Sasaki Celebrates Two New Associate Principals
Architect Emily Parris (left), Landscape Architect Ian Scherling (right)
Sasaki is proud to announce the promotion of Emily Parris and Ian Scherling to associate principals, recognizing their exceptional leadership and impact across complex projects firmwide. Their elevation to the firm’s leadership team reflects their contributions to design excellence—particularly within higher education—and their roles in shaping Sasaki’s future.
Together with their fellow associate principals, Ian and Emily will help guide the firm’s continued evolution and growth while upholding its collaborative, interdisciplinary approach to design and planning.
Emily Parris AIA, LEED AP
Architect, Associate Principal
Emily brings her unique perspective as a former collegiate athlete to her leadership of complex athletic and recreational facilities across college and university campuses. Currently shepherding multiple athletics projects—including new field houses at Swarthmore and Cornell, comprehensive renovations at Yale’s Ray Tompkins House, and Brown University’s Indoor Turf Facility—she combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of the student-athlete experience.
Cornell University New Indoor Recreation and Sports Center Design
Brown University Indoor Practice Facility
Emily is a leading voice within the world of student athletics and student wellbeing, presenting at the SCUP national convention and NIRSA, demonstrating her commitment to advancing the field. Whether she’s working on a NCAA Division I arena or a recreational fitness center, Emily has a keen interest in the unique traditions and adjacencies that make each facility a successful component of the campus experience.
Colby College Athletic Center
Colby College Athletic Center indoor track
As an active contributor to Sasaki’s mentorship initiatives, including the Sasaki Foundation’s SEED program, Emily has helped nurture the next generation of designers. Emily’s passion for creating spaces that blend cutting-edge human performance technology with community engagement is reflected in her award-winning work. Her approach to architecture emphasizes the power of connection—both in fostering collaborative team dynamics and in understanding client needs—while incorporating each institution’s unique traditions into the campus fabric.
Emily Parris led a virtual reality design charette for students
Ian Scherling ASLA, PLA
Landscape Architect, Associate Principal
Ian combines his passion for community wellbeing with expertise in landscape architecture, leading projects that adapt historic landscapes and create tailored frameworks for colleges and universities nationwide.
Known for his inclusive and collaborative design process, he champions the use of analog tools such as sketches, models, and tactile materials to uncover innovative approaches to placemaking. From UC Berkeley, to Baylor University, to Swarthmore College, Ian’s projects reflect his deep commitment to social justice and human-centered design. His built and unbuilt planning work has garnered numerous awards.
View of accessible shared pathway on UC Berkeley’s campus
Ian approaches each project with careful attention to local context, creating landscapes that meaningfully connect people to place while exemplifying Sasaki’s interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex global challenges.
As an active member of Sasaki’s Design Culture Working Group, Ian collaborates across disciplines to enhance the firm’s design process and communication. His investment in the firm’s culture is reflected in his dedication to mentoring colleagues in the Landscape Architecture and Civil Engineering discipline and his strong advocacy for Sasaki’s fabrication studio and archives.
Ian Scherling meets with architect Chris Downey as part of the UC Berkeley Accessible Paths and Places Master Plan
Ian Scherling’s work with Baylor University
Ian is an advocate for human-centered design and building more accessible spaces, sharing his expertise at national industry conferences. He has presented Sasaki’s approach to building the UMass Boston Harborwalk Park at the 2019 SCUP conference, and will co-lead a session on Sasaki’s award-winning landscape planning work at UC Berkeley at the 2025 SCUP conference. Ian has also presented on the ASLA conference stage, co-leading sessions in 2022 and 2023. At the 2024 conference, he led a workshop about human-centered design and another session sharing his insights on adapting Olmsted landscapes in Washington, D.C.
Ian Scherling hosted a panel on human-centered design at Sasaki
Expanded Leadership
These promotions recognize Emily and Ian’s individual expertise and their shared commitment to Sasaki’s mission. In these new roles, they will continue shaping the firm’s future—strengthening partnerships, mentoring the next generation of designers, and advancing projects that leave a lasting impact on communities and campuses alike. Their leadership will help drive Sasaki’s ongoing pursuit of design excellence, ensuring that the firm remains at the forefront of transformative, integrated practice.