El Salvador is marking a new chapter in urban development with a strategic alliance aimed at transforming the San Salvador Metropolitan Area (AMSS). On Monday, the Executive Director of COAMSS/OPAMSS, Luis Rodríguez, signed a cooperation agreement with Christian Wolff, Principal Co-Regional Manager for Latin America at Gensler, the world’s largest architecture and design firm.
“We’re grateful to Christian and his team for coming to El Salvador in record time. Our conversations started during our recent visit to Washington, and we quickly defined a series of work lines,” stated Rodríguez during the signing ceremony.
Gensler, with 49 offices across 16 countries, is renowned for its high-profile projects, including the iconic Shanghai Tower. “Signing an agreement with the largest firm in the world for architecture and urban development is a privilege. For us, having this support on a daily basis is extremely powerful,” added Rodríguez.
The agreement aims to foster sustainable urban growth in the AMSS through knowledge transfer, capacity building, and strategic collaboration. It includes cooperation in best practices for macroprojects, investment opportunity analysis, sustainability and technology exchange, regulatory architectural advisory, and development of visual corridors.
“We believe in the power of design to improve lives. We believe in safety, stability, and inclusive spaces, and El Salvador is showing that,” said Wolff.
This partnership aligns with President Bukele’s vision to boost investment and raise the standards for both public and private sector urban initiatives. As Rodríguez explained, “There is a very clear vision from President Bukele: we are moving toward economic growth and urban development, and we now have the support of the world’s leading firm to help us get there.”
With this agreement, Gensler joins El Salvador’s efforts to build more resilient and people-centered cities, combining global expertise with a local vision for progress.