Alex Polito
Intern Architect BAS | M.Arch | OAA
Skills and Attributes
519 702 5241
alex.epolito@gmail.com
Toronto, Ontario
Leading projects comes naturally—whether it’s coordinating team efforts for tendering architectural projects, contributing to Nuit Blanche 2020, or engaging in architectural competitions. These experiences have reinforced my ability to take initiative, collaborate effectively, and drive creative ideas forward.
A strong technical foundation supports my design work. Proficiency in AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, Rhino, and Adobe Suite, along with advanced rendering skills in V-Ray, Enscape, and Photoshop, allows me to bring concepts to life. Hands-on experience with 3D printing and laser cutting further enhances my ability to translate ideas into physical models.
Research and analytical thinking play a key role in my approach to architecture. Writing my M.Arch thesis refined my ability to synthesize complex ideas, develop clear arguments, and communicate effectively—essential skills for problem-solving and design innovation.
Experience
Education
Competitions
Intern Architect - September 2024 - Present
architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson - Toronto, Ontario
Developing conceptual designs through schematic design, utilizing Revit, hand sketching, and collaboration to shape projects from the ground up. Engaging with clients and stakeholders to refine design solutions, ensuring alignment with project goals and vision. Contributing to rendering, graphic design, and construction documentation to support various phases of design development.
Architectural Designer - January 2023 - August 2023
Checkwitch Poiron Architects - Vancouver, British Columbia
Played a versatile role in architectural projects, contributing to visualization, presentation drawings, construction detailing, and working drawings. Worked with software such as Vectorworks, Rhino, Twinmotion, and Adobe Suite to develop compelling design solutions.
Architectural Designer - May 2022 - August 2022
architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson - London, Ontario
Led visualization efforts on multiple projects, providing direct input on design decisions. Engaged with clients to translate their vision into architectural solutions. Utilized Revit, Enscape, AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Suite to develop drawings and renderings.
Architecture Student - May 2021 - August 2021
architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson - London, Ontario
Supported architectural projects through rendering, detail drafting, and working drawings under the guidance of McMichael Ruth. Applied Revit, SketchUp, Enscape, Photoshop, and hand drafting techniques to communicate design concepts effectively.
Laser Cutter + 3D Printer Supervisor - Sept. 2021 - April 2022
Laurentian University - Sudbury, Ontario
Managed and maintained fabrication equipment, ensuring precision and efficiency in modelmaking. Provided technical support to students, assisting with laser cutting and 3D printing processes to bring their designs to life.
Laurentian University: McEwen School of Architecture - Sudbury, Ontario
Master of Architecture, 2022 - 2024, Graduated August 2024
Bachelor of Architectural Studies, 2018 - 2022, Cum laude, Graduated April 2022
Saint Andre Bessette Catholic Secondary School, London, Ontario, 2018
Design subject award Grade 10 and Grade 12
2020/2021 The Future of Ontario Place Call for Counterproposals
2020 CCA Design Charrette | 25hr City
2020 Sudbury 2050 Architectural Ideas Competition
References available on request
Portfolio Link: https://issuu.com/alexpolito/docs/alex_polito_portfolio_issuu
FINAL MASTERS THESIS PROJECT + BOOK
A MULTI-USE RESIDENTIAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Rhino 7 / Enscape / Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign
THE STACKED SUBURB
4th YEAR STUDIO PROJECT
7 STORY MIXED USE HOUSING PROJECT
Rhino 7 / Enscape / V-Ray / Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign / Revit
SUMMER 2021, 2022 + JAN-AUG 2023
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT - RENDERS - CONTRACT DOCUMENTS + DETAILS
Sketchup / Enscape / Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign / Revit / AutoCAD
2nd YEAR STUDIO PROJECT
NATURE CHALET AND YOUTH CENTRE AT LAKE LAURENTIAN
Rhino 6 / Enscape / V-Ray / Photoshop / Illustrator / InDesign
DE NUIT
2020 CCA URBAN DESIGN CHARETTE
NATURE CHALET AND YOUTH CENTRE AT LAKE LAURENTIAN
Rhino 7 / Enscape / V-Ray / Photoshop / Illustrator
3Rd YEAR VARIOUS REVITALISATION PROJECTS O’CONNER PARK COMMUNITY BUILDING // SUDBURY SUPERSTACK REUSE
Rhino 7 / Enscape / V-Ray / Photoshop / Illustrator
The Right to Housing and Well-Being
Social Connectedness as a Means to Develop Quality, Publicly-Funded Housing for the Sandwich Class
TYPE: LARGE SCALE - MIXED USE, MIXED DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
SITE: TERMINAL AVE. and MAIN ST. IN VANCOUVER, BC
TEAM: ALEX Polito, JEAN-PHILIPPE Saucier (advisor)
The New Housing Price Index (NHPI) in relation to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
The housing crisis in Canada is a complex issue that is a result of the country’s troubled socio-economic landscape and past government missteps. This thesis begins by identifying the sources of the housing affordability crisis that has taken hold of Canada’s housing landscape and how that affects the people trying to access good, affordable housing. A housing cost to household income framework is utilised to assess the financial burden of housing costs on household incomes.
Figure 03: Vancouver housing continuum
CARDIOVASCULARDISEASES
POORCOGNITIVE FUNCTION
Fatal health implications of social isolation and loneliness
CARDIOVASCULARDISEASES
DECREASEDREPRODUCTIVERATES
POORCOGNITIVE FUNCTION
Non-fatal health implications of social isolation and loneliness
While it is wholly important to develop a housing system that fixes the housing scarcity issues in Canada, it is also crucial to set a standard for this housing, as the housing crisis is not only a quantity issue, but also a quality issue. Learning from past failures in government housing initiatives, it is critical that resident quality of life is placed at the center of housing design. This thesis sets out a framework for developing economically affordable housing for the sandwich class, while still maintaining quality living standards, through health and well-being. Health and well-being in housing will play a significant role in getting Canada’s housing goals back in line with internationally recognised legislation.
1 Bedroom Apartment
1 Bedroom Apartment
The Stacked Suburb
STACKING INSTEAD OF SPEADING
CLASS: DESIGN STUDIO 7: INTERGRATED DESIGN TYPE: MULTI-STORY MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL
SITE:
MASSING STRATEGY
The Stacked Suburb is a take on multi-storey mixed use residential that aims to encompass the atmosphere and feel of a suburb in form that is more spatially efficient than the traditional suburb. This concept is implemented through a system of ‘front yards’ and ‘back yards’ that create a deeper sense of community in the building.
The site is located at 300 Elm St. in Sudbury Ont. - this site is at a cross roads of two main roads in Sudbury (Elm + Regent St.). Included is a two floor commercial sector with a public pool and gym for the residents. The residential floors cater to young families with 3 and 2 bedroom condos as well as students with market rental for Laurentian University students.
3 PLY CLT STRUCTURAL WALL TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
= 111.073
= 19.562
MASS TIMBER POSTS TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
GLULAM BEAM TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
3 PLY CLT STRUCTURAL WALL TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
5 PLY CLT FLOORS TYP.
GLULAM BEAM TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
3 PLY CLT STRUCTURAL WALL TYP. REF. TO STRUCTURAL
5 PLY CLT FLOORS TYP.
Architecture Work Experience
City of Ladysmith - Arts + Heritage Hub
SITE: 610 Oyster Bay Dr., Ladysmith, British Columbia
DATE: January - May 2023
- The Ladysmith Arts and Heritage Hub is community led project in development with the City of Ladysmith to design and build a cultural hub that recognizes and celebrates the region’s indigenous history
- My task for this project was to assist in developing the design, as well as the pre-construction drawing set with the help of the lead architect
- Using various software (Vectorworks, Enscape, Photoshop and InDesign), I worked on drafting details and pre-construction drawings, as well as using visualization software to keep the client updated on the evolving design
AN INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HUB THAT TIES THE CITY, THE WATERFRONT AND THE LAND TOGETHER
BC Ferries Campbell River - Regional Transit Hub
SITE: 1001 Island Hwy, Campbell River, British Columbia
DATE: January - July 2023
- BC Ferries is investing in redeveloping the Campbell River terminal, with CPA commissioned to design and develop a new terminal
- My main task during this project was to support the project lead in getting the project through to tender by working on detail sets, construction drawings, and coordinating consultant drawings
TERMINAL AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR A REGIONAL TRANSIT HUB IN THE STRATHCONA REGION
989 Main St. - Mixed-Use Housing Project
SITE: 989 Main St, Vancouver, British Columbia
DATE: May - August 2023
- 989 Main St. is a mixed-use housing development in Vancouver’s Chinatown, aiming to revitalize the culturally rich but struggling neighborhood.
- My task involved design iterations, visualization, and construction drawings, collaborating closely with the design lead to balance the city’s comments with the clients budget constraints.
- The project, posed unique design challenges due to the area’s social and cultural sensitivities.
A CONTEXTUALLY BASED DEVELOPMENT IN THE HEART OF HISTORIC CHINATOWN
KNOX PRESBYTERIAN REVITALIZATION (COPPERLIGHT)
SITE: 142 Ontario St. - Stratford, Ont.
DATE: July / August 2022
- For this project my task was to lead early schematic design and design development of a new arts and culture development in Stratford, Ont.
- The project would need me to lead a team to prepare a design package for a community open house, as well as start initial design of the second phase residential development
- This project came together great and the client was very happy with the package we delivered, as part of the design this project revitalizes a heritage building and we had to work within that during the design process
A NEW HUB FOR ARTS
AND CULTURE IN THE STRATFORD URBAN CORE
HDC SYLVAN - LOW INCOME HOUSING
SITE: 345 Sylvan Street, London, Ontario
DATE: JULY 2022
- HDC Sylvan is a low income housing development project for the Housing Development Corporation London (HDC London), my task was to create a rendered walkthrough of the new building
- Using Sketchup, i consulted with the project manager and the technologists to make design changes and model the proposed building
- At the end of the process i led a meeting with our client and guided them through our recent design changes in Virtual Reality
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT DOESN’T COMPROMISE LIVABILITY
Summit Properties - Beaverbrook Development
SITE: 694 Beaverbrook Ave, London, Ont.
DATE: JULY 2022
- Beaverbrook is an ongoing project in the firm, it is a major residential development in London, ON - i was tasked with creating a new style for the townhouses on the east face
- Through an iterative process with a team within the office, we created a new style that incorporated wood styling and green space patios to rejuvenate the street scape
- In consultation with the team, a design was put together and I created a model that was then presented to our clients through a zoom rendered walk-through
AN INVITING AND DESIRABLE STREET-SCAPE THAT CATERS TO BOTH RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC
CASCADING PLANES
STUDIO: ARCH2515 - DESIGN STUDIO 4 - LANDSCAPE
TYPE: LAKESIDE ECOLOGY CENTER
SITE: LAKE LAURENTIAN CONSERVATION, SUDBURY, ONT. TEAM: ALEX E. POLITO
CONCEPT
Cascading Planes is a motion of architecture that draws from the basic concept of the natural flow of water. The Lake Laurentian Conservation Area site informed this concept through the three planes that represent the hills, lake and marsh. These three planes come through as the three planes of the building, with program flowing throughout.
IMPLEMENTATION
Through this concept the architecture of Cascading Planes has been implemented through design to flow both through program and form. In program, walls and adjoined spaces are used to design flow in pedestrian movement. Flow starts from the highest elevation of the building to the lower elevation. In form the planes of the roof and floors cascade, dropping 500mm per plane.
Fleur de Nuit THE NIGHT FLOWER BLOOMS
COMPETITION: CCA URBAN DESIGN CHARETTE
TYPE: URBAN DESIGN INTERVENTION
SITE: DOWNTOWN SUDBURY, ONT
TEAM: ABI Hudyma, BRADLEY Bonsall, ALEX
JEEVERTH Subramaniam
Polito, BRIANNA Bouius,
CONCEPT
Fleur De Nuit was conceived as an urban intervention that reimagines unused urban vacancies as a blooming flower of the night. During the day the space is used for a mundane purpose. But during the night the vacancy blooms and acts a well for night activity, in a previously unused space.
IMPLEMENTATION
The site we chose is a parking lot in Sudbury, Ont. that is used during the day, but left vacant during the night. This site provided prime locale for implementation of night life interventions. The structure of the seating as well as the lamps are designed to fold away during the day time, then bloom at night. Fleur De Nuit is a response to the potential of the 25h day.
REVITALISATION PROJECTS
SCHOOL: MCEWEN SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AT LAURENTIAN UNIVERSITY
TYPE: BUILDING REVITALISATION AND ADAPTIVE REUSE
SITE: ACROSS SUDBURY ONTARIO
DONE FOR: ARCH3306 (ARCHITECTURE OF THE WELL-TEMPERED ENVIRONMENT)
O’CONNER PARK BUILING REVITALISATION
SITE: 196 ST. GEORGE STREET, SUDBURY, ONT.
DATE: OCT. 22 2020
-REVITALISED THE EXTERIOR QUALITIES OF THE O’CONNER PARK BUILDING -ADDED CLERESTORY WINDOWS TO IMPROVE LIGHT QUALITY INSIDE -ADDED BATT INSULATION TO INCREASE THERMAL QUALITY OF THE ENVELOPE -ADDED BARRIER FREE ACCESS TO THE BUILDING AS WELL AS EXTERIOR GREENERY
SUPERSTACK REUSE - DSCOVERY
