Sustainability | Zephral Quinthor Architecture

Real Projects, Real Impact

These aren't just pretty renders - they're actual buildings where people live and work. Here's what went into making them sustainable.

CASE STUDY 01

Riverside Commons Residential

Toronto, ON | Completed March 2023

The Challenge

This old 1970s apartment block was basically bleeding energy. The owners wanted to retrofit it without displacing tenants - which, honestly, seemed nearly impossible at first. We had to work around people's lives while completely reimagining the building's envelope.

What We Actually Did

Phase 1 (Months 1-3)

Installed external insulation system - basically wrapped the whole building in a thermal blanket without touching the interior walls. Tenants barely noticed except for the scaffolding outside.

Phase 2 (Months 4-7)

Replaced every single window with triple-glazed units. We did it floor by floor, working with residents to schedule around their routines. The noise reduction alone made people happy before they even saw their utility bills drop.

Phase 3 (Months 8-11)

Added a green roof with rainwater collection. This was tricky because the existing structure wasn't designed for the extra weight, so we had to reinforce key areas. But now they've got this amazing rooftop garden space that also handles stormwater runoff.

Phase 4 (Months 12-14)

Upgraded HVAC to a geothermal heat pump system. This was the most disruptive part, but we scheduled the heavy work during summer when heating wasn't critical.

The Results That Matter

68%

Energy use reduction

$340/mo

Avg. tenant savings

Zero

Tenant relocations

LEED Gold

Certification achieved

"The best part? Tenant satisfaction actually went up during construction. People appreciated being kept in the loop and seeing their building transform. Plus, lower utility bills don't hurt."

- Project Lead, Sarah Chen

BEFORE

AFTER

CASE STUDY 02

Northgate Office Complex

Mississauga, ON | Completed September 2022

Starting Point

This was a typical early 2000s office building - lots of glass, no shading, terrible air circulation. The company's cooling costs were through the roof every summer, and employees complained constantly about glare and temperature swings. They came to us pretty desperate for solutions.

Our Approach

Months 1-2: Analysis & Planning

We ran thermal imaging studies and tracked sun patterns throughout the year. Turns out the west-facing facade was the main culprit - just getting hammered by afternoon sun with zero protection.

Months 3-6: Facade Reconstruction

Added this adaptive shading system - basically aluminum fins that move with the sun throughout the day. Sounds fancy but it's pretty simple tech. Also integrated photovoltaic panels into the south-facing sections.

Months 7-9: Interior Systems

Completely redesigned the ventilation to use natural air flow when possible. Installed smart sensors that adjust lighting and temperature based on actual occupancy - no more cooling empty conference rooms all day.

Months 10-11: Landscaping

Planted native species around the building perimeter for additional shading and to help with site drainage. The bioswales we added handle rainwater way better than the old storm drains ever did.

Technical Specs Worth Mentioning

190 kW solar array generating about 30% of building's power needs
Smart building management system that learns usage patterns over time
Rainwater harvesting system providing all irrigation water plus toilet flushing
LED lighting throughout with daylight harvesting sensors
High-efficiency VRF HVAC system replacing old constant-volume setup

By The Numbers

72%

Less cooling demand

$180K

Annual utility savings

45%

Water use reduction

5.8 years

Payback period

Unexpected Benefit

Employee satisfaction scores went up 34% after the renovation. Turns out people really do work better when they're not constantly adjusting blinds or fighting with the thermostat. Who knew?

CASE STUDY 03

Queen Street Heritage Retrofit

Toronto, ON | Completed June 2023

The Tricky Part

Heritage buildings are tough because you can't just tear into walls and start changing stuff. This 1920s commercial building had beautiful brick facades that were legally protected, but inside it was an energy nightmare. We had to get creative - really creative.

Working Around Restrictions

Investigation Phase

Spent weeks with heritage consultants figuring out what we could and couldn't touch. Ended up doing a ton of work from the interior that's completely invisible from the street.

Insulation Strategy

Used aerogel insulation on interior walls - this space-age material that's only like 10mm thick but performs like traditional insulation that'd be 100mm. Expensive but it let us keep the original plaster detailing.

Window Solution

Couldn't replace the original windows, so we added interior storm windows that look nearly invisible but create a thermal break. Also restored all the original hardware - those old counterweights still work perfectly.

Systems Upgrade

Installed mini-split heat pumps hidden in the ceiling cavities. The only visible parts are these slim vents that we painted to match the original millwork. You'd never know they're there.

Lessons Learned

This project taught us that heritage and sustainability don't have to be at odds. Sometimes the constraint of working with existing structures forces you to come up with better solutions than you would with a blank slate. Plus, the embodied carbon savings from not demolishing and rebuilding? Huge.

54%

Energy reduction

100%

Heritage features preserved

Heritage Award

Toronto Heritage Preservation Services - 2023

"The owners were skeptical at first - thought we'd have to compromise either on sustainability or heritage. Proving them wrong on both counts was pretty satisfying."

- Lead Architect, Marcus Obi

Building Better, Not Just Bigger

Why We're Obsessed with Green Design

2.8M kWh