Press Release: DeSimone Announces New Managing Principal in Miami

DeSimone Announces New Managing Principal in Miami, Global Promotions

LUIS RAMIREZ NAMED MANAGING PRINCIPAL AS DESIMONE CONSULTING ENGINEERING ANNOUNCES NEW PROMOTIONS

Company elevates 35 employees across US and international offices

NEW YORK, NY, February 6, 2025 ― Global engineering services leader DeSimone Consulting Engineering has announced a new round of firmwide promotions that includes the appointment of structural engineer Luis F. Ramirez, PE, SECB, as Managing Principal of the firm’s Miami office.

Some 35 employees from across DeSimone’s global offices received promotions as the company continues its dedication to acknowledging exceptional work and proactively fostering staff growth and development

“As a company, we firmly believe that our greatest strength lies in the quality of our professionals. The promotions announced today reflect our commitment to recognizing and rewarding high-achieving staff who consistently demonstrate their dedication to innovation, delivery of the highest quality client service and work product, and overall professional excellence,” said Stephen DeSimone, Chairman and CEO of DeSimone Consulting Engineering.

DeSimone remarked on Mr. Ramirez’s promotion, adding, “Luis’ exceptional ability to craft groundbreaking structural engineering solutions and oversee some of the firm’s most complex projects has proved pivotal to the delivery of many iconic and landmark buildings for our clients. We celebrate his well-deserved promotion to Managing Principal of the DeSimone Miami office.”

Ramirez joined DeSimone in 2005, most recently serving as a Principal in the firm’s New York City global headquarters. He has since completed a diverse portfolio of domestic and international projects, including high-rise residential and office towers, mixed-use developments, resort properties, and healthcare facilities.

Currently, Ramirez is leading the structural design for a number of notable projects in Miami, including Villa Miami Residences, a super-slender tower that will reach 56 floors in height, developed by Terra and The 1000 Group, and designed by ODP Architects; Lofty, a development consisting of two 47-story, landmark buildings in the elite Brickell district, developed by Newgard Development Group and designed by Arquitectonica; and the Deauville Hotel and Residences, a multi-story tower development by the Terra Group and designed by Foster + Partners along with ODP Architects.

Other high-profile, structural engineering projects led by Ramirez include Zaha Hadid’s One Thousand Museum, a 60-story residential tower that employs a sculpted concrete exoskeleton as an integral component of the lateral load system, and Bjarke Ingels’ Grove at Grand Bay, a pair of towers in Coconut Grove, Florida, that stand as the first truly twisting structures built in the US.

Certified by the Structural Engineering Certification Board (SECB) for his advanced knowledge and skills in structural engineering, Ramirez also played an integral role in designing the Faena Arts Center in Buenos Aires, and the expansion of the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood Resort & Casino, which includes a 34-story, guitar-shaped tower and nearly 800,000 SF of retail, dining, and resort-style amenity areas.

Dr. Tala Shokri, PhD, PE, has also been promoted in DeSimone’s Miami office from Senior Associate to Associate Principal. Her experience spans over 20 years and includes structural design, complex building analysis, specialty structures, and forensic investigations. She currently leads the structural design and construction for the mixed-use Westin Cocoa Beach Resort, over one million SF on the oceanfront of Cocoa Beach, Florida, as well as such residential towers as Villa Miami, Summit Brickell, Lofty, and Miami Midtown. Dr. Shokri has lent also her award-winning skill and expertise to such projects as the Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel, the Albany Marina Residences in the Bahamas, and the Honeycomb, Cube, and Tetris trio of residences designed by Bjarke Ingles Group and OOAK Architects, also in the Bahamas.

The newly announced promotions reflect DeSimone’s continued pursuit of excellence and achievement across the organization as it continues to expand its scope of specialized services, which now include façade design, steel detailing, tilt-up engineering and detailing, wind engineering, seismic engineering, protective design, and forensic engineering, as well as risk management, dispute resolution, and expert witness services.

DeSimone is committed to elevating an exceptional workplace culture that fosters a culture of respect and nurtures the skills and talents of its team members. This commitment has earned the company top workplace accolades from such publications as USA Today, amNY, Crain’s New York, and the Sun Sentinel in Miami.

Download a copy of this press release here.

Media Contact: Shea Communications, LLC

Linda O’Flanagan, George Shea: 212-627-5766