Managing Partner

AAA, AANB, AAPEI, AIBC, MAA, NSAA, OAA, SAA

As Managing Partner, Guela provides the firm with its strategic agenda and guidance on professional, financial, legal, and administrative matters. Responsible for many of the firm’s new commissions in the P3 public/private partnership sector, Guela’s ability to successfully build consensus among diverse stakeholder groups is a talent that has resulted in an exemplary portfolio of award-winning projects. Extending the boundaries of architecture, Guela’s design approach integrates urban and interior design, functional program development, branding, wayfinding, and graphic design. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design in 1985, Guela currently holds memberships with provincial associations across Canada and the RAIC. Beyond practice, her influence extends to the profession as a City of Vaughan Design Review Panel Member, and a frequent invited public speaker in Canada and abroad.

Partner

AAA, AANB, AAPEI, AIBC, MAA, NLAA, NSAA, OAA, SAA

As Partner and Management Team Member, Aly applies hands-on leadership and management skills to a range of project types including commercial and retail design, institutional and large complex mixed use developments. From large scale master planning and urban design projects through to the design of individual buildings and interior detailing, Aly brings a strong blend of creativity, rigor and technical skill to meet project objectives. Having a broad understanding of the breadth of work involved as Project Architect, Aly has coordinated the work of office staff, consultant teams and liaised with client groups, city officials and the public stakeholders to guide his projects to their fruition. Aly has helped develop and maintain relationships with industry leaders in development on several successful large scale developments across the GTA and Canada. Aly holds a Bachelors Degree of Architectural Science from Ryerson University, and a Master’s Degree Architecture from The State University of New York at Buffalo.

Partner

AANB, AAPEI, MAA, NSAA, OAA, OAQ

As Partner and Management Team Member, Christophe brings a strong blend of enthusiasm, contemporary design sensibility and technical expertise that has resulted in an exceptional portfolio of award-winning projects from across the country. Christophe’s 25 years of international experience encompasses all aspects of our profession: architecture, master planning, building science, interior design and project management. Always challenging the status quo, Christophe is well versed in all phases of design, from conceptual design to functional programming and design development – all executed with a holistic vision and attention to detail across a wide range of building typologies. In addition to focusing on his own projects, Christophe enjoys mentoring a community of in house designers in exploring new architectural objectives and goals.

Partner Emeritus

B. Arch, OAA, MRAIC

As Partner Emeritus, Peter’s leadership role at the firm is dedicated to the management of a complex portfolio of projects and client groups, with a focus on the expansion of the firm’s practice both domestically and abroad. The fruits of Peter’s efforts have fostered long standing professional relationships with Canada's leading developers over many decades, and has garnered industry-wide acclaim for leading both large scale mixed-use projects across Canada as well as award-winning developments completed with international design teams abroad. A graduate of Ryerson Institute of Technology in 1964 and University of Toronto in 1968, Peter is a long-standing member of the Ontario Association of Architects.

Principal

Executive Associate

As Executive Associate, Arif combines over four decades of experience with proven leadership skills to ensure every project is a success from inception of completion. Using his background in the management of complex fast-track commercial projects, Arif has developed a reputation within the industry as an outstanding project leader with extensive Building Code and technical expertise, one that is based on a hands-on approach to client service and problem solving. Arif has been responsible for the successful completion of some of the firm’s most prestigious commercial projects and maintains long-standing relationships with leaders in the development community cultivated over many decades.

Executive Associate

As Executive Associate, David has contributed his project management and technical expertise for over forty years to many Public Private Partnership sector and other complex institutional projects. A meticulous and detailed project manager, David has directed and delivered his projects to our client’s satisfaction on-time and on-budget. Involved in a broad range of project types, David has also taken on the role of mentor to many of his project staff where he imparts his focus and commitment to quality and technical excellence to our firm’s young architects and designers. His dedication to the professional development of our staff lays the foundation for our continued success in exceeding our client’s expectations well into the future.

Senior Associate

As Senior Associate, Carlos is focused on the management of an integrated project delivery process including the preparation and careful coordination of construction documents for his many commercial projects. Actively liaising with clients and consultants with his hands-on approach has served our clients well in Carlos’ 30-years of experience. His effective management of large multidisciplinary teams has led to the successful execution of a number of our firm’s largest retail programs and the solidification of PETROFF’s relationships with many leaders in the development community.

Senior Associate

As Senior Associate, Ray Lall excels in his leadership and management of complex large scale projects, and the coordination of the large teams of staff and consultants typical of this work. With a deep technical knowledge borne of long collaboration, Ray continues the tradition of being a mentor to the members of his team. Focusing on large scale enclosed shopping centre projects and difficult renovation projects, Ray is a leader in the industry in this work. With over 25 years of experience, he brings a high level of competence and integrity to contract administration and construction phases of the projects and enjoys continuing ongoing relationships with clients on multiple projects over the years.

Senior Associate

As Senior Associate, Dan combines tenacity, dedication and an extensive technical background to deliver his projects to our client’s satisfaction and vision. Using his strong communication skills in the design, management and contract administration for a multitude of commercial projects for such client stakeholders as Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart, Dan’s methods emphasise design efficiency, cost effectiveness and timely delivery. As a result of these efforts, many of our repeat clients look to Dan and his team to provide quality assurance and control for their projects.

Senior Associate

As Senior Associate, Gary specializes in the coordination and management of construction documents, as well as delivery of project schedules, budgets, and communication protocols. With more than 20 years of experience, Gary has been an integral part of a number of national retail programs and roll-outs in numerous municipalities across the country. Gary strives to manage the contract administration and construction review process with integrity and careful attention to detail, ensuring positive project outcomes. Gary’s detailed approach has allowed him to effectively and efficiently manage large project teams, and develop strong long standing relationships with numerous national clients.

Senior Associate

As Senior Associate, Robert brings a wealth of experience managing multiple projects with a focus on healthcare and wellness. Excellence in the project management of this complex and demanding building typology is based on great strengths in all phases of the design process through construction. His reputation for schedule and budget control has resulted in longstanding relationships with private and public sector clients and expertise across Stipulated Sum, Design Build, CM and PPP formats. With over 20 years of experience, Robert’s effective coordination of large architecture and engineering teams is demonstrated by his commitment to communications and integrity in project delivery of all scales.

Associate

As an Associate, Olga brings over 17 years of experience at PETROFF in construction methods and procedures, project management and site supervision. Extending across an array of project types including commercial, institutional, recreation and LEED certified buildings, Olga’s broad experience is further bolstered by confident leadership and collaboration skills in the guidance of her project teams. As a conscientious project manager Olga’s approach to her work is diligent and focuses on solid problem solving in the detail design and production of working drawings, ensuring proper quality control for all of her successful projects.

Associate

As an Associate, Bita has garnered a deep and varied experience in complex building types, and after joining PETROFF in 2007 has flourished in heading several large scale mixed use and open air redevelopments including Bramalea City Centre, Downtown Markham, Font Hill Market and the stat-of-the art Goodlife headquarters in London, Ontario. Highly regarded as an outstanding project manager with a passion to deliver simple and creative solutions to design issues, Bita thrives when she has to work at a fast pace to help her clients achieve their development goals.

Information Technology Manager

As Information Technology Manager, Paul brings more than 15 years of hands on experience in vital information systems, technologies and operations to PETROFF and ARK. Paul provides leadership for the continued development of a robust and secure information technology environment, and oversees a wide variety of mandates including IT policy and protocols, security systems and compliance and infrastructure resource organization and allocation.

Human Resources Manager

As Human Resource Manager for PETROFF and ARK, Kelly provides HR management and support to a large and complex team of over 150 employees and management staff at the offices of both PETROFF and ARK. As an accomplished senior HR professional with over 15 years of experience, Kelly has been responsible for implementing a number of human resources initiatives that have enabled both organizations to recruit, coach, retain and grow their high performing and motivated teams. Kelly specializes in staff development, performance management, benefits management and employee relations policies and strategies. A Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), Kelly graduated from McMaster University with an esBachelor of Arts (Hons), and did a post graduate certificate in human resources at Georgian College.

Director of Business Development and Strategy

As the Director of Business Development and Strategy, Zach works to identify and pursue external opportunities and bring in new business. He is also creating and implementing strategic internal improvements that continue to improve our competitiveness. One area of focus within the firm is developing a new framework for collaboration that will facilitate strong internal communications and knowledge sharing. Zach is also focusing on increasing the ARK | PETROFF brand recognition within a broad cross-section of the industry.

Finance Controller

As a Finance Controller for PETROFF and ARK, with over two decades of experience in large corporations, Arnon provides Finance management and guidance in strategic planning, budget controls and all aspects of accounting operations. He consistently conducts financial planning and analysis to assist partners and associates in reaching better financial performance results.

Arnon completed his MBA and B.A. in Economics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and obtained a Diploma in Accounting from McGill University.