Sustainability in Action: GNAR Wins the Whistler Chamber Excellence Award

We’re proud to share that GNAR has been recognized with the Whistler Chamber Excellence Award for Sustainability in Action — an honour that reflects our commitment to designing better buildings for people and the planet.

For us, sustainability isn’t a trend or a checkbox. It’s something we consider in every part of our practice, from the materials we specify to the way we collaborate with clients, trades, and communities.

Building for a Better Future

Whether we’re designing a new home or reworking an existing one, our goal is to create high-performance buildings that are energy-efficient, low-impact, and built to last. We think about the full picture — the life cycle of materials, operational energy use, and how to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Whenever possible, we prioritize renovation over demolition, which can cut construction waste by up to 90%. In fact, this past year alone, our renovation projects prevented around 1,000 tons of waste from going to landfill — the equivalent of filling a football field three feet deep.

We also give back through partnerships like One Tree Planted, contributing to hundreds of new trees in wildfire-affected areas across British Columbia.

Designing for People and Community

Sustainability isn’t just about buildings — it’s about people.
We design homes that are healthy, comfortable, and resilient, using eco-conscious materials and fire-smart strategies that respond to the growing climate risks in our region.

Our integrated approach combines interior and building design from the start. By using BIM modelling, we bring designers, contractors, and trades together as one team, reducing waste and costly rework. The result is a smoother, more collaborative process that benefits everyone involved.

We’re also committed to supporting the people who make our work possible. GNAR offers flexible schedules, remote options, and wellness benefits so our team feels supported and inspired — because social sustainability starts with people.

Smarter Design, Stronger Value

Sustainable design isn’t just about environmental performance — it’s about economic resilience too.

By working within existing structures, we help clients unlock new potential without starting from scratch. Renovations preserve Whistler’s unique character while reducing embodied carbon, and our adoption of prefabricated and panelized systems helps minimize waste, control costs, and shorten build times.

We believe high-quality, efficient homes shouldn’t require a multi-million-dollar budget — just thoughtful design and collaboration.

Sustainability in Practice

This year, two projects stood out as examples of what’s possible when sustainability leads design:

A “treehouse” home in Sechelt designed around old-growth trees and root systems, showing that you can build beautifully without disturbing the forest.
An off-grid home on Bowen Island where green space was moved to the roof — a wildflower meadow that supports pollinators while solar panels power the house below.

Both projects demonstrate that sustainability doesn’t mean sacrifice — it means smarter choices that respect people, place, and the environment.

Looking Ahead

As we move into 2026, we’re doubling down on innovation: expanding our use of carbon-storing materials, designing wildfire-resilient homes, and advancing multi-family prefabricated housing with our partners at Lincoln Construction.

We’re also investing internally — from climate-literacy training to Lean systems — and continuing advocacy work that supports green building policy and community resilience across the Sea to Sky.

In Conclusion

Winning the Sustainability in Action Award is an honour, but more importantly, it’s motivation.

Each project is an opportunity to leave things better than we found them — to design spaces that connect people to place, reduce impact, and build a more sustainable future, one home at a time.

At GNAR Inc we are passionate about creating sustainable homes, let us know how we can help you bring your dream house to life. Call us at 604.962.1611 or email info@gnarinc.com for more information.

Learn more about our approach to sustainable design or explore our recent projects.