About Us - Ravenspire Quest Architecture

How It All Started

Look, I won't feed you some romanticized origin story. Back in 2009, I was sitting in a cramped office downtown working on cookie-cutter condo designs that made my soul hurt. Every building looked the same - glass boxes with zero personality.

One weekend, I wandered into this old Gothic church on Davie Street that was being gutted for a "modern renovation." Watching them strip away those hand-carved details and painted vaulting felt like witnessing a crime. That's when it clicked - someone needed to fight for these spaces, to show people that old doesn't mean obsolete.

Started Ravenspire Quest that year with basically no clients and a chip on my shoulder about heritage architecture. Turns out, lots of folks in Vancouver felt the same way about preserving what makes buildings actually interesting. We've grown since then, but the mission hasn't changed - create and restore structures that'll matter in 100 years, not just next quarter.

We're not here to follow trends. Never have been.

Our Philosophy

Buildings should outlive their architects. That's not ego talking - it's responsibility.

We're living in an era where everything's disposable, including architecture. Five-year lifespans, planned obsolescence, tear-down culture... it's wasteful and frankly kinda sad. Our approach is different because it has to be.

What Drives Our Work

Respect for What Came Before

Those old craftsmen knew things we've forgotten. When we restore a heritage building, we're not just fixing bricks - we're having a conversation across time. Sometimes that means using techniques that are slower and more expensive, but there's no shortcut to authenticity.

Sustainability That Actually Makes Sense

Here's an unpopular truth - the most sustainable building is often the one that's already standing. We don't slap solar panels on everything and call it green. Real sustainability means designing spaces that adapt, that people actually want to keep using, that don't become landfill in 20 years.

Modern Tech, Timeless Aesthetic

We're not living in the 1800s and we don't pretend to. Our designs incorporate current building science, energy efficiency, accessibility standards - all that necessary stuff. But we wrap it in forms that have proven themselves over centuries. There's a reason Gothic arches and vaulted ceilings still take your breath away.

The Team Behind the Blueprints

Elena Thornbury, Principal Architect

M.Arch, AIBC, Heritage Specialist

I've spent 20-something years obsessing over how buildings age. Started in London working on Victorian restorations before moving to Vancouver in '08. What gets me out of bed? Finding that perfect balance between what a building was and what it needs to become. Also coffee. Lots of coffee.

My approach is probably more pragmatic than most heritage purists would like - I'll advocate fiercely for preserving character-defining elements, but I'm not gonna cry if we need to update your plumbing.

Marcus Chen, Senior Design Lead

B.Arch, LEED AP, Structural Enthusiast

Grew up in Richmond watching old buildings get demolished for new developments. Made me kinda angry honestly, which is probably why I ended up in this field. I handle the technical side - making sure our romantic Gothic visions don't, y'know, collapse.

People think heritage work is all about the past, but it's really about problem-solving. How do you hide HVAC systems in a 1920s building? How do you make a space wheelchair-accessible without ruining the entry sequence? That's the fun stuff.

Sarah Mackenzie, Heritage Project Coordinator

B.A. History, Heritage Conservation Cert.

I'm the one who digs through archives at 2am looking for original building plans. Not an architect by training - came from museum curation actually - but someone needs to be the historical detective around here. My job is making sure we're not just guessing at what a building looked like.

Also I wrangle permits and deal with city heritage departments, which is... let's just say it builds character. The bureaucracy in Vancouver can be intense, but relationships matter and I've learned who to call when we hit a wall.

Why Work With Us?

Honestly? Because we give a damn. That sounds cheesy but it's true.

We're not the fastest firm. We're probably not the cheapest. But if you want someone who'll treat your project like it matters - whether it's restoring a heritage landmark or designing a new home that'll actually age well - we're your people.

We'll argue with you when we think you're making a mistake (respectfully, usually). We'll spend hours getting a detail right that maybe only we'll notice. We'll push back against shortcuts that compromise the long-term vision.

Architecture's supposed to be a long game. Let's play it right.

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A Few More Thoughts

On Gothic Revival

People hear "Gothic" and think dark, gloomy, Tim Burton stuff. But Gothic architecture is actually about light - those huge windows, the soaring heights, the way stone seems to defy gravity. It's optimistic architecture, which is why we keep coming back to it. Modern buildings could learn a lot from that sense of aspiration.

On Heritage Work

Every old building has stories trapped in its walls - sometimes literally, when you find newspapers stuffed in for insulation. Our job isn't to freeze these buildings in amber. It's to let them continue their story into the next chapter. That means thoughtful intervention, not preservation for preservation's sake.

On Vancouver's Character

This city tears down its history faster than almost anywhere I've worked. It's frustrating watching beautiful old buildings become parking lots or generic condos. But it also means every heritage project we save feels like a small victory. We're trying to keep some texture in the urban fabric before it all becomes smooth and forgettable.

On Working Together

Best projects happen when clients trust us enough to push them outside their comfort zone, and we listen well enough to understand what they actually need. It's collaborative, sometimes messy, occasionally involves heated debates over trim details. That's how it should be - architecture isn't a drive-through service.