About Us - Luminar Quintho Architecture

Our Story

Started back in 2014 with just three of us cramped in a tiny office on Queen West. We'd spend hours sketching ideas on napkins at the coffee shop downstairs, arguing about whether glass or concrete made more sense for a particular corner. Those arguments haven't stopped, honestly.

What brought us together was this shared frustration with buildings that looked impressive but didn't really serve the people using them. You know the type - all style, zero substance. We wanted to flip that around.

Now we're a team of 17, still on Queen West (bigger space though), and we're still having those same debates. Except now we're doing it for clients who trust us to design spaces that'll be around for decades, not just look good in a magazine spread.

How We Think

Philosophy's a fancy word, but here's what drives every project we take on.

Function First

Beauty matters, sure. But if a building doesn't work for the people inside it, we've failed. It's gotta breathe right, flow naturally, and make sense for everyday life. The aesthetics come after we nail that down.

Sustainability Isn't Optional

We've got one planet, and Toronto winters are already weird enough. Every project gets the sustainability treatment - passive heating, proper insulation, materials that won't end up in a landfill in five years. It's just how we work now.

Context Matters

A building doesn't exist in a vacuum. We spend time walking the neighborhood, talking to locals, understanding what's already there. Sometimes the best design decision is the one that respects what came before.

Honest Materials

Concrete should look like concrete. Wood should look like wood. We're not big on fake finishes or trying to make one thing look like another. There's something satisfying about materials being themselves.

The Team

The folks who make it happen, from concept sketches to final walkthrough

Sarah Quintho

Founding Principal & Lead Designer

Graduated from Waterloo in '09, spent five years at a big corporate firm before realizing she'd rather design spaces people actually enjoy. Can't walk past a building without analyzing its facade, which makes for interesting dinner dates.

Marcus Thibault

Founding Principal & Urban Planning Lead

The numbers guy who somehow ended up loving architecture. Background in civil engineering means he actually knows if our designs will stand up. Still gets excited about load-bearing calculations, which the rest of us find both amusing and useful.

Aisha Okonkwo

Sustainability Director

Joined us in 2016 after working on green building projects across Europe. She's the reason we're LEED certified and constantly pushing for better environmental solutions. Won't let us spec a material until she's traced its entire supply chain.

James Wu

Senior Architect

Handles most of our residential projects and has this weird ability to read clients' minds. Trained in Vancouver, moved here for the food scene, stayed for the architecture opportunities. Makes a mean pour-over coffee during those late-night deadline pushes.

Elena Rodriguez

Project Manager

The one who keeps us on schedule and under budget, which is basically like herding cats. Former contractor who knows every trick in the book, so good luck trying to pull one over on her. Client meetings run smoother when she's in the room.

David MacLeod

Heritage Restoration Specialist

Grew up in a Victorian house his parents were constantly renovating, which explains a lot. Specializes in making old buildings work for modern life without destroying what makes them special. Has strong opinions about crown molding.

Working With Us

Look, every project's different, but here's generally how things go down once you decide to work with us.

First Chat

We grab coffee (or tea, no judgment) and you tell us what you're thinking. Sometimes you've got detailed plans, sometimes it's just a vibe. Both work.

Site Investigation

We visit the location, take measurements, photos, notes. Check out the light at different times of day. Maybe talk to neighbors if it's that kind of project.

Concept Development

This is where it gets fun. We come back with initial ideas - usually a few different approaches. There's back-and-forth, adjustments, sometimes complete rethinks. It's collaborative.

Making It Real

Once we've nailed the design, we handle permits, contractor coordination, all that administrative stuff. Then we stick around during construction because things always come up that need on-the-fly decisions.

Want to Work Together?

We're always up for talking about new projects. Whether you've got detailed plans or just an idea you're kicking around, let's chat.

Get In Touch