About Us - Ember Quinthalix Architecture

Our Story

Look, we didn't start this firm because we wanted another cookie-cutter architecture studio. Back in 2012, a few of us were sitting in a Vancouver coffee shop - probably complaining about the same boring glass towers going up everywhere - when we realized we could actually do something about it.

Ember Quinthalix came from that frustration and, honestly, a bit of idealism. We wanted to prove that contemporary design doesn't have to sacrifice the planet for aesthetics. Yeah, sustainable architecture was the "trendy" thing back then, but for us? It's always been non-negotiable.

We've spent over a decade now figuring out how buildings can actually give back to their environments instead of just taking. Some projects worked brilliantly. Others taught us hard lessons. But that's the whole point - we're constantly learning, adapting, and pushing what's possible with modern materials and old-school craftsmanship.

Vancouver's our home base, and honestly, this city's given us so much inspiration. The balance between urban density and natural beauty here? That's what we try to capture in every project, whether it's a family home in Kitsilano or a commercial development downtown.

The People Behind The Drawings

We're architects, sure, but we're also parents, cyclists, kayakers, and coffee snobs. That real-world living? It shapes everything we design.

Sarah Chen

Founding Principal

Twenty years in and Sarah still sketches every morning before emails. She's the one who pushes us to find that sweet spot between bold design and practical living. Previously worked on the Vancouver Convention Centre expansion - learned everything about green roofs the hard way.

Marcus Okonkwo

Design Director

Marcus came from Lagos via London and brought a completely different perspective on density and community spaces. He's obsessed with how buildings can create unexpected moments of connection. Also makes the best jollof rice for office lunches, just saying.

Elena Kowalski

Sustainability Lead

If there's a new sustainable material or technique, Elena's already tested it. She grew up restoring century homes in Manitoba, so she gets how old and new can work together. Her motto? "If it can't be maintained by regular humans, it's not actually sustainable."

David Park

Senior Architect

David's the detail guy. He'll spend three hours perfecting a window jamb detail and somehow make it poetic. Trained in Seoul and Tokyo before landing here, brings precision that honestly intimidates the rest of us sometimes.

Priya Sharma

Heritage Specialist

Priya can walk into a 1920s building and tell you its whole history just by looking at the moldings. She's saved more heritage buildings from demo than anyone else we know. Fierce advocate for adaptive reuse.

James Whitfield

Urban Planning

Former city planner who got tired of saying no to everything. Now he helps us navigate the bureaucracy while actually pushing for better urban spaces. His knowledge of zoning bylaws is borderline supernatural.

Nina Bergstrom

Interior Spaces

Nina thinks about how people actually live in spaces, not just how they photograph. She's constantly rearranging our office furniture to test theories about flow and function. Usually she's right, annoyingly.

How We Actually Work

Forget the stereotype of architects sketching alone in dark studios. We're collaborative to a fault - sometimes our meetings run long because everyone's got opinions and we actually listen to them.

Every project starts with listening. We've learned that clients usually know what they need better than we do initially. Our job is translating that into spaces that work, and yeah, look pretty good too. But function comes first, always.

We're also big on physical models. Sure, we use all the latest 3D software, but there's something about a physical model that helps everyone understand the space. Plus, it gets people away from their screens for a bit.

Sustainability isn't a separate department here - it's baked into everything from day one. Elena would probably quit if we tried to treat it as an add-on feature. And honestly? That's exactly the kind of team we want to be.

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for tackling interesting projects. Whether you've got a full brief or just a napkin sketch, let's grab a coffee and talk about what's possible.

Get In Touch