About Us - Ignar Quinthale Architects

Founded 2009

It started with a simple question

Why does so much modern architecture feel cold and disconnected? I'd spent years working at big firms, watching beautiful renderings turn into buildings that nobody really loved. Something felt off.

So back in 2009, I set up shop in a cramped Adelaide Street office with one belief - sustainable design shouldn't be a luxury add-on or some marketing gimmick. It's just smart architecture. Buildings that work with their environment, that'll be around for our grandkids, that don't cost a fortune to heat in Toronto winters.

What started as solo projects has grown into a team that's genuinely passionate about this stuff. We're not trying to win awards (though we've picked up a few along the way). We're trying to create spaces where people actually want to be.

What drives us

Look, the planet's getting warmer and cities are getting denser. We can either ignore that reality or design for it. We choose the latter.

Every project we take on has to answer some tough questions: How's this building reducing energy use? Where are the materials coming from? Will this design still make sense in 20 years? Can we reuse anything that's already there?

We're not perfect - nobody is. But we're committed to pushing ourselves and our clients toward better solutions, even when it's harder or takes more time upfront.

150+

Projects completed across Canada

85%

Clients come from referrals

30%

Average energy reduction in our designs

12

Talented people on our team

The people making it happen

We're a mix of dreamers and detail-obsessed planners - somehow it works

Ignar Quinthale

Principal Architect

Been drawing buildings since I was eight. Got my degree from Waterloo, spent way too long at corporate firms before striking out on my own. When I'm not sketching, you'll find me cycling the Don Valley trails or arguing about urban density at community meetings.

Sarah Chen

Senior Design Architect

Joined us in 2012 after working on some massive projects in Vancouver. She's got this uncanny ability to see spatial problems before they happen. Also makes a killer espresso which keeps the rest of us functional during deadline weeks.

Marcus Davidson

Sustainability Director

Marcus is our green building guru. If there's a new sustainable material or energy system, he's already tested it. Background in environmental engineering plus architecture means he keeps us honest about our environmental claims.

Elena Rodriguez

Interior Design Lead

Elena makes interiors feel like they belong. She's got this talent for material palettes that somehow feel both fresh and timeless. Previously worked in hospitality design, which means she really gets how people move through spaces.

James Kowalski

Project Manager

James keeps the trains running on time. Seriously, without him we'd all be lost in creative chaos. He's that rare person who actually enjoys spreadsheets and permit applications. Former contractor background means he knows what's realistic on site.

Priya Sharma

Visualization Specialist

Our rendering wizard. Priya turns our sketches into photorealistic images that help clients really see what we're proposing. She's constantly experimenting with new software - half our office tech upgrades are at her request.

Recognition along the way

We're grateful for these honors, though the real reward is seeing our buildings in use

Ontario Architecture Award - Sustainable Design

2023

Recognized for our Lakeshore Passive House project that achieved net-zero energy consumption

Toronto Green Building Excellence Award

2022

For advancing sustainable construction practices in Toronto's commercial sector

Canadian Architect Magazine - Emerging Practice

2019

Featured as one of ten firms reshaping Canadian architecture through innovation

LEED Platinum Certification - Riverside Office Complex

2018

Our first project to achieve the highest level of LEED certification

Heritage Toronto Award - Adaptive Reuse

2016

Honored for converting a 1920s warehouse into modern sustainable residential units

OAA Emerging Talent Award

2013

Recognized by the Ontario Association of Architects for innovative early career work

Let's talk about your project

Whether you've got detailed plans or just an idea you've been mulling over, we'd love to hear about it. Grab a coffee with us and see if we're a good fit.

Get in Touch