Abe Chorbajian, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Abe Chorbajian founded Chorbajian Consulting Services in 2022 to offer strategic advisory, leisure services, themed environmental design, and management solutions. Over his 35-year career, Abe has built a strong reputation for designing and managing new resorts, hotels, attractions, retail spaces, restaurants, and family-oriented entertainment venues.
His strategic planning and creative thinking have helped clients respond effectively to emerging trends, improve market positioning, and demonstrate a strong commitment to enhancing the guest experience.
Before establishing his consulting firm, Abe served as Senior Vice President at AECOM, where he led the Global Leisure and Themed Entertainment sector for more than 20 years. In this role, he established new studios in Asia and the Middle East, overseeing their operations, hiring, mentoring staff, and guiding designers, architects, engineers, and specialty consultants.
Abe has served as principal-in-charge on projects of various sizes in numerous countries, including China, South Korea, Indonesia, Spain, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and the United States. His innovative design approach has earned him two international competition victories and several awards from the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
Abe has distinguished himself through his leadership in design management, visioning, intelligent decision-making, meticulous attention to detail, and his ability to set new standards in highly competitive domestic and international business environments.
Education:
Bachelor of Architecture, Southern California Institute of Architecture
Qualifications:
Registered Architect in California, American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Boards; licensed general contractor in California; U.S. Green Building Council (LEED AP).
Associations:
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)
Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)
World Waterpark Association
Professional Affiliations
American Institute of Architects (AIA)
State of California - Supplemental Examination Commissioner
Design Commissioner – (Chair) City of Pasadena, California, 2004-2011
Historic Preservation Commissioner – (Chair) City of Pasadena, 2001-2004
Pasadena Foothill American Institute of Architects - Design Awards Co-Chair
Pasadena Heritage - Board of Directors 2007-2011
SCI-ARC Alumni
Awards and Citations
Themed Entertainment Association Award
Outstanding Theme Park – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida
The attraction of the year – “Spiderman Attraction”, Orlando, Florida
International Competition (wins)
Gaia: The Living World Seoul Grand Park, South Korea
Hwaseong Mixed-Use Entertainment City, Seoul, South Korea
Advisory Panelist
Sentosa Development Company
New York Port Authority
City of Pasadena Design Commission
IAAPA - Shanghai 2012
Asia Theme Park Expansion Summit - Shanghai 2011
USC WED _ Executive Education and Professional Development – Los Angeles 2012
Projects
Hwaseong Mixed-Use Entertainment City, South Korea (international competition)
Universal Beijing Resort, Beijing, China
Shanghai Disneyland Resort, Shanghai, China
Warner Bros. World Theme Park, U.A.E.
Super Nintendo World theme park in Osaka, Japan; Hollywood, California; and Orlando, Florida.
Ha’il Edutainment District Master Plan, Ha’il, KSA
World Trade Center Observations Deck, New York
Real Madrid - New Entertainment Center, Madrid