Brett Sichello

About Us

A truly great design is only

as good as it performs.

Our thoughtful work provides much more than meets the eye. Learn how our projects disrupt the convention.

NIDO specializes in Passive House, Net-Zero, Net-Positive, and Living Building Challenge homes.

Our mission is to create the healthiest of homes defined by exceptional comfort, high indoor air quality, low operating costs, and most importantly, sustainable materials that take into account their footprint from start of life to end of life.

The recipe is pretty simple...

Super Insulation
Airtight Construction to minimize Air / Energy Leakage
Triple Glazed, Airtight Windows & Doors
Thermal Bridge Free Construction Details
24/7/365 Fresh Air Ventilation with Heat Recovery
Exterior Shading of windows to prevent over heating in the summer
Efficient mechanical systems for heating, cooling, and hot water
Materials, materials, materials....the materials we use to construct a home are incredibly important as it relates to their footprint, combustibility (particularly for BC projects), and how those materials impact the indoor air quality inside the home but as well as the bigger picture of how the manufacturing of those materials could impact the health of the persons producing them, the environment around those facilities, and then finally the homeowner who is surrounded by those materials in the home.

Each and every project is optimized for its specific location to consider orientation to the sun, altitude, urban vs. rural environments and how that relates to wind, and finally even taking into account existing trees, mountains, and adjacent buildings to determine if they could potentially block the big old fireball in the sky which is both free energy and amazing daylight throughout the interior of the home. Admittedly, there is some rocket science going on in behind the scenes but rightly so, this is typically the biggest purchase of anyone's life so we treat it with great respect and take them time to do it right.

With our integrated design process we evaluate the best strategy for success and disrupt typical construction practices in every aspect, from integrated aesthetic design within a 3D environment to complete integration of the mechanical and electrical systems and early and ongoing coordination with the Builder to ensure that the construction budget is adhered too.

Our preferred construction approach utilizes prefabricated panelized construction which allows for the shell of the home to be installed in only days however we also work on site built projects. As every project is unique, there is no one size fits all solution so we evaluate, provide recommendations, and then put a plan in place to deliver a successful project from start to finish.

NIDO is involved from step one to the day the keys are handed over to assist both the Builder and Owner throughout the entire design and construction process.

For our clients, it provides a seamless experience that enables you to build beyond what you think is possible!

The opportunity to create the healthiest, most sustainable homes in the world is what drives us....you?

What's important to you?

Design

Every home is carefully thought out to work for you and your life. This starts with understanding your needs, wants, features of the site and construction budget. Important design elements include: functionality, maintenance, constructability and performance. Once a scheme is developed we then energy model each home to optimize the performance and select the mechanical and electrical systems. This approach emphasizes shifting costs to what makes your home the most comfortable and durable while minimizing ongoing operating costs. Everything is worked out in detail in the construction documents, ready to panelize and build saving you time and money.

Prefab

Your home performs as well as it's shell: roof, exterior walls, and floors. It's critical that they are optimized to minimize heat loss and include lots of insulation, minimize air leakage, and high quality triple pane windows.

We recommend prefabricated panels because it guarantees quality, efficiency, and reduces waste. It's difficult to match this on site. We work with a dedicated team that builds high performance shells and is not affected by the weather. This allows the local builder to build your shell while your foundation is dug. The shell of your house is assembled in 3 to 7 days and is tested onsite to sure be sure it meets our stringent requirements. For you this means getting your house built sooner and making sure you get the quality you're expecting.

Build

Quality and care follows through to construction. We advocate for your project the whole way. Our team is available to address any issues that arise and we know and understand every little detail needed to build a high performance house -- nothing is left to how it's always been done. We recommend builders that we trust and also believe in our dedication to care and performance.

Conventional construction seeks to minimize building costs and maximize profit. This results in low quality and high cost. By providing complete seamless service we aspire to maximize performance and value to you. It's through this philosophy we help you build your best possible home.

Client Care

Our process lets you move in faster while helping you get a significantly more comfortable and higher performing home. Your project's success is our success. We are an advocate for your project from conception until you have had a chance to experience living in your home. We want to make sure you are taken care of throughout the process and that your home performs as designed.