The Suit Magazine

“We focus on architectural excellence.  There is no project too big or small for our standard of excellence,” Guy told the Suit Magazine recently.  That’s why he ventured into the business world on his own—the repetitious production of assembly-line designs was not for him. The more corporate world of architecture, as he put it, “was not a culture for improvement.” 

The firm provides services beyond simply design.  He explained, “I work up the design documents, make a tender, solicit prices, and negotiate with contractors—all phases of design through building.”  Guy also serves as a member of the Canadian Design Institute. 

In terms of green building, he practices several innovations.  “I place insulation on the outside of a structure, with lots of windows, utilizing the light and feel of ambiance natural to the environment south of the Arctic Circle,” he explains. “We get almost 24 hours of sunlight in summer, so skylights and windows are important in my designs.  In the winter we use indirect lighting, giving a sense of day. It’s peaceful, making it feel like you’re outdoors.  We spend 98 percent of the wintertime indoors, so I create an indoor environment which is not so oppressive.”  Another feature of his designs is a new type of ventilation requiring less energy. It uses people’s warmth, with a lower velocity, “so there is less dust and cleaner air, which is also good for hypoallergenic kids and especially schools,” he said. 

A concern for the human side of design is reflected in one of his favorite creations, the Ecole Alain St. Cyr, a school and community center, which is considered one of the top 1000 buildings in the Americas.  Many of Guy’s other projects have also been in the public sector. “There was a recent Canadian funding program for municipal infrastructure, from which I got several jobs,” he told The Suit. The firm has designed some of Canada’s most prominent structures, like the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Yellowknife office building and the Canadian Justice Department headquarters.
  With all of his experience in the field, Guy can offer sound advice to emerging entrepreneurs: “Study the market and identify a market sector in which to specialize; pool financial resources; know what you like and do what you like.”

The future looks bright for Guy Architects.  “I have on the board a new convenience store and gas station. It’ll be a 10,000 square foot structure, with a strong cultural expression of the owners’ heritage as First Nations people,” he said. He is looking forward to this and other projects that will reflect both the wishes of his clients and the arctic beauty of Yellowknife.  Guy’s emphasis on aesthetic appeal, his eco-friendly integration of the natural environment, and his careful awareness of cost add up to an enterprise that fulfills the needs of a diverse clientele.

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