About Us - Igniva Renth Quinth Architects

Started in a Garage, Literally

Look, we're not gonna feed you some polished origin story. Back in 2009, three architecture grads met at a sustainability conference in Vancouver. We got into this heated argument about passive cooling systems that somehow turned into a 15-year partnership.

Started working out of Igniva's garage in Leslieville - yeah, the name comes from our founding partner. Her mom still tells everyone about how we'd sketch until 3am with terrible instant coffee. Those early days taught us something crucial though: good design doesn't need fancy offices, just honest conversations and a willingness to scrap your fifth draft.

Now we're on Bay Street, but we've kept that garage mentality. Every project still gets the whiteboard treatment, the tough questions, the "but what if we tried..." moments that drive our engineers slightly crazy.

How We Actually Work

Spoiler: there's no magic formula, just better questions

We Listen More Than We Talk

Clients sometimes apologize for "rambling" during meetings. But that's where the gold is - when someone mentions they wish their kitchen caught morning light, or how their kids always congregate in that weird hallway corner.

We've learned that the best designs come from understanding how people actually live and work, not from imposing our aesthetic preferences. Yeah, we've got opinions about cantilevers and thermal mass, but your space needs to work for you first.

Sustainability Isn't Optional

We're kinda obsessed with this. Not in a preachy way, but in a "why would we design anything that makes climate change worse" way. Every material choice, every orientation decision, every mechanical system - it all matters.

And honestly? Sustainable design usually saves clients money long-term. Proper passive design means lower energy bills. Durable materials mean less maintenance. It's just smart.

We Show, Not Just Tell

Architectural drawings can be confusing - we get it. That's why we invested heavily in 3D visualization tech. You'll see walkthrough videos of your space before we break ground. You'll understand how afternoon light moves through the room, how the flow works.

Renth (one of our partners) jokes that we're "obsessively visual" but it prevents so many misunderstandings. No one should be surprised by their building.

The Team Behind the Blueprints

We're 14 people now, can you believe it?

Design Team

Six architects who constantly sketch on napkins during lunch. They range from fresh grads bringing new ideas to veterans who've forgotten more about building codes than most people ever learn.

Sustainability Crew

Three specialists who geek out over R-values and embodied carbon. They keep us honest and constantly push us to do better. Sometimes annoyingly so, but we love them for it.

Project Coordinators

Three impossibly organized humans who somehow keep track of permits, contractors, timelines, and our scattered brains. Seriously, they're wizards.

Plus two admin staff who keep the coffee flowing and remember client birthdays better than we remember our own.

What Actually Drives Us

It's not just about pretty buildings - though we won't lie, we do love a good facade detail.

What gets us up in the morning is knowing we're creating spaces where people will live their lives. Where families will grow, businesses will thrive, communities will gather. That's heavy stuff, and we don't take it lightly.

We've also got this thing about leaving places better than we found them. Every project is a chance to contribute something positive - better energy efficiency, preserved heritage character, improved urban fabric. It's why we're here.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Our Toronto Roots

We're Toronto through and through. We understand the climate challenges - those brutal winters and humid summers. We know the building codes inside out. We've worked with the city planning department enough times to be on first-name basis.

But more than that, we get the city's character. The mix of heritage and modern, the neighborhood dynamics, the way Torontonians actually live and move through space. It shows in our work.

That said, we've done projects across Ontario and occasionally venture further. Good design principles travel, even if building codes don't.

Based in Toronto

Designing for Canadian climate since 2009

What We're Working On Now

Currently juggling a heritage restoration in Cabbagetown, a net-zero commercial office in the Distillery District, and three residential projects scattered across the GTA. Also experimenting with mass timber construction for a mid-rise project - it's exciting stuff.

Each one's teaching us something new. That's the thing about architecture - you never really stop learning.

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