Our Story
Forging Bold Architectural Visions in Steel and Stone
Look, we didn't start this firm because we wanted to design another glass box. Back in 2011, three of us were sitting in a Vancouver brewery after another day of watching developers throw up cookie-cutter buildings, and we thought... there's gotta be a better way to do this.
We founded Dark Forge Quest with a pretty straightforward idea - what if industrial spaces could actually have soul? What if contemporary design didn't mean sterile and boring? Turns out, steel and concrete can be warm when you know what you're doing with them.
These days, we're a team of 18 architects, designers, and builders who've worked on everything from converted warehouses in Gastown to modern homes that don't look like every other box in Yaletown. We've done retail spaces that people actually want to spend time in, and commercial buildings where employees don't feel like they're trapped in a corporate prison.
Here's the thing - we're not trying to win awards (though we've got a few collecting dust). We're trying to build spaces that work for real people. Industrial doesn't mean cold. Contemporary doesn't mean impractical. And sustainable sure as hell doesn't mean ugly.
Every project we take on, we're thinking about how people will actually use the space in 5, 10, 20 years. Not just how it'll photograph for some architecture magazine.
We're architects, yeah, but we're also hikers, coffee snobs, and people who actually live in the city we design for.
Lead Architect & Co-Founder
Started designing on graph paper in grade school, never stopped. Been with the firm since day one, still gets excited about finding the right steel beam for a project. Specializes in adaptive reuse - turning old industrial spaces into something people didn't know they needed.
Design Director & Co-Founder
The one who makes sure our buildings don't just stand up, but actually look good doing it. Trained in Copenhagen, came back to Vancouver because she missed the rain (seriously). Her residential projects have been featured in more magazines than she can count, but she's most proud of making spaces where families actually want to hang out.
Technical Director & Co-Founder
The guy who figures out how to actually build what we dream up. Civil engineer by training, problem solver by nature. He's the reason our projects come in on budget and don't fall down. Also runs our sustainability initiatives because he's convinced we can build better without trashing the planet.
Senior Project Architect
3D Visualization Lead
Interior Design Specialist
Construction Administrator
Let's be real - nobody likes the typical architect experience. Months of silence, then a design that looks cool but costs twice your budget and doesn't actually solve your problem. We do things differently around here.
First meeting? We're not showing you sketches. We're asking questions. What's not working in your current space? How do you actually use it? What keeps you up at night? Your problems inform our designs, not the other way around.
We'll get you initial concepts in 2 weeks, not 2 months. Then we iterate - fast. Our 3D visualization team can show you exactly what it'll look like before we pour a single foundation. No surprises, no "I thought it would look different."
Construction's where a lot of architects disappear. Not us. We're on site weekly, dealing with the contractor, solving problems before they become your problems. The building you see in our renderings? That's the building you get.
Whether you've got detailed plans or just a rough idea, let's grab a coffee and figure out if we're a good fit. First consultation's on us.