About Us - Selvarion Thquinth Architects

Our Story

Look, we'll be honest - when Miriam and David started this firm thirteen years ago, people thought we were a bit crazy. Focusing exclusively on sustainable commercial architecture? In Toronto? During a recession? Yeah, we heard it all.

But here's the thing - we'd both worked at big firms where "sustainability" meant slapping some solar panels on a roof and calling it a day. We knew there had to be a better way. So we took the leap, rented a tiny office on Queen West, and started doing things differently.

Fast forward to today, and we've designed over 180 commercial spaces across Canada. Every single one built with sustainability baked into its DNA from day one. We're talking LEED Platinum certifications, net-zero energy buildings, the whole deal - but done in ways that actually work for real businesses with real budgets.

What keeps us going? It's seeing a client's energy bills drop by 60%. It's watching employees thrive in spaces with natural light and clean air. It's knowing that the building we designed will still be performing efficiently fifty years from now.

Meet the Team

The folks who make it happen - architects, designers, and sustainability nerds who love what they do

Miriam Selvarion

Co-Founder & Principal Architect

M.Arch, LEED AP BD+C, OAA

Miriam's the one who makes sure every design actually works in the real world. With 18 years under her belt, she's led projects from small retail spaces to massive mixed-use developments. Known for her "no BS" approach to client meetings and an uncanny ability to spot energy inefficiencies just by looking at plans.

Notable Projects: Evergreen Commercial Hub, Northview Office Tower, Lakeside Retail Complex

David Thquinth

Co-Founder & Sustainability Director

M.Arch, Ph.D. Environmental Design, LEED Fellow

David's obsessed with building science - in the best way possible. He's the guy who'll spend three hours analyzing thermal bridge details because he knows it matters. Before co-founding the firm, he taught sustainable design at UofT and consulted on some of Canada's first net-zero commercial buildings.

Specialties: Passive house design, renewable energy integration, carbon footprint analysis

Jessica Chen

Senior Architect

M.Arch, LEED AP, OAA

Jessica joined us five years ago and quickly became the go-to person for complex urban projects. She's got this amazing talent for making dense commercial developments feel open and welcoming. Also our resident expert on adaptive reuse - she's transformed more old warehouses into modern offices than anyone else on the team.

Recent Work: Junction District Office Conversion, Parkdale Commercial Campus

Marcus Rodriguez

Project Architect

M.Arch, LEED Green Associate

Marcus brings fresh energy and a killer eye for detail. He's the one coordinating with contractors, making sure what we design actually gets built right. Started as an intern three years back and proved himself so quickly that we couldn't imagine the team without him. Runs our weekly site visits and keeps everyone honest about schedules.

Focus Areas: Construction documentation, contractor coordination, quality control

Sarah Mitchell

Interior Design Lead

B.Des Interior Design, NCIDQ Certified

Sarah makes sure our interiors aren't just sustainable but actually pleasant to work in. She's passionate about biophilic design and somehow convinces even the most conservative clients to add living walls. Her material library is legendary - she knows every eco-friendly finish on the market and exactly where to source it.

Expertise: Space planning, sustainable materials, workplace wellness design

Ahmed Hassan

Visualization & BIM Specialist

M.Arch, Revit & Rhino Certified

Ahmed's the wizard behind our stunning renders and detailed BIM models. He joined us two years ago from a tech-focused firm and completely upgraded our digital workflow. Now we catch design issues in 3D before they become expensive problems on site. His virtual reality walkthroughs have won over more than a few skeptical clients.

Tech Stack: Revit, Rhino, Enscape, Grasshopper for parametric design

Elena Vasquez

Urban Planning Consultant

M.Plan, RPP, CNU-A

Elena's our secret weapon for navigating Toronto's complex zoning bylaws. She works with us part-time but her impact is huge - she understands how to make projects work within municipal frameworks while pushing for better outcomes. Her background in transit-oriented development has shaped how we approach site planning.

Strengths: Municipal approvals, mixed-use planning, community engagement

The Rest of the Crew

Support Staff & Consultants

We've also got an amazing support team that keeps everything running smooth. Priya handles project coordination and client communications. Tom's our CAD technician who turns sketches into precise drawings. And we work with a network of specialized consultants - structural engineers, MEP designers, landscape architects - who share our commitment to sustainable design.

Plus we usually have 2-3 co-op students or recent grads learning the ropes. Fresh perspectives keep us sharp, and honestly, teaching the next generation is one of the best parts of what we do.

How We Work

Honestly? We're pretty collaborative. No stuffy hierarchy where only partners get to make decisions. If you're an intern with a great idea, we wanna hear it.

Every project starts with us actually listening - revolutionary concept, right? We spend time understanding not just what you need now, but where your business is heading. Then we dig into the site, the climate data, the energy modeling, all that nerdy stuff we love.

Design happens in rounds. We'll show you options, explain the trade-offs (because there's always trade-offs), and work together to find the sweet spot between your vision, your budget, and our sustainability goals.

Throughout construction, we're on site regularly. Not just checking boxes, but problem-solving with contractors in real-time. Buildings are complicated, stuff comes up - having architects who stay engaged makes all the difference.

Our promise: We'll design you a building that performs better, costs less to operate, and makes people actually want to show up to work. And we'll have your back through the whole process - from first sketch to ribbon cutting and beyond.

180+

Projects Completed

Commercial spaces designed and delivered across Canada since 2012

45

LEED Certifications

Green building certifications achieved, including 12 Platinum ratings

13

Years Strong

Pushing sustainable commercial architecture in Toronto and beyond

Ready to Work Together?

Let's talk about your next project - no pressure, just good conversation about what's possible.

Get In Touch