The Humans Behind The Blueprints
We're not your typical suit-and-tie firm. Our studio runs on strong coffee, honest conversations, and this shared belief that architecture can actually make people's lives better.
Studio sessions where the best ideas usually come from the most unexpected places
We still love physical models - something about touching what you're creating just hits different
Our Queen West studio where chaos and creativity somehow coexist peacefully
Different backgrounds, different perspectives - that's literally the point
What Drives Us
- Designing spaces that people actually want to be in
- Pushing sustainability beyond just checking boxes
- Keeping Toronto weird (in the best way possible)
- Making contemporary design accessible, not intimidating
- Proving that eco-friendly doesn't mean boring
Celebrating wins - because this work's hard and we should acknowledge when things go right
Our Story (The Real Version)
2018 - The Beginning
Started In A Shared Office Space
Three architects, one drafting table, and way too much ambition. We'd been working at different firms around Toronto and kept running into the same frustration - good design was either too expensive or too boring. Figured we could do something about that. Spoiler: it was harder than we thought.
2019 - First Break
Our First Real Project
A residential renovation in Leslieville. The client took a chance on us when bigger firms wouldn't listen to what they actually wanted. We spent months getting every detail right. That project taught us more than any textbook ever did - and yeah, we definitely overengineered some things because we were terrified of messing up.
2020 - Pivot Point
Going All-In On Sustainability
Climate stuff was getting real, and honestly, we couldn't ignore it anymore. Started diving deep into passive house standards, material lifecycles, all that good stuff. Lost a few potential clients who thought we were being too "extreme" about it. But gained others who got it. That year sucked for obvious reasons, but it forced us to figure out what we actually stood for.
2021 - Scaling Up
First Commercial Project
A mixed-use development in Liberty Village changed everything. Suddenly we weren't just the residential guys anymore. The project had its challenges - developers and architects don't always see eye to eye - but we managed to keep our design principles intact while actually staying on budget. That's when we realized we could compete with the bigger firms.
2022 - Growing The Team
Became An Actual Studio
Brought on our first junior architects and an interior specialist. Moving from "just us" to actually managing people was weird. Had to learn how to share our vision without being control freaks (still working on that, honestly). But watching younger designers bring fresh ideas to the table? That's when EmberStorm started feeling like a real thing, not just our side hustle.
2023 - Recognition
Awards & Press Coverage
Our King West project got picked up by design publications and won a sustainable architecture award. Not gonna lie, that felt pretty good. More importantly, it opened doors. Started getting calls from clients who specifically wanted "that EmberStorm approach" - which is cool because we weren't even sure we had a defined approach yet.
2024 - New Studio
Moved To Queen West
Finally got a proper studio space in the neighborhood we'd always dreamed about. Big windows, exposed brick, the whole architect cliche. But it's ours. Set it up with a material library, proper model-making area, and enough desk space that people aren't constantly bumping into each other. Small things matter when you're spending 60+ hours a week somewhere.
2025 - Right Now
Still Learning, Still Growing
We've got 12 active projects, a team of eight, and honestly we're making this up as we go. But that's kind of the point - every project teaches us something new. We're working on our most ambitious sustainable development yet, and yeah, it's stressful. But when you see a building go from concept sketches to something people actually live and work in? That never gets old.
How We Actually Work
Listen First
We spend more time asking questions than showing off our portfolio. Your space, your needs, your budget - that's where good design starts, not with our ego.
No BS Sustainability
We don't do greenwashing. If something's genuinely better for the environment, we'll recommend it. If the "eco" option is just expensive marketing, we'll tell you that too.
Transparent Pricing
Nobody likes surprise costs. We break down everything upfront and actually stick to our estimates. If something changes mid-project, you'll know immediately, not at invoicing time.
Iterative Process
First drafts are supposed to be rough. We'd rather show you ten okay concepts and refine the right one together than present one "perfect" design you had no say in.
Want To Work Together?
Whether you've got a full brief or just a napkin sketch, let's talk about what's possible.
Get In Touch