Elevator and Lobby Addition The owner of a pretty generic commercial building from the 1980's wanted to add an "lift" for handicapped access to the second floor. With the site subject to multiple easements, and to Site Plan Control, it turned out that there was only one place to put it. Because of the open nature of lifts, however, I found a little drama on a one floor elevator ride: a waterfall of transparent glass blocks goes by as you ride. For the permit set, click here. For some construction pix, click here.
	Plaza Makeover and Expansion. A tired-looking suburban plaza gets a some needed attention. An anchor tenant gets a substantial expansion, and the plaza gets another addition at the other end. In between, existing facades are scheduled for improvements, and the entire site is reworked. A complex set or relationships between parking and built form and area took over a year to get through Site Plan Approval. A few construction pictures are available here.
	"Repositioning" of a corner building. Repositioning is real estate jargon for changing the potential uses of a property by making strategic improvements. The project involves substantial reconfiguration of this mixed-use building involving making room for a new Starbucks on the corner, and improving the residences on the upper floor. What is now a fairly dreary corner will become a vibrant hub of activity in the neighborhood. Click here for a schematic perspective sketch...
	Commercial Building in Uxbridge. Click the image at the left to see a 1MB color rendering of this 23,000 square foot "backsplit" perched on the side of a hill. The early sketches and site plan for this project are available in PDF format here. The design yields about 20% over the maximum specified in a site specific by-law, but received approvals because of the numerous urban-scale gestures it makes, and how it attempts to work with the site's topography. Some construction photos are available here.
	Renovations to a Victorian Queen Street Commercial building. Modifications to an old Toronto street building and coach house to convert the existing ground floor retail space to a 60-seat Vodka and Shishkebab bar.
	A modern house on a lake. A new 3500 sq. ft. house will wind its way down a 25 foot slope and around a number of large native trees. Click the image at the right to see recent construction photos. Project scope included interior detailing, cabinets, fireplaces, ...the works! Click here to follow the early steps in the design process.
	Eight Large Townhouses in Toronto for a developer on a particularily difficult site. Click the image at the left to see a couple of streetscapes and the rather strange site plan configuration that results from the competing requirements. Click here for construction photos.
	Kitchen and Family Room addition to a nice Victorian house for a young family on a budget. The design included some other interior modificatons, and anticipates a future second storey. Click here for a PDF of the permit drawings.
	Design only for new home in Niagara-on-the-Lake This 2600 sq. ft. home in the Village of Niagara-on-the-Lake had to conform to extensive urban design guidelines, provide privacy for the owners of a corner lot, and it had to be efficient. Click the image to the left for a PDF version of the design drawings, or click here to see some site pictures during final finishing.
	Private courtyard for a house in Thornhill This unbuilt project was a response to request for a partially enclosed courtyard facing an enormous rear garden. The link to the left is for the PDF version of the 3D studies.
	Full Services on a total renovation in Lawrence Park The 1300 sq. ft. of additions onto 1800 sq.ft. of 1920's brick and stucco house were not to look like additions. All exterior materials and details were closely matched. The existing building interior was completely gutted, and remodeled. Custom design and detailing for four fireplace, Master En Suite, tumbled marble floors, an arts and crafts inspired oak stair, and scads of interior wood trim.
	Full Services on a small addition in Lawrence Park A 335 sq. ft. playroom addition for a young family, was designed to support a future second story expansion while preserving the overall look of the house. The project included some cosmetic work: a make-over for the front dormers, more authentic shutters, etc.
	Total Renovation in Forest Hill 1300 sq.ft. of additions onto a 6400 sq. ft., historically listed home. The existing interiors were entirely gutted and remodeled, and a Breakfast Room, Master Suite, third floor bedroom, and a new Great Room with extensive built-ins were added. Architectural antiques were incorporated into the interior and garden facade.
	New Cottage in Kawartha The massing of this brand new 3100 sq. ft. cottage in the Kawartha Lakes Region is broken up to disguise its true size. The principal space has an central fieldstone fireplace over 20 feet high. The battered stone pier and timbered cathedral ceilings evoke sawmills and train tressles.
	Smaller Projects Over the years I've done some very small, urban residential renovation projects and still do the odd one. Click here to see a few...