From a site layout perspective, prioritizing a range of unit sizes was important to the Avalon team during the design process, as they wanted to grow a community with renters at every stage of their lives. Additionally, the design incorporates a separate front door and private outdoor amenity space to make every unit feel like a separate home.
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Gravity Architecture is pleased to announce Maddy Peters has joined the team as an Architectural Technologist.
Maddy joined the Gravity team as an Architectural Technologist for the summer right after completing her diploma. After studying art history for a year at the University of Calgary, she was inspired by one of her professors to pursue an Architecture Technology diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Even though Maddy doesn’t have a “dream job", she loves working at Gravity because of the collaborative environment. She missed out on that aspect of going to SAIT as she started the diploma program in 2020, not long after the pandemic started. Before joining Gravity, Maddy’s previous summer job was as a general labourer for Jackson Masonry Ltd.
Maddy’s favourite historical styles of architecture are Gothic, Queen Anne Victorian, and Stave Churches (a medieval wooden Christian church building once common in north-western Europe).
Maddy has been in the Calgary area for her whole life—living just outside of Millarville—where she enjoys a plethora of outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and fishing in the summer, as well as snowboarding and skating in the winter. She is also musically inclined and, while she can play many instruments, the violin is one of her favourites.
Maddy joined Gravity in 2022, and we are excited to have her on the team.
Gravity Architecture is pleased to announce Noel Heard has joined the team as an Intern Architect.
Noel Heard comes to us with over 12 years of experience. He has studied and worked in Calgary for 24 years during which he completed his undergraduate degree in fine art at The Alberta University of The Arts and his Masters in Architecture at the University of Calgary. After completing his education he designed major projects in the transportation, recreation, education, residential and commercial sectors. In addition he has continued his artistic practices focusing on printmaking and sculpture while being involved in Calgary’s Art community in his capacity as the President of the board of Directors of The New Gallery, Calgary’s oldest artist run centre.
He honed his design skills while creating meaningful spaces for Calgarians and spent a great deal of time thinking about how the public realm impacts the lives of all. Many of the projects he has designed have helped make the City an engaging and rewarding place to live. Some of the projects of which he is most proud include the Quarry Park Recreation Centre, the Glenmore Sailing School expansion, and the Westbrook pedestrian overpass. He is also very proud of the home that he designed for his parents in Kaslo, BC and the garage that he designed for Canadian Artist and photographer Hutch Hutchinson in Bowness.
Noel is experienced in development planning, and with all aspects of advanced building systems. He also possesses a high degree of proficiency in architectural visualization and design iteration, from sketching and physical modelling to technical drafting, as well as multi-platform 3D modelling and rendering.
In his free time Noel enjoys all aspects of human creativity as well as cycling long distances, running, swimming, and BBQ.
Noel joined Gravity in the latter half of 2021, and we are very happy to have him on the team.
We’ve happy to announce that Garth Poitras has joined us here at Gravity as an Architectural Technologist.
Garth’s passion for building structures started in 1989 when he was learning the tricks of the trades included everything from drywall and stucco, but with the bulk of his experience focused in framing. In 1998 he shifted from from production construction to the more creative and free-form carpentry possible in log home building at Sure Log Homes,
After a five-year stretch of log home building (the highlight of the on-site portion of his career), and a move to Halifax, Garth satisfied his creative inclinations by enrolling into the Drafting/Architectural course at Nova Scotia Community College where he graduated in 2005.
With years of experience in general contracting and construction of custom homes, he focused his new career as an architectural technologist on working with like-minded builders including Morrison Homes, Albi Homes and Cornerstone Homes. Throughout his well-rounded career in the construction industry, Garth found inspiration while working in a talent-rich environments. With a desire to continue working with talented, like-minded people he found Gravity through a close connection.
We’re very pleased to have Garth on our team!
Dan Lenander, Trent Letwiniuk, Jim Vasto and Stephen Barnecut
Gravity Architecture Brings Intelligent Design Solutions to British Columbia’s Growing Housing Market
From bustling urban centres to quiet residential neighbourhoods, every community has a tone and tenor all its own. Look closely, and you’ll notice the many facets of a community’s character—the culture, the climate, the flora and fauna, and, of course, the architecture of its homes and buildings.
Since 2006, Gravity Architecture has been doing its part, contributing to the personality and vibrancy of Alberta’s communities through architectural design. With a wide variety of project experience, Gravity has developed a reputation for design that appeals to end buyers, while enhancing the livability of the wider community.
Gravity expanded into the BC market in 2019 to meet the surging demand for housing in the Lower Mainland, the Interior, and Vancouver Island. With well-conceived unit layouts and architectural design, Gravity is helping BC’s developers provide the townhouses, midrise, and mixed-use buildings the market requires.
“Our goal in BC is simple: we want to do good work that’s recognized by our customers and peers as being part of the solution. Affordable housing, sustainability, and density are all top of mind,” says Trent Letwiniuk, Principal and Owner.
From townhouses and multistorey residential buildings to commercial and community-oriented projects like daycares and shelters, Gravity Architecture has always endeavoured to build upon the distinctiveness of each community while keeping the needs of its customers at the forefront. The customer’s project goals always come first.
“We’re unique amongst architects in the sense that many on our team have worked directly for developers. It means that we’re highly attuned to what developers are interested in when they’re developing new products,” says Stephan Barnecut, Principal and Owner. “It’s that kind of insight that distinguishes us from most other firms. It’s the ‘unfair’ advantage we bring to the BC market.”
Gravity’s design approach ensures each project both enhances and harmonizes with the wider community, both from a marketing and regulatory point of view. With keen attention to project requirements, including local Bylaws and building Codes, Gravity’s customers have had notable success promptly advancing their projects from design to build.
“We’ve developed a process for our clients that’s forward-moving and as predictable as possible,” says Barnecut. “By keeping our clients well-informed, they always know where they are in the process. The result is fewer late changes or rework.”
Gravity understands each market has its own unique requirements and challenges. Leveraging local expertise is vital. Consequently, Gravity has broadened its team, hiring Vancouver-based architects who bring substantial experience and understanding of BC’s marketplace.
“Having worked as an architect in Vancouver for over 15 years, I’ve noticed that every new firm has to start somewhere. A lot of them start from zero. Fortunately, in Gravity’s case we’re coming into the market with a ton of transferrable experience,” says Jim Vasto, Principal.
With an extensive portfolio and proven architectural know-how, Gravity has already attracted several BC-based projects and is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to BC’s forward-thinking community of developers.
Gravity’s BC Design Lead, Dan Lenander, has been working as an architectural designer in Vancouver over 10 years. He acknowledges the competitive nature of the market and the benefits it affords a growing architectural firm like Gravity.
“You’ve got to work that much harder to stand out, but Vancouver is simply one of the nicest places to be. It opens all kinds of creative opportunities on everything from sustainable design to materials choices to the ideas that you can present.”
With the requisite technical ability, creativity, and raw horsepower that BC’s builders require, Gravity is well positioned to serve the growing demand for higher density, affordability, sustainability, and mixed-use type developments.
“Increasingly, municipalities are crafting policy to address the pressures of a growing population,” says Letwiniuk. “Whether that results in more zoning for multi-family townhomes or six-story apartment buildings, it’s a space that we really feel comfortable in, and have been successful in.”
In collaboration with its clients, Gravity is working to transform communities and solve some of the greatest challenges faced by growing, dynamic cities.
“It’s a thrill when you get that chance to work with new customers, design projects, and contribute to the character of a city,” says Letwiniuk. “It’s a genuine privilege.”
We’re happy to welcome Adam Nixon to the team at Gravity!
Adam spent countless hours with Lego in his youth (and adult) life. This evolved into an interest in PC modifications and gaming, and these two hobbies synchronized with a drafting class in high school which opened the door to a career in Architecture.
Graduating the Architectural Technology diploma program with honours from NAIT in 2009. Adam has gained experience at wide variety of firms finding his niche in leveraging the BIM environment.
First exposed to real-world Revit in 2014 at Dialog working on Bjarke Ingels Group’s Telus SKY, he was taken with the efficiency BIM could offer.
From there he had the opportunity to work with Executive Millwork reverse engineering a Revit model to generate shop drawings and installation diagrams for the internal woodwork in Calgary’s New Central Library by Snøhetta and Dialog. More recently Adam was responsible for the implementation of Revit at Sturgess Architecture, taking on the role of BIM manager.
In the fall of 2021, Adam joined Gravity Architecture, eager to bring a new perspective to the growing team.
These days Adam spends his free time with a healthy mix of woodworking, motorcycles, downhill mountain biking, and snowboarding in the winter.
Adam joins us as a Senior Technologist and our BIM Manager.
We’d like to welcome Nicholas Tam to the team at Gravity!
Nicholas’s early penchant for drawing and craft led to his pursuit of a Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Southern California, winning multiple studio commendations and awarded the opportunity to study at the Politecnico di Milano for a semester, immersing himself in classical Roman architecture, Italian literature, and field studies throughout Italy and Switzerland.
Nicholas has been involved with architecture varying in typology, scale, and complexities ranging through athletic centres, institutional master plans, industrial warehouses, medical facilities, commercial, and multi-family (6 to 200+ units). This diversity of project exposure begets interpreting every design prompt anew; challenging convention with meaningful design narratives and articulating ideas with clarity. He is an eternal optimist that sees opportunity in every difficulty and executes projects from sketch to site with an exceptional level of organization. Travel and field sketching continue to be a treasured habit to this day.
Nicholas has taken the role of Project Architect at Gravity.
In 2020, we were approached by the owner of a site in Calgary’s Sunnyside district located at the juncture of the Sunnyside Station C-train platform and several busy pedestrian and vehicular routes. We were asked to ignore the land use district and the associated bylaw rules and prepare a schematic for what should go on this site.
Being at the heart of the community, we felt this site could host a mixed-use program that shapes the way in which Calgarians arrive at and experience this vibrant neighbourhood. By integrating the transit infrastructure into the building, we imagined a development with the ability to offer unique homes as well as a place to gather as a community.
We believed that the preeminence of the site required a higher level of quality in construction, materials and design. We attempted to find a proportion for the apartment block harmonic to the site and character of the neighbourhood. We also felt that the design should help elevate the quality of the area without becoming iconic or singular, and that the design and materials would be sufficient for the occupants to ensure the desirability of the units for years to come.
Predesign Axonometrics
Programmatically, we designed a base podium containing four townhouse units with street facing patios and gardens. Adjacent to this on 3rd Avenue is the main entrance to the apartments. Behind the townhouses is hidden a very small parking garage (most units will not get a parking stall), as well as space for waste and recycling.
The level above features a restaurant retail unit accessible directly from the C-train platform. This restaurant use would activate the back of the platform and the adjacent public plaza. This gesture would compliment the community-oriented nature of the platform and add a vibrant amenity to the existing infrastructure.
Above the apartments the building would also have a shared rooftop amenity garden. Every apartment would have a balcony, but those above the podium would have small landscaped exterior terraces.
Connecting all these features is a glazed and screened stair and elevator core which would allow light and a sense of connection to permeate the building. This gesture would unite the various public spaces of the building and fill it with a unique quality.
Artist's Rendering of Mission Road from 2012 Consultant’s Report
In addition to the challenges presented by any site and budget, Gravity often has to respond to complex planning documents. Our Mission Road project has certainly been no exception.
In the summer of 2011, the City of Calgary began an ambitious planning project. The goal was to bring citizens, landowners, and City staff together with an international consulting team “to translate years worth of lessons learned into a plan for healthy growth along Mission Road.” It was also a way of seeing if workshops like this could be a better way of doing planning. On June 17 of that year, the City brought in well-known new urbanist planner Andués Duany of Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company (now DPZ) for a lecture at the Glenbow, and then a charette with the stakeholders for Mission Road. Some may recall that DPZ was the firm that had previously consulted with Carma on the first (and most successful) phases of MacKenzie Towne in southeast Calgary.
Illustrative Plan from Parkhill Stanley Park ARP
The outcome of that process was initially a 78-page Final Consultant’s Report describing a human-scaled (and somewhat Italianate) urban future for Mission Road. While occasionally fantastical, the report described a plausible development pattern that reached across MacLeod Trail to integrate the nearby LRT corridor. Illustrations described narrower streets, mixed uses and more trees.
Ultimately, this work got its legal teeth as an amendment to the Parkhill Stanley Park Area Redevelopment Plan. Section 3.2 describes this Special Policy Area with form-based controls for building massing and frontage, outlines street improvements, and attempts to preserve the pedestrian-oriented streetscapes and scale that was envisioned at the charette.
In 2018, the owner of three long, steep parcels on the south side of Mission Road asked Gravity to prepare a feasibility study for a mixed-use project on the site. While we were not able to practically bring vehicles in from the back of the site (it being over three storeys above Mission Road), we were able to prove that a viable multi-residential building with a commercial frontage and a private courtyard was possible. Carlisle Group subsequently purchased the property, saw our feasibility study, and asked us to get to work!
A selected diagram from Gravity’s 2018 Feasibility Study
Our assessment of the charade and resulting ARP was not that the community and City wanted historicist architecture or City Beautiful movement grand staircases over grottoes transformed into six-stool taverns. Rather, they wanted safe, attractive streets that are both walkable and wheelable.
We therefore generated a contemporary building with a commercial street front behind a wide tree-lined sidewalk. Floating above this are three interrelated masses that contain the residential suites. Behind these, an internal courtyard meets the grade of the adjacent heavily treed parcel allowing users of the space to enjoy a backdrop of dense foliage. At the south end, an existing laneway provides access for loading as well as waste and recycling pickup. We have recently submitted a Development Permit application and are awaiting stakeholder comments and the Detailed Team Review.
With Mission Road, Gravity was able to incorporate the intent of the planning policy and deliver a viable building design to a prudent developer, which is what we strive to deliver to our clients whether they are in Alberta or BC.
Gravity has recently completed the development permit drawings for a 20-unit project on 852 Anders Road in the Lakeview Heights neighbourhood of West Kelowna, BC. This is our first project with Kerr Properties and we’re very happy with how the collaboration has gone. Using a Mediterranean village as our inspiration, these townhouses have white-washed stucco walls and cantilvered wood balconies overlooking narrow streets and intimate gardens.
Lakeview Heights is a largely suburban area, with significant portions of land set aside for agricultural use (much of it vineyards). This development is well located in the community as it is adjacent to the community hall, complete with a basketball court, soccer pitch, and numerous tennis/pickleball courts. It’s also on a bus route, and across the street from a small commercial area including a convenience store and deli.
There are two unit types, one which is 1530 SF and the other which is 2088 SF. The smaller units have single garages and two bedrooms, and the larger have double garages and three bedrooms. All the units have two and a half baths, and laundry on the upper floor. Outdoor amenities are provided with both balconies and gardens.
We believe that every successful practice is more than the sum of its individual parts and we are fortunate to be able to draw upon decades of collective experience from our seasoned staff as well as our collaborative corporate culture. Our team has worked on numerous mixed use and commercial projects of various scales throughout British Columbia and Alberta. This allows us to assign the right people to each aspect of your project, and then to succeed on wide range of projects from mid to large scale.
Below are a number of projects that our team have executed while at Gravity or at previous firms. Together we are able to apply the expertise our team has gained from this experience to the success of your next project.
Vancouver, BC
Jim Vasto, Senior Associate in Charge of Project
B+H Architects
Vancouver, BC
Jim Vasto, Project Architect
B+H Architects
Vancouver, BC
Jim Vasto, Senior Associate in Charge of Project
B+H Architects
Calgary, AB
Nicholas Tam, Project Architect
Kristofer Brown has joined the team at Gravity!
He completed his Architectural Technology diploma at SAIT Polytechnic in 2021. Despite the pandemic he persevered with dedication and being highly engaged in online classes. Receiving his diploma with honors, he looks to continue that level of commitment with Gravity Architecture.
Prior to his recent diploma, Kristofer completed the Carpentry program at SAIT where he received his Red Seal Journeyman certification in 2013. During his apprenticeship he gained experience with foundations, renovations, residential/commercial builds, and finishing carpentry. He took his hand at a supervisor position and that’s where he realized he wanted to contribute to the industry in the field of architecture. He knew how to build it, but he wanted to learn what went into the design and how to make the design work with Bylaw and Code regulations.
With a passion for constantly improving his construction and technical knowledge, Kristofer joined Gravity in 2021 where he is currently working on helping the team with project work and learning the ins and outs of the design process.
Jay Wiwchar is now Gravity’s Permit Coordinator. He is responsible for the submission and administration of all permits submitted by Gravity, including development permits, building permits, and land use permits.
He brings over 20 years of experience in the construction industry to his position at Gravity.
He began his journey into the construction industry as an electrician in 1998. After obtaining his Red Seal in the electrical trade, he then obtained Master’s certification and introductory training as a safety codes officer. Always looking to gain knowledge, in 2009 Jay returned to school obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Communications Studies from the University of Calgary.
Jay’s previous projects in the electrical trade included roles in management and quality control administration and these roles assisted in his sound knowledge of government policy and legislation related to the construction industry. These roles, along with his lifelong fascination with the aesthetics and process of building design ignited Jay’s desire to oversee the administrative function of a project and added to his pursuit of a technology diploma in architecture.
He completed the Architectural Technologist program at SAIT in 2021, fulfilling his childhood aspiration to work in the field of architecture.
Jay has lived in Calgary for the past 20 years and enjoys the company of his wife and cats, renovating his century home, cycling, skiing, and long drives in the countryside.
We welcome Jay to the team at Gravity!
Gravity has been transitioning from a small boutique residential design firm into a full-service, multi-office architecture firm. With larger and more complex projects, we are in need of team players who will extend our great reputation for high quality work while maintaining our positive working environment. We are currently searching for a Project Architect and a Senior Architectural Technologist for our Calgary office.
The successful candidates will be working on architecture projects from predesign through construction and contract administration. They will be working on a variety of projects, interacting with clients, vendors, and our technical team. They will be set into an excellent position of growing within this expanding firm.
More information is on our careers page.
The Gravity team has a long history of designing houses. While Gravity Architecture was founded in 2014, its principals previously founded Inertia Residential Design in 2006. Inertia began as a Calgary-based design, drafting and consulting company focused on innovative and thoughtful design. Gravity continues this tradition in both Alberta and B.C., working with homeowners, builders, developers, sub-consultants and local authorities to help our clients realize their unique custom homes.
Gravity is now a full-service architecture firm dedicated to finding the best design solutions, producing thorough construction drawings, and conducting attentive site reviews. We guide you through the design process and help you visualize your project using industry-leading 3D design software.
Gravity’s goal is to add value to your project. Working in 3D helps our clients visualize their design while minimizing potentially expensive construction errors. Gravity’s design solutions result in attractive and livable homes with high homeowner satisfaction.
Our stylistic range is wide. We can generate contemporary designs suited to urban markets, or satisfy the most stringent of architectural controls in a new development.
To find out how we can help you realize your upcoming project, do not hesitate to contact us, and to see a curated selection of some of our past houses, go to our house gallery.
During these uncertain times, Gravity Architecture remains committed to the safety and well-being of our staff and visitors, while continuing to provide responsive solutions to our clients. With Alberta and BC’s new COVID-19 restrictions in place, access to our studios will be by appointment only.
Please touch base with us prior to popping in.
This month we submitted a Development Permit application for this 14,393 SF, single-storey retail building. It faces Centre Street, and fills the block end from 42nd Avenue to 43rd Avenue.
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We're pleased to announce that Trishuda Jain as been on our team for ten years. As well, we’re happy to share that Trishuda has been promoted to the role of Project Manager.
Trishuda completed an Architectural Assistantship program in 2000 from India. She started her career with Kalpakriti Consultants where she gained experience in residential planning and interior design. Later, she got an independent opportunity for designing various oil and gas stations in Northern India. In 2005, she joined the municipal urban planning department where she contributed her experience on city wide projects. During this period of time she worked on AutoCAD, ADT and Revit.
After coming to Canada, Trishuda resumed her career as a technologist with Genesis Builders Group where she gained experience in the residential suburban housing market. Trishuda joined Inertia in 2010 as our second employee and has since been an integral team member of Inertia Residential Design.
Trishuda now is a project manager at Gravity Architecture with responsibilities that include managing the firm’s larger scale projects as well as monitoring project performance across all of our projects.
Congratulations on your work anniversary and promotion, Trishuda!
We recently completed a schematic design for a row of properties on Ontario Street in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant area. The proposed scheme is a three storey building with approximately 1,503.18 m2 gross developable area. Parking is provided on a single lower level as well as with a few surface stalls off of the lane.
Even minor interventions into the urban fabric can result in some loss. To recognize the northernmost remaining houses on Ontario Street that this building will replace, images of these houses and their surrounding trees have been represented on the curtain wall with fritted glass.
Thanks to Calgary Drone Photography, we’ve been able to get high above some of our projects over the last few weeks to see how progress is coming along from the air.
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