Issued For Construction

Drew Mandel started Drew Mandel Architects (DMA) in 2004, after various experiences working at other practices, including two internships at KPMB while at Waterloo and more extensive post-grad experience of seven years at MJMA.

DMA was the bi-product/created shortly after the building of his own modern home in Toronto, on a 13 foot wide lot.

Thanks to the media coverage the home had received, he had people from the neighbourhood asking who designed the home, with one neighbour slipping note under his door asking to have an introduction to the architect. Decades later, he is well-renowned for his modern design.

His small practice is defined by being able to keep his project dimensions in his head, and not growing to becoming a people manager, but rather an involved practitioner.

His interest in architecture stretches beyond his practice and deeply into his personal life, connecting with architecture globally while vacationing, when he takes the time off. Find out more about his passion with this interesting listen.

With a history of working for some of the most notable Canadian architects, Winda Lau started her practice Studio Lau, focused on Contemporary and Modern Architecture, based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada with an intent to hone in on her craft of design for residential clients.

While working to define the balance between her practice and personal life, the juggling act began. Working with a small team, she maximizes her time in the studio or working from home by strategically taking on the right number of projects to keep her engaged and also ready to be a mom on a moment's notice. The relationship between being an entrepreneur and involved parent blends its lines on an on-going basis. This is just one of the topics we cover in our discussion.

Find out how Winda successfully navigates the challenges brought on by designing residential architecture and meticulously driving home deliverables for her clientele, while being a present mother.

Beth Lowenfeld is the charismatic principal and founder of Four Blocks South, an interior design practice based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

In her small, yet mighty practice, she has a powerful team outputting award winning interiors featured in magazines across Canada. Her prose and ability to articulate thoughts are not solely what make her so likeable among her clientele and industry partners, they are adjectives in helping to personify her unwavering dedication to perfection of her deliverables.

You will find out about how and why she is insistent on giving her all to the craft of design in this enlightening episode.

Gabriel Fain is the principal and founder of Gabriel Fain Architects Inc. located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

His practice started in single family residential and quickly shifted to focus more in multi-residential mid and high-rise architecture. In addition, he also created installations for the cityscape, some still standing even though they were initially designed to be temporary fixtures.

Gabriel is a historian of architecture, whose interest in understanding the past and how it connects to the architecture of today is blended with his distinct interest in how globally influential architecture can be, when it positions itself in a neighbourhood within a city, tying together all the elements that a community might not even know it needs until it's there.

Enjoy...

Barbora Vokac Taylor, founded her practice in 2012, based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In what was an incredible drop of knowledge, you'll find out about her ties to a number of architects in the city, as well as her familial history, all of which led to her to have a strong connection to the architecture community through organizations that provide architects with information and discussions for the built environment, like the Toronto Society of Architects.

Her story of graduating from McGill, to getting her first job at Kohn Shnier, to building her own practice, is told.. oh so well.

Enjoy!

Vanessa Fong is the founder and principal of Vanessa Fong Architect, a studio based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that focuses primarily on contemporary and modern architecture and interior design.

Since her practice began, Vanessa has been actively changing the impact of street views across Toronto, PEC and Muskoka. With ties to the Ontario Architect Association (OAA), she brings knowledge, depth of artistic ability and a staff of likened interests to developing exceptional architecture, often seen in media publications.

Travel on a marathon of information, with Vanessa and Jonathan and she runs you through her practice, from early career growth, starting in the chair of her dentist's office to her recent induction of Fellow with the Royal Architect Institute of Canada (RAIC).

Shane Laptiste runs his practice, Studio of Contemporary Architecture, known as SOCA, with his partner Tura Cousins Wilson. SOCA is based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Their unique lens on architecture is derived from extensive travel, education and keen interest in diverse cultural learning as it relates to the community. They are very interested in creating shared, artistic spaces, for the black community both in Toronto and abroad.

Their connectivity to their architecture is their connectivity the community, providing an empowered and unified space for artists to feel emersed in their surroundings.

Les Klein is the founder of what is now called BDP Quadrangle, formerly known as Quadrangle. His achievements in architecture are extensive, as are the people who have been groomed and/or mentored by him.

The practice has its name tied to some of the most iconic and upcoming projects in the city of Toronto and beyond, from multi-residential, to commercial, to institutional and more, Les and the talented team are shaping the landscape of the cities they reach, one piece of architecture at a time.

Delve into the beginning of Les' career, as an immigrant to North America, to his schooling and start-up of the practice, to the expansion of his family and everything in between.

Enjoy the journey...

Jordan Heckman runs his practice, Jordan Station Design Studio, out of an area of Ontario, called Jordan Station. Located between Beamsville and St. Catherines, Jordan is driving the architectural changes throughout the region, with a team of design professionals, his projects range from renovations to large-scale custom builds.

With an avid thirst for professional and personal growth, Jordan stays focused on what he likes, and that's empowering his staff and managing architectural design alone.

Find out more about Jordan, his practice and his love for running on the this episode of Behind the Build.

Justin Sherry is a young design professional running his practice out of Barrie, Ontario. Justin has taken his practice from a single, owner-operated practice to a staff of architectural designers and interior designers.

Having managed as many as 200 projects in a year, Justin explains his growth and ambition to work, non-stop at perfecting his practice.

He dedicates his days to his staff and builders, with more of a focus on design in the wee-hours of the day/night.