Who We Are

At Arise Architects Co-operative, our vision is to serve as true partners to our clients, bringing a project’s unique visions and needs to life through architecture. 

Four years ago, we acquired a 40-year-old predecessor firm, and established the first architectural worker co-operative in Ontario, with employee continuity spanning a decade.

We saw an opportunity to revolutionize traditional architectural practice, breaking free from hierarchy and disconnectedness to embrace a project-centric culture of collaboration.

We asked ourselves: what could be achieved with a cooperative?

The answer was clear. The foundational legislative framework of worker co-operatives, coupled with established co-operative values and principles, set the stage for us to care for projects as if they were our own. We treat each project as unique, assembling a tailored team, allocating resources, and defining objectives. Our commitment is to continually innovate our practice while never losing sight of a project's greater context.

We are not in the business of carrying out conventional, performative architectural services. Instead, we champion enduring and thoughtful architecture that delights and brings joy to the community. We are community builders and stewards of positive change.

Our Strengths

Our commitment to successful project design and delivery is underpinned by our approach and our areas of speciality. With experience focused on supportive housing, affordable housing, lifetime homes, long-term care, spiritual spaces, daycares, and community spaces, we are poised to partner with socially progressive developers and mission-driven organizations seeking boutique services with the adeptness of a larger firm.

  • We assist clients in translating their vision into tangible requirements, considering not just the project but also the community they are part of.

  • Progressive and purposeful architecture requires a constellation of knowledge, which we identify and harmonize by conscientiously understanding a project's goals.

  • We analyze sites through multiple layers of context to deeply understand their character and full potential, striving to enhance them as better places.

  • We have a solid background in discovering the untapped potential of properties, aiming to fulfill their intentions more sustainably while adding purposeful spaces to their local communities.

  • The majority of our projects receive significant government funding with specialized regulatory requirements. We are adept at navigating our work toward successful grant applications and government agency approvals.

We excel at:

Our Licensed Architects

  • Crystal Hopwood

    Crystal is an Architect with a diverse educational background, holding a Graduate Diploma in Architecture with a focus on Humane Architecture, and a Bachelor of Art (Honors) in Architecture, both from the University of Plymouth, UK. Born and raised in Waterloo Region, she spent nearly 20 years in the United Kingdom before returning to her hometown.

    Her unique perspective, combined with a caring approach to design, encompasses program development, precedent and site analysis, and a strong emphasis on the lived experience results in her idea-driven design solutions.

    Although it is highly subjective, based on Crystal’s extensive experience (eating) the best Cornish pasties (IYKYK) can be found in Ontario.

  • Yvonne Ip

    Yvonne, an experienced Architect, has over two decades of architectural practice. Her extensive education includes a Master of Architecture from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts) from the University of Victoria, and a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) from the University of British Columbia.

    Beyond her architectural work, Yvonne is an accomplished artist, with her artwork featured in exhibitions across Canada and the United States, residing in public and private collections. Her commitment to societal and cultural context in architecture is evident through her active involvement in community initiatives, such as the City of Kitchener Public Art Working Group, Kitchener’s Queen’s Green Community Garden, and leadership roles in organizations like the Trillium Waldorf School and the Grand Valley Society of Architects (GVSA).

    Yvonne proudly holds several memberships in co-operatives with single-digit membership numbers.

Areas We Serve

All of Ontario, including:

  • Kitchener-Waterloo

  • Cambridge

  • Guelph

  • Waterloo-Wellington Region

  • Waterloo Region

Interested in joining us?

Please email your CV and/or portfolio to studio@arisearchitects.com.

Ready to chat?

Whether you have a project in mind, are interested in joining our team, have a question about our cooperative, or simply want to connect with our passionate team of architects and designers, we're here for you.