Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1149947
6 | AUGUST 2019 Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design Thinkspace continues to empower people through thoughtful designs by NATALIE BRUCKNER A rchitecture can be extremely powerful; it has the potential to impact our mental health, our mood, and shape our behaviour, and every great architect knows that ultimately archi- tecture is not about putting your stamp on the built environment, but about designing buildings that work for people. At Thinkspace Architecture Planning Interior Design (Thinkspace) this concept is not new. In fact, it has been at the heart of the company since it first started beating in 1963. "Architecture is about recon- necting people with nature, going back to our roots and who we are as human beings, which is something that was perhaps forgotten for a long time," says Ray Wolfe, architect and partner at Thinkspace. Walk into Thinkspace's Surrey, B.C. office and you are overcome by a sense of calm. It's almost like you've come home. Despite having grown from a one- man operation in Chilliwack, B.C. into a 50-person architecture firm (with two offices, one in Surrey and one in Kelowna), it has managed to retain a certain family feel. It could well be that the five partners, Lee Blanchard, Henk Kampman, Leonard Rodrigues, Ray Wolfe, and Todd Dust are incredibly supportive of one another and their team. Also, the original owner's son, Mike Graham, is still involved with the company. At Thinkspace there is no such thing as a nine to five. It's a company that truly values its people, and understands that to get the best out of people you need to be flexible in your approach. When you meet the partners you feel their passion for architecture and their people, the firm's history, and the complex projects the team has worked on, and continues to work on. "The company was started by Gordon Graham who was a problem solver, extremely detail-oriented and amazing at drawing. He started the company working on complex institutional projects, which set the tone for the company we have today," explains Dust, part- ner and senior architect at the Kelowna office. Over the years, the company has naturally evolved. Its focus has expanded from primar- ily complex K to Grade 12 projects to now include post secondary and health-care work. The firm has Enhancing Human Experience Mar Jok Elementary School, West Kelowna, B.C. PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN JEWALL PHOTO STUDIOS INC.