Akira Mada is the General Manager of Design at Shimizu North America, leading our design departments in both our Atlanta and Queretaro offices. He oversees all aspects of design development and coordination.

Akira graduated from Tokyo University with a Master of Engineering in Architecture, holds a 1st Class Architect license from Japan, and is a member of the American Institute of Architects. With more than two decades of design experience, he has contributed to projects across a range of markets, including commercial, medical, education and cultural facilities, high-rise residential buildings, and industrial manufacturing facilities. Prior to joining Shimizu, Akira held positions as an architectural designer and project architect, overseeing projects from the early bidding stage all the way through completion.

Akira’s leadership emphasizes innovation and cross-cultural collaboration, ensuring excellence in project design and the strength of a global team. Earlier in his career, he gained experience co-delivering projects with international architecture firms, navigating language barriers, and differing design standards, and maintaining a coherent design vision for the successful delivery of projects.

Akira joined Shimizu in 2023, initially prioritizing the growth of our design capabilities while improving SNA’s design standards and workflows.  Akira now hopes to strengthen the connectivity between our North American design teams by fostering a cohesive design culture that leverages the talent of both offices. His experience will allow him to align processes and BIM standards to grow Shimizu North America’s design capacity.

Akira channels his passion for architecture into his personal life, having redesigned his own home a couple of times. Outside of work, he enjoys watching soccer, baseball, and teaching himself to play new instruments.