Mott MacDonald has appointed Maria Mingallon as technical director for its advanced computational design practice (ACD) in Australia and New Zealand. She will be responsible for growing and leading the ACD practice in Australasia.
A specialist in parametric design, advanced computation and digital fabrication of complex geometry structures, Maria is a registered professional engineer in the UK, Spain and Canada. She holds degrees in both engineering and architecture, with a master’s in emergent technologies and design from the Architectural Association in London. Maria spent over 12 years at Arup in the UK and Canada. She has also lectured extensively at world renowned institutions, including Georgia Tech, Arizona State, Carleton and McGill universities.
In 2015, Maria received the Visionary Prize as part of the 13th edition of the 'Grands Prix de génie-conseil québecois' from the Québec Association of Consulting Engineers. She was also awarded the 'Gerald Sheff Visiting Professorship in Architecture' in 2011 for outstanding part-time teaching at McGill University School of Architecture in Montreal.
Commenting on her appointment, Maria said: “I am thrilled to join at such an exciting time where companies like Mott MacDonald are exploring the latest technology and digital tools to find more innovative and efficient solutions for our clients. By using these, not only can we boost productivity and creativity, we can also break the boundaries of the ‘status quo’ and the resistance to push for new ideas in the built environment.”
Shaun Barrett, Mott MacDonald’s managing director for New Zealand, added: “We’re excited to have Maria join us as she is known as one of the best in her field. With her international experience and her explorative and innovative nature, we’re really looking forward to working with her and benefiting from her insight. She is a fantastic addition to our regional team, as well as our global technical capability.”
Mott MacDonald’s advanced computational design practice uses digital technologies across the architecture, engineering and construction sectors, to efficiently map out and communicate the best design decisions and meet evolving social needs. It goes beyond digitising and automating tasks and processes, by allowing design teams to rapidly explore a wider spectrum of ideas by creating and using parametric and generative design tools. This encourages innovation, creative thinking and collaboration across project teams and streamlines the gathering and exchange of information between design and construction teams, resulting in ‘designed to be built’ solutions.
