We're not your typical tower builders

Started this whole thing back in 2009 when we realized Toronto's skyline needed some serious rethinking. We've spent the last 16 years proving that high-rises don't have to look like glass boxes stacked on concrete slabs.

Krython Spire Studio

What drives us

Look, we've been around long enough to see trends come and go. What hasn't changed? Our belief that buildings should actually work for the people using them, not just look good in renderings.

Every project starts with questions, not answers. What's this neighborhood really need? How do people actually move through spaces? Can we make something sustainable without sacrificing design? Sometimes we get pushback on our approach, but that's kinda the point.

We're obsessed with details - the kind that most folks won't consciously notice but will definitely feel. That's where the real magic happens, in those tiny decisions that add up to spaces people genuinely want to be in.

The people making it happen

We've got a crew of 32 architects, designers, and planners who've worked on everything from micro-condos to full city blocks. Here's some of the folks steering the ship.

Jennifer Hartwell

Jennifer Hartwell

Founding Principal

Jen's been at this for 23 years and still gets excited about floor plans. She's the one who'll redesign an entire lobby at 2am because the flow just isn't right. Studied at Waterloo, worked in Vancouver for a bit, then came back to Toronto to shake things up.

Marcus Chen

Marcus Chen

Design Director

Marcus joined us in 2013 after doing his master's at UBC. He's got this weird ability to visualize entire buildings in his head, which honestly freaks us out sometimes. Leads our sustainable design initiatives and won't stop talking about passive cooling systems.

Simone Bouchard

Simone Bouchard

Senior Partner, Urban Planning

Simone's the reason our buildings actually fit into their neighborhoods. She's spent 18 years figuring out how cities work - not how they're supposed to work, but how people really use them. Previously worked with the City of Toronto planning department.

How we actually work

Listen first

We spend way more time in meetings than most firms. Not because we love meetings, but because understanding what you actually need takes time. Can't design something great without knowing the real challenges.

Sketch everything

Yeah, we use fancy software, but the best ideas still come from napkin sketches and whiteboard sessions. Something about drawing by hand just unlocks different thinking. Our studio walls are covered in scribbles.

Test it out

We build a lot of physical models. Digital renderings lie - they make everything look perfect. Models show you where things get weird, where the light doesn't work, where people might actually trip.

Stay involved

We don't just hand off drawings and disappear. Someone from our team is on-site regularly throughout construction. Details get lost otherwise, and we've learned that the hard way on early projects.

Recognition and stuff

We've picked up some awards over the years. They're nice validation, but honestly, the best feedback comes from seeing people actually use and enjoy the spaces we create. That said, here's what the industry folks have noticed:

OAA Design Excellence Award 2023

For the Harbourview Mixed-Use Development

RAIC Innovation in Architecture 2022

Sustainable high-rise integration practices

Toronto Urban Design Award 2021

King West Cultural Complex

Green Building Excellence 2020

LEED Platinum certification leadership

Got a project in mind?

Let's grab coffee and talk about what you're trying to build. No pressure, just honest conversation about whether we're the right fit for what you need.

Let's Talk