Building With Nature, Not Against It

Real talk - we've been doing this green building thing since before it was trendy. Here's what we've learned along the way.

Our sustainability approach

Why We're Kinda Obsessed With This Stuff

Look, I'll be honest - when I started out in architecture back in the day, sustainability was barely a footnote in design school. But after watching Vancouver's skyline grow and seeing the real impact buildings have on our environment, something clicked.

We're not talking about slapping some solar panels on a roof and calling it a day. It's about understanding how buildings breathe, how materials age, and yeah - how our grandkids are gonna experience the spaces we're creating today.

Our projects aren't perfect, and we're still learning. But every building teaches us something new about working with the Pacific Northwest climate instead of fighting it.

LEED Accredited
Passive House Certified
Living Building Challenge

Our Numbers (The Honest Version)

We track this stuff obsessively - here's what our projects have achieved so far.

47%

Average energy reduction vs. baseline code

38%

Water use reduction through smart systems

82%

Construction waste diverted from landfills

1,240

Tonnes of CO2 offset annually across projects

Case Studies That Taught Us Something

Every project's a learning curve. Here are a few that really pushed us to think differently.

Kitsilano Net-Zero Home
Net-Zero Energy

The Kitsilano Experiment

We convinced a client to let us go full net-zero on their family home back in 2021. Everyone thought we were crazy trying to hit those numbers in Vancouver's climate.

Turns out, the combo of super-insulated walls, triple-pane windows, and a geothermal heat pump worked better than expected. Their utility bills? Basically non-existent now.

  • 103% energy self-sufficient (they sell back to the grid)
  • Reclaimed timber throughout - saved 40% on materials
  • Rainwater harvesting handles 60% of their water needs

LEED Platinum & Passive House Certified

Gastown Heritage Retrofit
Heritage Restoration

Gastown Office Retrofit

This one nearly broke us. Trying to bring a 1912 warehouse up to modern efficiency standards while keeping the heritage character intact? Yeah, that's a puzzle.

The city was watching every move, and we had to get creative with hidden mechanicals and reversible interventions. But man, when it came together...

  • 63% reduction in heating costs after retrofit
  • Original brick facade preserved & restored
  • Smart building systems reduce operational carbon by 45%

Vancouver Heritage Award Winner 2023

False Creek Community Project
Community Scale

False Creek Housing Co-op

Working with actual residents on the design team changed everything for us. They called us out on stuff that looked good on paper but wouldn't work in real life.

The shared green spaces and community composting system? Those were their ideas. We just figured out how to make 'em work structurally.

  • 42 affordable units with minimal environmental footprint
  • Shared solar array powers common areas & EV charging
  • Green roof reduces stormwater runoff by 75%

LEED Gold Community Project

What We Actually Do (Beyond The Certifications)

Certificates are cool and all, but here's the practical stuff we focus on day-to-day.

Passive Design First

Before we throw tech at a problem, we look at orientation, natural ventilation, and daylighting. Grandma knew this stuff - we just rediscovered it with fancier tools.

Material Honesty

We're kinda picky about where stuff comes from. Local timber, reclaimed materials, low-VOC finishes - it's about knowing the story behind what we're building with.

Water Smart

Vancouver gets tons of rain, so why aren't we using it? Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, and permeable surfaces are basically standard in our designs now.

Thermal Performance

Air sealing and insulation sound boring until you see the energy bills. We're talking heat recovery ventilation, thermal bridging elimination - the stuff that really matters.

Life Cycle Thinking

We model the entire lifespan - construction, operation, and eventual deconstruction. Sometimes the "greenest" material isn't what you'd expect.

Real-Time Monitoring

We stick around after completion with smart monitoring systems. Gotta know if our calculations were right or if we need to adjust our approach for next time.

Certifications We Work With

Not gonna lie, these programs keep us sharp and accountable. Here's what we're trained in.

LEED Accreditation

Been working with LEED since it came to Canada. We've got AP credentials across the team and have delivered projects from Certified to Platinum.

12 LEED certified projects completed

Passive House Certified

This German standard is no joke - it's probably the most rigorous energy efficiency certification out there. We've got certified designers on staff.

3 Passive House projects delivered

Living Building Challenge

The most ambitious green building program. We're working toward our first full certification - it's tough but pushes us to think differently about everything.

1 project in certification process

Built Green Canada

More flexible than LEED but still rigorous. Great for residential projects where clients want third-party verification without breaking the bank.

Gold & Platinum level experience

Wanna Learn More or Get Started?

Whether you're curious about green building for your own project or just want to chat about sustainable design over coffee, we're here for it.

We also do lunch-and-learns for developer groups and community organizations - no charge, we just like spreading the word.

Let's Talk Green Building
Our team at work

Resources We Actually Use

Here's some stuff that's helped us along the way - figured we'd share.

Canada Green Building Council

Industry news and LEED resources

Passive House Canada

Training and technical support

BC Housing Research

Local climate data and studies