WHO WE ARE
thinkform is a partner-led fully licensed architectural and commercial interiors studio. With a diverse collection of talents among our team and many collaborative partners across North America, thinkform provides the spectrum of services of a large organization while offering the personal attention and care of a boutique firm. We believe that a fully integrated collaborative design approach is the most powerful tool for transforming the way we live, work, and play.
CORE VALUES
client relationships
collaboration
innovation
We are client focused. Our goal is to listen to you, understand what you need out of your space, and then find an unexpected and inventive solution.
We are collaborative. We believe that quality partnerships with our clients, the contractors, our consultants etc. develop the best results.
We think outside the box. We are always striving to think of new ways to solve age-old problems and bring a quality of fun and discovery to every project.
OUR TEAM
SIMONE PANZIERA
principal architect
OAA + BArch + MArch
Simone is thinkform’s fearless leader. He founded the firm in 2007 and continues to be the acting principal architect, offering creative guidance and internal peer review to all projects. On every project that thinkform undertakes, Simone is constantly looking for opportunities to innovate, creating new solutions to age-old problems. With over 25 years of experience within the industry, Simone imparts a uniquely artistic insight to both public and private sector projects of all sizes and scopes. His experience at numerous award-winning North American architectural and design firms have provided him with a diverse array of skills that he applies to every project. Simone’s expertise in the institutional sector of design proves his proficiency in managing post-secondary education building projects of varying complexities. Simone’s extensive knowledge and experience in architectural design ensures all projects are executed with the precision, care, and quality that a client desires.
ORIETTA QUIJADA
senior architect
OAA + MArch
As the senior architect, Orietta manages the day-to-day progress of our ongoing projects. She brings more than 10 years of experience in architectural design and project administration to each project she undertakstakes, ensuring our clients’ satisfaction. Orietta’s vast experience at architectural firms in other jurisdictions and abroad have provided her the necessary experience to tackle projects of all sizes and budgets. Orietta has worked alongside many institutional clients, including Montreal’s School Board, Laval’s School Board, Quebec’s Health & Social Ministry, Wilfrid Laurier School Board and Margarite Bourgeoys in Montreal, among others. Her extensive institutional project experience demonstrates her proficiency in leading public projects to successful outcomes. Orietta oversees all architectural activities, while coordinating with consultants, arranging client meetings, preparing proper documentation, as well as conducting construction administration and post-construction review.
KELLY O'CONNOR
senior interior designer
BAAID + NICDQ
Kelly earned her BAAID at Ryerson University. After graduating, she went on to apprentice in Italy and continued working in Europe for over ten years.
Over the past 33 years, Kelly has worked on a broad spectrum of commercial and multi-residential projects ranging from 500 sq ft tech start ups to complex 70,000 sq ft facilities. Kelly has had the opportunity to design everything from corporate projects to retail and hospitality spaces, including restaurants, where she specializes in commercial kitchen equipment & design. She also has extensive multi-res design experience and has worked on several civic, government, educational and institutional interior/ architectural projects. Kelly skills range from extensive early programming, space planning, detailing, lighting design, millwork, materiality, furnishings and equipment, coordination with mech / elec and structural, building code, detailed drawings and full project coordination. Kelly has also had the pleasure of sharing this knowledge with students while teaching a design studio course at Conestoga College.
TIM SCHANER
senior project manager
PM
Tim Schaner is responsible for project management, serving
in a coordination and project-scheduling capacity to expedite scopes of work. He has a extensive understanding of approval processes, and applies his expertise in project management, architecture, engineering, and contract administration to our projects. He has over 40 years of professional experience, which is supplemented by his involvement with charitable, community-development, recreational, and non-profit housing groups. Prior to working with thinkform, Tim was a project manager for the design and construction of community centers, churches, apartment buildings, condominiums, and senior care facilities. His work in these sectors proves his wide level of expertise, as well as working in institutional, commercial, and public projects.
ALIAA ADEL OTHMAN
intern architect
OAA + PhD Arch + BCIN
Aliaa is an architectural designer with 3+ years of experience working in residential projects. Aliaa has completed her Ph. D. in architecture from Cairo University in Egypt as of September 2021. Her research scope relating to the bioclimatic design of open urban spaces in business parks in hot climates. She has 5+ years of experience teaching architecture in Egypt. In 2017, Aliaa was the winner of 5 architectural competitions on the Archbazar website in the United States. She has studied building materials and methods and Ontario Building Code courses are Ryerson University and George Brown College. Aliaa is currently working towards gaining her intern architect certificate by submitting her application to the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). Aliaa is skilled in construction drawings and 3D models for various projects, and is also very interested in sustainable design and green rating systems such as LEED.
YESSIKA CACERES
architectural designer + BIM coord.
BArch
Yessika is an architectural designer with 5 years of experience working in residential and commercial projects abroad. Yessika has completed her Bachelor’s degree in architecture from La Salle University in Colombia. Yessika is currently internationally certified by buildingSMART in knowledge and experience in BIM methodology, mastering modeling tools that contribute to the production of efficient information like REVIT and AutoCAD. Yessika is also well-versed in Photoshop, and can produce beautiful 3D renderings using SketchUp. Yessika brings to our team the coordination experience to tackle our most complex projects using her software skills.
JENNIFER DIXON
accounts manager
Jennifer is thinkform's bookkeeper extraordinaire. Her passion for invoicing, combined with her love of good design, keep thinkform inspired to design another day. Organized, analytical, and detail-oriented, Jennifer is a valuable and integral part of of thinkform's team.