About Us - Gildronal Quinthos Architecture

How We Got Here

Started back in 2012 with two drafting tables in a cramped Leslieville loft, we've grown into something we're genuinely proud of. The name? Yeah, it's a bit unusual - Gildronal Quinthos came from a late-night brainstorming session that involved too much coffee and a fantasy novel someone left on the table. It stuck.

What really drives us is seeing a client's face when they walk into a space we've designed and it just... clicks. That moment when they realize their building isn't gonna be a burden on the planet, and it actually works better because of the sustainable choices we made together.

We've done everything from tiny laneway houses to commercial towers, heritage buildings that needed serious love, and urban planning projects that actually got built (which is rarer than you'd think). Through it all, we've kept one thing consistent - buildings should serve people first, and they should do it without wrecking the environment.

Our Team

Different backgrounds, same obsession with good design

Miranda Quinthos

Principal Architect, OAA

Spent five years working on LEED projects in Vancouver before moving back east. I've always believed that sustainable design isn't about sacrifice - it's about being smarter with what we've got. My architecture prof once told me I was "annoyingly persistent" about energy modeling, and honestly? I'll take that as a compliment. When I'm not obsessing over thermal bridging details, you'll find me cycling along the waterfront or arguing about zoning bylaws at community meetings.

Thomas Gildronal

Design Director, OAA

Heritage buildings are my jam. There's something about taking a structure that's seen a century of life and giving it another hundred years - that's the ultimate sustainability, right? I did my thesis on adaptive reuse in Montreal's Old Port, and I haven't looked back since. People think old buildings are limiting, but I see 'em as puzzles waiting to be solved. The craftsmanship in those old brick facades? We just don't build like that anymore. Also, I make a mean espresso - our office machine gets a serious workout.

Sophia Chen

Senior Designer, ARIDO

Interior architecture is where buildings actually meet real life, y'know? I came from a product design background, which taught me to sweat the small stuff - how a door handle feels, where the light hits at 3pm, why that circulation pattern isn't working. I'm obsessed with biomimicry and bringing natural patterns into interior spaces. My design philosophy? If it doesn't make sense for how humans actually move and live, it's just pretty pictures. Currently experimenting with mycelium-based materials for interior finishes, which is either genius or completely bonkers.

David Okafor

Urban Planning Lead, OPPI

Buildings don't exist in a vacuum - they're part of neighborhoods, transit networks, ecosystems. That's what drew me to urban planning after practicing architecture for years. I worked with the city on several intensification projects, and let me tell you, navigating municipal bureaucracy is its own special skill. I believe good planning creates opportunities for communities to thrive without displacement. My approach is pretty straightforward: talk to the people who actually live there, understand the context, then design something that fits. Revolutionary concept, I know.

Elena Rodriguez

Sustainability Consultant, LEED AP

I'm the one who runs the numbers that prove sustainable design actually works. Got into this field after studying environmental science and realizing that buildings are responsible for nearly 40% of global emissions - that's a problem we can actually fix. I handle everything from energy modeling to material lifecycle analysis, and yeah, I get excited about things like passive house certification and embodied carbon calculations. My job is making sure our designs aren't just greenwashing - they're legitimately better for the planet. Also, I keep a ridiculous number of houseplants in my office.

James Park

Project Architect

I'm the bridge between the big design ideas and actually getting stuff built. Spent three years working construction before going back to school for architecture, which gave me a healthy respect for the trades and a realistic view of what's actually buildable. My role involves coordinating with engineers, contractors, and clients to keep projects on track and on budget. Nothing beats the feeling of seeing something you drew on a screen turn into an actual building people use every day. I've probably drunk more Tim Hortons on job sites than I care to admit.

Our Design Philosophy

Look, we're not gonna feed you some line about "revolutionizing the built environment" or "paradigm-shifting solutions." What we actually do is listen carefully, design thoughtfully, and build responsibly. Every project teaches us something new - sometimes it's a innovative detail that worked perfectly, sometimes it's a mistake we'll never make again. Either way, we're always learning.

We think architecture should be accessible, not intimidating. Our job is to translate your vision into something real, something that'll still be working well in fifty years. And if we can do that while reducing energy consumption and using materials that don't trash the planet? That's not extra credit - that's just doing the job right.

What We Value

Honest Communication - No jargon, no runaround. We'll tell you what's possible and what's not.
Environmental Responsibility - Every material choice matters. Every design decision has consequences.
Collaborative Process - Best ideas come from working together, not dictating from on high.
Long-term Thinking - Quick fixes create bigger problems. We design for the next generation.

Want to Work With Us?

Whether you've got a fully-formed vision or just a rough idea scribbled on a napkin, we'd love to hear about it. First consultation's on us - we'll grab coffee and talk through what you're trying to accomplish.

Get In Touch