Karen Zwart Hielema
Partner
Who I Am: As a true collaborator and team player at heart, I am happiest when I am working on projects where I am learning something new and engaging with people from different backgrounds, disciplines, and skill sets. These collaborations bring satisfying and rewarding results. A common thread throughout my life has been my connection and passion for the arts. From early play and experimentation, and throughout my schooling and profession. I also gravitate towards organization and detail as part of my process. These attributes serve me well in my Architectural practice and the project work I am involved with. Art inspires me, is a way to express myself and encourages me to think big and wide and explore the boundaries. My tendencies towards organization and management help me keep track of an array of team input while staying focused on bringing the collective goals of a project to completion.
What I Do: I am an architect with over 17 years in the industry working across a variety of both public and private sectors including Healthcare, Arts & Exhibition, Transit, Airports & Aviation, Commercial/Retail, Corporate/Office, Education, and Warehouse/Light Industrial. Throughout my career I have intuitively taken on leadership roles on large and complex architectural projects, guiding teams to seek out opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. A special interest for integrated arts and exhibitions brings me fresh perspective and insights towards alternate ways of design thinking, conveying information, and achieving vibrant and purposeful public space. I approach projects from the perspective of one’s journey and experience, involving meaningful engagement with users, stakeholders, clients and consultant groups to bring a project to fruition. Through this process, projects emerge with fulfilling results made possible when a broader cross-disciplinary team offers the best possible outcome.