TEAM

Cedric Burgers - Principal Architect

Architect AIBC, MRAIC, LEED AP, Accredited Passivhaus Designer

Cedric is an architect, educator, Olympian, and lifelong sailor whose career reflects a deep commitment to design, performance, and the natural environment. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of British Columbia, where he later taught as an Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Following his studies, he worked in Berlin with architect Daniel Libeskind and Müller Knippscheld Wehburg Landscape Architects, gaining an international perspective on architecture, landscape, and place.

A leader in sustainable design on the West Coast, Cedric is an accredited Passivhaus Designer and has spent much of his career advancing low-energy, environmentally responsible architecture. He has shared his ideas through TEDx and podcasts and served on design review committees for the Districts of West Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Beyond architecture, he represented Canada as a rower at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, becoming, at the time, the youngest Canadian rower to compete at the Games.

Sailing remains a defining passion. He continues to race aboard Arietta and has played an active role in Vancouver’s sailing community, serving as Commodore of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club in 2023. The role reflected his enduring passion for sailing and his commitment to leadership, community, and the traditions of the sport.

Cedric is always up for a new adventure with Mary and their two daughters, especially if it involves their dog Bear and a local mountain.

Mary Burgers - Creative & Brand Director

Mary moves effortlessly between design, art, food, and travel. Part tastemaker, part storyteller, and above all, endlessly curious, she’s always looking for what’s next, from emerging designers and fresh ideas to the small details, places, and conversations that make the design world so interesting.

Her path into design has been distinctly multidisciplinary. She studied Communications at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Art Studies at Charles University in Prague, Graphic Design at RCC Institute of Technology in Toronto, and Interior Design at BCIT. This diverse education has shaped an approach to interiors that is layered, thoughtful, and deeply connected to culture.

In 2015, Mary and Cedric introduced the firm’s first Certified Net Zero Home, their own residence and a living laboratory. Set within an urban fruit orchard, the home brings sustainable architecture, landscape, and everyday life together, serving as a testing ground for ideas and a personal expression of thoughtful sustainability.

Her creative work and dispatches from design weeks in Canada and abroad have been published internationally in ELLE Decor Canada, NUVO, GRAY Magazine, Western Living, The Vancouver Sun, Canadian House & Home, Architectural Digest Italia, Arquitectura y Diseño Spain, and Identity Dubai. She is also an active member of her creative community, serving on the advisory working group of the West Vancouver Art Museum.

Marieke Burgers - Senior Interior Designer

Marieke co-founded Burgers Architecture in 1981 with her late husband, Robert Burgers. Complementing his rigorous approach to architecture, she established the firm’s interior design practice, bringing an innate sense of beauty, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a lifelong passion for creativity. Her influence continues to be integral to the character and evolution of the firm.

Originally from the Netherlands, Marieke studied Business Management at the Schoevers Institute in The Hague and later Urban Land Economics at the University of British Columbia. With vision and determination, she and Robert established and grew the firm while raising their three children. Alongside their professional work, they designed and built a succession of contemporary homes throughout West Vancouver at a time when the style was still emerging and far from conventional, now known as Westcoast Modern.

Her work introduced a sophisticated European sensibility to contemporary design, at a time when such an approach was innovative and forward-looking. Her discerning eye for materials, proportion, colour, and detail resulted in interiors that were refined and modern, yet always warm and inviting.

A lifelong lover of the arts, Marieke has a particular passion for ceramics and the beauty of handcrafted objects, continually inspired by their form, texture, and individuality. But perhaps her most highly sought-after creations are her famous “Omi sweaters”, lovingly hand-knitted for her children and grandchildren, who (not always) patiently wait their turn for one of these coveted family originals.

Ryan Brown - Intern Architect AIBC

With 10 years at the firm, Ryan brings a thoughtful, people-focused approach to project management. While his role involves coordinating clients, consultants, contractors, trades, municipal plan checkers, and coworkers, Ryan considers his most important responsibility to be managing relationships and keeping people moving toward a common goal.

Ryan is a natural leader with a strong ability to manage complex projects and navigate their many moving parts. He leads the firm’s multifamily residential projects, bringing a thoughtful and capable approach to both design and delivery. He is particularly known for his knowledge of bylaws across multiple municipalities, helping him confidently navigate complex regulatory requirements while keeping the overall design vision in focus. Ryan enjoys solving design puzzles, especially when the final solution feels simple and obvious. As he puts it, creating the simplest solution often requires the most thinking.

Outside the office, Ryan enjoys getting to know cities the best way he knows how: by biking everywhere. If he weren't working in architecture, he’d be travelling the world. At work, he’s also known for his enthusiasm for free food at lunch-and-learns, and for rarely being seen without his headphones.

Kaayla Sinclaire - Office Manager

Kaayla joined the Burgers Architecture family in 2021, bringing with her an exceptional combination of organizational acumen, discerning taste, and a natural aptitude for leadership. Her ability to navigate the complexities of running a business with precision and an unwavering attention to detail has made her an integral force within our practice.

With a refined eye for design, luxury, and the finer details that elevate an experience, Kaayla draws on a wealth of experience from her years with Louis Vuitton and her international work with Laura Mercier, where she travelled extensively throughout Canada and abroad. These experiences have fostered an intuitive understanding of luxury, presentation, and the thoughtful details that create a lasting impression.

At Burgers Architecture, Kaayla is often the first point of contact and the steady presence behind the scenes, our ambassador, connector, and trusted point person. She brings warmth and confidence to every interaction, balancing the sophistication of our practice with a genuine ability to make people feel welcome and well cared for.

Olivia Gjervan - Intern Architect, AIBC

Olivia Gjervan is an Intern Architect who recently returned to the firm after completing her Master’s degree in Architecture. Her work spans all stages of the design and construction process, with experience supporting projects through Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation, and Construction Administration.

Known for her strong communication skills and collaborative approach, Olivia particularly enjoys working alongside the people who bring each project to life. She brings curiosity, enthusiasm, and a thoughtful perspective to her work, with a growing interest in the craft and construction side of architecture.

Outside the studio, Olivia is happiest outdoors, hiking, swimming, skiing, or finding any excuse to get outside. She’s also a regular cold-plunger, which might explain her calm and grounded approach to life. With her buoyant personality and natural ability to bring people together, Olivia makes collaboration feel effortless and fun. At the office, she’s known for always having a salad pack on hand and never being without a very good pen.

Ray Chen - Intern Architect, AIBC

Ray Chen joined Burgers Architecture in September 2025, bringing an adaptable, detail-oriented approach to every stage of the design process. Her role spans architecture, interiors, and project coordination, allowing her to contribute across the full life of a project, from early design development through to project delivery.

Ray’s versatility is one of her greatest strengths. Depending on the needs of each project, she may be developing architectural details, exploring the user experience through interior design, or coordinating with consultants and contractors to ensure design intent is carried through thoughtfully, efficiently, and within budget. Working across these disciplines has reinforced her belief that successful architecture comes from a balance of technical knowledge, design thinking, collaboration, and careful execution.

Outside the office, Ray enjoys driving manual sports cars, camping in the wild, playing tennis and ping-pong, and snowboarding in the winter. Her ultimate dream is to become a professional race car driver, provided she can stay injury-free (we hope so too Ray). A true automotive enthusiast, she is equally happy behind the wheel of a sports car as she is exploring the outdoors.

Asif Hossain - Intern Architect, AIBC

Asif is an Intern Architect, AIBC, who joined the practice in 2026. His role spans document production, project management, and project coordination across various stages of design and delivery. With a particular strength in managing projects, Asif brings an organized and collaborative approach to navigating the many moving parts of architectural work.

What draws Asif to architecture is the opportunity to transform ideas into spaces that have a lasting impact on how people experience and connect with their surroundings. He enjoys the balance between creativity and precision that defines the profession, as well as the process of seeing a project evolve from an initial concept into something tangible and meaningful.

Outside the office, Asif is passionate about food, photography, and exploring new places, often combining all three through travel. His interest in photography has also shaped the way he looks at architecture, from observing light, materiality, and composition to noticing the small details that give a place its character.

Known around the office for his love of food, Asif is just as happy discussing a meal as he is preparing one. When he’s not coordinating projects or producing drawings, you’ll usually find Asif discovering a new place, experimenting in the kitchen, capturing moments through his camera, or planning his next adventure.

Nahal Jafari - Architectural Designer

Nahal is an Architectural Designer whose work is distinguished by a deeply intuitive and artistic approach to design.

Her work is both expressive and considered, capturing details and qualities that might otherwise go unnoticed, creating spaces that feel connected to their surroundings and grounded in a thoughtful understanding of material, light, and place. She works closely with clients throughout the design process, from schematic design and permitting through construction, translating their ideas and needs into thoughtful, functional spaces.

Known for building strong client relationships and finding realistic design solutions, Nahal particularly enjoys the problem-solving that comes with complicated projects, and the satisfaction of seeing all the pieces come together through rounds of iteration. She is also known around the office for her hand-drawn sketches, which reflect her love of exploring ideas by hand and always having a cup of tea at her desk.

Outside of architecture, Nahal is passionate about making art across a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and occasionally creating small animated scenes. If she weren’t an architect, she would be writing stories and bringing them to life through different creative mediums. Her stories tend to be surprisingly dark, despite the fact that she apparently doesn’t seem like someone who would write them.

Rik Negus - Senior Architectural Technician

Rik has been an integral part of our legacy team at Burgers Architecture since joining the firm in 2000. He began his career working alongside his father in 1964 and went on to build an impressive 56-year career in the architectural field.

Throughout his career, Rik worked with McCarter Nairne Partners, Carlberg Jackson Partners, and L.B.G. Hansen Architect Ltd., where he served as Senior Project Manager for 18 years. His extensive experience includes responsibility for the production of contract documentation for numerous public-sector projects, including schools, libraries, and fire halls.

Rik’s considerable knowledge has been shaped by decades of hands-on experience, combined with a naturally inquisitive mind and a strong commitment to understanding how buildings come together. At Burgers Architecture, he has brought extensive expertise in wood-frame construction, along with a thorough understanding of detailing concrete and steel structures.

A valued member of the Burgers Architecture team, Rik’s experience, knowledge, and dedication have made a lasting contribution to the practice and its work.

Team Photos By Kyrani Kanavaros @kyrani

CONTACT

Architecture: cedric@burgersarchitecture.com

Media: mary@burgersarchitecture.com

P: 604 926 6058    F: 604 926 9141  

2488 Haywood Avenue

West Vancouver BC V7V 1Y1

Diego Alcazar - Architectural Designer

Originally from Lima, Peru, Diego brings a thoughtful, people-focused perspective to his work, shaped by his Peruvian roots and a deep appreciation for architecture, culture, and community. As an Architectural Designer, he leads projects from design through construction, coordinating clients, consultants, and project teams while remaining involved throughout every phase.

Known for his keen eye for design, strong visual presentation, and thoughtful approach to design challenges, Diego is passionate about creating homes that improve the way people experience everyday life. His design philosophy is simple: design with empathy.

Outside the studio, Diego enjoys anything that helps him slow down and connect with yoga, cycling, hiking, reading, and time by the ocean among his favourite pursuits. A certified yoga teacher, he brings the same sense of balance and mindfulness to life outside of architecture. You’ll often find him riding his bike along the seawall, exploring nature, or discovering beautiful architecture wherever he travels.

“I’m inspired by people, nature, and spaces that help us slow down, connect, and feel at home.”