Who We Actually Are
Real people doing real work on buildings that matter
Look, we started Tandrel Forge Quint back in 2011 because we got tired of seeing old industrial buildings getting torn down or new ones going up that'd be obsolete in twenty years. Vancouver's got this incredible heritage of warehouses, factories, and working spaces that people just... forgot about? Seemed wrong.
The three of us - yeah, there's actually three founders despite the weird name - met while working on a restoration project in Gastown. We'd spend lunch breaks talking about how industrial spaces could be both sustainable AND keep their character. Most firms pick one or the other. We figured there's gotta be a middle ground.
So here we are, over a decade later. We've worked on everything from turning a 1920s sawmill into a net-zero workspace to designing modern industrial facilities that don't look like soulless boxes. Our approach? Keep what works, fix what's broken, and make it sustainable without losing the soul of the place.
No fluff - just what we do best
We don't just slap on some paint and call it restored. We dig into the bones of these buildings, figure out what made 'em special in the first place, then bring that back while making sure they'll last another hundred years. Modern systems, old-school craftsmanship.
Factories, warehouses, maker spaces - they need to actually function, not just look good in photos. We design for workflow, for people who'll spend 40+ hours a week there, for equipment that needs specific clearances and power. Function first, then we make it beautiful.
Yeah, we'll get you LEED certified if that's what you need. But more importantly, we'll design buildings that actually USE less energy, generate less waste, and work with the climate instead of fighting it. Solar panels are cool, but proper insulation and smart window placement? That's where the real savings happen.
Cities are messy, complicated things. We work with neighborhoods, not against 'em. When we're doing urban development, we talk to the people who live there, look at what's already working, and try not to screw up the good stuff while fixing what's broken.
First off - we're gonna ask you a ton of questions. Like, probably more than you expected. Because cookie-cutter solutions don't work for unique buildings, and every project IS unique whether it's a heritage restoration or a new build.
We spend a lot of time on-site. Not just measuring and taking photos, but sitting there, watching how light moves through the space, how people actually use it, where the problems are. You can't design a good building from behind a computer screen.
Our team's pretty hands-on too. We've got architects, engineers, and a couple folks who actually came from construction backgrounds. Means our designs are buildable, not just pretty renderings that make contractors pull their hair out.
Timeline-wise? We're realistic. Heritage work especially takes longer than people think. But we'd rather do it right than rush and have to fix problems later. That said, we stick to deadlines once we set 'em.
People ask us this a lot. It's not just because it sounds cool (though it kinda does). Back in the day, forges were where craftspeople would take raw materials and shape 'em into something useful and lasting. That's literally what we do with buildings.
We take the raw potential of a space - whether that's a crumbling heritage building or an empty lot - and forge it into something that'll serve people for generations. It takes heat, pressure, skill, and patience. Can't rush the process if you want it to last.
Plus, a lot of the buildings we work with were originally connected to Vancouver's industrial past - shipyards, foundries, manufacturing plants. Felt right to honor that heritage.
Our studio's on Homer Street in Vancouver, but we've worked on projects from Victoria to Prince George. If you've got an interesting industrial or heritage project anywhere in British Columbia, we're probably interested.
Drop by or give us a call
1250 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1C5
Phone: (604) 555-0142
Email: info@tandrelforgequint.info
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