About Us - Harbor Val Quint Architecture

Our Story Started with Salt Air

Back in 2008, we set up shop in West Vancouver with one pretty straightforward mission - design buildings that actually belong on the waterfront instead of fighting against it. You know, the kind of structures that make you think they've always been there.

We've spent years watching how the water moves, how light bounces off the harbor at different times of day, and yeah, we've learned the hard way what works and what doesn't when you're building this close to the coast. The ocean's been our best teacher, honestly.

These days, sustainable design isn't just something we tack on at the end - it's baked into everything from the first sketch. We're talking real environmental integration, not just checking boxes for certifications (though we do plenty of that too).

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How We Actually Work

Every waterfront site's got its own personality - different tides, different winds, different views. We don't do cookie-cutter around here.

Site-First Thinking

We spend more time studying your site than you'd probably expect. The way water moves, where the sun hits, prevailing winds - all that stuff matters way more than most people realize. We've learned you can't force a design onto a coastal location; you gotta let the place tell you what it needs.

Real Sustainability

Look, anyone can slap some solar panels on a roof and call it green. We dig deeper - passive design strategies, local materials that actually handle salt air, systems that work with natural cycles instead of against them. It's about making buildings that'll still be performing well decades from now.

Collaborative Process

We're not the type to disappear for months and then show up with "the perfect plan." You'll be involved throughout - because honestly, you know how you want to live or work in the space better than we ever could. Our job's combining that with what we know about coastal design.

Long-Term Relationships

Some of our best projects have come from clients we've worked with multiple times, or referrals from folks who saw what we built for their neighbors. We're not just in it for the one project - we want to be your go-to whenever coastal architecture comes up.

Meet the Team

We're a tight-knit group of architects, designers, and coastal engineering nerds who genuinely love what we do.

Sarah Valmont

Principal Architect

Started this whole thing after getting tired of seeing waterfront projects that ignored their surroundings. She's got 20+ years figuring out how buildings and coastlines can get along.

Marcus Quint

Senior Architect & Sustainability Lead

The guy who actually reads all those green building manuals cover to cover. Marcus makes sure every project isn't just beautiful but actually treads lightly on the environment.

Elena Harbor

Design Director

Elena's the one translating big ideas into actual buildable designs. She's got this knack for making technical requirements look effortless - which trust us, they're not.

David Chen

Coastal Engineering Consultant

David keeps us honest about what'll actually stand up to weather, waves, and time. He's saved us from a few "creative ideas" that would've been disasters in practice.

Rachel Sinclair

Project Manager

The person who actually keeps everything running on schedule. Rachel's the one who reminds us that yes, deadlines are real, and no, the contractor can't wait another week for those details.

Jordan Park

Junior Architect

Fresh perspective meets old-school coastal know-how. Jordan's been pushing us to explore new materials and methods - some work, some don't, but that's how you learn.

Credentials & What They Actually Mean

Yeah, we've got the letters after our names and the certificates on the wall. But more importantly, we've got the experience to know when to follow the book and when the situation calls for something different.

LEED Accredited

Multiple team members carry LEED AP credentials - we know green building standards inside and out.

AIBC Members

Registered with the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, meeting all professional standards.

Passive House Certified

Trained in some of the most rigorous energy efficiency standards out there.

Coastal Specialists

15+ years focused specifically on waterfront and marine environments.

But honestly? The best credential is the portfolio of buildings that are still performing beautifully years after completion, and clients who come back for their next project.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Got a waterfront site and some ideas? Or maybe just a property and lots of questions? Either way, we'd love to chat about what's possible.

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Who We Are