Building for Tomorrow
Our commitment to the planet isn't just talk—it's in every beam, window, and solar panel we spec
Look, I've been doing this for over fifteen years, and I've watched the conversation shift from "green is nice" to "green is non-negotiable." And honestly? It's about time.
We started focusing on sustainable design back when it wasn't the cool thing to do—when clients looked at us funny for suggesting triple-glazed windows or talking about embodied carbon. Now those same conversations happen in every initial meeting, and it feels good knowing we were ahead of the curve.
The thing is, sustainable architecture isn't about sacrificing beauty or functionality. It's about being smarter with our resources, respecting the environment we're building in, and creating spaces that'll perform well for decades, not just look good in opening photos.
Vancouver's given us this incredible natural setting, and we owe it to future generations to not mess it up with short-sighted design decisions.
We've got multiple LEED APs on staff who actually understand the system instead of just checking boxes. Gold and Platinum are our usual targets.
Yeah, the German standard. Super tight envelopes, minimal energy use. We've designed three certified Passive House projects and learned a ton from each one.
The toughest standard out there. We're working on our first LBC project right now and honestly, it's been humbling and exciting in equal measure.
Because sustainability isn't just about the planet—it's about people too. Air quality, lighting, acoustics... all matter for how folks actually live and work.
These aren't aspirations or marketing fluff—they're baked into every project from day one
We spend a ridiculous amount of time studying sun angles, prevailing winds, existing vegetation. Every site's got its own story, and we'd be idiots not to listen to it before dropping a building on it.
We dig deep into where materials come from, how they're made, and what happens to them at end-of-life. Local suppliers get priority when quality's comparable. Embodied carbon matters just as much as operational energy.
Passive strategies come before active systems. Insulate like crazy, air seal properly, orient for solar gain, then—and only then—we talk about mechanical systems. Start with a good envelope and you're halfway there.
Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, permeable surfaces... Vancouver gets enough rain that we should be capturing and using more of it. Plus, proper water management means we're not overwhelming city infrastructure during storms.
Technology keeps evolving, and we try to stay on top of what's actually useful versus what's just hype. Here's what we're currently specifying on projects:
Let's not pretend sustainable design is always cheaper upfront—sometimes it costs more initially. But we show clients the lifecycle analysis, and when they see 20-year operating costs, the conversation shifts. Plus, with BC's energy rebates and federal incentives, the gap's closing fast.
Building codes are getting better, but they're still minimum standards. We push clients to go beyond code because, frankly, code-minimum is gonna look outdated in five years. Better to future-proof now.
Sometimes the perfect sustainable material has a six-month lead time or needs to ship from across the planet (which kinda defeats the purpose). We've gotten creative with local alternatives and learned to plan further ahead.
Lots of products claim to be "eco-friendly" with zero data to back it up. We've become pretty skeptical and demand actual third-party certifications and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) before specifying anything.
We're not standing still. The sustainability field evolves constantly, and we're committed to learning and adapting. Right now we're diving deeper into regenerative design—buildings that don't just minimize harm but actually improve their environment. It's ambitious, maybe a bit crazy, but that's kind of our thing.
We're also working on net-zero projects, experimenting with biophilic design principles, and exploring how AI and machine learning might optimize building performance in ways we haven't thought of yet.
See Our Sustainable Projects Let's Talk About Your ProjectWhether you're thinking about a new build, renovation, or just curious about making your project more sustainable, we're happy to chat. No obligation, no sales pitch—just honest conversation about what's possible.