dHKarchitects announce new ownership amid Vancouver Island building boom
November 18, 2021, Victoria, BC – Vancouver Island-based architecture firm dHKa announced a new ownership team this week after more than a two-decade tenure as a top Island firm. Architects Rob Whetter and Glenn Hill have joined Charles Kierulf as partners as former principal and co-founder Peter de Hoog steps away from an ownership role.
“This is an important transition for the long-term growth and stability of the firm and a big step for Glenn and Rob to take on an ownership position,” said Charles Kierulf, Partner and Co-founder, dHKarchitects. “It’s also an important signal to our clients about the core strengths of the firm.”
The company is responsible for designing some of the region’s most iconic developments including the Selkirk Waterfront, Mattick’s Farm and Sayward Hill. Many of residential towers in downtown Victoria were designed by the firm, including the new development at 1400 Quadra While dHK has a wide-range of specializations from custom luxury homes to resorts, in recent years the company has expanded into the residential care and affordable housing sectors.
“As Vancouver Island evolves, we have developed an expertise in designing both affordable housing like the recently approved Caledonia project in Ferwood, and also residential care facilities like the Summit at Quadra Village,” said Rob Whetter, Partner, dHKarchitects. “Both these areas are growing exponentially on the Island.”
The company has also grown; with 22 employees located between a Victoria office on Fort Street and a second location with six employees in Nanaimo that opened in 2014. The vigorous growth of the mid and north Island led to the company creating the second office, to handle projects in areas such as Parksville, Port Alberni, Tofino and beyond.
While the projects outside of Victoria may be different in scale, the second location helps to give special attention to these clients. Recently dHKa designed several larger multi-family residential projects in Ladysmith, Nanaimo and Parksville.
“Our clients appreciate having a dedicated office in Nanaimo and it supports us being able to work Island-wide,” said Glenn Hill, Partner, dHKa, who heads up the Nanaimo team. “Our industry is thriving Island wide and we are well positioned to meet this exciting growth.”
Although company co-founder Peter de Hoog is stepping back from ownership, he remains a key senior member of dHKa, a company he founded with Charles Kierulf in 2001. With 35 years of experience, de Hoog has been a pivotal figure in the architectural landscape of Vancouver Island and the success of the firm.
Photo: Michelle Proctor