Jessica Thiessen
Associate, Fort Langley Studio Director, Landscape Architect, Senior Project Manger
Kelly has been with VDZ since 2003 and brings a breadth of experience from the architecture and engineering industry specifically working in business administration and finance operations. Kelly’s primary role is Financial Manager where she is responsible for all client invoicing and specialized reporting. Kelly also ensures both our Vancouver and Fort Langley offices are running at full efficiency – from equipping staff with the tools they need to do their work, to ensuring all services needed behind the scenes are met.
When Kelly isn’t holding down things in the office she enjoys time with her 2 daughters, remodeling her home, finding new and trendy dining establishments, and enjoying a good glass of Rose on a Friday night.
Joining VDZ+A from the University of Manitoba in 2017, Leighton has since become an integral part of the design team. His 3D renders and sketches can be seen in many of VDZ+A’s ADP presentations and reports. Leighton is inspired by how multi-disciplinary teams collaborate to facilitate a complete project approach. As a result, he particularly enjoys working with our in-house civil engineering and irrigation specialists on urban systems and the way they interact with the public realm. Leighton also leads many of our engagement processes as an IAP2 trained facilitator and graphic designer. He provides the engagement strategy, marketing/branding graphics, and open house support for public engagement sessions for projects throughout the Lower Mainland.
Leighton is an automotive restoration enthusiast and dabbles in photography as a hobby!
After a career in construction, Derek’s passion in utilizing design to improve lives within a community led him to pursue a degree in Landscape Architecture at the university of Guelph. Derek’s practical experience, combined his keen eye for design details, makes him a sought-after resource in our studios for project feasibility. He is adept at making design ideas “come to life” in an efficient manner. Derek enjoys creating outdoors spaces that promotes interactions with residents as a complete community. Every project presents unique challenges, and he tackles them with a holistic approach with balance in mind.
Derek is also the reigning champion for consistently having the best Halloween costume at both VDZ offices each year. Outside of work, he can be found spending time with his children, reading, and sailing.
Coming to VDZ with a multi-disciplinary background, Lya brings with her fresh perspectives and is always inspired how a space can facilitate community. As a specialist in branding, messaging and tone of voice, she ensures the verbal identity of VDZ stands out as much as our visual identity. Lya handles all proposal correspondence with great enthusiasm and attention to detail. She also manages our social media platforms and has a keen eye for content curation. Lya looks forward to helping our teams continue to question convention, explore, and build connections with people and communities outside the traditional realms of Landscape Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Urban Forestry.
Outside of work, Lya enjoys spending time with her husky, Kingsley, and long-haired cat, Grady. A lint roller can therefore always be found in her purse.
Since joining VDZ+A Taylor in 2016, Taylor has served in a diverse role focusing on public infrastructure as well as development engineering. Taylor’s experience includes public parks, municipal buildings, multi-family dwellings, and commercial/industrial sites. He has a strong understanding of green infrastructure systems and regular coordinates with our Landscape Architecture team to ensure all our sustainable stormwater approaches are not only functional but aesthetically pleasing.
During his free time, Taylor enjoys skiing, backpacking, and playing board games with a few of our other Civil Engineering team members.
Phoenix’s collaborative working style and extensive experience working with multidisciplinary project teams has equipped her to efficiently coordinate and oversee projects across continents in Singapore, China, and Canada. Having earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Guangzhou University in China, then her Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto, she has gained valuable cross-cultural perspectives when it comes to developing innovative designs and executing them above expectations to deliver uncompromising quality in a timely fashion. Phoenix believes in creating beautiful design through all levels of planning and detailing. She has a keen understanding of natural processes and remains deeply committed to bring complex concepts to life with efficient solutions. As a true design powerhouse, Phoenix’s diverse portfolio includes large-scaled parks and institutions, urban mixed-use developments, and residential towers.
In her spare time, Phoenix enjoys traveling and photography.
Before finding her home in VDZ in 2015, Jennifer gained valuable experience in managing projects from initial client meetings to design, presentation, and completion in the residential sector. Jennifer brings to VDZ+A a wealth of knowledge regarding successful plant materials in British Columbia and is driven by a holistic, interconnected vision in crafting a plethora of varied environments that provides physical and sensorial engagement, regardless of project size and scale. Jennifer’s practice focuses on the Fraser Valley where she leads many of the Valley’s most prominent multi-family and mixed-use developments. In addition to her extensive experience in municipalities like Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and Langley. She provides the review and design of many of VDZ+A’s more intricate landscapes and helps our clients understand their landscape through the lens of design and ultimately plant health.
When she is not putting her fingerprint on the work at VDZ+A she is spending time with her 2 children and husband, volunteering in a mentorship program, engaging her church community, working in the garden, and of course baking for her friends and neighbours.
With other 20 years experience in the landscape and Arboriculture industry, Glyn brings with him a considered approach to Urban Forestry. Glyn is an accredited organic gardener, ISA arborist and Qualified Tree Risk Assessor. As a recent graduate of the BCIT Forest Management program, Glyn offers advanced abilities in GIS mapping and Forest management to assist with our windfirm and wildfire hazard consultation services. Glyn also plays a key role in invasive species management programs.
Stephen is not only our Associate Landscape Architect, but also the Senior Project Manager of the Fort Langley studio. With over 15 years of experience here at van der Zalm, his knowledge of approval process in the Fraser Valley is a key resource for staff and clients navigating any stage of development. Stephen’s love of the outdoors has developed into a strong appreciation for natural systems. He believes that true sustainability can be achieved through the considerate integration of natural elements with the built environment. As a former irrigation installer, Stephen also has a passion for all things water related and leads VDZ+A’s VSplash and water feature design division. With 20 water parks and counting, he continues to oversee concepts, technical design and construction for spray parks and water features across Western Canada.
Outside of work Stephen can be found playing basketball and squash, touring the Fraser Valley with his wonderful wife, and testing out our splash parks with his kids.
George is the head of our civil department, and our lesser known but just as acclaimed humour department. George attended the Athlone Institute of Technology in Ireland, earning his Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree. He has over ten years of both construction oversight and design experience and uses his construction knowledge to inform all VDZ+A’s civil design. George is open to design solutions that are not only functional but aesthetically-pleasing and works closely with our landscape architects on green infrastructure solutions. George is a certified MMCD contract administrator and certified yoga teacher, but he doesn’t do both at the same time.
George is a great resource for all our best office memes.
Micole comes to VDZ+A with a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia. She is a reliable leader whose keen eye for detail has proven to be imperative for all levels of development projects from large-scale urban planning to residential courtyards. An advocate for accessibility, Micole believes that inclusive design is the key to functional and beautiful spaces within communities. As a leader in contemporary design in the VDZ+A office, she provides design input for all levels of our development projects. Micole has a successful track record in the urban core of Surrey. Her representative work includes Civic Plaza, Parkway Tower, and City Centre 3. VDZ+A currently has five active tower projects in the Surrey City Centre with Micole at the helm – we have developed excellent relationships with many of the City planning and development staff. Micole has demonstrated herself to be focused and strong leader.
In Micole’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her cat and exploring the city with friends.
Travis has always been fascinated by the intersection between nature, public spaces, and architecture since childhood – his world view has then been additionally shaped by studying and living in the Netherlands and China. He is truly a kid at heart and is quick to test out playground or parkour/action park elements. Travis has a keen interest in ensuring children a healthy active upbringing and has designed a number of local “nature play” spaces that encourage youngster’s interests in exploration, as well as promoting creative and imaginative play. As a Canadian Certified Playground Inspector, he frequently presents his expertise to OALA and BCRPA. He holds a Bachelor of Urban Planning, a Master of Landscape Architecture.
Since starting at VDZ+A in 2011, Travis has worked on a variety of projects from large-scale strategies and award-winning action sports master plans, to small-scale detailed design. He values efficiently planned communities, safe pedal-powered transportation for all age groups, urban invention and the creation of fun and organic spaces that are multifunctional. Travis loves being involved in a variety of sports and recreational activities including soccer, volleyball, camping, and of course, Friday Lunch with the VDZ+A team, but never BBQ Chicken pizza!
ASLA, IMBA, BCSLA
Dave brings the office chill and steps up to every challenge with a level head, bringing creative design solutions to each project. With over 15 years experience as a landscape contractor, nursery-hand, irrigation installer, landscape architect and now principal of the VDZ+A Mount Pleasant Studio, Dave has the know how to get it done. He specializes in leading our synthetic turf field design and master planning as well as our significant park design. Dave works with our civil leadership team to ensure our projects are fully coordinated.
Dave has volunteered in his community, most recently serving on the City of Vancouver’s Urban Design Panel. In addition, Dave is a frequent public speaker on the subject of splash park development, action sports facility design and in developing a true ‘sense of space’ for all active recreation parks.
Mark is the VDZ+A founding principal and fearless leader. Mark has over 20+ years in the design industry and has developed strong relationships with municipal decision-makers, community leaders, and allied consulting firms around the province. Mark strives to bring out the best in our staff and supports our project deliverables through timely critique, and project review. His experiences in working both in private and public sector positions have provided a solid understanding of the varying perspectives that affect project development.
Mark is an active community volunteer serving as president of the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects in 2010 and completing the society’s visioning strategy in 2012. Mark works with not-for-profit community groups, bolstering the firm’s commitment to being “involved”. Mark is an award-winning registered landscape architect, with license across Canada and in several USA jurisdictions. He speaks frequently to communities about Park and Recreation issues and is a sought after expert in the area of Strategic planning for youth park, and action sports facility design.
When Mark gets time out of the office, he tries to keep up with his 3 energetic tweens and wife, Terri. Mark’s selfie-game is on point, and despite his birth year – he is a millennial at heart!