V Starr, the award-winning interior design firm based in South Florida, is excited to welcome Enrique Vela, AIA, IIDA, as its new Principal, Director of Strategy.
In this role, Vela will work closely with the leadership team to hone purposeful business objectives and expand upon the firm’s services to meet shifting industry demands. The new appointment underscores V Starr’s commitment to delivering its partners thoughtful, well-rounded interior design concepts as the landscape of development continually evolves.
“It’s a privilege to join V Starr at the start of what promises to be an exhilarating year,” said Vela. “With so many prominent hospitality and multifamily developments at the helm, I am eager to work with the team to enhance our project goals, ensuring we exceed the expectations of both new and long-standing partners.”
Leveraging his rich global perspective with notable experience in New York and Los Angeles, Vela’s addition to the team ushers in an era of opportunity for V Starr and its partners, as well as access to a wealth of knowledge in the high-end and luxury sectors. He is especially looking forward to expanding the firm’s expertise, particularly with his demonstrated experience in condominium and hospitality development.
“We’re excited to bring Enrique onto the team to expand our project reach among key markets,” said V Starr Principal, Sonya Haffey. “With his extensive and well-rounded experience building luxury hospitality design firms, he will bring a fresh perspective to build on our existing team portfolio and project compatibility.”
Vela comes from an architectural background earning a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Syracuse University and later a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University. His creative vision has since affected spa, restaurant, hotel, and bar projects around the world – most notably in New York, Las Vegas, Dubai and California. He has also worked globally with most major hotel operators on projects ranging from small boutique hotels to large luxury resorts.
Prior to joining V Starr, Enrique served as Principal/Owner and Director of Interiors at Olson Kundig, where he helped the firm foray into competitive hospitality markets.
