Since our inception in 1992, Acton Ostry Architects has demonstrated a continuing commitment to the making of architecture that responds thoughtfully to local topography, climate, culture and to lessons learned from buildings inherited from the past. The values of our practice embody a consideration to design that is without willful extravagance. Our design approach incorporates new technologies and materials that contribute to the realization of projects rooted in a considered, modernist idiom that offer sustenance to those who inhabit and experience them.

Our experience encompasses a wide range of facility programming, feasibility studies, master planning, rezoning, building design, interior design and public consultation services. Appreciation of culture, history, and significance of place, has led to extensive experience with the rehabilitation, renovation and adaptive re-use of buildings.

Our projects have been recognized through respected civic, regional and national awards programs for their sensitivity in responding to unique locations and specific client requirements. While we are pleased with the recognition that our projects have received, our commitment to excellence is primarily motivated through working closely with our clients to achieve well functioning, technically sound and inspiring buildings.

We practice architecture in a sustainable manner and are members of the Canada Green Building Council. We focus on providing the in-depth research, rigorous analysis, innovated design, well detailed construction documents and careful cost control methods that are required to achieve buildings that are fiscally responsible, long-lasting and sustainable. Our practice is dedicated to the making of architecture that reflects the cultural values and aspirations of the communities we serve.

Biological Sciences Complex

2012  Sustainable Architecture & Building Canadian Green Building Award

 

Klemtu Ferry Terminal

2012  Premier’s Award for Innovation and Excellence

2012 Northern BC Building Excellence Award

2012 Northern BC Building Best of Show Award

 

Hillel Student Centre

2012 Masonry Institute of British Columbia Award of Excellence

 

Cactus Club Sumas Way

2012 Masonry Institute of British Columbia Award of Merit

 

Sauder School of Business

2011 Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

2010  Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Design Award

2010  Sustainable Architecture & Building Canadian Green Building Award

2010  Vancouver Regional Construction Association Award of Excellence

 

Alhambra + Garage + Cordage + Grand + Terminus

2011 Heritage BC Outstanding Achievement Award

2010  Lieutenant Governor of BC Medal in Architecture

2010  Sustainable Architecture & Building Canadian Green Building Award

 

Salt Building

2011 City of Vancouver Heritage Honour Award

2011 Canadian Wood Council Wood Works Green Building Award

2010 Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals Award of Merit

2010 Heritage BC Award of Honour

2010 Vancouver Regional Construction Association Award of Excellence

2010 Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence

 

Alhambra

2011 City of Vancouver Heritage Honour Award

2010 Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board Award of Excellence

 

Cordage + Garage

2011 City of Vancouver Heritage Award

2010 Urban Development Institute Pacific Region Award of Excellence

 

Terminus + Grand

2011 City of Vancouver Heritage Award

2010 Interior Design Institute of British Columbia Residential Design Bronze Award

 

Flack Block

2010  Heritage BC Outstanding Achievement Award

2009  City of Vancouver Heritage Honour Award

 

Klemtu Health Centre

2010  Northern BC Building Excellence Award of Merit

 

Killarney Ice Rink + Lobby

2009  Globe Foundation & World Green Building Council Excellence for Green Building Award

 

Cactus Club Bentall

2009  Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Design of the Year Bronze Award

 

King David High School

2008  Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

2008  Masonry Institute of British Columbia Award of Excellence

2007  Interior Design Institute of British Columbia Gold Award

2007  Interior Design Institute of British Columbia Best of Show Award

2007  Canadian Wood Council Wood Works Institutional Wood Design Award

2006  Vancouver Regional Construction Association Award of Excellence

 

Architectural Firm Award

2007  Canadian Wood Council Wood Works Architectural Firm Award

 

Taylor Building

2005  Urban Development Institute Pacific Region Award of Excellence

2004  City of Vancouver Heritage Award

 

Siple Residence

2005  “Outside the Box” Merit Award for Outstanding Innovation and Creativity in Architecture

2005  Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

2004  Western Living Residential Design Award

2004  Interior Design Institute of British Columbia Residential Design Silver Award

2004  Interior Design Institute of British Columbia Special Jury Award

 

Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Free Church

2004  Canadian Architect Award of Excellence

 

Skidegate Elementary School

2003  Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

 

UBC Arts Undergraduate Student Centre

2003  Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

 

Mount Currie Village Centre

2000  Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture

 

Langley City Hall and Library

1999  Design Competition Finalist

 

Har-El Synagogue and Community Centre

1999  Governor General Medal in Architecture Finalist

1998  Lieutenant Governor of BC Medal in Architecture

1998  Canadian Wood Council Ron Thom Award

1998  American Wood Council Merit Award

1997  Canadian Architect Award of Excellence

 

Dendoff Springs Limited

1998  Canadian Wood Council Honour Award

 

Percival (del Prado) Building Renovation and Conversion

1996  City of Vancouver Heritage Honour Award

 

Danica Artist Live/Work Studios and Warehouse

1995  Canadian Architect Award of Excellence

 

Bodega Artist Studios and Galleries Renovation and Conversion

1994  City of Vancouver Heritage Award

 

Old Massett Primary School

1993  Canadian Architect Award of Excellence

 

First Nations Assembly Hall and Cultural Centre

1992  Award of Excellence in the Representation of Architecture

 

Pacific National Exhibition Prize Home Competition

1992  Third Prize Award

 

Progressive Design 101, Drew Grossman, Architecture Leaders Today, Summer 2012

Role Model, Russell Acton, Canadian Architect, June 2012

Exploring Vancouver: Architectural Guide, Harold Kalman & Robin Ward, May 2012

Hillel Student Centre: Flashes of Brilliance, World Architecture News, March 2012

Cactus Club at English Bay: Conflict by design?, Gordon Price, City Caucus, March 2012

Live Outside the Box with Oversized Patio, Sarah Rowland, 24Hour, February 2012

Biological Sciences Complex – UBC, Award Magazine, John T.D. Keyes, February 2012

2 x 4 Design Collection: Acton Ostry, Japan’s 2 x 4 Builders’ Association Magazine, Volume 192, 2012

Sauder School of Business: Phase II and III, Award Magazine, Mary Francis Hill, December 2011

Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Arch Daily, December 2011

Killarney Ice Rink + Lobby, Arch Daily, December 2011

Salt Building, Arch Daily, December 2011

Biological Sciences Remake, Bronwen Parsons, Canadian Consulting Engineer, December 2011

Salt Building, Celebrating Excellence in Wood Structures, Bernadette Johnson, 2010 / 2011

Murray’s Place, Mountain Life, Kate MacLennan, September 2011

Newly Renovated Biological Sciences Building at UBC Opens, Canadian Architect, August 2011

UBC Opens Revamped, Sustainable Biological Sciences Complex, Journal of Commerce, August 2011

Sheer Brilliance in Vancouver, World Architecture News, August 2011

Subtle Colour Injection on Campus, World Architecture News, August 2011

Sauder School of Business, John Hill, A Weekly Dose of Architecture, August 2011

Everybody’s Business, Adele Weder, Canadian Architect, Nov 2010

The Friedman Building Case Study, Vancouver Heritage Foundation, Nov 2010

Heavy Metal Rehab, Kerry Gold, The Globe and Mail, Nov 2010

New ‘Corporate Cool’ for a Business School, Pamela Young, CFM&D, Oct 2010

Heritage Project Attracts Business and Residents, Brian Morton, Vancouver Sun, Aug 2010

Gastown Rehab, SABMagazine, July/August 2010

Sauder School of Business, SABMagazine, July/August 2010

Salt Building Revival, Russell Acton, SABMagazine, May/June 2010

Sauder School of Business Unveils first phase of $85M Renewal, Amanda Warren, Spring 2010

Sauder School of Business Expansion, Phase One, John T.D. Keyes, Award Magazine, April 2010

A Guidebook to Contemporary Architecture in Vancouver, Chris McDonald, 2010

It Took a Village, But They Got It Right, Lisa Rochon, The Globe and Mail, Feb 2010

A Landmark Worth Its Salt, Frances Bula, The Globe and Mail, Feb 2010

The Salt Building, Rachel Moscovich, The Challenge Series, 2009

Under One Roof, James Glave, Canadian Geographic, Oct 2009

Building on History, Hadani Ditmars, The Globe and Mail, July 2009

Water Street’s ‘Sculptural’ Addition, Michael Sasges, The Vancouver Sun, Feb 2009

Wanted: an Affordable Bistro, Carlito Pablo, The Georgia Straight, June 2009

Back to the future, Dharm Makwana, Vancouver 24 hours, April 2009

Stella, Susan M. Boyce, Award Magazine, April 2009

Design of the Year 2009: How to make a little go a long way, Staff Writers, Vancouver Magazine, April 2009

Water Street’s ‘Sculptural’ Addition, Michael Sasges, The Vancouver Sun, Feb 2009

Old Soul, David Jordan, BC Business, Jan 2009

King David High School, Mark Ostry, 1000 x Architecture of the Americas, Winter 2008

Alhambra Hotel 2 Water Street, Vancouver Heritage Foundation: New Life Old Buildings Guide to Heritage Conservation, Vancouver Heritage Foundation, 2008

Black Tie Optional, Jim Sutherland, Western Living, Sep 2008

Craft & Heritage: King David High School, Erica Tennenhouse, Wood Design & Building, Summer 2008

2008 AIBC Awards of Excellence: Special Supplement, Staff Writers, Design Quarterly, Summer 2008

High-Energy Cactus Club Delivers the Goods, Mia Stainsby, Vancouver Sun, July 2008

Craft Heritage: King David High School, Erica Tennenhouse, Wood Design & Building, Summer 2008

2008 AIBC Special Jury Award, AIBC Magazine

Dwelling: King David High School, A Community Building, Trevor Boddy, Globe & Mail, May 2008

2008 AIBC Architectural Awards, Canadian Architect, May 2008

Design Wire: King David High School, Interior Design, March 2008

Living Vancouver, Disabled Filmmaker, aired on CBC Feb 2008, www.cbc.ca

Gold/Best of Show: King David High School, An Enriching Experience, Design Quarterly, Spring 2008

True Reflections: 2007 Awards of Excellence, Canadian Architect, Dec 2007

News: BC WoodWorks! Awards, Canadian Architect, May 2007

Spring Kudos: BC WoodWorks! Awards, architecture BC Issue 24, Spring 2007

Sacred Spaces, CBC Radio Interview, aired 27 November 2006, www.cbc.ca/bc

Biblical Proportions: King David High School, Canadian Architect, June 2006

Canada Innovates: Sustainable Building, George Brown College, School of Design, 2006

Details in Architecture 5, China Architecture and Building Press, 2006

Up North, Lisa Rochon, Key Porter Books, 2005

Chinatown Revitalization, Greater Vancouver TV, aired 05 Oct 2005, www.gvtv.ca

Har-El Synagogue, The Poetics of West Coast Modernism, Exhibition Catalogue, Fall 2005

Siple House, Jim Taggart, Wood Design & Building, Summer 2005

The Siple Life, Amara Holstein, Dwell, March 2005

Open Up, Adele Weder, Azure, Jan/Feb 2005

Vancouver Chinese Evangelical Free Church, Canadian Architect, Dec 2004

Architecture: Designs that Moved Us, Lisa Rochon, The Globe & Mail, Dec 2004

Vancouver Chinatown Revitalization Project, Canadian Architect, Nov 2004

For One, For All, Lila MacLellan, Western Living, Oct 2004

Gastown, Lila MacLellan, Vancouver, Sept 2004

Siple House, Russell Acton, Wood le Bois, Summer 2004

Castle and Keep, Jim Taggart, Canadian Architect, Feb 2004

Lofty Ambitions, John Wellwood, Western Living, Sept 2001

Native Intelligence, Adele Weder, Canadian Architect, Feb 2000

Allegorical Architecture, Adele Weder, The Globe and Mail, 12 Feb 2000

Har-El Synagogue, Wood Design & Building, Summer 1999

The Har-El Synagogue, Wood le Bois, Fall 1998

Speaking a Universal Language of Worship, Adele Weder, The Globe & Mail, Aug 1998

Spiritual Retreat, Raul A Barreneche, Architecture, Aug 1998

New Jerusalem on a Salmon Run, Trevor Boddy, Canadian Architect, June 1998

Case/Studio a Vancouver, L’Arca, June 1998

The Vancouver School, Trevor Boddy, Stadt Bauwelt, March 1998

Award of Excellence Har-El Synagogue, Canadian Architect, Dec 1997

Company’s Image, L’Arca, June 1997

Vancouver’s Vital Signs, Trevor Boddy, Architecture, Sept 1996

Transcending Style, Adele Freedman, Architecture, Sept 1996

Acton Johnson Ostry, Insite, Jan 1996

Award of Excellence Old Massett Primary School, Canadian Architect, Dec 1993

Chief Matthews School, Russell Acton, International Contract, July 1993