New Leadership at ZGF

New Leadership at ZGF

News April 10, 2024

ZGF Names Sharron van der Meulen as Managing Partner; Appoints Solvei Neiger in Portland and Mitra Memari in Los Angeles.

ZGF Architects is thrilled to announce the appointment of Sharron van der Meulen as its new Managing Partner. Sharron will provide the next generation of leadership for the firm’s award-winning international design portfolio and its 700+ employees across seven offices.

“I am incredibly honored to assume the role of Managing Partner, and to continue on our path of making a positive difference through the built environment,” said Sharron van der Meulen. “After 35 years at the firm I remain inspired by our foundational values of community, equity, and sustainability – and I’m energized by the design opportunities ahead of us.”

Sharron’s career has focused on interior architecture, spanning over three decades across many project typologies, to design award winning healthcare, workplace, cultural and higher education projects. Most recently, she has been the lead interior designer for the Portland International Airport main terminal expansion, set to open later this year.

“After 35 years at the firm I remain inspired by our foundational values of community, equity, and sustainability – and I’m energized by the design opportunities ahead of us.” - Sharron van der Meulen, ZGF Managing Partner

Sharron van der Meulen is the lead interior designer for the Portland International Airport new main terminal expansion.

In addition, ZGF named Solvei Neiger Managing Partner of the Portland office, and Mitra Memari Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office. Sharron, alongside Solvei, Mitra, and ZGF’s Partners will guide the firm in designing solutions that enhance the human experience and enrich communities at every scale.

Mitra Memari leads a design discussion for a new office building as the second phase of the Hilton Headquarters Master Plan implementation.

Solvei Neiger conducts a planning meeting for the Oregon Health & Science University 2011 Facilities Master Plan.

As Managing Partner of ZGF Portland, Solvei brings decades of experience in healthcare planning and design, supporting clients to create exceptional healing environments. Solvei’s expertise in client collaboration and business operations will serve her as she oversees business strategy for the firm’s Portland portfolio.

In ZGF’s Los Angeles office, Mitra will focus on the next generation of the firm’s four-decade legacy in Southern California, leading with a mission to create a more equitable profession that is representative of the communities in which we live and work.

Founded in Portland, Oregon in 1946, ZGF is a global interdisciplinary design firm with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Denver, Seattle, Vancouver B.C., and Washington D.C. Our work is rooted in the belief that design can solve the world’s biggest problems.

The University Health (UHS) Women’s & Children’s Hospital in San Antonio is the first hospital in South Texas focused solely on women’s and children’s health—and one of only 20 such medical centers in the United States. (Mitra Memari) 

Amenities designed to accommodate patients and their families are found throughout UHS Women's and Children's Hospital. Family activity spaces at the north end of the building take advantage of views and initiate a warm, living room-like atmosphere for family to socialize, share meals, and have moments of respite. (Mitra Memari) 

In 2011, St. Joseph’s Hospital and The University of Arizona Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Arizona, formed an innovative collaboration to deliver the highest standard of cancer care within an evidence-based, multidisciplinary model. (Mitra Memari) 

 

The Sebastian Coe building on the Nike World Headquarters campus embodies Nike’s philosophy that human performance powers creativity. Nestled in a conifer forest, the building connects occupants to the natural environment: the materials palate of wood, stone, and glass reflects the surrounding landscape, while picture windows frame views to the greenery outside. (Sharron van der Meulen) 

The Hanna Andersson headquarters in Portland, Oregon is influenced by a Scandinavian philosophy of simple, clean lines, natural woods and concrete, and maximized daylight. The entry features a two-story lobby with an open connecting stair, allowing guests checking in on the first floor transparency into creative services on the floor above. (Sharron van der Meulen)

Set to open in August 2024, the PDX Airport main terminal expansion will double the capacity of the Portland International Airport. A stunning wood roof greets visitors upon arrival and celebrates the state’s history of forest product innovation. Ticketed passengers moving through to security are surrounded by landscaping and greenery inspired by the iconic forests of the Pacific Northwest. (Sharron van der Meulen) 

Taking cues from the more intimate scale of Portland’s neighborhoods, beyond the security checkpoint at PDX the new terminal is imagined as a series of rooms. Concession nodes resemble Portland’s pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets with cafe seating and urban furniture that invites guests to linger. Clear sightlines provide dramatic views to the airfield. (Sharron van der Meulen) 

The UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building provides unprecedented access to mental health services in a beautiful, friendly and welcoming environment. The facility is UCSF’s first integration of pediatric and neurological services within a mental health outpatient facility. The result quadruples market access to mental health services in the Bay area while accelerating scientific discovery of improved treatments and prevention. (Solvei Neiger)

The Children’s Hospital Colorado East Tower addition accommodates both program growth and the development of models of care. The tower includes a Pediatric ICU, maternal and fetal medicine, as well as medical-surgical and rehabilitation facilities. (Solvei Neiger) 

 

 

The new Critical Care Building at Cincinnati Children's Hospital enables providers and staff to better care for the sickest, most complex and fragile patients from around the world, including those needing newborn and pediatric intensive care, cardiac care, and bone marrow transplants. For patients and families, it’s a far cry from the healthcare environments they’re accustomed to—providing a new level of hospitality and sense of hope for tomorrow. (Solvei Neiger)

The interior design of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is inspired by the organization's vision that by working together we can transform outcomes for all children. Every space - especially the ends of each wing where staff, family, and patient amenity spaces are located - is designed to maximize daylight and connection to the outdoors. (Solvei Neiger)