The Ontario Construction Report – July 2009 – PAGE OCR B5
Altius Architecture, Inc. specializes in cottages and urban homes
Environmentally sustainable design
combined with awareness and sensitivity
to trades changes the rules of the game
STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report Special Feature
Tracing its genesis to the architecture school in the Association of Architects
deep recession of the mid early 1990s, at the height of Best Emerging Practice
1990s, and born as a busi- a recession. “There were no Award in 2007. Recogniz-
ness as the technology jobs to be had anywhere,” ing some important emerg-
slump threatened the econ- he said. ing trends, the firm pursued
omy in the early part of the “So we went out into the a mandate “to provide sus-
decade, Altius Architecture, construction industry, work- tainable contemporary and
Inc. has discovered that its ing for general contractors.” well-crafted design solu-
challenging beginnings This ground-up experience tions for a range of products
have provided it a true com- has proven to be exception- supported by comprehen-
petitive advantage in the ally valuable, because it re- sive construction manage-
Green Building era. stores the link between ment and other value-added
The Toronto architect design and construction. services.”
breaks conventions in sev- “We learned how to be Graham Smith says the
eral areas: Altius focuses designers on the building Altius partners and staff of
primarily on residential site rather than in the of- 14 (including construction
projects including modern- fice,” Smith said. “We managers, support employ-
design urban homes and learned how to work with ees, and a structural engi-
cottages. In the cottage the trades and how the neer) quickly realized that
area, the practice provides a trades want to be worked clients who had lived in
complete design-build serv- with.” Toronto downtown condo-
ice, acting as a general con- When they were ready to miniums did not want to
tractor as well as architect. go in business for them- live in restored heritage and
Principal Graham Smith selves in the early part of Victorian-style homes.
says Altius appreciated the this decade, they originally They were looking for mod-
importance of environmen- thought they would practice ern design, comfortable liv-
tal sustainability before it architecture like most firms, ing arrangements, and
became a trendy. Now, it focusing on commercial and wanted their homes to be in
has a leadership role in the institutional projects “How- tune with the environment.
construction of liveable, en- ever we quickly (realized) “We’re hopefully going
ergy-efficient and eco- that the residential market, to see the death of histori-
friendly homes. in which we were already cism,” Smith says. “It just
Smith says he and his working, was huge and un- doesn’t bring anything to
two partners Cathy Garrido tapped,” they said in a sub- the table in terms of func-
Congratulations to Altius Architecture Inc. and Trevor McIvor were in mission for the Ontario tionality or sustainability.”
We are proud to be on your team.
Nevertheless, as the ar-
Congratulations to Altius Architecture Inc.
chitects noted in their OAA
awards submission, while
Altius believe sin modern
Newco Glass
WHITE TOP ROOFING INC.
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
design, it looks back to tra-
ditional and largely forgot-
ten links between the
1842 Stoney Lk Rd, Cty Rd 6 RR#2
architect-designer and
Lakefield, ON K0L 2H0 tradesperson; and this
Tel: (705) 652-8266
grounds-up knowledge en-
Fax: (705) 652-9256
sures that the designs can be
converted into buildings at
Kent & Elaine Hilker
• Flat Roofs
reasonable cost.
“We are designing 30 to
We supply and/or install all types of glass including mirrors,
• Metal Roofs
40 projects a year,” says
windows, doors, and screens. See us for your all glass shower
• White reflective Top Coat
Smith. Many are in Cottage
enclosures, and aluminum/glass railing systems. We carry a
• Lightweight & Seamless
Country, and others are
full line of wood, vinyl and metal clad products including
• Class A Fire Resistance urban homes mostly in the
jeld-Wen Custom Wood Window & Doors.
• Warranty Trained Applicator
Greater Toronto Area. The
individually designed cot-
Carl Bauman Bancroft tage properties, he says, are
newcoglass@nexicom.net ADAM Certified
613-332-2814 1-888-715-7891
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Please see page OCRB6
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