Who We Are

We're not your typical architecture firm. Started in a cramped Vancouver studio above a coffee shop, we've grown into a team that genuinely gives a damn about creating spaces that work with nature, not against it.

Our Vancouver studio

Our Story

Look, we started this whole thing back in 2014 because we were tired of seeing buildings go up that just didn't make sense. Too much glass in the wrong places, materials shipped from halfway around the world when better options were right here in BC.

The founding partners met at UBC's architecture program, bonded over terrible instant coffee and late-night arguments about why sustainable design shouldn't cost the earth. Fast forward a decade, and we're still having those same debates - just with better coffee now.

What sets us apart? We actually listen. We've turned down projects that didn't align with our values. We've spent hours convincing clients that yes, passive solar design really does work in Vancouver's climate. And we've built relationships with local suppliers and craftspeople who share our commitment to doing things right.

What Drives Us

Honest Design

No gimmicks, no greenwashing. If we say a building's sustainable, we can show you the data. Materials matter, and we'll walk you through every choice.

Local First

BC's got incredible resources - timber, stone, craftspeople who know their stuff. Why ship materials from overseas when we've got better options in our backyard?

Real Collaboration

You know your space needs better than anyone. We're here to translate that into something buildable, not impose our ego on your project.

Long-term Thinking

We design for 50 years out, not just next season's trends. Buildings should age well, adapt to changing needs, and actually last.

Our Journey

2014

The Beginning

Three architects, one shared vision, and way too much optimism. Started with residential renovations while figuring out how to actually run a business.

2017

First Big Break

Landed our first commercial project - a mixed-use building in Gastown. LEED Gold certified, and suddenly people started taking our sustainability talk seriously.

2019

Team Expansion

Moved to the Pender Street office and brought on specialists in urban planning and interior design. Started saying no to projects that didn't fit our values.

2022

Recognition

Won a few awards we're actually proud of. More importantly, saw our first projects hit their 5-year mark performing better than projected.

2025

Today

15-person team, projects across BC, and still learning. Every building teaches us something new about what works and what doesn't.

Meet the Team

The people behind the plans

Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Came to architecture through structural engineering, which explains her obsession with how things actually stand up. She's the one who'll catch a beam calculation error at 2am.

Marcus Williams

Marcus Williams

Design Director

Former carpenter who went back to school for architecture. Brings a builder's perspective to every project - if it can't be built well, he won't design it.

Priya Kapoor

Priya Kapoor

Urban Planning Lead

Thinks in neighborhoods, not just buildings. She's the reason our projects actually work with their surroundings instead of fighting them.

James Foster

James Foster

Sustainability Officer

Our resident data nerd who can tell you the embodied carbon of basically any building material off the top of his head. Makes green building certification actually make sense.

Elena Sokolov

Elena Sokolov

Interior Design Chief

Believes interior design isn't just decoration - it's about how spaces make people feel. She's saved more than a few projects from looking like sterile boxes.

David Nakamura

David Nakamura

Project Manager

The guy who keeps everything on track when deadlines get tight. Former contractor who knows exactly how long things actually take to build.

Maya Okonkwo

Maya Okonkwo

Junior Architect

Fresh perspective meets solid technical skills. She's usually the one asking "but why can't we..." which often leads to better solutions than we had before.

Robert MacLeod

Robert MacLeod

Senior Consultant

30 years in the field means he's seen every mistake already made. Comes in on complex projects to make sure we're not reinventing the wheel poorly.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for a conversation about interesting projects. No hard sell, just honest talk about what's possible.

Let's Talk