Our Team
A mix of dreamers, sketchers, coffee addicts, and the occasional person who actually reads building codes for fun.
Marcus Halor
Principal Architect
Started this whole thing back in 2012 with nothing but a drafting table and way too much confidence. Still hasn't figured out AutoCAD shortcuts but somehow designs buildings people actually want to use.
Sandra Chen
Design Director
The one who makes sure our wild ideas actually work in the real world. She's saved us from more than a few "creative" structural decisions that would've made engineers cry.
Raj Patel
Senior Project Manager
Keeps the trains running on time. Also keeps Marcus from promising clients the moon when we've only got budget for a nice skylight.
Elena Volkov
Sustainability Consultant
Our resident eco-warrior. If it's not sustainable, she's not having it. Convinced half our clients to add green roofs before they even knew what hit 'em.
Thomas Wright
Visualization Specialist
Makes our sketches look like they belong in magazines. His renders are so good, clients sometimes get disappointed when the real building is only 99% as perfect.
"We're basically a group of people who couldn't stop doodling buildings in the margins of notebooks. Now we get paid for it - still feels like we're getting away with something."
- Marcus Halor
How We Actually Work
Look, we're gonna be straight with you - architecture isn't just about making pretty buildings. Though we do love a good facade. It's about understanding how people actually live, work, and move through spaces. We've spent years watching folks interact with buildings, and you'd be surprised what you learn.
Our approach? We listen more than we talk (at least in the beginning). Every site has its own story - the way light hits it at 3pm, how the neighbor's oak tree creates this perfect shadow in summer, the weird drainage issue that everyone pretends isn't there. We take all that messy reality and turn it into something that works.
Design Philosophy
We're obsessed with natural light - probably to an unhealthy degree. But there's something about the way shadows move across a space throughout the day that just makes a building feel alive. That's where our name came from, actually.
Client Collaboration
You're gonna be living or working in this space, not us. So yeah, we're gonna ask you a million questions. Some of them will seem weird. Trust the process - we need to know if you're a morning person or a night owl.
The Journey So Far
2012
Started Shadow Halor in that tiny office. Marcus sold his car to buy proper drafting equipment. Sandra thought he was crazy. She might've been right.
2015
Won our first BC Architecture Award for the Kitsilano Mixed-Use project. Spent the prize money on a proper espresso machine. Priorities.
2018
Moved to our current spot on West Pender. Finally got windows that actually open. Expanded the team to ten people who all somehow tolerate each other.
2021
Canadian Green Building Council recognized our work in sustainable design. Elena was insufferable for weeks. Worth it though.
2023
Completed our 100th project. Had a party. Someone brought their dog. The dog was the highlight. Good times.
2025 - Present
Still going strong. Still learning. Still occasionally arguing about the perfect window-to-wall ratio (it's a thing, trust us).
120+
Projects Completed
13
Years Running
8
Awards Won
95%
Clients Return
Want to Work With Us?
We're always up for a good challenge. Got a tricky site? Weird zoning restrictions? A vision that everyone says is impossible? Those are our favorite.
Let's Talk About Your Project