About Us - Raven Lith Forge Quint Architecture

How We Got Started

Back in 2012, three of us were sitting in a cramped office downtown, sketching on napkins during lunch break. We'd been working at different firms, all feeling like something was missing - that connection between materials and meaning. The idea for Raven Lith Forge Quint came from a shared frustration: why does contemporary architecture often ignore the raw beauty of traditional materials?

Fast forward to today, and we've grown into a team that actually gets it. Stone isn't just a building block - it's got history, weight, character. Same with steel. When you bring 'em together with intention rather than just following trends, something special happens. Our studio's grown organically, adding people who share that same obsession with materiality and craft.

"We believe every project deserves more than cookie-cutter solutions. Buildings should respond to their context, honor their materials, and actually work for the people using them."

Meet the Team

The folks who turn rough sketches into buildings that'll outlast us all.

Sarah Raven

Principal Architect

Sarah's the one who'll spend three hours debating the grain direction in a piece of limestone. Graduated from Waterloo, spent five years in Copenhagen before coming back to Toronto. She's obsessed with how buildings age - not just survive, but actually get better over time.

Heritage Restoration Stone Detailing

Marcus Lithgow

Design Director

Marcus brings the steel expertise. Used to work in industrial fabrication before switching to architecture - which honestly makes him invaluable when we're pushing structural limits. He's got this thing about honesty in construction, no hiding joints or pretending materials are something they're not.

Steel Structures Commercial Design

Elena Forge

Sustainability Lead

Elena keeps us honest about environmental impact. She's not into greenwashing or slapping solar panels on everything - it's about deeper stuff like material sourcing, building longevity, and actual energy performance. McGill grad who worked in Vancouver for years before joining us.

Sustainable Design Building Science

David Quint

Technical Director

David's the guy who makes sure our ambitious designs actually stand up. He's been doing construction documentation for 15 years, knows the building code inside out, and has saved our butts more times than we can count. Toronto native who apprenticed with some old-school builders before getting his license.

Documentation Code Compliance

Priya Malhotra

Interior Design Lead

Priya joined us two years ago and completely transformed how we think about interior spaces. She's got this knack for making raw materials feel warm and livable without losing their edge. OCAD grad with a background in furniture design, which shows in her attention to detail.

Space Planning Material Selection

James Chen

Project Architect

James is our residential specialist and probably the most patient person in the studio. He's great at translating what clients are trying to say into actual architectural solutions. Ryerson trained, worked at a couple big firms before realizing he wanted to work somewhere with more character.

Residential Design Client Relations

Our Studio Space

We're based in a converted warehouse on Queen West - which yeah, sounds cliche for Toronto architects, but hear us out. The building's got exposed steel beams and original brick walls, so it's basically a daily reminder of what we're trying to achieve in our work. Plus, the light's pretty incredible.

Our space is part studio, part material library, part testing ground. We've got samples everywhere - different stone finishes, steel patinas, connection details. Clients usually get a kick out of visiting because it's not some sterile office. It's messy, tactile, and honestly? That's how we like it.

Visit Us

What Drives Us

Material Truth

We're not big on facades that pretend to be something else. If it's concrete, let it be concrete. If it's steel, show the welds. There's beauty in authenticity, and frankly, it makes for better architecture that ages with dignity.

Long-Term Thinking

We design for decades, not Instagram likes. That means choosing materials that'll last, details that can be maintained, and spaces that'll adapt as needs change. It's less glamorous than chasing trends, but way more satisfying.

Context Matters

Every site's got its own story - the neighborhood, the history, the light patterns. We're not about dropping the same design everywhere. Each project needs to respond to where it is and what's around it, even if that's not the easiest path.

Craft & Collaboration

Good architecture doesn't happen in a vacuum. We work closely with fabricators, contractors, and craftspeople who actually get their hands dirty. Some of our best details came from conversations on job sites, not our office.

Ready to Talk About Your Project?

Whether it's a new build, renovation, or you're just kicking around ideas - let's grab a coffee and see if we're a good fit.

Get In Touch