Tom Wright

Tom Wright was born on September 18, 1957, in Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom. He pursued his architectural education at the Royal Russell School and later at Kingston University School of Architecture, completing his qualification as an architect in 1983. In the same year, he became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. His early career saw him become a director at Lister Drew Haines Barrow, an architectural practice that was subsequently acquired by Atkins in 1991. Following this acquisition, Wright transitioned to lead Atkins’ architecture division.

Demonstrating his design capabilities early in his career, Wright served as the design director for the Jumeirah Beach Resort in Dubai. During this period, he was responsible for the conceptualization and design of the Burj Al Arab, a project initiated in October 1994 and completed in 1999. The design brief for the Burj Al Arab was to create an iconic structure that would symbolize Dubai, drawing parallels to global landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House or the Eiffel Tower. Wright’s design reflected Dubai’s maritime heritage by shaping the building to resemble a dhow’s sail, combined with a contemporary vision for the future. The building became known for its luxurious accommodations.

In 2013, Wright co-founded KKK Architects with Geku Kuruvilla George and Hakim Khennouchi after departing from Atkins. This firm later restructured and was reformed as WKA (Wright Kuruvilla Architects Ltd) in March 2024. His work includes the 2023 Ribbon Building in Tehran, Iran, which visually separates its functions with a flowing silver ribbon design. More recently, Wright contributed to the design of Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Edge ship, co-designing its public spaces with a focus on outward-facing designs for enhanced ocean views and passenger connection to the sea.