TSA CONNECT 2024: Newcomers

With a decade of architectural training in the UK and her current role as a project manager at Stantec, Afaf draws on extensive experience to support civic, industrial, transit, aviation, and healthcare projects across Canada. Her dual expertise in architectural design and project management allows her to blend creative vision with practical execution seamlessly. Passionate about tackling project challenges, Afaf leverages inter-disciplinary teams to craft innovative solutions, showcasing her versatility and deep knowledge across diverse sectors.

Afaf excels in navigating various project scales and roles, from leading large-scale initiatives to managing specialized tasks. She has a unique ability to connect creative vision with strategic implementation, resulting in projects that are both successful and impactful. Her work not only achieves impressive outcomes but also motivates and inspires those around her, solidifying her reputation as a prominent leader in her field.

In addition to her project management expertise, Afaf is committed to continuous learning and professional growth, regularly staying abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies. Her role as Co-chair of Women@Stantec highlights her dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion. By leading the ERG focused on advancing opportunities for women, she plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive environment and addressing long-term barriers. Her leadership in this area underscores her broader impact, driving positive change and empowering others in the industry.

With more than 30 years of experience in architecture, Ali’s distinguished career includes senior roles at renowned firms such as CORE Architects and Quadrangle, where he was deeply involved in the design, documentation, and construction supervision of numerous high-profile projects. His expertise lies in residential, mixed-use, and heritage buildings, with a particular focus on renovation projects.

Since founding his own firm 10 years ago, Ali has successfully led and coordinated complex projects, gaining valuable business management experience. He is particularly passionate about developing energy-efficient, sustainable design solutions using innovative approaches to conventional materials. His commitment to producing cost-effective, design-driven solutions is a cornerstone of the firm’s approach. 

Each project at A& Architects benefits from Ali’s direct supervision, ensuring that his wealth of experience and leadership is fully engaged throughout the entire process.

Amer Obeid is an Associate Principal and a Studio Manager in the Transit Architecture Studio at Arcadis. With over 15 years of experience leading urban transit projects, his work has shaped transformative infrastructure around the globe. Amer is skilled at supporting his team to bring creativity, passion and simplicity to the delivery of projects in his studio.

Amer holds an Architecture degree from the University of Budapest in Hungary and brings a rich international perspective to his work. Before joining Arcadis, he honed his expertise at the Municipality of Sharjah, U.A.E., where he led the design and successful delivery of diverse residential, public, and industrial developments for over 5 years. In Verona, Italy, Amer spent 5 years on Water Park designs and curtain wall glazing systems. Beginning with Stevens Group Architects in 2001 (later acquired by Arcadis), Amer has made lasting contributions to projects like the Finch West and Pioneer Village stations of the Toronto-York Spadina Subway Extension, the APM at Pearson Airport and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

As a mentee of the late Richard Stevens, one of Toronto’s most influential transit architects, Amer is passionate about nurturing the next generation. Amer is a valued mentor to staff at Arcadis, teaching fundamentals of the profession and guiding teams with the same vision and leadership that inspired his own career.

Arancha González Bernardo (B.Sc.Arch, M.Arch: ETSAC, A Coruña, Spain; BCIN) is a Spanish architect and co-founder of Odami, an architectural and design firm based out of Toronto, Canada.

Founded in 2018, the studio focuses on residential and commercial projects, supplemented with material experimentation and furniture and object design. Odami’s work has been published internationally, including Dezeen, Frame, Azure, Thisispaper, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and several others.

Prior to co-founding Odami, Arancha worked in offices in Spain, Austria, and Canada, collaborating on projects ranging from residential to large-scale corporate and commercial, in cities across Europe and North America.  Arancha completed her studies in Architecture at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in La Coruña, Spain, with a specialty in Theory and Design.

In addition to Odami, Arancha is a Sessional Lecturer at the School of Interior Design of the Toronto Metropolitan University.

Bharti Vithal has a deeply technical understanding of the built form, which she brings to bear on the resolution of complex building issues in each stage of design and construction. She is devoted to delivering buildings of exceptional design and construction quality. Equally valuable is her ability to communicate clearly and empathetically with diverse stakeholder groups, and to work collegially and authoritatively with large consultant teams, and contractors and trades on site.

Bharti recently completed construction administration for Maple House at Canary Landing, a mixed-use development incorporating 770 units of market and affordable housing, of which 25% is fully accessible, anchored by commercial and retail space, and a broad range of community-based amenities.

Bharti is a graduate of the University of Cape Town, and founded an architectural practice in Durban, South Africa, where she led design and managed construction of a broad range of residential, academic and commercial projects, including custom-designed private homes, school and training centre expansion projects, a 306,570 sm regional shopping centre, 2,500-person call centre, and corporate headquarters for a South African software design company.

My architectural journey started in 2008, when I graduated from the University of Belgrade in Serbia. I spent seven years working in Europe and Africa,  where I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, from residential and commercial to aviation and institutional, which laid the groundwork for my career before I relocated to Canada in 2015.

Since my move to Canada, I’ve been on the path to becoming a licensed architect. It all began with an OAA internship and passing the exam, which led me to the final few steps to becoming a fully licensed architect in the province of Ontario.

During my tenure in Canada, I had the privilege of contributing to some of the country’s most significant transit projects and working with industry giants like Hatch, Arcadis (former IBI), and GHD. I played a pivotal role in the Scarborough and Yonge North Subway Extension, Eglinton Crosstown in Toronto, Broadway Subway in Vancouver, and several GO stations.

More recently, as part of the GHD family, I have been dedicated to expanding our team capacities to the industrial sector and operationally complex and high-hazard facilities. This exciting venture underscores our commitment to growth and innovation in the architectural field.

Carlos Morell, B.Arch., MS Conservation, CAHP, is a Principal at GBCA, bringing more than 20 years of experience in preservation and historic restoration and a wealth of knowledge in materials conservation.  Since joining GBCA in 2007, Carlos has overseen numerous award-winning projects including the extensive revitalization project at Massey Hall in Toronto, and the restoration of stone masonry at Mackenzie Hall in Windsor.  Carlos’ technical knowledge is crucial in developing conservation strategies at the preconstruction phase and continues through the construction phases of GBCA projects.

Carlos trained as an architect in his native Cuba, with a degree from the Havana University/ISPJAE and subsequently received his master’s degree in Conservation and Rehabilitation from the University of “La Laguna,” Canary Island, Spain.  His experience in Cuba spanned institutional, residential, commercial, and religious projects – Carlos was Chief Architect of the Catholic Church for the City of Havana and surrounding province, working on the world heritage site of the Cathedral in Old Havana.

Carlos is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP) and the Association of Preservation Technology (APT).  He annually volunteers as a host for the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s Job Shadow program for emerging heritage professionals.  Carlos is fluent in Spanish and English.

Originally from Nigeria, Chioma is an internationally trained architect with over 12 years of experience across Nigeria, South Africa, and Canada. Holding a Bachelor’s in Architecture and a Master’s in Environmental Design, Chioma is currently an OAA intern architect.

Chioma gained significant experience at Bravura Architects in Nigeria and Organic Architects in South Africa, where she worked as a design architect and contract administrator on various projects, including institutional, healthcare, residential, commercial, and religious buildings.

After relocating to Canada, Chioma completed a bridging program to integrate into the Canadian job market and familiarize herself with local building materials and methods.

At CORE Architects, Chioma has been a Project Coordinator since January 2022, following a role as an Architectural Designer from March to December 2021. Her responsibilities include managing project details and ensuring the smooth integration of design and technical elements. With additional training in Canadian Building Codes and BIM, Chioma seamlessly blends her international experience with local expertise.

With over 17 years of experience in architectural design and project management, I have been a licensed architect with the Ontario Association of Architects since 2020. My work spans diverse projects, from intimate residential designs to large-scale mixed-use developments.

I hold a Bachelor’s in Architectural Technology and a Master’s in Architecture.

Eman Abdelsabour is a dedicated sustainability consultant and OAA Intern Architect at BDP Quadrangle, a leader in Canada’s architecture, design, and urbanism sector. With over a decade of experience, Eman is recognized as a Neighborhood Climate Action Champion in Toronto, reflecting her commitment to integrating design solutions with their environmental, social, and economic impacts. 

As the Sustainability Lead at BDP Quadrangle, Eman manages the Green Team, directing operations and communications to integrate sustainability deeply into the studio’s projects. She also ensures that all sustainability-related inquiries within the firm are efficiently resolved by overseeing essential resources and tools. 

Eman’s career is marked by her leadership in sustainability integration across various projects and initiatives. As a LEED Green Associate and Regenerative Practitioner, she has successfully managed the LEED certification processes for projects, including new construction, commercial interiors, existing buildings, and communities. She consistently meets high sustainability standards within set budgets and timelines. A noteworthy example is the On-Main Dayton project in Ohio, which achieved LEED Gold certification for community planning and design. While Eman has a working knowledge of WELL certification, she primarily focuses on research and understanding well-being in built environments in Doha and Milan. 

With over 15 years of experience internationally and in Canada, Haleh is a Senior Associate at MJMA. She completed her Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture at Azad University in Iran. With experience in Dubai and Tehran, she has contributed to a variety of projects, including residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use developments, across multiple scales. Since joining MJMA in 2013, Haleh has led technically complex recreation projects, excelling at guiding them through construction while maintaining the design vision. Highlights of her portfolio include the Wasaga Beach Library and Twin-Pad Arena Complex, Cambridge Recreation Complex, and Don Mills Community Recreation Centre.

A core member of the firm’s multi-unit residential and hospitality teams, Kate leverages her extensive knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM) to manage data and project delivery. She summons broad expertise in exterior detailing, consultant coordination, and construction documentation and administration, drawing on years of experience delivering complex, large-scale academic and residential projects, from the pursuit phase through construction administration. 

Kate holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). While at TMU, she was awarded the AIA Henry Adams Medal for academic excellence and named to the RAIC Honour Roll; she has also been an Architizer One Drawing Challenge finalist. Driven by her passion for education, Kate developed a graduate-level course that she has been teaching at TMU since 2023. 

Headshot by Christopher Wahl.

Leeviana brings a passion for urban design and architecture that is focused on human-centric design. She thrives on solving design challenges through conceptual ideation, making each project unique and invigorating. Her technical skills and multi-disciplinary approach allow her to deliver complex and multi-faceted projects with ease. 

Leeviana graduated from Manipal School of Architecture and Planning with a Bachelor of Architecture and Oxford Brookes University with a Master of Urban Design, and has previous international experience in India and Kuwait working on architecture and urban planning projects of all scales. She is a licensed architect in India & Ontario. 

At Gensler, she has contributed to innovative projects like mass timber modular design, and she has leveraged her background in both architecture and urban design to contribute to complex master planning like the Steelport Master Plan in Hamilton. An advocate for sustainability, Leeviana previously held an office leadership role at Gensler Toronto in developing and leading office education initiatives and talent development for design resilience.

Mariella Amodio is an Architect and Certified Passive House Designer with 15 years of experience designing housing and commercial buildings in both Italy and Canada. She has worked on a wide range of projects of varying sizes and types, including new constructions and renovations. While at Kave Architects, a Toronto-based firm, Mariella served as Project Architect for the renovation of several apartment buildings in the North York area. She also worked in Yellowknife, NT, on projects such as a Sportsplex Complex and a Long-Term Care Facility in the community of Behchoko. Mariella has gained valuable experience working and studying in multiple countries and cities. She spent a year in Paris studying as an exchange student at ENSAV and later came to Canada for a semester abroad at the University of Waterloo. At her current workplace, SvN, she has been involved in mixed-use buildings, master planning, and the construction and renovation of commercial buildings. Mariella completed her Master’s degree in Architecture at the Polytechnic of Bari in 2010, after which she began her career at AT Studio in Barletta, Italy. There, she focused on social housing and the renovation of historical buildings, including a bell tower in Bitetto and an early 1900s industrial building in Barletta.

Miren joined Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) in 2013 as an Architectural Designer and Project Manager. Having worked in London, Barcelona, and Toronto, she brings over 16 years of international experience working on all phases of a project from design through construction completion. She is an integral member of HPA’s institutional studio and was involved in the successful delivery of major projects such as the award-winning Bahá’i Temple of South America, the Tom Patterson Theatre at the Stratford Festival, the BARLO MS Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, and the Royal Ontario Museum Welcome Project.   

As an Associate, Miren is responsible for providing team leadership and client management, coordinating consultant disciplines, and establishing standards to achieve excellence in design and execution. Currently focused on cultural projects, Miren leads the team for the new Goldfarb Gallery at York University as well as the Pickering Heritage Community Centre which aims to achieve CaGBC Zero Carbon Building Design Certification.

Pradnya is an urban designer with a background in architecture. Her interests involve exploring opportunities for creating unique places and developing sustainable, context-sensitive designs within dynamic urban environments. Before pursuing a Master of Urban Design at University of Toronto, Pradnya worked as an architect in India for over seven years. In 2022, she joined DTAH, where she combines her architectural expertise with urban design on a variety of projects.

With my seven years of experience in the architectural field, I have had the opportunity to collaborate on a diverse range of projects, including residential, commercial, healthcare, urban design, mixed-use developments, and theater. This variety has given me a deep understanding of how different project types are developed in Canada, sharpening my skills in both design and project management, as well as technical construction methods, building codes, and material specifications.

When I moved to Canada nine years ago, one thing was clear: I was determined to continue my career in architecture. Before relocating, I gained extensive experience in Mexico, where I owned my architectural practice.  I also had the privilege of contributing to the design of hotels, restaurants, master plans, and industrial buildings. Founded and ran a stone veneer and stamped concrete materials business.

In addition to my professional experience, I have a passion for teaching, which I pursued as an AutoCAD and Design professor. I believe teaching is a two-way street—there’s always something new to learn through the process of educating others.

Saachi is an Intern Architect at Arcadis’ Architecture and Urbanism division. With over twelve years of experience and a Master’s degree specializing in Sustainable Environmental Design from the AA School of Architecture in England, her work has ranged from designing and executing high-rise residential, mixed-use, and commercial buildings across Canada, India, and Cyprus. Her international experience and education have facilitated her to publish a research-led, evidence-based article to support a carbon neutral and comfort driven future. Her paper on ‘User Adaptability and Comfort in Urban Outdoor Spaces’ is part of the PLEA 2017 publication.

Having experienced challenges as an internationally trained Architect Saachi along with a group of like-minded professionals has co-founded SOSA – Society of South Asian Architects, Canada in 2021 that embraces and aims to promote a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the professions of architecture and design. As the Director of Marketing her goal is to support the design community and newcomers that have immigrated to Canada.

Saachi’s mentoring experience as a teaching assistant in architecture school, her current role at her organization along with her not-for-profit initiation has helped her understand and appreciate the importance of providing support and guidance to design professionals in the industry.

Sneha is a seasoned BIM Professional and Architectural Technologist with over a decade of experience in the architecture and construction industry. Beginning her career in India, she earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a master’s degree in construction management from Mumbai University and managed a variety of residential, commercial, and hospitality projects as a Project and Principal Architect.

In 2015, Sneha moved to Canada, completing an Advanced Diploma in Architectural Technology at Centennial College. She quickly adapted to the Canadian industry, joining EllisDon Corporation as a Virtual Design Coordinator, where she contributed to major projects like the Royal Bank of Canada Headquarters. During this time, she developed expertise in BIM, clash detection, and team mentorship.

Her growing proficiency in digital construction technologies led to her current role as Associate and Digital Practice Lead at Q4 Architects. At Q4A, Sneha spearheads the firm’s digital strategy, implements advanced BIM workflows, trains teams on Revit and BIM tools, and manages project delivery strategies for high-profile developments. She continues to merge her architectural expertise with cutting-edge technology to drive innovation in the industry.

Stefan is a Principal at HOK. Based in Toronto, he is responsible as senior design leader for high-profile, complex projects across North America. Currently he acts as the Design Manager of the Centre Block project, the expansion and rehabilitation of the Parliament of Canada building in Ottawa, the largest and most complex expansion and retrofit of a heritage building ever undertaken in Canada.

Before joining HOK, Stefan has been in design leadership roles at Foster+Partners in London and Atkins in Hong Kong. As a licensed Architect in the UK and Germany, he holds a master’s degree from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago.

Stefan is active as a guest critic in academia and mentor for emerging professionals at Urban Land Institute and CTBUH. As an accredited LEED Professional and Chair of the Sustainability Assembly at CTBUH, he is advocating for low-carbon design solutions on many speaking engagements.