Our Sustainability Journey
It's not about following trends—it's about doing what's right for the planet and the people who'll live in these spaces long after we're gone.
It's not about following trends—it's about doing what's right for the planet and the people who'll live in these spaces long after we're gone.
Look, I'll be straight with you—sustainable architecture isn't just some marketing angle we slapped on our website. Started around 2014 when one of our commercial builds came in way over budget because we hadn't accounted for long-term energy costs. The client wasn't thrilled, and honestly? Neither were we.
That project taught us something crucial: buildings that ignore their environmental impact end up costing everyone more—financially, socially, and yeah, environmentally too. So we went back to the drawing board, literally. Spent months researching passive design strategies, renewable materials, and working with engineers who actually cared about lifecycle assessments.
Now every project we touch gets the full sustainability treatment from day one. It's baked into how we think, not something we add on at the end to tick boxes. And honestly? The buildings just work better this way.
Three of our team members hold LEED AP credentials. We've completed 14 LEED-certified projects since 2016, including two Platinum builds in downtown Vancouver.
Average energy consumption decrease across our residential projects compared to conventional builds. That's real data from actual utility bills, not projections.
All our new designs since 2021 are built with net-zero capability. Some clients go for it immediately, others add solar later—but the foundation's there.
We're pretty picky about what goes into our buildings. Not in a precious way—more like we've learned what works and what's just greenwashing nonsense.
There's so much incredible wood sitting in old warehouses and barns. We've got connections with salvage yards across BC—why cut new trees when you can use 100-year-old Douglas fir that's already weathered and gorgeous?
Paints, adhesives, sealants—if it off-gases, we're not using it. Indoor air quality matters way more than most people realize. You're gonna breathe that air for years.
Why ship granite from Italy when BC's got some of the best stone in the world? Cuts transportation emissions and supports local quarries. Win-win.
Most structural steel these days is partially recycled anyway, but we push our suppliers to maximize recycled content. Same strength, way less environmental cost.
Here's what we've actually achieved—not what we're aiming for someday.
Construction waste diverted from landfills on average
Liters of water saved annually through efficient fixtures
CO2 emissions prevented yearly across our portfolio
Of our materials sourced within 500km of Vancouver
Not everything's figured out yet. Here's where we're pushing ourselves:
Active members since 2015. We regularly attend their workshops and contribute to policy discussions around BC's building standards.
Two of our architects completed Passive House training in 2019. We've since designed three certified Passive House buildings—game-changers for energy efficiency.
We've built relationships with over 20 local suppliers who share our values. They call us when interesting salvaged materials come through—first dibs.
These aren't complicated—just smart decisions that compound over time.
Position the building right and you cut heating costs by 20-30% without any fancy tech. South-facing windows, proper overhangs—it's architecture 101 but people still skip it.
Vancouver's climate is perfect for natural cooling. We design for cross-ventilation and stack effect—fresh air without running AC for half the year.
Concrete floors, stone walls—materials that absorb heat during the day and release it at night. Stabilizes temperature swings naturally.
We get tons of rain here—might as well use it. Grey water systems for irrigation and toilet flushing save thousands of liters monthly.
Sustainability doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Let's talk about what makes sense for your project.
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