Team
Abua Oshen holds a Master of Science in Architecture from the University of Nigeria and a Post Graduate Diploma in Engineering with specialization in Project and Construction Management from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
His love for architecture stems from an innate desire to use architecture as a means to effect social change and influence human behaviour. His postgraduate thesis simulated the design of a water transport terminal connecting coastal communities to the mainland in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Abua’s experience before joining LGA was gained practicing in Nigeria and South Africa with CAP Consultants and FAÇADE design, respectively. At these firms, he worked on a broad range of projects, including single and multi-unit residences, a municipal urban renewal project and a stadium for the 2010 World Cup.
Since joining LGA, Abua has developed a keen interest in building science and has been involved in re-cladding and renovation projects for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation. In his spare time, Abua is a cycling and public speaking enthusiast.
Partner
Partner and certified building scientist Alex Tedesco has been with LGA since 2000 and leads the firm’s building science research and development department. From conceptual design to final construction, Alex ensures that his client’s needs and aspirations are translated into built form, and that every building detail that leaves the office is designed for optimal performance and durability.
Alex builds relationships with his clients and stakeholders through open communication, respect, and honesty. Putting aside preconceived notions of how architecture should look or operate, he works through an iterative process that allows for discovery and learning at every step. His wealth of material and product knowledge, combined with his commitment to challenging the conventions of sustainable design, allows Alex to inspire and challenge his team to innovate. He has led projects including 82 Wilson Avenue, Brock Mission Shelter, Humbertown Redevelopment, Eva’s Phoenix Brant Street, New Edwin Hotel, WoodGreen Donlands Housing, and E’Terra Eco Lodge.
Outside the office, Alex runs a welding business that fabricates architectural elements. Each year, Alex travels to Italy to harvest and produce olive oil which he imports to Canada. This delicate process is achieved by harvesting olives by hand and processing them naturally to produce the purest form of olive oil.
BArchSc
Design Team
Andrea Mata Celis is an Architectural Graduate with a strong foundation in smart building technologies, driven by a commitment to innovative solutions for the built environment. She holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science with Distinction from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), which included an exchange semester at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. During her time at Delft, Andrea’s computational design work was recognized with two awards for creatively enhancing architecture workflow efficiency and sustainable building performance.
In her role with the Smart Building Research Group at TMU, Andrea expanded her knowledge of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital technologies, fostering a strong interest in sustainable, data-driven design. She has presented her work internationally, including authoring a research paper on facility management digital twin dashboard design, presented at the 20th Conference of the International Society for Computing in Civil and Building Engineering.
At LGA, she contributes to the design and drafting of public & private sector projects, across all phases. She believes in using design as a tool for positive change, with an emphasis on sustainability, resilience, and community impact. In her free time, Andrea volunteers with BEAT (Building Equality in Architecture Toronto) and enjoys swimming, visiting parks, and exploring the city’s hidden gems.
Angie Michail is a licensed architect who received her Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo and has more than 20 years of professional experience. Since joining LGA in 2012, she has been Project Architect on several childcare, JK-12 and postsecondary projects, and has managed new construction and renovation projects on residences ranging from single-family homes to large, multi-unit buildings. Convinced that good design improves both the functionality of space and the experience of place, she strives to create environments with clean lines, meticulous detailing, and responsiveness to the client’s aspirations, even on the most challenging of construction budgets.
Angie has previously taught architecture and environmental design at OCAD University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo. She has been a regular guest critic at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her current projects at LGA include a new, 500-student school for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, a synagogue renovation and addition, a single-family home and a new 5-classroom building at an independent secondary school.
Part of LGA since 2012, working on all project types and phases, refining his skills in areas from client stewardship to design detail and large-scale projects, Antero is devoted to comprehending clients’ goals and needs, carrying those into a project’s design intent and ensuring they are brought to fulfillment. Antero’s care has driven the success of multiple projects. He played a lead role in developing infill residential projects in downtown Toronto, that fostered residents to keep living locally. Currently, Antero leads several residential and commercial developments in the GTA, that help shape the communities they’re inserted in and make use of.
Antero is also LGA’s Construction Administration Lead. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic improvement of the office’s CA processes and procedures in keeping the quality of the designs and of the office’s services throughout construction. Antero’s history in construction contract administration began very early in his career which led to a solid set of technical and interpersonal skills. Antero strives for a professional and collaborative rapport to solve problems with all involved having the best interest of the project in mind.
Antero’s approach to the profession is supported by his Bachelor in Urban Planning and Master’s in Architecture which give him a wholistically view and control of multiple project types and scales. Antero is strongly convinced that people deserve to be challenged and that buildings need to inspire their occupants. As an architect registered in Portugal, he believes he has a duty to expose such possibilities. His design work has been exhibited at the Beaux Arts Academy in Lisbon and has been published in several Portuguese-based architectural magazines.
Partner
LGA Partner Brock James has been turning projects with complex circumstances into leading-edge buildings for over 26 years. He actively engages clients and community members in conversations about design in a variety of engagement formats depending on the project circumstances to get the most out of the participatory design process. Brock believes the engagement process is most effective as a two-way communication tool to cultivate support and project champions across an organization or within a community neighbourhood.
He actively engages clients and community members in conversations about design in a variety of engagement formats depending on the project circumstances to get the most out of the participatory design process. Brock believes the engagement process is most effective as a two-way communication tool to cultivate support and project champions across an organization or within a community neighborhood.
BAS,
Design Team
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charissa@lga-ap.com
Charissa is an emerging designer who approaches architecture as a powerful agent for shaping community life, both socially and emotionally. She is deeply interested in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry, and is motivated by the capacity of design to create meaning through both its tangible forms and intangible impacts. For Charissa, architecture is a medium for storytelling, one that can amplify community identities through research, intent, and care.
At LGA, Charissa collaborates with project teams across various phases of design, contributing through Revit-based work, presentation drawings, and renderings to support coordination and design development. She is currently involved in a range of project typologies, including shelters, housing, and dealerships, gaining broad experience across different scales and programmatic contexts.
Charissa holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her design approach is grounded in research and engagement, integrating existing traditions and local narratives into each project to create thoughtful, community-responsive architecture.
Daniel Comerford’s +15 years of professional experience spans 3 continents and includes +50 projects ranging in scale from housing to public libraries, and from university buildings to city-scale master plans. Common to all work is community-focused thinking and design.
Since joining LGA in 2018, Daniel’s portfolio has grown to include public libraries, affordable housing, shelters, private residences, artist studios, and master planning projects. Daniel is now overseeing the design and construction of over 390 affordable housing units sited across Ontario, ranging from low-rise ‘missing-middle’ housing to high-rise apartment buildings. Recognizing the challenges that face housing delivery, Daniel has conducted extensive research and engagement with modular housing providers across the province, to understand the advantages and realities of both volumetric and panelized modular systems.
Daniel has specialized in the design of public libraries, with projects including Meaford Public Library, the University of Toronto’s Engineering & Computer Science Library, and Toronto Public Library’s Albert Campbell Branch which is the recipient of an OAA Award of Design Excellence. His architectural portfolio is underpinned by 8 years of urban design & strategic planning experience across London, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Singapore, the US, and Canada. Prior to practice, Daniel studied in both Toronto and the United Kingdom and received graduate education from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.
BES, BArch, OAA
Partner
Partner Danny Bartman has been with LGA for over two decades. Focused on city-building, Danny cites architecture as a means for social good. Whether the project is a community hub, a new public library, or an affordable housing complex, his desire to respond directly to critical problems drives his design approach.
Danny believes in the potency of bringing together diverse perspectives to drive innovation. His empathetic approach to design allows him to openly exchange ideas and collaborate with his team members and clients. He often leads in-depth community consultations and visioning sessions and needs assessments to create the foundational concept and character behind each project. Through his thoughtful approach, LGA creates customized building solutions that reflect his optimistic and inquisitive nature and are strengthened by his continuous exploration of advanced material applications and fabrication methods.
Danny teaches at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture and has lectured at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architecture. He frequently participates in interdisciplinary design charrettes for Ontario’s Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC).
Dean Goodman co-founded LGA in 1989. His insatiable interests in design, construction and technology are inseparable from his aspiration to make the world more humane and sustainable, one project at a time.
For-profit, affordable housing and shelters, and projects with a First Nations focus have been central to his more than 35 years of practice. Dean was LGA’s partner-in-charge on the RAIC Innovation in Design Award-winning addition of two storeys of prefabricated living units to the rooftop of a St. Clare’s Multifaith Affordable Housing building in Toronto. He has led large-scale new-build and renewal projects for Toronto Community Housing and WoodGreenCommunity Housing and was recently partner-in-charge on the OAA Design Excellence Award-winning Eva’s Phoenix youth residence and skills training centre. Dean’s many projects for Native Child and Family Services of Toronto range from the Centre for Native Child and Family Well-Being in the city’s core to a dining hall and ceremonial performance space for NCFST’s summer camp in Grundy Lake Provincial Park. His eclectic interests are reflected in areas of expertise that range from design for aging in place to the design of car dealerships.
Skilled at creatively designing within budget and time constraints, Dean works collaboratively with clients to translate their ideas and goals into innovative designs. His honest and straightforward approach brings clarity to complicated issues.
Drew is a Senior Associate at LGA and a passive-house certified architect with 15 years of experience and a background in landscape architecture and urban design. He has a knack for unique projects and excels in synthesizing diverse viewpoints and finding integrated solutions for clients. Drew’s work ranges from many innovative and high-profile projects such as the carbon-neutral transformation of the Kiln Building at Evergreen Brick Works and the award-winning adaptive reuse of Eva’s Phoenix Brant Street Youth to work with Indigenous communities and a wide array of affordable housing and shelter projects. Currently, he is a project architect for Indigenous House at UTSC (in association with Formline), Promontory Park Visitor’s Centre on Toronto’s Waterfront and Heritage, deep energy retrofits for the Evergreen Ravine Interpretation Centre and UofT Engineering Innovation Exchange.
Drew frequently speaks on sustainability issues, has taught at the University of Toronto and University of Waterloo and is the RAIC’s 2020 Emerging Architect Award recipient.
Emira is an Associate and an OAA licensed Architect at LGA. Since entering the profession in 2004 she has been striving to create buildings that not only inspire, but that make a direct and positive impact on the communities that they serve. Driven by a commitment to social good, her portfolio includes numerous award-winning cultural, educational, and community projects such as affordable housing. She currently leads a team working on the renovation of a 75,000 sq ft care facility that will include supportive housing, a shelter, as well as rehabilitation spaces. Prior to joining LGA Architectural Partners she worked with G. Bruce Stratton Architects on various community projects including the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award-winning Mount Dennis Public Library.
Beyond her work with LGA, Emira teaches architecture at the University of OCAD as a sessional faculty member where she has been sharing her expertise since 2021. In 2024, Emira became an executive board member of Building Equality in Architecture (BEA) Toronto chapter, an organization that advocates for equity and diversity and is committed to creating systemic change within the architectural industry.
When she is not designing buildings, teaching architecture or advocating for change, Emira enjoys building furniture, ceramics, and art objects. She has also written and illustrated three children’s books.
M.Arch, B.A.S
Design Team
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eric@lga-ap.com
Eric Wang is an OAA Intern Architect at LGA who approaches architecture with curiosity and a deep commitment to community power and belonging. He views design as a tool for translating shared knowledge, histories, and storytelling into spaces that reflect Toronto’s culturally interconnected landscapes—past, present, built, and imagined. Eric believes that architecture has the potential to foster connection by engaging with communities and centering lived experience throughout the design process.
His work explores ways architecture can support intergenerational relationships through affordable housing, public space, and community-focused environments for diasporic communities. Through research and engagement, Eric seeks to spark conversations around collective experiences and create inclusive, safe spaces that nurture a sense of belonging. His approach is grounded in understanding social and cultural contexts, with a strong emphasis on community-led and participatory design practices that aim to co-create solutions that are inclusive, meaningful, and resilient. Ultimately, Eric is driven by the opportunity to empower communities and support long-term wellbeing through responsive design.
At LGA, Eric works across a range of project scales and typologies, from small interior retrofits to large-scale affordable housing and community programming, contributing from early design phases through to construction. He is also interested in the intersection of architecture, design, and pop culture, exploring how spatial design can shape experiences within music, film, and television through set and stage design.
Ewan relocated to Toronto from Scotland in 2020, following a decade of architectural education and practice in Europe. Possessing international experience and a keen interest in the adaptive reuse of existing buildings, Ewan has been a registered architect in the UK since 2019 and is currently requalifying in Ontario. At LGA, he plays a central role in projects, collaborating closely with project leads, consultants, and contractors to achieve coherent design solutions.
Ewan’s professional journey includes significant contributions such as working with Mary Arnold-Forster Architects on the Bridge of Earn Refurbishment and Extension in Scotland, along with projects at Sheppard Robson in London. His educational background, which includes a Diploma in Architecture from the Glasgow School of Art and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Bath, as well as an Erasmus Exchange at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, has equipped him with a robust interdisciplinary approach.
Ewan excels in interdisciplinary design and construction detailing, focusing on high building performance to reduce operational energy and utilizing whole building life cycle analysis as a design tool to minimize embodied energy in projects.
Graphic Designer/ Marketing Coordinator
Hania is a multidisciplinary designer thriving at the intersection of architecture, visual storytelling, and strategic communications. As Visual Communications Lead at LGA, she crafts narratives that translate complex architectural ideas into compelling, clear, and memorable experiences. Working at the core of the Business Development team, she leads high-stakes pursuits, shapes brand direction, and delivers thoughtfully curated content across proposals, publications, and digital platforms. Her role blends strategy with creativity; spanning art direction, writing, and production, including the orchestration of photoshoots and communications with precision and intent.
With a background that bridges architecture, research, and design, Hania brings both analytical depth and visual acuity to her work. Her experience includes academic roles at the University of Waterloo and research-driven practice with the Masonry Council of Ontario, alongside international exposure to architectural and design environments. This diverse foundation informs a practice that is rigorous, adaptable, and conceptually strong.
She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo and her work has been recognized through multiple awards and competitions, reflecting a consistent pursuit of clarity, craft, and design excellence.
Hania is driven by a fascination with detail, structure, and user experience, approaching design as a balance between logic and expression. Outside of work, she is a fashion enthusiast with a love for thrifting, a natural storyteller with a sharp sense of humour, and a devoted dog mom.
B.A.S, M.Arch
Design Team
Ilana is an Intern Architect with a comprehensive understanding of all project phases and a passion for addressing Toronto’s affordability crisis through the creation of safe shelter spaces for the homeless. With a background in conservation architecture, she thrives on challenges related to existing conditions, aiming to enhance building and neighbourhood character in her work.
In her role at LGA, Ilana focuses primarily on shelter projects, navigating tight budgets and timelines while ensuring compliance with City of Toronto design guidelines. She is well-versed in the City of Toronto’s shelter design guidelines and accessibility standards, navigating tight budgets and timelines to deliver safe and welcoming spaces for those experiencing homelessness.
James is passionate about using 3D modelling to better understand our built environment and its impacts on our daily lives. He strives to achieve low-impact and energy-efficient buildings through attention to detail and integrating environmentally friendly materials. Proficient in the BIM software (Building Information Modelling) Revit, James models and brings a variety of projects into the construction document phase as well as creating working drawings and managing Revit files. Previously James had worked for Humber College as a research assistant in multiple roles varying from shipping container feasibility studies to modular construction techniques for reducing costs and labour inefficiencies.
As a graduate of Humber College’s Architectural Technology program, James furthered his education earning a Bachelor of Design from OCAD University. During his time at Humber College, he was commended for placing first in the OAAAS Small Building Competition with his group’s laneway house submission. James’ architectural philosophy is that to continue the betterment of our built environment, we need to challenge existing architectural standards according to our ever-growing needs as a society.
Janna Levitt co-founded LGA Architectural Partners with Dean Goodman in 1993 with a vision to help diverse and often under-resourced clients to realize places that spark positive cultural and environmental change. Through research, public consultation, and design Janna aims to improve lives: creating places that advance equity, wellness and community, educating and mentoring the next generation of designers, and collaborating with artists, scientists and others to draw attention to pressing issues impacting our world.
Janna has earned wide respect for her inquisitive, thoughtful and imaginative approaches that demonstrate fresh possibilities for everyday living. Her diverse initiatives – such as community hubs that foster arts and culture, public spaces that connect citizens with ecology, and residences that contribute to equitable cities — underscore the expansive role that architects play in redesigning our world.
Her noteworthy recent projects include the MABELLEarts Pavilion and Park that uplifts a historically underserved, high-density neighborhood populated by newcomers to Canada with a dynamic hub for creativity and community; Evergreen Brickworks’ Kiln Building 16, that sensitively arrested the deterioration of a historic Toronto landmark and expanded its purpose from artifact to a carbon-neutral event and education centre; Stackt, that transformed a pending development site into an ever-evolving shipping-container retail market and cultural hub; and Rehousing – an online resource that she developed with members of the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and Design at University of Toronto to empower citizen developers to convert single-family homes into multi-unit housing.
Janna’s love of architecture extends to teaching, mentoring and community causes. She has held teaching appointments at University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University. She regularly lectures and serves on award juries across North America and abroad. She presently sits on Toronto’s Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel. In 2015 she led the creation of an annual scholarship fund for an Indigenous student entering Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture.
Janna was made a Fellow of the RAIC in 2009. She received the 2018 G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects. In 2019 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and she was named as one of the top 30 “Essential Women in Architecture and Design” by Azure Magazine.
Janna attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax and The Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston before finalizing her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Architecture Program at University of Toronto.
BES, MArch
Associate
Jason Hong is a dedicated Project Architect who believes in the power of asking the right questions and listening to stakeholders to drive successful design outcomes. With a passion for problem-solving and collaboration, Jason’s responsibilities include project management, consultant coordination, client liaison, communication with authorities, and design. His extensive professional experience spans projects ranging from public buildings to cultural spaces, where he has demonstrated expertise in site analysis, consensus building, site planning, and construction detailing.
Jason has worked on notable projects such as the Toronto Water public building (Project Administrator) with Unit A architecture, the Warden Avenue Public School Modular Kindergarten Addition (Project Architect) with Kohn Shnier Architects, and the St. Margaret Catholic School Gym Addition and Childcare Renovation (Project Architect) with LGA, among others.
His educational background includes a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, reflecting his commitment to a holistic approach to architecture.
Outside of work, Jason enjoys playing complex board games with his child and building Lego sculptures, aligning with his philosophy of creating complex things from simple pieces.
Jonah Lewis, a graduate of Conestoga College’s Architectural Construction Engineering Technology, is a soon-to-be CET (Certified Engineering Technologist) with a passion for using 3D modelling to understand buildings. Using BIM (Building Information Modeling), Jonah can analyze the impacts of design decisions relative to the building’s energy performance and the effects of the building to its local surroundings.
Jonah has an insatiable curiosity for energy-efficient and low-impact design and believes that this can be achieved through a clear, detailed communication process between the design and constructed reality. Previously, Jonah gained experience from working with a timber frame design-build company in the Canadian Rockies, and a Waterloo-based design-build firm as an architectural technologist. Outside the office, Jonah is avid about his music production and permaculture.
José Castel-Branco joined LGA in 2009 and was instrumental in the office’s early adoption of BIM (Building Information Modelling). His software knowledge and construction management expertise have made him a key team member on many complex projects; recently he was the contract administrator at Laurentian University’s OAA Design Excellence Award-winning McEwen School of Architecture.
A licensed architect who studied at the University of Toronto, José gained wide-ranging experience at Taylor Hariri Pontarini Architects, Diamond Schmidt Architects, Adamson Associates, and Bortolotto Design Architects.
His completed projects with LGA include Avenue Road Public School, the LEED Gold renovation and expansion of Kitchener Public Library’s main location, TPL’s Albert Campbell branch renovation; several single-family residences, and car dealerships for Audi and JLR.
Among José’s ongoing projects are recladding and reglazing some of TCHC’s existing buildings to extend their use and revitalize their respective communities for another 50 years.
Active in many industry associations, he serves as a design studio instructor and critic for the RAIC Syllabus program and is a contributor to Dominion Modern, an organization dedicated to raising public awareness of all things modern in Canada.
MArch, OAA
Design Team
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julian@lga-ap.com
Julian is a Project Architect at LGA whose career has come full circle, returning to the community-focused work that first inspired him to pursue architecture. As a student in Toronto, he was deeply involved in community design-build initiatives with artist groups in Chinatown and Kensington Market, where he saw firsthand the impact space can have on community life and individual agency.
Julian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Hobart College and a Master of Architecture from the Daniels Faculty of Architecture at the University of Toronto. He is alicensed Architect in Ontario and previously practiced in The Netherlands, gaining valuable international experience. Prior to joining LGA, he co-founded Makeshift Studio, an artist collective supporting creative work in Toronto, where he led the in-house woodshop and taught community members how to design and build their own projects. He also worked at BDP Quadrangle on large-scale residential and mixed-use developments across the GTA, and at UNStudio in Amsterdam as Project Lead 2 on a high-end hospitality project in the Middle East.
Since returning to Toronto in 2025, Julian has worked across residential, office, and institutional projects at LGA. As a Project Architect, he provides day-to-day oversight from predesign through completion, approaching each project with a focus on its social impact and its ability to positively shape everyday life.
BArch, MRAIC
Senior Associate
Kevin Martin brings to LGA a diverse range of experience on projects of various scales and complexity, that include community and cultural spaces, commercial, hospitality, single family and mixed-use housing in New York and Toronto. He has managed a range of multi-use residential developments in Toronto and brings expertise in Master Planning and deft command of Rezoning and Site Plan Approvals. He has played key roles in many projects working with Indigenous groups, including the University of Toronto Scarborough Indigenous House and the Sky Canoe Headquarters on Scugog Island First Nation.
He is currently project manager for the Mount Dennis Quilt mixed-use affordable housing project for the Learning Enrichment Foundation and recently completed pre-design of the Tenants Non-Profit Redevelopment Co-operative’s Forestwood Drive intensification in Mississauga; the project aims to add 400–500 affordable housing units to the site and connect the expanded community through a dynamic public realm.
BFA, MArch, OAA
Design Team
OAA Intern Architect
Nicole is an Intern Architect with a strong interest in adaptive reuse and sustainable design. She is passionate about creating meaningful spaces for local communities and environments. Prior to joining LGA, Nicole worked on various residential, commercial, and healthcare projects through internships at both large and small firms. Nicole holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). She was awarded the RAIC Student Medal and RAIC Honour Roll for her thesis work on highlighting the agency which humans and non-humans have on our built environment through blurring boundaries.
OAA Intern Architect
Nicole is passionate about projects which offer alternative visions for how affordable housing and cultural spaces can shape cities and communities. She is eager to work with clients and users to help develop and realize these built spaces to their full potential. Nicole is instrumental in the design and execution of a variety of projects – working on buildings in both their early design phases as well as throughout the construction process. She has previously held roles at many notable Toronto-based firms including Akb and Teeple Architects. Nicole has also taught at the University of Waterloo and lectured and critiqued at several other Canadian architectural schools including Carleton, U of T and, OCAD. She received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Architecture at the University of Waterloo where she received the RAIC honour roll and commendations for her thesis research on Toronto’s creative renaissance. Nicole’s expertise includes a researched knowledge of Toronto’s history of cultural planning and art spaces, as well as a keen eye for detail and a strong knowledge of Revit and other modelling software. Nicole’s architectural work aspires to combine sustainability, accessibility, and flexibility, in beautiful spaces custom tailored to meet your goals and needs.
BA, MArch
Design Team
Noah Wadden believes that too often, people have been taught to consider architecture the esoteric province of an elite few. This could not be further from the truth – the benefits of healthy, safe, beautiful, and inspiring buildings are felt by us all – and the critical relevance of these needs only becomes more pronounced as our indelible impact on this earth intensifies.
Noah’s responsibilities include approaching design challenges with an open mind and a commitment to problem-solving. His professional experience includes projects like the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics in Durham University, Crystals at City Center in Las Vegas, Maggie’s Centre at Royal Free Hospital in London, and Yongsan International Business District in Seoul. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and a Master’s of Architecture from Princeton University. Noah’s skills include flexible thinking, all design phases from concept to completion, construction administration, furniture design and fabrication, and sculpture design and fabrication. He has received awards such as the American Institute of Architects NY State Design Award and the International Council of Shopping Centers VIVA “Best-of-the-Best” Award.
Outside of work, Noah enjoys music, art, cycling, cooking, and collecting vintage glassware. His vision is that everyone deserves good design.
A fun fact about Noah is that he learned to ride a unicycle in the schoolyard of Teshirogi Minami Shogakko in Tsukuba, Japan.
BAS
Design Team
Nohemi Lopez Taylor is an architectural student at LGA with several years of professional experience. She has a strong focus on housing typologies in urban settings across Toronto and Canada, dedicating her final term to exploring mixed-use, missing-middle density in Toronto laneways. At LGA, Nohemi contributes to the design and graphic production of small multi-unit buildings and is actively involved in the CMHC catalogue, specifically working on graphic production for single-stair egress buildings.
Her past experience includes roles as an Architectural Assistant with Giannone Petricone Associates, Architecture Program Lead at RAMMS Day Camp, and Director at Freedom By Design (TMU). She is skilled in graphic illustration, rendering, and BIM, and holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science (Honours + Co-op) from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Nohemi is passionate about creating positive spaces through thoughtfully designed housing and is particularly interested in how missing-middle density can be meaningfully implemented in Canadian cities.
In her free time, she enjoys cycling with the Gremlins Bicycle Emporium crew, camping, and expressing her creativity through drawing and painting.
Design Team
Paolo Burattini is an Architect with extensive experience in Architecture Design across various European countries. He’s fascinated by the intersection of Architecture as an Anthropologic Result and its Historical and Humanistic Context. Canada, particularly cities like Toronto, offers him a fresh perspective on urbanistic development.
As an Architect and Designer, Paolo has held roles such as Project Manager at Raul Sanchez Architects and Architect at Fusi & Ammann Architekten and HS Architekten. His education includes a BA and MA in Architecture from Universita degli studi di Roma 3. Paolo’s expertise spans Architecture History, Residential Housing Design, and Interior Design. His achievements include awards for interior design, winning architectural competitions, and publications of his work in prestigious magazines.
“I do believe that Architecture and Design can be the greatest tool through which we can envision our life in the city as both individuals and community. I stand for collective environments where properties and responsibilities are shared rather than individual egoistic dystrophic fantasies.”
Outside of work, Paolo enjoys discovering independent bookstores, jazz session clubs, old cinemas, and outdoor terraces. He’s passionate about learning new languages, travelling, swimming, and canoeing.
A fun fact about Paolo is that he’s read his favourite book in five different languages but hasn’t read it in its original language, Polish!
Design Team
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saman@lga-ap.com
Saman is an architect with a strong interest in adaptive reuse, housing, and publicly accessible buildings. His work reflects a commitment to creating thoughtful, functional spaces that serve diverse communities.
At LGA, Saman contributes to healthcare, justice, and institutional projects, focusing on technical design, detailing, and coordination. He has been involved in projects from early stages through to completion, with particular experience navigating the complex requirements of healthcare environments—an aspect of the work he finds especially engaging.
Previously, Saman has played key roles on several notable projects, including Canada’s first dedicated seniors emergency department at Toronto Western Hospital, the phased rehabilitation of one of Canada’s busiest courthouses, and a fast-tracked mental health unit renovation that received a TCA Best of the Best award. These experiences have strengthened his ability to manage complex, highly coordinated projects.
Saman holds a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University, along with a Certificate of Photography from the School of Photographic Arts Ottawa. His background in both architecture and visual arts informs a research-driven and detail-oriented approach to design.
His skills include design and detailing, phasing and feasibility studies, and consultant coordination. He has also received recognition for both his academic and creative work, including the King Student Medal for Excellence in Architectural & Environmental Design Research.
Outside of his professional work, Saman is passionate about photography, film, and independent research. He believes that meaningful design emerges at the intersection of the conceptual and the empirical, a philosophy that continues to shape his approach.
Sophie studied architecture at Université de Montréal, Carleton University, Istanbul Technical University in Turkey and École nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Malaquais in France. She is licensed with the OAQ (Ordre des architectes du Québec), having lived and practiced in Montreal for several years. In addition to educational, community and residential architecture, her experience encompasses urban design and transportation-sector projects. After moving to Toronto in 2013, she worked at Weiss Architecture and Urbanism, where she became an Associate in 2016. At that firm she developed a strong interest in community and not-for-profit projects. Sophie joined LGA in 2017, where her projects include a new housing co-op for Innstead and several Toronto Community Housing tower renewal projects. Sophie has served as a guest reviewer at the architecture schools of Carleton University, the University of Toronto, and Waterloo University. Independently, she has worked on numerous residential renovations in Montreal and an eco-tourism development in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Design Team
Xueying is an architectural designer in LGA. She believes that architecture can alleviate pressing societal issues and foster community development. Prior to joining LGA, she worked at several offices, including Partisans, Gensler, and MJMA, where she gained experience ranging from intimate residential designs to high-rises. She was extensively involved in several community centre designs, aiming to facilitate social interaction and community engagement. One of these projects won the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.
A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Master of Architecture program, her academic pursuits are also driven by a commitment to social impact and human well-being. Her thesis explores the potential relationship between architecture and mental health, delving into typologies for different personality traits and proposing a rehabilitation centre for individuals with personality disorders.
Outside the office, she is into photography, film, illustration, thrifting, swimming, and exploring new restaurants in the city.
Partner
Partner and certified building scientist Alex Tedesco has been with LGA since 2000 and leads the firm’s building science research and development department. From conceptual design to final construction, Alex ensures that his client’s needs and aspirations are translated into built form, and that every building detail that leaves the office is designed for optimal performance and durability.
Alex builds relationships with his clients and stakeholders through open communication, respect, and honesty. Putting aside preconceived notions of how architecture should look or operate, he works through an iterative process that allows for discovery and learning at every step. His wealth of material and product knowledge, combined with his commitment to challenging the conventions of sustainable design, allows Alex to inspire and challenge his team to innovate. He has led projects including 82 Wilson Avenue, Brock Mission Shelter, Humbertown Redevelopment, Eva’s Phoenix Brant Street, New Edwin Hotel, WoodGreen Donlands Housing, and E’Terra Eco Lodge.
Outside the office, Alex runs a welding business that fabricates architectural elements. Each year, Alex travels to Italy to harvest and produce olive oil which he imports to Canada. This delicate process is achieved by harvesting olives by hand and processing them naturally to produce the purest form of olive oil.
Partner
LGA Partner Brock James has been turning projects with complex circumstances into leading-edge buildings for over 26 years. He actively engages clients and community members in conversations about design in a variety of engagement formats depending on the project circumstances to get the most out of the participatory design process. Brock believes the engagement process is most effective as a two-way communication tool to cultivate support and project champions across an organization or within a community neighbourhood.
He actively engages clients and community members in conversations about design in a variety of engagement formats depending on the project circumstances to get the most out of the participatory design process. Brock believes the engagement process is most effective as a two-way communication tool to cultivate support and project champions across an organization or within a community neighborhood.
BES, BArch, OAA
Partner
Partner Danny Bartman has been with LGA for over two decades. Focused on city-building, Danny cites architecture as a means for social good. Whether the project is a community hub, a new public library, or an affordable housing complex, his desire to respond directly to critical problems drives his design approach.
Danny believes in the potency of bringing together diverse perspectives to drive innovation. His empathetic approach to design allows him to openly exchange ideas and collaborate with his team members and clients. He often leads in-depth community consultations and visioning sessions and needs assessments to create the foundational concept and character behind each project. Through his thoughtful approach, LGA creates customized building solutions that reflect his optimistic and inquisitive nature and are strengthened by his continuous exploration of advanced material applications and fabrication methods.
Danny teaches at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture and has lectured at Toronto Metropolitan University’s Department of Architecture. He frequently participates in interdisciplinary design charrettes for Ontario’s Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC).
Dean Goodman co-founded LGA in 1989. His insatiable interests in design, construction and technology are inseparable from his aspiration to make the world more humane and sustainable, one project at a time.
For-profit, affordable housing and shelters, and projects with a First Nations focus have been central to his more than 35 years of practice. Dean was LGA’s partner-in-charge on the RAIC Innovation in Design Award-winning addition of two storeys of prefabricated living units to the rooftop of a St. Clare’s Multifaith Affordable Housing building in Toronto. He has led large-scale new-build and renewal projects for Toronto Community Housing and WoodGreenCommunity Housing and was recently partner-in-charge on the OAA Design Excellence Award-winning Eva’s Phoenix youth residence and skills training centre. Dean’s many projects for Native Child and Family Services of Toronto range from the Centre for Native Child and Family Well-Being in the city’s core to a dining hall and ceremonial performance space for NCFST’s summer camp in Grundy Lake Provincial Park. His eclectic interests are reflected in areas of expertise that range from design for aging in place to the design of car dealerships.
Skilled at creatively designing within budget and time constraints, Dean works collaboratively with clients to translate their ideas and goals into innovative designs. His honest and straightforward approach brings clarity to complicated issues.
Janna Levitt co-founded LGA Architectural Partners with Dean Goodman in 1993 with a vision to help diverse and often under-resourced clients to realize places that spark positive cultural and environmental change. Through research, public consultation, and design Janna aims to improve lives: creating places that advance equity, wellness and community, educating and mentoring the next generation of designers, and collaborating with artists, scientists and others to draw attention to pressing issues impacting our world.
Janna has earned wide respect for her inquisitive, thoughtful and imaginative approaches that demonstrate fresh possibilities for everyday living. Her diverse initiatives – such as community hubs that foster arts and culture, public spaces that connect citizens with ecology, and residences that contribute to equitable cities — underscore the expansive role that architects play in redesigning our world.
Her noteworthy recent projects include the MABELLEarts Pavilion and Park that uplifts a historically underserved, high-density neighborhood populated by newcomers to Canada with a dynamic hub for creativity and community; Evergreen Brickworks’ Kiln Building 16, that sensitively arrested the deterioration of a historic Toronto landmark and expanded its purpose from artifact to a carbon-neutral event and education centre; Stackt, that transformed a pending development site into an ever-evolving shipping-container retail market and cultural hub; and Rehousing – an online resource that she developed with members of the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and Design at University of Toronto to empower citizen developers to convert single-family homes into multi-unit housing.
Janna’s love of architecture extends to teaching, mentoring and community causes. She has held teaching appointments at University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, and Dalhousie University. She regularly lectures and serves on award juries across North America and abroad. She presently sits on Toronto’s Waterfront Toronto Design Review Panel. In 2015 she led the creation of an annual scholarship fund for an Indigenous student entering Laurentian University’s McEwen School of Architecture.
Janna was made a Fellow of the RAIC in 2009. She received the 2018 G. Randy Roberts Service Award from the Ontario Association of Architects. In 2019 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Green Building Council, and she was named as one of the top 30 “Essential Women in Architecture and Design” by Azure Magazine.
Janna attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) in Halifax and The Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston before finalizing her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Architecture Program at University of Toronto.
Angie Michail is a licensed architect who received her Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo and has more than 20 years of professional experience. Since joining LGA in 2012, she has been Project Architect on several childcare, JK-12 and postsecondary projects, and has managed new construction and renovation projects on residences ranging from single-family homes to large, multi-unit buildings. Convinced that good design improves both the functionality of space and the experience of place, she strives to create environments with clean lines, meticulous detailing, and responsiveness to the client’s aspirations, even on the most challenging of construction budgets.
Angie has previously taught architecture and environmental design at OCAD University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo. She has been a regular guest critic at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her current projects at LGA include a new, 500-student school for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, a synagogue renovation and addition, a single-family home and a new 5-classroom building at an independent secondary school.
Part of LGA since 2012, working on all project types and phases, refining his skills in areas from client stewardship to design detail and large-scale projects, Antero is devoted to comprehending clients’ goals and needs, carrying those into a project’s design intent and ensuring they are brought to fulfillment. Antero’s care has driven the success of multiple projects. He played a lead role in developing infill residential projects in downtown Toronto, that fostered residents to keep living locally. Currently, Antero leads several residential and commercial developments in the GTA, that help shape the communities they’re inserted in and make use of.
Antero is also LGA’s Construction Administration Lead. In this role, he is responsible for the strategic improvement of the office’s CA processes and procedures in keeping the quality of the designs and of the office’s services throughout construction. Antero’s history in construction contract administration began very early in his career which led to a solid set of technical and interpersonal skills. Antero strives for a professional and collaborative rapport to solve problems with all involved having the best interest of the project in mind.
Antero’s approach to the profession is supported by his Bachelor in Urban Planning and Master’s in Architecture which give him a wholistically view and control of multiple project types and scales. Antero is strongly convinced that people deserve to be challenged and that buildings need to inspire their occupants. As an architect registered in Portugal, he believes he has a duty to expose such possibilities. His design work has been exhibited at the Beaux Arts Academy in Lisbon and has been published in several Portuguese-based architectural magazines.
Daniel Comerford’s +15 years of professional experience spans 3 continents and includes +50 projects ranging in scale from housing to public libraries, and from university buildings to city-scale master plans. Common to all work is community-focused thinking and design.
Since joining LGA in 2018, Daniel’s portfolio has grown to include public libraries, affordable housing, shelters, private residences, artist studios, and master planning projects. Daniel is now overseeing the design and construction of over 390 affordable housing units sited across Ontario, ranging from low-rise ‘missing-middle’ housing to high-rise apartment buildings. Recognizing the challenges that face housing delivery, Daniel has conducted extensive research and engagement with modular housing providers across the province, to understand the advantages and realities of both volumetric and panelized modular systems.
Daniel has specialized in the design of public libraries, with projects including Meaford Public Library, the University of Toronto’s Engineering & Computer Science Library, and Toronto Public Library’s Albert Campbell Branch which is the recipient of an OAA Award of Design Excellence. His architectural portfolio is underpinned by 8 years of urban design & strategic planning experience across London, Manchester, Belfast, Cardiff, Singapore, the US, and Canada. Prior to practice, Daniel studied in both Toronto and the United Kingdom and received graduate education from the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London.
Drew is a Senior Associate at LGA and a passive-house certified architect with 15 years of experience and a background in landscape architecture and urban design. He has a knack for unique projects and excels in synthesizing diverse viewpoints and finding integrated solutions for clients. Drew’s work ranges from many innovative and high-profile projects such as the carbon-neutral transformation of the Kiln Building at Evergreen Brick Works and the award-winning adaptive reuse of Eva’s Phoenix Brant Street Youth to work with Indigenous communities and a wide array of affordable housing and shelter projects. Currently, he is a project architect for Indigenous House at UTSC (in association with Formline), Promontory Park Visitor’s Centre on Toronto’s Waterfront and Heritage, deep energy retrofits for the Evergreen Ravine Interpretation Centre and UofT Engineering Innovation Exchange.
Drew frequently speaks on sustainability issues, has taught at the University of Toronto and University of Waterloo and is the RAIC’s 2020 Emerging Architect Award recipient.
Emira is an Associate and an OAA licensed Architect at LGA. Since entering the profession in 2004 she has been striving to create buildings that not only inspire, but that make a direct and positive impact on the communities that they serve. Driven by a commitment to social good, her portfolio includes numerous award-winning cultural, educational, and community projects such as affordable housing. She currently leads a team working on the renovation of a 75,000 sq ft care facility that will include supportive housing, a shelter, as well as rehabilitation spaces. Prior to joining LGA Architectural Partners she worked with G. Bruce Stratton Architects on various community projects including the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Design Excellence Award-winning Mount Dennis Public Library.
Beyond her work with LGA, Emira teaches architecture at the University of OCAD as a sessional faculty member where she has been sharing her expertise since 2021. In 2024, Emira became an executive board member of Building Equality in Architecture (BEA) Toronto chapter, an organization that advocates for equity and diversity and is committed to creating systemic change within the architectural industry.
When she is not designing buildings, teaching architecture or advocating for change, Emira enjoys building furniture, ceramics, and art objects. She has also written and illustrated three children’s books.
BES, MArch
Associate
Jason Hong is a dedicated Project Architect who believes in the power of asking the right questions and listening to stakeholders to drive successful design outcomes. With a passion for problem-solving and collaboration, Jason’s responsibilities include project management, consultant coordination, client liaison, communication with authorities, and design. His extensive professional experience spans projects ranging from public buildings to cultural spaces, where he has demonstrated expertise in site analysis, consensus building, site planning, and construction detailing.
Jason has worked on notable projects such as the Toronto Water public building (Project Administrator) with Unit A architecture, the Warden Avenue Public School Modular Kindergarten Addition (Project Architect) with Kohn Shnier Architects, and the St. Margaret Catholic School Gym Addition and Childcare Renovation (Project Architect) with LGA, among others.
His educational background includes a Master of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, reflecting his commitment to a holistic approach to architecture.
Outside of work, Jason enjoys playing complex board games with his child and building Lego sculptures, aligning with his philosophy of creating complex things from simple pieces.
José Castel-Branco joined LGA in 2009 and was instrumental in the office’s early adoption of BIM (Building Information Modelling). His software knowledge and construction management expertise have made him a key team member on many complex projects; recently he was the contract administrator at Laurentian University’s OAA Design Excellence Award-winning McEwen School of Architecture.
A licensed architect who studied at the University of Toronto, José gained wide-ranging experience at Taylor Hariri Pontarini Architects, Diamond Schmidt Architects, Adamson Associates, and Bortolotto Design Architects.
His completed projects with LGA include Avenue Road Public School, the LEED Gold renovation and expansion of Kitchener Public Library’s main location, TPL’s Albert Campbell branch renovation; several single-family residences, and car dealerships for Audi and JLR.
Among José’s ongoing projects are recladding and reglazing some of TCHC’s existing buildings to extend their use and revitalize their respective communities for another 50 years.
Active in many industry associations, he serves as a design studio instructor and critic for the RAIC Syllabus program and is a contributor to Dominion Modern, an organization dedicated to raising public awareness of all things modern in Canada.
BArch, MRAIC
Senior Associate
Kevin Martin brings to LGA a diverse range of experience on projects of various scales and complexity, that include community and cultural spaces, commercial, hospitality, single family and mixed-use housing in New York and Toronto. He has managed a range of multi-use residential developments in Toronto and brings expertise in Master Planning and deft command of Rezoning and Site Plan Approvals. He has played key roles in many projects working with Indigenous groups, including the University of Toronto Scarborough Indigenous House and the Sky Canoe Headquarters on Scugog Island First Nation.
He is currently project manager for the Mount Dennis Quilt mixed-use affordable housing project for the Learning Enrichment Foundation and recently completed pre-design of the Tenants Non-Profit Redevelopment Co-operative’s Forestwood Drive intensification in Mississauga; the project aims to add 400–500 affordable housing units to the site and connect the expanded community through a dynamic public realm.
Sophie studied architecture at Université de Montréal, Carleton University, Istanbul Technical University in Turkey and École nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Malaquais in France. She is licensed with the OAQ (Ordre des architectes du Québec), having lived and practiced in Montreal for several years. In addition to educational, community and residential architecture, her experience encompasses urban design and transportation-sector projects. After moving to Toronto in 2013, she worked at Weiss Architecture and Urbanism, where she became an Associate in 2016. At that firm she developed a strong interest in community and not-for-profit projects. Sophie joined LGA in 2017, where her projects include a new housing co-op for Innstead and several Toronto Community Housing tower renewal projects. Sophie has served as a guest reviewer at the architecture schools of Carleton University, the University of Toronto, and Waterloo University. Independently, she has worked on numerous residential renovations in Montreal and an eco-tourism development in Luang Prabang, Laos.