Segene Park | AIA
Secretary, AIA International
AIA International Board of Directors • 2025 Vice President Elect • 2026-2027 President Elect • 2023-2024 Secretary • Chair of 2022 AIA International Spring Conference (held with UIA and ULI Japan)
AIA Japan Board of Directors • 2021 President • Chair of Honorary Fellow Council, Strategic & Accreditation, and Design Awards
Professional / Architect / Masterplanner / Project Manager, Nikken Sekkei
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Segene Park, a distinguished architect and master planner, was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1973. He began his journey in architecture when he moved to Chicago, U.S., in 1990 and later entered the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) in 1993.
Upon graduating from UIC in 2003, Segene launched his career at Epstein, Annex 5, as a project designer. His innovative designs contributed to team success, earned numerous awards, and were prominently featured in Architectural Record, where he was recognized among rising young architects. His work also appeared in the New York Times Online Edition, Chicago Tribune, AIA Magazine, and other prestigious publications, solidifying his reputation as a forward-thinking architect.
In 2007, Segene joined Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) in Chicago, a globally renowned architectural, urban planning, and engineering firm. His expertise expanded to international projects, including a notable 354-meter tower in Russia showcased at the Venice Biennale in 2008, introducing a new form of Russian modern architecture.
Following his marriage and relocation to Tokyo, Japan, Segene’s interest in design evolved into urban planning. In 2015, he joined Nikken Sekkei, Japan's largest and globally recognized design firm. Under his guidance, his team won three major international architecture and master planning competitions, gaining recognition in ArchDaily and other major Russian publications. From 2020 to 2023, Segene’s team received four major Architecture and Urban Planning Awards in Moscow, selected from a pool of 1,513 nominated residential complexes and evaluated by over 400 independent experts, underscoring his exceptional contributions to the field.
His diverse portfolio includes architectural designs for residential buildings, offices, hotels, museums, convention centers, high-rises, and supertall structures, along with sustainable buildings and interior design. His expertise extends to urban planning, including Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), smart cities, IT campuses, residential complexes, mixed-use developments, and landscape design. He is proficient in master planning, managing projects of various scales, ranging from small sites to over 10,000 hectares.
Beyond his architectural accomplishments, Segene is recognized for his leadership in professional organizations. In 2021, he became the President of AIA Japan after four years of service as a board member, secretary, and vice president. In 2022, he was elected AIA International Secretary for 2023-2024, showcasing his commitment to the global architectural community.
Segene’s dedication to supporting the arts is demonstrated through his involvement with the Cliff Dwellers since 2005 and his service as a committee member of the CD Arts Foundation from 2008 to 2012. His work with the foundation involved providing grants to arts-oriented organizations and individuals, presenting events such as concerts, performances, and films, and sponsoring an annual music competition.
As a thought leader, Segene has shared his expertise as a guest design critic at Meiji University, I-AUD Program, and Nihon University. He has organized and instructed Urban Plan Workshops with Urban Land Institute (ULI) Japan, collaborating with universities such as Meiji, Waseda, Tsukuba, Nihon University, and KAIST since 2021.
Segene’s recent engagements as a keynote speaker at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and as a panelist for the YLG Forum during the ULI Asia Pacific Summit highlight his commitment to sustainable and impactful design. Segene Park continues to shape the future of architecture with his creativity, leadership, and dedication to excellence.
