Real Projects, Real Stories

Every building's got its own journey - here's where we document the messy middle parts, the wins, and what our clients actually think about working with us.

We've been documenting builds since day one because honestly, the transformation's always more interesting than just showing off the final shots. These aren't just pretty pictures - they're actual journeys from concept to completion, bumps and all.

Completed 2023

Westwood Passive House

Residential Design

From Tear-Down to Net-Zero

The Johnsons came to us with a 1960s box that was bleeding energy costs. They weren't keen on moving, so we pitched a full rebuild that'd hit passive house standards. Took about 18 months from demo to move-in.

What made this one special was integrating solar thermal with ground-source heat pump - not the easiest combo but it's been running beautifully for a year now.

Month 1-2:

Demo and foundation work - found some surprise drainage issues but sorted them early

Month 3-8:

Framing and envelope - triple-glazed windows from Germany took forever to arrive

Month 9-18:

Systems installation and interiors - blower door test passed first try which felt amazing

"We were nervous about the whole rebuild thing, but the team made it way less stressful than we thought. Our heating bills dropped by like 85% - it's kinda wild."

- Sarah Johnson, Homeowner

Commercial Architecture

Granville Collective Workspace

Converting a 1920s warehouse into modern coworking space while keeping the heritage character wasn't exactly straightforward. The city had opinions, the building had surprises, and we had to get creative with the structural stuff.

Ended up exposing the original timber beams, adding a steel mezzanine level, and somehow fitting in modern HVAC without ruining the aesthetic. The permit process alone was... let's just say it was educational.

14 months

Start to finish

12,400 sq ft

Total area

"They really got what we were going for - keeping that raw industrial vibe but making it actually functional for modern work. Our members love the space."

- Marcus Chen, Collective Owner

Completed 2022

Before & After: Lynn Valley Addition

Sometimes you don't need a whole new building - just need to rethink what's already there

BEFORE

Original 1980s build - dark, choppy layout, zero connection to the backyard

AFTER

Added 600 sq ft, opened up the main floor, brought in tons of natural light

The Patels wanted more space for their growing family but loved their neighbourhood. We proposed a rear addition with a full main-floor reconfiguration. Knocked out some walls, added floor-to-ceiling glass looking onto their garden, and basically transformed how they live in the space.

The tricky bit was matching the new roofline to the existing structure while maintaining proper drainage - had to get the engineering just right. Also coordinated with their landscape architect to design the addition and garden as one continuous space.

"It's like living in a completely different house. We actually use our backyard now because we can see it!"

- Priya Patel

Heritage Restoration

Gastown Seismic Upgrade

Three-storey brick building from 1912 needed serious seismic work. Spent months figuring out how to reinforce it without destroying the character that made it worth saving in the first place.

Completed Q4 2023

Multi-Unit Residential

Kitsilano Laneway Homes

Four-unit laneway development that actually fits the neighbourhood scale. Each unit's got its own personality but they work together as a whole. Passive solar design keeps energy costs reasonable.

In Progress - 60% Complete

Community Planning

East Van Community Hub

Working with a non-profit to create flexible community space on a tight budget. Lots of input sessions with actual neighbourhood folks to figure out what'd actually be useful versus what sounds good on paper.

Design Phase

Construction Progress: North Shore Residence

Currently in framing stage - this one's gonna be special once it's done. Cantilevered deck overlooking the inlet, tons of natural light, and a green roof that'll blend into the hillside.

Week 12

Current progress

48 weeks

Total timeline

25% Complete

Latest update: Structural steel for the cantilever just went in. Engineering was complex but the install went smoothly - always a relief when reality matches the drawings.

Foundation & site prep

Framing underway

What People Actually Say

Not cherry-picked - just real feedback from folks we've worked with

"They were super patient with all our changes and questions. The end result's way better than we imagined, and somehow we stayed on budget."

Jennifer & Mark R.

Westwood Residence

"Dealing with heritage permits is no joke, but they navigated everything smoothly. Really knew their stuff when it came to the technical requirements."

David L.

Gastown Building Owner

"Great at listening to what we actually needed versus just pushing their own ideas. The space works perfectly for how our team operates."

Rachel T.

Collective Workspace

Got a Project in Mind?

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