Who We Really Are
Not your typical suit-and-tie firm pretending to care about the planet
Look, we started Quintarion Stelix back in 2009 because frankly, we were sick of watching buildings go up that'd be environmental disasters in 20 years. The whole "let's just slap some solar panels on it and call it green" approach wasn't cutting it.
Based right here in Vancouver, we've spent over a decade figuring out how commercial spaces can actually work WITH the environment instead of against it. Yeah, it's harder. Yeah, clients sometimes push back on costs upfront. But when they see their energy bills drop by 40% and their building's still looking fresh years later? That's when they get it.
We're a team of architects, planners, and honestly a few stubborn idealists who believe cities can be better. Not perfect - that's fantasy talk - but definitely better than what we've been building for the past century.
These aren't mission statement fluff - this is what actually gets us out of bed in the morning
We're talking lifecycle analysis, material sourcing, energy modeling - the works. Not just ticking boxes for LEED certification. If it doesn't make environmental sense in 30 years, we'll tell you straight up.
Urban planning shouldn't be about cramming more people into smaller spaces. It's about creating neighborhoods where folks actually want to live, work, and hang out. Transit access, green spaces, community hubs - that stuff matters.
We don't sugarcoat things. If your budget won't support what you're asking for, we'll say it. If there's a better approach than what you initially wanted, we'll show you. Architecture's too expensive to play games.
Buildings outlive all of us. We design with that in mind - adaptable spaces, durable materials, systems that can be upgraded without tearing everything apart. Your grandkids will either thank us or curse us.
The people who actually do the work
Principal Architect & Founder
Started this whole thing after getting frustrated with cookie-cutter commercial projects at bigger firms. Got my architecture degree from UBC, spent 8 years at corporate offices before going solo. Now I get to obsess over thermal bridging and embodied carbon without people rolling their eyes at me.
Urban Planning Lead
Urban planner who actually bikes to work - yeah, I practice what I preach. Worked on mixed-use developments across BC for 12 years. Joined Quintarion because I was tired of seeing great designs get watered down by "that's how we've always done it" attitudes.
Sustainability Director
Environmental engineer turned architect - weird combo but it works. I'm the one running energy models at 2am and arguing with contractors about insulation details. If a building's gonna claim it's sustainable, it better have the data to back it up.
Project Manager
Former general contractor who switched sides - now I make sure our designs are actually buildable. Nothing bugs me more than architects who've never spent time on a job site. Been in construction for 20 years, joined this crew because they actually listen when I say something won't work.
Interior Design Specialist
People spend 90% of their lives indoors, so yeah, interior spaces matter. I focus on making commercial interiors that don't feel soul-crushing. Natural light, good acoustics, materials that won't off-gas nasty chemicals - basic stuff that somehow gets overlooked all the time.
Heritage Restoration Lead
Specialize in breathing new life into old buildings without destroying what made them special in the first place. There's something satisfying about updating a 1920s warehouse with modern systems while keeping its character intact. Not every project needs to be a glass box.
First off, we listen. Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many architects just want to build their vision regardless of what you need. We start every project with real conversations - not just formal meetings, but walking the site, understanding the context, figuring out what problems we're actually solving.
Then we dig into the data. Site analysis, climate modeling, material research - all the unglamorous stuff that makes projects work long-term. Our designs come from logic and evidence, not just aesthetic preferences.
Throughout construction, we're involved. Not just dropping by for photo ops, but actually coordinating with contractors, solving problems as they come up, making sure what gets built matches what we designed. Buildings are complicated - you can't just hand off drawings and hope for the best.
And after? We check back in. How's the building performing? What's working, what isn't? That feedback makes us better for the next project. Architecture's a practice - you never stop learning.
Whether it's a new build, renovation, or just exploring ideas - reach out. We're happy to have an honest conversation about what's possible.