Building Better, Not Just Bigger

We've spent years figuring out how architecture can actually help the planet instead of just taking from it. Here's what we've learned along the way.

Sustainable materials

Why We're Obsessed With This Stuff

Look, when we started out, sustainable design was basically slapping some solar panels on a roof and calling it a day. But after working on dozens of projects across Toronto and seeing what actually works versus what's just greenwashing, we've gotten pretty particular about our approach.

Buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions - that's wild when you think about it. Every project we take on is a chance to move that needle, even if it's just a tiny bit. We're not saving the world here, but we're definitely trying to stop making it worse.

Real talk: Sustainable design isn't always the easiest path. Sometimes it costs more upfront. Sometimes clients push back. But the buildings we've created this way? They're the ones we're genuinely proud to show our kids someday.

Our Green Building Framework

These aren't just buzzwords - they're the principles we've hammered out through trial, error, and a whole lot of coffee.

Passive Design First

Before we even think about fancy tech, we're obsessing over orientation, natural light, thermal mass, and airflow. Got a project last year where we cut HVAC loads by 45% just by rotating the building 20 degrees and adding strategic overhangs. That's the kind of stuff that gets us excited at 2am.

Material Honesty

We dig into embodied carbon like detectives. Where'd that concrete come from? Can we use reclaimed steel instead? There's this misconception that sustainable = expensive, but we've found local materials and salvaged components that're cheaper AND better for the environment. Win-win.

Energy Performance That Actually Works

We've all seen those "net-zero" buildings that need constant fixes, right? Our approach is making sure systems are simple enough that they'll actually get maintained. High-performance envelopes, smart (not complicated) HVAC, and renewable energy where it genuinely makes sense - not just for the brochure.

Water's Part of the Story Too

Toronto gets decent rainfall, yet we're shipping water from far away and treating it twice. Makes no sense. Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, permeable surfaces - we're working these into projects wherever possible. One commercial build we did now uses 60% less municipal water. Client's pretty happy about those utility bills.

Certifications We Actually Care About

There's a ton of green certifications out there. Some are rigorous, some are... let's say "optimistic." We focus on the ones that push us to do better work.

LEED Accreditation

Yeah, it's got its critics, but LEED still provides a solid framework. We've guided 12 projects through Gold and Platinum certification. The process isn't always fun, but it keeps everyone honest about performance goals.

Passive House Certification

This one's tough - like really tough. But when you nail it? Those buildings perform like nothing else. We're currently working on our third Passive House project and still learning new tricks every time.

Living Building Challenge

The most ambitious standard out there. We're actively pursuing this on a residential project right now. It's pushing us way outside our comfort zone, which is exactly where we need to be.

Certified sustainable building

The Numbers Don't Lie

Here's what our sustainable approach has actually achieved across our projects. We're pretty proud of this data.

3,200

Tonnes of CO2 Offset Annually

62%

Average Energy Reduction

18

Green Certifications Achieved

89%

Construction Waste Diverted

What This Actually Means

Those 3,200 tonnes? That's like taking 700 cars off the road for a year. The energy reductions translate to real savings - we're talking thousands of dollars annually for building owners.

But here's what really matters to us: we've created spaces where people actually want to spend time. Better air quality, more natural light, comfortable temperatures year-round. Sustainability isn't just about polar bears (though we like them too) - it's about making buildings that're genuinely better for the humans inside them.

And that 89% waste diversion? We're obsessive about this. Every project has a waste management plan before we break ground. It's more work upfront, but seeing materials get reused instead of landfilled never gets old.

Building performance metrics

Innovation Projects We're Currently Geeking Out Over

Mass timber construction

Mass Timber Residential Tower

We're designing an 8-story residential building using cross-laminated timber. It's storing carbon instead of emitting it, and the construction timeline's way faster than concrete. Plus it just looks and feels amazing inside. This project's got us staying up late running structural calculations.

In Development
Green infrastructure

Urban Stormwater Integration

Working with the city on a commercial development that treats stormwater as an asset, not a problem. Bioswales, rain gardens, permeable paving - the whole nine yards. It's gonna handle a 100-year storm event on-site without overwhelming the sewers. That's the kind of resilience we need more of.

Construction Phase
Integrated solar design

Net-Zero Retrofit Challenge

Taking a 1960s office building and bringing it to net-zero energy. This one's tricky because we've gotta work with existing bones, but that's what makes it interesting. Deep energy retrofits are gonna be huge as we try to decarbonize existing building stock - can't just tear everything down and start over.

Design Phase
Sustainable design collaboration

Wanna Talk Sustainable Design?

Whether you're thinking about LEED certification, trying to hit Passive House standards, or just want a building that doesn't waste energy and resources, we've probably dealt with similar challenges before.

We're always up for talking through the possibilities - and being honest about what makes sense for your project versus what's just trendy. Sometimes the "green" choice isn't obvious, and we'd rather have a real conversation than give you a sales pitch.

Let's Figure This Out Together

Our Commitment Moving Forward

By 2025, we're aiming for every project to be carbon-neutral in operation, and we're tracking embodied carbon on everything we design. It's ambitious, maybe a bit crazy, but that's kind of our thing.

We're also committing 5% of our time to pro-bono work helping non-profits and community organizations improve the sustainability of their spaces. If we've got knowledge that can help, seems silly to keep it to ourselves.