New International Director Propels DLR Group into Next Era of Global Design

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global, 100% employee-owned, integrated design firm DLR Group has announced the appointment of Principal Eric Phillips, AIA, NCARB, as International Director. Phillips is a licensed architect with over 25 years of experience shaping and diversifying international and domestic design practices. In his new role, he will evolve DLR Group’s work in the Middle East and China and guide the integrated practice into new markets, from Canada and Europe to Asia and throughout the Pacific Rim.

Phillips joins DLR Group from NBBJ, where he drove long-term growth strategy in Asia and oversaw the firm’s business operations across Shanghai and Hong Kong studios. He brings extensive experience in architecture, urban design, and international practice leadership, along with a track record of regional market development.

“Eric’s expertise in connecting teams, clients, and ideas across multiple geographies will be a guiding force for our continued international expansion,” said DLR Group CEO Steven McKay, AIA, RIBA. “With an approach aligned with our promise to elevate the human experience through design, he will amplify our integrated design solutions in regions like the Middle East and Asia Pacific, where urban transformation is happening at an unprecedented speed and scale.”

Championing Integrated Design Worldwide to Shape the Future of Urban Life

As an integrated design firm, DLR Group’s teams work on a diverse range of project types around the world. The firm’s multidisciplinary expertise allows it to approach urban challenges holistically and create places that are both visionary and grounded in local context.

With 1,800 employee owners and 35 office locations, DLR Group has been growing its international presence for the past two decades. Under McKay’s leadership, the firm expanded into Asia in 2013 with an office in Shanghai, followed by expansion in the Middle East in 2017 with the launch of an office in Dubai. Experiencing rapid growth, today the Dubai studio hosts over 80 professionals providing architecture, interiors, master planning, landscape architecture, and technical design.

As a design partner for Knowledge Economic City (KEC), a major mixed-use master plan development located in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, DLR Group provided integrated architecture, interior design, and master planning services. This scope encompasses the city-scale vision of KEC and its key destinations, including Madinah Gate, the Islamic World District, and Multaka Residences. Madinah Gate, directly connected to the Al Haramain High-Speed Railway Station, is the flagship transit-oriented development within this plan. The project combines transportation, hospitality, retail, dining, and entertainment, anchored by a 325-key DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. DLR Group’s integrated approach ensures that every element, from station flow and infrastructure to the guest experience, provides connected, efficient support to pilgrims, tourists, and the local community visiting Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (The Prophet’s Mosque) in Madinah.

Aligning Global Expertise with Local Ambition

“What excites me most about developing and implementing an international growth strategy for DLR Group is the opportunity to shape how design excellence transcends borders and cultures,” said Phillips. “Our integrated model, where architecture, engineering, planning, and interiors work together, can solve complex challenges across all our sectors. This strategy isn’t just about growth – it’s about our impact in local communities around the globe.”

As International Director, Phillips will build a connected talent network that collaborates across multiple geographies to elevate design outcomes and position DLR Group for sustained international growth rooted in deep local knowledge and expertise.

About DLR Group

DLR Group is an integrated design firm delivering architecture, engineering, interiors, planning, and building optimization for new construction, renovation, and adaptive reuse. Our promise is to elevate the human experience through design. This promise inspires sustainable design for a diverse group of public and private sector clients, local communities, and our planet. DLR Group is 100 percent employee owned, fully supports the initiatives and goals of the 2030 Challenge and is an initial signatory to the China Accord and the AIA 2030 Commitment.

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