About Us - Harrow Quintale Architecture

How It All Started

Back in 2012, Marcus Harrow and Elena Quintale met during a heritage restoration project in Old Toronto. What began as a professional partnership over late-night blueprints and too much coffee turned into something bigger - a shared vision that architecture shouldn't just look good, it should actually work for people and the planet.

We started this studio because we were tired of seeing buildings that sacrificed functionality for aesthetics, or worse, ignored environmental impact altogether. There's this sweet spot where design meets sustainability, and that's where we live.

These days, our team's grown to include some seriously talented folks who share that same philosophy. We're not the biggest firm in Toronto, and honestly? That's exactly how we like it. Staying nimble means we can give each project the attention it deserves.

Our Philosophy

Design That Breathes

We believe spaces should feel alive, not sterile. Every project starts with understanding how people actually move through and use a building. Natural light, airflow, acoustics - these aren't afterthoughts, they're foundational. You'll often find us on-site at different times of day, watching how sunlight plays across a room or how sound carries through a space.

Sustainability Without Compromise

Green building isn't a marketing buzzword for us - it's non-negotiable. But here's the thing: sustainable design doesn't mean sacrificing style or budget. Through smart material choices, passive heating and cooling strategies, and working with local suppliers, we create buildings that are kind to the environment and your wallet in the long run.

Meet The Team

Marcus Harrow

Co-Founder & Principal Architect

Marcus spent seven years working on large commercial projects before realizing he missed the human connection smaller-scale work provides. He's got a particular knack for heritage restorations - there's something about preserving a building's soul while updating its function that really drives him. When he's not sketching concepts, you'll find him cycling around Toronto neighborhoods, always with an eye on interesting architectural details others might miss.

He completed his Master's at the University of Toronto and still lectures there occasionally on adaptive reuse. Fair warning: get him talking about Victorian-era construction techniques and you might be there a while.

Elena Quintale

Co-Founder & Design Director

Elena's the one who'll challenge every assumption and make the project better for it. Her background in environmental science before architecture school means she approaches design from a systems-thinking perspective. She's passionate about biophilic design and has this amazing ability to bring the outdoors in without it feeling forced or gimmicky.

She grew up in Vancouver surrounded by nature, which definitely influences her work. Elena leads our residential projects and has won a couple of awards for sustainable home design, though she's pretty modest about it. Her workspace is filled with plant samples and material swatches in various states of testing.

David Chen

Senior Architect & Project Lead

David joined us three years ago and quickly became the person everyone turns to when a project hits a snag. He's got this calm, methodical approach that balances Marcus's big-picture thinking and Elena's detail obsession perfectly. His specialty is commercial spaces, particularly retail and hospitality, where function and atmosphere need to work in harmony.

Before moving to Toronto, he worked in Hong Kong and Singapore, which gave him experience with high-density urban design. He's also our go-to for navigating building codes and regulations - not the most glamorous part of architecture, but absolutely crucial.

Sarah Kowalski

Interior Architect

Sarah's the newest addition to the core team, but she's already left her mark on several major projects. She thinks about interior spaces in three dimensions - not just how they look, but how they feel, sound, and even smell. Her previous work in theatre set design gives her a unique perspective on spatial narrative and flow.

She's particularly skilled at working within constraints, turning challenging spaces into opportunities. Small condo? She'll make it feel spacious. Awkward commercial layout? Give her a week and she'll have five creative solutions. Sarah also runs our client visualization process, creating mood boards and 3D walkthroughs that actually help people understand the design.

Working With Us

Honestly? We're pretty hands-on. Some clients love it, others find it intense at first. We ask a lot of questions because we genuinely want to understand your vision, not impose ours. Every project starts with conversation, not CAD software.

We're also transparent about budgets and timelines from day one. Construction always has surprises, but we do our best to minimize them through thorough planning and regular site visits. You'll get honest answers, even when they're not what you want to hear.

Our process is collaborative. We'll present options, explain the trade-offs, and guide you through decisions - but ultimately, you're part of the design team. After all, you're the one who'll be living or working in the space.

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Recognition & Credentials

We're members of the Ontario Association of Architects and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Our work has been featured in Canadian Architect Magazine and Azure, and we've received the Toronto Urban Design Award twice for sustainable residential projects.

But what we're most proud of? The calls we get from past clients asking us to design their next project.