Without values, construction will continue to look the same as it did in the 20th century – code minimum, foam plastic insulation, too much concrete, poor working conditions, low standards for quality, regular delays and cost overruns, and a mounting housing crisis.
By agreeing on a set of collective values for our projects, we can work together to bring construction into the 21st century. Our success is defined by improvement on integrating these values into our business and your project.
Environmental Stewardship
We believe that all buildings should be built and operated with attention to and consciousness of the environmental impact of their construction and use. It’s why we use materials like cellulose insulation and avoid plastics with ingredients your grandmother wouldn’t recognize. It’s why we design insulation levels and thermal bridge-free details to Passive House levels of energy performance, reducing operating energy consumption by up to 90%. We are mountain bikers, skiers, hikers, and lovers of the natural wilderness of our home in the Canadian Rockies, and wish to be protectors of the earth and its biodiversity, not destroyers of it.
Quality, Attainable Housing
By moving processes inside, we help reduce the cost of quality construction so that housing can become more attainable for those who need it. We believe a high level of quality should be available to all members of society, and that sacrificing quality to make things more “affordable” is a non-sequitur, and essentially a design problem. We can build high quality buildings that use healthy, durable materials and are comfortable for occupants in all seasons without excessive energy inputs by utilizing innovative strategies to make these buildings a reality.
Innovation
We use modern understandings of building science, process innovation, computer-aided design and manufacturing control and are constantly looking to learn from proven tools and techniques for increasing the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of our process.
Collaboration
We know that collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors, sub-contractors, and the client is crucial to the success of any building project. We follow principles of integrated design to get as many players to the table as early as possible on every project. We respect the input of our collaborators during all phases of construction and include the client in these discussions. The result is fewer communication errors and oversights, a streamlined process, and a high quality product.
Collective Success
Both within our company and extending outside of it to our partners, none of us thrives unless the collective is thriving. From our compensation practices to our work-life balance, knowledge sharing, and activism for better buildings, we value the people who are at the root of all the work we do, and the people we do it for.
Passion for Our Craft
Our craft is more than an occupation, it’s what we live and breathe. Our attention to detail, enthusiasm for our product, responsiveness to all of our clients needs, and care and focus we give to every panel that comes out of our shop are testaments to the passion we have for our craft.
