Karen joined WRNS Studio in 2019 bringing with her 15+ years of experience in architecture and urban design. As an architect, she bridges creative expression with project management to help clients achieve their goals. She sees architecture as a timeless continuum, striving to impart that the next generation’s design, both theory and practical application, is as vital as today’s.
Over the years, Karen has amassed a range of expertise, spanning educational, housing, healthcare, commercial, retail, and community-related projects. She makes an effort to foster strong collaboration and has worked on all project phases, from establishing design direction and ideation to construction administration and technical peer review. An educator at heart, she lectures about architectural methods, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has taught several design studios. Her work has been nominated for and recognized with multiple awards, as well as featured in industry publications.
Karen is a registered architect in Hawaii. She earned her Master of Architecture from the School of the Arts & Architecture at the University of California, Los Angeles, and received her Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Architecture at University of Hawaii, Manoa. When not in the office, Karen is best found traveling and photographing the world.