What Habit Studio does

Habit Studio is a women-led architectural design practice based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, focused on high-performance residential buildings. The firm specializes in Passive House design, deep energy retrofits, and whole-home renovations, with credentialed expertise spanning architectural licensure (Judyann Obersi) and Certified Passive House Designer/Tradesperson capabilities (Lorrie Rand). Its core technical offering covers new Passive House construction, EnerPHit-certified retrofits, and building-science-led renovation consulting, with the Falkland Street project marking Nova Scotia's first EnerPHit-certified retrofit and the Link project delivering a 5,000 sq ft Passive House residence.

The firm operates a tiered service model that separates advisory engagements from full design commissions: a Tier 1 Whole Home Renovation Strategy is priced at $6,500, a Tier 2 strategy package runs $15,000-$20,000, and a Tier 3 offering is scoped as a custom engagement. Underlying technical work includes energy modeling, Passive House certification documentation, and post-occupancy performance verification delivered in partnership with SEEFAR Building Analytics (TCBO measurement). Operational delivery is also integrated with Efficiency One, the Nova Scotia utility program administrator, which channels retrofit projects and program funding to the firm.

Habit Studio serves primarily residential clients in Atlantic Canada, with growing visibility through regional and industry awards including Kohltech Peak Awards, an ArchDaily nomination, a SABMag 2026 nomination, and a Vectorworks Creative Genius 2026 award. The firm recently launched the Habit Architecture brand to extend into multi-unit residential projects, and operates with a team of 1-10 employees without disclosed external funding.

Name

Habit Studio

Legal name

Habit Studio Incorporated

Website

https://habitstudio.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Habit Studio is a women-led architectural practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia, delivering Passive House design, deep energy retrofits, and whole-home renovation consulting to residential clients across Atlantic Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Halifax

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Whole Home Renovation Strategy — Tiered Planning Services: Fixed-fee planning service in three tiers: Tier 1 Understand ($6,500) for homeowner clarity before renovation; Tier 2 Plan ($15,000–$20,000) for construction-ready technical guidance; Tier 3 Deliver (custom proposal) for full design-through-construction support. Revenue is project-based and milestone-triggered across the engagement lifecycle.
2. Passive House New Build Design Services: Full architectural design services for new Net-Zero Passive House construction, including site analysis, design development, contractor coordination, and construction support. Revenue is project-based, typically involving multi-month engagements.
3. Holistic Whole-Home Renovation Design: Comprehensive renovation design services for existing homes, including structural modifications, energy performance upgrades, and aesthetic transformations. Often coupled with deep retrofit and Passive House upgrades.
4. Consulting and Education: Expert consulting on high-performance projects and deep retrofits; educational offerings including lunch-and-learns, webinars, and guest speaking engagements on sustainable building practices and Passive House approach.
5. Habit Architecture Services: Licensed architectural services under Habit Architecture brand for multi-unit residential, mixed-use, and community-focused projects — expanding beyond single-family residential into larger buildings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Habit Studio is a women-led architectural design firm that sells sustainable residential architecture, Passive House new build design, deep energy retrofits (EnerPHit), and whole-home renovation design services primarily to homeowners in Atlantic Canada. The firm also operates Habit Architecture, a licensed architectural practice for multi-unit, mixed-use, and community-focused projects. A tiered Whole Home Renovation Strategy planning service is sold separately as a fixed-fee engagement.

Product overview

Habit Studio is a women-led architectural design firm offering integrated residential design services in Atlantic Canada. Their core offerings include Habit Architecture (the licensed architectural practice), Passive House design services, holistic whole-home renovations, deep retrofits, and a Whole Home Renovation Strategy planning service with three tiers (Understand, Plan, Deliver). They also provide consulting, education, and training on sustainable building practices. The firm specializes in environmentally responsible work including Passive House, deep retrofits, multi-unit residential buildings, mixed-use developments, and community buildings. Projects like the Falkland Street Retrofit (Nova Scotia's first EnerPHit) serve as demonstration projects showcasing their technical expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Habit Architecture: The licensed architectural practice within Habit Studio, carrying forward Habit Studio's legacy of thoughtfully crafted single-family homes, expanding into multi-unit residential, mixed-use, and community-focused projects.

Products and services

• Whole Home Renovation Strategy A fixed-fee residential planning service sold in three tiers (Understand, Plan, Deliver) that gives homeowners a sequenced path to making their home more comfortable, efficient, and valuable over time. Tier 1 Understand ($6,500) provides site visit, existing-conditions review, energy modelling, and a plain-language improvement roadmap. Tier 2 Plan ($15,000-$20,000) adds verified measurements, dew-point/moisture analysis, and detailed enclosure strategies. Tier 3 Deliver (custom proposal) covers full design through construction support. Target customers are individual homeowners.
• Passive House New Build Design Full architectural design services for new Net-Zero Passive House construction, including site analysis, design development, contractor coordination, and construction support. Targets homeowners building new custom sustainable homes, with airtightness targets as low as 0.7 ACH, ERS ratings of 0, and 126%+ energy efficiency over code-compliant homes.
• Holistic Whole-Home Renovation Design Comprehensive renovation design services for existing homes, including structural modifications, energy performance upgrades, and aesthetic transformations. Often coupled with deep retrofit and Passive House upgrades. Targets homeowners navigating life transitions who need more space, privacy, comfort, or efficiency.
• Deep Energy Retrofit Design (EnerPHit) Architectural design services for deep energy retrofits applying the Passive House Institute's EnerPHit standard to existing buildings. Exemplified by the Falkland Street project (Nova Scotia's first EnerPHit-certified building), which achieved 92% reduction in heating energy, 87% reduction in total energy use, and 88% reduction in GHG emissions through envelope upgrades, high-performance windows, and heat pump systems.
• Habit Architecture (Multi-Unit, Mixed-Use, Community Projects) Licensed architectural practice operating within Habit Studio that carries forward the firm's residential design legacy into multi-unit residential, mixed-use developments, and community-focused projects. Works with developers, housing providers, and community organizations using a human-centered design approach to address real needs, tight constraints, and long-term use.
• Consulting and Education Expert consulting on high-performance projects and deep retrofits, plus educational offerings including lunch-and-learns, webinars, and guest speaker engagements on sustainable building practices and Passive House methodology. Supports industry colleagues and climate advocacy.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% more energy efficient than code-compliant homes (Two Rocks project)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Efficiency OnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEfficiency One is a strategic partner supporting Habit Studio's Falkland Street EnerPHit Retrofit Project — Nova Scotia's first Passive House retrofit. Efficiency One provided partial funding and expertise as a key player in Nova Scotia's deep energy retrofit ecosystem. Habit Studio is also supported by Efficiency One's work in deep energy retrofits across the province.
• SEEFAR Building AnalyticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEEFAR Building Analytics conducted the Total Cost of Building Ownership (TCBO) economic study for the Falkland Street project, comparing financial outcomes of code-minimum retrofit, Passive House retrofit, and code-minimum new build over a 60-year period. The firm also collaborated on lifecycle cost case studies for client projects.
• Passive House CanadaminorOthersLorrie Rand teaches for Passive House Canada, contributing to the education and advancement of Passive House professionals across Canada. Habit Studio is also associated with Passive House Institute (PHI) standards and EnerPHit certification.
• Dalhousie School of ArchitectureminorOthersJudyann Obersi frequently contributes as an educator and guest critic at the Dalhousie School of Architecture, supporting the next generation of architects and advancing the profession through mentorship and education.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Lake|Flato Architects: Established US architecture firm recognized for sustainability, residential, and contextual design across a wider portfolio. Comparable as a broader, more established player operating in the same sustainable-architecture space as Habit Studio.

Direct peers

• Atelierjones: Boutique architecture practice focused on sustainable, wellness-oriented residential and small commercial projects. Comparable to Habit Studio in scale, sustainability orientation, and mission-driven boutique practice.
• New Frameworks: Sustainable design-build firm specializing in natural, high-performance, and Passive House-aligned residential buildings. Comparable in boutique scale, environmental focus, and integrated design-build delivery.
• SHED Architecture: Boutique architecture and design-build practice in Seattle with a strong portfolio of sustainable, energy-efficient custom homes and remodels. Comparable in scale, sustainable-residential focus, and integration of performance-driven design.
• Onion Flats: Integrated architecture, construction, and development firm focused on sustainable, high-performance urban infill and residential projects. Comparable in integrated delivery model and emphasis on sustainability and energy performance.
• Kelleher Construction + Design: Integrated design-build firm with Passive House certification and a portfolio of high-performance custom homes and renovations. Comparable to Habit Studio for its combined architecture + construction capability and focus on energy-efficient residential projects.
• BLDGUS: Boutique design-build firm focused on sustainable, high-performance residential and small commercial projects, with deep expertise in Passive House and net-zero construction. Comparable to Habit Studio in scale, sustainable-design positioning, and integrated design-build delivery for discerning homeowners.
• Verdance Construction: Sustainable home builder specializing in Passive House, net-zero, and deep energy retrofits with an in-house design practice. Directly comparable to Habit Studio's combined design-and-performance expertise for high-end residential clients.
• Bright Common Architecture: Small sustainable architecture firm specializing in net-zero, Passive House, and deep energy retrofit residential projects. Directly comparable to Habit Studio in mission, project type, and boutique-firm delivery model.

Regional players

• Teeple Architects: Canadian architecture firm with a portfolio of sustainable institutional, residential, and cultural projects. Comparable as a Canadian sustainable-design peer, though larger and more institutionally oriented than Habit Studio's boutique residential focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/habitstudioplus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Habit Studio