Forging Architectural Excellence Through Fire and Form
Look, we're not gonna pretend we started in some garage with a dream and a sketchpad. But what we did start with was a genuine frustration with how industrial and commercial spaces were being designed - cookie-cutter, wasteful, and honestly pretty uninspiring.
Based here in Vancouver, we've spent years figuring out how to make buildings that actually work with their environment instead of against it. It's not rocket science, but it does take some serious commitment to doing things differently.
Our approach? Think of industrial design principles - strong, functional, honest materials - but reimagined through a sustainable lens. We call it forging because that's literally what we do: we take raw ideas, apply heat and pressure (deadlines help), and shape them into something solid.
Not your typical timeline - just the milestones that actually mattered
Started with three architects and one shared belief - that industrial spaces didn't have to be environmental disasters. Our first project was a small warehouse conversion in East Van. Learned more from that one building than four years of school.
Landed a 50,000 sq ft commercial redesign in Burnaby. The client took a chance on us, and we delivered Canada's first net-zero industrial facility in BC. That project put us on the map and proved sustainable doesn't mean compromising on functionality.
Moved into our current Georgia Street studio. Same year we picked up our first industry award - not gonna lie, that felt pretty good. Team grew to 12, and we started getting calls from across Western Canada.
Made a conscious decision to go all-in on sustainable design. Turned down projects that didn't align with our environmental standards - scary move financially, but it defined who we are. Started our green building consultation service to help other firms make the switch.
Like everyone, we had to rethink workspace design. This actually opened up some fascinating opportunities in adaptive reuse projects - turning empty office towers into mixed-use spaces. Our contemporary residential division really took off during this period.
Currently working on our most ambitious project yet - a complete urban district redesign that'll set new standards for sustainable urban planning in Canada. Team's at 23 people now, and we're still learning something new with every project.
We don't believe in design manifestos or complicated theories. Here's what actually guides our work:
Buildings need to work. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how often this gets forgotten in favor of looking cool. We design for the people who'll actually use the space every day.
Greenwashing drives us nuts. If we can't make a project genuinely sustainable, we'll tell you upfront. We track actual energy usage, not just projected numbers.
Steel should look like steel. Concrete like concrete. We're not hiding structural elements behind fancy facades - those raw materials are part of the aesthetic and the story.
Buildings outlive their original purpose. We design with future flexibility in mind - what's a warehouse today might be lofts tomorrow. Plan for change, don't fight it.
No corporate headshots here - just the folks who actually do the work
We're always up for interesting challenges. Whether you've got a project in mind or just want to chat about sustainable design over coffee, drop us a line. We don't bite - well, Marcus can be grumpy before his morning espresso, but otherwise we're friendly.