About Us - Thunder Haven Architecture

Our Story (The Real One)

Look, we started Thunder Haven back in 2012 because we were tired of seeing buildings go up that just... didn't care. Didn't care about energy, about the neighbourhood, about anything except getting done fast and cheap.

Our founder, along with a couple of friends from architecture school, decided there had to be a better way. Turns out, there was - and people actually wanted it. Who knew sustainable design could be both gorgeous AND practical?

Now we're a team of fifteen passionate folks working out of Vancouver, tackling everything from heritage restorations to ground-up commercial builds. Every project's different, but they all share one thing: we actually give a damn about how they turn out.

Our Journey So Far

2012 - The Beginning

Started in a cramped office above a coffee shop. Three founders, one shared desk, way too much optimism. Our first project was a small residential renovation - the client took a chance on us and we're still friends today.

2015 - First Big Break

Won our first commercial project - a sustainable office building in downtown Vancouver. Honestly, we were terrified. But we pulled it off, got some press, and suddenly people were calling us.

2018 - LEED Platinum Achievement

Completed our first LEED Platinum certified building. Threw a massive party. May have gotten a bit too excited. But hey, it was a big deal for us.

2021 - Heritage Recognition

Got recognized by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation for our work restoring the old Granville building. That one meant a lot - preserving history while making it work for today's needs is tricky business.

2023 - Expanding the Team

Moved into our current office on West Hastings. Brought on some incredibly talented designers and engineers. We're still growing, but we're keeping that same energy from the coffee shop days.

2025 - Where We're At Now

Working on our most ambitious projects yet. Still learning, still pushing ourselves, still caring way too much about every detail. That's just how we roll.

Meet Some of the Team

Sarah Mitchell

Lead Architect & Co-Founder

Been drawing buildings since I was six. Turns out that's a pretty good foundation for this job. I handle most of our commercial projects and I'm obsessed with natural light - ask anyone on the team, they'll tell you.

Marcus Chen

Sustainability Director

The guy who makes sure we actually walk the walk. Formerly worked in environmental engineering, now makes our buildings ridiculously efficient.

Elena Rodriguez

Interior Design Lead

Joined us in 2019 and immediately made everything look better. Has an uncanny ability to read what clients actually want versus what they say they want.

David Park

Project Manager

Keeps us all on track and on budget. Former contractor, so he knows exactly what's actually possible on a job site - saves us from our more "creative" ideas sometimes.

Jamie Thompson

Urban Planning Specialist

Thinks about how buildings fit into neighbourhoods, not just how they look. Vancouver native who really gets this city's vibe.

Plus Ten More Amazing People

We've got designers, engineers, drafters, and a project coordinator who somehow keeps this whole circus running. Every single person here brings something special to the table.

What Actually Drives Us

It's pretty simple, really. We want to design buildings that don't suck for the planet, that people actually enjoy being in, and that make neighbourhoods better. Not worse, not neutral - better.

We're not perfect. We make mistakes, we learn, we adjust. But we show up every day trying to push things forward, even if it's just a little bit. That's the gig.

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