Built Reality

These aren't just renders or ideas on paper - they're standing structures where people actually live, work, and thrive. Each one taught us something new about pushing sustainability forward without sacrificing design integrity.

We've been at this for a while now, and honestly, seeing these projects go from sketches to actual buildings never gets old. Each timeline below shows the journey - the challenges, the pivots, the moments where everything clicked into place.

Westside Eco Residence
Completed 2024
Project 01

Westside Eco Residence

West Vancouver, BC

This one was a beast. The clients wanted net-zero energy consumption but didn't wanna compromise on the open-concept feel they'd been dreaming about. Took us six months of back-and-forth with engineers to nail the passive solar design while keeping those massive south-facing windows they insisted on - and yeah, it worked.

Timeline

Design Phase: Jan 2023 - May 2023

Construction: Jun 2023 - Aug 2024

Final Handover: September 2024

Key Specs

3,800 sq ft living space

LEED Platinum certified

Solar panels + geothermal heating

Transformation
Before construction Before
After construction After
Technical Highlights
  • Triple-glazed European windows with argon fill
  • Rainwater harvesting system for irrigation
  • Reclaimed cedar cladding from local mills
  • Smart home integration for energy monitoring
Harbour District Office Complex
Completed 2023
Project 02

Harbour District Office Complex

Downtown Vancouver, BC

Commercial projects always come with their own headaches - zoning regulations, tenant requirements, accessibility codes. This five-story office building pushed us to rethink how natural ventilation could work in a coastal climate. Spoiler: it can, but you need some clever facade engineering and a structural team that trusts your vision.

Project Timeline

Q1 2021: Initial concept & city approvals

Q3 2021: Detailed design & engineering

Q1 2022: Construction begins

Q4 2023: Tenant move-in & commissioning

42,000

Square Feet

LEED Gold

Certification

Site Evolution
Before 2021
After 2023
Engineering Solutions
  • Natural ventilation via automated louver system
  • Green roof reduces urban heat island effect by 30%
  • Curtain wall system optimized for coastal wind loads
  • Greywater recycling for building maintenance
  • Bike storage & EV charging for 50+ vehicles
Gastown Heritage Restoration
Completed 2022
Project 03

Gastown Heritage Restoration

Gastown, Vancouver, BC

Heritage work is a different animal entirely. You're not starting with a blank slate - you're working within someone else's 120-year-old decisions. This Victorian-era building needed serious seismic upgrades while preserving every bit of its character. We spent weeks just documenting original details before touching anything.

Restoration Timeline

Documentation: Mar - Jun 2020

Heritage approvals: Jul - Dec 2020

Active restoration: Jan 2021 - Sep 2022

Interior fit-out: Oct - Dec 2022

Building Stats

Built: 1903

Original use: Warehouse

New use: Mixed retail/office

Protected heritage status

Restoration Journey
Before restoration Before
During restoration Progress
After restoration After
Preservation Techniques
  • Original brick facade cleaned & repointed (28,000 bricks)
  • Window frames replicated using historic joinery methods
  • Hidden seismic bracing behind original walls
  • Timber beams treated & reinforced with steel plates
  • Modern MEP systems concealed in existing shafts

Personal note: This project won us a Vancouver Heritage Award in 2023. Not gonna lie, it felt pretty good having the city recognize the effort that went into respecting the building's story while making it functional for today.

Whistler Mountain Retreat
Completed 2025
Project 04

Whistler Mountain Retreat

Whistler, BC

Building in alpine conditions isn't for the faint of heart. Snow loads, avalanche zones, limited construction seasons - and the clients wanted floor-to-ceiling glass to capture those mountain views. We had to get creative with structural solutions and weather-resistant materials that wouldn't look out of place in the forest.

Development Phases

Design & Permits: Spring/Summer 2023

Foundation Work: Summer 2023 (narrow weather window)

Main Construction: Fall 2023 - Fall 2024

Finished: Spring 2025

5,200

sq ft

4,200 ft

elevation

R-60

insulation

From Forest to Home
Site before Raw Site
Completed home Completed
Alpine Engineering
  • Reinforced roof structure rated for 300+ PSF snow load
  • Radiant floor heating powered by heat pump system
  • Impact-resistant glazing with low-E coating
  • Local timber & stone to minimize transport impact
  • Avalanche deflection considerations in site planning
  • Heated driveway & entry systems for winter access

More Projects in the Pipeline

We've got three projects in active construction right now and another handful in design development. Can't share too much yet - NDAs and all that - but if you're curious about what we're working on, let's chat.

Start Your Project

Why We Document Everything

These timelines and specs aren't just for show. We keep detailed records of every decision, every material choice, every engineering solution because we learn from each project. What worked in Whistler's snow loads informs how we approach coastal wind in Vancouver. The passive solar lessons from the Westside house showed up again in commercial designs.

Architecture isn't about reinventing the wheel every time - it's about building on what you've learned and applying it smarter. That's how we keep getting better at this.