Behind the Build: Janna Levitt - LGA Architectural Partners

Andrew Kline, Principal at Workshop APD, joins Behind the Build to share a career built on craft, risk, and mentorship. Raised in rural Ohio, his creativity was first inspired by his grandfather, a graphic artist, and nurtured by art teacher Lois Bachman, who encouraged him to pursue art school. After studying at Columbus College of Art & Design and completing a master’s at Cranbrook Academy of Art, Andrew developed a practice that merges fine art, interiors, and architecture into a holistic design approach.His early career began at L Brands, where he gained experience in corporate retail and international rollouts, followed by Yabu Pushelberg, where he worked on large-scale hospitality projects and honed his narrative-driven design process. In 2016/17, Andrew joined Workshop APD—then about 30 people—as its first Design Director. He helped reshape the studio, introduce new leadership structures, and strengthen its culture. Since then, the firm has grown to nearly 100 professionals, with offices in New York and Minneapolis and satellites in Greenwich, Nantucket, South Florida, Los Angeles, California, and Colorado. Today their portfolio spans high-end residential, multifamily, hospitality, commercial interiors, and product design.Workshop APD’s hospitality work now includes projects from Manhattan and Martha’s Vineyard to Times Square and the award-winning Moxy Banff hotel in Canada. At the same time, the studio expanded into product design—licensing collections with industry partners and launching Workshop Collection, a trade line with its own showroom. Its multidisciplinary model proved resilient during the pandemic, pivoting toward residential projects as demand surged.Now a Principal, Andrew balances creative direction with business development, client engagement, and mentorship. Education and professional growth are embedded in Workshop APD’s culture, with initiatives ranging from leadership development and knowledge transfer to book clubs and creative team programs. For Andrew, guiding both projects and people defines the work. Outside the studio, he recharges through DIY projects, ceramics, travel, and time in Jersey City with his two dogs.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caHenry Rotberg SteelTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

This episode was recorded live at the University of Waterloo before an audience of students, alumni, and colleagues. Four graduates returned to share their journeys: Carol Phillips (Moriyama Teshima Architects), Lisa D’Abbondanza (Arcadis), Robert Kastelic (Atelier Kastelic Buffey—AKB), and Drew Mandel (Drew Mandel Architects—DMA). Together they reflected on choosing Waterloo, the impact of its cultural history curriculum and Co-op program, and graduating into a recession that demanded resilience, initiative, and a willingness to work anywhere.They revisit formative studio critiques and the Rome term, then trace the thread into practice: Carol’s trajectory into public and post-secondary work and mass timber; Drew’s early break building a tight-lot modern house that launched a residential practice; Lisa’s move into transit architecture and leadership of large, engineer-heavy teams; and Robert’s shift from major cultural projects to finely detailed residential design with close client collaboration. Across scales, they describe the same habits: become expert in the task at hand (even a barrier-free washroom), communicate clearly, and keep joy and rigor in balance.The conversation highlights collaboration—what they’ve learned from acousticians, structural engineers, and builders—how to push for better solutions, and how to manage vulnerability when the work is public, permanent, and judged daily. In an open Q&A, they offer advice to students on Co-op, networking, office culture, and leaving gracefully if a fit isn’t right, while championing travel and firsthand experience as irreplaceable education. They close with reflections on why they’d still recommend architecture: it trains you to think broadly, work collectively, and shape places that make everyday life better.Curated Podcast Sponsors:ZinCo Canada: https://www.zinco.ca/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caHenry Rotberg SteelTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Katherine Chia, FAIA, is the co-founder and co-principal of Desai | Chia Architecture, a New York City practice she leads with her husband and partner, Arjun Desai.Her path to architecture began with a childhood immersed in creativity. Inspired by her grandfather’s woodworking and Chinese brush painting, Kathy developed an early love of making. At Amherst College she pursued a liberal arts education—studying art, math, philosophy, anthropology, and more—before spending a formative year in Copenhagen with the Danish International Studies program. That experience led her to the Master of Architecture program at MIT, where she met Arjun.Graduating during the recession of the early 1990s, Kathy began her career on small but formative projects, including three years working with Maya Lin on both architecture and art. In 1996, she and Arjun founded Desai | Chia Architecture. Their early work included a children’s learning center for a Native American tribe in California and a Manhattan apartment renovation. With no business plan but strong conviction, they grew organically—balancing risk, grit, and design excellence.Over the past three decades, the firm has produced award-winning projects across residential, commercial, cultural, and institutional sectors. Landmark works include the LM Guest House (powered by geothermal systems and recipient of multiple national awards), the Michigan Lake House (featuring dramatic inverted butterfly roofs that manage stormwater while creating vaulted interiors), and ongoing commissions for Columbia University. Their work has received an AIA Institute Honor Award, ranking in ARCHITECT Magazine’s “Top 50 in Design,” and an Architizer A+ Award for Best Small Firm.Kathy’s philosophy emphasizes trust, collaboration, and timelessness. Every project is an iterative journey that fuses clients’ aspirations with inventive, enduring design. Beyond practice, she has taught at Parsons, served civic and cultural institutions, and raised two children—balancing motherhood with the pursuit of architecture that connects people, place, and community.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Evan Saskin is an architect, builder, and founder of Blue Lion Building, an architect-led design-build practice in Toronto and now, Halifax, Nova Scotia, dedicated to creating thoughtful infill housing. Raised in a family steeped in construction—his grandfather an engineer and his father a McGill-trained architect and builder—Evan grew up surrounded by drafting tables and construction sites. Childhood visits to his grandparents’ Montreal apartment also left a lasting impression, giving him an early appreciation for urban density, modern design, and the comfort of well-made domestic spaces.After completing an undergraduate degree, Evan pursued his Master of Architecture at the University of Toronto. While the school’s focus at the time leaned toward high-end homes and global commissions, he was drawn to the deeper question of how architects’ problem-solving skills could extend beyond form into regulation, finance, and systems. His early career took him to London, UK, where he joined a boutique practice working on intricate, high-budget residential projects. There he learned the discipline of exhaustive detailing—designing every surface and joint—and the rigor required to translate ambitious ideas into buildable realities.Returning to Toronto during the 2008 downturn, Evan joined Architects Alliance, gaining expertise in high-rise approvals and development processes. Yet his entrepreneurial drive, coupled with hands-on experience renovating his own home, soon led him to found Blue Lion Building in 2011 with his partner Cameron. The name came from their street in London, a nod to the hidden, tucked-away places that inspired their approach.Blue Lion focuses on missing-middle housing—duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes tucked into narrow Toronto lots—bringing architectural care to a scale often ignored by large developers. The firm manages the full process: land acquisition, feasibility, design, approvals, construction, and sales. Saskin’s projects embrace density while delivering bespoke quality, inventive layouts, and durable construction at accessible price points. With over two dozen projects completed, Blue Lion demonstrates how small-scale, design-driven development can address urban housing needs while enriching neighborhoods.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Gordon Magnin discovered his creative spark early through visits to an architect’s studio where renderings and model building captivated his imagination, his interest in art, drawing and technical design guiding him through middle and high school. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, then practiced as a structural engineer before pursuing architecture. Gordon completed a Master of Architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), transitioning from engineering to design while working and studying in Los Angeles. He returned to Reno after the birth of his first son, working for local firms before founding Magnin Architecture in 2018.He is a licensed architect and professional engineer in both California and Nevada, NCARB-certified, and a LEED Green Associate. Gordon’s technical background in engineering enriches his architectural work, enabling integration of structural systems from project inception. His firm specializes in high-end residential design across Reno, Tahoe and the Bay Area focusing on luxury, sustainability, craftsmanship and regional responsiveness. The practice has been recognized with multiple AIA awards including the 2024 Nevada AIA Citation for sustainable design, the 2022 Honor Award and other accolades for visionary architecture. Projects such as the Frantz Ski Haus embrace vernacular alpine forms, passive solar, high-performance envelopes and future-ready energy strategies, while others explore integration into high desert terrain and dramatic vistas.Gordon’s design philosophy celebrates light, form, materials and the subtle qualities of landscape. He emphasizes environmental drivers such as topography, view orientation, climate extremes, snow, wind and rain in shaping simple tectonic forms with legible construction and contemporary articulation of vernacular traditions. His goal is architecture integral to site, evolving toward net-zero practice as technology permits.When he is not designing, Gordon spends time outdoors with his family, skiing, mountain biking, hiking and exploring the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin landscapes that continually inspire his architectural vision.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Bishop McDowell is a design-forward architecture practice based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, co-founded by Matthew Bishop and Lucas McDowell in May 2024. Long-time collaborators, the two met while working at a Halifax-based architecture firm, where they spent years refining their skills on residential projects and developing a mutual respect for each other’s approach to design, detail, and construction. A pivotal shared project—one they visited 3 to 4 times a week—cemented their partnership and led to the organic decision to launch their own studio.Matthew Bishop, originally from Nova Scotia, followed a nontraditional path into architecture. He studied biology and kinesiology and worked in medical research before pursuing his passion for design. After enrolling at Dalhousie University's School of Architecture in 2014, he completed co-op terms in Tucson, Arizona, and Halifax. His exposure to the dramatic desert landscape and strong regional architecture of the American Southwest expanded his perspective on materiality and form. He brings nearly a decade of experience to the partnership, with deep interests in on-site construction dialogue, client relationships, and design process.Lucas McDowell, from Irishtown, New Brunswick, came to architecture through a background in drawing and graphic design. After initially studying sciences, he shifted to a local design program, working as a freelance graphic designer before an uncle in the architecture industry encouraged him to consider architecture school. He enrolled at Dalhousie, where he built a portfolio from scratch and dove headfirst into architectural studies. His co-op terms included stints at MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple in Halifax and Bing Thom Architects (now Revery Architecture) in Vancouver, giving him exposure to contrasting design methodologies and scales of practice.Bishop McDowell’s work is rooted in curiosity and experimentation. The studio maintains a dual focus on commissioned residential projects and speculative design explorations—often geometric, sculptural, and unconstrained by client briefs. These speculative projects, like the “Tilt House,” not only stretch their design thinking but also attract new commissions and stimulate conversation within the architectural community.Since launching, the studio has built a network by engaging with local entrepreneurs, designers, and developers. Their early commissions—such as a residence in Lawrencetown and a commercial headquarters—gave the practice early momentum. Their practice is shaped by a true partnership—equal parts support, challenge, and shared vision—with aspirations to expand into civic and public architecture in the coming years.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Don Schmitt is a founding partner of Diamond Schmitt Architects, one of Canada’s most respected architectural practices. He was born in South Porcupine, a small mining town in northern Ontario, and grew up surrounded by nature. After moving to Toronto in his teens, he was introduced to the city’s architecture while attending high school near the University of Toronto. A Christmas gift of The Master Builders by Peter Blake, chronicling the lives of Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbusier, sparked a deep fascination that shaped his future.Though discouraged by a guidance counselor, Don enrolled in general arts before transferring into architecture at the University of Toronto. He immersed himself in studio work and took a year off to travel solo across Central and South America. There, he explored historic cities and planning traditions like the Laws of the Indies, forming a lasting perspective on community and place-making.After graduating, he worked in London and Toronto before joining Jack Diamond’s practice in 1978. The firm had 12 employees. In 1983, Don became a named partner. One of his early major projects was the Central YMCA in Toronto, a complex civic building he helped deliver while still in his twenties. His portfolio grew to include the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, the Peter Gilgan Centre at SickKids, and the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa.Diamond Schmitt has since grown into an internationally recognized firm with studios in Toronto, Vancouver, and New York. Don remains deeply involved in design and continues to shape architecture that builds civic identity and brings people together. His career reflects a belief in architecture as a public act, grounded in curiosity, listening, and care.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Janna Levitt is a founding partner of LGA Architectural Partners and a respected leader in socially conscious architecture in Canada. Raised in a Toronto home filled with artists—her mother a celebrated ceramicist who participated in a short-lived federal program modeled on Japan’s National Treasures—Janna grew up surrounded by creativity, community, and cultural exchange.She attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and then studied Political Science and Cinema at the University of Toronto before shifting into architecture, graduating from U of T’s five-year Bachelor of Architecture program. As one of the few women in her cohort, she leaned on peer networks to navigate a challenging and often exclusionary academic environment—an experience that later informed her deep commitment to support and mentorship.Janna met her future business and life partner, Dean Goodman, while still in school. Frustrated with conventional practice models, they launched what is now LGA—grounded in collaborative values and public-serving work. Early commissions like Strachan House and the Native Child and Family Services headquarters set the tone: architecture that listens, adapts, and empowers.LGA has grown intentionally to around 40 staff, with projects spanning libraries, housing, adaptive reuse, and institutional work. She's taught at  Waterloo, Dalhousie and Daniels schools of Architecture  and has stayed closely connected to many of her former students. She’s also assisted in transitioning ownership to a new generation of partners.Janna and Dean developed and live in a new 5 unit condo on an existing single family site demonstrating an innovative  model of urban intensification and environmental care. Outside of work, she remains deeply engaged in the arts and maintains close relationships with clients, colleagues, and friends who—like her—believe in design as a generous, collective act.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Shirley Meisels is the founder and creative force behind the Toronto interior design studio M House Inc. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a sharp eye for detail, a deep respect for craftsmanship, and an intuitive understanding of how spaces should reflect the people who live in them.Her creative journey began early, sketching fashion designs as a child, and later led her to pursue a degree in Fashion Design at Toronto Metropolitan University, formerly Ryerson. Although she began her career as a wardrobe stylist, her passion gradually shifted toward interior spaces. After more than a decade working in fashion for magazines, film, and television, where she often created full-set environments for major brands, Shirley transitioned into interiors. She brought with her the same editorial sensibility and visual clarity that shaped her earlier work.What began with small, self-initiated design projects eventually evolved into a thriving practice. Shirley’s work has been featured in national publications, and M House Inc. has built a loyal, client-based following through referrals. The studio is known for its versatility, with projects ranging from contemporary new builds to thoughtful heritage renovations. At the heart of it all is her collaborative process, her commitment to clear communication, and her ability to design with both precision and personality.Beyond her client work, Shirley recently launched W House Inc., a mentorship initiative created to support young designers. Drawing from her own path, which she navigated without a mentor or online resources, she now shares the insights, tools, and strategies that can help others build confident, capable practices of their own.Her ability to adapt, learn, and lead with generosity continues to shape not only remarkable homes but also a growing community of emerging designers.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Aquanta Pools: https://aquanta.caTo connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast

Gene Sandoval’s story is one of vision, resilience, and impact. Born in the Philippines, Gene grew up immersed in the world of craft and creation, watching shipbuilders shape vessels from simple materials in his family’s shipyard. By the time he was a teenager, his artistic instincts and fascination with form had already drawn him to architecture. At just 18, Gene left behind the comforts of home, arriving in the US to study at the University of Oregon. There, he transitioned from mastering the visual language of design to learning how to think critically, communicate ideas, and push boundaries.In 1989, Gene joined ZGF (Zimmer Gunsul Frasca) in Portland at a time when jobs were scarce and AutoCAD was just being introduced. He started by doing everything from assembling drawing boards to working 100 plus hour weeks on competitions, absorbing the firm’s culture and contributing to its rise. Within a decade, he’d become a principal. By 37, Gene was named partner, one of the first people of color and immigrants to hold that title at the firm, breaking new ground not just in architecture, but in representation.Gene’s projects span from early additions to the Portland International Airport to designing world class facilities for Nike. But his most powerful work is also deeply personal. In a beautifully full circle moment, Gene helped lead the design of the new PDX terminal, a space that reimagines the immigrant’s first step into America. Built with regional mass timber, the terminal is not only a feat of engineering and sustainability, it is a symbol of ingenuity, equity, and community resilience. His ten year journey on the project included bringing together rural suppliers, an emerging fabrication company (Timberlab), and a cross disciplinary team that delivered one of the most iconic airport spaces in North America.This episode traces Gene’s remarkable career, from drawing on notebook pages as a boy in Manila to shaping some of the Pacific Northwest’s most ambitious projects. It is a celebration of craft, collaboration, and the immigrant spirit that continues to shape architecture in North America.Curated Podcast Sponsors:Caplan's Appliances: https://caplans.ca/The Doors: https://thedoors4u.com/Sound Solutions: https://www.soundsolutions.ca/Berman Stairs: https://bermanstairs.com/To connect with our sponsors, email me: [email protected] the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast