About Us - Lamareth Forge Studio | Industrial Heritage Architecture

Where it all started

Back in 2008, I was standing in what used to be a textile factory in the Junction, watching a developer's crew about to gut the place. The brick. The timber beams. The character that took a century to build - all heading for the dumpster.

That's when it clicked. Toronto's industrial past wasn't just history to preserve behind glass, it was raw material for something better. These buildings had good bones, they just needed someone who actually understood what made 'em special in the first place.

So yeah, that's how Lamareth Forge got its start. Not with some grand business plan, but with a stubborn belief that old doesn't mean obsolete.

The journey so far

2008

The beginning

Started in a shared office with two drafting tables and way too much coffee. First project was a 1920s warehouse conversion that taught us everything about load-bearing brick the hard way.

2011

Heritage designation

Got our first historically designated building project. Working with the city's heritage committee was... let's say it was a learning curve. But that Edwardian factory is still standing and actually being used, so worth it.

2014

Going green

Completed our first LEED Gold heritage conversion. Turns out old buildings and modern sustainability aren't enemies - they're actually pretty great together when you know what you're doing.

2017

Team expansion

Moved to King Street and brought on a proper team. No more doing structural calcs at 2am by myself. Well, less often anyway.

2020

Award recognition

Won the Toronto Heritage Award for our work on the Broadview Lofts project. That one's still my favorite - 1890s coach house that became twelve live-work units without losing its soul.

2023

Present day

Still obsessed with old buildings, still figuring out new problems, still think there's nothing better than seeing a century-old space get a second life.

How we actually work

History isn't decoration

We're not slapping exposed brick on everything and calling it industrial chic. When we restore a heritage building, we're reading its story - understanding how it was built, why it worked, what made it last this long. That cast iron column isn't just cool looking, it's holding up three floors and we need to respect that.

Green building that makes sense

Yeah, we're into sustainability, but not the kind where you spend a fortune on gadgets that'll be obsolete in five years. Good insulation, smart window placement, using what's already there - that's the stuff that actually works. Old buildings were designed before cheap energy, so they've got tricks modern construction forgot.

Real talk with clients

If your idea won't work, we'll tell you. Nicely, but honestly. Maybe that wall you wanna knock down is structural. Maybe your timeline's too tight. We'd rather have the tough conversation early than watch a project go sideways six months in.

Built to last (again)

These buildings survived a century for a reason - they were built right. When we restore and convert them, we're thinking about the next hundred years, not just making it look good for the marketing photos. Quality doesn't have an expiration date.

The people making it happen

No suits and corporate speak here, just folks who care about buildings

Sarah Chen

Principal Architect & Founder

Started this whole thing after watching too many good buildings get demolished. OAA member, heritage conservation nerd, spends weekends exploring derelict factories (much to her family's confusion).

Marcus Reid

Senior Project Architect

Former structural engineer who switched sides because he got tired of just doing the math. Now he actually gets to see his calculations become real spaces. LEED AP certified, obsessed with timber framing.

Aisha Osman

Design Lead

The person who makes sure our buildings don't just work, they feel right. Trained in urban planning before jumping to architecture. Believes good design shouldn't need explaining - you just know it when you walk in.

David Kowalski

Heritage Specialist

Grew up in a family construction business, has an actual love affair with old building materials. Can identify brick manufacturing dates by looking at mortar composition. Yes, he's that guy at parties.

Jennifer Park

Sustainability Coordinator

Makes sure we're not just talking about green building, we're actually doing it. Tracks everything from embodied carbon to energy modeling. Passionate about proving that heritage and high-performance can coexist.

Tom Richardson

Technical Director

The guy who figures out how to actually build the stuff we design. Twenty years in construction management before joining us. Knows every trade contractor in Toronto and exactly who to call when weird problems show up.

We're not your typical architecture firm