Construction & Materials Engineering

The ground remembers everything that touches it.

Petrichor is a construction and materials engineering practice built on the discipline of engineering, the precision of science, and the pursuit of enduring, sustainable solutions. We bring together construction expertise, materials engineering, and the supply of quality construction materials to deliver practical, reliable, and forward-thinking solutions for the built environment.

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Our Name

Why petrichor.

pet·ri·chor

/ˈpɛtrɪkɔːr/ — noun

The particular scent produced when rain falls on dry earth — released as water meets the mineral oils and clay held quietly in the ground, and the microbial compound geosmin rises to meet it. It is what happens when two different things — sky and soil, water and stone — finally reach each other.

Every project is an exercise in translating engineering intent into built reality. Its success depends on the integration of sound design, construction expertise, material performance, and disciplined execution.

Petrichor operates at this intersection, combining rigorous construction practice with materials engineering insight. Our approach is grounded in technical precision, informed judgment, and a commitment to quality, performance, and durability throughout the built environment.

We believe engineering excellence is defined not solely by the sophistication of a design, but by the rigor of its execution, the integrity of its performance under real-world conditions, and its capacity to deliver lasting functionality, resilience, and value throughout its service life.

What we do Meet the team

Leadership

Senior expertise, not a startup guess.

Petrichor is built around practitioners who have spent their careers combining practical construction expertise, materials engineering, and research-driven innovation bridging the rigor of scientific inquiry with the demands of real-world construction.

Founder & Principal

Miheret Geremew Bizuneh

Miheret founded Petrichor following nearly fifteen years of professional experience in construction, infrastructure development, and materials engineering in Ethiopia. Her portfolio spans a diverse range of projects, including the 81-km Dichoto–Galafi–Elidar–Belho rigid pavement project in Afar, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway PPR project, the Meskel Square–City Hall parking and street refurbishment project, and Chaka House, one of the country's technically demanding construction developments. Across these projects, she has served as a Materials Engineer and Quality Control Expert. She has also contributed to the formulation of Ethiopia's recent national construction code, the Ethiopian Building Code of Standards (EBCS).

She holds an MSc in Civil Engineering from Addis Ababa University and has undertaken specialized long- and short-term training in materials science and engineering across Europe and Asia. Alongside her professional practice, she maintains an active research focus on low-carbon binder materials, industrial waste valorization, and sustainable construction, bridging scientific inquiry with practical engineering applications. Her work and professional contributions have been presented at international and regional forums, including the ETH Latsis Symposium and Sustainable Construction in Africa, and at the Joint Undertaking for African Materials Institute (JUAMI).

Her professional and academic engagements extend to RILEM, JUAMI, EPFL, and ETH Zurich, alongside collaborations with local academic and engineering institutions.

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Co-founder & Operations Director

Zekarias Teshome Birhanu

Leads Petrichor's operations and digital systems, bringing a background in electrical and computer engineering, communication networks, and data management to how the company plans, coordinates, and delivers its work.

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Structural, Material & Geotechnical Advisory

Experienced engineering practitioners with extensive design and site experience across national road, bridge, and structural projects, engaged on a project-specific basis to deliver the expertise each assignment demands.

Academic & Research Partners

Collaboration with local academic and research professionals to support practical materials evaluation, technical problem-solving, and the application of relevant research to construction projects.

Contractor & Delivery Relationships

Established professional relationships cultivated by Petrichor's founders with local and international contractors through years of collaboration on construction and infrastructure projects.

The ground remembers everything that touches it.

Why petrichor.

What we do

Construction & Project Delivery

Materials Engineering & Technical Services

Construction Materials Supply

Where Petrichor comes from.