About Us - Lumin Valor Architecture | Vancouver Design Team

Our Story

Look, we're not gonna pretend we started in some garage with nothing but a drafting table and a dream. But honestly? It wasn't far off. Back in 2012, a few of us were sitting in a mediocre downtown office, designing buildings that looked good on paper but didn't really... matter. You know what I mean?

We kept asking ourselves - why are we creating spaces that'll just add to the problem? Vancouver's beautiful, but it's also fragile. The housing crisis, the climate stuff, heritage buildings getting demolished left and right. It got to us.

So we started Lumin Valor with a pretty straightforward idea: design buildings that actually give a damn. Sustainable isn't just a checkbox for us - it's literally how we approach every single project. Whether it's a 40-story commercial tower or someone's dream home in Kitsilano, we're thinking about energy, materials, longevity, and how the building fits into its neighbourhood.

These days, we've got a solid team of architects, designers, and project managers who actually care about this stuff. We've restored heritage buildings that were destined for the wrecking ball, helped clients get LEED certifications they didn't think were possible, and yeah - we've created some spaces we're genuinely proud of.

"We're here because Vancouver deserves architecture that respects where it's been and where it's going. That's not marketing speak - that's just how we work."

Meet The Team

The folks who turn sketches into reality

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Been designing sustainable buildings since before it was trendy. Sarah's got this knack for making green architecture actually look good - not just functional. She's saved more heritage facades than anyone I know.

Marcus Thompson

Senior Designer

Marcus handles the commercial projects that'd make most architects nervous. High-rises, mixed-use developments, complex zoning nightmares - he actually enjoys that stuff. Also makes the best coffee in the office.

Priya Sharma

Interior Space Lead

Priya's the one who figures out how people actually move through spaces. She's obsessed with natural light and won't let you waste a single square foot. Clients love her because she listens - really listens.

David O'Connor

Project Manager

Dave keeps everything on track and on budget. Former contractor, so he knows when someone's trying to cut corners. He's basically the reason our projects don't turn into those horror stories you hear about.

Emma Larsson

Sustainability Specialist

Emma's the reason we can actually back up our sustainability claims. She knows every certification process, every green material supplier, and she'll find ways to reduce your carbon footprint you didn't know existed.

James Wu

Heritage Restoration Lead

James is basically a historian who happens to be an architect. When we're dealing with older buildings, he's the guy who knows what can be saved, what should be saved, and how to do it without compromising the original vision.

Maya Patel

Associate Designer

Maya's fresh out of grad school but she's already pushing us to think differently. She's big on biophilic design and somehow always finds a way to incorporate living walls or green roofs into projects.

Alex Kowalski

Technical Architect

Alex handles all the technical stuff that makes buildings actually work - structural calculations, building codes, mechanical systems. He's the detail guy who catches problems before they happen.

How We Work

We don't follow some rigid process that treats every project the same. A residential renovation in Gastown needs a totally different approach than a commercial build in Richmond, right?

That said, we always start by actually listening. What're you trying to achieve? What's your budget - and I mean your real budget? What keeps you up at night about this project?

Then we dig into the site, the regulations, the possibilities. We'll show you options you might not've considered. Sometimes that means talking you out of ideas that sound cool but won't actually work for your needs.

Throughout the whole thing, we're pretty transparent. If something's gonna cost more or take longer, you'll know. If there's a problem, we'll tell you - and we'll have some solutions ready.

Let's Talk About Your Project

What We're About

♻

Sustainability First

Not just slapping solar panels on stuff and calling it green. We're talking about materials, energy systems, water management, the whole deal.

⚖

Honest Communication

We'll tell you what's possible, what's not, and why. No jargon, no runaround. Architecture's complicated enough without making it mysterious.

🏛

Respect for Context

Buildings don't exist in a vacuum. We're always thinking about the neighbourhood, the city, the heritage, and what belongs there.