The team, led by Dermot Sweeny, John Gillanders and Caroline Richard, sees every project as a partnership with clients to create better buildings, interior spaces, and cities.
Dermot, Architect and President/Founder of Sweeny&Co Architects Inc. is an industry innovator. He brings together building design, urban design, urban economics, real estate development, and often architectural heritage and adaptive re-use to maximize the value of each of the firm’s projects for the benefit of Occupants and Owner’s alike.
Dermot has brought global and national corporations such as Microsoft, Loblaw, TELUS, RBC Financial Group, RBC Dexia, and BMW to the forefront of sustainability. His commissions include commercial office towers, head offices, mixed-use, transit oriented and residential developments, academic institutions, hospitality, and retail interiors. This broad base of clientele and project typologies is further served with real-estate development, financial proforma analysis, development consulting and project management. His passion for sustainability has evolved to include health and wellness in the design of facilities that dramatically reduce carbon footprint, reinforce brand and increase profit, while exceeding standards in occupant comfort, performance and flexibility. Many of his Class AAA commercial office buildings are LEED Platinum, WELL Building and Wired Score Certified. In addition, with more than 3000 residential units completed and another 12,000 in design, Dermot and the firm are also focused on bringing award winning, mixed use residential developments to market and designing residential buildings, whether market or luxury, that lead the market in sales and contribute to the community. Focus on Smart Density and City Building has allowed Dermot and the firm to build and maintain trusted investor, tenant and institutional client relationships with aligned goals to create exceptional buildings.
Caroline Richard, Principal at Sweeny &Co Architects Inc. has a portfolio that spans over 30 years and includes multi-residential buildings, office and retail that exemplify her core motivating drivers-innovation, value, and excellence in design. A graduate of the University of Waterloo, Caroline leads each Client’s project with a detailed understanding of municipal approvals, design and complex construction. She leads the Residential Studio and multi-residential projects that span luxury to mid-market, mid-rise to high-rise, including condominium, rental, and affordable housing solutions. Many of the firm’s current projects are mixed-use with residential, retail and often include office space. These complex designs in urban residential solutions are efficiently planned to optimize value while they extend the public realm, help build community and achieve sustainable targets - while earning awards: 11 Yorkville won 2020 Best High Rise Architectural Design from the Ontario Home Builders Association, 123 Portland won 2020 Excellence in Housing Design from the Canadian Home Builders Association, and Gold for 2020 High Rise Community of the Year from The National Association of Home Builders. These area few among other awards won in recent years. With her focus on mentoring a talented team of design professionals as she leads the development of multi-residential projects on behalf of her Client’s, Caroline creates outstanding residential assets that are valued by Owner’s, Investors and Tenants.
An established, respected industry leader and designer, John Gillanders is an Architect and Principal of Sweeny&Co Architects Inc., leading the Office and Workplace Studio. A Graduate of University of Waterloo, he has provided design expertise for commercial, industrial, residential, retail and hospitality environments for over 30 years. John has led and managed prominent, high-performance, commercial office and mixed-use projects in Canada that range from 100,000 sf to 2M sf and include office, retail, and residential, among other uses. He brings unique experience with complex municipal approvals having designed many successful transit-oriented developments in tight urban settings. John’s approach integrates smart density principles through adaptive reuse of heritage, as demonstrated in numerous urban commercial projects. His exceptional talent is echoed in the success of award-winning projects such as the Microsoft Canada Headquarters, Loblaw Companies Limited Headquarters, Spectrum Square, AeroCentre V, Telus House, RBC Centre, and more than 18 coveted design awards for Queen Richmond Centre West. In addition to the value he brings in architecture and urban design, John’s broad experience comprises master planning, interior design, furniture, and fixture design. John is a LEED accredited professional who is committed to design buildings that improve the lives of the occupants while reducing the impact of buildings on the natural environment. His collaborative style and in-depth knowledge bring enthusiasm, gratification and confidence to both clients and colleagues.
