James Kirkpatrick is a design director in AECOM Middle East’s urbanism and planning practice. Growing up in Canada, James is a registered landscape architect, urban designer and trained architect.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Kirkpatrick has brought his vast industry knowledge and collaboration to influence integrated developments in North America, Europe, Asia and, most recently, the Middle East, and has successfully searched for solutions that work with nature whilst creating positive economic and social outcomes for the stakeholders and communities involved.

Previously AECOM’s global director of masterplanning, Kirkpatrick rejoined AECOM, a Fortune 500 company and industry leader, in 2019. Moving to Hong Kong, then to the UAE for his latest role, Kirkpatrick has been working on key develop- ments such as West Kowloon Dis- trict, Hong Kong, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi and Bluewaters Island and Dubai Expo, both in Dubai. Currently working on the Al Quoz Creative Dis- trict Masterplan, Kirkpatrick is using his passion for design and ability to address complex briefs to help create a global creative hub that develops innovative and inspiring projects.

Kirkpatrick ensures that his work is able to positively blend the connection between the natural and built-environment, and this is in line with AECOM’s vision — to deliver a better world — uplifting communities, improving access, and sustaining our planet.

With his background in landscape architecture, architecture and urban design, Kirkpatrick brings this diverse approach to urban, regional, and large-scale master- planning for a variety of interna- tional environments, including Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, Najran Downtown, KSA, Hudson Yards – the largest redevelopment project in Manhat-an, the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization, numerous projects along the River Thames in London, and new city centers across Asia. These projects have involved bridging distinct cultures whilst bringing complex land-use and building programs to unique urban sites. He brings his varied background to projects with the hope that design can be used as a catalyst for the development of healthy places, communities, and environments.

Looking ahead, Kirkpatrick wants to continue working on projects that contribute to the growth and development of the UAE, and wider Middle Eastern countries. Using his expansive knowledge, as well as experience gained in the Middle East, Kirkpatrick wants to continue to help grow AECOM’s regional practice and take a leading role in the global urbanism and planning practice to continue driving best practices on AECOM’s work across the globe.