Goettsch Partners Promotes De Santis to Partner

Goettsch Partners (GP) is pleased to announce that Paul De Santis, LEED AP, has been promoted to partner. De Santis joins the firm’s five other partners, including James Goettsch, FAIA, chairman and CEO; James Zheng, AIA, LEED AP, president; Michael F. Kaufman, AIA, LEED AP; Joseph Dolinar, AIA; and Lawrence C. Weldon, AIA.

De Santis started at the firm in 2005 and, today, serves as a senior project designer. With 20 years of experience, he leads the design on many of the firm’s projects in the U.S. and China. Continually focused on developing the studio culture in both the Chicago and Shanghai offices, he directs designs for office, hotel and mixed-use developments. 

“Paul has made significant contributions to the firm and has been a big part of our success over the last decade,” said Goettsch. “He has elevated our design and practice standards here and abroad.”

Since joining the firm, De Santis has helped establish the firm’s body of work, particularly in China, with key projects in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Wuhan. He excels at setting a high level of design quality within exceptionally tight timeframes. He further brings a deep respect and passion for the design process, and he is constantly challenging himself and those around him to elevate the thought and execution behind each project.

“Paul is a real design talent in the firm, and he has been a huge inspiration to others,” said Zheng. “I know he will continue to improve the performance and perspective of our practice as we grow.”

De Santis’ recent work in the U.S. includes the LEED Platinum-certified Zurich North America Headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois, and the first Viceroy hotel in the Midwest, located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Recent work in China focuses on several tall and supertall buildings, including the 296-meter R&F Yinkai Square mixed-use tower, featuring the 208-key Park Hyatt Guangzhou; the 403-meter Nanning China Resources Center Tower, featuring the 336-key Shangri-La Nanning; the Greenland Optics Valley Center complex, featuring a 400-meter office tower; and the 44-story, 370-key Grand Hyatt Dalian. 

De Santis received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and he is a registered LEED Accredited Professional.