About Us - RuneForge Architects | Vancouver Architecture Studio

Who We Are

Started in 2012 out of a cramped shared workspace

Look, we didn't start RuneForge because we thought the world needed another architecture firm. Truth is, we were just tired of seeing beautiful old buildings get torn down when they could've been brought back to life – and equally tired of watching modern projects ignore the lessons our predecessors left us.

It started with three of us huddled around a drafting table in Vancouver's Strathcona neighborhood, sketching out ideas for a heritage restoration project that everyone else said was impossible. That first project – a 1920s warehouse conversion – taught us that you can honor history while pushing forward into sustainable, livable spaces.

Fast forward to today, and we've grown into a team of architects, designers, and builders who genuinely care about what we're creating. We're not chasing awards or trying to land magazine covers (though those have happened). We're here because there's something deeply satisfying about watching a client walk into a space we've designed and just... get it.

Our approach isn't complicated – we listen more than we talk, we care about how buildings age (not just how they photograph when new), and we believe sustainability isn't a trend, it's just good design.

Our Journey

The milestones that shaped who we are

2012

The Beginning

Three architects, one shared workspace, and way too much coffee. Our first heritage restoration project in Strathcona proved everyone wrong about what's possible with old buildings.

2015

Going Green

Completed our first LEED Platinum commercial building. That's when sustainable architecture shifted from being something we did sometimes to being at the core of everything we touch.

2018

Expanding Horizons

Opened our Granville Street studio and doubled the team. Started taking on larger commercial projects while keeping our residential and heritage work close to heart.

2021

Recognition

Received the BC Heritage Conservation Award. Honestly didn't see that coming, but it validated what we'd been saying all along – old buildings deserve better than wrecking balls.

2025

Today & Tomorrow

We're working on our most ambitious projects yet – mixing heritage restoration with cutting-edge sustainable tech. The best part? We're still learning something new on every single project.

Meet the Team

The folks behind the blueprints

Founding Partner

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect & Heritage Specialist

Sarah's the one who convinced us that old buildings have stories worth preserving. She cut her teeth restoring century homes in Kitsilano and hasn't looked back since. When she's not buried in heritage designation paperwork, you'll find her teaching sustainability workshops or hunting down reclaimed materials in salvage yards.

Her philosophy? "Every building we save is a lesson we don't have to relearn." She's got this uncanny ability to see past water damage and dodgy renovations to find the bones worth keeping.

Founding Partner

Marcus Rodriguez

Design Director & Sustainable Systems Lead

Marcus is our tech geek who somehow makes building science actually interesting. He's obsessed with passive house design and can talk about thermal bridging for way longer than anyone should. Before RuneForge, he spent five years working on commercial developments and got frustrated watching energy efficiency get value-engineered out of projects.

He's the guy running building performance simulations at 2am because he wants to squeeze out another percentage point of efficiency. His motto: "If it's not performing better than code minimum, we're not done yet."

Senior Architect

Jennifer Park

Project Manager & Client Relations

Jen joined us in 2016 after getting tired of corporate architecture firms where clients were just numbers on a spreadsheet. She's the organized one who somehow keeps our chaotic creative process on track and on budget. Clients love her because she actually returns calls and explains things without the jargon.

She's particularly passionate about residential work – there's something about helping families create their dream homes that keeps her going through permit delays and contractor drama. Weekend hobby: sketching urban spaces in her Moleskine.

Interior Specialist

David Thomson

Interior Space Planning & Materials

David's got an eye for making spaces feel right – not just look pretty in renderings. He came from a background in set design (yeah, seriously) and brings this theatrical understanding of how people move through and experience spaces. He's constantly pushing us to think beyond floor plans and really consider how light, texture, and flow work together.

His specialty is finding that sweet spot between timeless design and contemporary comfort. Also maintains an alarming collection of material samples in his office that he refuses to organize.

How We Actually Work

We're gonna be straight with you – architecture projects are complicated and sometimes frustrating. Permits take forever, costs change, and there's always some surprise when you open up a wall. But here's what we promise:

We'll keep talking

No disappearing for weeks at a time. Regular updates, honest conversations about what's working and what's not.

Your input matters

It's your building, not our portfolio piece. We'll guide you, but we're listening to what you actually need.

Long-term thinking

We're designing for how the building will perform in 20 years, not just how it photographs tomorrow.

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for tackling interesting projects – whether that's breathing new life into a heritage building or pushing the boundaries of sustainable design.

Let's Talk About Your Project