Janus Rostock is a multi-award-winning architect, urban designer and master planner who has led the design and delivery of some of the highest profile projects across the region and beyond. Janus, who has over 25 years of experience, has used his wide industry expertise and partnership to impact important changes in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. After spending the last two years in Denmark as the CEO for SIGNAL Architects, a boutique architecture and workplace consultancy firm, Janus re-joined AECOM in August 2023 to lead the Urbanism+Planning and Architecture+Interior Design practice lines.

JANUS’ noteworthy projects in Abu Dhabi include Dubai Downtown, Opera District, Bluewaters, Dubai Hills, Dubai Creek Harbour Phase One, Dubai Harbour, Al Kifaf, and Yas Waters Edge in Abu Dhabi.

With an extensive background in architecture and a 16-year presence in the UAE, Janus has shaped many neighborhoods and projects that define the country’s residential landscape we see today. Examples include Dubai Downtown, Opera District, Bluewaters, Dubai Hills, Dubai Creek Harbour Phase One, Dubai Harbour, Al Kifaf and Yas Waters Edge in Abu Dhabi.

Beginning his career at AECOM originally in 2018, Janus grew the regional business to a nearly 100-strong masterplanning, urban design, concept architecture and landscape practice in just three years, and was involved in several of the region’s highest profile projects. Dubai Harbor’s masterplan and public realm design, Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh Transit Oriented Development, Riyadh Complete Communities, Greening Riyadh, and several regional megaprojects are among them.

The incredibly talented AECOM team.

The regional AECOM Buildings + Places team now comprises over 200 exceptional architects and planners and Janus is responsible for two practice lines; the Urbanism+Planning team led by Amer Mneimneh and supported by Sanjay Tanwani, James Kirkpatrick, Izlem Boylu, Mirna Melki and David Maestres, and the Architecture+Interior Design team, led by Vladimir Jovanovic and supported by Kevin Johnson, Lubna Zalek, Ross Farquhar and Liam Mannion.

The teams are currently focused on the leisure and entertainment sector, particularly in Saudi Arabia. AECOM is greening Riyadh and revitalising the city through Transit Oriented Developments. They are assisting Nakheel in the UAE by redeveloping older project sites and improving the quality of life for Dubai residents. Janus looks forward to working with the valued clients in his new capacity at AECOM to assist drive the transformation of sustainability in the Kingdom. Committed to all aspects of sustainability, Janus is excited to contribute to AECOM’s Sustainable Legacies strategy and ensure its focus internally with guaranteeing cultural and gender diverse teams, the coaching and mentoring of junior staff, as well as identifying and reducing the teams own carbon impact. Externally, the team design ethos is driving worldclass design and innovative solutions to help mitigate the global climate and biodiversity crisis.