Heritage Projects

Where history meets the future - our restoration work breathes new life into industrial landmarks while keeping their soul intact

Look, we've been at this for years now, and there's something about walking into an old factory or warehouse that just hits different. The bones are already there - solid steel, massive timber beams, brick that's stood for a century. Our job isn't to erase that story, it's to write the next chapter.

Before renovation warehouse
BEFORE
CASE STUDY 01

Ironworks District Lofts

This 1912 foundry sat empty for nearly 20 years before we got our hands on it. People kept saying tear it down, start fresh. But you can't recreate cast iron columns like these anymore - they literally don't make 'em like they used to.

We kept the industrial shell completely intact, even preserved the old pulley systems and exposed the original brick after stripping away decades of paint. Added floor-to-ceiling windows where the loading docks used to be. Now it's 24 residential lofts with commercial space on the ground floor.

1912
Original Build
2022
Completed
East Vancouver, BC
After renovation modern lofts
AFTER

The Technical Bits

  • Seismic upgrading while maintaining original load-bearing walls
  • Integrated modern HVAC without compromising the exposed ceiling aesthetic
  • Heritage designation approval process - 18 months of documentation
  • Salvaged and restored 87% of original Douglas fir flooring
  • LEED Gold certification achieved through adaptive reuse
The hardest part isn't the structural engineering - it's convincing people that old buildings can outperform new ones when done right. Every heritage project we take on proves that sustainability isn't just about solar panels and green roofs.
— Lead Heritage Architect, GFQ
CASE STUDY 02

Maritime Terminal Revival

1928 → 2023
Granville Island, Vancouver
Old maritime terminal
HISTORICAL

This one was personal. The old shipping terminal where goods moved between rail and sea - it was scheduled for demolition to make room for generic condos. We pitched a mixed-use concept that kept the waterfront heritage alive.

The massive timber trusses? Still there, supporting a new mezzanine level. Those rusted rail tracks embedded in the concrete floor? We epoxied over them as a feature. The building tells its own story now without needing a plaque.

Restored maritime building exterior

Exterior Restoration

Original brick facade cleaned and repointed, industrial steel doors refurbished

Interior with timber trusses

Interior Adaptation

Exposed timber trusses, polished concrete floors with embedded rail tracks

Project Challenges

Saltwater Damage Steel reinforcement had corroded from decades of marine exposure
Foundation Issues Pier pilings needed complete assessment and partial replacement
Heritage Restrictions Had to work within strict waterfront development guidelines

What We Delivered

Ground Floor

12,000 sq ft of retail and restaurant space with roll-up doors opening to the waterfront

Upper Levels

Creative office spaces with exposed structure and harbor views, flexible layouts

Exterior

Boardwalk restoration, public seating areas, interpretive signage about terminal history

Recognition

BC Heritage Award 2024, AIA Vancouver Honor Award for Adaptive Reuse

CASE STUDY 03

Coal Harbour Grain Elevator

This was the big one. A 1935 concrete grain elevator - you know, those massive silos you see along the waterfront? Most architects would've said it's impossible to convert. We saw it as the ultimate challenge.

15
Concrete Silos
Converted to Unique Spaces
Grain elevator before
ORIGINAL STATE

The Vision

These cylindrical concrete towers - each one 120 feet tall, walls 18 inches thick - they've got this brutal beauty to them. We pitched turning them into a vertical mixed-use complex.

Cultural center in central silos
Boutique hotel suites in outer ring
Rooftop observation deck
Ground-level public plaza
Converted silo interior
Circular Spaces

Yeah, furniture doesn't really fit in round rooms - that's why we had everything custom fabricated. Curved windows following the original silo geometry, beds that wrap the walls.

Cultural space in silo
Acoustic Magic

Those concrete cylinders have incredible acoustics. We turned three connected silos into a concert venue - natural reverb that recording studios pay millions to recreate.

Rooftop view
The View

Added a glass-enclosed observation deck at the top. On a clear day you can see across to the North Shore mountains. Best sunset spot in Vancouver now.

The Engineering Nightmare (That We Loved)

Cutting openings in 18-inch reinforced concrete? Yeah, that took some doing. We had to use diamond wire saws, work in stages, install temporary shoring. The structural engineers weren't thrilled at first.

But here's the thing - those concrete walls are so overbuilt for what they need to do now, we actually had capacity to spare. Once everyone saw the calculations, they got on board. Sometimes old-school construction methods give you more to work with than modern builds.

3.5 yrs
Design to Completion
Including 14 months just for structural approvals

Our Approach to Heritage Work

It's not about making