Our Waterfront Work

Where vision meets the shoreline - real projects, real challenges, real solutions

Look, I'll be straight with you - every waterfront project comes with its own headaches. Saltwater corrosion, fluctuating tides, environmental regulations that'd make your head spin, and communities who (rightfully) protect their shorelines like hawks. We've been navigating these waters for years now, and honestly? That's what makes it interesting.

Contemporary waterfront residence
RESIDENTIAL | 2023

Tofino Glass House

Client wanted 180-degree ocean views without feeling like they're living in a fishbowl. The site's exposed to some nasty winter storms - we're talking Pacific swells that don't mess around. Ended up designing this layered glass system with integrated storm shutters that basically disappear when you don't need 'em. The foundation work was tricky because of the rocky shoreline, but we anchored deep and used the natural granite formations as part of the structural concept.

CHALLENGES WE TACKLED:

  • Storm-rated glazing systems
  • Erosion control & native vegetation integration
  • Solar orientation with privacy screening
COMMERCIAL | 2022

Steveston Marina Pavilion

The fishing community in Steveston's been around forever, and they weren't about to let some fancy architects mess up their working waterfront. Can't blame 'em. We spent months just listening - really listening - to what the fishermen, boat owners, and local businesses actually needed. The result's this hybrid structure that's part boathouse, part community gathering space, with maintenance facilities that actually work for people who fix nets at 4 AM.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Heavy-duty marine infrastructure
  • Natural ventilation for fish processing areas
  • Flexible event space that doubles as storm shelter
Modern marina pavilion with boats

Urban Waterfront Transformations

Bringing old industrial shores back to life isn't about slapping condos everywhere - though plenty of folks try that approach.

Urban waterfront boardwalk
MIXED-USE | 2021

False Creek Heritage District

Three old warehouses from the 1920s that everyone wanted to tear down. We fought for adaptive reuse instead - kept the timber beam structure, added glass insertions where the roofs had collapsed anyway, and turned 'em into artist studios with ground-floor cafes. The wooden pilings beneath? Left those exposed as a reminder of what used to be there.

Project Area: 45,000 sq ft | Duration: 18 months
Waterfront public plaza at dusk
PUBLIC SPACE | 2023

Burrard Inlet Promenade

2.5 kilometers of waterfront that was basically just chain-link fence and crumbling concrete. The city wanted a boardwalk, but we pushed for something more dynamic - different levels, pocket parks, seating that works for watching ships or having lunch. Had to design around active rail lines too, which made things interesting from a sound perspective.

Length: 2.5km | Public Access: 24/7

Current Projects in Development

Can't show you everything yet, but here's what's keeping us busy

Squamish Nation Cultural Center

Working directly with Squamish Nation to create a waterfront cultural space that honors traditional coastal practices. Still in early consultation phase - and that's exactly where we should be.

Est. Completion: 2025

Sunshine Coast Eco-Resort

Low-impact cabins on a sensitive shoreline with salmon spawning streams nearby. Every design decision's going through environmental review, as it should. The engineering's complicated but worth it.

Est. Completion: 2026

Victoria Inner Harbour Renewal

Public-private partnership to rethink aging seawall infrastructure while improving public access. Balancing heritage preservation with climate adaptation - sea level rise isn't waiting for us.

Est. Completion: 2027

The Reality of Waterfront Work

01

Environmental Complexity

You're not just dealing with building codes - there's federal fisheries regulations, provincial coastal management, municipal bylaws, and Indigenous consultation requirements. Projects take longer, cost more, and require patience. Anyone promising quick waterfront development is either naive or lying.

02

Material Considerations

Saltwater destroys everything eventually. Steel corrodes, wood rots, concrete spalls, and even modern composites degrade faster near the ocean. We've learned to specify marine-grade everything, add extra corrosion protection, and design details that can actually be maintained by real people with real budgets.

03

Climate Adaptation

Sea levels are rising, storms are getting more intense, and shorelines are changing. We're designing for conditions 50-100 years out, which means making assumptions that might be wrong. It's uncomfortable, but ignoring it isn't an option. Every foundation elevation, every drainage system gets climate-factored now.

04

Community Integration

Waterfronts belong to everyone, even when they're privately owned. Access, views, ecological health - these are public concerns. Good waterfront architecture acknowledges that and works with it, not against it. The best projects we've done involved communities from day one, not as an afterthought.

Architect reviewing coastal project plans

Want to Talk About Your Waterfront Project?

Whether you've got a specific site in mind or you're just exploring possibilities, we're happy to have an honest conversation about what's realistic. No sales pitch, no pressure - just straight talk about waterfront development from folks who've been doing it for a while.

Some projects aren't feasible. Some shouldn't be built at all. Some just need a different approach than what the client initially imagined. We'd rather tell you that upfront than waste your time and money.

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