B.C.’S TOP 10 LEADING HOMEBUILDERS
VictorEric celebrates 20 years as
Vancouver based custom home builder with values
based design and Passive House initiatives
Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Vancouver based VictorEric is celebrating its twentieth
anniversary designing and building custom homes. The
company has added Passive House (PH) design to its list
of offerings and uniquely serves the multi-cultural Lower
Mainland marketplace through its multi-lingual staff.

While the firm now employs almost 50 across a range
of disciplines, in 2007, with a staff of only six, it had already
begun to achieve industry recognition with its first Georgie
Award. Founder Eric Lee came to Canada with his family in
1979. He says that from an early age he developed an in-
terest in design and construction, which was evident in his
preferred toy – Lego – and his determination to access
construction sites to observe framing and other details.

He says his early experiences instilled in him the value
of honesty, integrity, hard work, perseverance and personal
development. That and natural talent led to his first home
design at the age of 18.

Lee formalized his education by studying architecture
through BCIT’s Building Technology Program, later adding
education in interior design. Today VictorEric uses a de-
sign-build approach to address construction management,
budget direction, interior design and landscape design for
a full custom home solution.

“Whereas most builders subcontract a designer or use
stock plans, we offer a truly integrated design-build model
wherein our inhouse construction experts participate in de-
sign discovery meetings to fully understand clients’ needs
and budgets,” he said.

Listening to clients means hearing not just what they
think they want in a home, but understanding their inter-
ests and lifestyles, he says.

“Then we seek to inspire every client to create a legacy
home which fills them with pride for generations to come.

Our biggest difference is that we are truly integrated from
AD, ID, LD (architectural, interior and landscape design) to
construction management staff. This gives us utmost con-
trol to deliver the best customer experience.”
Lee says the company is able to focus its expertise by
being selective about the projects it will take on, ensuring
that the team and clients are aligned in their values and
goals. Those values are also evident in the integrity he says
the company strives to bring to the industry and the lower
mainland region VictorEric serves. “We care (VE Care) is
our motto and we measure ourselves by whether our em-
ployees and customers feel we are demonstrating the ap-
propriate level of care in each situation.”
28 – Summer 2017 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report




Passive House construction has evolved to meet the
company’s VE Care model, he says. “A low carbon foot-
print home is environmentally ethical. Passive Houses use
90 per cent less energy to heat, they tend to be healthier
homes for the client with a more consistent temperature
which provides the best thermal comfort.”
Lee says he sees the PH design standard being pushed
by more jurisdictions and believes this should be the future
standard. “For us, being ahead of the curve is where we
are most comfortable.”
Many of the PH design components can serve non-PH
projects equally. Greater wall thickness, higher R values,
roof and window overhang designs better suited to heat-
ing and cooling internal temperatures based on the sun’s
seasonal angle and the natural convection process in the
home, and high-performance HVAC are just some of these.

Hidden, they do not impact the home’s design from an
aesthetic perspective but work invisibly to create a better
environment. He says consumer uptake in PH has grown to the point
that it’s economically viable for VictorEric to be designing
Canada’s first fully Passive House subdivision in Harrison,
B.C., named Panorama. “We hope suppliers will be able to
keep up with the demand for the unique materials needed
for these premium structures.”
The growth in PH demand has been the result of much
education. “People often don’t even understand the cost
benefit of triple pane windows much less an entire Passive
House. When potential clients see on paper just how
much of a benefit a Passive House can be there is certainly
a lot of excitement.”
In 2014, responding to customer demand for the oppor-
tunity to invest in development projects, VictorEric Select
Projects was launched. “VSP offers boutique develop-
ments for people who appreciate quality and style but may
not be able to afford an entirely custom single-family
home,” he said.

“Dickens at Kensington is an eleven-unit project, with
a unique character home duplex element which is in the
finishing stage. With only two units left, we are pleased to
say it basically sold out prior to our ability to advertise its
existence. The Lancaster Collection is an upcoming project
of five graceful, stacked townhomes under the same um-
brella.” VictorEric has been named one of the Top Five Best Em-
ployers in B.C. by Small Business BC the past two years.

Part of this may be the result of the emphasis Lee says the
company places on fun, family, fitness, continuing educa-
tion and promoting from within. “Aside from regular train-
ing, junior staff are paired with more experienced senior
staff – buddies - to help both individuals grow.”
“We are proud of our family like culture that we’ve de-
veloped over the years with monthly activities, contests
and challenges,” he said.

In addition, unique monthly bonus programs allow staff
to directly profit from the money they save the company
on both projects and marketing.

VictorEric has also been recognized in the past year for
its projects including Georgie’s for Best Interior Design and
Best Any Room, an Ovation Award for Best Interior and
Best Outdoor Space.

Lee is a long standing member of the Greater Vancouver
Home Builder’s Association, a career mentor for BCIT stu-
dents, and a volunteer with Big Brothers of Greater Van-
couver. For more information, visit http://victoreric.com.

Design. Build. Perfection.

15 East 3rd Ave.

T: 604.677.0021
Vancouver, BC
victoreric.com The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Summer 2017 – 29