Maya Chen, Principal Architect
"I've always believed buildings should breathe with their surroundings, not fight against them."
Founded in 2015, Luminar Quest started in a tiny shared office space with just me, a drafting table, and way too much coffee. Now we're a team of twelve passionate designers who actually care about what happens to the planet.
How We Got Here
Look, we're not gonna pretend we've got all the answers. Architecture's tough—balancing what clients want, what the planet needs, and what actually works in Vancouver's rainy reality.
After spending nearly a decade at larger firms where sustainability felt more like a checkbox than a commitment, I got tired of compromising. Started Luminar Quest because there had to be a better way to design buildings that don't cost the earth—literally.
We're based in Vancouver 'cause honestly, this city gets it. The people here understand that green roofs aren't just trendy, and passive solar design isn't some weird experimental thing. It's just smart building.
Our Journey
2015 - The Beginning
Started with three residential projects and a belief that contemporary design doesn't have to trash the environment. Our first LEED Gold certification came from a laneway house in Kitsilano—still one of my favorites.
2017 - Growing Pains
Brought on our first junior architects. Moved into an actual office with windows. Started tackling commercial projects—learned that sustainable design scales really well when you're working with bigger budgets and more square footage.
2019 - Recognition
Won the BC Sustainable Architecture Award for a mixed-use development in Mount Pleasant. That project taught us that community engagement isn't optional—it's essential. The neighbors had better ideas than we did about how the ground floor should work.
2021 - Pivoting Forward
Added heritage restoration to our services. Turns out old buildings are incredibly sustainable when you don't tear them down. Who knew? Started specializing in adaptive reuse—giving old warehouses and heritage structures new life instead of sending them to landfills.
2023 - Expanding Horizons
Opened our interior space planning division. Realized that sustainability doesn't stop at the building envelope—how people use spaces matters just as much. Our team grew to twelve, and we finally got that fancy espresso machine we'd been dreaming about.
2025 - Today
We're working on some of our most ambitious projects yet—net-zero commercial buildings, passive house residential complexes, and a heritage restoration that's gonna blow people's minds when it's done. Still learning, still improving, still convinced that good design and environmental responsibility aren't mutually exclusive.
What Drives Us
We're not saving the world one building at a time—that's too much pressure. But we are trying to make every project count. Whether it's a single-family home or a 50-unit development, we approach it with the same question: how can this be better for the people using it AND the environment?
Our Approach
Collaboration over ego. Data over hunches. Long-term thinking over quick fixes. We listen more than we talk—at least we try to. And we're honest when something's not gonna work, even if it means losing a project. Our reputation's built on trust, not just pretty renderings.
Work With Us
Got a project that needs thoughtful, sustainable design? Whether you're building new or breathing life into something old, we'd love to hear about it. Fair warning though—we'll probably ask a lot of questions and challenge some assumptions. That's just how we work.
Let's Talk
