Who We Are
Crafting Tomorrow's Built Environment Today
Look, we're not gonna pretend we started in some garage with nothing but dreams and a drafting table. But we did start small back in 2012, just a couple of architects who were frankly tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter buildings going up around Vancouver.
The thing is, sustainable architecture doesn't have to look like it's trying too hard. We've always believed that good design should feel natural – like it belongs exactly where it is. Our approach isn't about slapping solar panels on everything and calling it green. It's deeper than that.
We spend a lot of time just... observing. How does light move through a space throughout the day? What's the wind doing in that particular spot? How do people actually want to use this building? Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how often these questions get skipped.
Every project teaches us something new. That heritage restoration on Denman Street? Taught us patience. The commercial complex in Surrey? Showed us how to balance budget constraints with environmental goals. The residential project in West Van? Reminded us why we got into this in the first place – to create spaces where people actually want to live.
Co-Founder & Principal Architect
Marcus brings 18 years of experience, mostly dealing with how buildings interact with their environment. Studied at UBC, worked in Copenhagen for a bit, came back with way too many ideas about passive heating.
When he's not obsessing over thermal bridging details, you'll find him hiking the North Shore trails or arguing about hockey.
Co-Founder & Design Director
Elena's the one who makes sure our buildings don't just work – they sing. Her background in heritage conservation gives her this unique perspective on how old and new can coexist without either feeling compromised.
She's got a thing for materiality that borders on obsessive. In a good way.
Senior Architect
Our go-to for complex commercial projects. Jenny's got this knack for making building codes actually make sense, which is basically a superpower.
Sustainability Specialist
If there's a green building certification we haven't heard of, David knows about it. He keeps us honest and pushes every project further than we thought possible.
Interior Architecture Lead
Sarah makes sure the inside lives up to what we promise on the outside. Her attention to how people actually move through spaces is unmatched.
Eight townhomes that taught us everything about working with difficult sites. The client wanted maximum density, the city wanted heritage character, we wanted passive solar. Somehow we pulled it off. Still proud of that one.
The Kitsilano Community Center project got us on the map. Media coverage, industry recognition, and suddenly we weren't just "those eco-architects" anymore. Helped us land bigger projects but also raised expectations.
Took on the Surrey Tech Campus and honestly? Almost bit off more than we could chew. Learned a ton about project management, team dynamics, and when to say no. That year aged us but made the firm stronger.
This project changed how we think about renovation versus new construction. Working with 1890s brick buildings while meeting modern seismic codes? That's a puzzle worth solving. Elena basically lived on-site for six months.
Like everyone else, we had to adapt. But it also made us question assumptions about office spaces, ventilation systems, and flexible design. Those conversations with clients got real honest, real quick.
The Burnaby office complex hit net-zero certification. Took three years from concept to completion, countless simulations, and more than a few sleepless nights. But seeing those energy numbers? Worth every gray hair.
We've got 23 people on the team now, projects from Victoria to Kelowna, and we're still learning. Still making mistakes, still getting excited about a well-detailed window flashing. That hasn't changed, hopefully never will.
We're not big on rigid processes. Every project's different, every client brings something new to the table. But there are some things we always do:
Before we sketch anything, we ask questions. A lot of them. What's actually important to you? What keeps you up at night about this project? What's your budget really, not the inflated number you think we want to hear?
Including our own. Just because we did something a certain way last time doesn't mean it's right for this project. We push back when something doesn't make sense, but we'll back down if you've got good reasons.
Buildings fail in the details. We've seen gorgeous designs fall apart because nobody thought about how water actually drains off that fancy overhang. So yeah, we're particular about construction drawings.
We're always up for interesting projects and good conversations. No project too weird, no question too basic.
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