Q4 Architects Inc.

We are hiring! Our Toronto studio has two roles open that will form key positions in the direction and planning of our support teams: Senior Human Resources + People and Culture Coordinator: https://lnkd.in/gYjS9X5i Intermediate / Senior Project Accountant: https://lnkd.in/gg8wSNks At Q4 Architects Inc. we wholeheartedly believe that our employees come first. We are committed to encouraging a healthy balance between work-life and home-life. We want you to be happy and fulfilled in what you do, and how you spend your time. It’s what drives our success, your success, and that of our clients. Apply!  

On International Women’s Day 2025, we are celebrating the women who are a foundational part of the Q4A. We are thanking our allies and taking a stance to advance equality and open more doors.   As the largest women-led architecture firm in Canada, with female leads at each of our three studios, this day holds special significance for Q4 Architects Inc.. We take immense pride in the fact that half of our practice is made up of women, and that their voices are a fundamental part of our practice.   On Thursday, we came together to listen to some of the women who shape our business at all levels. We took the opportunity to organize a panel to develop discourse, solutions and strategies to further advance gender equality in our studios. Despite the progress made, the fight for equality is ongoing. Women in architecture continue to face considerable challenges, from dramatic underrepresentation in leadership roles to balancing professional and personal responsibilities and pressure. Thank you to Sneha Kadam, Olena Koval, Haley Ruigrok, Cheryle Wong and Frances Martin-DiGiuseppe for being candid, real and open about your experiences and ideas.   We also want to dedicate our weekly Insight today to women. Rania Matta, Associate and Project Architect in the midrise/high-rise studio, shares her experiences as a Lebanese newcomer woman in the fields of construction and architecture. Read her article here: https://lnkd.in/gyk2QmW2   To date at Q4A: • Half of our team is made up of women. • 30% of our project managers are women • 25% of our directors are women • 50% of our associates are women • 59% of the women at Q4A are mothers • Of our 13 registered architects, 8 are women, 7 are mothers   A note on the last statistic: this week we saw two new licensed Architects receive their Architect accreditations from the Ontario Association of Architects, both women. We cheer on and congratulate Olena Koval and Sabrina Castellanos on this milestone in their career. Amazing achievement for two incredible people.    We are proud of where we are in the industry and we see how we can also continually do better. Representation matters. Respect matters. Thank you to everyone who makes this a place women can, and will always, thrive.  

Marcelo Graca is the Director of Q4 Architects Inc. midrise team. With an incredible four decades of local and international experience, we are lucky and thankful that he is a visionary part of our practice. This week he discusses how the construction industry's evolution through industrialization and panelization is gaining momentum, with modular architecture at the forefront of this transformation. This evolving approach effectively addresses several critical challenges; from reducing the large environmental impact of construction to mitigating labour shortages and significantly enhancing affordability by reducing construction time and costs. Beyond his personal thoughts, this week's insight article also showcases our extensive experience with these advanced methodologies, with their application in projects such as Cornell Village in Markham and Wateridge in Ottawa. Explore how these innovations are influencing the future landscape of construction: https://lnkd.in/gxJu8mzr

Holding onto old practices and avoiding technological progress is not viable in the architectural sector. Our profession has experienced a revolutionary shift from traditional drafting techniques to adopting digital tools that boost efficiency and accuracy in architects' work. This week, in our online Insight series, we explore how Q4 Architects Inc. leverages technology to innovate and provide precise and accurate solutions to our clients. Sneha Kadam, Associate and Digital Practice Lead, shares her thoughts, authoring a piece on how we have adapted to this change, incorporating advanced computational design, parametric modeling, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and cloud-based collaboration into our everyday processes. Read our article to learn how technology has revolutionized how we design and the digital connection with the design process: https://lnkd.in/eJGkmCMG

We are thrilled to celebrate two soon to be licensed Architects in our Toronto studio. Both passed all of their exams, a major step in completing the “Intern” phase of their careers. This is an arduous and challenging process, and a great achievement for both. Congratulations to Ruprama Rai and Vaibhavi Shinde. Your achievements are a testament to your hard work and we are incredibly proud of seeing our commitment to support and mentor each of you shining brightly through your accomplishments. Way to go! Moments like this make us pause and realize how the future is bright and filled with talent as we cheer you all on!

Reimagining and densifying the land-use of our urban spaces is one of the primary challenges our industry faces. Sustainable housing solutions require respectful, but also bold and innovative approaches.   In our weekly Insight series, we are sharing our perspective on one potential solution: converting what are commonly known as "strip malls" into mixed-use residential spaces, at a livable scale, while respecting and preserving their commercial nature. As part of our exploration, we have developed conceptual work that illustrates how this transformation could appear in a typical suburban #Ottawa environment.   Coralia Taraciuk, Associate and Office Lead of Q4 Architects Inc. Studio in Ottawa, encourages us to consider how we can repurpose existing urban spaces to meet housing needs and create vibrant, resilient communities.   You can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gzMuzyUe

Recruitment and retention are always hot topics in the Architecture industry. Ultimately, we believe people stay with firms because of their overall experience and ability to balance work with life. Q4 Architects Inc. takes this to heart, but we know that keeping staff continually engaged, connected, and motivated so they can flourish is not always easy. There is a balance to be maintained between the overall objectives of the business and nurturing individual careers, ambitions, and growth... and life outside the office! It is a lot for any employer. This week, in our online Insights series, we are sharing with you our views on this key aspect of delivering on our promise of great service while fostering an environment where our people get a great experience. We aim for studios where our teams want to spend time with us and connect on a human level. Jason Sampson Associate and Project Manager at Q4A, gives us his thoughts on how we find and retain top talent in an industry that is continuously undergoing changes. You can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gvqHhp_y

Tackling the Canadian housing affordability crisis has always been a central focus for our firm. Although a lot of mitigating factors are out of our control as designers, that doesn’t stop us from being thinkers. And that is why we're starting our new weekly Insights series by sharing our perspective on this critical issue. Sander Waxman, Associate Architect in our Toronto Studio, delves into this conversation, challenging us to rethink urban expansion and its role in sustainable growth. He explores how can we leverage grade-related developments to meet real housing needs. We are committed to advancing creative approaches and conversations to foster a more affordable and suitable housing future. You can dive into the full article to learn more, here: https://lnkd.in/g86znR7G

The holidays are a time to express gratitude for the people we share our lives with. They are also a humble reminder to reflect and give thanks for all the privileges we enjoy. Finally, it is a lovely break that allows us to step back and show our appreciation for the meaningful work we are honoured to do every day! In recognition of the increasing challenges many Canadians face, Q4A is proud to support our communities in Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, and the North through charitable donations to: Daily Bread Food Bank The Toronto Star Children's Charities Holiday Sharing at Moorelands Kids The Salvation Army in Canada Christmas Toy Program Calgary Niquinik Nuatsivik - Nunavuk Food Bank  the Caring and Sharing Exchange / l'Échange coeur et partage Ottawa Have a wonderful holiday season, and all the best for 2025!

A new studio in #Calgary!   It’s a big day for Q4A. After 10 years working from our studio in Sunridge, it’s the first day with our entire Alberta team coming together and working from our brand-new space in the heart of Calgary’s design district!   Our leadership team has been planning the strategy for this move for months, exploring the best options to serve our diverse team, our clients, future growth and opportunities. We are so excited to have a space in the Rail Yards building, a historic Canadian Pacific Railway building dating from 1912 that has been totally re-imagined as an adaptive re-use creative hub. Being in the centre of Ramsay/Inglewood also places our studio in the middle of Calgary’s artistic community.   We are grateful to Calgary studio leaders Cheryle Wong and Chris Tritter for their research, coordination and dedication to making this happen. Also, a deep thank you to our team who made this change as seamless as possible, including Sneha Kadam, Anne DiLosa, Frances Martin-DiGiuseppe, David DiGiuseppe, Peter Frost, Colin Small and many others who made this dream space a reality for us.   See you in our new studio! 1206 20 Ave SE. Office 29. Calgary, AB. T2G 1M8