RSAAW

What RSAAW does

RSAAW (Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop Inc.) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice founded by Rafael Santa Ana, a principal with over 25 years of experience. The firm operates with approximately 10 team members and offers full-service architectural design across residential (single-family, multi-family, modular/prefabricated), commercial, hospitality, institutional, and infrastructure projects. Headquartered at 1737 W 3rd Avenue in Vancouver with an additional office in Mexico City, RSAAW is incorporated in both Canada and Mexico.

The firm's core technical competencies include Passive House design with high energy efficiency standards, prefabricated and modular construction systems (wall panels, bathroom pods, wet walls), heritage renovation of older buildings, and mass timber construction. Notable projects include the Driftwood Gibsons Passive House development (2022 LOOP Design Awards winner), the Berkley House renovation (2022 Western Living Home of the Year), the Copper Spirit Distillery on Bowen Island (Canada's first mixed-use artisanal distillery with residential units), and the AIBC headquarters renovation of a 1911 heritage building. The firm has also partnered with Smallworks on the Plex Prototype prefabricated housing project and with DLP Architecture on mass timber multi-family developments in Ottawa.

RSAAW generates revenue through professional service fees structured as percentage of construction cost, hourly rates, or fixed fees depending on project scope. Its go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by principal-led relationships, industry reputation, earned media coverage in major design publications (Designboom, Dezeen, ArchDaily, Western Living), and awards. The firm serves a diverse client base including enterprise hospitality brands (Cactus Club Cafe, La Taqueria, King Taps), institutional clients (UBC, ASPECT Structural Engineers), corporate offices (Red Bull), and private residential clients. RSAAW has completed 50+ projects across British Columbia, with growing geographic reach into Alberta, Ontario, Florida, Texas, and Dubai.

Name

RSAAW

Legal name

Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop Inc.

Website

https://rsaaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

RSAAW is a Vancouver-based architectural firm with ~10 team members offering full-service design across residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and infrastructure projects, specializing in Passive House, prefabricated modular, heritage renovation, and mass timber construction across Canada and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (541410)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Passive house design
• Prefabricated modular housing
• Heritage building renovation
• Mass timber construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: Full-service architectural practice providing design services across residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and mixed-use projects. Revenue generated through professional fees typically structured as percentage of construction cost, hourly rates, or fixed fees depending on project scope.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop (RSAAW) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice delivering full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, hospitality, institutional, and infrastructure projects across Canada and select international markets. The firm specializes in Passive House design, prefabricated/modular construction systems, mass timber, heritage renovation, and adaptive reuse, fabricating expressive contemporary interventions tailored to each project's program requirements.

Product overview

RSAAW (Rafael Santa Ana Architecture Workshop) is a Vancouver-based architectural practice offering comprehensive architectural design services. The firm practices with building technologies that adapt to the specific requirements of each program, fabricating expressive contemporary interventions. The core offering is architectural design services spanning residential (single-family, multi-family, prefabricated/modular), commercial, hospitality, institutional, heritage renovation, and infrastructure projects. Key specializations include Passive House design, mass timber construction, and modular housing. The portfolio includes projects throughout British Columbia and select international locations (Dubai, Texas, Miami). Notable projects include Passive House residential developments, mixed-use distilleries, pedestrian bridges, and award-winning renovations. The firm collaborates with various consultants and maintains a participatory, collaborative design approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design spanning residential (single-family and multi-family), commercial, hospitality, institutional, and infrastructure projects throughout Canada and select international markets. Targeted at property developers, corporate clients, hospitality operators, and institutional entities.
• Passive House Design Passive House standard architectural design services achieving high energy efficiency through superior insulation, airtightness, and heat recovery ventilation systems. For clients seeking high-performance, low-energy residential and mixed-use buildings.
• Modular and Prefabricated Housing Design Prefabricated and modular housing design using component-based approaches including wall panels, wood foundations/helical piles, bathroom pods, and wet walls for accelerated construction. Targeted at developers and housing providers needing rapid-deploy residential solutions.
• Mass Timber Construction Design Mass timber structural design and hybrid construction combining engineered wood products with concrete for sustainable commercial and residential buildings. For developers and institutional clients pursuing low-carbon structural solutions.
• Heritage Renovation Design Renovation and restoration of heritage buildings, respecting original architectural character while upgrading for contemporary use and compliance. Targeted at institutional owners and developers of heritage-listed properties.
• Hospitality Design Services Restaurant, bar, and hospitality venue design including brand iteration and experiential space creation. Targeted at restaurant chains and hospitality operators (e.g., Cactus Club Cafe, La Taqueria, King Taps) needing multi-location rollout design.
• Retail and Commercial Remodeling Retail space design and commercial renovation including brand identity integration across multiple locations (e.g., Shaw/Freedom Mobile rollouts across BC and Alberta). Targeted at multi-location retail brands requiring unified store design.
• Institutional Architecture Design Academic and institutional facility design including laboratories, lecture halls, and campus spaces (e.g., UBC Lecture Theatre 153, UBC AAPS offices). Targeted at universities, professional associations, and government bodies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Passive House certification achieving superior energy efficiency compared to standard construction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered notable.

• SmallworksnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Plex Prototype project - a prefabricated modular housing project in Vancouver. Smallworks provided manufacturing expertise for prefabricated modules including wall panels, bathroom pods, and wet walls, while RSAAW provided architectural design and integration services.
• DLP ArchitecturenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on March Road Kanata Redevelopment project - a mass timber multi-family residential study in Ottawa, ON. RSAAW and DLP Architecture combined expertise on this 88,000 sq ft development focusing on pedestrian accessibility and adaptable facades.
• Shaw and Freedom MobilenotableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration for Shaw and Freedom Mobile retail remodeling upgrades across multiple mall locations in British Columbia and Alberta. RSAAW created unified brand configuration designs replicated across different locations including Abbotsford, Burnaby, Calgary, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Edmonton, North Vancouver, Richmond, and Surrey.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DIALOG: Large Canadian architecture, engineering, and design practice spanning institutional, healthcare, education, and residential. Comparable on multi-family, mass timber, and institutional projects (e.g., UBC, mass timber) but operates at much greater scale across multiple Canadian cities.
• Olson Kundig: Internationally recognized architecture and design firm known for residential, hospitality, and commercial projects. Comparable in mid-to-high-end residential, hospitality design language, and strong earned-media/award profile, though larger and US-Seattle headquartered.
• SHoP Architects: Internationally recognized architecture firm with extensive work in mass timber, modular construction, and large-scale mixed-use developments. Relevant as an emerging benchmark in modular/ prefab and timber design at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• HCMA Architecture + Design: Vancouver-headquartered multi-disciplinary practice delivering architecture for community, recreation, institutional, and civic projects. Comparable scope across institutional, hospitality, and residential work in BC and Canada.
• Michael Green Architecture: Vancouver-based architecture firm specializing in mass timber, tall wood buildings, and sustainable design. Closest direct peer to RSAAW in terms of BC-based, sustainability-focused, mass-timber practice and project portfolio overlap (institutional, commercial, residential).
• Arno Matis Architecture: Vancouver-based architecture firm focused on sustainable, mass-timber, and mixed-use residential projects. Comparable on sustainability emphasis, mid-rise residential expertise, and BC geographic concentration.
• McFarlane Biggar Architects + Interior Designers: Vancouver architecture and interior design firm with a similar mix of residential, hospitality, commercial, and multi-family work. Comparable on BC focus, award profile, and combined architecture + interior design service model.
• Office of Mcfarlane Biggar: Listed alongside McFarlane Biggar as Vancouver peer with comparable BC-focused multi-sector residential/hospitality practice.
• Francl Architecture: Vancouver firm with deep experience in heritage adaptive reuse, institutional, and residential projects. Directly comparable on heritage renovation expertise (e.g., RSAAW's AIBC Renovation) and BC institutional client base.
• Bing Thom Architects (Revery Architecture): Vancouver architecture firm with a comparable profile of award-winning cultural, institutional, and mixed-use projects, plus a globally recognized brand. Comparable as a BC-rooted, design-led practice that punches above its size through media visibility and signature commissions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rsaaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rsaaw
• Instagraminstagram.com/rsa.aw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RSAAW