Gensler Names Dawn Hart and Martha dePlazaola Abbott as Co-Managing Directors of Phoenix Office

Gensler, the leading global design firm, has appointed Dawn Hart and Martha dePlazaola Abbott as Co-Managing Directors of the Phoenix office, effective January 1, 2018.

Working together, Dawn Hart and Martha dePlazaola Abbott will lead the 50-person office in Phoenix alongside Gensler’s Southwest Co-Regional Managing Principals Rob Jernigan, FAIA LEED® AP and Kimberly Graham, CID, NCIDQ, LEED® AP.

Beth Harmon-Vaughan, Principal and Managing Director of the Phoenix office since 2005, will oversee the office leadership transition to Dawn Hart and Martha dePlazaola Abbott. A recognized leader in the field of design, Beth Harmon-Vaughan earned a Ph.D. in Sustainability and Workplace Productivity from Arizona State University.

Co-Managing Directors, Gensler Phoenix

 

Dawn Hart, NCARB, LEED® AP BD+C
Martha dePlazaola Abbott, LEED® AP BD+C

“Dawn Hart and Martha dePlazaola Abbott bring close to six decades of combined experience, leading award-winning projects across the Southwest,” said Rob Jernigan, Regional Managing Principal, Gensler. “Working together, Dawn and Martha’s exemplary acumen will enable us to continue to accelerate our practice in Arizona and beyond.”

“Let’s have some fun together!  We love design and endless potential exists for making an impact in our beloved Sonoran Desert,” said Dawn Hart, Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Phoenix office.  “We are a team of professionals that have a unique opportunity to lead purposeful design for our clients and our communities.  We will be leading an amazing team that delivers an array of experiential, sustainable and technical design solutions.”

“It’s a privilege to return to Gensler, where I worked many years ago. I am in awe at how the company has diversified and grown,” said Martha dePlazaola Abbott, Co-Managing Director of Gensler’s Phoenix office.   “The one thing I have missed is the incredible entrepreneurial spirit that exists from the top down. I am so excited to leverage this in my new role with our amazing team.”

Dawn Hart, NCARB, LEED® AP BD+C

With over 30 years of experience in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Dawn Hart is a Senior Associate and Work Sector Leader at Gensler. A registered architect, Dawn leads projects for both public and private clients, with a commitment to design and technical excellence.   Her expertise has served workplace clients in all markets including financial service firms, corporate campus facilities, professional service firms and government and aerospace.  Dawn co-leads the Gensler Southwest Region’s Design Management team and is a Phoenix office leader for financial service firms.

Dawn was featured in the AZRE People to know 2017 and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Tempe Historic Preservation Foundation.   Dawn graduated with a Masters of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies.

Martha dePlazaola Abbott, LEED® AP BD+C

With over 28 years of experience, Martha dePlazaola Abbott rejoins Gensler from SmithGroupJJR’s Phoenix office where she was a Vice President and Studio Leader for the Phoenix Workplace Practice. Previously, Martha worked in Gensler’s Los Angeles office from 1999 to 2004.

Martha’s comprehensive portfolio includes a myriad of “Work-Life” projects encompassing mixed use, multi-family, hospitality, retail and office, from both the private and public sectors. Her expertise spans all project delivery methods from design-bid-build to alternative deliveries including design-build and CM@R. Her specialties include promoting and fostering Integrated Project Delivery and Sustainable Places.

Martha was recently honored as one of AZRE’s Most Influential Women in Commercial Real Estate for 2016.  Martha studied at the Vicenza Institute of Architecture and is a graduate of the College of Architecture from the University of Florida.

About Gensler

Gensler is a global architecture, design and planning firm with 44 locations and more than 5,000 professionals networked across Asia, Europe, Australia, the Middle East and the Americas. Founded in 1965, the firm serves more than 3,500 active clients in virtually every industry. Gensler designers strive to make the places people live, work and play more inspiring, more resilient and more impactful.

 

Named as the 2015 Architect of the Year at the Real Estate Development (RED) Awards and the #1 Interior Design Firm by the Phoenix Business Journal for 9 years running, Gensler’s commitment and expertise in the market has been continually recognized by our industry and peers. Gensler’s Phoenix office is fully staffed with a mix of registered architects, interior designers, and support staff passionate about design in the Sonoran Desert and the continual evolution of Arizona.

Gensler, 201 East Washington, Suite 750, Phoenix, AZ 85004.