Look, we're not gonna sugarcoat it - sustainable design isn't just trendy eco-talk for us. It's literally how we approach every single project that comes through our doors. We've been doing this long enough to see what works and what's just greenwashing nonsense.
Real metrics. Real impact. No fluff.
Forget the corporate speak - here's what sustainability means when you're working with buildings that've been standing since before anyone cared about carbon footprints.
Demolition's the easy route - we'd rather spend months figuring out how to keep a 1920s facade alive while making the guts of the building work for 2024. It's harder, sure, but that's kinda the point.
We source locally whenever possible - not just 'cause it's eco-friendly but 'cause BC's got some of the best timber and stone you'll find anywhere. Why ship marble from Italy when we've got gorgeous materials right here?
Yeah, we integrate solar panels and geothermal where it makes sense. But we're also honest when passive design and proper insulation'll get you 80% there for half the cost.
Numbers don't lie - here's what we've accomplished across our projects since 2018.
Average Energy Reduction
vs. baseline consumptionBuildings Restored
saved from demolitionMaterials Reclaimed
across restoration projectsTonnes CO2 Saved
annually through our designsReal projects, real transformations. We've photographed these obsessively 'cause we're kinda proud of 'em.
BEFORE
AFTER
1912 brick warehouse converted to mixed-use space
BEFORE
AFTER
1960s strip mall transformed to community hub
BEFORE
AFTER
1898 character home brought to net-zero standard
We've got the paperwork, sure - but more importantly, we've got the experience of wrestling with these standards on real job sites. That's where you learn what works.
Three team members with active LEED AP credentials - not just a checkbox, they actually lead our sustainable design strategy.
Trained in Passive House design principles - yeah, it's intense, but the energy savings speak for themselves.
Proud members since 2016, 'cause local standards matter just as much as international ones.
Certified through Heritage BC - you can't do sustainable restoration without understanding historical building techniques.
No cookie-cutter solutions here - but we do follow a pretty solid framework that's evolved over the years.
We spend days just observing - sunlight patterns, airflow, existing materials. You'd be surprised what buildings tell you if you listen.
We run the numbers before we draw a single line. If the energy model doesn't make sense, back to the drawing board.
Local suppliers first, recycled content second, then we look at durability vs. embodied carbon. It's a balancing act.
What'll this building need in 50 years? We design with future adaptability baked in from day one.
Honestly, this one almost broke us. Converting a 1970s concrete shell into a net-zero community hub while maintaining the brutalist character? Yeah, it took two years longer than we planned.