Stanford Downey Architects

The work at Stanford Downey Architects Inc. is characterized by its personal service and attention to detail. Our staff of 15 people ensure consistent management of a job. Every project is important to us. For over 30 years, we have successfully completed complex and technically demanding projects.

Our areas of expertise include historical conservation, pharmaceutical and laboratory design, Data Centres and Hospitality. Although varied, all of our projects are characterized by the attention that we pay to our clients needs while developing our design solutions. We approach each design challenge without a preconceived or “boxed” solution.

The new movement for green architecture is nothing new for SDA inc. We have made many of the principals of green design a priority in our projects over the last 30 years. Green roof design, geothermal heating and cooling systems, solar photovoltaic/water preheat and daylighting/solar shades are only a few examples that have been implemented into our buildings.

Laboratories and pharmaceutical work have played a major role in our practice. In 1987, GlaxoSmithKline chose SDA inc. to design their Canadian corporate headquarters, which now boasts over 500,000sq.ft. campus of offices, laboratories and manufacturing facilities. Our sophisticated architecture not only affords natural daylight to every office, it represents one of the most completely integrated building management systems which runs all aspects of the building including the manufacturing processes.

SDA inc. is an award winning firm for their historical conservation including 10 Toronto Street (1990), the Winchester Hotel (2007) and One King Street West (2007). We have also done significant renovations and additions to several historically designated hotels including the Chateau Laurier (Ottawa), Hotel MacDonald (Edmonton- with IBI Group) and The King Edward Hotel (Toronto).

We have a long history designing Data Centres and high tech offices. Technical expertise in Mainframes, Back up Generators, UPS and Call Centres our only a few of the services that we can offer our clients which include the Royal Bank of Canada, iServ Ontario, Pharma Medica and GlaxoSmithKline.

Lastly, SDA inc. has designed a broad range of residential condominium and hotel complexes for such chains as Hilton, Holiday Inn, Days Inn, CN Hotels, CP Hotels and The Four Seasons. One King Street West completed in 2006 represents the first condo/hotel in the city. At 51 storeys, it is the tallest residential building in Canada and the slenderest residential building in the world. The 930 room, 53 storey Hilton Niagara, is slated for completion of the Phase 2 tower in 2009. Design for Phase 3 is underway and includes a Convention Centre and a 1.5 acre indoor Waterpark/Fitness Centre.

We are proud of SDA inc’s ability to resolve complex, technologically demanding functions into elegant, economical structures, but it is our attention to the intangible needs of our clients for personal and timely service that has resulted in our strong and long-term working relationships.