what we do
HSS designs and builds Custom Homes, Infill Homes, Retrofits and Renovations, as well as commercial projects.
We embrace a wholehearted and collaborative approach, and ensure a high level of detailed planning so that your project runs smoothly. We embrace Passive House Building Standards and are dedicated to designing and constructing buildings sustainably for generations to enjoy.
Teamwork on site
Our Design-Build Approach
As a design-build firm, we offer services from concept to completion of a project. Because we provide services as a consultant, designer, general contractor, and interior designer, we are able to directly ensure that a cohesive vision persists throughout the project, eliminating design miscommunication along the way. This is not only efficient, but can lower costs for specialized services that typically have to be hired individually. Our dynamic team boasts a diverse range of expertise, from timber framing, construction and carpentry, to architecture, interior design, and design research.
What We Offer
Concept design sketches of a retrofit
Design
With a passion for sustainable homes that are intimately connected to their natural environments, our primary service is the design of unique energy efficient homes. Whether designing a new custom home, a renovation or for manufacture, our attention to detail and contemporary approach will ensure your home is both timeless and highly functional. We listen to your vision and requirements and oversee the design process for you in close collaboration with professionals, Municipalities and subcontractors. This process allows us to monitor and control costs, quality, and timelines throughout all stages of the project. We are also able to provide quality interior design services, meaning that the design vision will remain cohesive throughout the project and all intricacies of the sustainable design principles incorporated on the exterior are considered in the interior space.
DLT building shell prefabricated with rough openings.
Build
With almost 20 years of construction experience, we offer full construction services as a General Contractor. Once a design is established, we guide you through every detail and all construction decisions as well as preparing a budget for your project. Alternatively, if you have engaged an architect for the design, we can provide in-depth feedback on the design drawings to help lower costs and deliver better quality. Once construction begins, we manage the day-to-day tasks to meet the project timeline, quality and budget.
Thermal imaging as part of our retrofit consultation service.
Consult
We offer consulting services to clients who are interested in pursuing a deep retrofit projects but are unsure of where to begin or how best to balance their budget with their energy efficiency goals. This consultation service involves performing a detailed analysis of an existing building’s performance and identifying key “problem areas,” before presenting upgrade suggestions and a goal oriented order of operations. With our suggested upgrades, we also estimate material carbon emissions associated with each option. We treat each building as a system, and design our retrofit solutions with the overall goal of net zero in mind.
Banff Recreation Grounds Public Pavilion, a Passive House Low Energy Building
Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) Assessments
As certified Passive House Designers, we offer our expertise and knowledge to builders, developers and municipalities aiming to build to the construction standards of tomorrow. Through an integrated design process and energy modeling with the PHPP (Passive House Planning Package), HSS can project energy performance in the planning stage and take action to improve the building shell before construction starts.
For more information on Passive House design:
Prefrabricated DLT walls being installed at our Banff site in September 2022
DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly)
DfMA is a design process that aims for ease of manufacturing parts that will form the final project as well as ease of actual onsite assembly. This process reshapes the traditional timeline of construction projects, shortening it significantly. We can offer this service in conjunction with our design and build services, or independently. In our DfMA service, we prefabricate systems for your project which can be built and stored while site work is performed. This also allows for better quality control and a reduction in waste.