says. “My father’s an architect and he’s originally from the Netherlands. My grandfather andgreat-grandfatherwerealso architects in the Netherlands. Environmental and social sustainability has been integral to their thinking much longer than here in Canada.” Dubbeldam’s practice has also evolved in terms of size and capability over the past 18 years. Over time, they have added the full range of core, implementation, and design services to their offering. Their services now range from conceptual and schematic design through to construction site review, and typically include custom-designed millwork and furniture, final finishes, and selection of fixtures, equipment, and furnishings. Armed with this array of services, Dubbeldam can and does take on a wide variety of projects in different sectors. According to Heather, when they are evaluating potential projects, sector and size considerations are secondary. Instead, they prioritize projects that have a sustainability mandate, and projects that will allow them to experiment with new ideas. “We ask ourselves ‘Would this project pose a challenge for us?’” Heather explains. “We like to keep things interesting. We like to explore new ways of working, new building types, new technologies. We try to innovate with any project we’re working on – so we look for projects that give us the opportunity to do that.” “We also look for clients who value good design,” she adds. “Design is not just a frill that’s added at the end of the job. Design is something that’s integral to the project right from the concept stage. We like working with clients who understand that.” The clients with that understanding, Heather says, tend to seek out Dubbeldam directly. Her practice is regularly invited to bid on projects. Over the last five years especially, Heather says that they haven’t had to go out and look for work – the vast majority of their work has come to them. Heather credits that draw to the firm’s reputation. They have become well known in Canada for their design excellence – “I think that’s becoming more APRIL 2022
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