reSource Rethinking Building closed its doors in June 2008. This site is an archive of its work.

reSource Rethinking Building was a Vancouver based development and green building consulting company that specialized in implementable green building solutions. As consultants we provided the following services: development management, green building strategies, and guideline development.

The mission of reSource was to ‘transform the way buildings are built’. Delivering on its mission, reSource was recognized in the greater Vancouver area as a leader in the residential sector and has affected well over one billion dollars worth of construction and over 30,000 homes in British Columbia, enabling these buildings to be more environmentally sustainable.

This market impact was been made possible by the willingness of reSource to act as a leader through its own developments, by its ability to inform and empower others interested in pursuing similar goals, and by creating replicatable models for other industry participants to follow. reSource also engaged in policy and strategy work to promote the wider adoption of green building.

The following is from our departing letter to our clients and colleagues:

Our History

In 2000 - after we (Heather and Robert) had been working on the Ardencraig townhouse project (on West 11th Avenue in Vancouver) together – we got to thinking… How could we take what we had learned at Ardencraig – Greater Vancouver’s first green market multi-unit residential projects – and have a greater impact? How could we make a bigger contribution to our community through our work? How could we “transform the way buildings are built”?

At the same time, several Lower Mainland municipalities were starting to push green building and the market residential development community was trying to figure out this new way of building. We had some “self taught” experience on a real project and had worked with a couple of home owners who were trying to “green” their homes.

We did a presentation on Ardencraig, where none other than the inimitable Michael Geller was co-presenting on Univercity - the new proposed community at SFU on Burnaby Mountain. Univercity was embarking on the preparation of a set of Green Building Guidelines for their community – this became our first major consulting project and kick-started the creation of reSource Rethinking Building.

Since the beginning we enjoyed being at the “front of the wave”. We’ve focused on the niche of multi-unit residential buildings, which we saw as the biggest building sector and the greatest opportunity for change.

We have had many (almost 200) exciting, challenging (and at times frustrating) projects and have had an impact on over 22 million square feet of development.

Project highlights have included being:
• development managers on Verdant at Univercity - the award-winning project that merged leadership green building with affordable home ownership;
• green/LEED consultants on the Silva in North Vancouver - the first LEED certified multi-unit residential building in Canada;
• consultants on over 1.2 million square feet of market residential projects at University Town at UBC
• business case advisors for a district renewable energy system for the City of Coquitlam
• creators of a comprehensive environmental management system for Morguard Investments called Greenlink
• green/LEED consultants on the Pomaria, which is aiming to be the City of Vancouver’s first LEED certified residential building.

What’s Next

Now it is time for us to move onto the next “expression” of our passion for what we do and how we can contribute. Time to push the next edge!

The principals of reSource, Robert and Heather, will be continuing their work on leadership projects which build community and create spaces which are beautiful, healthy, and are truly affordable.

We would like to thank all of our clients. We feel privileged to have worked with great people and to have supported them to make ‘greener’ decisions and better buildings.

We give a huge thanks to our staff (past and present) – all smart, dedicated folks who have helped us deliver on our mission.

Cheers,

Heather and Robert