About Us - Galeforth Quinthor Architectural Domains

How It All Started

Look, we didn't set out to become specialists in both heritage restoration AND sustainable urban planning. It kinda just happened. Marcus Galeforth was restoring his grandmother's century home in Cabbagetown when he realized something - old buildings have a lot to teach us about sustainability.

Those thick stone walls? Natural temperature regulation. Those tall windows facing south? Passive solar heating. The whole "new is better" mentality started feeling pretty backwards.

So when Devon Quinthor joined the team with her urban planning background and a thesis on adaptive reuse, things clicked. We started asking: what if cities could grow without erasing their past? What if sustainability wasn't just about solar panels but about respecting what's already there?

Fifteen years later, we're still asking those questions. Just with a bigger team and way more coffee.

Our Journey

A timeline that's been messier and more interesting than we expected

2009

The Beginning

Marcus hangs his shingle. First project is a 1880s rowhouse that everyone said should be demolished. Spoiler: it's still standing and beautiful.

2012

Partnership Forms

Devon Quinthor comes aboard. We officially become Galeforth Quinthor. Start combining heritage work with urban planning projects. City council meetings become our second home.

2015

Breaking Ground

First major urban master planning contract for a mid-sized Ontario town. Learned a LOT about community engagement the hard way. People have strong opinions about their neighborhoods - and they should.

2018

Team Expansion

Move to our Queen Street West office. Hire our first junior architects and planners. Start mentoring students because someone did that for us once.

2021

Recognition

Ontario Heritage Trust Award for the Distillery District adaptive reuse project. Also the year we finally got a proper espresso machine for the office.

2024

Today

Team of 23 passionate folks. Working on projects from Waterloo to Windsor. Still figuring things out, but that's half the fun.

Meet Some of the Team

The people who make this place run

Marcus Galeforth

Co-Founder & Heritage Specialist

Grew up in a house built in 1847, so old buildings are kinda his thing. Has an unhealthy obsession with original crown molding. Will talk your ear off about lime mortar if you let him.

Devon Quinthor

Co-Founder & Urban Planning Director

Believes cities should be for people, not just cars. Spent three years in Copenhagen and won't shut up about bike lanes. Her community meetings actually get people excited somehow.

Sarah Chen

Senior Architect

Joined us right outta grad school six years ago. Now leads our sustainable design consulting. Somehow makes energy modeling seem interesting. Keeps succulents alive on every desk.

James Okonkwo

Environmental Impact Lead

Used to work for the province doing environmental assessments. Decided he'd rather work with people trying to do good stuff. Brings his dog to the office every Friday.

Priya Malhotra

Community Engagement Coordinator

Masters in sociology, heart in neighborhood revitalization. Actually enjoys the tough public consultations. Makes sure we're listening, not just talking.

Thomas Bergeron

Zoning & Development Analyst

Reads municipal zoning bylaws for fun (seriously). Knows every loophole and opportunity in the Ontario Planning Act. Speaks fluent bureaucrat when needed.

Plus another 17 talented architects, planners, interns, and support staff who keep this ship sailing

What We Actually Believe In

We're not gonna throw a bunch of corporate mission statement jargon at you. Here's what actually guides our work:

Old Buildings Matter

They've got embodied energy, cultural value, and character you can't replicate. Tearing down and rebuilding isn't always the green choice, no matter what the developer's brochure says.

Communities Know Their Needs

We're not parachuting in with all the answers. Local people live there - they know what works and what doesn't. Our job is to listen first, design second.

Sustainability Isn't Optional

Climate change is real, and buildings are a huge part of the problem. We try to be part of the solution instead. Sometimes that means doing things the harder way.

Cities Should Be for Everyone

Not just people with cars and money. Good urban planning means thinking about accessibility, affordability, and inclusion from day one.

We Don't Know Everything

And that's okay. We work with historians, engineers, ecologists, sociologists, and whoever else knows more than us about specific stuff. Collaboration beats ego every time.

Why Work With Us?

Honestly, we're not for everyone. If you want cookie-cutter solutions or someone who'll just rubber-stamp whatever makes the most money, there are plenty of other firms out there.

But if you care about doing things right - if you want a building that'll last another hundred years, or a neighborhood plan that actually serves the people who live there - then yeah, let's talk.

We're thorough, sometimes annoyingly so. We ask hard questions. We push back when something doesn't make sense. And we genuinely give a damn about the outcome.

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Want to Join the Team?

We're always looking for talented people who share our values. Check back for opportunities or send us your portfolio.

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