Gary Lapera
Gary Lapera is an award-winning architect and global design leader with more than 25 years of experience delivering transformative architecture, urban design and infrastructure projects worldwide. A Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, he is recognized for leading initiatives that shape the built environment across diverse sectors and global markets.
His career spans leading design and advisory organizations, where he has operated at the intersection of architecture, infrastructure and enterprise strategy. As a design partner at Michael Graves & Associates, he led landmark mixed-use, hospitality, civic and cultural projects across more than 20 countries, establishing a strong global design presence.
At Jacobs, Gary serves as Global Solutions Director for Buildings, guiding large-scale, complex projects while advancing integrated advisory services and strategic partnerships. His experience includes major city-shaping initiatives such as NEOM’s The Vault and Superblock 4, as well as urban regeneration and infrastructure-integrated developments across the United States and Middle East.
Gary is a trusted advisor to public and private sector clients, known for aligning design vision with commercial performance. He works across developers, architects, engineers and contractors to deliver high-quality outcomes and unlock value. He is also leading the development of Origination Partners, an approach that helps major projects generate revenue and support long-term investment through asset optimization.
