Paul Priest Takes Home Award for Principal of the Year at Middle East Architect Awards

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20 Nov 2014

Benoy, a leading global architecture and design firm with UAE studios in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, continued its success in the region as its Director and Head of MENA Studios, Paul Priest, won an award at last night’s Middle East Architect Awards.

Paul Priest was awarded Principal of the Year at the prestigious awards ceremony that recognises the region’s most celebrated principals, who have demonstrated the ability to lead their team in a challenging economic environment and competitive market.

In the twelve months since assuming his leadership position at the innovative architecture and design firm, Paul has led Benoy MENA to impressive success in the region. Thanks to project-driven growth, Benoy’s expansion in the Middle East has continued with new projects in Bahrain, Oman, Morocco and KSA. His appointment also saw Benoy’s pioneering work on Dubai’s The Beach firmly establish the mixed-use development as one of Dubai’s most exciting and dynamic destinations.

Benoy-designed The Beach was also highly commended in the Commercial Project of the Year category as one 2014’s most exciting new developments. Opening earlier this year, The Beach is an open-air, low rise, mixed-use development that has quickly established itself as one of the city’s most exciting destinations. Transformed from an uninspiring car park to a 600m pedestrian esplanade, The Beach presents both contemporary and dynamic architecture that perfectly complements the JBR location. Utilising the existing urban space, Benoy designed a ground-breaking destination that delivered a 32,400m² outdoor retail space that included public changing facilities, cinema and entertainment zones, jogging track, and pedestrian areas complemented by hard and soft landscaping.

In response to receiving the accolade, Paul Priest said: “Winning the award for Principal of the Year is a great honour, however I would like to emphasise the hard work and dedication of my team for their creativity and determination in driving Benoy’s ongoing success in the region. We pride ourselves on our unique approach to projects that are made possible by our inclusive and dynamic studio and fantastic clients. To witness the huge success of The Beach was thanks in itself, and the project being highly commended from the industry here in the MENA region further endorses this achievement for a truly innovative destination that has set a new benchmark for mixed-use developments in the Middle East.”

“I look forward to continuing to grow Benoy’s studios in the region and strengthening our position so that our existing and future clients receive the high-levels of service and true creativity that we take such pride in providing.”

The seventh annual Middle East Architect Awards were held at The Jumeirah Beach Hotel and recognised the best projects and people from throughout the GCC in 2014, ranging from the world’s tallest towers to one-off villas, and veteran designers to those bright young architects just starting out in the region.

Benoy was responsible for the ground-breaking design of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Citywalk Dubai and The Galleria on Al Maryah Island.