Work
Services
Architecture
Description
Cover Architectural Collaborative, Incorporated, was created by three design professionals from Nelson, British Columbia. The principals are passionate about collective thinking, collaborative design, responsible use of resources, and accountability. In their experience, collaboration consistently yields more-successful results than does individual work. This design approach is so central to their vision that they include it in their firm name.
The firm is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge architectural services throughout Western Canada. Its clients seek it out for its understanding of local values, community priorities, and available resources. Cover is a multifaceted firm working across a range of scales and disciplines, including architecture, planning, landscape design, interior design, and industrial design.
The three founding principals have a diverse range of experience. Graeme Leadbeater has led the design- and construction-phase services of complex multiphase projects. His work has focused on medium- and large-scale health-care, educational, cultural, and municipal buildings. Lukas Armstrong has a pragmatic approach to sustainability and universal access. He is a Certified Passive House Designer and a LEED Accredited Professional, giving him the knowledge base to create buildings that are healthy, durable, and low impact. Robert Stacey has a broad understanding of design and technical issues, as well as a strong working knowledge of project management fundamentals. Additional staff includes three architects, two architectural technologists, and one administrator.
The firm’s passion and combined skill sets are particularly strong in health and residential care facility design. In the past four years, it has assisted Canada’s Interior Health Administration with more than 22 projects, including emergency services, intensive-care units, and MRI facilities. Additional projects include a wide range of commercial and institutional buildings, single- and multifamily residential properties, and sustainable-energy solutions. Two projects in particular showcase its expertise in Passive House design—the first Passive House auto dealership in North America and a Passive House aging-in-place triplex.