The People Behind the Plans
Look, we didn't start this firm because we wanted to pump out cookie-cutter designs. We started because Vancouver needed architects who actually give a damn about the bones of this city - both old and new.
Our founding partners met during a heritage restoration project back in 2009, arguing over how to preserve a 1920s facade while meeting modern seismic codes. Turns out we were both right, just approaching it differently. That's kinda become our thing.
Our Philosophy
"Every building has a story - some are just waiting to be written, others need to be carefully retold. We're here to make sure both get the attention they deserve."
We've grown from two stubborn architects to a team of fifteen equally stubborn designers, engineers, and sustainability specialists. Each one brings something different to the table, which keeps things interesting.
How We Got Here
The Beginning
Started with a handshake and a shared office space in Gastown. Our first project? A century-old warehouse conversion that everyone said couldn't be done sustainably. Spoiler: it could.
Finding Our Voice
Won our first heritage restoration award. Realized we'd accidentally carved out a niche that combined modern sustainability with historical preservation. People started calling us for projects that needed both sensitivity and innovation.
Expanding the Team
Moved to our Granville Street office and brought on specialists who shared our weird obsession with doing things right. Added structural engineers who understood heritage constraints and sustainability consultants who got excited about embodied carbon.
Going Beyond Vancouver
Took on our first project outside BC - a heritage courthouse restoration in Calgary. Turned out our approach worked everywhere. Who knew? Now we work across Canada, but Vancouver's still home base.
Certification & Recognition
Became certified Passive House designers and got serious about net-zero design. Also won the National Heritage Conservation Award, which pretty much validated everything we'd been preaching about respecting the past while building the future.
Today & Tomorrow
Sixteen years in, and we're still learning with every project. Currently working on everything from residential laneway homes to major commercial restorations. The work keeps evolving, but the core mission hasn't changed - create buildings that respect their context and outlive us all.
What Drives Us
Honestly? It's the challenge. Every heritage building's a puzzle where you gotta figure out what the original builders were thinking while making it work for modern life. Every new build's a chance to prove that sustainable doesn't mean boring or expensive.
We've seen too many beautiful old buildings torn down when they could've been saved. We've seen too many "eco-friendly" projects that miss the mark. So we keep pushing to do both better.
15+
Team Members
200+
Projects Completed
12
Industry Awards
85%
Carbon Reduction Average
