Mark joined our studio in 2019 after a decade of experience executing residential, institutional and retail projects at distinguished firms across Canada. As an Associate, he leads the delivery of ambitious single-family architectural projects, bringing his adept technical and project management skills to all Akb initiatives. Dedicated to process and efficiency, Mark plays a pivotal role in developing systems that enhance overall productivity and maximize team efficacy.

Mark holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Toronto, earning recognition for outstanding research and design with the Faculty Design Graduation Award and the Faculty Thesis Award.  Mark also achieved a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of British Columbia, where he received the Design Merit Award.

B ENDS, M Arch

Katie Godfrey has a conviction for creating functional and refined residential environments that make way for large gatherings and quiet moments. After earning her Masters of Interior Design at the University of Manitoba, she joined an emerging interior design studio in Winnipeg, where she experienced the challenges and rewards of helping to build a practice. Collaboration and working alongside clients are among her favourite aspects of design. An avid canoeist and cyclist, Katie’s love for the natural world extends into gardening and finding inspiration in the ceramics studio.

B A Honours, M ID

Donald Peckover has over 14 years of experience working on single family homes including small off-grid cabins, challenging urban renovations, and spacious vacation retreats. His strong technical background is embodied by his practical eye for detail and a pragmatic sense of design.

Donald has always been drawn to the personal and warm characteristics of homes and residences, creating spaces where people want to live for many years. With each project he endeavours to optimize occupant health and comfort through the use of natural materials, passive design strategies, and sustainable technologies.

Donald has a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University and is currently studying with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s Syllabus Program, a part-time online and in-studio program concluding in a professional diploma in architecture and path to licensure.

B ArchSc, LEED AP

Nicole Chmielinski trained in Canada and earned her Master of Architecture at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. She came to Akb with a wide range of international experiences at Heitler-Houstoun Architects in New York and Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten in Rotterdam. Her diverse knowledge crosses all design phases and derives from contributing to the design of single-family homes as well as public and commercial buildings. As Project Lead, she is responsible for bringing a project to life, from initial concept to execution and completion.

B AS, M Sc

Daniel’s background is diverse, having grown up in Europe and Asia before earning a Bachelor of Environmental Design at Dalhousie University in Halifax and a master’s degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now certified by Passive House Canada, Daniel is dedicated to healthy, high-performance building design that maximizes energy efficiency and indoor comfort. Drawing is what initially attracted him to architecture. Now, it is the challenge of synthesizing aesthetic and technical complexities into elegant solutions.

B FA, B EDS, M Arch, OAA

Katie Krolak brings a keen sensitivity to how people interact in shared and private environments and how residential architecture can enhance the joy of daily routines. Before joining Akb, she was involved with several prestigious academic institutional projects in Ontario. She received her master’s at McGill University, graduating on the RAIC honour roll and her Bachelor of Architectural Science earned with distinction. Katie first discovered her passion for architecture through movement. As a trained dancer, she has an inherent understanding of the symbiotic relationships between space, motion and stillness.

B ArchSc, M Arch

Since earning his master’s degree at the highest standing from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, Sacha has pursued his interest in harmonizing beauty, craftsmanship and function in architecture and in considering landscape as an essential design element. He brings more than five years of practical experience in residential design, gained in Canada and Portugal, at the studio of Aires Mateus, and in Auckland at Patterson Associates. Sacha is currently pursuing his license with the Ontario Association of Architecture.

B Arch, M Arch

Inspired by the profound impact the built environment has on people’s lives and interactions, Nic Puersten was drawn to pursue architecture from an early age and received their master’s degree with honours from the University of Waterloo in 2022. They are passionate about residential design’s ability to transform dreams and ideas into inhabitable, interactive spaces.

B AS, M Arch

Ning’s career is marked by diverse experiences. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Melbourne, Australia, she holds an undergraduate degree from Monash University and a postgraduate degree from the Mackintosh School of Architecture in Glasgow, Scotland. Her professional career began at an architecture studio in Shanghai, and later, a bespoke practice in London specializing in residential homes and city art commissions. Ning’s passion for architecture stems from early experiences with family projects, where she developed a love for the intricate details of spatial dynamics and the transformative power of design.

B Arch, Dip Arch (M Arch)

As a communications specialist, Catherine shapes the language that reflects the studio’s creative vision and process. With a background in Fine Arts from Queen’s University, she launched her career as an arts journalist in Toronto and Tokyo. A former Editor-in-Chief of Azure magazine, her work has appeared in such prestigious international architecture and design publications as Architectural Record and Domus. Catherine is deeply engaged in Toronto’s design community, serving as a long-time board member of DesignTO and as a former trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

B FA

Mya’s diverse background combines a knowledge of sociology, human resources and project coordination. She has worked within the hospitality industry and in premium residential and commercial construction. As Akb’s Executive Assistant, she brings a natural aptitude for time and task management to ensure the smooth operation of Akb’s physical and digital environments.

B A Sociology, HR Certification

Heather Purcell has over 20 years of experience leading finance teams in private and public businesses, primarily in the professional service and e-commerce space. Her focus is on building financial infrastructure to support growing project-based businesses and working with leadership teams to improve business performance.

CPA, CMA, M BA

Cecillia Long brings over 10 years of experience working in finance teams at independently owned advertising agencies. During this time, she has consistently been recognized for her strong service orientation, attention to detail, and ability to consistently execute. She loves building efficient processes while leveraging new technologies to improve the way finance teams and the rest of the business collaborate.

Cecillia has an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Toronto.

B A Hons