About Our Practice
We're not your typical architecture firm - we dig deep into the bones of old industrial sites and breathe new life into 'em.
We're not your typical architecture firm - we dig deep into the bones of old industrial sites and breathe new life into 'em.
Started back in 2012, Grim Valor Forge came about because honestly, we were tired of seeing beautiful industrial buildings getting torn down for yet another glass box development. There's something about a century-old brick facade or exposed steel trusses that you just can't replicate with new construction.
Our name? Yeah, it's a bit different. "Grim" reflects the raw, honest character of industrial spaces - they weren't built to be pretty, they were built to work. "Valor" speaks to the courage it takes to see potential where others see demolition costs. And "Forge"? Well, that's what we do - we forge new possibilities from old steel and brick.
Based in Toronto's Queen West, we've spent over a decade working with developers, municipalities, and heritage boards to transform abandoned factories, warehouses, and production facilities into spaces people actually want to use. It's messy work sometimes, but man, it's rewarding.
We've learned a thing or two about bringing old buildings back. Here's our approach - nothing fancy, just what works.
Every building's got a story. We spend time understanding what made the space special originally before we touch a single brick.
No point designing something that can't get built or doesn't make financial sense. We're practical people working with practical constraints.
Not everything old needs saving, but the good stuff? We fight for it. Character elements become design features, not obstacles.
Historic doesn't mean outdated. We integrate modern systems, sustainability, and functionality into every project.
Principal Architect
Been doing this for 20+ years. Started out in heritage conservation and never looked back. Got my hands dirty on over 60 adaptive reuse projects across Ontario.
Design Director
Industrial design background meets architecture. I love solving the puzzle of how to make 100-year-old spaces work for modern needs without losing their soul.
Heritage Specialist
The person who knows every heritage bylaw and can sweet-talk any preservation board. I make sure we're respecting history while pushing boundaries where we can.
Key moments that shaped who we are today
Founded in a renovated printing factory on Queen West. Our first project was literally our own office space - figured if we're gonna preach adaptive reuse, better practice it.
Landed the Riverside Textile Mill conversion. 180,000 sq ft of abandoned manufacturing space turned into mixed-use. Put us on the map and won a heritage conservation award.
Started integrating serious green building tech into our heritage work. Turns out old buildings can be super energy-efficient with the right approach.
Grew the team to 15 people. Started taking on urban planning projects to influence how entire industrial districts get redeveloped, not just individual buildings.
Over 40 completed adaptive reuse projects. Working on some of the coolest industrial transformations in Canada. Still learning, still pushing, still loving what we do.
Look, we could design new buildings all day. But there's something about working with existing structures that gets us fired up. Maybe it's the sustainability angle - reusing what's already there instead of dumping it in a landfill. Maybe it's the challenge of solving problems that weren't in any textbook.
Or maybe it's just that these old industrial buildings have a character you can't fake. Those massive timber beams? They came from old-growth forests that don't exist anymore. That brick? Laid by hand over a hundred years ago. The patina, the wear, the stories in the walls - that stuff's real.
Plus, let's be honest - tearing down perfectly good buildings and starting from scratch is wasteful. We're not precious about it, but if a structure's got good bones, why not use 'em?
See Our Heritage WorkGot an old building that needs some love? Let's talk about what's possible. We do free initial site visits - come see if we're a good fit.
Get in Touch View Portfolio