure at the NYC Economic Development Corporation and as assistant director for the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Jonathan Swift, P.E., CEM, LEED AP BD+C, is Principal for MEP Engineering in Boston. He directs BuroHappold’s Boston office, drawing upon his experience in integrated design processes and high-performance building systems for complex research, academic, and commercial facilities. The company says he is an authority on sustainable strategies and has helped to shape national standards for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the Environmental Protection Agency, and the General Services Administration.

Ariella Maron was appointed as Principal for Cities Group in New York. She leads strategic consulting services for energy management, climate action, and sustainability planning in the U.S. She previously served as the Deputy Commissioner for Energy Management at New York City’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services and as Deputy Director of the Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability.

Derrick Roorda, SE, LEED AP, is Principal of structural engineering in San Francisco. Company officials said he is an established expert in seismic engineering and performance-based design whose resume includes collaborations with some of the world’s leading architects. His ability to advance creative solutions within the confines of restrictive technical requirements is grounded in his work to advance seismic design regulations.

Niall Cooper has been named a Principal of MEP Engineering in New York. His experience lies in fostering multidisciplinary integration of building systems for cultural and higher education projects worldwide. The company says his leadership has proven critical to many of BuroHappold’s award-winning projects including the National 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Parrish Art Museum, and the National Library of Singapore.

Jean-Pierre Chakar, P.E., has been appointed Principal of Structural Engineering in Los Angeles. Head of the Los Angeles structural engineering group, Chakar specializes in high-rise construction, earthquake analysis, and the design of steel and reinforced concrete structures. With a strong focus on computational methods, he takes an integrated BIM approach to engineering analysis to achieve optimized, high-performing design solutions. Officials said his technologically adept practice has resulted in many successful large-scale, complex, and fast-track projects, including the Kolon Headquarters in Korea by Morphosis, King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, and the Atwater Bridge in Los Angeles.