About Us - Stellar Quinthyra Architects

How This All Started

Look, we didn't set out to revolutionize architecture or anything grandiose like that. Back in 2008, a couple of us were working at different firms around Toronto, getting frustrated with the same old approach - beautiful designs that completely ignored their environmental impact.

So we did what any slightly crazy architects would do: quit our stable jobs and started sketching ideas on napkins at a coffee shop on Bay Street. That coffee shop's now a condo (which we didn't design, thankfully), but those napkin sketches turned into our first residential project.

Fifteen years later, we're still here. Still obsessed with creating spaces that don't cost the earth - literally. We've made mistakes, learned a ton, and honestly, we're still figuring things out as we go. But that's kinda the point, isn't it?

What We Actually Do

Our Journey (The Honest Version)

From napkin sketches to net-zero buildings

1

2008 - The Napkin Era

Three architects, one coffee shop, way too much caffeine. Founded Stellar Quinthyra with nothing but sketches and determination. Our first project? A 1,200 sq ft residential renovation that the client found through a friend's recommendation. We were terrified and excited in equal measure.

2

2011 - First Commercial Win

Landed our first commercial project - a small office building in the Distillery District. The client took a chance on us because we were the only firm that talked about passive solar design without making it sound like rocket science. That building still uses 40% less energy than code requirements, and we're pretty proud of that.

3

2014 - Growing Pains

Moved into our current space on Bay Street and hired our first junior architects. Also made our biggest mistake - took on way too many projects at once and almost burned out the entire team. Learned that sustainable practice means sustainable work-life balance too. Who knew?

4

2017 - Heritage Project Pivot

Started working on heritage restorations, which seemed counterintuitive for a 'green' firm at first. But we realized that preserving existing structures is actually one of the most sustainable things you can do. Plus, those old buildings have character you just can't replicate.

5

2020 - Pandemic Pivot & Rethinking

Like everyone else, we went fully remote overnight. But it also made us rethink how we design spaces - suddenly everyone cared about ventilation, natural light, and outdoor access. Turns out we'd been designing for that stuff all along. Silver lining, I guess.

6

2023 - Where We Are Now

Team of 17, dozens of completed projects, and still learning something new on every build. We've got projects in the works that'll hit net-zero energy targets, and honestly? We're just getting started. The climate crisis isn't waiting around, and neither are we.

The Humans Behind The Blueprints

We're architects, sure. But we're also parents, cyclists, coffee addicts, and occasional karaoke enthusiasts

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Sarah's the one who started the whole napkin-sketching thing. She's got a thing for passive house design and somehow convinced the rest of us that heritage buildings and high-tech sustainability can coexist. When she's not at the drafting table, she's probably biking along the waterfront or arguing about building codes at city hall.

Marcus Okafor

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Marcus handles most of our commercial projects and has an uncanny ability to make structural engineers actually enjoy their jobs. He's the one who'll spend three hours finding the perfect material that's both sustainable and budget-friendly. His superpower? Making complex building systems sound simple. Also makes a mean jollof rice for office potlucks.

Elena Vasquez

Lead Designer & Partner

Elena joined us in 2012 and became a partner three years later because we literally couldn't function without her. She's our interior space planning wizard and the person who remembers every single client preference. Has an actual wall of paint samples in her office and can tell you the difference between seventeen shades of white. We don't question it anymore.

James Kowalski

Senior Architect - Heritage Projects

James is our history buff and the go-to person for anything built before 1980. He can date a building by its brickwork and has probably read every historical document about Toronto's architecture twice. Believes that good design is timeless and proves it by making 100-year-old buildings work for modern life. Collects vintage blueprints as a hobby.

Priya Sharma

Sustainability Coordinator

Priya keeps us honest about our green credentials and knows every LEED requirement by heart. She's the one running energy models at 2 AM because she's convinced we can squeeze out another 5% efficiency. Also coordinates our community outreach stuff and somehow convinced us to install beehives on our office roof. They're doing great, by the way.

David Park

Junior Architect

David's our newest partner-track architect and represents the future of the firm. He's way better at BIM than the rest of us combined and constantly pushes us to try new technologies. Graduated top of his class but stayed humble - asks questions, admits mistakes, and isn't afraid to challenge our assumptions. We're learning as much from him as he is from us.

What Actually Drives Us

It's not just about pretty buildings (though we do love those). We genuinely believe architecture can make a difference in how we live and how we treat the planet.

Every project we take on, we ask ourselves: Is this making things better? Not just for our clients, but for their neighbors, their community, and yeah - the environment too. Some might call that idealistic. We call it Tuesday.

One of our net-zero office projects in downtown Toronto - proof that commercial buildings don't have to be energy hogs

Our Approach (No Jargon, Promise)

We Actually Listen

Sounds basic, right? But you'd be surprised how many architects already know what you need before you've finished talking. We don't do that. Your building, your vision - we're just here to make it work.

Creative Problem Solving

Every site has constraints - budget, zoning, that weird corner lot, whatever. We kinda love those challenges. Constraints force creativity, and that's where the interesting solutions happen.

Data-Driven Design

We run energy models, daylighting analyses, lifecycle assessments - all the nerdy stuff. Because gut feelings are great, but numbers don't lie. Plus, they help us prove to clients that sustainable design actually saves money.

Collaboration Over Ego

We work with engineers, contractors, landscape architects, and anyone else who makes the project better. The best ideas can come from anywhere, and we're not too proud to admit when someone else's solution is better than ours.

Wanna Work With Us?

We're always up for interesting projects, especially if they push us to think differently. Whether it's a house, an office building, or something we've never tried before - if you care about good design and doing right by the environment, we'll probably get along.

Fair warning though: we ask a lot of questions, we'll challenge some of your assumptions (in a nice way), and we'll probably get way too excited about window details. But hey, that's what you're hiring us for, right?

Let's Talk See Our Work