Pat Hanson (Founding Principal and Creative Director BFA MArch OAA AAA FRAIC) is a founding partner of gh3*. Under her leadership, the firm has established a reputation for design integrity across a range of building typologies and through all scales of practice. She is the architect of institutional, infrastructural and residential projects that create meaningful connections between architecture and landscape within the urban realm. Exemplary projects include the internationally-recognized June Callwood Park in Toronto, the Trinity College Quadrangle at the University of Toronto, and the Governor General's Medal-awarded projects Borden Park Pavilion in Edmonton and the Boathouse Studio on Stony Lake, Ontario.

Pat is an expert communicator of compelling design visions that are both environmentally and socially sustainable. She is a strong and insightful advocate for the potential for built form to rise above the merely functional, to integrate the pragmatic with the poetic, and to achieve an aesthetic impact that brings pleasure to everyday uses. For over 30 years, she has led clients and interdisciplinary design teams through complex programs, negotiating extensive public consultation processes to achieve internationally-recognized, award-winning projects, whether at the scale of infrastructure or the sheltering of a community programme.

She currently serves on the Toronto Waterfront Design Review Panel, and is a senior advisor for Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT), which supports diversity and women in the design fields. She has lectured on the work of gh3* in Europe and North America, and has taught at University of Toronto and University of Waterloo. In 2016, Pat was recognized by the international arcVision Prize for Women and Architecture.

Bernard Jin (Principal OAA RAIC) is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, where he received his Bachelor of Environmental Design in 1989 and his Bachelor of Architecture in 1992. He has over 25 years of architectural experience, principally on educational, community and recreational projects, multi-unit residential housing, as well as urban design experience including international town and settlement plans. Notable projects include The Stephen Hawking Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, The Graduate Residence, St George Campus, University of Toronto and the Sister of Saint Joseph Residence and Sanctuary. These projects have all been widely recognized winning multiple national design awards. Bernard’s expertise includes design leadership, project execution, municipal approvals, project management and scheduling, cost management, as well as construction administration. At gh3*, he manages complex teams from design development through to contract administration. Bernard is a strong advocate of BIM (Building Information Modelling) and is committed to excellence in the project delivery phase facilitated through ongoing research, development of drawing standards, dynamic schedules and statistics. Bernard is widely known for his willingness and skill at mentoring young professionals. 

Raymond Chow (Principal OAA RAIC MArch BArch) brings to gh3* an expertise grounded in more than fifteen years of professional architectural practice. Raymond negotiates all phases of project development, from enabling client and consultant dialogue, through to design development and construction administration. His commitment to the realization of architectural excellence is based on keen attention to technical detail and astute management of the design process. He has worked across multiple jurisdictions and through scales of practice that range from small renovations to large multi-stakeholder institutional projects. 

Raymond joined gh3* in 2006 and became principal in 2015. He became an associate of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects in 2013, and is currently working toward full registration as a landscape architect. He is key to the firm's integrated, studio-based design practice with technical capacity across the design fields of architecture, landscape, and urban design. A strong advocate for BIM and for design practice connected to industry, Raymond oversees gh3*’s digital modelling processes, rendering, and all other technical interfaces. He is currently project architect for the Natural Swimming Pool in Edmonton, the Storm Water Control Facility at Toronto’s waterfront, as well as several large-scale residential projects.

Joel Di Giacomo (Associate Principal MRAIC BES MArch) is a graduate from the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, with 15 years experience on projects including numerous and extensive landscape designs, cultural and civic masterplans, transit infrastructure, and buildings at a wide range of scales. He has played a key role in the design of the Davenport Diamond Public Realm, Finch West LRT DX, and June Callwood Park, and has contributed design expertise to most past and current projects in the office. 

Joel brings a playful, proficient, and extremely rigorous approach to the design process, with particular aptitudes in advanced digital and parametric modelling techniques, the production of visual representations, and marketing. He is currently overseeing working on private residential projects, transit landscapes, numerous proposals, and the net-zero Windermere Fire Station in Edmonton.

jdigiacomo@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 31

John McKenna (Associate Principal BArch BArch.Sci MBA) joined gh3* in 2011 with over 5 years of experience working on institutional, cultural and public sector projects in Europe and the Middle East, including additions to protected heritage buildings and large scale cultural & civic master plans. Projects such as Borden Park Natural Swimming Pool, in which John played a key coordination role, have equipped him with first-hand experience in the increasingly complex and important role of the architect on multidisciplinary projects.

John recently undertook his MBA at IE Business School, Madrid, where he researched the management processes of creative-sector businesses. As Director of Strategy at gh3*, John works closely with the Principals to set and guide the wider vision and direction of the practice with a particular focus on marketing and new business development, communications and organizational management.

John is currently Project Lead on a number of gh3*s municipal infrastructure projects, including a net-zero Emergency Medical Services facility for the City of Toronto.

jmckenna@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 61

Elise Shelley (Director of Landscape OALA AALA CSLA CPSI) is the landscape director of gh3*, a registered landscape architect with 20 years experience in projects of all scales. Elise’s background and training in both architecture and landscape has enabled a method of practice that focuses on the physical, experiential and functional connections between interior and exterior space.

Focused on the interdisciplinary nature of urban places, Elise’s work addresses material innovation, community-engagement, and ecological resilience. Award-winning urban play-space projects include gardens and playgrounds for city daycares, public schools and non-profit organizations. In addition to Landscape Architecture licensure in the US and Canada (Ontario and Alberta), Elise is certified in Playground Safety Inspection by the National Recreation and Park Association.

Elise has lectured throughout North America and Europe and her work on resilient landscapes and contemporary children’s play-spaces has been presented at several international conferences. She maintains a strong commitment to landscape architectural education and has been an assistant professor at the University of Toronto since 2003.

Currently, Elise is guiding the landscape design for all gh3* projects, including the Davenport Diamond Elevated Guideway and Greenway, streetscape and park designs for several new development blocks, and a number of transit-related landscapes throughout Canada.

eshelley@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 26

Kyle Tousant
ktousant@gh3.ca
 

Alison Huo
ahuo@gh3.ca

Donna Hanson
admin@gh3.ca
 

Ben Chang
bchang@gh3.ca

Charlotte Keskinen-Keith
ckeskinen.keith@gh3.ca

Marc Dainow
mdainow@gh3.ca

Mark Kim
mkim@gh3.ca

Bianca Vellone
bvellone@gh3.ca

Petra Bogias
pbogias@gh3.ca

Nicholas Callies 
ncallies@gh3.ca

Richard Freeman 
rfreeman@gh3.ca

Shawna Seligman (Associate OAA MRAIC MArch BArch.Sci) An Associate at gh3*, Shawna is recognized for her talent and inventiveness as a designer. Her experience ranges from master planning and multi-unit residential buildings to single family residential and commercial interiors projects. Shawna has played a central role on many of gh3*s large residential projects including Lillian Park, Tretti Condominiums and 2450 Victoria Park and also leads the architecture and interior design for multiple private residences. As Project Lead for the Arthur’s Restaurant refurbishment in Toronto, Shawna managed the project from early concept design through to completion, earning gh3* a Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award in 2019.

Shawna’s commitment to innovation in design underscores her enthusiasm for developing custom technical construction details, keeping the studio informed of advancements across the industry, as well as contributing to the development and deployment of BIM standards on all projects. She also leverages her passion for storytelling and knowledge of pop culture in the management of gh3*s social media platforms and channels.

Currently, Shawna is the Project Architect on a number of private residential projects in Toronto and Prince Edward County.

sseligman@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 28

Bruce Gao
bgao@gh3.ca

Vanessa Abram (Associate OAA MArch BAS) is dedicated to architecture as a field of inquiry and exploration into an evolving cultural language. She has experience on a range of project types, from public park pavilions to high-rise and mid-rise multi-residential housing. Her keen eye and attention to detail continue to culminate in the efficient delivery of projects, from concept design through to construction documents.

In her role as Project Architect for structures such as the Love Park Pavilion and the Leslie Lookout Park Pavilion, Vanessa led the design and coordination of landmark architectural elements within larger park master plans. She has also contributed to the firm’s portfolio of infrastructure projects, having led the design development of the Blatchford Sewage Heat Exchange Facility, which was awarded a 2022 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence.

Vanessa received her Master’s in Architecture from the University of Toronto along with the AIA Henry Adams Medal awarded to the top-ranked graduating student. Prior to joining gh3*, she worked on several book and exhibition projects at the Canadian Centre for Architecture.

vabram@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 31

Vanessa Hii
vhii@gh3.ca
416 915 1791 ext 27