Look around Lower Lonsdale. If you spot a space that is equal parts natural aesthetic and smart, architectural styling – chances are Pam Chilton had a hand in the design.
Chilton is the creative and nimble force behind award-winning boutique firm Zimba Building Design + Consulting, and purveyor of commercial and residential spaces that inspire and endure.
Clients’ renovation dreams are brought to life by Chilton from her cheerful studio inside a heritage building furnished with a cage elevator at the southeast corner of First and Lonsdale.
Chilton has a natural curiosity for architecture and a knack for creating space where there is none.
“I was always fascinated by buildings, and I find it so interesting—how structures are built and things are put together,” says Chilton, who holds a Diploma of Building Technology with an Architectural major, and a Certificate in Interior Design, both from BCIT.
As Zimba’s Principal Designer, Chilton conceives homes from the ground up and the outside in.
She specializes in North Shore residential projects from renovations and additions to laneway and infill housing to complete custom homes—all with full-service offerings, including feasibility studies and interior design.
Have a design dilemma? Wondering what you can build on your property? Chilton is up for the challenge.
Battling zoning laws, building codes, environmental development permits, and other regulations, Chilton flexes her creative design muscles and works her magic. Take The Urban Longhouse project for instance. In maximizing a 25-foot-wide lot, Chilton found 2,500 square feet of functional living space.
This was her clients’ reaction to their new living environment: “It’s a lot more space than we thought!”
The many years she spent as a local municipal building inspector, prior to founding Zimba Design in 1996, has afforded Chilton invaluable insider knowledge her clients benefit from greatly. In fact, she was the first female building inspector on the North Shore!
Chilton acts as a translator and liaison with city hall, ensuring the building permit process for your project goes smoothly.
“One of my clients said: ‘You make building permits fun!’ ” recalls Chilton.
Through proven experience, expertise, and integrity, Zimba Design has earned the trust of countless satisfied clients and will guide your project to a successful finish. This is Chilton’s promise.
Chilton finds opportunities to introduce STEM programs to females whenever possible and has spoken about architecture to elementary school students.
She holds numerous leadership positions within the design community and also sits on the City of North Vancouver’s Board of Variance committee.
To say Chilton is a master of her craft is an understatement. Chilton has earned numerous prestigious accolades for her work, including a Professional Leadership Award for Women in Technology from the ASTTBC, and a B.C. Wood Design Award. Chilton was also a finalist for both a North Vancouver Chamber Business Excellence Award and a Western Canada Design Excellence Award.
Find out more about Zimba Building Design + Consulting and visit Chilton’s Instagram page for plenty of design inspiration!
Interested in having your company featured by the NV Chamber? Contact Membership Promotion and Communications Manager Maria Spitale-Leisk for more information.
