Karl Wadia

At a young age, Karl Wadia was enchanted by Architect Hafeez Contractor's (AHC) growing office, captivated by two things - the devotion to creation and the butter biscuits served with milky coffee. While the latter fascination was short lived, the former reason left a lasting impression. Throughout his childhood, he frequently returned to his mentor’s firm, eager to pick up skills and assist on projects long before he was formally taught to do so in his education. Accepting that all roads lead back to AHC, he formally joined the firm in 2009, partaking in a 100-acre project within his first two days.

Wadia's work is truly multidisciplinary and driven by the excitement of challenging and advanced projects. As a leader, he consistently emphasizes that the only limit on a project is one's own imagination. It’s no surprise that his sole aim is to create unparalleled structures destined for the history books while maintaining an ecological and culturally conscious mind.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wadia sought to test his limits, remotely leading his team—the largest at AHC—to compete for the tender of the National Maritime Heritage Complex. Against the odds, they won the tender, with the project set to be the world's largest net-zero museum as well as amusement parks, hotels, resorts and an educational institute. A strong believer in empowering talent and meritocracy, Wadia continually inspires his team.

Looking to the future, Wadia aims to undertake projects that drive social change and improve lives, reinforcing his impact on modern built India's architectural landscape. He hopes that his journey leads him to not only cause ripples nationally but also beyond borders of India.