20 slides, 20 seconds. One story. The art of concise presentation aka PechaKucha is always a great way to capture the hearts and minds of an audience in a succinct fashion. Which is why we are so proud that our very own Baiyi Chen, Associate at Francl Architecture was invited to speak at Introba’s Power by PechaKucha event at #DesignVictoria.
Her topic is about Stories Told in Wood: leləm̓ Community Centre and explores the narrative power of material and place. We cannot wait for all of you to hear it.
We were truly honoured to partner with the Chinese Canadian Museum on the transformation of a former office building into a vibrant exhibition and gallery space. The project felt especially meaningful as it was an opportunity to help pay tribute to the Chinese Canadian community and support the telling of its stories in a space that thoughtfully bridges past and present.
Located in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Wing Sang Building is both a designated heritage site and the neighbourhood’s oldest brick structure. The design approach prioritized preservation, retaining much of the existing building while incorporating selective demolition and additions to meet modern requirements, including life safety, seismic upgrades, and the new museum program.
We’re also proud to work with the museum to achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, fostering an inclusive, welcoming, and safe environment for all visitors to learn, reflect, and connect.
📸: @georgevancouver
One of our greatest sources of pride at Francl is our team’s dedication to accessible design. When members of our firm chose to invest their time and careers in achieving the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility accreditation, we were proud to support them, embracing that commitment into the way we practice every day.
A sneak peek of what’s to come: our next post will highlight the Chinese Canadian Museum, which has recently achieved RHF Accessibility Certification.
📸: Graham Handford @georgevancouver
This month, we’re celebrating the incredible women of Francl Architecture. Their strength, creativity, and dedication help shape our firm and drive positive change across the AEC industry. Here’s to the women making it happen every day!
#InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026
We always love this time of the year because it allows us to welcome in a new batch of fresh leaders that prove time and time again that hard work, dedication, and passion pay off.
A big congratulations to our new Associates Layla Pirelahi, Patrick Schilling, Nicolas Romero Glen, and Marta Nicolau! We are excited to see how their creative excellence across infrastructure, civic, and residential projects will continue to shape the future of the firm.
How can critical infrastructure integrate into its neighbourhood, foster public understanding, and lead on climate action?
Situated in the North Shore’s Marine–Hamilton neighbourhood, the Urban Heat Recovery Centre will advance Lonsdale Energy’s and the City of North Vancouver’s commitment to delivering 40% of thermal energy from low-carbon sources by 2027.
Designed for a highly constrained site adjacent to Mosquito Creek, the plant will efficiently integrate essential equipment while operating at full capacity. Beyond functionality, UHRC is designed to be an educational and welcoming facility that will support community tours and help showcase the environmental benefits of sewer heat recovery and district energy.
#districtenergy #sustainability #publicinfrastructure
@bosaproperties ‘ Fifteen Fifteen reimagines the residential tower as a sculptural, multidirectional form extending living spaces toward the city, park, and harbour.
In collaboration with design architect @buroolescheeren the 43-storey tower will deliver 195 homes. The structure is unique in where vertically shifted modules create efficient layouts and generous terraces, strengthening the connection between indoor and outdoor living while maximizing views of Coal Harbour and the city beyond.
32 storeys complete, 11 to go! The project is on track for completion in 2028.
📸: Graham Handford @georgevancouver
As we close out the year, we are grateful for the meaningful moments shared with our Francl family and with our valued partners and collaborators. Thank you for a great 2025. We look forward to continuing the journey together in 2026!
The Francl staff holiday party was the epitome of merry and bright, with colleagues getting together to kick start the festive season and celebrate another year around the sun.
Happy Holidays from us! 🎄
Where learning meets nature.
Located along the shores of the Fraser River, the West Fraser Lands Childcare Centre brings 69 much-needed childcare spaces to the neighbourhood. Designed with southern exposure, river views, and a direct connection to the adjacent park, the centre encourages year-round outdoor play under a playful canopy.
Proudly designed and certified to Passive House standards, the building has fully electrified systems, a wood-first structure, and high-performance environmental strategies.
The building is now open and seeing children make the space their own is why we do what we do!
📸: KK Law
#ChildcareDesign #PassiveHouse #SustainableArchitecture #WoodFirst #CommunityDesign
For the past nine months, Sophia Ahmed has been shaping Francl’s people strategy as our Director of HR. With extensive HR leadership experience, Sophia leads with a people-first mindset, fostering an environment where individuals and teams feel supported, empowered, and recognized. Her vision is clear: a workplace where people come first, and business moves forward with integrity and purpose.
A pioneering bio-campus in the heart of Mount Pleasant, this 200,000-square-foot, nine-storey building blends advanced lab and research spaces with daily office functions. Designed for maximum flexibility, it can accommodate up to 70% lab space and 30% office and support areas. Transparent glazing and smart glass create a bright, connected environment for AbCellera’s teams, while the exterior’s DNA-inspired pattern reflects the company’s biotech identity.
The building’s distinctive form is driven by the complex mechanical systems required for high-performance labs, resulting in architecture that is both technically rigorous and visually expressive.
📸: @michaelelkan
