Design of the times: EPOH brings fresh, contemporary perspective to architecture.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: SAULT STE. MARIE

After serving clients for more than six decades, architectural firm EPOH is moving into its next phase, positioning the business for a new era of fully integrated design and building solutions.

Based in downtown Sault Ste. Marie, EPOH offers architectural, mechanical, electrical, design, master planning, and interior design services within a catchment area reaching across Ontario, Western Canada and into the United States.

Headed by four partners, the firm recently underwent a shift in makeup after one of its long-time principals. Cal Oswin, retired. Two new partners, who have each been with the firm for 10 years, were brought in this past summer. Jeanette Bie-mann comes with an engineering background, while Ryan Crowle brings experience in engineering and project management. Ken Oliver is the firm's fourth partner.

"We like to keep the firm young and fluent in terms of thinking and ideas, its philosophy, so it's been good," said principal Franco Pastore.

The firm's work comprises some of the most recognizable buildings in Sault Ste. Marie and beyond. Its signature style graces several buildings at Sault College, Algoma Public Health, and the International Bridge plaza redesign currently underway.

Central to EPOH's ideology is the integrated design process (IDP), which involves everyone associated with the project in the decision-making process from an early stage.

"Traditionally, the architect develops the design and hands it off at a later, subsequent stage to all the subconsultants to develop a structure system or mechanical/electri-cal system. whereas now the design concepts are developed all at the same time in the early stages and drive one another," Pastore said. "Therefore, the building is truly an integrated solution as opposed to an afterthought."

This process allows for innovative thinking, and urges collaborators to consider a building as a whole instead of its pieces, he said.

Because EPOH is a smaller firm. it's able to have partner-level involvement throughout the project, which helps ensure consistency, Crowle said.

"The most important thing for the owner, more than just getting the design, or the building they want, is having it delivered on time and on budget," Crowle said. "So we find it just as important spending as much time as we can out in the field with the contractor during the build phase to ensure that happens."

For this type of innovative thinking. EPOH was shortlisted during the tendering process for the...