About Us - Embercrest Architectural Studio

Who We Actually Are

Look, we're not gonna bore you with some corporate mission statement that sounds like it was written by a committee. Here's the real deal - we started Embercrest back in 2012 because we were tired of seeing the same cookie-cutter designs everywhere.

Toronto's architecture scene was becoming predictable, y'know? Glass boxes here, faux-traditional there. We figured someone needed to shake things up a bit while still respecting what makes buildings actually work for the people inside them.

Fast forward to today, and we've designed over 150 spaces across Ontario. Some residential, some commercial - honestly, we don't pick favorites. What gets us excited is when a client comes in with a challenging site or a weird problem that needs creative thinking. That's when things get interesting.

How We Think About Design

It's not rocket science, but it does take some actual thought...

Context Matters

We're not dropping the same design into every site. What works on King Street probably won't work in Rosedale, and that's fine. The surroundings tell us a lot about what should happen next.

Function First

Pretty pictures are great for Instagram, but if the kitchen doesn't work or the office flow is awkward, we've failed. Form follows function isn't just a saying - it's how buildings should actually get designed.

Sustainability Counts

Not because it's trendy, but because Ontario winters are brutal and energy costs aren't getting cheaper. Good orientation, proper insulation, smart materials - this stuff just makes sense.

Real Collaboration

You're gonna be living or working in this space, not us. So yeah, we wanna hear your ideas. Some will work, some won't - but the best projects happen when everyone's actually talking to each other.

Meet The Team

The folks who make it happen

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect

Founded Embercrest after spending 8 years at a corporate firm where she couldn't convince anyone that beige wasn't the only color option. Now she gets to design spaces that actually have personality.

Marcus Powell

Design Director

The guy who figures out how to make crazy ideas actually buildable. Former structural engineer who switched to architecture because he wanted to do more than just check other people's calculations.

Priya Malhotra

Senior Designer

Handles most of our residential projects and has this weird ability to know exactly what clients want even when they can't articulate it. Also makes the best coffee in the office, which is important.

David Kowalski

Sustainability Consultant

Joined us two years ago and immediately started questioning every material choice we made. In a good way though - our projects are way more energy efficient now, and clients love the lower utility bills.

Jessica Tran

Visualization Specialist

Creates those 3D renderings that make clients go "wow, that's what it'll look like?" Self-taught in most of the software she uses and somehow always finds a better rendering tool than what we're currently using.

Tom Bradford

Project Manager

The one who keeps everything on schedule and on budget. Former contractor who got tired of dealing with poorly detailed drawings, so he joined the other side. Now he makes sure our drawings don't suck.

Why Toronto?

Simple - it's home. We know this city's neighborhoods, understand the building codes (well, most of them), and we've built relationships with contractors and suppliers who actually return our calls.

Plus, Toronto's got this amazing mix of old and new architecture. Victorian homes sitting next to modern condos, industrial spaces getting converted into offices. It's a playground for designers if you're paying attention.

We've worked everywhere from Liberty Village to North York, and each area's got its own vibe. That local knowledge? It matters more than you'd think when you're trying to get a project approved or source materials.

Our Approach

We don't do "one size fits all" because that's lazy. Every project starts with questions - lots of them. What do you actually need? How do you live or work? What's the budget really look like?

Then we sketch, we model, we test ideas. Some work, some don't. The ones that don't? We toss 'em and move on. No ego about it.

Construction phase? We're there. Not just sitting in the office but actually showing up on site, answering questions, fixing problems. Because that's when the real design decisions happen - when you're dealing with actual walls and actual contractors.

Visit Our Studio

We're on Queen West, tucked between a cafe and a vintage furniture shop. The space used to be a print shop, which is kinda perfect since we're still making things - just with computers instead of printing presses.

Open concept, naturally. Lots of natural light, materials library that's getting way too big, and a model shop in the back where we still build physical prototypes because sometimes you just need to hold something in your hands to understand it.

Coffee's always on, and we're usually around during business hours. Wanna stop by and chat about a project? Just shoot us an email or give us a call. We'll probably ask if you want a coffee.

Get In Touch