Stormwatch Residence
Tofino, BC
This one's personal for me. The clients lost their previous home to a 2019 storm surge - watching those photos still gets me. So yeah, we went all-in on resilience. Triple-glazed hurricane glass, foundation anchored 12 feet into bedrock, and a roof design that actually redirects wind force downward instead of trying to fight it.
The place has already survived two major storms since completion. The neighbors' fences blew down, but this house? Didn't even lose a shingle. That's the kind of stuff that keeps me going.
Completed: March 2023
Project Duration: 14 months
Harbor Point Commercial Complex
North Vancouver, BC
The city wanted retail and office space right on the waterfront. The challenge? This spot floods during king tides combined with heavy rain - happens about twice a year. Traditional commercial buildings would've been a maintenance nightmare.
We elevated the main floors 2 meters above the historical high-water mark, created a permeable lower level for parking that can handle temporary flooding, and designed the entire ground floor with marine-grade materials. During the last atmospheric river event, water came through exactly as we'd modeled it - and drained out just as fast.
Completed: November 2022
Square Footage: 28,000 sq ft
Before & After Transformations
Sometimes the best design isn't starting from scratch - it's saving what's already there and making it tougher.
Maritime Heritage Center
Steveston, BC
This 1920s cannery building was on the city's demolition list. Foundation was crumbling, roof leaked like crazy, and the whole structure was sinking on one side. The heritage society basically begged us to find a solution.
Transformation Complete
Completed: June 2024
We kept every bit of the original character - those massive timber beams, the brick facade, the industrial windows. But underneath? Completely new foundation with modern drainage, structural reinforcement with hidden steel, and a new roof system that looks period-accurate but'll last another hundred years. It's now a functioning community center that actually makes money for its upkeep.
Windward Cottage
Ucluelet, BC
Classic beach cottage that'd been in the family for 60 years. Charming as hell, but basically a death trap in modern storm conditions. Single-pane windows, walls with zero insulation, and a foundation that was mostly hope and prayer.
Storm-Ready Retreat
Completed: September 2023
The owners wanted to keep the cozy vibe, which honestly made this project way more interesting. We reinforced everything without changing the footprint - new foundation piers, structural upgrades hidden in the walls, impact-resistant windows that look just like the old ones. Added proper insulation and a heat pump system. Now it's actually comfortable year-round and won't blow away when the big ones hit.
