Bishop McDowell is a design-forward architecture practice based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, co-founded by Matthew Bishop and Lucas McDowell in May 2024. Long-time collaborators, the two met while working at a Halifax-based architecture firm, where they spent years refining their skills on residential projects and developing a mutual respect for each other’s approach to design, detail, and construction. A pivotal shared project—one they visited 3 to 4 times a week—cemented their partnership and led to the organic decision to launch their own studio.
Matthew Bishop, originally from Nova Scotia, followed a nontraditional path into architecture. He studied biology and kinesiology and worked in medical research before pursuing his passion for design. After enrolling at Dalhousie University's School of Architecture in 2014, he completed co-op terms in Tucson, Arizona, and Halifax. His exposure to the dramatic desert landscape and strong regional architecture of the American Southwest expanded his perspective on materiality and form. He brings nearly a decade of experience to the partnership, with deep interests in on-site construction dialogue, client relationships, and design process.
Lucas McDowell, from Irishtown, New Brunswick, came to architecture through a background in drawing and graphic design. After initially studying sciences, he shifted to a local design program, working as a freelance graphic designer before an uncle in the architecture industry encouraged him to consider architecture school. He enrolled at Dalhousie, where he built a portfolio from scratch and dove headfirst into architectural studies. His co-op terms included stints at MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple in Halifax and Bing Thom Architects (now Revery Architecture) in Vancouver, giving him exposure to contrasting design methodologies and scales of practice.
Bishop McDowell’s work is rooted in curiosity and experimentation. The studio maintains a dual focus on commissioned residential projects and speculative design explorations—often geometric, sculptural, and unconstrained by client briefs. These speculative projects, like the “Tilt House,” not only stretch their design thinking but also attract new commissions and stimulate conversation within the architectural community.
Since launching, the studio has built a network by engaging with local entrepreneurs, designers, and developers. Their early commissions—such as a residence in Lawrencetown and a commercial headquarters—gave the practice early momentum. Their practice is shaped by a true partnership—equal parts support, challenge, and shared vision—with aspirations to expand into civic and public architecture in the coming years.
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Don Schmitt is a founding partner of Diamond Schmitt Architects, one of Canada’s most respected architectural practices. He was born in South Porcupine, a small mining town in northern Ontario, and grew up surrounded by nature. After moving to Toronto in his teens, he was introduced to the city’s architecture while attending high school near the University of Toronto. A Christmas gift of The Master Builders by Peter Blake, chronicling the lives of Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, sparked a deep fascination that shaped his future.
Though discouraged by a guidance counselor, Don enrolled in general arts before transferring into architecture at the University of Toronto. He immersed himself in studio work and took a year off to travel solo across Central and South America. There, he explored historic cities and planning traditions like the Laws of the Indies, forming a lasting perspective on community and place-making.
After graduating, he worked in London and Toronto before joining Jack Diamond’s practice in 1978. The firm had 12 employees. In 1983, Don became a named partner. One of his early major projects was the Central YMCA in Toronto, a complex civic building he helped deliver while still in his twenties. His portfolio grew to include the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the Peter Gilgan Centre at SickKids, and the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa.
Diamond Schmitt has since grown into an internationally recognized firm with studios in Toronto, Vancouver, and New York. Don remains deeply involved in design and continues to shape architecture that builds civic identity and brings people together. His career reflects a belief in architecture as a public act, grounded in curiosity, listening, and care.
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Janna Levitt is a founding partner of LGA Architectural Partners and one of Canada’s most respected voices in socially conscious architecture. Raised in a Toronto home full of artists—her mother a celebrated ceramicist recognized as a “National Treasure”—Janna grew up surrounded by creativity, community, and conversation. These early influences shaped a practice rooted in care, inclusivity, and civic impact.
Janna studied Fine Arts, Political Science, and Cinema at the University of Toronto before shifting into architecture, graduating from U of T’s five-year Bachelor of Architecture program. As one of the few women in her cohort, she leaned on peer networks to navigate a challenging and often exclusionary academic environment—an experience that later informed her commitment to mentorship.
Janna met her future business and life partner, Dean Goodman, while still in school. Frustrated with conventional practice models, they launched their own firm—now LGA—grounded in collaborative values and public-serving work. Early commissions like Strong House, an innovative homeless shelter, and the Native Child and Family Services headquarters set the tone: architecture that listens, adapts, and empowers.
Under Janna’s leadership, LGA has grown intentionally to around 40 staff, with projects spanning libraries, housing, adaptive reuse, and institutional work. She’s mentored students at Waterloo, championed internal financial transparency, and helped shape a clear, long-term succession plan.
She and Dean live in a mid-block infill home they designed as a model of urban intensification and environmental care. Outside of work, Janna remains deeply engaged in the arts and maintains close relationships with clients, colleagues, and friends who—like her—believe in design as a generous, collective act.Curated Podcast Sponsors:
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Shirley Meisels is the founder and creative force behind the Toronto interior design studio M House Inc. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a sharp eye for detail, a deep respect for craftsmanship, and an intuitive understanding of how spaces should reflect the people who live in them.
Her creative journey began early, sketching fashion designs as a child, and later led her to pursue a degree in Fashion Design at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson. Although she began her career as a wardrobe stylist, her passion gradually shifted toward interior spaces. After more than a decade working in fashion for magazines, film, and television, where she often created full-set environments for major brands, Shirley transitioned into interiors. She brought with her the same editorial sensibility and visual clarity that shaped her earlier work.
What began with small, self-initiated design projects eventually evolved into a thriving practice. Shirley’s work has been featured in national publications, and M House Inc. has built a loyal, client-based following through referrals. The studio is known for its versatility, with projects ranging from contemporary new builds to thoughtful heritage renovations. At the heart of it all is her collaborative process, her commitment to clear communication, and her ability to design with both precision and personality.
Beyond her client work, Shirley recently launched W House Inc., a mentorship initiative created to support young designers. Drawing from her own path, which she navigated without a mentor or online resources, she now shares the insights, tools, and strategies that can help others build confident, capable practices of their own.
Her ability to adapt, learn, and lead with generosity continues to shape not only remarkable homes but also a growing community of emerging designers.
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Gene Sandoval’s story is one of vision, resilience, and impact. Born in the Philippines, Gene grew up immersed in the world of craft and creation, watching shipbuilders shape vessels from simple materials in his family’s shipyard. By the time he was a teenager, his artistic instincts and fascination with form had already drawn him to architecture. At just 18, Gene left behind the comforts of home, arriving in the US to study at the University of Oregon. There, he transitioned from mastering the visual language of design to learning how to think critically, communicate ideas, and push boundaries.
In 1989, Gene joined ZGF (Zimmer Gunsul Frasca) in Portland at a time when jobs were scarce and AutoCAD was just being introduced. He started by doing everything from assembling drawing boards to working 100 plus hour weeks on competitions, absorbing the firm’s culture and contributing to its rise. Within a decade, he’d become a principal. By 37, Gene was named partner, one of the first people of color and immigrants to hold that title at the firm, breaking new ground not just in architecture, but in representation.
Gene’s projects span from early additions to the Portland International Airport to designing world class facilities for Nike. But his most powerful work is also deeply personal. In a beautifully full circle moment, Gene helped lead the design of the new PDX terminal, a space that reimagines the immigrant’s first step into America. Built with regional mass timber, the terminal is not only a feat of engineering and sustainability, it is a symbol of ingenuity, equity, and community resilience. His ten year journey on the project included bringing together rural suppliers, an emerging fabrication company (Timberlab), and a cross disciplinary team that delivered one of the most iconic airport spaces in North America.
This episode traces Gene’s remarkable career, from drawing on notebook pages as a boy in Manila to shaping some of the Pacific Northwest’s most ambitious projects. It is a celebration of craft, collaboration, and the immigrant spirit that continues to shape architecture in North America.
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Olly Bray is the founder of OB Architecture, an award-winning practice with studios in Winchester, London, and Chamonix. On this episode, Olly traces the personal and professional path that shaped his architectural journey, from childhood drawings in his grandfather’s Munich studio to launching a firm now designing homes and multi-unit developments across the UK and the French Alps.
Olly shares how an early familial nudge toward architecture eventually became his calling, and how formative experiences at the University of Bath and TU Delft sparked a lifelong commitment to balancing structure with creativity. We dive into his practice’s evolution, from a solo operation launched out of his living room to a cross-border firm driven by design quality, contextual sensitivity, and clear client communication.
He reflects candidly on the business of architecture, the realities of hiring, scaling, and financial pressure, building a values-led culture, and learning to explain architectural value without architectural jargon. We explore OB’s dual focus on high-end private homes and complex urban residential developments, including their growing role in shaping city housing landscapes through planning-savvy, design-forward solutions.
Now based in Chamonix, Olly discusses the decision to build a mountain-focused arm of the firm called OB Mountain and what it’s like to launch anew, professionally and personally, as a designer, partner, and parent.
This conversation is a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it means to build a practice with integrity, curiosity, and ambition and how reinvention can be both a professional necessity and a personal gift.
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Sacha Lee is the founder and principal architect of Aeon Design, a Toronto based architecture and interiors studio focused on thoughtful, high performing residential and boutique commercial spaces. She grew up near Tillsonburg, Ontario, where a mix of farm work, construction site visits with her master builder grandfather, and an entrepreneurial family culture helped shape her early interest in architecture.
Sacha studied at the University of Waterloo, where she stood out as one of the few students entering with CAD experience. Through the school’s co-op program, she gained practical training across North America and abroad. After graduating, she worked at several leading Toronto firms, including Diamond Schmitt Architects, GPAIA, and Audax Architecture. At Audax in particular, she honed her skills in custom homes, luxury interiors, and hospitality design. These experiences deeply influenced her approach to flow, function, and atmosphere.
In 2018, shortly after becoming licensed and while managing life with two young children and a partner commuting weekly to New York, Sacha launched Aeon Design. What began with a single nursery project quickly grew by word of mouth. Today, Aeon handles full scale renovations, new builds, and interiors, with Sacha overseeing every project directly. Her studio now includes a team of salaried designers and operations staff, and runs with the same thoughtful balance she brings to her design work.
Sacha’s story is one of steady ambition, creative clarity, and a belief that the best design outcomes come from strong, trust based relationships.
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Shane Czypyha is a principal at Parkin Architects and one of the founding forces behind their Vancouver office. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Shane’s path into architecture began early, shaped by childhood sketching sessions, a basement full of LEGO, and a family of builders in small-town Ontario. That hands-on foundation led him to explore not just the built form but the systems and relationships that make good architecture possible.
Over the last 12 years, Shane has helped Parkin’s West Coast studio grow from five people to nearly 100, building a portfolio rooted in healthcare and community-focused design. His work spans Canada’s most ambitious hospital projects, from Vancouver to the Maritimes, and includes the country’s first all electric hospital and some of the first healthcare facilities designed under the alliance contract model.
Shane’s passion lies in architecture as care. His team’s work centers on designing environments that foster healing, inclusion, and connection, whether through thoughtful planning, evidence based principles, or deep collaboration with health authorities, Indigenous partners, and builders. In addition to design, he is a leading voice in rethinking how large scale public projects are delivered, advocating for contracts and structures that prioritize people over process.
He lives in North Vancouver, surrounded by the landscapes that first drew him west, and remains as curious today as when he first picked up a floor plan magazine as a kid
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Cori Halpern is the founder and principal designer at Cori Halpern Interiors, a Toronto-based studio known for its unapologetically personal and colour-forward spaces. Her work balances artistry with livability. With a career spanning over 25 years, Cori brings a deep respect for craft and a clear understanding of how to turn creative ideas into built reality. She believes that a home should reflect the people who live in it: layered, collected, and intentional.
Cori’s design education began at Ryerson University’s Interior Design program, where she was one of just 45 students accepted into a rigorous, hands-on curriculum. She learned how to build furniture, understand structure, and work with tools, which shaped her lasting appreciation for tradespeople and the built environment. Today, that foundation continues to inform her practice, especially as she designs custom furniture and millwork for nearly every project.
After early experience in commercial and model-suite design, Cori launched her residential practice in 1996 while raising two young children. What started as a solo venture has grown into a boutique firm defined by personalized service, creative integrity, and thoughtful execution. Her business has grown exclusively through referrals and repeat clients. Today, she is also known for her authentic social media presence, where she shares projects, insights, and real-life moments with humour and honesty.
In every project, Cori is directly involved. From full-home renovations to smaller custom interiors, she leads her team with clarity and care. Her goal is always the same: to create timeless, joy-filled spaces that feel exactly right for the people who live in them.
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Amanda Large and Younes Bounhar are the co-founders of Doublespace Photography, a studio recognized internationally for its refined and evocative architectural photography. The pair came to the profession through distinctly different paths. Amanda trained as an architect and practiced for five years before stepping behind the lens. Younes, originally a molecular biologist, discovered his passion for photography after a career in science and federal policy work.
Their shared creative drive and appreciation for design led them to launch Doublespace in 2012. Since then, Amanda and Younes have built a portfolio that spans residential architecture, civic buildings, and global commissions. Their work, celebrated for its clarity, atmosphere, and sensitivity to light and form, has been featured in Architectural Digest, Dezeen, Wallpaper* and other leading design publications. They have received multiple accolades, including the Architizer A+ Award and the Canadian Architect Award for Excellence.
Doublespace is more than a business. It is a reflection of Amanda and Younes’ life together. They often travel to shoot projects across Canada and abroad, selecting destinations as much for their inspiration as for their beauty. From Lisbon courtyards to Cape Breton cliffs, they capture spaces that resonate both emotionally and visually. Whether shooting for a renowned architect or discovering an understated gem, they bring a mix of craft, curiosity, and humility to every frame, transforming architecture into story.
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Cindy Rendely’s journey into architecture was never a straight line. It began with a science degree in physiology and zoology from the University of Toronto, followed by an unexpected turn into jewelry design and metal arts. After moving to New York City, she immersed herself in its creative energy, eventually returning to Toronto to study goldsmithing at George Brown College. Her early career was spent crafting and selling one-of-a-kind pieces through the Art Gallery of Ontario and luxury fashion retailers. She built a respected name for herself as a metal artist before deciding to pursue architecture more formally.
She earned her architecture degree from the University of Toronto’s School of Architecture, and later studied abroad in Florence, where the academic rigour and cultural richness of the Renaissance deepened her commitment to holistic design. Before launching her own studio, she worked at two architecture firms in Toronto—one grounded in technical excellence, the other in artistic exploration. From these opposite ends of the practice spectrum, she developed a distinctive understanding of how precision and creativity can coexist.
In 2003, Cindy founded her own practice, Cindy Rendely Architexture. The name, coined before she was officially licensed, emerged from her love of materials and detail, and has remained a talking point ever since. Her projects reflect that philosophy: each one begins with a tactile impulse, often a single material, and evolves into a highly crafted environment where architecture, interiors, and landscape are considered as one. She is known for her minimalist material palettes, insistence on thoughtful alignment, and spaces that evoke calm through clarity.
Cindy is currently completing a master’s degree at Parsons School of Design in New York City. She brings the same intellectual curiosity and rigor to the classroom that she brings to her projects.
An avid traveler, she has explored cities across the world—Florence, Vienna, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and more—often solo, with a sketchbook in hand and an eye for the small moments that shape a place. Her design sensibility is shaped as much by these immersive experiences as by formal education or client work.
Cindy Rendely Architexture is the product of all these influences: craft and composition, reflection and resolve, movement and stillness. Her work is not about spectacle but substance. It invites people to inhabit space with a sense of quiet recognition.
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Judah Mulalu is the founding architect of Ten-2-Four Architecture, a Toronto-based studio guided by a commitment to empathetic and inclusive design. Born in Botswana and initially pursuing a path in science, Judah’s journey shifted dramatically when a Bulgarian architect recognized his innate drafting talent and introduced him to architecture. That serendipitous encounter led him to Canada, where he studied architectural technology at Ryerson University and later completed his Master of Architecture at Dalhousie University. His education brought a rich contextual and anthropological perspective to his work.
Judah’s early career developed through roles in transit infrastructure and public design, including contributions at Strassman Architects and PBK, where he worked on major projects such as Sheppard West Station. In 2012, he founded Ten-2-Four Architecture, naming it after the working hours he once envisioned for a healthier life balance. His practice is rooted in creative collaboration, intentional space-making, and the cultivation of strong professional relationships.
Ten-2-Four Architecture engages a wide range of work, from heritage residential homes to hospitality projects and affordable housing initiatives. This includes the design of residences for seniors living with dementia and, most notably, the new cultural centre at 756 Bathurst Street. This project, born from the legacy of Toronto’s Different Booklist, represents a deeply civic and community-driven effort. Judah spent three years contributing pro bono to move the project forward, eventually helping to secure close to $14 million in city and federal funding.
Throughout his career, Judah has upheld the belief that good design must be rooted in empathy. His approach blends technical excellence with a sensitivity to how architecture affects daily life. With a mix of discipline, humility, and thoughtful optimism, Judah continues to shape spaces that honor community, culture, and connection.
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Limor Benmor-Mizrahi’s path to architecture was anything but linear—and that’s what makes her story so compelling. Trained initially in the sciences with aspirations of entering medicine, Limor’s journey took a sharp turn during a revelatory trip through Europe, where she fell in love with the built world. Since then, she’s crossed continents, studied at Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus-inspired Sadna School of Architecture and Pratt Institute in New York, and built a multifaceted career that spans master planning, institutional work, and custom residential design.
Born into a family of Israeli immigrants who built their lives—and homes—in Toronto, Limor credits her late father, Avi Benmore, a builder and entrepreneur, as her subliminal inspiration. Her career began in Israel, where she worked under Holocaust survivor and architectural mentor Rita Dunsky-Feuerstein, gaining experience in both architecture and urban planning. She later moved to New York to complete her formal training and eventually returned to Canada, where she became a licensed architect and launched her own practice at the onset of the pandemic.
In this candid and richly textured conversation, Limor reflects on the personal and professional forces that have shaped her work: from tiling her own kitchen in her first apartment to designing community infrastructure in Israel, and now to crafting elegant, light-filled homes across Toronto. She speaks about the differences in construction methodology between continents, the nuance of working with trades, the vital role of interiors in architectural vision, and her deep appreciation for materiality and light.
Whether she’s designing a city block or a family home, Limor brings to every project a quiet intensity, thoughtful sensitivity, and an architect’s X-ray vision that sees not just what is, but what could be.
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Anne‑Marie Armstrong is an architect, educator and co‑founding principal of AAmp Studio, the cross‑border practice she leads with partner Andrew Ashey from twin studios in Toronto, Ontario, and Portland, Maine.
Raised in Don Mills, Toronto, Armstrong spent childhood afternoons sketching with her painter‑grandmother and solving logic riddles with her mathematician father—an art‑and‑math pairing that still drives her design thinking. She earned an Honours BAS from the University of Waterloo and, as a Fulbright Scholar, a Master of Architecture from Yale University. Before launching AAmp she sharpened her skills in three markedly different contexts: facade detailing at Diamond Schmitt (Toronto), competition work with former Foster + Partners staff at Aedas (London), and physical model making in the Frank Gehry Partners shop (Los Angeles), with formative stints in Berlin and New Haven along the way.
Today she holds architecture licences in Ontario, California and Maine and brings 15 years of professional experience to AAmp’s portfolio, which spans bespoke Toronto residences, award‑winning Death & Co cocktail bars, the Ramble Hotel brand, and a 100‑room boutique hotel in Savannah. The studio’s “no‑weekend‑grind” ethos and BIPOC leadership shape a culture of collaboration and wellbeing for its bi‑national nine‑person team.
Armstrong is also an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design at the University of Toronto, where her courses foreground diversity, equitable practice and the everyday city. Whether crafting a neighbourhood café, orchestrating a hospitality flagship or mentoring emerging architects, she champions the idea that thoughtful, inclusive design can transform experience at every scale.
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Nadeen Rajani, OAA is the newly minted principal of Drawing Room Architect, the Toronto studio known for marrying rigorous detailing with lived in warmth across custom homes and cottages.
Born in Abu Dhabi, raised in Saskatoon, and seasoned by solo backpacking through Europe, she brings a cosmopolitan lens to every project. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan she completed her Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto, a program that blended design theory with big city experimentation. Early work in residential architecture and later in luxury hospitality interiors sharpened both halves of her craft, giving her the structural problem solving of an architect and the material choreography of an interior designer.
Rajani joined Drawing Room in 2012, became partner in 2022 and stepped into full leadership when cofounder Stewart Watson retired in 2024. Today she guides a three person studio through every phase of work from zoning strategy to the last cabinet pull on projects that range from heritage renovations in Rosedale to glass skinned additions in Palm Beach and lakefront retreats on Bigwin Island. Clients and builders value her calm command on site, her exacting wall section sketches and a collaborative style that turns construction meetings into collective problem solving sessions.
Committed to mentorship and equitable practice, Rajani credits veteran technologists Bud Hart and Hector Romero for modelling the craft plus care ethos she now passes on.
Beyond the studio she recharges with family art outings, quiet weekends with her husband and two daughters, and the occasional late night sketch that still keeps her up at two a.m., proof that architecture remains equal parts vocation and adventure.
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Todd Saunders grew up on Newfoundland’s rugged coast, carving cabins and learning early that good buildings start with good stories. That hands-on childhood nudged him through a planning degree at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada; a semester at Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, United States; and an M.Arch. at McGill University, Montréal, Canada. Stints with landscape architect Maria Auböck, Vienna, Austria; urbanist Rob Krier, Berlin, Germany; and designer Jane Durante, Vancouver, Canada sharpened his craft, while a hitch-and-rail trek that began in Paris, France, boarded the Trans-Siberian in Moscow, Russia, and rattled east for days proved that place matters more than style.
In 1996 he settled in Bergen, Norway, and two years later opened Saunders Architecture, small on purpose, restless by nature. First came the timber Aurland Lookout, Aurland, Norway; then the Hardanger Cabin, Ullensvang, Norway; and a ring of stark-white artist studios that helped remote Fogo Island, Canada step onto the world stage. Those one-offs opened bigger canvases: Villa G on Lake Nordås near Bergen; Roxanne Quimby’s museum, Maine, United States; and community plans for Carraig Ridge, Alberta, Canada and Cypress Village, British Columbia, Canada. Today the studio counts 35-plus commissions in eleven countries, yet Todd still begins every project the old way with a pencil in hand, boots on the ground, chasing the right view line before the first stroke on paper.
When he isn’t sketching on a mountain trail, you’ll find him teaching at Bergen Arkitekthøgskole, Bergen, Norway; guest-critiquing at Cornell University, Ithaca, United States; or fly-fishing with the rod his dad gifted at graduation, a reminder to stay true to home, craft, and the long game.
After three decades he still believes: build lightly, frame the horizon, and let quality shout louder than size.
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Kfir Gluzberg is the founder and principal of Kilogram Studio, a Toronto-based architecture practice recognized for its inventive approach to residential, retail, and commercial interiors. Kfir’s path into architecture has been anything but linear—rooted in early artistic exploration, shaped by international education, and driven by a commitment to both cultural nuance and pragmatic design.
A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s architecture program, Kfir later earned advanced degrees from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) in Barcelona and McGill University in Montreal. These experiences provided a foundation in both digital fabrication and architectural theory, which continue to influence Kilogram’s work today.
Kfir began his professional career at RAW Design and Levitt Goodman Architects (now LGA), and also spent time at Efrat Kowalsky in Tel Aviv, contributing to high-profile cultural projects such as the Israel Museum. In 2015–2016, he launched Kilogram Studio, with early momentum driven by a prolific collaboration with Greenhouse Juice Co.—a partnership that has since yielded more than 20 retail and production projects across Canada.
Under Kfir’s leadership, Kilogram has grown into a nimble studio that blends conceptual design with technical execution. The practice is currently engaged in ReHousing, a Neptis Foundation–funded research initiative with U of T and LGA focused on enabling small-scale apartment buildings through zoning reform.
Outside of practice, Kfir is active in professional advocacy. He has taught at the University of Toronto and currently co-leads the TSA Forums with the Toronto Society of Architects, curating public discourse around labour, practice models, and industry transformation. He also previously served on the board of a Toronto-based LGBTQ+ water polo team, and remains an advocate for inclusive design and community-building.
Kfir’s work spans the detailed and the systemic—from rethinking how two materials meet to how entire neighbourhoods could evolve—always guided by curiosity, culture, and care.
Curated Podcast Sponsors:
Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/
The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/
To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca
Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Andrés Muñoz Alarcón is the founder and creative force behind EStudio AMA, a thriving design practice based in Mexico City. A graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana, Andrés built his early foundation with summers spent abroad interning and studying in cities like Los Angeles, New York, Paris, and Chicago—experiences that shaped his global design sensibility and deepened his appreciation for architectural diversity.
Before launching EStudio AMA, Andrés spent nearly a decade with renowned Mexican firm Sordo Madaleno, where he rapidly rose through the ranks to lead major hospitality, residential, and commercial projects across Mexico, South America, and Europe. In 2022, he founded EStudio AMA with a vision to merge conceptual clarity with organizational precision—launching with high-profile commissions that speak to that ambition.
Today, EStudio AMA is a 25-person multidisciplinary team with projects ranging from private residences and mixed-use towers to large-scale international collaborations. A standout among these is the Legend Tower in Guadalajara—designed in partnership with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)—currently the largest SOM-led project in Latin America. The studio also collaborates on major developments in Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, and South America.
Operating with a hybrid team structure, EStudio AMA emphasizes strong conceptual narratives, in-house branding, and coordinated execution. Andrés's vision for growth is rooted in human-centered leadership, offering his team benefits like wellness programs and profit-sharing, while cultivating a collaborative culture that transcends borders. With continued conversations underway with firms in Europe and North America, EStudio AMA is poised to become a global design voice—anchored by Mexican roots and international outlook.
Sponsors:
Lutron: https://www.lutron.com/us/en
Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/
The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/
To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca
Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/
We celebrate Behind the Build turning one year old with a conversation that goes straight to the heart of where it all began. In this anniversary episode, Jonathan sits down with Bruce Borden — one of the original founders & co-principals of Walden Homes, alongside Danny Morris, & the person with whom the idea for this podcast was first imagined six years ago.
A founder, mentor, & process-driven thinker, Bruce shares the early blueprint of the company, how it evolved from speculative builds in the ’90s to a construction management firm focused on delivering architecturally challenging & significant homes — all through a deeply collaborative, process-led model that prizes adaptability, precision, & long-term partnership.
Bruce & Jonathan revisit the conversations that sparked the idea for this very podcast & dive into the philosophy that’s shaped Walden’s identity: structure, transparency, continuous iteration, & the real-world tools that power effective site & team coordination. From faxes & spreadsheets to fully integrated cloud systems & recorded jobsite walkthroughs, Bruce’s lens on technology isn’t about flash — it’s about function & clarity.
Beyond tech, the episode uncovers Bruce’s foundational inspiration from his father, his early exposure to construction, & his emphasis on giving construction managers the autonomy & tools to lead projects well. The conversation also touches on Walden’s shift away from in-house design, choosing instead to build meaningful partnerships with architects & interior designers, & the consultants who enable us all to execute to the highest level — freeing up creative vision while anchoring execution in strong project delivery systems.
Bruce opens up about the human side of running a business: the search for betterment, the value of collaborative critique, & treating a 30-year-old company with the curiosity & nimbleness of a startup. It’s a rare behind-the-scenes look at the thought leadership that quietly fuels the systems, culture, & client experiences Walden Homes delivers every day.
Sponsors:
Lutron: https://www.lutron.com/us/en
Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/
The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/
To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca
Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast/
Maggie Bennedsen and Amin Ebrahim are principals at KSA, a practice known for its diverse and impactful architectural work. Maggie has been with KSA since 1998, and Amin joined the firm in 2013. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the practice, contributing significantly to its success and reputation for designing thoughtful, enduring spaces.
Maggie Bennedsen, originally from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, completed her studies at the University of Waterloo, earning a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES) and a Bachelor of Architecture (BArch). After joining KSA in 1998, Maggie worked on high-profile projects such as the Arrendale Student Centre. She has built a career focused on residential design and public buildings, with a particular passion for creating meaningful spaces that reflect the needs of the people who use them. Outside of architecture, Maggie is an avid adventurer and cyclist. She and her husband, Rick Galezowski embarked on an epic "pole-to-pole" bike trip, a journey that became a defining chapter in her life. Her love for exploring the world, combined with her architectural pursuits, shapes her approach to design, always seeking new perspectives and experiences. Maggie’s work is driven by a commitment to design excellence, collaboration, and community involvement.
Amin Ebrahim’s path to architecture began with a civil engineering degree from MIT. After discovering his passion for architectural history and design, Amin transitioned into architecture and later completed his professional degree at McGill University. He joined KSA in 2013, where his diverse background in engineering and architecture has been instrumental in tackling complex design challenges. Amin has been involved in projects ranging from public institutions to residential spaces, and his work is defined by a focus on both technical precision and creative problem-solving. When not immersed in design, Amin enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors. He is particularly active in soccer, both playing and coaching, and enjoys travel and hiking with his family. His interest in building relationships extends beyond his professional life, and he strives to foster a balanced life of work, family, and adventure.
Together, Maggie and Amin have shaped KSA’s dynamic practice, bringing their years of experience, diverse expertise, and shared commitment to innovative design.
