Residential Architecture
Whether you're thinking about adding a second floor, building from scratch, or just figuring out how to make your place work better for how you actually live - we've been there. Done quite a few houses around Toronto and the surrounding areas, and honestly, no two projects have been the same.
What's included:
- Initial site visits and feasibility studies (we'll tell you straight if something's gonna be a headache)
- Schematic design - this is where we sketch out ideas and see what clicks
- Design development with 3D visualizations so you can actually see what we're talking about
- Full construction documents (the technical stuff contractors need)
- We'll deal with permits and municipal approvals - trust me, you don't wanna do this yourself
- Site visits during construction because things always come up
Timeline: Most residential projects run about 4-6 months for design and approvals, then construction's another story depending on scope. We'll give you a realistic schedule after seeing your site.
Commercial Building Design
Offices, retail spaces, mixed-use buildings - these projects have different challenges than houses, for sure. There's more stakeholders, tighter budgets usually, and way more regulations. But they're also where we can really push sustainable design and create spaces that actually boost productivity instead of draining it.
Our approach:
- Programming phase - we dig into how your business actually operates
- Conceptual designs that balance aesthetics with function and budget reality
- Energy modeling and sustainability integration from day one
- Accessibility compliance (Ontario Building Code and AODA requirements)
- Coordination with engineers, consultants, and specialty contractors
- Value engineering to keep things on budget without compromising quality
- Construction administration and regular site reviews
Recent work: We've done a couple cafes on Queen West, a tech office renovation in Liberty Village, and a small retail complex up in Markham. Each one taught us something new.
Sustainable Design Consulting
This is kinda our thing, not gonna lie. Sometimes clients come to us with existing plans from another architect and just want our input on making the project greener. That's totally cool - we love geeking out about passive solar design, natural ventilation, material selection, and all that stuff.
What we look at:
- Site analysis - orientation, wind patterns, sun angles throughout the year
- Building envelope performance (insulation, air sealing, thermal bridging)
- Window placement and glazing specs for optimal daylight and heat gain/loss
- HVAC system evaluation and alternatives (geothermal, heat pumps, HRVs)
- Renewable energy integration where it makes sense
- Water conservation strategies and greywater systems
- Material lifecycle assessment and sourcing locally when possible
- LEED, Passive House, or Net Zero certification support if that's your goal
Real talk: Not every sustainable feature makes sense for every project. We'll help you figure out where to invest for the best return, both financially and environmentally.
Interior Space Planning
Sometimes the building's fine, but the layout inside just doesn't work. Maybe you've inherited an office space with weird proportions, or your restaurant needs better flow, or you're converting an industrial building to something else entirely. We can help sort that out without touching the exterior.
Services include:
- Space audits and flow analysis - where's it working, where's it not
- Furniture layouts and custom millwork design
- Lighting design (natural and artificial)
- Material and finish selections that'll actually hold up
- Acoustic planning because nobody wants to work in an echo chamber
- Coordination with interior designers and contractors
- Code compliance for interior renovations
Works well for: Office fit-outs, retail interiors, restaurant layouts, residential renovations where structural stuff isn't changing but everything else is.
Project Management
Got the design already but need someone to keep the construction on track? We can do that. Construction projects have this tendency to go sideways real quick if nobody's watching. We'll be your advocate, making sure what gets built matches what was designed and that contractors aren't cutting corners.
What we handle:
- Contractor procurement and bid evaluation
- Schedule development and monitoring
- Budget tracking and change order review
- Regular site visits and progress reports
- Quality control and deficiency tracking
- Coordination meetings with trades and consultants
- Problem-solving when issues come up (and they always do)
- Final inspections and closeout documentation
Why it matters: We've seen too many good designs get butchered during construction. Having an architect on site regularly means problems get caught early, not after drywall's up.
Building Code Compliance
Look, navigating the Ontario Building Code isn't anyone's idea of fun, but it's gotta be done. Whether you're dealing with the city, need a Committee of Adjustment variance, or just wanna know if what you're thinking is even legal before investing more time - we can help figure that out.
What we cover:
- OBC compliance review for existing plans
- Zoning analysis and municipal bylaw review
- Minor variance applications and Committee of Adjustment submissions
- AODA accessibility compliance
- Fire code and life safety planning
- Heritage district approvals (if you're in one of those areas)
- Building permit application and follow-up
- Dealing with plan examiners and building inspectors
Heads up: Toronto's permitting process can take a while. Starting this early saves headaches later. We've been through it enough times to know what they're gonna ask for.
How We Usually Work
First Chat
We meet, you tell us what you're thinking, we ask a bunch of questions. No charge for this - we just wanna see if it's a good fit both ways.
Digging In
Site visits, measurements, research. We're looking at everything - what's there now, what's possible, what the city's gonna say about it.
Design Phase
Sketches, models, revisions. This is collaborative - we're not just handing you a finished design. We wanna hear what you think as it develops.
Making It Real
Construction docs, permits, contractor coordination. Then we're visiting the site regularly to make sure it's all happening right.
Common Questions
Stuff people usually ask us during that first conversation.
Ready to Start Something?
Whether you've got detailed plans or just a vague idea you've been mulling over, let's chat about it. First conversation's always free, and there's no pressure. Sometimes people just need to bounce ideas off someone who knows the technical side of things.