The Philosophy
We're not chasing trends or trying to win awards - though a few have found their way to our shelf. What we do care about is designing spaces that'll still make sense twenty years from now, that work with the environment instead of against it, and honestly just make people feel good when they're in 'em.
How We Got Here
Started this whole thing back in 2008 with nothing but a drafting table in a cramped apartment and way too much coffee. The idea wasn't revolutionary or anything - just wanted to create buildings that didn't make you feel like you were working against nature. Toronto was going through this weird phase where everything was either ultra-modern glass boxes or cookie-cutter condos, and there had to be a middle ground, y'know?
Fast forward fifteen years and we've somehow managed to build a team of incredibly talented folks who actually get what we're trying to do. We've worked on everything from tiny residential renovations to massive commercial projects, and the cool part is we've never had to compromise on the sustainability angle.
2008
The Beginning
Founded the studio in a 400 sq ft space that was basically a broom closet with windows. First project was redesigning a friend's bakery - they're still in business, so I guess we didn't mess it up too badly.
2011
First Big Break
Landed a commercial project for a tech startup that wanted their office to reflect their values. They trusted us with complete creative freedom, which was terrifying and amazing. That building's now a landmark on King Street and we still drive past it sometimes just to make sure it's real.
2014
Going Green
Earned LEED certification and honestly learned more about sustainable building than we thought possible. Started integrating passive solar design and green roofs way before it was the thing to do. Some clients thought we were crazy, but most of 'em came back for seconds.
2017
Heritage Projects
Got into heritage restoration almost by accident when a century-old building needed saving. Turns out combining old-world craftsmanship with modern sustainability is incredibly satisfying. Now it's become one of our favorite things to tackle.
2020
Pandemic Pivot
Like everyone else, we had to figure things out when the world shut down. Shifted focus to residential work since people suddenly cared a lot more about their living spaces. Designed more home offices and flexible living areas than we can count, and learned that Zoom meetings will never replace a good in-person site visit.
2023
Looking Forward
Expanded the team, moved to a bigger studio on Queen West, and we're working on some projects that we can't talk about yet but are genuinely exciting. Still doing the same thing we started with though - just trying to make buildings that don't suck and maybe leave the world a tiny bit better than we found it.
