Deborah BerkeRobert A.M. Stern

 

Berke, who founded her now 60-person firm in 1982 and will continue to lead it, has been an adjunct professor at Yale since 1987. According to an article in ENR's sister publication Architectural Record, a key priority of Berke's tenure will be encouraging "cross-pollination with the greater Yale community" and increasing diversity among students and faculty.

Architectural Records adds that Yale is one of several architecture schools that has recently ushered in leadership changes, including new women deans at prominent institutions, such as Princeton U. that selected architect Monica Ponce de Leon this spring and Columbia U. who named architect Amale Andraos last year. “I think it's fantastic that there are so many women deans in architecture schools,” Berke told AR. “Does it mean that the pendulum is swinging? No, I think it means that there are many women qualified for these positions.”

TRC Cos. Inc., Lowell, Mass., has named Edward J. Wiegele as senior vice president and director of pipeline services, a TRC spokeswoman confirms. The role follows the firm's Oct. 5 agreement to buy the 850-person professional services business of oil-and-gas contractor Willbros Group. He has been president of that unit, which posted $209 million in 2014 gross revenue. The $130-million cash deal is set to close early next year. "Willbros is expected to continue to face difficult market conditions associated with reduced capital spending on oil-sands-related projects" and other market issues, says investment firm D.A. Davidson. Willbros has divested units since early this year, in part to help avoid credit defaults. Chris Vincze, TRC"s CEO, says, "The long-term outlook for the pipeline industry is strong, especially with respect to midstream activities."

Johanna Frelin is named CEO of Tengbom, a 550-person architect based in Sweden. She had been CEO of a business innovation consulting firm and also held management positions at SVT, Sweden"s national public TV broadcaster.

HAKS-Khouri

New York City-based design firm HAKS has named Tarek Z. Khouri as senior vice president of its environmental practice. He is formerly a vice president of Langan Engineering & Environmental Services and also was a manager at URS Corp. HAKS ranks at No. 132 on ENR"s list of the Top 500 Design Firms.

Paul VanDuyne and Zareh Astourian are named CEO and chairman, respectively, of a new holding company that will manage building designers KJWW Engineering Consultants, Rock Island, Ill., and TTG Engineers, Pasadena, Calif., which merged on Oct. 5 to form a 900-employee entity. The executives were presidents of the firms, which rank among ENR"s 2015 Top 500 Design Firms. A spokesman says the name of the holding company will be announced at a later date and no decision has been made on where or if there will be a common headquarters location.


, founder and partner of the New York City-based architecture firm that bears her name, will join the Yale School of Architecture, New Haven, Conn., as dean next July, the school announced on Oct. 5. She replaces , who has led the school since 1998 and will be its first woman dean.