The Construction Source

too busy building. When Matt returned to Canada in 2006, he re-connected with Eric, learned project management as his ‘number two,’ and they became partners in 2012. Since that date, South Park has delivered a long list of significant renovations and new builds, largely in mature Toronto neighborhoods. They have also built a very powerful reputation in the region for the quality of their work and the seamlessness of their process. These days, Eric estimates they receive about 100 leads per year – and they only take on about 10 projects, so they have the opportunity to be selective. So what does South Park look for in a project? Eric says they consider the price point – they target projects valued anywhere from $250,000 to about $4 million – but more importantly, they consider the fit with the client. “It’s a huge asset if the client has experienced a renovation or a new build before,” he explains. “That’s massive. If they haven’t, the educational component can be a rough ride.” “Character and energy also matter,” he says. “When we’re building, we’re a team. It’s us, it’s the architect, and it’s the client. If the team doesn’t get along, if they’re not on the same page, the project is going to suffer. We like to work with people who share our passion for the process and who are willing to leave their ego at the door.” “The expectation from our clients is that we’re straightforward, honest and up-front with them,” Matt adds. “We have the same expectation of our client. We’re expecting them to come to the table and be honest.” “We want to be able to talk very candidly – especially when it comes to the budget, where people’s expectations are often not quite right,” he explains. “We want people to be truthful and up-front with us. We don’t want to go through the exercise of building a project team and budget, and then get to the end of that lengthy process AUGUST 2021 Architectural/Interior Design - Monica E. Kuhn Architect Inc.