Emma is an Architect and Associate at GEC with over a decade of experience designing thoughtful, community-oriented spaces. With degrees in architecture from the University of Sheffield and the University of Toronto, Emma brings a global education and a deeply local focus to her work, particularly in Edmonton, where she leads the design of post-secondary and public realm projects that shape how people move, gather, and connect in the city.
Emma is a registered architect in Alberta, where she leads design efforts with a focus on collaboration. She partners closely with clients, consultants, GEC teammates, and community stakeholders to guide projects from early concepts to detailed design. Her favourite phase—Design Development—is where ideas gain clarity and take form. It’s also where her attention to detail, curiosity, and care shine through. Whether helping to realize a beloved fountain in Paul Kane Park or diving into material research, Emma brings both heart and rigour to the table.
What drives Emma is the chance to create accessible, inclusive, and sustainable spaces that make a meaningful difference in people’s daily lives. Her work on long-term client relationships and her mentorship and involvement in GEC’s Equity and Diversity Committee reflect a deep belief that good design starts with listening and leads to impact.
Around the office, Emma is known for being collaborative, focused, and—importantly—fun. Outside of work, she stays grounded through city cycling, playing guitar, and spinning records with her baby daughter. She also happens to be a big basketball fan and is a proud member of GEC Edmonton’s summer basketball group.
If Emma weren’t an architect, she imagines she’d be a biologist, drawn to the complexity and interconnectedness of living systems. That same curiosity fuels her architectural practice today, where she brings a thoughtful, systems-based lens to urban spaces that serve the public. It’s work that aligns with her values and instincts, creating spaces that bring people together, reflect their communities, and make the urban environment just a little more human.