Theo first founded the firm, her father – a retiring partner from a large architectural firm – joined her to stay active during his retirement. His presence brought not only expertise but also a culture of teaching, mentorship, and hands-on problemsolving that continues today. “He loved coming into the office, working alongside us, sketching ideas by hand, helping with complex challenges. Everyone loved learning from him,” Theo recalls. This spirit of collaboration extends beyond the internal team to the firm’s long-standing relationships with suppliers and subcontractors. In Theo’s view, suppliers aren’t just vendors – they’re critical partners. “Suppliers are your education and your backup,” she says. “When we’re facing a material challenge or don’t know what product best fits a solution, we reach out to them. They often come back with ideas and options we wouldn’t have arrived at alone.” That level of teamwork has been essential in tackling projects of significant scale and complexity. One of the firm’s most notable projects was a 100,000-square-foot facility for 400 staff at the Ontario-based Recipe Unlimited (formerly Cara Operations). The project included everything from design planning to move coordination and was executed to LEED standards, reflecting both design excellence and sustainability goals. “I had worked with them for years as a consultant before that project, so when it came time to design the new facility, they trusted us to handle it,” Theo says. Currently, the firm is deeply engaged in a 28-story JULY 2025
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