New directors bring deep expertise in structural failure investigation and complex project delay analysis to the firm's specialized practices.
Global consultancy HKA has announced the appointment of Dr. Kasra Ghahremani and Javier Arniella as directors within its Forensic Engineering, Architectural, and Scientific, and Construction, Claims, and Expert Services practices, respectively. The hires are intended to further enhance the firm's technical services and construction claims capabilities.
Based in Houston, Ghahremani brings more than 17 years of experience in structural engineering to the firm. His expertise focuses on condition and risk assessment, structural health monitoring, and forensic failure investigations. Throughout his career, he has designed and evaluated residential and commercial structures, specifically assessing damage resulting from environmental factors such as wind, fire, water intrusion, and material degradation.
A licensed Professional Engineer in both the United States and Canada, Ghahremani has provided expert analysis for projects involving construction defects, cost overruns, and delays associated with design modifications. During his postdoctoral fellowship, he developed advanced methodologies for vision-based structural damage detection using 3D imaging techniques, including photogrammetry and point cloud analysis. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Arniella, based in Washington, D.C., joins the firm with over a decade of experience as a forensic schedule expert and delay analyst. He specializes in identifying the root causes of disruptions and productivity loss on complex capital projects, including those valued at up to $1.6 billion. His work involves translating complex technical data into clear findings to provide clarity during the dispute resolution process.
A licensed Professional Engineer and native Spanish speaker, Arniella has performed claims analysis on major infrastructure projects, including advanced port facilities, highways, and renewable energy projects. He also provides advisory services such as CPM schedule development to identify emerging risks before they impact project timelines.
He earned his Master of Engineering and bachelor's degrees from the University of Puerto Rico.
The appointments come as HKA continues to expand its footprint in the U.S. mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions. The firm noted that Ghahremani's background in fatigue analysis and forensic investigations makes him a vital addition to the technical team, while Arniella's depth of knowledge in construction scheduling will support the firm's growth in the construction practice at large.
SOURCE: HKA
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