About Us - Nethralat Forge Architects

Our Story

Started this whole thing back in 2012 when three of us couldn't find anyone willing to take on a crumbling brick factory in the Distillery District. Everyone said "tear it down." We said "let's see what's underneath all that grime."

Turns out there was a lot. Exposed timber beams that had weathered a century. Brick patterns you don't see anymore because nobody takes the time. Steel trusses with rivets hand-hammered by workers whose names we'll never know.

That project taught us something - modern design doesn't mean erasing history. Sometimes the best innovations come from respecting what came before and figuring out how it fits into today's world. We've been doing that ever since, one building at a time.

Our Approach

No cookie-cutter solutions here

Heritage First

We spend time in archives, digging through old photos and blueprints. Can't restore something properly if you don't understand its bones. Every building's got a story - we make sure it doesn't get lost.

Actually Sustainable

Not just slapping solar panels on the roof and calling it green. We're talking about material sourcing, lifecycle analysis, adaptive reuse. Sustainability's baked into every decision, not tacked on at the end.

Community Matters

Buildings don't exist in a vacuum. We talk to neighbors, local historians, the folks who'll actually use the space. Good architecture serves people, not just portfolios.

The Team

Architects, engineers, and problem-solvers

Marcus Nethralat

Principal Architect & Founder

Started drafting on my dad's light table when I was 12. Studied at Waterloo, spent five years in Glasgow working on Victorian-era restorations, came back to Toronto and realized we were demolishing buildings that had decades of life left in them.

Can usually be found on-site arguing with contractors about mortar ratios or explaining why we can't just "modernize" century-old load-bearing walls. Coffee addict. Cyclist. Thinks every building deserves a second chance.

Sarah Chen

Senior Structural Engineer

Did my thesis on adaptive reuse of industrial structures. Turns out there's a massive gap between what architects dream up and what physics actually allows. Joined Nethralat because Marcus was the only one willing to listen when I said "that won't work" and figure out what would.

Handle all the number-crunching that keeps these old buildings standing while we add new life to them. Weekend rock climber - helps understand load distribution in unexpected ways.

James Kowalski

Sustainability Director

Former energy auditor who got tired of telling people to replace perfectly good windows. There's this obsession with "new equals efficient" that drives me nuts. Joined the team to prove that restoration and sustainability aren't opposites - they're partners.

Run the numbers on everything from embodied carbon to operational efficiency. Also the guy who makes sure we're getting proper certifications without compromising the heritage elements. Homebrew enthusiast - fermentation teaches patience.

Priya Malhotra

Urban Planning Lead

Grew up in Parkdale watching the neighborhood transform. Studied urban design at McGill, worked in city planning for three years before realizing I could do more from the private side. Buildings don't exist alone - they're part of neighborhoods, transit networks, communities.

Make sure our projects actually fit into the urban fabric instead of bulldozing through it. Spend a lot of time at community meetings. Documentary film buff. Believes good planning is invisible.

Elena Rodriguez

Heritage Conservation Specialist

Art history degree turned architectural conservator. Spent years working with museums before realizing the best artifacts are the ones people still use. Every brick, every beam tells you something if you know how to listen.

Handle historical research, material analysis, and all the detective work that goes into proper restoration. Photography nerd - got thousands of detail shots from every project. Thinks Instagram filters are cheating.

Got a building that needs some love?

Whether it's a century-old warehouse or a new industrial project, let's talk about what's possible.

Get In Touch