Group of stakeholders are gathered in an indoor construction space. They are smiling for the camera
2024 Benefit Report

 

At Hessey Consulting + Architecture, our work has continued to focus on helping mission-driven organizations navigate the complexity of commercial real estate and renovation projects in Vancouver. Our goal is to reduce risk, strengthen decision-making, and help organizations create spaces that support long-term social and environmental impact.

In fulfilling our mission, we continue to be one of the over 600 other Certified B Corporations in Canada to balance profit with social and environmental impact.  B Corp Certification is awarded to businesses that meet high standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. In BC, this also means legally registering as a Benefit Corporation. This report summarizes the insights gathered from organizations we worked with throughout 2024.

100% of respondents said they would recommend Hessey to another organization.

Clients consistently reported that working with Hessey increased their confidence in navigating complex real estate and renovation decisions and helped their organizations move forward with greater clarity and reduced risk.

  • 6 client organizations participated in the survey

  • 100% would recommend Hessey

  • 100% agreed or strongly agreed that projects met or exceeded expectations

  • 100% reported increased confidence in dealing with commercial real estate

  • 58,000+ community beneficiaries served by participating organizations

These numbers represent the broader reach of the organizations we support — from community programs and social services to large public-facing initiatives.

A key part of Hessey’s work is helping organizations build internal capacity to understand real estate and renovation processes.

67% strongly agreed and 33% agreed that working with Hessey:

“..Increased their understanding, confidence, and capacity in dealing with commercial real estate and renovations.”

Clients highlighted that the process helped them feel more informed and empowered when making complex property decisions.

Delivering Projects that Meet Organizational Goals

Organizations come to Hessey with unique challenges and ambitions — in the planning, implementation and operational phases of their projects.

100% of respondents reported that the project met or exceeded their original needs and ambitions.

This feedback reflects our focus on aligning project strategy with each organization’s long-term mission and impact goals.

Reducing Risk and Supporting Long-Term Impact

Commercial real estate decisions carry significant financial and operational risks for non-profit and mission-driven organizations.

Our role is to help organizations navigate those risks while protecting their ability to grow and deliver services.

When asked whether the project would help their organization mitigate risk and support future impact:

This highlights the importance of early planning and strategic advisory work in helping organizations build confidence in major real estate decisions.

What Clients Value Most

Clients highlighted several themes about what they valued most about working with Hessey:

Strategic Guidance and Expertise:

“Matt’s guidance, expertise, patience, and mentorship were indescribably valuable to our team. The facility planning work and the broader Vancouver Metal Arts Hub feasibility study simply would not have happened without his support.”

— Ingrid Valou, Past President
Vancouver Metal Arts Association

“Matt’s support and guidance have been invaluable—not just in navigating the technical aspects, but in bringing a deep understanding of social impact, community development, and social services. He has a way of breaking down complex concepts so they actually make sense, which made it much easier for us to engage confidently in decision-making.”
— Andrea Takasaki, Director of Community Engagement
Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC

Organization and Project Leadership:

“The project manager is organized and takes initiative to communicate with appropriate parties to obtain information and updates. He is flexible in his approach, advocates for respectful timelines, and creates documents that are accessible and easy to understand.”
— Benita Ho
Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House Society

Navigating Complex Processes:

“Matt was able to help us navigate a very complex and confusing process with the city.”
— Nathan Drillot
Strathcona Spatial Sound Society

Collaborative Engagement:

“The engagement with Downtown Eastside organizations to share information about the program, and the implementation of the program with care and transparency, was extremely valuable.”
— Jose Fernandez Garcia, Planner II
City of Vancouver

Opportunities for Improvement

We also ask clients to identify areas where we can improve.

Feedback in 2024 suggested continued opportunities to:

  • Improve communication during project milestones

  • Provide even more clarity around timelines and next steps

  • Continue refining tools and resources that help organizations understand the real estate process

We view this feedback as an important part of improving how we serve clients.

Looking Ahead

The organizations we support are working on some of the most important challenges in our communities — from delivering social programs to creating inclusive spaces for people to gather and connect.

Our role is to ensure that real estate decisions strengthen these missions rather than distract from them.

As we move into 2025, Hessey remains committed to helping organizations:

  • reduce risk

  • build internal capacity

  • create spaces that support lasting social and environmental impact

For more information on how we can support your organization, please visit our contact page.