Heritage Projects

We don't just restore buildings - we bring 'em back from the dead with a purpose that actually makes sense for today.

Look, there's something about walking into a century-old warehouse that just hits different. The smell of old timber, the way light catches decades of dust... but here's the thing - nostalgia doesn't pay the bills. Our approach? Keep what matters, modernize what doesn't, and make sure these buildings actually work for the people using them today. No pretending it's still 1895.

GASTOWN REVIVAL

The Cordage Building

Built in 1902 as a rope factory, this place was basically falling apart when we got the call. The owner wanted to turn it into creative office space, but the heritage committee wasn't having any of the usual gut-and-rebuild nonsense.

We kept every single original timber beam (yeah, all 127 of them), sandblasted the brick back to its natural color, and installed modern HVAC systems through the old freight elevator shaft. Added massive skylights where the roof had already collapsed anyway. The pulley systems? Now they're part of the aesthetic - clients love 'em. Three floors of workspace that actually feels like Vancouver history instead of a movie set.

1902
Original Build
85%
Original Materials Retained
NEW WESTMINSTER

Fraser Mills Conversion

This lumber mill shut down in '79 and sat empty for decades. When a developer wanted to turn it into mixed-use residential, everybody thought they'd just knock it down. We convinced them otherwise.

The main structure's steel frame was solid as hell, so we built around it. Turned the saw blade maintenance room into a coffee shop (still has the original tool racks on the walls). The loading docks became outdoor terraces with killer river views. Kept the industrial feel but made it livable - exposed ductwork, polished concrete floors, the works. People actually want to live in a place that tells a story.

PORT MOODY

Station Street Hub

An old railway station that hadn't seen a train since 1968. The city wanted a community center but didn't have the budget for new construction. Perfect.

We stripped it down to the bones, reinforced the foundation (which, honestly, needed way more work than anyone expected), and reconfigured the interior completely. The old ticket booth? That's now the reception desk. Waiting room became a multi-purpose hall. Even reused the original benches in the reading area.

Added geothermal heating underneath - had to dig up the old platform anyway - and put solar panels on the maintenance shed roof where they're not visible from street level. Heritage purists were happy, sustainability nerds were happy, and the budget came in under what a new build would've cost.

  • ✓ Geothermal heating system integration
  • ✓ Original architectural elements preserved
  • ✓ 40% energy reduction vs. baseline

Our Philosophy on Heritage Work

Honest Assessment

Not everything old is worth saving. We'll tell you what needs to stay and what's just rotting wood taking up space. No romance, just facts.

Modern Function

A building that doesn't work for today's needs is just an expensive museum piece. We make heritage buildings earn their keep in the 21st century.

Material Respect

Old-growth timber, hand-laid brick, cast iron details - they built different back then. When you can save it, you save it. Period.

What We Actually Do

Heritage work isn't about making things look old. It's about making old things work.

Structural Stabilization

First things first - is the building gonna fall down? We assess, reinforce, and stabilize using methods that don't destroy the original character. Steel reinforcement hidden in walls, foundation underpinning, roof structure analysis. The boring stuff that keeps people alive.

Building Envelope Upgrades

Old buildings leak. Heat, water, air - you name it, it's escaping. We figure out how to insulate and weatherproof without ruining the facade. Sometimes that means custom-fabricated windows. Sometimes it means getting creative with interior insulation. Always means arguing with inspectors.

Systems Integration

Buildings from 1900 don't have HVAC, modern electrical, or proper plumbing. We add all that without making it look like a sci-fi movie set. Running ductwork through old shafts, hiding electrical in restored baseboards, making modern comfort invisible.

Code Compliance Navigation

Modern building codes weren't written with 120-year-old warehouses in mind. We work with authorities to find equivalencies - showing how a heritage solution can meet the spirit of the code even if it doesn't follow the letter. It's part engineering, part diplomacy.

Heritage restoration planning

The Reality Check

Heritage restoration costs more than new construction. It takes longer. You'll find surprises behind every wall. The permits are a nightmare. And sometimes, despite your best efforts, a building is just too far gone.

But when it works? When you can take something that was headed for the landfill and turn it into something useful and beautiful? When people walk in and actually feel connected to their city's history? That's why we do this. Plus, there's something deeply satisfying about proving the "just tear it down" crowd wrong.

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