Our Projects | Inferquavintor Architecture Studio

Commercial • Completed 2023

Riverdale Commons Office Complex

The Challenge

Client wanted a four-story office building that didn't look like every other glass box in Toronto. The site was tricky - narrow lot, heritage buildings on both sides, and the city wanted us to keep some old brick facade elements. Oh, and they needed LEED Gold minimum.

What We Did

We flipped the usual approach - instead of maximizing floor plates, we carved out a central atrium that brings natural light three floors down. Kept the original 1920s brick on the street-facing wall and built the new structure around it. Added a green roof that actually works (not just for show) and installed a greywater system that cut water usage by 40%.

12,400 sq ft

Total Floor Area

LEED Platinum

Certification Achieved

63% Reduction

Energy vs Baseline

18 Months

Construction Time

Central Atrium Design

Natural lighting penetrates deep into the floor plan, reducing artificial lighting needs by 55% during daytime hours.

Heritage Integration

Original 1920s brickwork cleaned and restored, forming a visual anchor that connects old and new architecture.

Functional Green Roof

Not just aesthetic - manages stormwater runoff and provides insulation, dropping cooling costs by 28%.

Residential • Completed 2022

Leslieville Passive House Renovation

Starting Point

Classic Toronto semi-detached from 1910. Beautiful bones but hemorrhaging heat through single-pane windows and zero insulation. Heating bills were brutal - owner was spending $450/month in winter. Layout was choppy, dark, and honestly pretty depressing.

Our Approach

Convinced the clients to go full Passive House standard - yeah, it's intense, but the payoff's real. Gutted the interior but kept the exterior envelope mostly intact (neighborhood character and all that). Added a rear addition that's basically a glass box facing south, soaking up winter sun.

Triple-glazed windows throughout, 14-inch walls packed with cellulose insulation, and an HRV system that recovers like 92% of heat from exhaust air. Sounds nerdy because it is, but this stuff works.

89% Energy Savings

vs. Pre-Renovation

$47/month

Current Heating Cost

2,850 sq ft

Living Space Added

Certified Passive

PHI Standard

Client Quote:

"We were skeptical about the upfront cost, but now we're basically living in a thermos. The house maintains 21°C without the furnace even running most days. Worth every penny."

Mixed-Use • Completed 2023

Junction Triangle Adaptive Reuse

Turning a 1950s warehouse into something people actually want to be in - retail below, creative offices above.

The Building's History

Former textile warehouse, sat empty for 8 years. Structure was solid but the interior was a mess - asbestos, lead paint, you name it. Zoning was industrial, which meant we had to work with the city to get mixed-use approval. That took... a while.

Technical Stuff

Reinforced existing concrete columns instead of replacing them
Punched in new oversized windows (old ones were tiny and depressing)
Added mezzanine level using steel framing - doubled usable space
Kept original saw-tooth roof and restored the skylights
New mechanical systems hidden in original ductwork paths

28,000

sq ft Total Area

72%

Materials Salvaged

14

Office Units Created

$2.1M

Project Budget

What We Learned

Adaptive reuse isn't always cheaper than new construction - surprises are guaranteed. But there's something about keeping a building's character that you just can't replicate. The exposed brick, the timber beams, the imperfect floors - tenants love that stuff.

Plus, from a sustainability angle, reusing the existing structure saved an estimated 340 tons of CO2 compared to demolition and rebuild. That's not nothing.

Heritage Restoration • Ongoing

St. Lawrence Market District Townhome

This one's still in progress but it's been a fascinating challenge. Victorian townhome from 1887, designated heritage property, so we can't touch the exterior basically at all. Inside was subdivided into apartments in the 1960s with zero regard for the original layout.

We're converting it back to single-family but making it work for modern life. Original plaster moldings are being restored, floor-by-floor. Found original hardwood under three layers of vinyl - that's getting refinished. The real trick has been hiding all the new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing without destroying historic details.

Design Phase Complete

Heritage Approvals Complete

Construction In Progress

Expected Completion: Fall 2024

More Projects in Brief

Not every project needs a novel - here's some other stuff we're proud of.

Commercial

Bloorcourt Cafe & Bakery

Converted a former dry cleaner into a neighborhood coffee spot. Exposed the original tin ceiling, added a bunch of plants, and designed a custom counter from reclaimed gym flooring. It's become kind of a community hub, which is cool to see.

1,200 sq ft 2023

Healthcare

Eastside Dental Clinic

Dentist offices can be pretty sterile and intimidating. We went for warm woods, indirect lighting, and views of a green wall instead of parking lots. Patient anxiety reportedly dropped - the dentist actually tracks that stuff.

3,400 sq ft 2022

Residential

Parkdale Rooftop Addition

Client needed more space but didn't want to lose their backyard. We went up instead - added a third story with a massive deck. Engineering was tricky (had to reinforce the existing structure) but totally worth it for the views.

850 sq ft 2023

Commercial

Queen West Wellness Studio

Yoga and pilates space with acoustics that actually work - spent forever on soundproofing between rooms. Cork flooring, bamboo accents, and natural ventilation because nobody wants to do hot yoga in a sealed box.

2,600 sq ft 2022

Residential

High Park Basement Conversion

Turned a damp, unused basement into a rental unit that meets all the legal requirements (yeah, those are strict). Underpinned the foundation, added a separate entrance, and brought in tons of light with an oversized window well.

950 sq ft 2023

Commercial