Janna Levitt is a founding partner of LGA Architectural Partners and one of Canada’s most respected voices in socially conscious architecture. Raised in a Toronto home full of artists—her mother a celebrated ceramicist recognized as a “National Treasure”—Janna grew up surrounded by creativity, community, and conversation. These early influences shaped a practice rooted in care, inclusivity, and civic impact.

Janna studied Fine Arts, 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 commitment to mentorship.

Janna met her future business and life partner, Dean Goodman, while still in school. Frustrated with conventional practice models, they launched their own firm—now LGA—grounded in collaborative values and public-serving work. Early commissions like Strong House, an innovative homeless shelter, and the Native Child and Family Services headquarters set the tone: architecture that listens, adapts, and empowers.

Under Janna’s leadership, LGA has grown intentionally to around 40 staff, with projects spanning libraries, housing, adaptive reuse, and institutional work. She’s mentored students at Waterloo, championed internal financial transparency, and helped shape a clear, long-term succession plan.

She and Dean live in a mid-block infill home they designed as a model of urban intensification and environmental care. Outside of work, Janna 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/

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To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

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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.ca

To connect with our sponsors, email me: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind 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: jonathan@waldenhomes.ca

Behind the Build on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behind_the_build_podcast