Behind the Build

Magnus Ström is the founder and Principal Architect of Ström Architects, a UK-based practice internationally recognized for its refined, modernist approach to residential design. Originally from Sweden, Magnus was surrounded by functionalist architecture from an early age—drawn to clean lines and minimalist forms that would later define his work. His parents’ hands-on building projects and honest critiques of his childhood sketches sparked an early and enduring passion for architecture.Denied entry to Sweden’s architecture programs due to competitive academic thresholds, Magnus pivoted—first trying business and engineering before ultimately finding his path in the UK after Sweden joined the EU in 1995. He studied architecture at the University of Portsmouth and gained formative experience with PLB Architects during his studies, followed by a pivotal role at De Blacam and Meagher in Dublin, where he worked on one-off houses and absorbed lessons from deeply rooted modernist traditions.Magnus spent eight years as a director at another firm in the New Forest before founding Ström Architects in 2010. Starting with just £6,000 and a subcontracted project, he grew his studio from modest beginnings into an internationally commissioned design office, celebrated for its precision and quiet sophistication. Key milestones include The Quest, a retirement home that won multiple awards and continues to attract global attention.With a belief in stripping architecture down to its essence—both conceptually and materially—Magnus emphasizes clarity, craft, and client-focused design. Under his leadership, the practice has delivered projects across more than 10 countries, with a forthcoming international office soon to open. Magnus remains committed to evolving both his design ethos and business systems, striving to elevate every detail while mentoring his growing team.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caHenry Rotberg SteelTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Andrew Kline, Principal at Workshop APD, joins Behind the Build to share a career built on craft, risk, and mentorship. Raised in rural Ohio, his creativity was first inspired by his grandfather, a graphic artist, and nurtured by art teacher Lois Bachman, who encouraged him to pursue art school. After studying at Columbus College of Art & Design and completing a master’s at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Andrew developed a practice that merges fine art, interiors, and architecture into a holistic design approach.His early career began at L Brands, where he gained experience in corporate retail and international rollouts, followed by Yabu Pushelberg, where he worked on large-scale hospitality projects and honed his narrative-driven design process. In 2016/17, Andrew joined Workshop APD—then about 30 people—as its first Design Director. He helped reshape the studio, introduce new leadership structures, and strengthen its culture. Since then, the firm has grown to nearly 100 professionals, with offices in New York and Minneapolis and satellites in Greenwich, Nantucket, South Florida, Los Angeles, California, and Colorado. Today their portfolio spans high-end residential, multifamily, hospitality, commercial interiors, and product design.Workshop APD’s hospitality work now includes projects from Manhattan and Martha’s Vineyard to Times Square and the award-winning Moxy Banff hotel in Canada. At the same time, the studio expanded into product design—licensing collections with industry partners and launching Workshop Collection, a trade line with its own showroom. Its multidisciplinary model proved resilient during the pandemic, pivoting toward residential projects as demand surged.Now a Principal, Andrew balances creative direction with business development, client engagement, and mentorship. Education and professional growth are embedded in Workshop APD’s culture, with initiatives ranging from leadership development and knowledge transfer to book clubs and creative team programs. For Andrew, guiding both projects and people defines the work. Outside the studio, he recharges through DIY projects, ceramics, travel, and time in Jersey City with his two dogs.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caHenry Rotberg SteelTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

This episode was recorded live at the University of Waterloo before an audience of students, alumni, and colleagues. Four graduates returned to share their journeys: Carol Phillips (Moriyama Teshima Architects), Lisa D’Abbondanza (Arcadis), Robert Kastelic (Atelier Kastelic Buffey—AKB), and Drew Mandel (Drew Mandel Architects—DMA). Together they reflected on choosing Waterloo, the impact of its cultural history curriculum and Co-op program, and graduating into a recession that demanded resilience, initiative, and a willingness to work anywhere.They revisit formative studio critiques and the Rome term, then trace the thread into practice: Carol’s trajectory into public and post-secondary work and mass timber; Drew’s early break building a tight-lot modern house that launched a residential practice; Lisa’s move into transit architecture and leadership of large, engineer-heavy teams; and Robert’s shift from major cultural projects to finely detailed residential design with close client collaboration. Across scales, they describe the same habits: become expert in the task at hand (even a barrier-free washroom), communicate clearly, and keep joy and rigor in balance.The conversation highlights collaboration—what they’ve learned from acousticians, structural engineers, and builders—how to push for better solutions, and how to manage vulnerability when the work is public, permanent, and judged daily. In an open Q&A, they offer advice to students on Co-op, networking, office culture, and leaving gracefully if a fit isn’t right, while championing travel and firsthand experience as irreplaceable education. They close with reflections on why they’d still recommend architecture: it trains you to think broadly, work collectively, and shape places that make everyday life better.Curated Podcast Sponsors:ZinCo Canada: https://www.zinco.ca/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caHenry Rotberg SteelTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Katherine Chia, FAIA, is the co-founder and co-principal of Desai | Chia Architecture, a New York City practice she leads with her husband and partner, Arjun Desai.Her path to architecture began with a childhood immersed in creativity. Inspired by her grandfather’s woodworking and Chinese brush painting, Kathy developed an early love of making. At Amherst College she pursued a liberal arts education—studying art, math, philosophy, anthropology, and more—before spending a formative year in Copenhagen with the Danish International Studies program. That experience led her to the Master of Architecture program at MIT, where she met Arjun.Graduating during the recession of the early 1990s, Kathy began her career on small but formative projects, including three years working with Maya Lin on both architecture and art. In 1996, she and Arjun founded Desai | Chia Architecture. Their early work included a children’s learning center for a Native American tribe in California and a Manhattan apartment renovation. With no business plan but strong conviction, they grew organically—balancing risk, grit, and design excellence.Over the past three decades, the firm has produced award-winning projects across residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional sectors. Landmark works include the LM Guest House (powered by geothermal systems and recipient of multiple national awards), the Michigan Lake House (featuring dramatic inverted butterfly roofs that manage stormwater while creating vaulted interiors), and ongoing commissions for Columbia University. Their work has received an AIA Institute Honor Award, ranking in ARCHITECT Magazine’s “Top 50 in Design,” and an Architizer A+ Award for Best Small Firm.Kathy’s philosophy emphasizes trust, collaboration, and timelessness. Every project is an iterative journey that fuses clients’ aspirations with inventive, enduring design. Beyond practice, she has taught at Parsons, served civic and cultural institutions, and raised two children—balancing motherhood with the pursuit of architecture that connects people, place, and community.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Evan Saskin is an architect, builder, and founder of Blue Lion Building, an architect-led design-build practice in Toronto and now, Halifax, Nova Scotia, dedicated to creating thoughtful infill housing. Raised in a family steeped in construction—his grandfather an engineer and his father a McGill-trained architect and builder—Evan grew up surrounded by drafting tables and construction sites. Childhood visits to his grandparents’ Montreal apartment also left a lasting impression, giving him an early appreciation for urban density, modern design, and the comfort of well-made domestic spaces.After completing an undergraduate degree, Evan pursued his Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto. While the school’s focus at the time leaned toward high-end homes and global commissions, he was drawn to the deeper question of how architects’ problem-solving skills could extend beyond form into regulation, finance, and systems. His early career took him to London, UK, where he joined a boutique practice working on intricate, high-budget residential projects. There he learned the discipline of exhaustive detailing—designing every surface and joint—and the rigor required to translate ambitious ideas into buildable realities.Returning to Toronto during the 2008 downturn, Evan joined Architects Alliance, gaining expertise in high-rise approvals and development processes. Yet his entrepreneurial drive, coupled with hands-on experience renovating his own home, soon led him to found Blue Lion Building in 2011 with his partner Cameron. The name came from their street in London, a nod to the hidden, tucked-away places that inspired their approach.Blue Lion focuses on missing-middle housing—duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes tucked into narrow Toronto lots—bringing architectural care to a scale often ignored by large developers. The firm manages the full process: land acquisition, feasibility, design, approvals, construction, and sales. Saskin’s projects embrace density while delivering bespoke quality, inventive layouts, and durable construction at accessible price points. With over two dozen projects completed, Blue Lion demonstrates how small-scale, design-driven development can address urban housing needs while enriching neighborhoods.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Gordon Magnin discovered his creative spark early through visits to an architect’s studio where renderings and model building captivated his imagination, his interest in art, drawing and technical design guiding him through middle and high school. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, then practiced as a structural engineer before pursuing architecture. Gordon completed a Master of Architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), transitioning from engineering to design while working and studying in Los Angeles. He returned to Reno after the birth of his first son, working for local firms before founding Magnin Architecture in 2018.He is a licensed architect and professional engineer in both California and Nevada, NCARB-certified, and a LEED Green Associate. Gordon’s technical background in engineering enriches his architectural work, enabling integration of structural systems from project inception. His firm specializes in high-end residential design across Reno, Tahoe and the Bay Area focusing on luxury, sustainability, craftsmanship and regional responsiveness. The practice has been recognized with multiple AIA awards including the 2024 Nevada AIA Citation for sustainable design, the 2022 Honor Award and other accolades for visionary architecture. Projects such as the Frantz Ski Haus embrace vernacular alpine forms, passive solar, high-performance envelopes and future-ready energy strategies, while others explore integration into high desert terrain and dramatic vistas.Gordon’s design philosophy celebrates light, form, materials and the subtle qualities of landscape. He emphasizes environmental drivers such as topography, view orientation, climate extremes, snow, wind and rain in shaping simple tectonic forms with legible construction and contemporary articulation of vernacular traditions. His goal is architecture integral to site, evolving toward net-zero practice as technology permits.When he is not designing, Gordon spends time outdoors with his family, skiing, mountain biking, hiking and exploring the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin landscapes that continually inspire his architectural vision.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Janna Levitt is a founding partner of LGA Architectural Partners and a respected leader in socially conscious architecture in Canada. Raised in a Toronto home filled with artists—her mother a celebrated ceramicist who participated in a short-lived federal program modeled on Japan’s National Treasures—Janna grew up surrounded by creativity, community, and cultural exchange.She attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and then studied 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 deep commitment to support and mentorship.Janna met her future business and life partner, Dean Goodman, while still in school. Frustrated with conventional practice models, they launched what is now LGA—grounded in collaborative values and public-serving work. Early commissions like Strachan House and the Native Child and Family Services headquarters set the tone: architecture that listens, adapts, and empowers.LGA has grown intentionally to around 40 staff, with projects spanning libraries, housing, adaptive reuse, and institutional work. She's taught at  Waterloo, Dalhousie and Daniels schools of Architecture  and has stayed closely connected to many of her former students. She’s also assisted in transitioning ownership to a new generation of partners.Janna and Dean developed and live in a new 5 unit condo on an existing single family site demonstrating an innovative  model of urban intensification and environmental care. Outside of work, she 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:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.ca/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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 kidCurated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.ca/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.ca/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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 Benmor, 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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

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.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.caBehind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast