Dewson Architects

Name: Dewson Architects
Address: 174 Bedford Road, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2K9, Canada
Telephone: +1 416-966-6635
Rating: 4.9

21 Reviews

Architects & Building Designers

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About Us

Eco-friendly

High-end

4x Best of Houzz winner

Toronto's Premier Architecture & Design Firm – 4x Best of Houzz Winner

Creating sustainable legacies, one building at a time. Founded in 1996, Dewson Architects specializes in residential architecture - historic, contemporary, sustainable. Great design stands the test of time. We bring timeless design to everything we do. Together with exceptional service, we have become one of the most sought-after architecture firms in the GTA. For many people, building a new house using an architect can be both an exciting and yet stressful time. With numerous satisfied clients, we understand the anxiety that can come with a purchase of this significance. We work with every customer, every step of the way, to mitigate the stress. There is both an art and a science to architectural design. The science we learn through our education and training. The art of architectural design comes from innate talent, skills training, and a ‘no compromises’ philosophy. A promise is personal. And it’s a commitment. There is even an inherent emotion in the word ‘promise’, more than you will find in a written contract. And at the core of the word ‘promise’ is trust. Hard to earn. Easy to lose. We don’t make promises we can’t keep, and we fulfill promises we make.

Services Provided

3D Rendering, Architectural Design, Building Design, Custom Homes, Energy-Efficient Homes, Green Building, Historic Building Conservation, Home Additions, Home Extensions, Home Remodeling, New Home Construction, Sustainable Design

Areas Served

Toronto, Casa Loma, Davenport, Deer Park, East York, Etobicoke, High Park North, Hillcrest Village, Hogg's Hollow, Lawrence Heights, Midtown Toronto, North York, Upper Beaches, Wychwood Park, York, GTA & Southern Ontario, Muskoka, Georgian Bay, Prince Edward County, Kawarthas

Awards

The Farnham House by William Dewson Architects was awarded the Platinum Designation under LEED for Homes Canada - the first in Toronto. Design and collaborative work featured in The Globe & Mail, House & Home, EcoHouse Magazine, Green Building & Sustainable Strategies and more.

23 Projects

Burritts Island Cottage

Business Details

Business Name

Dewson Architects

Phone Number

+1 416-966-6635

Website

www.dewson.com

Address

174 Bedford Road, Suite 200
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2K9
Canada

Typical Job Cost

CAD 1,000,000 - CAD 5,000,000

Followers

335 Followers

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Credentials

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Featured Review

HU-551784043

We are thrilled with our home that Dewson Architects designed for us. It resembles a longhouse nestled into a natural saddle of the Canadian Shield.Read Full Review

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21 Reviews for Dewson Architects

Newest first

4.9|21 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

HU-958063235

Absolute professionals! Extremely knowledgeable and detailed, working with Dewson Architects has been, and still is a great experience. The attention to detail coupled with the creative vision and the understanding of real world construction details to achieve their goal is unparalleled. Bill and Kyle have been a pleasure to work with, highly recommend Dewson Architects

8 March 2024

HU-551784043

We are thrilled with our home that Dewson Architects designed for us. It resembles a longhouse nestled into a natural saddle of the Canadian Shield. Vaulted wooden ceilings, yet because of the birch plywood walls and wide plank soft wood floors it feels cozy and like it's been there forever, sitting perfectly in the landscape. I love the details, like the way light travels through the length of the space by strategically placed openings, the slight overhang metal roof which allows us to immerse ourselves in thunderstorms with the windows open in the summer heat, and watch the snow slide off in winter, the wide stairway with bannisters each side which permit two to pass each other, naturally illuminated, with floor to ceiling windows top and bottom, the three season cedar screened room where we relax in the tree tops, immersed in the forest. It's stunning to visit, to live in, and Dewson Architects created a truly thoughtful design. We love the space and so will many future generations. Abby Simons

15 June 2023

Dino Vannicola

Have been working with the firm for 18 years. They designed our family cottage, first project, and then we used them to design two offices. When you build, you generally have a concept in your mind of what you desire. We had a tremendous location and our own esthetic. Dewson listened to our hopes and took the time to explore what our esthetic was, through visits to our home and property. They asked the right questions in my mind and the result was a level of trust which developed between us that respected our ideas, and enhanced our concepts. We thought we understood the process, but we were naïve. They brought us up to speed and it was easy to park my arrogance and listen to constructive suggestions. We have beautiful spaces because of them. My new office is spectacular and it was a challenging project in an old building. The process was the same. Understand what we want and give it their special knowledge. Special in the sense of enhancing our own esthetic. I use that word a lot, but the place you build has to be a reflection of who you are. Dewson et al know how to bring that to reality.

14 June 2023

Craig Davidson

I have known and worked with Dewson Architects since 2017 on my home in Rosedale. They stood out to me when making the selection as very genuine and knowledgeable with their work. They were able to construct and make my visions for the home become reality. They have the experience and have done it all. Their professionalism and ability to navigate the intimidating permit / committee of adjustment process was seamless. They were very thorough and never missed any details on drawings/ communication between trades and builders. They were able to come up with ideas that took the project to another level. On a personal level what they are able to offer you in terms of value is the best I have seen.

2 June 2023

K James Construction

We have worked with William and Kyle since appx 2012. Working on a multi stage project together we completed a beautiful main cottage, boathouse, sleeping cabin and storage Building. We can't say enough about their expertise, professionalism and knowledge of the building process. They we're able to put together a definitive package from permitting to finish for on-water structures and island work. This was paired with the beauty and functionality that you would expect from a world class architecture firm, and the contacts and partners to complete the challenging projects. We would definitely chose to work with this firm again.

24 October 2017

LJT

I hired Bill Dewson following an exhaustive search to find an architect who could design a cottage for my family that was a little out of the box. We wanted to create a contemporary space that fit seamlessly into the setting and yet still felt like a warm, inviting cottage. After several design iterations, during which Bill responded beautifully to our every suggestion and concern, he came up with a concept that was outstanding. He and Kyle England managed the project from the design phase through to completion. There were the inevitable hiccups along the way which they handled professionally and in a timely manner. Perhaps Bill and Kyle's greatest strength lies in their ability to think out of the box and solve problems both creatively and practically. We had challenging site constraints and engineering issues which they handled well. My desire to incorporate environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving systems throughout was encouraged and knowledgeably executed. In short, they designed and oversaw the construction of an incredible, aesthetically beautiful cottage that our family will love for what I hope is generations to come.

1 March 2017

Rosario Cartagena

We hired Bill and his team in early 2016 to envision the space for an addition. We had purchased a heritage home in the Lawrence park region and needed a full extension added. Bill did a fabulous job! He designed a really unique addition with a beautiful curved breakfast nook and windows throughout. He is professional and thoughtful in his approach. His team is very accessible and knowledgeable. Any changes were made quickly and without any fuss. We would certainly recommend Bill and his team - they are terrific architects!

30 December 2016

Comment from Dewson Architects:

It has been a great pleasure working with you too Rosario!
We've been happy to see that the renovation/extension progressing well, and can't wait until you are able to move into your new home.
All the best in the new year!

Alienor Guilhem

William Dewson Architects was recommended to me by a GC working on high end residential projects in Toronto. They helped me getting all the permit drawings reviewed and approved to convert an Annex home from a single unit into a two units home. They’ve been extremely helpful, helped on building code issues, construction methods, planning in a very professional and timely manner. I am myself an interior designer, owner of Chapi Chapo Design and I would highly recommend William Dewson Architects.

18 December 2016

Comment from Dewson Architects:

Thank you greatly for the kind review Alienor!
We've enjoyed working with you on this fun project, your design sense is evident throughout your design.
We look forward to working with you on many projects to come.

Dark Tools

Working with WDA is a great collaborative effort, we have worked on many projects together and truly love the syncronicity that each firm bring to the table in order to provide our joint clients a distinct and well thought out home.

14 December 2016

NADURRA

As a supplier working as a flooring consultant, with Kyle from Dewson, we found that the project we worked on was very organized and therefore eliminated any of the potential pitfalls or delays that can happen from the supplier end. Kyle was clear in articulating his quality and timeline expectations allowing us to provide the best flooring solutions for the project, so that all involved were happy with the outcome. Having worked with Dewson, we would expect that clients will benefit from their dedication to choosing the right products based on quality, purpose and budget. We have enjoyed our collaborations immensely and always look forward to working with Kyle and the firm.

13 December 2016

Cliff and Evans Ltd.

Bill, Kyle and the team at William Dewson Architects are a pleasure to work with! We have just finished our first renovation project with them on a century old home in Toronto which was a great success.The project faced some unexpected challenges due to poor renovations done in the past, which required quick thinking and fast turn around on a revised plan. Bill and his team met the challenge and worked with us to keep the project moving. We are now about to start the construction phase on our next project with them which has required great planning and attention to detail. We have truly left no stone un-turned on this one! We look forward to finishing another beautiful project and working together with the Dewson team on more projects in the future.

2 December 2016

Micah Vernon

We worked alongside William, Kyle and the rest of the team at Dewson Architects as the project managers for the construction of a beautifully designed new home on one of Toronto's great streets. The original home's facade was heritage and the remainder had some novel site conditions. This required special consideration by Dewson Architects. They did a great job balancing these conditions and the client's desires. They did an equally great job communicating with us and the client as the project's construction took place and on-site realities required decisions to be made quickly and with consensus of the constructor team and client. We would highly recommend them and look forward to working with them again.

30 November 2016

jmar28

After many searches, my wife and I chose Bill Dewson to design our home. Bill was chosen as a result of his portfolio of past works and his meticulous attention to fine details. He and his staff were exceptional in designing our home, obtaining the building permit and inspecting the construction of our home. He and his staff were always readily available to assist us throughout the whole process. We highly recommend Bill and his staff.

22 December 2014

South Park Design Build

We worked with Dewson Architects on the first LEED Platinum residential house in the GTA! They were a pleasure to work with. Attention to detail is second to none. Their architectural/design ideas are always fresh and organically inspired. I'd recommend this firm to anyone looking for a hands on team full of great ideas. They were honest and upfront at all times throughout the project. They were clear with respect to their overall goals, but could also step back and help solve issues that inevitably pop up on a job site. Both Bill and Kyle were always just a phone call away whether we needed direction on a particular LEED detail. an aesthetic gesture or an intricate structural component. Undoubtedly a pleasure to work with.

2 December 2014

SCE Construction Management Inc.

Bill and his team at William Dewson Architect are Fantastic. I have been lucky to work with them on a number of projects over the past 10 years. As a business they are professional in approach, process driven and attentive to all the details. Bill has a specific talent for coordination of all the moving parts of the project. His willingness to roll up his sleeves and get involved is refreshing and very helpful in pushing project schedules. His technical ability and design talent are wide reaching, making him versatile with new construction and renovations, both in traditional and modern architecture. William Dewson Architect is centrally located in mid town Toronto making them accessible for meetings and site visit.

2 December 2014

hchri

Bill and his team have worked on several of my projects and have delivered outstanding results. I love the way he combines a high sense of aesthetic with a grounded practical approach. Bill's passion, work ethic and great sense of humor make him a joy to do business with. He is my number one pick when it comes to architects.

5 November 2014

Chris Hind

Our project, a comprehensive renovation of a Toronto home originally built in 1897, was led by Bill Dewson and supported by Kyle England. Bill was fully engaged through every stage of our project including functional and ashtetic design, permit management, structural engineering, construction drawings, construction manager selection, electrical design and fixture selection, millwork design, and consultation with our construction manager through to completion. Bill is exceptionally creative and he was able to find a fantastic balance of asthetic design and practical function for our family of 5. Of course this required several iterations with meetings, phone calls and email. Throughout Bill listened closely and openly to our feedback and strove to incorporate where practical while keeping the project on track. Bill and Kyle are also very personable and were a joy to work with - I would have no hesitation recommending him to my closest friends.

28 August 2013

nancyandgreg

We hired William Dewson Architects based on a recommendation. Our first meeting was thrilling. We didn't feel a great amount of enthusiasm from others. Bill seemed to inhale our home and immediately exhaled a great concept. We felt he truly understood what we needed and wanted keeping in mind our overall budget. He sailed us through the Committee of Adjustment hearing. The team has been thorough and patient. Our construction project is about to begin and we will update our review as it progresses.

29 July 2013

vanessacontemp

Full renovation of a semi detached home. Provided architectural plans in order to increase the over all square ft and over all functionality of our home to meet the needs of our family. WDA is extremely enthusiastic with great energy and passion about their work. Overall, enjoyed the experience.

25 July 2013

morryguttman

William Dewson Architects collaborated with me on a recent resale house and provided creative space planning solutions and a full set of architectural and construction drawings. I have also work with them for my own residence, a modern newly built home on a challenging site. They are very professional and deliver work as promised and on time. It is a pleasure to work with them as they are flexible and easy to work with. I would recommend them highly to anyone, either a homeowner, general contractor or investor looking for an organization who can bring inspired creativity and fully completed plans to the situation.

8 July 2013

dmhca

I hired William Dewson Architects to design a summer cottage in Georgian Bay on a 5 acre island. Our first challenge was to figure out the site plan and where to put the cottage given numerous zoning restrictions and other natural fators. Bill and his team were great to work with throughout the whole process of defining the best site and then brainstorming the design that best suited our family asthetic. Bill's charismatic enthusiasm made our meetings fun and creative, we were all very happy with the end result and thoroughly enjoyed the design experience from start to finish.

7 June 2013

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33 Comments

Commented: beautiful cottageGood day, and thank you for your inquiry! I believe this was PacClad, 'pre-weathered zinc' metal for standing seam roofs. Typically they are 16" spacing for the standing seams. Best, Kyle

29 July 2021

Commented: WindowsHi there, thanks for your enquiry! The windows were supplied by @Loewen Windows and Doors Windows for this project. Best, Kyle

24 July 2020

Commented: What is the square footage of this cottage?Thanks Jacqui! If I recall correctly, it was in the 3500SF range. It was a full renovation & addition to an older cottage that had some... deficiences. All the best, Kyle

9 May 2020

Commented: sidingsHi Natalie, thanks for your question! The siding was western red cedar shakes, done in a custom mix of stains prior to installation. Yes, it is perfectly suited for Canadian climate... this building i...

21 September 2019

Commented: Who manufactures the windows?Hello, thanks for your inquiry! I can't recall specifically who the manufacturer was, but it was something along the lines of what www.weatherwall.com provides. Best of luck in your search! Kyle

8 July 2019

Commented: Can you please tell me what colors you used on the shutters and door?Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question... the shutters and door were done previous to the renovation we did. I know they are a flat black, but not the specif...

15 April 2018

Dewson Architects