Helena Frost, Principal Architect
15+ years designing for Canada's harshest climates
How We Got Here
Look, I'll be straight with you - I didn't start out thinking I'd spend my career designing buildings for places where it hits -40 in the winter. But after my first project up in Whitehorse back in 2009, something just clicked. There's this raw honesty to building in extreme cold that you don't get anywhere else.
Founded Frostward Quest in 2015 because frankly, too many architects were just slapping "standard" designs in places where standard doesn't cut it. We've watched buildings fail because someone in an office thousands of miles away didn't account for permafrost movement or thermal bridging. That's not gonna fly with us.
What Drives Us
Every building we design has to answer one simple question: will this still be standing and comfortable in 30 years when the climate's even more unpredictable? We're not interested in trophy architecture or buildings that look great in photos but fall apart after five winters.
Our team's spent countless hours in remote communities, listening to people who've lived in these environments their whole lives. That knowledge combined with modern building science? That's where the magic happens.
Real Experience
We've built in temperatures ranging from +30°C summers to -45°C winters. Every project teaches us something new about what works and what doesn't.
No Shortcuts
When you're dealing with extreme environments, cutting corners literally costs lives. We test everything, model every scenario, and build like our own families will live there.
