Dewson Architects Inc.

We’re picking things back up with Chapter 4 of our Yonge Street series, diving into the building’s original addition, its limitations, and how a new design is unlocking long-term performance, flexibility, and growth. Read the full insight on our website. #SustainableDesign #TorontoArchitecture #SustainableArchitecture #DewsonArchitects #AdaptiveReuse #SustainableTorontoArchitects #PassiveHouse #HighPerformance #BuildingScience #GreenBuilding 

Throwback to Sherbourne House, a Toronto home defined by late-19th-century Victorian detailing. Original red brick and crisp black trim anchor the exterior, while preserved plasterwork and an open ground floor adapt the home for contemporary living. Subtle modern interventions, including a polished steel column, add contrast and character throughout the space.   By preserving original materials and craftsmanship and thoughtfully reworking the interior, the project reflects our belief in adaptive reuse as a meaningful approach to sustainability.   #ResidentialDesign #SustainableDesign #TorontoArchitecture #BuildingEnvelope #EnergyEfficiency #DewsonArchitects #WoodDesign #AdaptiveReuse 

Before cabins take shape in drawings and details, they begin as lines on paper. At Dewson Architects, we have a long-standing appreciation for cottage and cabin design, where simplicity, site, and experience are central to the architecture. Hand sketches allow us to explore programming, test spatial relationships, and set a clear, grounded direction for a design rooted in intention and place. #ArchitecturalProcess #HandSketching #CabinDesign #DesignExploration #ConceptDevelopment #ArchitectureSketches #DesignThinking

Work is underway at one of our latest projects in Parry Sound, with ICF foundation walls being waterproofed - a crucial step that protects the building from moisture and ensures its longevity. We work collaboratively with the structural engineer and builder to ensure proper resolution at tricky interfaces and details. Proper waterproofing safeguards materials, preserves the enclosure, and supports the long-term performance and lifespan of the building.      Contractor: IHD Design Build  https://www.ihdbuild.ca/  Structural Engineer: Revive Engineering https://lnkd.in/gnj7TWMy  ICF product: Nudura #ConstructionProgress #ICFFoundation #Waterproofing #BuildingLongevity #DurableDesign #SustainableArchitecture #BuildingPerformance #DewsonArchitects #SiteVisit #ConstructionProcess #BuildingExcellence 

Renderings are essential tools for shaping how a place will feel, function, and connect with its surroundings. For the Shops at Clayfield Commons in Niagara-on-the-Lake, 3D modelling and visualization helped refine site planning, built form, and the architectural language of the central square’s west-end commercial building. Follow along and check out our website for updates as this project moves toward its anticipated Spring 2026 opening. #DewsonArchitects #ClayfieldCommons #NiagaraOnTheLake #NiagaraArchitecture #ArchitecturalRendering #3DVisualization #MixedUseDesign #CommercialDesign

RDH and Toronto Metropolitan University’s New Design Resources for Embodied Carbon Targets provides a Canada-specific database to support early design decisions that reduce embodied carbon. By giving designers practical tools and benchmarks, it helps integrate carbon-conscious strategies from the very start of a project. At Dewson Architects, we place carbon reduction at the core of our sustainability and Net-Zero design approach. We maintain a comprehensive materials review process to ensure that the products and finishes we specify align with project embodied carbon targets.  Explore this resource to see how embodied carbon targets can guide material selection, design strategies, and construction practices - an essential step for any project aiming to be truly sustainable. #EmbodiedCarbon #SustainableArchitecture #LowCarbonDesign #HighPerformanceBuildings #GreenBuilding #ClimateAction #CanadianDesign #DewsonArchitects 

As our 30-year anniversary tribute month comes to a close, we’re celebrating the person who set it all in motion: our principal architect, mentor, and fearless leader, William Dewson, or Bill as we know him. Bill founded Dewson Architects in 1996 with a vision to deliver architecture that is both beautiful and sustainable, creating meaningful, long-lasting legacies for clients and communities. Over the years, he has built an exceptional team dedicated to thoughtful design, technical excellence, and high-performance, environmentally responsible architecture. We’re deeply grateful for everything Bill has done for our team and for Dewson Architects - his leadership, generosity, and unwavering belief in doing meaningful work. Beyond the projects and accolades, it’s his wonderfully positive attitude, curiosity, and steady encouragement that shape our culture every day. We’re proud to work alongside him and thankful for the foundation he’s built for all of us. #Torontoarchitect #Architecture #Sustainability #SustainableArchitecture #DewsonArchitects

As we wrap up our 30-year anniversary series, we’re feeling deeply grateful. Grateful for the clients who trusted us with their homes and workplaces, for the collaborators who challenged and inspired us, and for the team who brings care and creativity to every project. Sharing these stories and reflections over the past month has reminded us that architecture is, at its heart, about people, relationships, conversations, and the lived experiences that unfold in the spaces we design. Looking ahead to the next 30 years, we remain committed to designing with intention, curiosity, and responsibility. We look forward to creating spaces that are thoughtful, sustainable, and deeply connected to the people and places they serve. We’re excited for what’s to come, and thankful to continue this journey together. Here’s to the next chapter. #DewsonArchitects #30YearAnniversary #SustainableArchitects

Today we’re highlighting Yonge Office, a highly sustainable project that combines a deep energy retrofit and full restoration of a heritage building with a high-performance mass timber addition. A kind note from our client, Aubrey Dan: “Our collaboration with Dewson Architects on Yonge Street exemplifies why they’ve earned 30 years of respect - design integrity, clarity of vision, and exceptional execution.” We are so grateful to our exceptional clients, like Aubrey Dan, for trusting us with their visions and for being part of our 30-year journey. #YongeOffice #TorontoArchitects #SustainableArchitecture

From the Beaver Valley Farmhouse, completed in 2006, to the Hillsdale Home, built in 2017, we’ve had the privilege of helping clients bring their dream homes to life - spaces designed for family, work, creativity, and relaxation. In their words: “Bill Dewson, along with the team at Dewson Architects, helped to create the home of our fantasies. Living here has elevated life to a new level of joy, comfort, ease and excitement. It is a family home, a WFH haven and hub, a home to entertain in, a glorious studio workshop space and a retreat from the outside world. Magic happens here every day.” We’re honored to design homes that inspire daily moments of joy, connection, and creativity. #SustainableArchitects #SustainableArchitecture #TorontoArchitects