About Us - FrostVeil Architecture Studio

Our Philosophy

Look, we've spent years watching buildings fight against winter instead of working with it. That's just backwards thinking if you ask us.

Here's what we figured out: cold climates aren't something to overcome - they're actually incredible design partners. The way snow settles on a roofline, how light bounces off ice, the warmth you feel stepping into a well-designed entry vestibule after being outside... that's the stuff that gets us out of bed in the morning.

We started FrostVeil because Vancouver and the broader Pacific Northwest needed architects who genuinely understand what it means to design for real winters. Not the theoretical ones from textbooks, but the actual messy, beautiful, challenging climate we live in.

Every project we take on is a chance to prove that sustainable doesn't mean sacrificing comfort, and that buildings designed for cold weather can be absolutely stunning year-round.

Meet the Team

Elena Frost

Founding Principal Architect

Spent five winters in northern Norway before moving to Vancouver, and honestly, those years shaped everything about how I approach design. There's something about experiencing -40 degrees that makes you really think hard about thermal envelopes and human comfort. I founded FrostVeil because I got tired of seeing cookie-cutter designs that ignored our unique climate challenges.

Marcus Borealis

Senior Architect, Sustainability Lead

Grew up in the Yukon, so I've got winter in my DNA. My master's thesis was on passive heating in sub-arctic climates, which sounds boring until you realize it can cut energy costs by 60%. I joined FrostVeil because Elena and I share this obsession with making buildings that don't just survive winter, but actually celebrate it.

Sara Lindholm

Project Architect, Heritage Specialist

My family's from Sweden, and I grew up hearing stories about buildings that've stood for 300 years through countless harsh winters. That's the standard I hold myself to. Heritage restoration is tricky because you're balancing modern performance requirements with historical integrity - it's like a puzzle I never get tired of solving.

David Chen

Architectural Designer

Newest member of the team but definitely not new to cold weather - I did my internship in Edmonton where winter lasts about eight months. What drew me to FrostVeil was their approach to residential projects. They actually listen to how people live in winter instead of just drawing pretty elevations.

Ingrid Kaskinen

Interior Architecture Lead

Finnish roots, Canadian upbringing - best of both worlds, really. Interior spaces in cold climates need totally different thinking. It's not just about aesthetics, it's about creating warmth that you feel, not just see. My speciality is making spaces that combat those dark winter months without feeling artificial or forced.

James MacLeod

Building Science Consultant

I'm the guy who runs the thermal modeling and makes sure our beautiful designs actually perform in real-world conditions. Spent a decade doing building envelope consulting before joining FrostVeil. Nothing drives me crazier than seeing a gorgeous building that leaks heat like a sieve or gets ice damming every February.

Our Journey

2018

The Beginning

Elena returned from Norway with a head full of ideas and a burning question: why weren't we designing for our actual climate? Started with just three of us in a shared workspace downtown, taking on projects other firms thought were too niche or challenging.

2019

First Major Win

Completed the Whistler Alpine Residence that ended up winning a sustainability award we didn't even know we were nominated for. That project proved our approach wasn't just theoretical - it actually worked better and cost less to operate than conventional designs.

2021

Growth & Recognition

Moved into our current studio space on West Georgia. Added heritage restoration to our services after Sara joined the team. Started getting inquiries from across BC and even some from Alberta. Turns out there's real demand for architects who understand winter.

2023

Expanding Expertise

Brought James on board to strengthen our building science capabilities. Started offering full winter climate optimization consulting separate from architectural services. Published a white paper on thermal bridging in cold climates that's now referenced in local building codes.

2024

Commercial Breakthrough

Landed our first major commercial project - a net-zero office building in Kelowna. Team grew to twelve people. Started getting calls from developers who finally realized that sustainable cold-climate design actually increases property values. Who knew?

2025

Looking Forward

Currently working on eight active projects ranging from private residences to a community center. We're exploring prefab systems for cold-climate housing and researching traditional Indigenous building techniques that we've overlooked for too long. The best part? We're still learning something new with every project.

How We Work

We're pretty collaborative, sometimes annoyingly so. Every project starts with questions, not answers. What's the site doing in January? How does snow move across the landscape? Where's the winter sun at 3pm? What are you actually going to do in this space when it's dark at 4:30?

Our process isn't linear - it's more like a conversation that includes thermal modeling, hand sketches, client feedback, and probably too many site visits in bad weather. We use building science to inform design, not constrain it. The goal's always the same: create something that performs beautifully and looks even better.

We also believe in being honest about costs, timelines, and limitations. If something won't work, we'll tell you straight up. Architecture's too expensive and too permanent for anything less than complete transparency.

Climate-First Design

Data-Driven Decisions

Collaborative Process

Honest Communication

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for challenging projects that push our thinking. Whether you're planning a mountain retreat, renovating a heritage building, or just want to chat about thermal performance over coffee, we'd love to hear from you.

Get In Touch