Our Story
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
W. T. Leung Architects Inc. had it's beginnings on the west side of Vancouver in 1985. The studio location on West Broadway, has a magnificent 180º view of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore as well as the very spot at which the practice had it's formative years on Granville Island. The practice has been an important participant in the phenomenal growth of Greater Vancouver in the last four decades, which in large part was sparked during the mid-80s by unprecedented urban transformation and awakening which remains robust to this day.
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The architectural design work which has primarily contributed to the growth of WTLA and continues to sustain it today is multi-family housing. This building type has led the office to design buildings in the urban core, in heritage areas, in the centres of fast paced suburbs as well as well established communities and neighbourhoods. Many of these projects include mixed-use buildings incorporating a diverse mix of uses including commercial, institutional, social service, educational, office and cultural uses. Each project has it's own unique programmatic, zoning and contextual characteristics requiring a problem solving skill set to which the practice responds and develops the best and most efficient design of building area and building systems. The team participation on each project is a sacred philosophy the office believes in with the best ideas coming from the team's collective input.
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With over four decades of local practice, WTLA has developed strong ties with the most experienced and respected consultants that enhances collaboration and project design team ownership. With this relationship continuing to evolve, the best ideas are brought forth and vetted for their application to the project at hand. While always keeping the interests of the Client paramount, the design team’s work led by WTLA will strive to manage design and engineering efficiencies, project and life cycle costs, sustainable and environmental strategies and revisiting and refining the principles which make the design most appropriate for it’s singular location.
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Another critical piece in the design and construction process which WTLA also hangs it hat on is its long term, close relationships with many local planning and design authorities. The open dialogue and mutual understanding we maintain with these official bodies is immeasurable when the goal of the work is to arrive at a mutual win-win solution for both municipalities and our Clients for small, large and complex projects and is an important part of understanding the civic responsibilities of development and urban growth. Often, such close work and shared confidence leads to the approval of the design envelope being pushed beyond the usual ‘by the book limits’.
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With the design and construction process being a very long and at times uneven endeavor, W. T. LEUNG ARCHITECTS INC. will always commit to bringing out it’s best to deliver a successful project for our Clients. With numerous awards of recognition and its many clients who have retained WTLA for multiple projects, such support is a testament to the level of service and expertise which comes with the practice.