Excellence in Architecture Since 1973
Stark Architects Inc. architecture is focused in areas of design that company personnel most enjoy and in which they have gained the greatest professional experience. Design activities spread equally into two areas, residential, recreational and community design under the direction of John Stark, and commercial, retail and industrial design under the direction of Paul Sipos, a team member since 1985. Senior Architectural Technologist Mike Jones is responsible for maintaining the highest standards for Construction Document production, applying expertise in construction, cost estimating, building materials and methods extending far beyond architectural design. Excellence in Architecture Since 1973
Retail design includes projects for Blockbuster Video, the Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Michael’s, Canadian Tire Corporation, Radio Shack, and others. Commercial and retail design has been provided to IKEA Canada continuously for over two decades. Industrial design has been provided to SMC Pneumatics, Egan Visual, and Labelad/Sandylion among others, and the practice has designed a number of Canadian Head Offices including those of Avis, IKEA Canada, Motorola Cellular, Sunquest Vacations and Maersk Sealand. Community design has included schools such as Mentor College and the Pretty River Academy, Collingwood’s only private school and qualified as a Silver LEED facility, and a mixed-use facility for the City of Burlington, recipient of an Ontario Concrete Award. Recreational design has included marine services buildings, golf and ski clubhouses and hundreds of private residential projects for Canadian and international clients.
The firm is a continuation of the practice that John Stark co-founded as a partnership in Mississauga in 1973, serving as the senior Partner while the partnership evolved as Stark Temporale, Stark Hicks Spragge, and Stark Spragge + Company. Archive projects include some work from those partnerships. John Stark became sole owner in 1995, establishing the present corporation. The firm has a record of achievement not just in the field of architecture, but also in response to John’s support of numerous community activities. These accomplishments are the foundation of Stark Architects Inc. as the firm pursues the areas of John’s specific personal and professional interests, shared with his colleagues.
Repeat and referral commissions have created a practice that has been truly sustainable over decades. Numerous awards have been received and designs completed for more than 700 commercial and 200 residential-recreational projects, including hundreds of island designs. Recent designs are illustrated on this website; enquiries regarding the entire portfolio are welcomed, and the Archive section includes some past designs.
JOHN B. STARK
B. Arch., OAA., F.R.A.I.C.
John Stark has been privileged to work with the best clients together with select architectural professionals in a small, creative and experienced team since 1973.
"For over 30 years, John has developed a devoted following for his summer cottage projects throughout Ontario. As a lifelong resident and Georgian Bay Island cottager, he has put his stamp on over 100 cottage designs, ranging from renovations to accessory buildings to 5,000 sq ft vacation homes. About 30 other projects are scattered across the shores of Muskoka and beyond. No two are alike, but they all adhere to the same vision: integration into their environment."
Article from Private Islands - Georgian Bay Architect John Stark
Accruing numerous major design awards over the years, John Stark has also received personal recognition for his service to the community in volunteer posts including Chairman of the United Way of Peel Region, and President of the Mississauga Board of Trade. He was named Mississauga Business Person of the Year, awarded the prestigious Community Service Award by the Ontario Association of Architects, and elected a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, a lifetime honour. John Stark also has served as President of the Georgian Bay Land Trust and continues as an Advisor.
“ The buildings I’ve designed are simply a framework to experience the natural beauty:
the rocks, the trees, the wind, the water, and the sunsets.””
Honours and Awards:
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada - Elected to Fellow by the college of Fellows.
(The College of Fellows formally recognizes members and distinguished laypersons who have made outstanding contributions to the profession. Fellowship in the RAIC is an honour conferred on members singled out for their contribution to research, scholarship, public service or professional standing to the good of architecture in Canada, or elsewhere.)
Ontario Association of Architects - Community Service Award John B. Stark, B.Arch., F.R.A.I.C.
Silver LEED qualification - Pretty River Academy, Collingwood
Ontario Concrete Award - Precast Concrete Material Development and Innovation Award - City of Burlington Multi Use Parking Facility
Ontario Association of Architects - Residential Design Award Honourable Mention - Georgian Bay Island Cottage
Mississauga Board of Trade, Business Person of the Year - John B. Stark, B.Arch., F.R.A.I.C.
Canadian Wood Council Merit Award - Georgian Bay Cottage
Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Award - Marketblock Toronto Properties
Markham Environmental Design Award - St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Ontario Renews Award - Marketblock - 41-45 Front Street, East, Toronto
Mississauga Outstanding Business Achievement Award
Mississauga Urban Design Award - Port Credit Streetscape
Mississauga Urban Design Award - Clarkson Galleria, Mississauga
Ontario Mason's Relations Council Award - Sunquest Vacations Head Office, Toronto
The Art Directors Club of Toronto Award of Merit - Port Credit Secondary Plan Poster
Ontario Association of Architects Design Award - Applewood Heights Park Pool, Mississauga
The Canadian Architect Award of Excellence - Lewis Bradley Park Pool, Mississauga
The Canadian Architect Award of Excellence - David Ramsey Park Pool, Mississauga
The Canadian Architect Award of Excellence - Applewood Heights Park Pool, Mississauga
The Canadian Housing Design Council Award - Mumford Residence, Bolton
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