Suzette Vela Burkett

Suzette is a Managing Director of the UK practice.

A highly creative and analytical architect, she has international experience on architectural and interior design projects in the office, retail, mixed use and hotels sectors, from fast track new builds to complex heritage buildings and ‘special projects’. Her particular interests include the challenges of refurbishment and working with complex buildings or sites in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive way, creating maximum value for clients. A passion for clever detailing and materials use helps drive her project designs and the desire to ‘get things built’ propels Suzette and her teams through even the most challenging projects.

Suzette has a strong collaborative approach, from helping to align the right people to initiate a project, to leading the team to deliver it through to completion. She strives for open, honest communication and actively building positive relationships with colleagues, consultants, contractors and clients that continue long beyond the life of a project. She has collaborated with many other international designers and enjoys the ‘whole building’ design experience: architecture and its complex journey through to the final detail of interior design.

Developers, funders, end user clients and operators / tenants are all well represented across her 25 year portfolio of projects across the UK, Europe, UAE, Russia and Australia. Her wider role in the studio includes looking after the people and overseeing the Legal and Risk Management aspects of the practice on the UK Board.