MEAN STUDIO IS AN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FIRM BASED IN TORONTO AND WINDSOR, CANADA. WE ARE A DISCIPLINE COMPRISED OF EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS WITH BACKGROUNDS IN ARCHITECTURE, URBAN DESIGN, SCULPTURE, AND PHOTOGRAPHY. we have A RANGE OF EXPERIENCE RESEARCHING AND IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY. THE PRACTICE OPERATES ON A RANGE OF SCALES, FROM THE OBJECT TO THE URBAN. we APPROACH EACH PROJECT AS AN INTEGRAL AND MEANINGFUL PIECE OF A BROADER CONTEXT. IN THE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING DYNAMIC OF CITIES AND COMMUNAL SPACES, WHERE NO ACT OF DESIGN IS NEUTRAL, THIS MEANS NAVIGATING PHYSICAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES AND TESTING THE STATUS QUO TO CREATE MOMENTS WHICH ACT AS SEEDS OF IMPACTFUL, POSITIVE CHANGE.
the mean mission…
Mean Studio designs with intention, but without ego, striving to intermediate the exchange between the status quo and a re-imagined urban landscape. Through close analysis of the physical, cultural, and social terrains of a project, and careful resolution of scale, materiality, and function, we hope to create moments and works that are grounded in their context, but which have the potential to resonate beyond.
“mean what you design and design what you mean...”
Nicole Baillargeon
Nicole is an architectural designer, developer, and artist. She has a Masters in Architecture from University of Toronto and a B.F.A. from the University of Windsor. She is co-founder of the Dry Goods Collective, a collaborative workspace and consortium of creative businesses implementing projects that aim to support revitalization in Ford City, a neighbourhood in her hometown of Windsor, Ontario. Nicole has worked with internationally renowned artist/designer Maryam Key-hani and later with An Te Liu in Toronto to design, fabricate, and install sculpture, exhibitions, multi-media installation projects, and large-scale public art pieces. More recently, she worked on visualization and marketing materials for large scale urban revitalization projects including Bedrock’s collection of building projects in downtown Detroit, and the residential City Modern development in Brush Park. She was previously a Director for Reach Architecture Studio coordinating community-based projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Siniša Simić
Siniša is a developer and and architect registered in Michigan and Ontario (almost). He acquired his Masters in Architecture from the University of Detroit Mercy, where he has also taught architecture studios and acted as design critic. He is co-founder of the Dry Goods Collective, a collaborative workspace and consortium of creative businesses implementing projects that aim to support revitalization in Ford City, a neighbourhood in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario. Recently, Siniša worked with Hamilton Anderson associates in downtown Detroit on major urban development and building projects in both Detroit and Grand Rapids MI. He has extensive experience in construction and construction management and continues to work as the compliance Architect for the Gordie Howe International Bridge project linking Windsor to Detroit. Siniša worked in Toronto with firms HOK, Adamson Associates, and WZMH, on large-scale public projects, as well as with the boutique design-build /fabrication office PDLab.
Crystal R. Waddell
Crystal has 12+ years of professional experience as an architectural and urban designer, practicing in numerous countries around the world. She has a Masters in Architecture from the University of Toronto. Crystal is adept and comfortable working with large scale urban design projects as well as small detailed interiors. Previously, Crystal was an Associate at SvN Architects and Planners in Toronto as well as an Associate at Local Studio in Johannesburg. During this time she managed large scale urban design projects as well as both large and small architecture projects from concept design through to construction completion, while also coordinating large teams of architects and consultants. Crystal has worked as a design architect for Peter Rich Architects in Johannesburg, the International Peace and Cooperation Centre in Israel / Palestine, and the Royal Society of Conservation of Nature in Jordan. She was a founding Director of Reach Architecture Studio, organizing projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as worked as an architectural technician with B+H Architects in Toronto, specifically on the University of Windsor’s engineering facility.