Our Story

Where Innovation Meets Shadow and Light

Quick Facts

Founded: 2017
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Projects Completed: 180+
Team Members: 23
Focus: Contemporary Urban & Sustainable Design

How We Got Here

Look, we didn't start ShadowFlare to be just another architecture firm in Toronto. Back in 2017, a couple of us were sitting in a cramped office downtown, frustrated with how cookie-cutter everything was becoming. Every new condo looked the same, every commercial space felt soulless. We wanted to shake things up.

The name? Yeah, people ask about that. ShadowFlare came from this idea we kept coming back to - how light and shadow aren't opposites but partners. They work together to define space, create mood, tell stories. Plus it sounded way cooler than "Smith & Associates" or whatever.

Our first real project was this tiny residential renovation in Liberty Village. The client took a chance on us, and we poured everything into it. Stayed up til 3am tweaking renders, argued about window placements like our lives depended on it. When it was done, people actually stopped to look at it. That's when we knew we were onto something.

These days we're lucky enough to work on projects across the GTA - from high-rise residential towers to adaptive reuse projects that give old buildings new life. The sustainability stuff isn't just a checkbox for us; it's kinda become our thing. Climate change is real, and we figure architects have a responsibility to do something about it.

What Drives Us

We're not gonna pretend we have some revolutionary philosophy. Honestly, it's simpler than that. We care about making spaces that people actually want to be in - whether that's living, working, or just passing through.

Urban density is increasing like crazy in Toronto, but that doesn't mean everything has to feel cramped and generic. There's this sweet spot where functionality meets beauty, where sustainability doesn't compromise design. That's where we like to operate.

Every project teaches us something new. Last year we worked on a mixed-use building where the ground floor needed to activate the street while the upper levels provided quiet residential spaces. The solution came from observing how people actually moved through the neighborhood, not from some textbook.

The People Behind the Projects

Marcus Chen

Principal Architect

Started his career designing transit infrastructure before switching to residential. He's the detail guy who'll spend hours perfecting a staircase design. Also makes terrible coffee.

Ava Moretti

Lead Designer

Her background in environmental science shapes everything we do. She can tell you the carbon footprint of basically any building material off the top of her head. It's impressive and slightly terrifying.

David Park

Urban Planning Director

Worked with the city for years before joining us. Knows Toronto's zoning bylaws better than anyone should. Somehow makes urban planning sound exciting at dinner parties.

Sara Okafor

Interior Design Lead

Her ability to visualize spatial relationships is uncanny. She'll walk into an empty space and immediately start describing how it should feel. Plus she's got connections to every good contractor in the city.

Working With Us

We keep things pretty straightforward. First meeting's always casual - coffee, site visit, whatever makes sense. We'll talk about what you're trying to achieve, your budget, timeline, all that practical stuff. No hard sell, no pretentious jargon. If we're a good fit, great. If not, we'll probably know someone who is.

Let's Talk