About Us - Dusk Valley Quinthor Architecture

Our Philosophy

Look, we're not gonna pretend we've got some mystical secret to great architecture. What we do have? A genuine obsession with making buildings that work for the people using them. That's it, really.

Started back in 2009 when three of us were sitting in a cramped coffee shop on Granville, sketching ideas on napkins and complaining about how disconnected most architecture felt from actual life. Fast forward to today, and we're still having those conversations - just with better coffee and a proper drafting table.

We think buildings should breathe with their surroundings, not fight against them. Whether it's a family home in Kitsilano or a commercial space downtown, we're all about designs that'll age gracefully and won't make you cringe in five years.

The Team Behind the Blueprints

Architects, dreamers, coffee enthusiasts, and occasional perfectionists

Sarah Quinthor

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Been at this for 18 years now. Started out doing residential projects in North Van and kinda fell in love with how homes shape people's daily rhythms. Got my Masters from UBC and honestly learned more from the mistakes on early projects than any textbook ever taught me.

Marcus Duskwood

Senior Architect & Sustainability Lead

Sustainability isn't just a checkbox for me - it's the whole point. Spent years working on green buildings across BC before joining the team. I'm that guy who'll debate insulation options over lunch. My kid says I'm boring, but hey, passive solar design is fascinating!

Elena Riverbend

Commercial Design Director

Commercial spaces are my jam. There's something about creating an environment where businesses actually thrive that gets me going. Originally from Toronto, moved west for the mountains and never looked back. When I'm not obsessing over floor plans, I'm probably hiking the Chief.

David Chen

Interior Design Specialist

Interiors matter more than people think. You can have a gorgeous building that feels awful inside, and that's where I come in. Trained in both architecture and interior design because I couldn't pick just one. Also, I make the best dumplings for team lunches - just saying.

Jennifer Lawson

Project Manager & Client Relations

I keep this ship sailing smoothly. Someone's gotta make sure timelines actually mean something and budgets don't spiral into the stratosphere. Started in construction management, so I know when contractors are giving us the runaround. Firm but fair - that's the approach.

Robert Ashford

Heritage Restoration Consultant

Old buildings have stories, and I'm here to make sure those stories continue. Specialized in heritage work because Vancouver's got incredible historical architecture that deserves respect. It's detective work meets design, and I absolutely love it. Also, I collect vintage blueprints - occupational hazard.

How We Got Here

A timeline of stumbles, wins, and everything between

2009

The Beginning

Studio Founded

Three architects walk into a coffee shop... sounds like a joke, but that's literally how it started. Sarah, Marcus, and a third partner (who moved to Montreal in 2012) decided to do things differently. First office was above a pho restaurant on Commercial Drive.

2011

First Big Break

Awarded First Major Residential Project

Designed a custom home in West Van that actually won us some recognition. The clients were amazing - trusted our vision even when we suggested unconventional ideas. That project opened a lot of doors and taught us we were onto something real.

2014

Growing Pains

Expanded to Commercial Projects

Took on our first commercial space - a boutique hotel in Gastown. Nearly killed us with stress, not gonna lie. But Elena joined the team specifically for this, and her expertise saved the project. Been doing commercial work ever since.

2016

Recognition

AIBC Award for Sustainable Design

Our eco-friendly residential project in Burnaby got noticed by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia. Marcus basically lived and breathed that project for months. The award was cool, but honestly, seeing the homeowners' energy bills drop was more satisfying.

2018

New Direction

Heritage Restoration Division Launched

Robert joined us and basically created a whole new branch of what we do. Vancouver's got incredible old buildings, and we wanted to be part of preserving them properly. Now heritage work is like 30% of our business, which nobody saw coming back in 2009.

2020

Adaptation

Pivoted During the Pandemic

Like everyone else, we had to figure things out on the fly. Moved to remote consultations, which actually worked better than expected. Also got really into designing home office spaces - turns out everyone needed those suddenly. Tough year, but we made it work.

2022

Milestone

100th Project Completed

Hit triple digits with a mixed-use building in New West. Had a small celebration with the whole team - Jennifer brought champagne, David brought dumplings. Felt pretty surreal looking back at everything we'd built over the years. Here's to the next hundred.

2024

Present Day

Still Learning, Still Growing

Team's bigger, projects are more ambitious, but the core philosophy hasn't changed. We're still those same architects who want to make buildings that matter. Just with better coffee and an actual budget for decent office chairs. The journey continues.

Who We Are