We're not just drawing buildings - we're shaping how people experience their daily lives through thoughtful, sustainable design.
Our Story
Three architects, one shared vision, and a whole lot of coffee later...
Back in 2009, we started PHQ Architecture in a cramped co-working space with nothing but laptops, a couple of drafting tables, and honestly? A bit of naive optimism. Maria Pyrest, Jason Halven, and Keisha Quinth met during a sustainability conference in Vancouver and realized we were all frustrated with the same thing - architecture that looked great in magazines but didn't actually work for real people or the planet.
Founded PHQ with three partners and zero clients. Our first "office" was actually a coffee shop on Queen West where we'd camp out for hours. The owner eventually just gave us a dedicated table - probably felt sorry for us.
Won a competition to redesign a heritage warehouse in the Distillery District. The client took a chance on us over bigger firms, and honestly, we worked like crazy to prove they weren't wrong. That project put us on the map locally.
Moved to our first real studio space and hired our first employees beyond the three of us. Learned the hard way that running a business isn't just about good design - there's payroll, insurance, and way too many spreadsheets.
Completed our first LEED Platinum project and decided to make sustainable design our core focus. We'd been doing it all along, but this is when it became our defining characteristic. Started consulting for other firms too.
Like everyone else, we went fully remote overnight. Turned out to be a blessing - we rethought everything about how we work and collaborate. Started focusing more on residential projects as people reconsidered their living spaces.
Moved into our current space - a renovated industrial building we got to design ourselves. Finally practicing what we preach with a truly sustainable, flexible workspace. It's got everything we've learned over the years baked right in.
We're now a team of 23 talented folks working on projects across Ontario. Still learning, still experimenting, and yeah - still drinking way too much coffee. But we're building spaces that actually make a difference.
What Drives Us
We genuinely believe architecture can solve problems - not just aesthetic ones, but real environmental and social challenges. Every project's a chance to do better than the last one. We mess up sometimes, learn from it, and keep pushing forward.
Our Approach
We listen first, design second. Sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how rare that is. We work closely with clients, contractors, and communities to create spaces that actually fit how people live and work - not just how we think they should.
Meet the Founders
Maria Pyrest, Principal
Specializes in sustainable residential design. Maria spent five years working in Copenhagen before moving to Toronto, and she's obsessed with passive house standards. Probably knows more about building envelopes than anyone should.
Jason Halven, Principal
Handles our commercial and urban planning projects. Jason's background in civil engineering means he actually understands how buildings stand up, which is pretty handy. He's the one who makes sure our ambitious ideas are actually buildable.
Keisha Quinth, Principal
Leads heritage restoration and interior planning. Keisha's got an uncanny ability to see what a space could be, even when it's falling apart. She's saved more old buildings than we can count and made them work for modern life.
Want to Work With Us?
We're always up for interesting projects and conversations. Whether you've got a full plan or just an idea you're kicking around, let's talk.
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