Who We Are

Crafting Tomorrow's Spaces with Timeless Vision

Our Story

Look, we didn't start this firm because we wanted another generic architecture studio in Toronto. Started back in 2012, Emberlyn Quintavix came from a simple idea - what if buildings actually worked WITH the environment instead of against it?

We've spent over a decade figuring out how to make spaces that don't just look good on Instagram but actually perform. Sustainable isn't a checkbox for us - it's literally how we think about every single project from day one.

Our team's grown from just three people working out of a cramped office to a full studio of designers, planners, and sustainability nerds who genuinely love what they do. And yeah, we're still in Toronto, still pushing boundaries, still learning new tricks.

Design Philosophy

Context Matters

Every site tells a story. We spend time understanding the neighbourhood, the light patterns, how people actually move through spaces. Cookie-cutter solutions? Not our thing. Your project gets treated like the unique situation it is.

Function First

Pretty sketches are great, but if the space doesn't work for real people doing real things, what's the point? We design from the inside out - how you'll use it, live in it, work in it. Then we make it beautiful.

Built to Last

Trends come and go. We're more interested in creating spaces that'll still feel right in twenty years. That means honest materials, smart detailing, and designs that age gracefully instead of just looking dated.

Meet The Team

Emberlyn Voss

Principal Architect

Founded the firm after getting tired of seeing the same boring boxes everywhere. Spent 8 years at major firms before branching out. Has this weird obsession with passive solar design.

Marcus Tao

Design Director

Joined us in 2015 with a background in structural engineering. Turns out knowing how buildings actually stand up makes you a better designer. Who knew? Also makes terrible coffee.

Priya Sandhu

Sustainability Lead

Our go-to for anything green building related. LEED certified, Passive House trained, and won't let us spec anything unless she's run the life-cycle analysis. We love her for it.

Jordan Chen

Senior Associate

Handles our commercial projects and somehow keeps everything on schedule. Former project manager at a big construction firm, so he actually understands budgets and timelines. Miracle worker, basically.

Recognition & Awards

OAA Design Excellence

2022 - Lakeshore Residence

Honestly didn't expect this one. The jury loved our approach to thermal massing.

Green Building Award

2021 - Dundas Street Mixed-Use

First net-zero commercial project in the neighbourhood. Pretty proud of that one.

Toronto Urban Design

2020 - Junction Community Hub

This project changed how we think about public space. Community engagement was intense but worth it.

Emerging Practice Award

2018 - Canadian Architect Magazine

Got this early on. Gave us the confidence to keep pushing boundaries.

Why Sustainability Isn't Optional

Here's the thing - every building we design is gonna be around for decades, maybe longer. It'll use energy every single day. It'll affect the people inside and the neighbourhood around it.

We can't pretend climate change isn't happening. We can't keep building the same way we did in 1990. So yeah, we're kind of intense about energy modeling, material sourcing, and all that technical stuff. Because it matters.

But sustainable doesn't mean compromising on design. Some of our best-looking projects are also our highest-performing. It's about being smarter, not sacrificing aesthetics.

See Our Approach

Let's Work Together

Got a project in mind? Want to chat about what's possible? We're always up for a conversation about good design.

Get In Touch View Our Work