About Us - Ember Halora Architecture

Our Story

Started in a cramped studio apartment back in 2015, armed with nothing but a laptop, way too much coffee, and this wild idea that buildings could actually help fix stuff instead of just taking up space.

I'd spent years at big firms watching projects get watered down, sustainability features get "value-engineered" out, and clients told what they wanted instead of being listened to. Got pretty tired of that routine, honestly.

So yeah, took the leap. Started small with residential projects - folks who actually cared about where their materials came from and whether their house would still make sense in 50 years. Word spread, projects got bigger, and here we are a decade later with a team of twelve equally stubborn people who refuse to compromise on what matters.

We're not about chasing trends or slapping solar panels on everything and calling it a day. It's deeper than that - rethinking how spaces work, where materials come from, how buildings interact with their neighborhoods. The whole package.

The Journey So Far

2015

The Beginning

Hung up my shingle after 8 years working for someone else's vision. First project was a laneway house in Leslieville - client wanted passive solar and reclaimed materials. We made it work with a budget that would make you laugh.

2017

Finding Our Voice

Completed the Junction Community Centre renovation - turned a 1920s warehouse into a net-zero gathering space. Won some awards, got written up in a few magazines. More importantly, proved that heritage and sustainability aren't enemies.

2019

Growing the Team

Hired our first associates - couldn't keep doing everything myself anymore. Brought on people who'd push back on my ideas, which was exactly what we needed. Started taking on commercial work without selling our souls.

2021

Pandemic Pivot

Everyone suddenly cared about indoor air quality and adaptable spaces. We'd been thinking about that stuff for years. Got really busy redesigning offices and residential spaces for the new reality. Weird time, but clarified a lot about what matters.

2023

Recognition & Responsibility

OAA Award for Design Excellence, a couple of sustainability citations. Started mentoring younger architects who want to do this work without burning out. Realized we've got a responsibility to share what we've learned.

2025

Present Day

Twelve projects in progress, ranging from a heritage church conversion to a mass timber office building. Still learning, still making mistakes, still trying to do better. That part never changes, and honestly, I hope it never does.

How We Think About Design

Context Over Ego

Buildings don't exist in a vacuum. What's next door matters. What was there before matters. Who's gonna use it matters. We spend a lot of time just looking and listening before we draw a single line.

Materials Tell Stories

Every piece of a building came from somewhere, was made by someone, and will eventually go somewhere else. We try to make sure those stories are worth telling - salvaged wood, local stone, stuff that ages well instead of just falling apart.

Flexibility Beats Perfection

Life changes. Families grow, businesses pivot, neighborhoods evolve. Buildings that can only work one way are basically expensive garbage waiting to happen. We design for adaptation, not just the opening day photo shoot.

Energy is Expensive

And I don't just mean money. Every kilowatt comes from somewhere, every therm burned adds up. Passive design isn't some nice-to-have luxury - it's the baseline. Orientation, insulation, ventilation. Get those right and the rest gets easier.

The Real Question We Ask

"Will this building make things better 50 years from now, or are we just moving problems around?"

The People Making It Happen

Can't do this alone. Never could. Here's the crew that makes the work actually work.

Design Team

Four architects who challenge everything, two designers who make it look good, and an intern who keeps us honest about new technology. They're the ones actually figuring out how to make these ideas real.

Technical Team

Two structural engineers, a sustainability consultant, and a building science specialist. They're the reason our buildings don't fall down and actually perform like we said they would.

Project Coordination

Two project managers who somehow keep everything on track, dealing with contractors, permits, suppliers, and the occasional crisis. Honestly don't know how they do it.

Operations

One incredibly patient office manager who keeps the whole thing from falling apart. Handles everything we're too scattered to deal with, which is a lot.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for tackling interesting problems with people who actually care about the outcomes. Not gonna promise we'll be the cheapest or the fastest, but we'll give you our honest take and bust our asses to make it work.

Let's Talk About Your Project