About Us - Jade Quintal Vorn Architecture

How This All Started

Back in 2011, I was sitting in a coffee shop sketching on napkins—yeah, that actually happened. I'd just left a bigger firm where everything felt too corporate, too disconnected from what buildings are really supposed to do. They're not just structures, y'know? They're where people live their actual lives.

Started Jade Quintal Vorn Architecture in a shared office space with one desk and way too much confidence. The first project was a small renovation for a friend's bakery. Nothing fancy, but we made it work with reclaimed wood and natural light that didn't cost a fortune. That project taught me more than four years of school ever did.

Fast forward to now, and we've got a tight crew of seven people who genuinely care about this stuff. We're not trying to win awards (though a couple have happened, which is cool). We're trying to design spaces that make sense—for the client, for the budget, and yeah, for the planet too.

Vancouver's an interesting place to practice architecture. You've got clients who want modern glass boxes next to folks who want cozy craftsman vibes. The weather's tricky, land's expensive, and everyone's thinking about earthquakes and floods now. Keeps us on our toes, honestly.

Our Journey

It's been a ride, with plenty of late nights and learning curves

2011

The Beginning

Founded the studio with a laptop, a dream, and about six months of savings. First office was literally a corner desk at a co-working space.

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2014

First Big Break

Landed a commercial project—a 12,000 sq ft office renovation downtown. Nearly killed us with stress, but we delivered on time and under budget. Word started spreading after that.

2016

Team Expansion

Hired our first two full-time architects and moved into a real office with windows and everything. Started focusing more intentionally on sustainable design practices.

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2019

Recognition & Growth

Won the BC Sustainable Architecture Award for a net-zero residential project. Honestly didn't expect it, but it validated what we'd been working toward. Team grew to seven people.

2023

Today

We're established but still hungry. Working on residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects across BC. Still learning, still pushing to do better with every design.

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Meet the Team

We're a small crew, which means everyone actually knows what's happening on your project. No layers of bureaucracy, just direct communication and honest work.

Jade Quintal

Principal Architect & Founder

Started this whole thing. Still gets excited about site visits. Believes good design shouldn't cost the earth—literally or financially.

Marcus Vorn

Design Director

Joined in 2015 after working in Copenhagen. Brings European sensibility with West Coast practicality. Makes killer espresso.

Sarah Chen

Sustainability Consultant

The science behind our sustainable claims. Former engineer who switched to architecture because "buildings matter more than people think."

Thomas Park

Project Architect

Keeps projects on track and on budget. Detail-oriented doesn't begin to cover it.

Elena Rodriguez

Interior Designer

Transforms spaces from functional to actually livable. Has a gift for lighting design.

Ryan Mitchell

3D Visualization Specialist

Makes renderings that don't look fake. Clients love him because they can actually see what they're getting.

Priya Kapoor

Office Manager

Runs the behind-the-scenes stuff so we can focus on design. Basically keeps the whole ship afloat.

What Actually Matters to Us

We're not here to lecture anyone about sustainability or win design competitions. We just think buildings should work properly—use less energy, cost less to maintain, and feel good to be in.

Every project's different. Some clients want cutting-edge net-zero performance. Others just want a smart renovation that'll save them money on heating bills. We're here for all of it, and we'll tell you honestly what makes sense for your situation and your budget.

Let's Talk About Your Project