The verdict in three sentences
In Vancouver, a website for an architecture firm built by a local studio costs, as a 2026 ballpark, between 10 000 and 45 000+ USD (local agencies usually quote in CAD), while an independent web designer typically asks 3 000 to 10 000 USD. Kolonell builds this kind of portfolio site for 2 900, 4 900 or 8 900 USD, with native English copywriting, a project manager reachable in Pacific time and the domain registered in your name. Before you sign, compare the three-year total cost and what is really included: project pages, image handling, copy, and who owns the access.
What does a Vancouver agency charge for an architecture portfolio site?
The ranges below are prudent ballpark figures, not official rates. They come from public rate cards of Canadian digital studios, the minimum project sizes shown on Vancouver agency profiles on Clutch.co, and rates visible on freelance platforms such as Upwork. Vancouver studios commonly bill 90 to 180 USD an hour equivalent, so the spread depends heavily on scope: number of projects, custom animations, photography direction, CMS training and languages.
| Criterion | Vancouver web agency | Freelancer | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build price (2026 ballpark) | 10 000 to 45 000+ USD | 3 000 to 10 000 USD | 2 900 / 4 900 / 8 900 USD |
| Billing model | Fixed fee or hourly, often 90 to 180 USD/h | Fixed fee or day rate | Fixed price per plan |
| Typical timeline | Depends on the studio's pipeline | Depends on availability | 3 to 4 weeks, Premium 4 to 6 weeks |
| Project descriptions and copy | Often a separate line | Rarely included | Native English or French copy included |
| Point of contact | Local account manager | One person | Project manager, Google Meet at a time that suits you, weekly written update |
| Post-launch support | Retainer contract | Ad hoc | 3 months included, 6 on Premium |
| Domain and access | Check the contract | Check | Domain in your name, all access handed over |
A local studio brings in-person workshops and sometimes a brand identity refresh. That is worth paying for if you are repositioning the practice. If what you need is a fast, precise site that lets your built work speak, the price gap is hard to justify.
What does each Kolonell plan cover for an architecture practice?
| Practice need | Starter 2 900 USD | Growth 4 900 USD | Premium 8 900 USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pages | 5 custom pages | 10+ pages | Unlimited pages |
| Project portfolio | Featured projects on one page | Project pages with full galleries | Detailed case pages: brief, constraints, drawings, photos, credits |
| Filtering | No | By typology (residential, commercial, institutional) | By typology, status, location and scale |
| Team and studio | Short studio page | Team profiles | Team, process, awards and publications |
| Enquiry | Contact form | Project enquiry form with budget and site address | Separate forms for clients, press and recruitment |
| Journal, news | No | Blog included | Journal and content plan |
| Languages | EN or FR | EN or FR | Bilingual FR/EN |
| Post-launch support | 3 months | 3 months | 6 months |
Quoted on request: a client portal for sharing drawings and approvals, an integration with your project management software, or a custom back office for competitions and tenders. Full plan details sit on our international website offer.
How do you compare two quotes without getting caught out?
| Question to ask every provider | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the domain registered in the firm's name? | Losing it means losing your search history and email |
| Who writes the project texts? | Uncosted copy often adds 1 500 to 5 000 USD later |
| Can you edit projects yourself? | Each new project should not mean a paid ticket |
| Are large images optimised automatically? | Heavy galleries kill mobile load times |
| Is maintenance mandatory, at what monthly price? | It drives the three-year total more than the build |
| Is there a written schedule with a launch date? | Open-ended timelines stretch over months |
Classic red flags: a deposit above 50 %, a proprietary builder you cannot move away from, and admin access kept by the provider after launch.
What an architecture firm's site needs in Vancouver
Your clients judge the firm on images first. Prospective homeowners on the North Shore, developers planning mid-rise rental buildings, and institutional clients all scroll through projects before reading a word. The site has to load large photography fast, on mobile and on a weak connection at a site visit.
- Project pages that tell a story: the brief, the site constraints (slopes, view corridors, rainscreen detailing for the coastal climate), the outcome, with photo and drawing credits.
- Image rights: architectural photographers usually license their images for specific uses. Check that your licences cover web use, and that owners of private residences agreed to publication.
- Professional title: in British Columbia the title 'architect' is regulated by the Architectural Institute of BC (AIBC). Make sure team bios use titles accurately; the firm checks this, not the web provider.
- Languages: Kolonell writes natively in English and French. If you want pages in Mandarin, Cantonese or Punjabi for some client groups, you supply the translations or they are quoted separately.
On data protection, your enquiry forms collect personal information: Canada's PIPEDA and British Columbia's private sector privacy law (PIPA) are the reference frameworks, with a clear privacy notice. WCAG 2.1 AA is a sound accessibility target. This is not legal advice.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
For a sense of how we work remotely with North American firms, see TR Signing Group (trsigninggroup.com), a bilingual EN/FR site with quote requests and booking for a New Jersey notary and apostille service.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Priya, principal of a nine-person practice in Mount Pleasant, receives a local quote of 32 000 USD plus a mandatory retainer of 250 USD a month. Over three years: 32 000 + (250 × 36) = 41 000 USD. With Kolonell Growth at 4 900 USD, three months of support are included; using the same 250 USD a month assumption for the remaining 33 months (Kolonell maintenance is quoted on request), the total is 4 900 + 8 250 = 13 150 USD. The difference of about 27 850 USD covers a full professional photo shoot of several completed projects. To get your own numbers, use the free quote form.
FAQ
Why is there such a gap with a Vancouver studio?
Local studios carry Vancouver overheads and often bill 90 to 180 USD an hour. Kolonell works at a fixed price, 4 900 USD for Growth, with a remote team and a dedicated project manager.
Can we add new projects ourselves after launch?
Yes. From the Growth plan, project pages are editable from the back office, so adding a completed building takes about 20 minutes once the photos are ready.
How do you handle the time difference?
The team works on GMT, 7 to 8 hours ahead of Vancouver depending on the season. Google Meet calls are scheduled in your morning, and you receive a written update every week.
How long until the site is live?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks for Starter and Growth. Premium follows a written schedule set at kickoff, usually 4 to 6 weeks.
How is the project paid?
By bank transfer or Wise, 50 % at the start and 50 % at delivery. The domain is registered in the firm's name and all access is handed over.
Let's scope your project. A Growth portfolio site for your Vancouver practice, filterable project pages included, for 4 900 USD and live in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
