The verdict in three sentences
For a two-partner architecture atelier in Gatineau, the website has to speak to two markets at once, the Outaouais in French and Ottawa largely in English, on a budget that stays reasonable. A remote studio meets that need well if it delivers native copywriting in both languages and a site whose domain, hosting and code you keep. A local agency is worth its price when the partners also want to hand off photography, social media and branding without spending their evenings on it.
Outaouais agency, Ottawa agency or remote studio: which scenarios?
In Gatineau, the choice is not binary. An Outaouais agency knows Law 25 and writes native French, an Ottawa agency is often stronger in English copy and the Ontario market, and a remote studio costs less and delivers faster. The table below sums up the typical situations of a small atelier.
| Atelier situation | Best-fit option | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Existing brand, recent photos, site needed within a month | Remote studio | Fixed price, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks |
| Mostly Quebec clients, municipal files | Outaouais agency | Local vocabulary, regional network |
| Mostly Ontario clients, commercial projects in Ottawa | Ottawa agency or bilingual studio | English copy and Ontario references |
| Complete new identity, signage, documents | Local agency | One team accountable for the brand |
| Total budget under CAD 10,000 over 3 years | Remote studio or freelancer | The only realistic options |
| Partners unavailable to follow the project | Local agency with a retainer | More complete hand-holding |
As a 2026 ballpark, typical local agency quotes range from CAD 8,000 to 30,000 for an atelier site with a portfolio, and freelancers from CAD 3,000 to 9,000. The Kolonell grid is USD 2,900, 4,900 or 8,900, invoiced in US dollars.
Which criteria should you check before signing?
| Criterion | Local agency | Remote studio (e.g. Kolonell) | Watch point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time zone | Eastern Time | Project manager reachable during Gatineau hours | Time slots written into the contract |
| Meetings | At the atelier, by appointment | Video calls | 2 to 4 meetings are enough for a small site |
| French and English copy | One language often translated | Native writing in both languages | Ask for samples |
| Photo and drone | Coordination possible | Regional photographer hired by the atelier | Written usage license |
| Domain, hosting, code ownership | Varies | Require it in your name | Handover of access at the end |
| Maintenance | Monthly contract is common | On quote after 3 months of support | Compare over 3 years |
What the site should include: a portfolio filterable by type (house, extension, small retail, cottage), by side of the river and by status; project pages with simplified plans and photos; an atelier page that clearly presents both partners; a qualifying form (address, municipality, type of work, timeline, budget); AVIF and WebP images with lazy loading; a CMS to add a project without a developer.
Local frame: the title architect is protected in Quebec by the Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ) and in Ontario by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). An atelier practicing on both sides of the river generally needs the required authorizations in each province; show on the site who is registered where. Your site, published by a Quebec business, must be available in French under the Charter of the French Language and comply with Law 25: privacy policy, designated person in charge, profiling trackers turned off by default. If you have employees in Ontario, also check your obligations under the AODA. In every case, aim for WCAG 2.1 AA, ideally 2.2 AA. This is not legal advice.
When is the local agency clearly the better choice?
To be frank: if both partners spend their days on site and cannot review mockups, a local agency that takes care of everything, photography included, will save you time. The same goes if you target public mandates that value a regional supplier, or if you want a monthly content strategy with in-person meetings. Otherwise, a remote studio like the one described in our international offer is enough, and the budget difference can pay for better photos.
| 3-year cost (ballpark) | Local agency | Freelancer | Remote studio (Kolonell Starter) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Build | CAD 10,000 to 25,000 | CAD 3,000 to 9,000 | USD 2,900 |
| Second language | CAD 1,500 to 3,500 | CAD 1,500 to 3,000 | Included |
| Hosting and maintenance | CAD 3,600 to 12,000 | CAD 1,200 to 4,000 | On quote, budget USD 1,200 to 3,600 |
| Support included | Depends on contract | Rare | 3 months |
| Total excluding photo | CAD 15,100 to 40,500 | CAD 5,700 to 16,000 | USD 4,100 to 6,500 |
Need a professional website?
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Questions to ask: who writes each language? Will the domain sit with our registrar? How is the consent banner set up for Law 25? How long does it take to publish a new project?
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Mathieu and Sophie, two partner architects in the Vieux-Hull area. Their current French-only site gets 400 visits a month and 4 enquiries, a 1 percent conversion rate. With a native English version and a qualifying form, they aim for 2 percent, so 8 enquiries a month. If they sign 1 enquiry out of 8, that is 6 more mandates a year. At an average CAD 12,000 in fees, the potential reaches CAD 72,000 a year, against a USD 2,900 Starter package or a CAD 18,000 agency quote. They pick the studio and keep CAD 6,000 to photograph their last four projects.
FAQ
Does my site need to be bilingual in Gatineau?
The French version is required for a Quebec business; English is a commercial choice. With Ottawa clients who can exceed 40 percent of your enquiries, it often pays off.
How much does an architecture atelier website cost in Gatineau in 2026?
As a ballpark, CAD 8,000 to 30,000 with a local agency and CAD 3,000 to 9,000 with a freelancer. Kolonell offers a fixed USD 2,900 to 8,900.
Can a remote studio handle Law 25?
Yes, if it sets up a compliant consent banner and a suitable privacy policy. Allow half a day of work, to be validated with your designated person in charge.
How long does it take to launch the site?
At Kolonell, 3 to 4 weeks if your photos and project texts are ready. A local agency usually quotes 8 to 12 weeks.
Let's scope your project. A bilingual site, a filterable portfolio and Law 25 compliance for your Gatineau atelier, from USD 2,900 and delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
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.