About Us - Obsidrix Quest Architecture

Where It Started

It wasn't exactly planned...

Back in 2012, three architects walked out of different firms on the same rainy Tuesday. We'd all gotten frustrated with the same thing - projects that treated historic buildings like disposable assets and "green design" that was just checking boxes for LEED points.

Over coffee at a Queen West cafe (which, ironically, we'd later help restore), we sketched our vision on napkins. What if we could build a practice that actually respected what came before while genuinely caring about what comes next? Not the marketing version of sustainability - the real deal.

Thirteen years later, we're still at it. Just with better coffee and fewer napkin sketches.

The Journey So Far

Every project taught us something. Here's what shaped us.

2012

The Leap

Started Obsidrix Quest in a cramped office above a vintage shop. Our first client? The building owner who needed the shop's facade restored. Talk about convenient timing.

2014

First Big Win

Won the contract to restore the old Distillery District warehouse. Spent 18 months bringing back its 1880s charm while installing geothermal heating. The contractors thought we were nuts. The building's still standing proud, though.

2016

Team Growth

Moved to our current Queen Street digs and brought on six talented folks who actually got what we were trying to do. Started seeing our philosophy spread through the team's own ideas and approaches.

2018

Recognition

Heritage Toronto gave us their Conservation Award. Not gonna lie - that one meant a lot. It's rare when the preservation community and sustainability advocates both nod in approval at the same project.

2020

Pandemic Pivot

Like everyone else, we scrambled. But it pushed us to rethink residential spaces - how homes could adapt for work, isolation, and connection all at once. Some of our best interior optimization concepts came from those weird months.

2022

Urban Planning Expansion

Started working with the city on neighborhood-scale projects. Turns out our building-level philosophy translates pretty well to street design and public spaces. Who knew?

2025

Today

Twenty-three people strong, working on everything from single-family homes to commercial complexes. Still learning every day. Still making mistakes. Still believe that yesterday's craftsmanship and tomorrow's technology aren't enemies.

What Drives Us

Not your typical mission statement stuff

Honest Sustainability

We're talking real energy modeling, lifecycle assessments, and materials that'll actually last. Not just slapping solar panels on everything and calling it a day.

Heritage Respect

Old buildings have stories and solid bones. We find ways to keep what matters while making them work for modern life. It's possible - just takes more thought.

Community Context

Buildings don't exist in bubbles. We spend time understanding neighborhoods, talking to people who live there, figuring out what fits and what doesn't.

Practical Innovation

New tech is great when it solves actual problems. We test stuff, fail sometimes, learn constantly. Innovation for show's sake? Not our thing.

The Team Behind the Blueprints

We've got architects who geek out over 19th-century brickwork and engineers who get excited about heat recovery systems. Landscape designers who understand native plants and interior specialists who know how light moves through space.

What ties everyone together? Nobody here treats buildings like products on an assembly line. Each project gets the attention it deserves, whether it's a condo renovation or a landmark restoration.

We're also pretty decent at trivia nights and make a mean office coffee. Just saying.

Let's Talk About Your Project

By the Numbers

Since we started counting, anyway

147

Projects Completed

23

Team Members

38

Heritage Restorations

13

Years Running