About Us - Jade Quintharic Architecture

Our Story

Started back in 2011 with just a drafting table and way too much coffee, we've grown into something I'm genuinely proud of. The name? Yeah, it's a bit unusual - Jade's actually a nod to my grandmother's favorite stone, and Quintharic... well, that's a longer story involving a late-night brainstorming session and possibly some wine.

What began as a one-person operation sketching residential additions has evolved into a tight-knit team of six passionate designers. We're not your typical suit-and-tie firm - you'll find us rolling up our sleeves on job sites, debating the merits of reclaimed timber over lunch, or occasionally arguing about the perfect shade of green for a living wall.

Vancouver's been our home base since day one, and honestly, this city's relationship with nature has shaped everything we do. When you're surrounded by mountains, ocean, and rainforest, it's pretty hard not to think about how buildings fit into that picture.

How We Think About Design

It's not rocket science, but it does take paying attention

Buildings That Breathe

I've never understood why we seal buildings up like tupperware containers and then pump them full of artificial air. Nature's been ventilating spaces for millions of years - maybe we should take notes? We design with natural airflow, strategic window placement, and materials that actually regulate humidity on their own.

One client called their new home "the house that sighs" because of how air moves through it. That's the kind of feedback that makes the late nights worth it.

Materials With Stories

There's something deeply satisfying about using reclaimed Douglas fir that once supported a 1920s warehouse. Or incorporating stone from a local quarry that's been supplying Vancouver builders for generations. These materials have context, history, and honestly, they just look better as they age.

We keep a running list of salvage yards, local mills, and material suppliers who get what we're trying to do. It's become a bit of an obsession.

Light As a Material

I spent three months once just studying how light moved through my own apartment at different times of year. Sounds excessive, but it changed how I approach every project. Light isn't just about brightness - it's about mood, energy use, connection to time and season.

We've gotten pretty nerdy about solar angles and reflective surfaces. Our daylighting models sometimes surprise engineers, in a good way.

The Long View

Quick question: why do we design buildings that need replacing in 30 years? Doesn't make sense to me either. We're designing for the next generation, which means thinking about adaptability, durability, and timeless aesthetics that won't look dated in a decade.

It costs a bit more upfront sometimes, but I've had clients calculate the lifecycle savings and it's not even close. Quality wins every time.

The Team

We're a pretty diverse group, which leads to better design (and livelier lunch debates)

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect & Founder

Licensed architect with 15 years of experience. Still gets excited about perfect door hardware. Drinks way too much tea. LEED AP certified and occasionally teaches sustainable design at UBC.

Marcus Okafor

Senior Designer

The detail guy who catches everything. Background in structural engineering means he understands how things actually stand up. Terrible at ping-pong despite constant practice. Certified Passive House Designer.

Elena Rodriguez

Project Manager

Keeps us all on schedule and somehow makes contractors actually like us. Previously worked in commercial construction. Has a gift for seeing three steps ahead. Makes the best empanadas on project celebration days.

Jamie Park

Interior Designer

Spatial planning wizard with an uncanny sense for how people actually move through rooms. Studied environmental psychology. Always finding amazing vintage fixtures at estate sales. Member of Living Future Institute.

David Nguyen

Technical Designer

BIM specialist who can model anything. Previously did digital fabrication work. Runner who designs his routes based on interesting buildings. Energy modeling certified and pretty obsessed with building science.

Maya Patel

Landscape & Site Designer

Plants are her thing - she knows every native BC species and their growing conditions. Studied landscape architecture and ecology. Beekeeper on the side. Argues (correctly) that landscape design should happen first, not last.

Why Sustainability Isn't Optional

Look, I'll be straight with you - buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. That's not a stat we can just ignore and feel good about ourselves. Every project we take on is an opportunity to do better, and honestly, it's become impossible for me to design any other way.

Sustainable design isn't about slapping solar panels on everything and calling it a day. It's about understanding climate, site conditions, material lifecycles, and how people actually live in spaces. It's about making choices that make sense for both the environment and the client's wallet over time.

We've turned down projects where clients wanted something purely for aesthetics that would be an energy nightmare. Not worth it. There are plenty of firms who'll take that work - we're just not one of them.

The good news? Once you start designing this way, it becomes second nature. And clients are consistently surprised by how comfortable and frankly pleasant these spaces are to inhabit. Better for the planet AND better to live in? Yeah, that's the sweet spot.

Our Sustainability Approach

Studio Philosophy in Practice

We're Listeners First

Every project starts with listening - really listening - to what clients need, how they live, what drives them nuts about their current space. We've killed a lot of our own favorite ideas because they didn't actually solve the client's problem.

Site Before Design

I visit every site multiple times, different times of day, different weather. The site tells you what it wants to be - sun patterns, wind, views, sounds, neighbors. Ignoring that is just arrogant design.

Honest Budgets

We're upfront about costs and don't oversell what's achievable. I'd rather design something that actually gets built than create fantasy renderings for a project that dies in construction documents.

Collaboration Over Ego

Best ideas come from the whole team - designers, contractors, engineers, and yes, clients. We park our egos and focus on what serves the project. Democracy in design works.

Details Matter

How a door handle feels, where light hits in the morning, the sound of rain on different roofing materials - this stuff matters. We sweat the details because they're what you experience every single day.

Always Learning

Technology changes, materials evolve, climate science advances. We're constantly reading, testing, visiting other projects, and adjusting our approach. The day we stop learning is the day we should quit.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Whether it's a new build, renovation, or just an idea you're kicking around, we'd love to hear about it.

Get In Touch