About

Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd. is a Victoria, BC based, award winning design firm, established in 2017. We are a full service architecture practice focused on providing quality, unique and holistic design solutions that enhance how we live in our buildings, each project site and its context.

Our project delivery is process and vision driven, we are innovative, inspired by an understanding of the site, and find the project opportunities that shape each and every design solution.

In 2022 Carolynn Wilson Architect received an Award of Excellence, an International Design Award, and three projects have been published internationally in the Book ARCHITECTS of the PACIFIC NORTHWEST, Innovative and Sustainable’. We are honoured to be featured as a designer of innovative and sustainable residential architecture within the Pacific Northwest. Additionally, in 2022 Carolynn Wilson has been published in Spruce Magazine and in the July Western Living Magazine, featured for custom residential design on behalf of the Architects Foundation of British Columbia.

Our projects range from multi-unit condominiums, rental and market townhouses, custom single family housing, interiors, education, commercial buildings and office buildings and spaces. We work with our clients from the start to understand the project goals, and provide the design to meet municipal by-laws and BC codes, provide Rezoning and Development Permit documentation, Building Permit documentation, Construction Drawings, Specifications and Tender documentation and Construction Administration Services.

Currently we have have projects that include Waterfront high-end condos, mid-priced and high-end market Townhouses, Fire Hall Heritage Building Renovation, Parks Office Building, recent middle school renovations, rental multi-unit housing, custom single family housing to include high-end homes, Aging-in-Place homes, sustainable and Net Zero townhomes and houses. Our current projects meet Step Code 3, 4 and 5, NetZero and CaGBC Zero Carbon Buildings.

Client Quote from Spruce Magazine, 2022

"Her knowledge of what was doable was very good. We still walk around the house today and think about how thoughtful some of the design aspects were, things we weren't even aware of ... the sophistication of her design," the homeowner says. One notable feature is how Wilson was able to exquisitely bring light into the home throughout the day.

As well, Wilson, who worked closely with the structural engineer, impressed the clients with her fulsome understanding of the BC Building Code and municipal regulations.“

BIO

Carolynn Wilson, Principal Architect, Architect, AIBC, MRAIC, M. Arch, B. Tech, LEED AP, with a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Manitoba and Bachelors of Architectural Science degree from Ryerson. Carolynn has 28 years of architectural experience having practiced architecture in Victoria and Vancouver Island for 17 years, and previously in the Canadian prairies, Western Australia and San Diego.

Carolynn offers a creative vision and an artistic approach to designing spaces and buildings that emphasize the beauty of the space through form, details, the use of materiality, the experience of the space, movement through it and the connection to the exterior. Attention to thresholds, alignments, views, light, and the shifts and centering of spaces to enhance our senses and how we feel about our built environment. Materiality of the building maybe inspired by the site, the locality, or building use. Styles range from modern design to a contemporary version of traditional elements. Efficiency in layouts and integrated sustainability are essential key priorities in the design process as well.

Evident in Carolynn’s design style are references to the rural architecture and modern styles from her childhood in southern Ontario. Early influences in architecture came from her mother’s design-built west coast modern home surrounded by forest and water, with interior salvaged barn beams and columns, the interior designed as an art gallery, and the exterior of vertical cedar and field stone cladding. The rural area architecture was a fascinating assortment of cottages, barns, country and historical buildings. Carolynn’s passion for drawing, design, connection to nature, architectural education, travels, and formative architectural experiences are all influences in her new contemporary designs.

Offering significant experience in multi-unit residential, single family custom residential, affordable, seniors and high-end housing, interiors, education, office space, institutional and commercial buildings, feasibility studies, master planning and programming. Carolynn provides the design, drives the project process, bylaw and code analysis, technical content, project co-ordination, works closely with her team to thoroughly resolve construction documentation and provides site construction administration services.

Carolynn also specializes in sustainable building design has delivered several projects that are Netzero-Ready, certified LEED Platinum, Gold and Silver and has current projects designed to meet Step Code 3, 4 and 5 in an integrated consultant team design process to achieve high thermal performance, reduced energy and water consumption, use of renewable, local resources, and low VOC content.

Sustainable design includes system designs, building envelope thermal performance and a variety of density options. Carolynn’s work includes Net Zero buildings, renewable energy systems with solar energy, high efficiency heating and cooling systems, building orientation designed for solar gains and shading, green roofs, water use reduction, on-site storm water retention, high performance glazing and building envelope. Other forms of sustainable design we provide are multi-generational homes, garden studios, homes with separate suites, townhouses, duplexes, micro housing and multi-unit residential.

AWARDS / presentations/ publications

‘Talented Team Spurs Growth at Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd’, Feature storey Business Examiner, May 2024

https://businessexaminer.ca/victoria-articles/item/talented-team-spurs-growth-at-carolynn-wilson-architect-ltd

‘Saanich gives thumbs up to 14-townhouse project near Shelbourne’ Feature storey Times Colonist Newspaper, October 18, 2023, Business Section. Project 3834 Ophir St - 14 Townhouses. Architect: Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd.

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/saanich-gives-thumbs-up-to-14-townhouse-project-near-shelbourne-7699252

‘Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd Specializes in a Wide Range of Projects’ Feature Storey, Women in Construction’ May Issue, 2023, Business Examiner Victoria, written by Mark MacDonald, page 16 + 17

‘Celebrating Women in the Workplace, Carolynn Wilson’, International Women’s Day feature, Times Colonist, March 08, 2023, page A6

The Residences on Sooke Harbour, featured in article about the Contractor. Business Examiner, ‘Homewood Constructors is Keeping it in the Family’, March 02, 2023

https://businessexaminer.ca/victoria-articles/item/homewood-constructors-is-keeping-it-in-the-family/?_hsmi=249244465&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9JQyYkoGQz23Q2Lg2wFt6lGryh1I2obO88Re3B-jvqR0A_tcbhkxw2am9oS43uabBsHBkUjFmUZwIVGailJ37bSjAacA

The Residences on Sooke Harbour, ‘Runner Up’ International Design Competition 2022 ‘Rethinking The Future’ for Residential up to 5 floors

https://awards.re-thinkingthefuture.com/acda-2022-runner-up/the-residences-on-sooke-harbour-carolynn-wilson-architect-ltd/

The Residence on Sooke Harbour, Award of Excellence, for multi-family condominiums in the 2022 Capital Region Commercial Building Awards. 27 waterfront condos

‘Architects in Your Home’ Western Living Magazine, July 2022, by Jessica Kirby, interview with Carolynn Wilson. Carolynn’s interview was published on behalf of the Architects Foundation of BC. Project Photos: 2264 Windsor Road House, Architectural Design by Carolynn Wilson

https://www.westernliving.ca/homes-and-design/homes/architects-in-your-home/

‘ARCHITECTS of the PACIFIC NORTHWEST, Innovative and Sustainable’, Book publication, Edited by Francesc Zamora Moila, 2022, booq publishing, Barcelona, Spain. 329 pages.
Carolynn Wilson Architect Featured projects include: The Residences on Sooke Harbour - 27 waterfront condos, Ophir Townhouses - 14 Unit, Windsor Road House - custom single family residence. 

The Book is available at Munro’s Books and Bolen Books in Victoria, BC and online.

“Structural Strategy, the role of Architects in Custom Home Builds’ Spruce Magazine, written by Shannon Moneo, April 2022. Featuring interview with Carolynn Wilson and her client

https://www.sprucemagazine.ca/structural-strategy-the-role-of-architects-in-custom-builds-and-renovations/

‘The Residences on Sooke Harbour’ Featured project, K2 Stone: January 2022

https://www.k2stone.com/featured-projects/the-residences-on-sooke-harbour/

$1.1 Million Condo Smashes Sooke Record’, The Residences on Sooke Harbour, Sooke, BC, written by Darron Kloster, Architecture by Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd., Business Section, page 1, Times Colonist, Victoria, BC, Nov 17, 2021

https://www.timescolonist.com/business/11-million-condo-sale-smashes-sooke-record-4766040

’Downsizing in Style’ Modern Home Magazine, 2264 Windsor Road Custom Single Family House, Oak Bay, Victoria, author, Adrienne Dyer, Architecture by Carolynn Wilson Architect Ltd., BC, published 2021

‘Women in Construction, Trek to the Top’, panelist, Victoria, BC, 2017

‘Community Capacity Building, Case Study Koffi’, UBC Faculty of Architecture, Vancouver, BC presenter, 2014

‘Women in Architecture’, panelist, RAIC Conference, Winnipeg, MB, Dec 2003

UAM Women and Housing Seminar, report + presentation, ‘First Nations Women + Housing in Canada: Builders to Visionaries, Mexico City, Oct 18, 2000

Presentation of ‘Women’s Architecture for the First Nations Culture + Spirit’, St. Norbert Arts + Cultural Center, Winnipeg, MB, March, 2000,

RAIC Student Gold Medal, Masters of Architecture, University of Manitoba 1998

AIA School Medal for the Excellence in the Study of Architecture, University of Manitoba 1998

‘Canadian Architect Award of Excellence', Carolynn Wilson’, Network, published Vol 3., No.2, Winter, 1998/99

Canadian Architect 1998 Student Award of Excellence, Most Outstanding Architectural Design for a First Nations Women’s Healing Lodge, published 1998

Highest GPA + Dean’s List, Masters of Architecture, University of Manitoba 1998

Access Design Competition, University of Manitoba 1998 - first prize entry graduate fellowship 1997, honorary membership, University of Manitoba

Award of Merit, Most Outstanding Thesis and Presentation, Dean’s List, 2nd highest GPA, Architectural Science, Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, 1991

* for information about award winning projects as a Principal, Project Architect and Project Manager with other firms, please inquire

volunteer + other experience

Urban Reforestation volunteer hosted by Formwell Homes, organized in partnership with Tree Canada / Arbres Canada, this project saw the planting of 60 new trees and 100 shrubs at Cuthbert Holmes Park, contributing to an ongoing planned ecosystem restoration by the District of Saanich.

Architects Foundation of BC, ‘’Architects in Your Home’ Western Living Magazine, July 2022, Carolynn’s interview was published on behalf of the Architects Foundation of BC. Project Photos: 2264 Windsor Road House, Architectural Design by Carolynn Wilson

https://www.westernliving.ca/homes-and-design/homes/architects-in-your-home/

Art donation, ‘liminality’, oil pastel on canvas, by Carolynn Wilson, donated to the Greater Victoria Housing Society Art Action Fundraiser

Colegio La Esperanza Elementary School, The Americas Foundation Building Schools, construction workshop, Volunteer Organizer + construction team w/ James Hubbell, tijuana, mexico 

Artist in Residence, Living Machine Building Design with Consultant Ocean Arks, St. Norbert Arts Centre, 4 months, st norbert, manitoba

Interiors Construction Workshop, Volunteer Facilitator and Construction Instructor, Manitoba Eco-Network Office Space, winnipeg, manitoba

Living Earth Culture Village, St. Norbert Arts Centre, Canada Arts Council Grant, 4 months, Facilitator and Construction Instructor,  st. norbert, manitoba

Hermitage Construction, Women Build Houses, 7 weeks, participant, taos, new mexico

‘Idea of North’ Sessional Instructor, Trilateral Masters Design Studio w/ architecture students from Mexico, Lousiana, Chicago, U of Waterloo and Winnipeg, Faculty of Architecture, University of Manitoba, churchill + winnipeg, manitoba

1st Year Design Studio Instructor, Department of Environmental Design, University of Manitoba, winnipeg, manitoba

‘Connections’ international architectural student conference, Volunteer Organizer, University of Manitoba, faculty of architecture, winnipeg, manitoba

Artwork and t-shirt screen printing, for Alberta Association of Architects, sales donated to the AAA