Shwan Zuhdi
SHWAN ZUHDI | DESIGNER
Inspired by his cultural roots, Shwan decided to become an architect after witnessing the vast construction boom that the Kurdish people thrived under after the removal of Saddam Hussein. He was moved by how the built environment helped a third world country preserve their threatened cultural identity, along with enhancing their own quality of life. Due to the program’s unique emphasis on climate mitigation strategies, Shwan decided to attend the University of Arizona in the Fall of 2011. As a student, he learned thoughtful design approaches to generate solutions which serve to explain a site’s physical, historical, cultural, and social qualities and or features. Overall, Shwan was fascinated by how architecture can produce a “multi-sensory” experience, in order to enhance one’s understanding of place. During his time at UA, Shwan was a recipient of the Richard A. Eribes and Al Burlini Scholarships, in addition, he received two AIA Southern Arizona Design Excellence Awards. Shwan joined jmA in 2017, where he passionately works on site-sensitive designs which are tailored to their client's needs and lifestyle. When Shwan is not being a sports fanatic, he thoroughly enjoys exploring unfamiliar areas within San Francisco and is always open to any recommendations of new coffee shops, restaurants, and public parks.