Look, we're not gonna pretend every project's the same. Over the years, we've learned that each space has its own story - whether it's a century-old building that needs some love or a new development trying to fit into the neighbourhood without sticking out like a sore thumb.
Based right here in Toronto, we've spent decades figuring out how to balance what clients want with what the city needs. It's not always easy, but that's kinda what makes it interesting.
After working on everything from cramped downtown condos to sprawling heritage sites, we've built up a pretty solid toolkit. Here's what we can help you with.
Honestly, homes are where we spend most of our lives, so they better work right. We've designed everything from single-family houses to multi-unit residences, and we've learned that listening beats assuming every single time. Your home isn't just square footage - it's how you move through your morning routine, where your kids do homework, how light hits the kitchen at 3pm.
We'll sit down and actually talk about how you live - not just what Pinterest boards you've been saving. Then we figure out how to make that work within budget, code requirements, and yeah, sometimes physics. Renovations, additions, new builds... we've done 'em all, and we know which shortcuts are smart and which ones you'll regret.
Commercial projects are a different beast altogether. You've got foot traffic patterns, accessibility requirements, brand identity, and usually about seventeen stakeholders who all have opinions. We get it - these buildings need to work hard for their money.
We've handled retail spaces where every square foot counts, office buildings trying to convince people to leave their home desks, mixed-use developments that need to be good neighbours... The trick is making something that looks good in photos but also actually functions when there's 200 people trying to use it on a Tuesday morning.
And yeah, sustainability matters here too. Lower operating costs, better employee retention, good PR - it's not just feel-good stuff anymore, it's smart business.
This is where things get really interesting. Toronto's full of beautiful old buildings that've been standing longer than any of us, and they deserve respect. But they also need to work for today's world - better insulation, proper HVAC, accessible entrances, electrical systems that won't burn the place down.
We work with heritage committees, structural engineers, and often some really opinionated neighbourhood groups (in a good way - they care, and that matters). The goal isn't to make old buildings look new - it's to help them age gracefully while staying useful. Sometimes that means hidden modern systems, sometimes it means carefully matching 100-year-old brickwork.
We've spent countless hours in archives, matching paint colours, sourcing period-appropriate materials, and figuring out what the original builders were thinking. It's detective work meets craftsmanship, and honestly, it's some of the most rewarding stuff we do.
Here's the thing - sustainability isn't some add-on feature anymore, it's just... how we build now. Or how we should be building, anyway. We've been working with green building principles long enough to know what actually makes a difference versus what's just greenwashing.
Maybe you've got an existing building that's hemorrhaging energy costs. Or you're planning something new and want to do it right from the start. We can run energy models, suggest materials, design passive systems, integrate renewables - whatever makes sense for your specific project and budget.
We've guided projects through LEED certification, Toronto Green Standard, and Passive House requirements. Sometimes the best sustainable choice is the simplest one - better orientation, proper insulation, windows that actually seal. We're not here to sell you the most expensive tech solution; we're here to find what works.
Cities are complicated ecosystems, and Toronto's no exception. When you're working at the neighbourhood or district scale, you can't just think about one building - you've gotta consider how everything connects. Streetscapes, transit access, density, community needs, existing character...
We work with developers, municipalities, and community groups to plan developments that actually improve neighbourhoods instead of just filling them up. That means understanding zoning (which is about as exciting as it sounds, but really important), navigating approval processes, and designing public spaces that people actually want to use.
We've done master plans for multi-phase developments, rezoning applications, community consultations, and all the nitty-gritty coordination that goes into making sure something this complex actually gets built right.
Sometimes the exterior's fine but the inside just... doesn't work. We get called in to fix dysfunctional layouts, reimagine how spaces connect, and make interiors that feel intentional rather than like someone just dropped walls wherever.
Good interior planning is about flow - how do you move from one space to another? Where does natural light go? How do you carve out privacy in an open concept? Where do you actually put your coat when you walk in the door?
We coordinate with interior designers, but our focus is on the bones - the layout, the structure, the systems. Making sure the space works before you start picking out finishes. We've reworked office floors to improve collaboration, reconfigured homes to fit growing families, and figured out how to squeeze more function out of tight urban footprints.
Every project's different, but here's the general rhythm we've settled into over the years. Some phases are quick, some take forever - depends on what we're dealing with.
We meet, usually over coffee or at the site itself. You tell us what you're thinking, we ask probably too many questions, and we start to figure out if we're a good fit. This part's free - no point charging for a conversation.
We dig into the details - survey the site, check zoning, review existing conditions if it's a renovation, and really nail down what you need the space to do. This is where unrealistic expectations get gently adjusted (or sometimes we figure out how to make them happen).
Here's where we start sketching ideas - big picture stuff, massing, general layouts. We'll probably show you a few different directions because there's rarely just one right answer. Lots of back-and-forth in this phase till we land on something that clicks.
Now we get specific. Materials, systems, detailed layouts, structural coordination. We're bringing in engineers, figuring out mechanical systems, refining every detail. This is where the design really solidifies and you start to see exactly what you're getting.
The not-sexy part - creating the detailed drawings and specifications that contractors need to actually build the thing. Every dimension, every connection, every material specified. It's tedious but crucial, and honestly where a lot of projects succeed or fail.
We help you select contractors, review bids (and catch the ones that are too good to be true), and wrangle all the permits and approvals. Municipal bureaucracy is real, but we've been through it enough times to know the shortcuts.
We stick around while it's being built - site visits, answering contractor questions, reviewing submittals, making sure what's going up matches what we designed. Things always come up during construction, and it's way easier to deal with them in real-time.
Final inspections, punch lists, warranty documents, as-built drawings - all the finishing touches. We make sure everything's done right and you've got all the documentation you need going forward. Then we crack a beer and celebrate.
Whether you've got detailed plans or just a vague idea that's been rattling around in your head, we're happy to chat. No pressure, no sales pitch - just a real conversation about what's possible.
We're based in downtown Toronto but work throughout the GTA and beyond when projects are interesting enough. First consultation's always free, and we'll be straight with you about timelines, budgets, and whether we're the right fit for what you need.