Honestly, we've never been ones to jump on trends just 'cause everyone else is doing it. But sustainability? That's been baked into our DNA since day one. It's not about checking boxes or winning awards - it's about doing what's right for the spaces we create and the planet we share.
We're combining Nordic practicality with some serious commitment to the environment, and yeah, we're pretty proud of what we've pulled off so far.
Here's what we've achieved across our projects - and we're just getting warmed up
% Energy Reduction
Average across completed projects% Water Savings
Through smart systems & designTonnes CO2 Offset
Annual impact of our buildings% Materials Recycled
Construction waste diversion rate
Look, anyone can slap some solar panels on a roof and call it sustainable. We dig deeper than that - way deeper. Every project starts with understanding the site, the climate, and what makes sense for how people will actually use the space.
Orientation, natural light, thermal mass - getting the basics right means you need less tech to fix problems later.
BC's got incredible timber, stone, and resources. Why ship stuff halfway around the world?
Energy recovery, greywater systems, smart HVAC - technology that actually pays for itself.
Buildings that adapt to changing needs last longer. That's the ultimate sustainability move.
These aren't theoretical case studies - they're buildings people live and work in every day
This North Shore family home was tricky - steep site, lots of trees we wanted to keep, and clients who wanted modern comfort without the guilt.
We ended up with a split-level design that follows the hillside, kept 14 mature cedars, and integrated a geothermal system that works with the natural temperature gradient. The result? 72% lower heating costs than comparable homes in the area.
A 4-storey office building in False Creek that needed to hit LEED Platinum without breaking the client's budget. Challenge accepted.
We focused on what'd make the biggest impact - a super-tight building envelope, smart window placement for daylighting, and a living roof that actually helps manage stormwater. The tenants are saving about $180K annually on utilities, and employee satisfaction scores went up 'cause people actually enjoy being in the space.
People sometimes think sustainability means everything has to be new and shiny. Wrong. This 1910 brick warehouse proves that the greenest building is often the one that's already standing.
We kept the structure, the gorgeous brick facade, and even salvaged the original Douglas Fir beams. Added modern mechanical systems, insulated where we could without destroying character, and turned it into mixed-use space that's both efficient and beautiful. The embodied carbon savings alone? Massive.
You know what Scandinavia got right? They figured out centuries ago that working with nature beats fighting against it. Long winters, limited daylight, harsh climates - they made it work through smart design, not brute force.
That's the philosophy we bring to Vancouver. Our climate's different, sure, but the principles hold up - maximize natural light, use thermal mass intelligently, choose materials that age gracefully, and design spaces that genuinely improve people's lives. It's not rocket science, just good architecture done right.
These aren't just nice ideas - they're hard commitments we hold ourselves to on every single project:
Every project gets a full lifecycle carbon analysis before we break ground. No exceptions.
At least 60% of materials sourced within 800km - supports local economy and cuts transport emissions.
Minimum 85% construction waste diverted from landfills through recycling and reuse programs.
We model energy performance and guarantee at least 50% improvement over baseline code requirements.
Site assessments include habitat preservation plans - we won't destroy ecosystems for a building.
Our whole team does annual training on emerging green tech and sustainable practices. Gotta stay current.
Sustainable architecture isn't all sunshine and solar panels - here's what we're grappling with
Yeah, sustainable features often cost more initially. We're not gonna sugarcoat it. But when you factor in lifecycle costs and energy savings, it usually pays back in 7-12 years. The trick is helping clients see past the sticker shock to the long-term value.
Finding contractors who really understand passive house principles or can properly install some of this tech? It's getting better, but we still run into challenges. Sometimes we have to provide extra training on-site, which adds time and complexity to projects.
Building codes are catching up to sustainability goals, but navigating multiple certification systems, local requirements, and federal incentives? It's like doing taxes while solving a puzzle. We've gotten good at it, but it adds layers to every project approval process.
Despite these hurdles, we're all-in on this path. Because at the end of the day, there's no other way forward that makes sense.
If you're thinking about a project and sustainability matters to you - whether it's a home, commercial space, or restoration - let's talk. We'll shoot straight about what's possible, what makes sense for your budget, and how to get the most environmental bang for your buck.
No greenwashing, no impossible promises. Just solid architecture that respects both your needs and the planet's limits.
