‘Black and White’ @ 1033 Cook Street
VICTORIA – Cascadia Architects Inc. is known in the industry as “Design-Building-Community” experts.
Owners and Principal Architects Peter Johannknecht and Greg Damant started the company in 2012, and they have focused the firm on sustainable architecture urban design and interior design, taking projects from conception to completion while maintaining environmental, social, and economic sustainability.
“Our work includes housing and in-fill development, as much of our work is contributing solutions to the current housing crisis as well as the environmental challenges we face,” says Johannknecht, who adds they also concentrate on wellness within communities. “We care about the quality of the spaces that our designs create, both inside and out, and pay attention to the effects of buildings on the communities and environments we work within.”
Peter Johannknecht and Greg Damant, owners and Principal Architects at Cascadia Architects Inc.
Damant adds: “We are actively engaged in all the projects that come into our office and value the collaboration and teamwork in our studio in downtown Victoria,” notes Damant. “We are invested in every project and are committed to the process from start to finish. We are serious about making design and construction fun, while making great spaces in the process.”
Cascadia Architects team of professionals includes Architects, Intern-Architects, Technologists and Interior Designers. They recently promoted three long-time employees to Associates: Will Krzymowski, Sara Huynh and Andy Guiry.
Affordable housing projects provide great spaces for everyone.
“Affordable housing is a challenging typology with complexity from the funding and pro-forma to meeting the diverse needs of people,” says Johannknecht. “We have shown that attention to the design of these buildings results in high quality spaces for people and communities to grow regardless of their income.”
Passive House and Low Carbon Designs demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability.
“We have completed Passive House projects from custom single family to over 100 unit affordable housing buildings,” Damant notes. “Our expertise in this sector is significant.”
1001 Blanshard is a Cascadia Architects Inc. project
Community spaces is an emphasis in our approach to urban design, which can be seen in mixed use and housing projects like the Black & White or Bellewood Park in Victoria, as well as Fort Common at 1001 Blanshard Street. These are hallmarks of Cascadia Architects, and are important to the community as it grows, enhancing livability.
“Over the years we have cultivated a reputation for navigating and realizing projects that come with significant challenges,” states Damant. “Whether it is site constraints, neighbourhood concerns, or unique programmatic requirements, we excel at designing the building and the path to get there.”
Being curious learners and good listeners is a quality the firm treasures and it has helped them expand their client base beyond Greater Victoria, with new projects in the Comox Valley, Port Alberni and Kamloops.
“Our commitment is to provide great service and high-quality architecture and interior design,” Johannknecht states. “A key to this is understanding and communicating the value of good design, and knowing how to realize projects on time and on budget while considering the impact on the environment.”
“A core focus of our work is developing people and relationships. We prioritize making and maintaining connections, and our studio is comprised of exceptional individuals who consistently excel in their expertise.”
