NEW YORK (June 24, 2025) – Ware Malcomb, an award-winning international design firm, today announced the promotions of Damian Melo to Regional Director and Sean Van to Director, Regional Business Operations, based in the firm’s New York City office.
“Damian and Sean have each made key strategic contributions to the growth and success of our New York office,” said Bill Sotomayor, Principal at Ware Malcomb. “These well-deserved promotions will further leverage their experience, exemplary leadership and outstanding relationships across our entire Northeast region.”
As Regional Director, Melo will continue to guide the growth and vision of the firm’s New York office and support the broader Northeast region. Active in the industry since 1997, Melo joined Ware Malcomb in 2017 as Studio Manager, bringing deep expertise in both architecture and interior design. He was promoted to Director, Interior Architecture & Design in 2023.
A licensed architect in multiple states, with a strategic mindset and commitment to excellence, Melo played a significant role in the design and build-out of the firm’s relocated New York City office and has established lasting client relationships. His experience includes oversight and collaboration with clients and project teams in all aspects of project design and management. He has worked across multiple sectors, including corporate office, financial, retail, nonprofit, landlord services, industrial, warehouse and research and development facilities.
Melo earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
In his new role as Director, Regional Business Operations, Van will continue to drive strategic growth and operational excellence across the Northeast. Van joined Ware Malcomb in 2021 as a Senior Project Manager supporting the Northeast interior architecture & design team and quickly made an impact through his leadership and operational insight.
Promoted to Regional Operations Manager in 2023, Van has played a critical role in streamlining workflows, boosting productivity and enhancing profitability across the region. His collaborative work with other regional offices has also led to broader operational improvements for Ware Malcomb.
Van has been in the industry since 1989 and has worked on a wide variety of project types, including commercial, municipal, national retail, educational, hospitality, residential and branding. He is a registered architect in multiple states in the Northeast, is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and is a WELL-Accredited Professional. Van is also the past-President of the AIA Architects League of Northern New Jersey.
He earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, N.Y., and an MBA from Rutgers Business School.
About Ware Malcomb (waremalcomb.com)
Established in 1972, Ware Malcomb is a contemporary and expanding full-service design firm providing professional architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, branding and building measurement services to clients throughout the world. With office locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, the firm specializes in the design of office, industrial, science & technology, healthcare, multifamily, retail, hospitality and public/institutional projects. For six consecutive years, Ware Malcomb has been ranked as the #1 Industrial Sector Architecture Firm by Building Design + Construction Magazine. The firm is also ranked among the top 10 Architecture/Engineering firms in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms and the Top 30 Interior Design Firms in Interior Design magazine’s Top 100 Giants. For more information, visit waremalcomb.com.
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Ware Malcomb New York
450 7th Ave, Suite 900
New York, NY 10123
646.680.7000
