Where It All Began
Toronto, 2011
The Foundation
Look, I'll be straight with you - starting Eldrion Forge wasn't some grand master plan. It came from years of watching beautiful old buildings get gutted or demolished while "modern" designs went up that'd look dated in five years.
After spending nearly a decade working for bigger firms, I kept running into the same problem: there was this artificial divide between heritage work and contemporary design. Like you had to pick a side. That never made sense to me.
So in 2011, armed with more ambition than sense and a borrowed desk in a Queen West shared space, Eldrion Forge was born. The name? Means "star-forged" in a language I won't pretend I'm fluent in. But it captured what we're after - crafting something lasting from fundamental elements.
The Journey So Far
Solo practice launched. First project was a century home restoration in Cabbagetown. Made every rookie mistake in the book, but the client stuck with us.
Brought on our first full-time associate. Started blending heritage techniques with passive house principles. People thought we were nuts.
Won our first heritage conservation award. Expanded into commercial work. Moved into the Queen West suite we're still in today.
Team of eight passionate people. Over 140 projects completed. Still learning something new on every single one.
What We Actually Believe
Buildings Have Stories
Every structure we touch has lived a life before we got there. Our job isn't to erase that - it's to honor it while writing the next chapter. Sometimes that means restoration, sometimes transformation, but always with respect.
Sustainability Isn't Optional
Here's the thing - we're past the point where "green building" is some nice-to-have feature. It's non-negotiable. And honestly? The old builders knew stuff we forgot. Proper orientation, natural ventilation, thermal mass - it's all there.
Process Matters
We're not the type to disappear after the design phase. Construction is where drawings meet reality, and that's where the real architecture happens. We're on-site, solving problems, adjusting, collaborating.
Context Is Everything
A building doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's part of a neighborhood, a climate, a community. Good design responds to all of that. We spend a lot of time just observing a site before we touch a pencil.
The Team
We're a mixed bunch - heritage specialists who geek out over mortar composition, sustainability nerds tracking embodied carbon, designers who still sketch by hand, and tech-savvy folks pushing BIM to its limits.
What ties us together? We all believe that architecture should improve people's lives and tread lightly on the planet. Sounds simple, but it guides every decision we make.
We're not trying to win design awards (though we won't say no if they come our way). We're trying to create buildings that people actually want to be in, that age gracefully, that don't cost a fortune to heat and cool, and that contribute something meaningful to the urban fabric.
How We Work
Every project's different, but our approach stays pretty consistent. We listen more than we talk (at least in the beginning). We ask probably too many questions. We visit the site way more times than you'd think necessary. We sketch, model, test, and iterate.
We're transparent about costs, timelines, and challenges. We don't overpromise. And we stay involved from that first conversation right through to the final walkthrough.
Let's Talk About Your ProjectWhy "Eldrion Forge"?
People ask about the name all the time. "Eldrion" roughly translates to "star-forged" - the idea that elements were literally forged in stars before becoming everything we build with. It's a reminder that we're working with ancient materials that have stories way bigger than us.
"Forge" because we're shaping things, yes, but also because the best work comes from heat and pressure and time. Quick and easy rarely produces something lasting. We're in it for buildings that'll still be standing and loved generations from now.
