We're Not Your Typical Firm

Shaping Tomorrow's Cities with Timeless Elegance

Started in a cramped Toronto loft back in 2009, we've grown into something we're genuinely proud of - a studio that gives a damn about cities, people, and the planet.

Our Studio

How We Got Here

Honestly? It wasn't some grand master plan. Three architects walked into a bar - sounds like a joke, right? - and realized we were all frustrated with the same stuff. Cookie-cutter developments, buildings that ignored their surroundings, designs that looked great on paper but made zero sense for real people.

So we figured, why not do it differently? Started small with residential projects around Toronto, really listening to what folks needed rather than imposing our 'vision' on them. Turns out people appreciate that approach.

Fast forward fifteen years, we've worked on everything from heritage restorations in the Distillery District to net-zero commercial towers. But the philosophy hasn't changed - good architecture should enhance life, not complicate it.

Our Journey

Key moments that shaped who we are today

2009

The Beginning

Three friends, one shared apartment-turned-office, and way too much coffee. Started taking on residential projects that bigger firms wouldn't touch.

2013

First Big Break

Won a competition to redesign a historic warehouse into mixed-use space. That project put us on the map and taught us tons about adaptive reuse.

2017

Going Green

Completed our first LEED Platinum building. Realized sustainability wasn't optional anymore - it's just smart design. Changed everything about our approach.

2024

Where We Are

Team of 32, projects across Canada, and still getting excited about every new challenge. The work keeps evolving, and so do we.

Meet Some of the Team

The folks who make it happen

Sarah Quintar

Sarah Quintar

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Sarah's the detail person. If there's a better way to do something, she'll find it - usually at 2am. Spent five years in Copenhagen before moving back to Toronto, which explains her obsession with bike lanes and natural light.

Marcus Thal

Marcus Thal

Urban Design Director & Co-Founder

The big picture guy. Marcus thinks in neighborhoods, not buildings. Former city planner who got fed up with bureaucracy and wanted to actually build stuff. Still fights City Hall regularly, just from the other side now.

David Onyx

David Onyx

Sustainability Lead & Co-Founder

Dave's been green since before it was trendy. Studied environmental engineering before switching to architecture. He's the reason every project we do now considers energy performance from day one, not as an afterthought.

Jennifer Park

Senior Project Manager

Keeps us on schedule and under budget. Somehow. We don't ask questions, just appreciate the magic.

Raj Patel

Heritage Specialist

History nerd who makes old buildings work for modern life. His Instagram of Toronto architecture is weirdly addictive.

Aisha Mohammed

Interior Architecture

Makes spaces feel right. That's the best way to describe it. Spaces just... work when she's done with them.

Tom Chen

Digital Design Lead

BIM wizard who can model anything. Also teaches us old folks how to use new software without making us feel ancient.

What Actually Matters to Us

Look, we could fill this with corporate speak about 'values' and 'mission statements.' Instead, here's what we actually care about when we show up to work:

Real Solutions

Design that works for the people using it, not just looks good in photos. We've learned the hard way that pretty isn't enough.

Long-term Thinking

Buildings outlive trends. We design for decades, not Instagram likes. Climate change isn't going away, so neither is our focus on it.

Context Matters

Every site has a story, a neighborhood, a history. We'd rather enhance what's there than bulldoze and start fresh every time.

Honest Conversations

We'll tell you if your idea won't work. Not to be jerks, but because good projects need honesty from day one.

Team at Work
Our Studio Space

Life at the Studio

Our office on Bay Street is... well, it's organized chaos most days. Models everywhere, sketches pinned to every surface, way too many coffee cups.

We've got the usual suspects - standing desks, decent coffee machine, plants that somehow survive. But it's the model workshop that really gets used. There's something about building with your hands that computers just can't replace.

Friday afternoons we usually do studio reviews - everyone shares what they're working on. It's part critique, part brainstorm, part therapy session. Some of our best ideas have come from those rambling conversations.

Come Visit

Want to Join Us?

We're always looking for talented people who care about cities and aren't afraid to challenge conventions. If that sounds like you, send us your portfolio.

Get in Touch