Building Better, Not Just Bigger

Look, we're not gonna pretend sustainability is just a checkbox on a form. It's how we approach every single project – because honestly, what's the point of great architecture if it's wrecking the planet?

Sustainable industrial architecture

Our Philosophy (Without the Fluff)

Been in this business long enough to see "green" become a marketing gimmick. That's not us. When we say sustainable, we mean buildings that actually perform – lower energy bills, healthier spaces, materials that don't poison the air.

Industrial architecture gets a bad rap for being resource-heavy. And yeah, it can be. But we've spent years figuring out how to design spaces that work hard without working against the environment. Steel, concrete, glass – they're not the enemy when you know what you're doing.

Every project starts with the same question: how do we make this better for everyone involved? The client, the community, and yeah, the planet too.

How We Actually Do It

This isn't theory from a textbook. These are strategies we've tested, refined, and actually implemented in real buildings across Ontario.

Energy Performance

We're talking serious reductions here – average 40-60% less energy use than standard builds. High-performance envelopes, smart HVAC systems, and honestly, just better design thinking.

Real talk: your operational costs drop significantly. One client saw their heating bills cut in half the first winter.

Water Management

Rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, permeable surfaces – it's not rocket science, but it takes planning. We've designed systems that reduce municipal water use by up to 50%.

Plus, managing stormwater on-site means you're not overwhelming the city's infrastructure during heavy rains.

Material Selection

Local sourcing where possible, recycled content, materials with actual EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). We track embodied carbon like hawks.

Worked on a project last year where we used 70% recycled steel and locally-sourced timber. Didn't cost more, just required smarter procurement.

Passive Design

Orientation matters. Window placement matters. Thermal mass matters. We're using the sun and natural airflow to do the heavy lifting before mechanical systems even kick in.

One warehouse we designed needs minimal heating until temps drop below -15°C. That's just smart building physics.

LEED & Beyond

We've shepherded projects through LEED Silver, Gold, and Platinum certifications. Honestly? The certification is nice, but it's really about the process – it forces everyone to think harder about every decision.

That said, LEED isn't the only game in town. We're also experienced with Green Globes, BOMA BEST, and Passive House standards. Whatever framework makes sense for your project and budget.

12

LEED Certified Projects

4

Passive House Designs

LEED certified building

Environmental Impact By The Numbers

Data from our last 5 completed projects (2022-2024)

52%

Average Energy Reduction

38%

Water Use Decrease

81%

Construction Waste Diverted

65%

Regional Materials Used

Carbon Impact Timeline

Average payback period for embodied carbon vs. operational savings across our sustainable projects

Year 1-5: Initial Investment +420 tons CO2e
Year 6-15: Breaking Even -180 tons CO2e/year saved
Year 16-30: Net Positive Impact -2,700 tons CO2e cumulative

These numbers are from actual monitoring data, not projections. Buildings perform differently than models predict, so we track everything.

The Renovation Angle

Here's something people don't talk about enough – sometimes the greenest building is the one that already exists. We've done deep energy retrofits on heritage and industrial buildings that brought them up to near-new performance standards.

Kept the character, kept the embodied carbon that's already in the walls, and gave them another 50+ years of life. That old warehouse near the waterfront? We cut its energy use by 58% and it still looks like it did in 1947.

Not every project needs to be a teardown. Sometimes it's about working with what's there and making it work harder.

See Our Retrofit Projects
Heritage building restoration

Let's Build Something That Lasts

Sustainable doesn't mean compromising on performance or aesthetics. It just means thinking a bit harder about every choice. We're happy to walk through what's possible for your project – no sales pitch, just straight talk.

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Resources & Standards We Work With

These are the frameworks and tools we reference regularly

LEED v4.1

Building Design & Construction

Passive House

PHIUS & PHI Standards

BOMA BEST

Canadian Green Building

ASHRAE 90.1

Energy Standards

Green Globes

Alternative Certification

Well Building

Health & Wellness Focus