From the humblest civic buildings in a local neighborhood to some of the most iconic and recognizable projects in the country, Canada’s architecture scene is a force to be reckoned with. A handful of firms have consistently pushed the boundaries and set the pace, with their work having a real impact on how our cities grow, how public spaces function, and how complex buildings are built. Here’s a look at the top architecture companies in Canada making a significant mark in public, commercial, and institutional projects.
Where the Canadian architecture industry stands today
Despite the economy’s ups and downs, architectural work in Canada has continued to thrive. The public sector has remained active, investing in major infrastructure projects such as transit, healthcare, and higher education, which in turn sustains strong demand for larger architecture firms. According to Statistics Canada, investment in non-residential construction has been performing well. Particularly when it comes to institutional and infrastructure projects, which are so often tied to population growth and climate change mitigation efforts. Additionally, sustainability requirements and energy codes have become much tougher, prompting firms to build in-house expertise and avoid outsourcing all technical work.
But there’s another pretty clear trend emerging in Canadian architecture. An increasing number of firms are shifting towards a more integrated design approach that combines architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design all under one roof. This makes sense, given how much larger, multi-phase projects have become and how they’re often delivered in Canada. Major infrastructure projects are generally handled through public-private partnerships or other complex procurement models that require super close coordination between public owners and private design teams—precisely the kind of thing Infrastructure Ontario outlines.
Top 10 architecture companies in Canada
10. KPMB Architects
Market cap/revenue: $64.7 million
Employees: 100+
CEO: Partner-led firm—Founding Partners include Shirley Blumberg, Bruce Kuwabara, and Marianne McKenna
Founded: 1987
KPMB is one of those Toronto firms that keep showing up on the shortlist when a client wants a serious building with long-term value. They’re well known for cultural and institutional work, which generally involves juggling many stakeholders, working on tight urban sites, and the attention that comes with it. Their portfolio comprises projects that must last for decades: university campuses, museums, performance venues, and civic buildings.
What gets KPMB noticed is how often other Canadian designers use their projects as reference points. When a client is looking for a building that just feels right—calm, well-thought-out, and built for everyday use—KPMB is often the name that comes up in conversation. Plus, the fact that they’re not shy about discussing their studio culture and how it’s grown over the years makes them a strong choice for young designers who don’t want to burn out.
9. Zeidler Architecture
Market cap/revenue: $52 million
Employees: Listed in the 51–200 range publicly
CEO: John Rovere (Partner & CFO) and Dawei Hu
Founded: 1954
Zeidler has been around for long enough now that many Canadians have worked, studied, or lived in buildings designed by the firm, often without even realising it. The company’s name appears regularly in large-scale projects, including university campuses, housing estates, hospitals, and large mixed-use developments. That kind of work is where you can’t just be winging it—you need a team that can hit the ground running, reliable project management systems in place, and leaders savvy enough to keep a design team on track over long stretches.
Their teams work very closely together at every stage, from design development to project coordination. As a result, Zeidler projects tend to look like a million bucks from the day they open, and five years later, they’re still holding strong, even when they’re being used to the max. The firm’s longevity is also a significant plus: owners appreciate knowing that the team that built their building will still be available when it’s time for renovations, expansions, or new phases. For tradespeople, this usually means getting more accurate drawings, greater consistency in details, and fewer late changes.
8. Architecture49
Market cap/revenue: $16.4 million
Employees: 300+ across Canada
CEO: Corporate leadership varies by region, with Glen Klym listed as President
Founded: 2014
Architecture 49 is a large national practice formed through the merger of several well-established Canadian firms. That history is essential, as it explains how they can compete nationally while leveraging real local knowledge. They’ve built a reputation for doing work that deeply serves the community—hospitals, civic buildings, schools, and roads that people rely on.
If you’ve ever worked on a project in a smaller town, you know that having local connections makes all the difference. Architecture 49 tends to do well in that world, getting it right because they’re plugged into the local environment—who has a say, what the local codes are, how to navigate procurement rules, and the nitty-gritty of building. Plus, they’ve got the people and resources to take on those long public projects without having to keep shuffling people in and out. For owners and contractors, that’s a significant weight off their shoulders, as they know the team will be stable.
7. Diamond Schmitt Architects
Market cap/revenue: $189.4 million
Employees: 300+
CEO: Principal-led firm with Iva Radikova as lead Principal
Founded: 1975
Diamond Schmitt is inextricably linked to cultural and institutional projects that hold real significance for the public, such as libraries, galleries, performing arts spaces, and university buildings. And just looking good isn’t enough—the building has to handle crowds, security, acoustics, daylight, and ongoing maintenance without turning into a nightmare to work with. Their studio has built a reputation for creating buildings that look fantastic and take great photos, but also for designing buildings that feel built to last as civic architecture.
A large portion of their success stems from consistently securing major public projects. When a firm repeatedly secures high-profile work, it usually means it’s trusted to see things through. They also invest significant time and resources in developing strong leadership within the studio, and it shows in their project management and communication with the team. And if you’re on the ground building these projects, it can mean fewer late-night redesigns and a clear vision that extends from the drawings to the building site.
6. DIALOG
Market cap/revenue: $50+ million
Employees: 600+
CEO: Partnership-led practice (publicly presented as partners/studios rather than a single CEO) (LinkedIn)
Founded: 1960
DIALOG is one of Canada’s select few firms that seamlessly combine architecture, engineering, and interior design—whether it’s a high-rise office tower, a sprawling hospital, or a big-box library. And that makes a big difference on large projects where teams can easily get bogged down in coordinating all the moving parts and handoffs. DIALOG brings structural and systems thinking directly into design, helping avoid drawings that look good on paper but fall apart once construction begins.
They also have a substantial national reach, with studios in major cities and a long history of delivering landmark projects in Western Canada. The sheer size of their practice also gives them the capacity to tackle complex work without overloading the team, and most clients don’t realize how important that is when managing massive projects. Stability is often the unsung hero that keeps projects on track, and when that’s in place, schedules and budgets tend to stay on track.
5. Perkins&Will (Canada)
Market cap/revenue: $720 million globally
Employees: 2,600 globally
CEO: Phil Harrison
Founded: 1935
Perkins&Will’s Canadian presence is critical because it pairs local teams with a global practice that leverages significant research and specialization. Owners tackling large healthcare projects, labs, and major workplace portfolios tend to appreciate firms that can draw on knowledge and insights from other markets. That doesn’t mean just copying—it means having fewer projects where it’s a “first time we’ve ever done this” kind of moment. And in these uncertain times, when clients are nervous about cost blowouts, having that experience under their belt helps keep a project on an even keel.
Another reason the firm remains competitive is its long-standing focus on building performance and occupant comfort. Canadian markets can be challenging: high expectations around sustainability and materials, a harsh climate, numerous code requirements, and an ever-watchful public eye. The Perkins & Will teams bring a level of discipline and organisation to the drawing board that bigger firms often miss. And that shows up fast—when you’ve got a clear plan and good coordination, you don’t get bogged down in endless meetings and disputes, and you can get on with building.
4. Gensler (Canada)
Market cap/revenue: $1.88 billion globally
Employees: 7,000+ globally
CEO: Diane Hoskins and Andy Cohen
Founded: 1965
Gensler’s Canadian offices frequently appear in workplace, commercial interiors, mixed-use, and large-scale real estate projects, where getting started quickly and keeping things moving are key. They’re set up to handle big client accounts, repeat business, and tight deadlines. If you’ve worked on a tenant fit-out in a major city, chances are you’ve seen their drawings around or used some of their standard detail drawings. The advantage comes from established workflows, internal quality reviews, and teams that can scale quickly when schedules tighten.
The fact that they’re so big doesn’t automatically mean their designs are better, but it does mean clients get a level of predictability that they’re willing to pay a premium for. When a developer is rolling out several new locations or a corporate client is trying to standardise their offices, they need a firm that can keep the branding and look and feel consistent across all buildings without starting from scratch each time. For contractors, this can mean more repeatable parts of the build and better communication between different trades. It’s not flashy work, but it gets the project done.
3. HDR (Canada)
Market cap/revenue: $3.4 billion globally
Employees: 14,000+ globally
CEO: John Henderson
Founded: 1917
HDR sits at the intersection of architecture and engineering, with a focus on infrastructure-heavy work across healthcare systems, transportation, water, and extensive public facilities. Their size provides significant leverage, but it’s their genuine technical expertise that tends to secure major projects for them. On complex projects where procurement rules are strict and the approval process can drag on for extended periods, having someone with a broad skill set, like HDR, is valuable. Clients typically look for a company that can keep multiple balls in the air without sacrificing design integrity amidst all the chaos.
For people on the ground, such as trades and project managers, HDR’s value is usually evident in coordination and documentation. Big public projects are full of constraints—code requirements, safety rules, construction phasing, hospital infection control procedures, traffic management plans, you name them. The firms that live in that world tend to be pretty good at anticipating those ‘field reality’ issues before they blow up into expensive change orders.
2. Arcadis (IBI Group legacy in Canada)
Market cap/revenue: €3.9 billion globally
Employees: 36,000
CEO: Arcadis corporate leadership varies by region
Founded: IBI Group founded in 1974; acquired by Arcadis in 2022/2023
In Canada, many people still refer to the firm as “IBI,” reflecting how deeply its work in transit, campus, and city planning has become embedded across major regions. Arcadis’s acquisition then swept those studios into a larger global network, which, in turn, changed what Canadian teams are capable of taking on. Having a broader reach means access to highly specialized experts and more far-reaching client relationships, which is especially important for multi-country projects.
When a global company acquires a firm, the owners usually expect operations to run more smoothly and with greater resources, enabling on-time delivery. Contractors see this play out on site. Growth can mean better staffing and smoother delivery, or it can lead to confusion if teams aren’t aligned. Arcadis is one of the top players in this space for a reason—it’s got a volume of work and reach that’s really hard to match.
1. Stantec
Market cap/revenue: $5.9 billion globally
Employees: 31,000+
CEO: Gord Johnston
Founded: 1954
Stantec is one of the top architecture companies in Canada because it operates globally while maintaining a deep Canadian footprint. Their portfolio includes a range of work: buildings, infrastructure, water projects, energy schemes, and environmental services. But what sets them apart is that they can handle the really big-ticket items—like a complex hospital build with transport upgrades and site cleanup. That means one firm can handle it all under one roof, eliminating those difficult handoffs. Fewer handoffs generally mean fewer mistakes, especially on complicated projects.
Their rapid growth over the last ten years has changed the game for Canadian firms. They’ve achieved a whopping $5.9 billion in revenue for 2024 and a workforce of 31,000 to tap into. That means they can take on those massive projects and staff them properly without compromising anything else. And on the ground, that kind of scale means you get more of the experts you need, more checks in place to ensure everything meets the necessary standards, and more in-house expertise to address the unexpected issues that inevitably arise mid-build.
Final thoughts
Canada’s architecture industry is tied together by companies that understand how to build at scale without losing touch with what happens inside and outside buildings. A signature style or market sector doesn’t define the top architecture companies in Canada highlighted here. What sets them apart is their ability to deliver large, complex projects in the real world on tight budgets, with timelines that stretch as far as the eye can see. From those show-stopping landmarks that get all the headlines to the transit systems and healthcare facilities that keep our lives running smoothly, their work is everywhere you turn.
If you’re keen to dig a bit deeper into the companies, projects, and trends that are making Canada’s built environment tick, then subscribing to the Under the Hard Hat newsletter will give you a regular dose of industry news and analysis.
