Who We Are

Crafting Tomorrow's Architecture Today

Our Story

Back in 2011, I started this studio in a cramped office above a coffee shop on Queen West. Just me, a drafting table, and way too much ambition for someone who'd just left a comfortable corporate gig. The idea wasn't groundbreaking or anything - I just wanted to design buildings that didn't suck the life out of their surroundings.

Fast forward to today, and we're a team of twenty-something architects, designers, and sustainability nerds working out of King West. Still feel like that scrappy startup sometimes, honestly. We've done everything from converting old warehouses into residential spaces to planning mixed-use developments that actually work for the people living in them.

What sets us apart? We're not trying to win awards with flashy designs that look great in magazines but fail in real life. Every project starts with the same questions: How will people actually use this space? What's the environmental cost? Can we do better with less?

Our approach is pretty straightforward - listen more than we talk, sketch a lot, question everything twice, and never compromise on sustainability. Sometimes that means having tough conversations with clients about why their dream design isn't gonna work. But they usually thank us later.

150+

Projects Completed

14

Years Running

85%

Client Retention

Our Philosophy

Three principles that guide everything we do

Context Over Concept

Buildings don't exist in a vacuum. We spend weeks studying the neighborhood, the light patterns, how people move through spaces. A design that works in one location might be completely wrong somewhere else. It's about fitting in while standing out - if that makes sense.

Sustainable By Default

Not as an add-on or a premium feature. It's baked into every decision from day one. Material choices, orientation, natural ventilation - all that stuff. Sure, it sometimes costs more upfront, but we're talking about buildings that'll be around for decades. Short-term thinking is how we got into this climate mess.

Function First, Always

Pretty renders don't mean much if the space doesn't work. We've walked away from projects where clients wanted something that looked cool but would've been a nightmare to actually live or work in. Beauty emerges from solving problems well, not from forcing aesthetic choices that fight against how people actually behave.

The Team

The people behind the projects

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Founded the studio after a decade at big firms. Still draws by hand because it feels right. Obsessed with daylighting strategies.

Marcus Walsh

Lead Designer

Joined in 2015 after working on heritage projects across Ontario. Knows more about brick than anyone should. Makes terrible coffee.

Amara Okonkwo

Sustainability Director

Our green building guru. Has every certification you can think of. Won't shut up about passive house standards - in the best way possible.

David Park

Project Manager

Keeps us on schedule and under budget - mostly. Former contractor who switched sides. Speaks fluent construction worker and architect.

Plus fifteen more talented folks in design, technical drawing, and project coordination who make everything actually happen.

Our Journey

How we got here

2011

The Beginning

Started with our first residential project - a laneway house in Leslieville. Client took a chance on a brand new studio. That house is still one of my favorites.

2014

Growing Pains

Hired our first employees. Moved to a bigger space. Nearly went broke on a project that ran over budget. Learned a lot about saying no to bad deals.

2017

Going Green

Completed our first LEED Platinum project. That's when we really committed to making sustainability non-negotiable. Changed how we approach every design.

2020

Pandemic Pivot

Like everyone else, figured out remote work. Actually made us better at collaboration. Started doing more residential work as people rethought their homes.

2023

Expanding Horizons

Moved to our current King West studio. Team grew to twenty-plus. Started taking on urban planning projects. Felt like a real architecture firm finally.

2025

Today

Working on our most ambitious projects yet. Still learning, still making mistakes, still trying to design buildings that'll matter in fifty years. That's the goal anyway.

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for interesting projects. Whether you're planning a new build, renovating an existing space, or just have some questions about sustainable design, let's talk. No project is too small to start a conversation.

Fair warning though - we'll probably challenge some of your assumptions. That's kind of our thing. But if you're open to collaboration and genuinely care about creating spaces that work well and tread lightly on the planet, we'll get along great.

Get In Touch