| Karen Shakman | AIA | LEED AP | MSD |

Karen Shakman is the principal of Iconic Architecture and Design. She graduated with a degree in industrial design in 1992 and architecture and planning in 1993 in her native Brazil. She immigrated to the United States in 2001, and afterward obtained her American Professional Registration in 2006, and her LEED Accreditation (United States Green Building Council) in 2007. In addition,

Karen holds a master’s of science degree in design with a focus on healthcare and healing environments from Arizona State University. Her thesis explored the relationship between the design and layout of hospital emergency departments and nursing physical fatigue. She aimed to investigate the causes of waste and propose solutions that would improve operational protocols, conserve employees’ efficiency and promote staff retention.

Karen has a diverse and multinational background in the architecture and design field. The scope of her experience involves numerous projects, both in her native Brazil and the United States, enabling her to “problem-solve” through a variety of provincial and diverse socioeconomic scenarios. In addition to her training in architecture and urban planning, her bachelor’s degree in industrial design has been instrumental for generating creative solutions for many projects, specifically within the fields of interior design and branding designs.

She expresses herself by rethinking, reinvestigating and reinterpreting all of the project details and possibilities while still maintaining high efficiency in the creative process.