Stephen Panzarino, Regional Director of Architecture, AECOM
For a firm like AECOM, the Tampa Bay region is the perfect spot to do business. “It is probably, in my opinion, one of the fastest-growing, best-situated cities in the country. It is the place to be,” Stephen Panzarino, AECOM’s regional director of architecture, told Invest:.
How is AECOM positioned in Tampa Bay and how does it approach the market?
AECOM is a global design firm. We are one of the largest in the world, and we take pride in transforming infrastructure and communities globally. As we look at projects locally, we bring that insight into our thinking. We think globally, and act locally. You hear that very often, but we live and breathe that in the way that we do things. In the Tampa market, we have been actively engaged in various infrastructure projects, including transportation development, roadways, aviation, environmental, and waterways initiatives, as well as resilience programs and a range of other projects.
One project that is expected to have a significant impact is the TSA Checkpoints at Tampa International Airport, located in Terminals A and E. It’s an important game changer in the way passengers move through the airport, helping to streamline and make the process more efficient.
What makes Tampa Bay an ideal location for AECOM? What makes it different from other markets?
It’s the overall excitement about the growth that is occurring here. The attitude is to embrace it, to find solutions that make sense, so that as our population increases, we can also increase our infrastructure and accommodate that growth responsibly. We participate in regional studies to ensure that, as growth models are developed, the infrastructure and design needs of the area are considered.
Where do you see the most opportunity for AECOM in the Tampa Bay region?
One of the areas that we’re really focusing on is resilience. We recently completed the Parks Master Plan for the city of Tampa. Part of that plan was to incorporate resilience measures and explore how a park system – that green space, that open area – can help alleviate some of the resilience problems we see during flooding and other types of storms.
Are there any specific trends that you’re seeing on the architecture side of cities?
There are a couple of trends or ideas that I’m working through. One is that as we develop numerous new projects, we want to ensure the layers —the pieces that create an actual community —aren’t lost. We want to avoid having half a dozen of the same type of project repeated; each one has a unique character, ensuring that we have access to a diverse range of food, religious institutions, educational institutions, and entertainment options.
All those components that drive the health and well-being of a city are critically important. That leads to the second point, which is the idea of having healthy communities, ensuring that we explore alternative transportation measures, from micromobility to mass transportation, and providing people with options. People can easily navigate the city, with various opportunities to experience it. The streetcar is an example. The streetcar is an incredible amenity not only for the local community but also for tourists, offering a unique way to engage with the city’s streets, which I think is excellent.
How do you incorporate sustainability and environmental care into your designs?
In every project we undertake, we consider sustainability. We consider how we utilize materials to address carbon emissions, as well as how we plan spaces, buildings, and campus settings, so that transportation and navigation are integrated into the sustainability conversation.
How are you incorporating innovation into your processes to streamline operations and create efficiencies?
We have groups dedicated to precisely that subject, providing innovative ways to deliver solutions for our clients. We have just gone through our latest round of what we call our Innovation Factory. This is where we take employee recommendations on how to streamline our processes and improve efficiency. We develop those notions into actionable items that we can use in our daily practice.
How are you attracting, retaining, and developing talent?
We have been one of the great places to work for several years. We take great pride in the fact that we have extremely low turnover within our company. We have employees in our Tampa office who have been with us for 40-plus years. They have spent their entire careers here. It’s a testament to the culture we have built. People want to come to work for us. They want to continue working with us and to spend their careers here. This is because we value them as employees. We ensure that their careers progress correctly and that they have opportunities to grow, learn, and advance through the organization. We do an excellent job of ensuring that those goals are met, and we also do a good job in our recruiting efforts. We recently held a recruiting event at Steinbrenner Stadium, where we welcomed 50 students from across the state. The goal was to present our firm to them and learn more about their interests. The next day, we conducted an interview process, and many candidates were hired for future positions.
What is your outlook for the Tampa Bay region? Where do you see development evolving within the next two to three years?
We’re on an immense upward trajectory. In my opinion, one of the fastest-growing, best-situated cities in the country. It is the place to be. The downtown core is the heart of Tampa, and everything radiates from there. It’s a dynamic place. There is a significant amount of investment, and it’s seeing sizable growth, which contributes to the diversity and vibrancy of the city. It’s dynamic and exciting to be here.
I return to the idea of healthy cities, ensuring that as we grow, we provide opportunities for outdoor spaces. We guarantee that our park system is robust, providing a safe and comfortable environment for people to ride their bikes.
I would say that it is essential to ensure Tampa’s resilience by futureproofing itself through a strong workforce, cultivating future leadership, and being visionary.
We are ensuring that as the city grows, we drive innovation and remain the envy of the rest of the country. We’re in that position today, and we want to continue being the envy of everyone looking in from the outside.
