"For me as an architect, it's really exciting to piece together all the client's requirements and then work alongside our planners, project and cost managers and engineers and try to find the solutions to projects together."
A registered architect from the United Kingdom, Karen leads the Beca Architects team based in Tauranga and is currently a member of several architecture panels.
Karen's portfolio encompasses a range of architecture projects demonstrating her passion for environmentally sustainable design (ESD). "I really enjoy the challenge of balancing the client requirements with the surrounding environment," she says, "remaining sensitive to the project's social, cultural and heritage significance." With her sound understanding of ESD, Karen has completed the NZGBC Green Star training and is an active member of Beca's Green Team and the Sustainable Business Network (SBN).
Before joining Beca in 2007, Karen worked in the UK on community, commercial, education, heritage and healthcare related facilities for private and public sector clients. She particularly enjoyed leading the design and construction stages of a multi million pound cutting-edge cancer research laboratory facility for Queens University in Belfast.
Working for Beca has allowed Karen to work on a number of large and varied projects, opening up opportunities to explore new roles globally. She created the concept design for a new visitor centre in New Caledonia for Goro Nickel and was Project Architect for refurbishing the Yap Memorial Hospital in Federated States of Micronesia.
In New Zealand, Karen assisted with Tauranga Hospital's current development, leading the design team through documentation and construction stages for upgrading the existing facilities and creating a new pharmacy and café area. She also continues to be involved in health work in Micronesia as well as a number of local private health and education developments in Tauranga. Karen is also managing the Master Plan for The Elms Historic Mission House and creating a supporting visitor's centre for the site. Karen sees these projects as integral to help raise the profile of one of New Zealand’s most important heritage sites.