Who We Are

Forging Tomorrow's Built Environment with Purpose

Our Story

Started back in 2018, we weren't your typical architecture firm from day one. While everyone else was churning out cookie-cutter designs, we had this crazy idea that industrial spaces didn't have to be these soul-sucking concrete boxes.

Three of us – Sarah, Marcus, and myself – met during a particularly brutal retrofit project in East Vancouver. We kept arguing with the general contractor about throwing away perfectly good materials. That argument turned into late-night sketches at a dive bar, which somehow became Nethrion Forge.

The name? Yeah, it's a bit dramatic. "Forge" made sense – we're literally reshaping steel and concrete. "Nethrion" came from this obscure metallurgy term Sarah found. It stuck, and honestly, it sounds way cooler than "Vancouver Sustainable Architecture Group" or whatever.

47+

Projects that didn't destroy the planet

23

LEED certifications we're actually proud of

89%

Average energy reduction across our builds

How We Got Here

2018 - The Messy Beginning

Three architects, one shared studio apartment in Gastown, and way too much coffee. Our first client took a chance on us for a small warehouse conversion. We were terrified but somehow pulled it off.

2019 - First Big Break

Landed the Coastal Brewing facility project. 12,000 sq ft of industrial space that needed to function as both production and public taproom. That one put us on the map – and taught us that brewers have VERY strong opinions about everything.

2020 - Pandemic Pivot

Everything stopped. Then everyone wanted to redesign their spaces for safety. We spent months figuring out airflow systems and contactless entries. Not glamorous, but it mattered.

2021 - Going Bigger

Finally moved into our own proper studio on Homer Street. Started tackling larger commercial projects and hired our first junior architects. Felt like real grown-ups for about five minutes.

2022 - Recognition

Won our first BC Architecture Award for the Granville Island restoration work. That validation meant more than we'd admit. Also discovered we're terrible at acceptance speeches.

2023-2024 - Expanding Vision

Brought on environmental engineers and sustainability consultants full-time. Started turning down projects that didn't align with our values, which was scary but necessary. Team grew to 15 people who actually get what we're trying to do.

2025 - Where We Are Now

Still figuring things out, honestly. But we've got a solid reputation for industrial and commercial work that doesn't compromise on sustainability. Currently juggling eight major projects and trying not to lose our minds.

The Team

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

The one who keeps us from designing impossible things. Structural genius who can calculate load-bearing capacity in her sleep.

Marcus Okonkwo

Principal Architect

Sustainability nerd who'll debate insulation R-values for hours. Previously worked on net-zero projects in Toronto.

Jamie Kowalski

Principal Architect

Design lead who somehow makes industrial spaces feel human. Has an unhealthy obsession with natural lighting.

Priya Sharma

Environmental Engineer

Runs our sustainability assessments and keeps us honest. Will call out greenwashing faster than you can say "LEED."

David Park

Senior Project Manager

Former contractor who knows every trick in the book. Keeps our designs grounded in reality and budget.

Zoe Martinez

Heritage Specialist

Our restoration expert who treats old buildings like living history. Knows every heritage bylaw in BC.

What Actually Drives Us

Look, we're not gonna feed you some corporate mission statement written by a committee. Here's the honest truth: we got into this because buildings matter way more than people think.

Commercial and industrial spaces make up almost half of all construction, but somehow they're designed like they're disposable. That's insane when you think about the resources and energy involved.

We design buildings that'll actually be around in fifty years – and that people won't hate working in. Spaces that respect the materials, the environment, and the folks who'll use them every day.

Sometimes that means fighting with developers who just want the cheapest option. Sometimes it means spending weeks sourcing reclaimed materials. It's not always glamorous, but it's worth it when you see a space come together that actually works.

Want to Work Together?

If you've got a project that needs more than just four walls and a roof, let's talk.

Get In Touch