Who We Are

A bunch of design nerds who actually care about buildings that'll stick around.

Our Story

Started back in 2009 when three of us couldn't find a firm that gave equal weight to aesthetics and environmental responsibility. We were tired of seeing "green buildings" that looked like science experiments and beautiful structures that burned through energy like there's no tomorrow.

So yeah, we figured we'd do it ourselves. Fast forward to today and we've worked on over 200 projects across Ontario - from heritage restorations that actually respect the original craftsmanship to commercial spaces that don't make employees want to work from home forever.

Studio workspace

What Drives Us

Real Sustainability

Not just slapping solar panels on everything and calling it a day. We're talking passive design, material lifecycle, actual energy modeling - the stuff that makes a difference 30 years down the line.

Honest Design

Buildings should look like what they are. We're not trying to win awards with gimmicks - just creating spaces that work beautifully for the people using them every single day.

Client Partnership

You know your needs better than we ever will. Our job's to translate that into something buildable, functional, and yeah - something you'll actually be proud to show off.

The Team

People who've been doing this long enough to know what works and what's just trendy nonsense.

Sarah Blackwood

Sarah Blackwood

PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT / FOUNDING PARTNER

Licensed architect with 18 years under her belt, Sarah's the one who keeps us grounded. She started out doing heritage work in Montreal and developed this almost obsessive attention to detail - which honestly comes in handy when you're trying to retrofit a 1920s building with modern systems without destroying its character. She's also weirdly good at getting permits approved.

MArch, OAA, LEED AP BD+C

Marcus Chen

DESIGN DIRECTOR / FOUNDING PARTNER

Marcus is the guy who'll sketch twelve different concepts before breakfast. He trained in Vancouver and spent a few years in Copenhagen learning from the Scandinavians how to make minimalism actually feel warm and livable. He's constantly pushing us to try new materials and techniques - sometimes we have to reel him in a bit, but honestly, that's where our best work comes from.

BArch, MArch, OAA, RAIC

Marcus Chen
David Kowalski

David Kowalski

SUSTAINABILITY LEAD / FOUNDING PARTNER

Dave's background is actually in engineering, which makes him the perfect bridge between pretty drawings and buildings that actually perform. He's certified in about a dozen green building standards and consults on energy modeling for other firms too. Fair warning - get him started on thermal bridging or embodied carbon and you won't escape for an hour. But that's exactly why our buildings consistently beat their energy targets.

BASc, MArch, OAA, LEED Fellow, Passive House Designer

Priya Malhotra

SENIOR ARCHITECT / PROJECT LEAD

Priya joined us five years ago and honestly we don't know how we managed before. She's got this incredible ability to manage complex commercial projects without losing her mind or making clients feel like they're bothering her with questions. Before coming to us, she did a lot of institutional work - schools, libraries, that kind of thing - so she really gets how spaces need to serve different users throughout the day.

MArch, OAA, WELL AP

Priya Malhotra
James Patterson

James Patterson

HERITAGE SPECIALIST / SENIOR ASSOCIATE

Jamie's the youngest on our senior team but he knows more about historical construction methods than the rest of us combined. He did his thesis on adaptive reuse and actually spent a summer helping restore a medieval church in Scotland. When we're working on heritage projects, he's the one crawling through attics and documenting original details that most people would just cover up. His passion for preservation is kind of infectious.

BArch, MArch, OAA, Heritage Specialist Certification

Plus About 15 More Amazing People

We've got junior architects, technologists, interior designers, admin staff who keep this place running, and a couple of interns who constantly remind us there are better ways to do things. Everyone here actually gives a damn about the work, which sounds cheesy but it's true.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Awards & Recognition

  • Ontario Association of Architects - Design Excellence (2022, 2020, 2018)
  • Toronto Urban Design Awards - Sustainable Design (2021)
  • Canadian Green Building Awards - Retrofit Category (2019)
  • Heritage Toronto - Restoration Award (2017)

Professional Affiliations

  • Ontario Association of Architects (OAA)
  • Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)
  • Canada Green Building Council
  • Passive House Institute
  • Heritage Conservation Network