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AUGUST 2018 | 7 Kirsten Reite Architecture ANDREW LATREILLE Kirsten Reite Architecture is a breath of fresh air by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI | photography & renderings COURTESY KRA Reite Way T o take the leap from working for a large firm to starting up your own busi- ness takes an innovative mindset, self belief, an ability to make difficult decisions and a willingness to take a risk, all qualities that Kirsten Reite, owner of Kirsten Reite Architecture (KRA), possesses in abundance. Reite is a breath of fresh air. Chatting with her it's hard to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes her so unique, but there is no doubt that she is a people person with a heart of gold and a vision to make this world a better place through architectural design. After working as a partner at CEI Architecture (now HDR/CEI Architecture Associates) and then as a principal at Perkins + Will (Vancouver), Reite decided five years ago that it was time to branch out on her own and follow her dream to start up her own architectural firm. "My architectural career began back in 1995 and I learned a lot from the large firms I worked with. I was given great opportunities, however I felt the time was right to take what I had learned and build on my desire to have my own office that would attract and foster creative, like-minded individuals who shared the same goals as me," says Reite. The timing couldn't have been more perfect. Having purchased a 2,500-square-foot space in the heart of Gastown in Vancouver with her husband, Reite had the chance to make her dream a reality. "It was a hard decision to go out on my own, but having the physical space made it easier, and I had great support. It just felt right," she says. Within the first three months, Reite, alongside her then three employees, were up and successfully running. "We were used to working on large infrastructure projects, P3s and design builds, and so when we first started the practice it was about earning our stripes again and proving that yes, we can do it. We started out and within a couple of months had 10 small projects, in fact lots of washroom projects," laughs Reite. "It's a steep learning curve running a small practice and takes a scrappy multitasking attitude, that's for sure, but we seemed to have no problem getting work through the door." Having already made a name for herself as a specialist in the health-care sector, Reite soon found she was competing on projects with many larger firms … and winning 75 percent of the bids. "We are a boutique firm that somehow sud- denly slotted in with larger firms. We charged comparable fees to our competitors and so it was apples for apples competing for these jobs. It became a thing for us where we were afraid to put in a proposal due to our win rate," laughs Reite. The Today, with a staff of 21 and having a strong proven record of executing all manner, scope, and size of projects, KRA has become more strategic in its approach, accepting projects where the team feel they can connect with the clients and create a meaningful space for change. "For us it is not the scale of a project but our ability to work with the client and have the kind of relationship where you feel you can trust each other to do the job. It's about having a tight relationship with individuals who think the same," says Reite. Perhaps one perfect example of this is the Carlile Youth Concurrent Disorders Centre at Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. Vancouver Coastal Health hired KRA to design a state-of-the-art inpatient unit, serving youth between the ages of 13 and 18 across the region that are experiencing serious mental health and/or substance use disorders. Patients are admitted to the inpatient unit for an average of 21 days and when community-based treatments are no longer working for them. The individuals are motivated to get better and prepared for abstaining from substance use. During their inpatient stay, youth are assessed, stabilized, and prepared for the next stage of treatment in the community. The 10-bed inpatient unit, located on the third floor of the Hope Centre, is a first of its kind for the region. "For this project we employed a creative approach. At the start of the process we held an open house to engage youth in the design of the unit and performed a lean workshop with stakeholders to evaluate any required changes in clinical delivery, process flow, and equipment. The goal was to create a space that is bright, safe, comfortable and home-like. "We wanted to steer clear of that institutional feel and the results speak for themselves. There has even been evidence to show the design has been extremely successful in reaching its goals," says Reite. Another great example of KRA's understanding and passion for the health-care sector is The Chinook Regional Hospital expansion. "I began this project while still working for Perkins + Will. It was the first health-care project in Canada to use Offices of Kirsten Reite Architecture, Vancouver, B.C.

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