Karen Burks

Karen Burks is a fourth generation Californian, migrating to the Sierras before receiving her Architecture degrees from the University of California at Berkeley. She has studied in Norway and Italy on traveling fellowships before beginning her professional practice in Berkely. She worked for several outstanding Bay Area firms before founding Burks Toma Architects in 1984 with her partner Marc Toma. She is licensed to practice architecture in California and Nevada and is a LEED accredited professional.

Karen is equally proud of the firm’s achievements and awards as she is of the family of collaborators that have composed the firm since its inception. She continues to be delighted with the making of space in specific context. Outside the office, with her two sons now out of college, she has rediscovered her passion for all things equestrian and spends most of her spare time on her horse, Tim Terrific.