Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/856921
6 | AUGUST 2017 GBL Architects PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY GBL ARCHITECTS E very project has a unique story to tell. Being able to drill deep to uncover that story and incorporate it into the design philosophy to drive the form and meet client expectations requires insight, imagination and a holistic approach. This is something that the team at GBL Architects has in abundance. It could be that the architecture firm began its life specializ- ing primarily in social housing projects, which require a greater understanding of the end users needs, or, it could be that the firm just attracts the right talent due to a certain, well, je ne sais quoi. Whatever the reason, it's clear that Vancouver-based GBL Architects is a pretty unique firm. When the 64 staff mem- bers aren't busy working, you'll find them out hiking, biking or playing softball together. "While we have a lot of talented people, we also have a group that all genuinely enjoy being around one another. It's hard to pinpoint how that came to be; some of it is attribut- able to our hiring practices, some of it may have to do with a diverse range of nationalities in our office and people that all came to Canada as curious, open-minded individuals, and some of it is probably just contagious. Whatever the rea- son, we fully embrace and encourage the social dynamic in our office and have come to believe it is one of our greatest strengths," says Joey Stevens, associate at GBL. Prelude, Vancouver, B.C. Olympic Village, Vancouver, B.C.