Who We Are

The people and philosophy behind the designs

Studio workspace

Our Story

Look, we didn't start this thing because we wanted to be another cookie-cutter firm churning out glass boxes. Back in 2009, three of us were sitting in a dingy cafe arguing about why contemporary architecture felt so... safe. So predictable.

We'd all worked at bigger studios, done the whole corporate grind, watched brilliant ideas get watered down in endless committee meetings. There had to be a better way to do this - something that pushed boundaries while actually giving a damn about the planet.

That's how Pyrovenquintharix was born. Yeah, the name's a mouthful - it's actually a mashup of Latin and Greek terms we threw together over too many espressos. It stuck though, kinda like us.

Fifteen years later, we've grown from that scrappy trio into a team of twenty-something designers, engineers, and idealists. We've won some awards, sure, but what really keeps us going is watching a client's face light up when they finally get what we're trying to achieve.

Our Philosophy

Design That Challenges

We're not here to play it safe. Every project's an opportunity to question assumptions and explore what buildings can be. Sometimes that means unconventional materials, weird angles, or spaces that make you stop and think. Architecture shouldn't just house functions - it should spark something in people.

Sustainability Without Compromise

Being green doesn't mean boring. We've proven time and again that you can create jaw-dropping spaces while hitting passive house standards. Solar integration, reclaimed materials, living walls - these aren't add-ons for us, they're baked into everything from the first sketch.

Collaboration Over Ego

The old-school "starchitect" thing? Not our vibe. Best ideas come from throwing everyone in a room - designers, engineers, clients, even the folks who'll actually build it - and hashing things out. We've learned more from contractors on job sites than any textbook.

Context Matters

A building in Toronto's Liberty Village shouldn't look like it belongs in Dubai. We spend serious time understanding neighborhoods, histories, and how people actually use spaces. Heritage work's taught us that respecting what came before makes new interventions way more powerful.

The Team

Elena Marsden

Elena Marsden

Principal Architect & Co-Founder

Elena's the one who usually reins in our crazier ideas - or pushes them further, depending on her mood. She spent eight years doing massive commercial projects before deciding she wanted to actually enjoy her work. Now she handles most of our heritage restoration stuff, which she says is like "solving really expensive puzzles." Outside the office, she's probably biking around the city photographing old buildings.

Marcus Chen

Marcus Chen

Design Director & Co-Founder

Marcus is our resident mad scientist. Give him a design problem and he'll come back with five solutions, three of which seem impossible until he builds a model proving otherwise. He's obsessed with parametric design and sustainable tech - his desk looks like a RadioShack exploded on it. Fair warning: don't get him started on biomimicry unless you've got an hour to spare.

David Okonkwo

David Okonkwo

Senior Architect & Co-Founder

David's our project management guru and the reason anything actually gets built on time. He's got this uncanny ability to spot problems six months before they'd bite us. Came up through urban planning, which means he thinks about buildings as part of bigger systems - super valuable when we're doing neighborhood-scale stuff. Also makes the best jollof rice for office lunches.

Sarah Bergman

Sarah Bergman

Sustainability Lead

Sarah joined us four years ago and basically revolutionized how we think about materials. She's got a PhD in environmental systems and zero patience for greenwashing. Every material spec goes through her - if it doesn't meet her standards, it's not happening. She also runs our annual "lunch and learn" series where she brings in everyone from mycologists to solar engineers.

James Liu

James Liu

Interior Architecture Director

James thinks about buildings from the inside out. He'll spend hours figuring out exactly how afternoon light hits a reading nook or how a hallway transition can change your whole mood. Trained in theater design originally, which explains his dramatic flair. His material library is legendary - he's got samples of everything from recycled glass terrazzo to cork composites.

Priya Sharma

Priya Sharma

Urban Planning Specialist

Priya's our newest senior hire and she's already shaking things up. She spent a decade working with municipalities on zoning and development, so she knows exactly how to navigate the bureaucratic maze. Plus, she brings this whole perspective on public space and community engagement that's made our projects way more thoughtful about who they're actually serving.

Plus an amazing crew of junior architects, technologists, interns, and support staff who keep this whole operation running

Want to Work With Us?

We're always up for interesting projects and conversations. Whether you've got a fully-formed vision or just a napkin sketch and some wild ideas, let's talk.

Get In Touch