About Us - Windor Forge Quinth Architectural Domains

Our Story

Look, we're not gonna feed you the usual corporate fluff about "passionate visionaries" or whatever. Truth is, Windor Forge Quinth started because three architects got frustrated with seeing Toronto's character get bulldozed for cookie-cutter condos.

Back in 2008, we were working at different firms, watching beautiful heritage buildings get torn down or "renovated" beyond recognition. One night over beers at a Queen West pub, we sketched out what would become our founding principle on a napkin - you can build something new without erasing what came before.

Fast forward to today, and we've grown from that napkin sketch to a team of 23 talented folks who actually give a damn about the spaces people live and work in. We've restored Victorian warehouses, designed contemporary homes that don't scream "look at me," and helped neighborhoods figure out how to grow without losing their soul.

Our office on Queen West isn't just a workspace - it's proof of what we do. The building's from 1892, and we kept the exposed brick, original wood beams, and those massive factory windows. Then we added modern systems, proper insulation, and yeah, decent WiFi. Old bones, new life.

What Drives Us

We believe buildings should respect their context, serve their users, and last longer than the mortgage. Architecture isn't about ego - it's about making spaces that work for real people dealing with real life.

Context Matters

Every site has a story. We listen to it before we start drawing.

Honest Materials

Let brick be brick and steel be steel. Fakery always shows through eventually.

Real Budgets

Fantasy designs are easy. Making it work with actual money is the craft.

Long View

Building for Instagram likes? Hard pass. We design for decades, not trends.

Our Journey

Fifteen years of learning, building, and occasionally screwing up (then fixing it)

2008 - The Beginning

Three architects, one napkin, too many drinks. Founded WFQ with $47,000 in combined savings and way too much confidence.

2010 - First Big Break

Landed the Distillery District residential project. Spent six months figuring out how to make 1870s brick walls play nice with modern building codes. Lost hair. Gained reputation.

2013 - Growing Pains

Moved into our Queen West space. Started hiring. Learned that managing people is way harder than managing projects. Still learning, honestly.

2016 - Heritage Recognition

Won the Ontario Heritage Trust award for the King Street restoration. That one actually made us tear up a bit at the ceremony.

2019 - Expansion

Opened our sustainable design division. Climate change isn't a debate - it's a design parameter now.

2023 - Today

23 team members, over 200 completed projects, and we still argue about every design decision. That's probably why we're still doing good work.

The Team

The folks who make it happen

Sarah Windor

Co-Founder & Principal Architect

Heritage restoration is her thing. Grew up in a Victorian home her parents spent 20 years fixing up - she jokes that's why she became an architect instead of a therapist. Has an uncanny ability to see through drywall.

Marcus Forge

Co-Founder & Design Director

The contemporary design guy. Spent five years in Copenhagen before coming back to Toronto. Drinks way too much coffee and insists good design should feel inevitable, not clever.

David Quinth

Co-Founder & Technical Director

The one who makes sure buildings don't fall down. Former structural engineer who switched to architecture because he wanted to do more than just say "no" to designers. Still says "no" a lot, but now he helps find the "yes."

Aisha Okonkwo

Urban Planning Lead

Joined us in 2014 after getting fed up with big planning firms. Believes neighborhoods are ecosystems, not spreadsheets. Will fight you about mixed-use zoning at parties.

James Chen

Sustainable Design Specialist

Came to us from environmental engineering. Knows every green building standard inside out but thankfully doesn't bore clients with all of them. Makes sustainability practical, not preachy.

Emma Kowalski

Interior Architecture Director

Handles everything inside the walls. Started as a set designer for theater, which explains why she thinks about how people move through spaces like it's choreography. Also explains the drama when deadlines hit.

How We Work

No sugarcoating - architecture projects are complicated, take longer than everyone wants, and cost more than initial estimates suggest. We can't change that, but we can be straight with you about it from day one.

We start every project with what we call the "reality check meeting." That's where we talk about your actual budget (not the wishlist one), your actual timeline, and what trade-offs you're willing to make. Because you'll make them - the question is whether you choose them or they choose you.

Then we design. We show you sketches and models, not just pretty renderings. We explain why we're proposing things, and when you hate something, we want to know why. Your gut reactions usually point to something real.

During construction, we're on site regularly. Not hovering, but checking that what's being built matches what was designed. Details matter - a window placed six inches wrong can ruin a room's proportions.

Let's Talk About Your Project

Whether you're restoring a heritage building or planning something new, we'd like to hear what you're thinking. First conversation's always free, and we'll tell you honestly if we're the right fit.

Get In Touch