Vancouver studio is developing and headed in a good direction - Designer ZGF Architects Employee Review

Great work culture, people and city and sense of belonging

Can't think of anything in terms of the internship experience

Strong design culture and reputation: The firm has a clear commitment to design excellence, sustainability, and high-quality work across project types and scales. Highly talented colleagues: The day-to-day experience of working with peers was a major strength. Many designers are thoughtful, skilled, and deeply engaged in the work. Meaningful project work: Opportunities to contribute to complex, high-quality architecture and urban design projects with strong design ambition. Supportive professional community: A generally strong sense of community and collaboration at the peer level, with opportunities to learn from experienced designers.

Inconsistent leadership communication: Direction and feedback from senior leadership could be unclear or vary significantly, which sometimes made expectations difficult to navigate. Highly variable leadership culture: Project experience was strongly dependent on individual leadership styles, which could lead to inconsistent team environments across different projects. Challenging team dynamics at the senior level: Some leadership behaviors contributed to high-stress working conditions and negatively affected team morale and continuity. Opaque advancement pathways: Career progression was not always clearly defined, and feedback did not consistently translate into transparent development or promotion criteria. Impact on retention and morale: Variability in leadership and project environments sometimes contributed to elevated turnover and reduced team stability