Isobel McLean, Principal

Isobel’s research and practice take an interdisciplinary approach to space-making, looking at how design can support ideas of equity, sustainability, and spatial justice. Over the past several years, she has worked with the anti-violence service sector to develop tools to understand their space needs. These projects have included studying the impact of COVID-19 guidelines on space availability and service provision, and developing frameworks for better value-driven engagement strategies between architects and shelter organizations.

Isobel graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Master of Architecture program in 2024, where she achieved a Royal Architecture Institute of Canada’s Honour Roll designation, the Architectural Institute of British Columbia’s Medal, and was a Concord Erikson Energy and Architecture Fellow. Her thesis project, Designing to Empower: An Action Kit for Engaged Design Literacy, received over $20,000 in award funding and is the inspiration for much of her current work.

In addition to her continued work with the anti-violence sector, Isobel is a Designer at UBC’s Biogenic Architecture Lab where she uses her design and research abilities to reimagine material paradigms in architecture.