Our Story
Building a legacy one thoughtful project at a time
2009
The Beginning
Started in a cramped studio apartment with nothing but a drafting table and way too much coffee. I'd just wrapped up seven years working at bigger firms, and honestly? I was tired of watching beautiful designs get watered down by committees. Felt like it was time to do things differently.
2012
First Heritage Win
Landed the restoration of the old Riverside Warehouse down in the Distillery District. That project taught me more than any textbook ever could - you can't just impose modern ideas on historic bones. You've gotta listen to what the building's telling you. We salvaged 80% of the original timber, and man, seeing those beams come back to life was something else.
2015
Growing the Team
Moved into the King Street space and brought on three incredible designers who actually challenged my ideas - which is exactly what I needed. We were handling about a dozen projects at once, mostly residential stuff, but word was getting around about our approach to blending old with new.
2018
Sustainability Shift
Had a bit of a wake-up call after attending a climate conference in Vancouver. Realized we couldn't just be preserving old buildings - we needed to make sure new ones weren't gonna be environmental disasters. Started diving deep into passive house standards, regenerative design, all that stuff. Changed how we approach every single project now.
2021
Urban Planning Expansion
Toronto's growth was getting messy, and we wanted to be part of fixing it. Expanded into broader urban planning work - looking at whole neighborhoods instead of just individual buildings. It's slower, more political, but when you can help shape how people move through and live in their communities? That's the good stuff.
2024
Heritage Award Recognition
Won the National Heritage Restoration Award for our work on the Thompson Street Church conversion. Fourteen-month project that nearly drove us all crazy, but seeing a 1887 structure getting a second life as a community arts center made every late night worth it. The original stained glass still glows at sunset.
2025
Today & Tomorrow
We're sixteen people now, working on everything from laneway houses to multi-use commercial developments. Still in that same King Street studio, though we've taken over another floor. The work's gotten more complex, but the core idea hasn't changed - respect what came before, design for what's coming, and don't be afraid to push back when something doesn't feel right.
Navoren Lithquinth
Founding Principal Architect
How We Actually Work
Look, I'm gonna level with you - architecture can be pretty pretentious sometimes. You get these manifestos about "activating space" and "dialogues between form and function" that sound impressive but don't really mean much when you're trying to figure out where to put the kitchen.
Here's what we actually believe: buildings should work for the people using them, they should fit into their neighborhoods without bulldozing what makes those places special, and they shouldn't be environmental disasters for the next generation to deal with. That's it. That's the philosophy.
The heritage restoration work comes from seeing too many beautiful old buildings get torn down or gutted beyond recognition. These structures have stories, craft, and honestly better bones than half the stuff we build today. Why throw that away? We've learned that you can bring modern comfort and efficiency into historic spaces without erasing what made them worth saving in the first place.
On the sustainability front - yeah, it adds complexity and sometimes costs more upfront. But we've gotten pretty good at finding solutions that don't blow budgets while still dramatically cutting energy use. Solar-passive orientation, proper insulation, natural ventilation - a lot of it's just common sense that got forgotten when energy was cheap.
"We're not trying to make architectural statements or win style awards - though those are nice when they happen. We're trying to make places where people feel good, where communities thrive, and where the next architect who comes along in fifty years says 'yeah, they did that right.'"
What Drives Us
Context Over Ego
Every site has its own story - the neighborhood, the weather patterns, how light hits at different times. We spend a lot of time just observing before we draw anything. Best ideas usually come from paying attention to what's already there.
Real Collaboration
Our clients know their needs better than we ever could. Contractors know what'll actually work on site. Engineers keep us from doing stupid things structurally. Good projects happen when everyone's talking honestly, not when one person's dictating from on high.
Long-Term Thinking
We're designing for decades, not just for that perfect photo shoot when construction wraps. How will this building age? Can it adapt when needs change? What's the maintenance actually gonna look like? These questions matter more than trendy finishes.
Honest Materials
If it's brick, let it be brick. If it's wood, show the grain. We're not big on making one material pretend to be another. There's enough fake stuff in the world - buildings should at least be truthful about what they're made of.