Our Story
Forging Tomorrow from Yesterday's Steel
Look, we're not your typical architecture firm. Started this whole thing back in 2012 in a converted foundry on King West - seemed fitting, y'know? We were tired of seeing beautiful industrial buildings either demolished or turned into soulless condos that ignored their bones.
What gets us out of bed? Walking into a 120-year-old warehouse with original timber trusses still holding strong, or finding hand-riveted steel beams that've outlasted three generations. There's something about those spaces - the way light hits old brick, the patina on weathered metal - you can't fake that character.
We've worked on everything from abandoned grain elevators to defunct textile mills across Ontario. Each project's different, but the approach stays the same: respect what's there, understand why it was built that way, then figure out how to make it work for the next hundred years. Sometimes that means keeping 90% original, sometimes less - depends on what the building tells us.
See Our WorkWe don't just restore buildings - we bring 'em back into the conversation
We dig into archives, old photos, blueprints - whatever we can find. You gotta understand what a building was before you can decide what it becomes.
Steel, concrete, brick, timber - we work with what's already there. New additions should complement, not compete. No fake distressing or Instagram-ready 'industrial chic.'
These buildings survived this long for a reason. We design for the next century, not the next trend. Sustainability isn't a buzzword here - it's literally reusing what's standing.
Every project affects the neighborhood. We talk to locals, former workers, historians - anyone who's got a connection to the place. Their stories matter.
People who actually get their hands dirty
Principal Architect & Founder
Started out doing structural assessments for demo companies - spent more time arguing to save buildings than tear 'em down. Finally figured I should just do it myself. Got my Masters in Heritage Conservation, but honestly learned more crawling through condemned factories with a flashlight. Been at this for 13 years now.
Heritage Specialist
Grew up in Hamilton's steel district - watched half my neighborhood disappear in the 90s. Now I make sure that doesn't happen elsewhere. History degree, architecture degree, and way too many hours in city archives. I know Ontario's industrial past like the back of my hand.
Structural Engineer
The guy who tells us if that gorgeous 1890s column can actually hold what we're planning. Civil engineering background, but specialized in historic structures. I've assessed over 200 heritage buildings. Love the challenge of making old bones carry new weight safely.
Design Director
Came from commercial architecture - got bored making glass boxes. What drew me here? The constraints, actually. Working within existing structures forces you to be creative in ways a blank site never does. Plus these buildings have actual soul. Trained at Waterloo, worked in Berlin for a few years before landing back in Toronto.
Project Manager
Former general contractor who got tired of cookie-cutter builds. Keeps our projects on track, on budget, and keeps me from promising impossible timelines. Twenty years in construction means he knows every trick and every shortcut - and which ones we absolutely can't take.
Sustainability Consultant
Environmental systems specialist. Figures out how to bring century-old buildings up to modern efficiency standards without destroying what makes 'em special. LEED certified, but more interested in practical solutions than certifications. Thermal bridging in masonry walls is apparently her idea of fun.
Junior Architect
Fresh out of school and still idealistic - we're trying not to ruin that. Digital modeling whiz who can recreate historic details from a grainy photo. Also handles our 3D visualization, which helps clients see what we're talking about before we start swinging hammers.
Let's talk about what's possible. No project too complicated, no timeline too tight - well, within reason.