About Us - Arcane Legion Forge Architecture

Our Story

Started back in 2012 with just three of us cramped in a basement office on Commercial Drive. We weren't your typical firm - more like a band of misfits who happened to love buildings way too much.

The name? Yeah, it's a bit weird. We came up with "Arcane Legion Forge" during an all-nighter fueled by bad coffee and worse puns. But honestly, it stuck 'cause it kinda captures what we do - taking mysterious client visions and forging them into real, solid spaces that actually work. No fancy BS, just good design that makes sense for the people using it.

These days we're up on Granville with a proper view and everything. We've grown to about fifteen people who all bring their own quirks to the table. Some of us are heritage nerds, others are obsessed with sustainability metrics, and a few just really love making things look cool while functioning perfectly. That mix? That's what makes projects interesting.

We mainly do commercial and institutional stuff - schools, office buildings, community centers, that sorta thing. Not because we're snobs about residential, but 'cause we genuinely get excited about spaces where communities gather and businesses thrive. There's something satisfying about watching hundreds of people use a building you designed every single day.

The Team

The folks who actually make things happen around here

Marcus Chen

Principal Architect

Been at this for 18 years and still get excited about a good floor plan. Specializes in making institutional buildings feel less... institutional. Drinks way too much espresso and has strong opinions about curtain walls.

Sarah Kowalski

Design Director

The one who keeps our designs from going completely off the rails while still pushing boundaries. Got her start in heritage restoration, so she's got this thing about respecting context. Also somehow manages our chaotic design reviews without losing it.

David Osei

Sustainability Lead

Our environmental conscience. If it's not sustainable, David will let you know - politely but firmly. LEED AP certified and lowkey obsessed with passive design strategies.

Elena Rodriguez

Senior Project Architect

The person clients actually want running their projects. Super organized, knows every building code by heart, and somehow keeps contractors in line. Used to work on high-rises downtown before joining us.

Jamie Park

Visualization Specialist

Graduated like three years ago but already makes renders that look better than actual photos. Also our go-to person when Revit decides to crash at 4pm on a Friday. Gaming PC knowledge translates surprisingly well to architectural visualization apparently.

Patricia Lawson

Urban Planning Consultant

Comes in when projects need someone who actually understands city bylaws and community engagement. Spent a decade at the city planning department, so she knows all the right people and processes.

How We Work

Look, we're not gonna pretend we've reinvented architecture. But we have figured out what works for us and our clients over the years.

First off, we actually listen. Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many firms just wanna impose their vision. We start every project with proper conversations - not just with clients but with the people who'll actually use the space.

Our design process is pretty collaborative. We do a lot of sketching and modeling early on, get feedback, iterate like crazy. Some ideas are terrible - we trash 'em. Some are promising - we develop them. It's messy but it works.

We're big on sustainability but not in a preachy way. It's just smart design - better for the planet, better for operating costs, better for people using the building. Win-win-win.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Our Approach

Three things we care about on every single project

Context Matters

Every site has a story - the neighborhood, the climate, the people around it. We don't do cookie-cutter designs 'cause what works in one place might be totally wrong somewhere else. Understanding context isn't optional, it's fundamental.

Function First

Beautiful buildings that don't work are just expensive sculptures. We obsess over circulation, daylighting, acoustics, all that stuff. If it looks good but functions poorly, it's not good design - it's just a render.

Long-term Thinking

Buildings stick around for decades. We design with that in mind - adaptable spaces, durable materials, energy efficiency that'll matter even more in 20 years. Quick fixes aren't our thing.