A collection of project photographs, some quotations and noteworthy links.

Coffee Lodge, Petrolia

Coffee Lodge is a specialty coffee shop created in, and for, small town Ontario. It's a hub of local social activity with a warm inviting atmosphere. Petrolia is the fifth Coffee Lodge location in the Sarnia area.

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Coffee Lodge Petrolia-2

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Francesca’s Bakery

Francesca’s is a fantastic Italian bakery and delicatessen in Scarborough. The bakery has been located in the same location for a number of years. The project completely reconfigured the use of space by opening up the original cramped customer area and streamlining the back of house baking production area. You can try their baked goods, sample their delicatessen at 2 Invergordon Ave., Scarborough, ON.

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Qdoba Mexican Grill

Nathanael Gray Architect is pleased to have provided architectural services to QNorth Developments for their Qdoba franchises. There are now two London locations open and we look forward to more soon.

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Largely Intuative

Some days it may seem that architecture is all intuition.

“Beats me how you fellows remember how to do all this stuff."
"Oh, it's largely intuitive, Arch Chancellor." said Ponder.
"Obviously you have to spend a lot of time learning it first though."

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett.

Waterloo Street Apartments

The client envisioned developing high-end rental apartments that would reflect the existing historic home and intensify the unique urban site. After considering a series of design iterations we settled on three apartments and a detached carport that doubled the built footprint on the site.

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Press Articles for Waterloo Street Apartments

Heritage Award
Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, London Regional Branch.
“Home and addition at 570 Waterloo St. (Lynn and Tom Okanski): The 1881 home belonging to George Morrison MacBeath was built in an Italianate style in what is now the heritage conservation district of West Woodfield. A major renovation took place that echoed the architectural details of the original, including using old-London brick that matches the original structure.”
Read the London Free Press Article.

Personal Interest Article “Each unit and tenant is unique”
“When Tom Okanski dreams, he dreams big. He also involves his friends. A building many would see more as a tear-down than a gem has become a micro-community, an award-winning restoration and a source of pride to all involved....”
Read the London Free Press Article.

Penetang Craftsman House

In progress photos of a house designed in an idyllic forest setting.

Front Entrance

Quotation: Sir Norman Foster

"It may be that you've worked out to perfection what you need and all I am is just the servant making it possible to execute it. But there's a chance that the more I learn; I can surprize you. I can perhaps, for your budget, for your site I can give you something you never dreamed of."
Sir Norman Foster in an interview with Charlie Rose (Aired October 1, 2010)