Building with Purpose

We've spent years figuring out how to make buildings that don't just look good but actually give back to the environment. It's not about checking boxes - it's about creating spaces that'll be here for generations.

Our Philosophy

Why We're All-In on Green Design

Look, we started this practice because traditional architecture was leaving too much mess behind. Every project's a chance to prove that sustainable doesn't mean compromising on design - actually, it pushes us to be more creative.

Vancouver's given us the perfect testing ground. The climate, the people who actually care about this stuff, and the regulations that push everyone forward. We've learned what works and what's just greenwashing nonsense.

Energy Performance

42%

Average energy reduction vs. baseline

Our projects typically cut energy consumption by almost half through passive design strategies, high-performance envelopes, and smart mechanical systems. That's real money saved every month.

Water Conservation

38%

Water use reduction across portfolio

Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, and low-flow fixtures aren't fancy add-ons anymore - they're standard in our designs. BC's water won't be endless forever.

Material Sourcing

67%

Regional materials within 800km

We're obsessed with finding local suppliers. Less shipping, supporting regional economies, and materials that actually suit our climate. Win-win-win.

Waste Diversion

85%

Construction waste diverted from landfill

Construction creates a ton of waste - literally. We've worked with our contractors to salvage, reuse, and recycle most of what comes off our sites.

LEED Certified Project
Certifications That Matter

Yeah, We Do LEED (And We're Good at It)

LEED certification isn't just a plaque for the lobby. It's a roadmap that keeps everyone honest throughout the design and construction process.

Our LEED Track Record:
  • 14 LEED Platinum projects delivered
  • 23 LEED Gold certifications
  • 100% success rate on certification targets
  • Average LEED score: 68 points

We've also worked with BOMA BEST, Built Green, and Passive House standards. Each system has its strengths, and we'll help you figure out which makes sense for your project - or if you need certification at all.

Design Strategies

How We Actually Do This

These aren't theoretical concepts - they're tested approaches we've refined across dozens of projects. Some work better than others depending on the site and budget.

Passive Design First

Site orientation, natural ventilation, daylighting - the stuff that doesn't need electricity. We maximize these before adding any mechanical systems. It's cheaper and way more reliable.

Thermal Performance

Vancouver's climate is forgiving, but we still obsess over the building envelope. Better insulation, thermal bridging details, airtight construction - boring stuff that makes huge differences.

Integrated Systems

Getting the architects, engineers, and contractors talking early. Sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how rare it is. That's where the real innovation happens though.

Performance Monitoring

We push for post-occupancy monitoring whenever possible. It's how we learn what actually works versus what looked good on paper. The data feeds back into our next projects.

Material Intelligence

Low-VOC finishes, FSC-certified wood, recycled content, embodied carbon calculations. We're tracking the environmental impact of every major material choice.

Biophilic Elements

Green roofs, living walls, native landscaping. People work better and live better when they're connected to nature. Plus it helps with stormwater management.

Renewable Energy

Solar panels when they make sense (not always). We run the numbers honestly - sometimes energy efficiency upgrades give you better ROI than a rooftop array.

User Education

The fanciest green building fails if people don't know how to use it. We create operation manuals and train building users - it's part of the service.

Sustainable Materials
Real Talk

The Cost Question Everyone's Thinking About

Let's address it head-on: sustainable design can cost more upfront. Sometimes. But we've done enough of these to know where the money actually goes and what delivers value.

Our sustainable projects typically run 3-8% higher in construction costs compared to conventional builds. But that's before incentives, rebates, and long-term operational savings. Most clients break even within 5-7 years, then it's pure savings.

Better insulation and windows, efficient mechanical systems, higher-quality materials that last longer. We're not adding expensive gadgets - we're investing in fundamentals that pay dividends for decades.

Higher property values, faster lease-up rates, lower employee sick days, better tenant retention. These benefits are real but harder to quantify upfront. We've seen them play out across our portfolio though.

Featured Case Study

Harbourside Office Complex

This commercial project became our testbed for integrated renewable systems and ended up exceeding every performance target we set.

LEED Platinum

73 points achieved

48% Energy

Below baseline

Net-Zero Ready

Solar offset capable

92% Satisfaction

Occupant surveys
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Harbourside Office Complex
Looking Forward

What We're Working On Next

The sustainability bar keeps rising, which is great. Here's what we're currently experimenting with and researching.

Embodied Carbon

Moving beyond operational carbon to track the full lifecycle impact of materials. It's complicated but necessary if we're serious about climate goals.

Mass Timber

BC's perfect for this. Cross-laminated timber and mass timber construction that sequesters carbon while reducing construction time. We're all over it.

Climate Adaptation

Designing for the climate we'll have in 30 years, not the one we had 30 years ago. Flood resilience, heat management, extreme weather prep.

Circular Economy

Designing for disassembly so materials can be reused. It requires rethinking how we detail everything, but the waste reduction potential is massive.