We're not your typical studio

There's something about old factories and steel beams that just gets us going. Maybe it's the honest way materials tell their story, or how a century-old warehouse can become someone's dream home without losing its grit.

How we got here

Started back in 2012 when our founder, Marcus Warven, couldn't stand seeing another beautiful industrial building get torn down for a glass box. He'd spent years working on heritage projects across Ontario and figured it was time to do things differently.

What began as a one-person operation in a converted warehouse space has grown into a team of 12 architects, engineers, and designers who share the same obsession with industrial aesthetics and structural honesty. We've restored grain elevators, converted textile mills, and designed contemporary steel structures that pay respect to Toronto's manufacturing roots.

Yeah, we could've gone the corporate route. But there's way more satisfaction in preserving a building's soul while making it work for modern life.

What drives us

It's not rocket science, really. We believe buildings should have character, materials should be honest, and there's no reason sustainability can't look damn good.

Material Truth

Steel, brick, concrete - we let them speak for themselves. No fake finishes or pretending something's what it's not.

Heritage Respect

Old buildings have stories. Our job's to keep those stories alive while adding a new chapter that makes sense.

Smart Sustainability

Reusing existing structures is already sustainable. We just make 'em energy-efficient without losing their soul.

Urban Context

Every building exists in a neighborhood. We design things that fit in while still having their own voice.

Our journey so far

2012

The beginning

Marcus opened shop in a 900 sq ft corner of an old printing warehouse. First project was a textile mill conversion in Leslieville - still one of our favorites.

2015

Growing pains (the good kind)

Hired our first three team members and landed the Liberty Village grain elevator restoration. That project put us on the map and won us some awards we didn't expect.

2018

Branching out

Added steel structure engineering to our services. Turns out designing new industrial-inspired buildings is just as fun as restoring old ones.

2020

Studio expansion

Moved into our current space on King West - yeah, it's an old metalworks shop. Couldn't help ourselves. Team grew to eight and we started taking on larger commercial projects.

2023

Recognition and growth

Ontario Heritage Trust award for our Port Lands brewery conversion. Team's now at 12 people and we're working on projects from Windsor to Ottawa.

2025

Looking forward

Working on our most ambitious heritage restoration yet and designing a completely new steel-frame residential complex that channels industrial vibes without copying the past.

The folks behind the drawings

We're a mix of heritage geeks, steel nerds, and design obsessives. Some of us come from big corporate firms, others from restoration workshops. What we've got in common is this thing about making buildings that feel real.

The studio's pretty collaborative - you'll find structural engineers sketching alongside architects, and everyone's got opinions about beam sizes (sometimes too many opinions). We argue a lot, but it makes the work better.

Outside of work? There's usually a brewery tour happening, someone's restoring a vintage motorcycle, and we've got a surprising number of amateur welders on staff.

Got an old building that needs love?

Or maybe you're thinking about a new project with industrial soul. Either way, let's grab a coffee and talk about it.

Get in touch