About Us | Wind Arquin Thale Architecture

Our Story Isn't Conventional

We started in a small shared office space back in 2011 with nothing but laptops and a crazy idea that Vancouver needed architects who actually cared about the environment beyond just checking boxes on LEED forms.

The three founding partners - each coming from different corporate firms - were honestly tired of designing buildings that looked great in renderings but performed terribly once people moved in. There had to be a better way, y'know?

Fast forward to now, and we've worked on over 200 projects across BC. We've learned tons along the way, made some mistakes (the 2014 skylight incident taught us a lot about snow loads), and figured out how to create spaces that people genuinely love living and working in.

Where Nature Meets Innovation

The Journey So Far

From sketchbooks to sustainable structures

2011 - The Beginning

Three architects walk into a coffee shop... sounds like a joke, but that's literally how it started. We sketched our first sustainable residential project on napkins. The client trusted us despite having zero portfolio. That house is still one of our favorites.

2013 - First Big Break

Landed a commercial project that put us on the map. A tech company wanted an office that didn't feel like a soul-crushing cube farm. We delivered something that incorporated living walls and natural ventilation. It won an award, which was cool, but honestly seeing employees actually happy in the space meant more.

2016 - Growing Pains

Moved to our current Granville Street location. Hired our first junior architects. Realized managing people is way harder than managing projects. Also started our heritage restoration division after falling in love with a 1920s building that needed serious help.

2019 - Sustainability Push

Committed fully to sustainable building solutions. Every project from this point forward had to meet strict environmental standards - not because regulations forced us, but because we couldn't sleep at night doing it any other way. Lost a few clients who thought we were too extreme. Found way more who got it.

2022 - Recognition & Growth

Passed 200 completed projects. Got featured in Canadian Architect magazine. Team grew to 18 people. Started turning down work that didn't align with our values, which felt scary but right. Launched mentorship program for emerging sustainable designers.

2024 - Today & Tomorrow

Still learning, still growing, still making mistakes but fixing them faster now. Working on some of our most ambitious sustainable projects yet. The dream is buildings that give back more than they take - and we're getting closer every day.

Meet The Team

The folks who actually do the work

Sarah Wind

Co-Founder & Principal Architect

The visionary who pushes us toward bolder sustainable solutions. Has an uncanny ability to see potential in impossible sites. Spends weekends hiking BC trails for design inspiration.

Marcus Arquin

Co-Founder & Design Director

The detail guy who makes sure our wild ideas actually work structurally. Former engineer who switched to architecture because "buildings should be beautiful AND functional." Makes terrible coffee.

Jennifer Thale

Co-Founder & Operations Lead

Keeps the chaos organized. Project management wizard who somehow makes timelines work even when contractors ghost us. Also handles client relations because she's the only one with actual people skills.

David Chen

Senior Architect

Heritage restoration specialist who treats old buildings like precious artifacts.

Priya Sharma

Sustainability Coordinator

Makes sure we're walking the walk on green building practices, not just talking.

Tom Rodriguez

Interior Design Lead

Obsessed with how spaces feel, not just how they look in photos.

Lisa Park

Junior Architect

Recent grad who keeps us honest about new sustainable technologies.

What We Actually Believe

Buildings Should Age Well

Not talking about looking vintage - we mean functioning better over time, not worse. Too many modern buildings fall apart after 20 years. That's just wasteful.

Nature Knows Best

Passive solar heating, natural ventilation, rainwater collection - this stuff isn't trendy, it's just smart. We're constantly amazed at how simple solutions outperform complex ones.

People Over Prestige

An award-winning building that nobody wants to be in is a failure. We'd rather create spaces where people actually feel good, even if it doesn't photograph as dramatically.

Honest Materials

Wood should look like wood. Concrete like concrete. We're not big on fake finishes or hiding structural elements. There's beauty in authenticity.

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for interesting projects, especially if you're willing to try something different. Fair warning though - we'll probably challenge some of your assumptions about what's possible.

Let's Talk About Your Project