Our Story

Founded in Vancouver in 2008, Garnet-peak emerged from a conviction that smaller cultural institutions deserve the same calibre of architectural expertise traditionally reserved for major metropolitan museums.

A Different Kind of Practice

Our founding partners spent years working on large-scale cultural projects before recognizing an underserved need. Across Canada, countless communities maintained remarkable collections in buildings that struggled to preserve them properly, let alone display them effectively.

We established Garnet-peak to bridge that gap — bringing sophisticated design thinking to projects that might have budgets measured in tens of thousands rather than tens of millions, but whose cultural significance is no less profound.

Key Milestones

2008

Studio Founded

Three architects with backgrounds in cultural institution design opened a modest office in Gastown, Vancouver, with a mission to serve smaller museums across Canada.

2012

First Heritage Adaptation

Completed the transformation of a former railway station in Saskatchewan into a regional history museum, establishing our approach to sensitive heritage renovation.

2016

Indigenous Partnership Program

Launched a dedicated initiative for collaborating with First Nations communities on cultural centres and repatriation facilities, working with Indigenous designers and elders throughout the process.

2020

Expanded East

Opened a satellite studio in Halifax to better serve Atlantic Canadian institutions, now comprising a team of twelve professionals across both locations.

2023

Sustainability Commitment

Achieved carbon-neutral operations and committed to prioritizing passive climate control strategies in all new museum designs, reducing long-term environmental and operational costs.

Our Guiding Principles

Context First

Every design responds to its specific place — the landscape, the climate, the local building traditions, and the community it will serve.

Collaborative Process

We work alongside curators, educators, and community members, integrating their knowledge into every phase of design development.

Long-Term Thinking

Museum buildings should serve their communities for generations. We design for durability, adaptability, and minimal ongoing maintenance.

Leadership Team

Our principals bring decades of combined experience in cultural architecture, exhibition design, and heritage conservation.

James Whitfield

Founding Partner, Design Director

Elaine Fong

Founding Partner, Heritage Specialist

Robert Sinclair

Founding Partner, Project Management

Content on this page describes our general approach and historical projects. Specific project outcomes are influenced by many variables including client requirements, site constraints, regulatory frameworks, and available budgets. Information about past projects is provided for illustrative purposes and does not guarantee similar results for future engagements. Please contact us directly for detailed discussions about your particular requirements.