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About Archipelago

The problem

Great ideas in architecture, engineering, and construction die on isolated hard drives every day. Small firms chase work alone, reinvent details, and burn hours hunting for reliable partners—while climate deadlines keep ticking.

Our why

We believe the future of the built environment is open, collaborative, and regenerative—and that even the smallest studio can move it forward when knowledge and opportunities flow as easily as chat messages.

Our early experiment

Archipelago is nothing more (and nothing less) than a Slack workspace and a handful of committed founders. No glossy portal, no venture capital—just the conviction that openness beats isolation. On a busy day you might see a dozen messages, not hundreds. That’s fine; every thriving community starts with a few clear voices.

What we’re building together

  • Real‑time conversation—fast, candid, searchable.

  • A culture of reciprocity—ask, answer, share.

  • Collective leverage—more members → stronger referrals, shared tools, louder advocacy.

  • Living knowledge—patterns and lessons surfaced by the chat, archived once the community votes it’s time.

Guiding principles

  1. Integrity first – credit sources, own mistakes, protect confidentiality.

  2. Give before you get – generosity fuels collaboration and trust.

  3. Bold exploration, buildable outcomes – dream big, then make it stand up on site.

  4. Impact that lasts – every discussion weighs affordability, resilience, and climate.

Where we are now (May 2025)

  • Slack channels live:
    #all-archipelago · #collaboration-opportunities · #events-and-happenings · #ideas-and-feedback · #introductions · #knowledge-exchange · #watercooler

  • Members: fewer than 25 (architects, engineers, sustainability startups).

  • Early wins: Washington‑Peninsula architecture studio 123W and Georgia‑based structural firm Middleton Structural met through Archipelago and are now collaborating on the community‑housing initiative 4pa.org

How you can join

  • Explorer (free): drop into the chat, ask questions, share what you know.

  • Member (paid): for believers who fund growth from day one—display the Archipelago badge, appear in our marketing, and guide which future tools we build together.

If this resonates, click Apply Now. Tell us what you’re working on and what you’re ready to share. We review applications weekly and welcome new Explorers and Members every Friday.

(Numbers and goals update quarterly—hold us to it.)

Our Vision Statement

Archipelago envisions a future where the architecture, engineering, and construction industries are united in purpose, harnessing the power of collaboration to transform the built environment. We aim to lead a movement that prioritizes sustainability, innovation, and shared success, creating a ripple effect of positive impact for communities and the planet. Together, we’re not just imagining a better future — we’re building it.

Meet The Founder: Brian Liu

Brian Liu is a civil engineer and the founder of Archipelago. He began his career in Toronto in 2008, later moving to Squamish, BC, where he worked on land development projects during a major growth phase. His work focused on designing community infrastructure—literally helping shape the towns we live in.

Brian’s experience in both engineering and mountain sports (he co-founded the Squamish section of the Alpine Club of Canada and served as its first Director of Technology) gave him a deep appreciation for systems, networks, and the power of well-organized collaboration.

Archipelago started as a response to inefficiencies he saw in the AEC industry—where too many firms work in isolation, solving the same problems over and over. His vision: a space where firms can share knowledge, connect more easily, and build the future of infrastructure together.

“Archipelago is about lowering the friction between good ideas and good teams. We’re here to help the AEC industry work more like a network than a silo.”

– Brian Liu, Archipelago Founder

 

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