Each chapter of our journey has been marked by a blend of tradition and forward-thinking ingenuity.
Our legacy isn’t just building structures; it’s crafting spaces that inspire and endure. Rooted in tradition yet driven by tomorrow’s challenges, we blend passion with skill to transform vision into reality. From award-winning projects to impactful collaborations, our journey reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation.
Forging Tomorrow with a Century of Expertise
At the dawn of the 20th century, when craftsmanship met innovation, our firm was born; rooted in architecture and bound by an ambition to shape the future.
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1913
Founding of Richards & ABRA
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1920
French Baptiste Church
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1958
Founding of D. Perry Short Architect
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1961
Lansdowne South Side Seating
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1967
Riverside Hospital
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1986
David Cole joins Richards &
ABRA as named associate
Making Headlines
We caught up with co-owners Franco Pastore and Jeanette Biemann to talk bold buildings, creative roots, and why designing for community impact is what drives them. [Read More]
IDEA and COLE + Associates celebrated their merger where it all came together at the newly completed Canada Green Building Council HQ, a space they co-designed to be as healthy as it is sustainable. [Read More]
Local firm IDEA Inc., SalDan and celebrity contractor Mike Holmes teamed up to transform White Pines Collegiate’s into a future-forward ADSB Technology Centre. [Read More]
Formerly EPOH, the Sault-based firm has rebranded as IDEA Inc. a name that reflects their integrated approach to design, engineering, and architecture. [Read More]
IDEA Inc. has been named a finalist alongside London’s Wilkinson Eyre in an international design competition to reimagine Block 2, the urban block facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa. [Read More]
Franco Pastore, vision helped shape the city skyline, leaving behind some of its most iconic landmarks and community spaces. His work continues to inspire and serve generations. [Read More]
ONTARIO WOOD WORKS AWARD I BATCHEWANA FIRST NATION HEALTH CENTRE
LEED GOLD I UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA ADVANCED RESEARCH COMPLEX
LEED GOLD I ALGOMA PUBLIC HEALTH
CAHP AWARD OF EXCELLENCE I CONFEDERATION BUILDING HERITAGE PLANNING
CAHP AWARD OF EXCELLENCE I ABERDEEN PAVILION LIFECYCLE RENEWAL