Faylene Orquinthal
Principal Architect & Founder
How I Got Here
Honestly? I didn't grow up dreaming about blueprints or anything like that. What hooked me was spending summers at my grandparents' cabin up in the Okanagan—watching how sunlight moved through those old windows, seeing the way the place just... fit into the landscape without trying too hard.
Started my practice back in 2007, right when everyone was talking green but not really doing much about it. Figured Vancouver needed more studios willing to walk the talk. Been at it for over 15 years now, and yeah, I still get excited when a client says they wanna build something that doesn't fight with nature.
What Drives the Work
Look, sustainable design isn't just about slapping solar panels on a roof and calling it a day. It's about understanding how people actually live in a space—where they'll make their morning coffee, how kids'll use the hallways, whether that office corner gets afternoon light.
I've always believed buildings should breathe with their surroundings. That means using local materials when it makes sense, designing for passive heating and cooling, and yeah, sometimes telling clients that bigger isn't always better. Some of my favorite projects are the ones where we scaled back and got more creative with less square footage.
Education & Credentials
- Master of Architecture - University of British Columbia, 2005
- Bachelor of Environmental Design - University of Calgary, 2001
- LEED Accredited Professional - Canada Green Building Council, 2006
- Registered Architect - Architectural Institute of British Columbia
- Member - Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
- Certified Passive House Designer - Passive House Canada, 2012
The Philosophy Bit
Every site tells you something if you're listening. Maybe it's the way wind moves through, or where water wants to go during heavy rain, or which trees have been there longest. I spend a lot of time just... sitting on sites before we design anything.
My team jokes that I'm obsessed with windows, but honestly, natural light changes everything. Get it right and you're not just saving on electricity—you're making spaces people actually wanna be in.
Recognition & Stuff
2022
Lieutenant Governor's Award for Architecture - Residential Category
2020
Vancouver Heritage Foundation - Adaptive Reuse Excellence
2019
SAB Magazine - Emerging Green Leader Award
2017
AIBC - Innovation in Sustainable Design
Beyond the Drawing Board
When I'm not buried in project deadlines, you'll probably find me teaching the odd workshop at UBC or mentoring younger architects through the AIBC program. There's something energizing about seeing fresh perspectives—keeps me from getting too set in my ways.
Also serve on the Vancouver Green Building Committee because, well, someone's gotta push for better building codes. It's slow work but it matters. Plus I hike a lot—kinda hard to design for nature if you're not actually out in it, y'know?
Working With the Studio
We're a small team, which I prefer. Means I'm involved in every project from concept through construction. No passing things off to junior staff who've never met the client. It's collaborative, sometimes messy, always honest.
Fair warning though—I'll probably challenge some of your initial ideas. Not to be difficult, but because the best solutions usually come from asking "what if we tried this instead?" a few dozen times. Clients who're up for that conversation? Those are the projects that really sing.
Let's Talk About Your Project