Our Work Speaks

The Challenge

Clients fell in love with this sloped lot overlooking Lake Ontario, but man, it came with complications. Steep grade, bedrock 3 feet down, and neighbors close enough to wave at. They wanted that glass-house aesthetic without living in a fishbowl.

Our Approach

We spent weeks on site just observing - sun angles, wind patterns, sightlines. The breakthrough came when we realized we could angle the main glazing 15 degrees off perpendicular. Opens up the lake view, deflects the neighbor view. Simple geometry, huge impact.

Used the excavated bedrock for retaining walls - saved on materials and looks way better than poured concrete. The cantilever on the main floor? That's pure structural gymnastics, but it makes the house feel like it's floating over the slope.

Project Stats

• 3,800 sq ft living space
• 18 months design to completion
• Custom aluminum window system
• Passive solar heating integration
• LEED Gold certification

The Outcome

Family's been there two years now. They still send us sunset photos. The test of good architecture isn't how it photographs - it's whether people want to be in it. This one passed.

The Challenge

Post-pandemic, the whole "return to office" thing needed a rethink. Developer wanted something that'd actually get tenants excited about showing up. Budget was tight but expectations weren't.

Our Approach

Threw out the standard floor plate playbook. Instead of one big open space, we created neighborhoods - different zones with different vibes. Some areas have high ceilings and buzz, others are quiet with low lighting for focused work.

Brought in tons of natural materials - wood slat ceilings, cork walls, terrazzo floors. The biophilic design stuff actually works - air quality's better, people report feeling less stressed. We've got the data to prove it.

Project Stats

• 45,000 sq ft over 4 floors
• 92% tenant occupancy rate
• Smart HVAC with air quality monitoring
• 35% energy reduction vs. baseline
• WELL Building Standard certified

The Outcome

Leased faster than expected. Turns out when you design for humans instead of spreadsheets, people notice. Developer's already asked us to consult on their next three projects.

The Challenge

Clients wanted net-zero energy in a historic neighborhood with strict design guidelines. Oh, and they didn't want it to look like a science experiment. No pressure, right?

Our Approach

Started with passive strategies - orientation for solar gain, natural ventilation, super-insulated envelope. Then layered in the tech: geothermal, solar PV hidden behind parapets, heat recovery ventilation.

The green roof wasn't just for show - it's part of the stormwater management and adds R-value. Used reclaimed materials wherever possible. Those ceiling beams? Salvaged from a demolished barn two hours north. Each one has its own story.

Project Stats

• Net-zero energy consumption
• 8.5 kW solar array
• Geothermal heating/cooling system
• Rainwater harvesting for irrigation
• 87% diverted construction waste

The Outcome

First net-zero home in Rosedale. Energy bills average $0. Heritage committee actually used it as a case study for how modern sustainability can respect historical context. That felt good.

The Challenge

This 1890s warehouse had been empty for 15 years. Roof leaked, pigeons had moved in, but those timber beams and brick walls were solid gold. Heritage restrictions meant we couldn't touch most of the original structure. Had to work around it, not against it.

Our Approach

Philosophy was simple - new stuff should obviously be new. No fake aging, no trying to match old materials. We inserted steel and glass elements that complement the industrial character without pretending to be original.

Cleaned and sealed all the brick by hand. Those timber beams got inspected, reinforced where needed, and left exposed. Added modern systems but hid them in the old service cores. The result feels honest - you can read the building's history in the layers.

Project Stats

• 12,000 sq ft adaptive reuse
• Original 1892 timber frame preserved
• Heritage designation maintained
• Contemporary steel mezzanine insertion
• Heritage Toronto Award winner

The Outcome

Now houses creative offices and a gallery. Building's got another century in it, easy. Best part? Heritage committee approved our plans first time through. That never happens.

The Challenge

Chef had a vision, a lease signature, and exactly 8 weeks to opening night. Budget was restaurant-industry tight. We had to move fast and get creative with materials.

Our Approach

Embraced the raw space - exposed everything we could. Mechanical ducts got spray-painted matte black and became part of the design. Concrete floors we just polished instead of covering.

Found reclaimed barn wood from a demolition project up north - became the bar front and communal tables. Custom light fixtures from a local metal artist cost way less than designer pieces and look better. Sometimes constraints push you to better solutions.

Project Stats

• 2,400 sq ft dining space
• 8-week design + construction timeline
• 80% locally sourced materials
• Open kitchen integration
• Acoustic treatment for noise control

The Outcome

Opened on schedule. Got featured in blogTO and Now Magazine. The space photographs great but more importantly, the acoustics actually work - you can have a conversation. Restaurant's still going strong three years later.