Building human prosperity within a flourishing planet
Coolearth Architecture inc. is a full services architecture firm located in Ontario specializing in sustainable, high-performance buildings, Passive House design, Net Zero Carbon design, energy modeling, and resilient community projects.
We combine architectural design, building science, energy modeling, and practical project delivery to create buildings that are beautiful, durable, comfortable, and aligned with a changing climate.
Architecture for a low-carbon, resilient future
Building Energy Analysis & Policy
Sustainability, Passive House, NECB, LEED, CAGBC and more
Custom Homes and Retrofits
Beautiful, efficient and durable new builds and retrofits.
Multi-unit Residential and Institutional
Architectural services for municipalities, non-profits, and developers
Services:
We design high-performance multi-unit residential buildings, seniors housing, co-housing, and affordable housing projects. Our work includes feasibility studies, funding and approvals support, design, consultant coordination, permitting, tendering, and construction administration.
Multi-unit Residential and Institutional Buildings
Coolearth offers consultation and architecture services for municipalities and private developers, supporting projects from analysis to completion. We design functional, beautiful, and comfortable spaces that align with clients’ missions, enhance efficiency, and inspire users.
Custom Homes, Renovations, and Retrofits
Coolearth designs and helps realize sustainable, efficient, and beautiful homes, including Passive Houses and retrofits. Using building science and thermal bridge modeling, Coolearth enhances energy performance, comfort, and resilience, ensuring lasting beauty and durability.
Building Energy Analysis & Policy
Coolearth provides sustainable building envelope services, energy modeling, and policy research on net zero and retrofits. Through sustainable design and collaboration, we deliver eco-friendly solutions that enhance building function, comfort, and efficiency for municipalities, NGOs, and industries.
Expert Witness Services
The Principal of Coolearth, Sheena Sharp, is frequently called upon as an Expert Witness to assist in disputes involving work executed by others. Her role involves providing detailed explanations and professional insights to help clarify technical issues for the Court during litigation or mediation processes.
Selected Projects:
Coolearth’s work spans affordable housing, childcare, hospice, community buildings, custom homes, and deep energy retrofits. The selected projects below show how we combine thoughtful architecture, high-performance building science, and practical project delivery to create durable, comfortable, low-carbon buildings.
Cherry Valley Rammed Earth Home
Coniston Non-Profit Seniors Housing
Sammon Passive House Retrofit
Latest from the Blog:
Our blog shares practical insights on sustainable architecture, building science, Passive House design, Net Zero buildings, housing, and the changing future of the built environment. Explore articles, project updates, and ideas from Coolearth’s ongoing work designing healthier, more durable, and lower-carbon buildings.
- Intern Architect, Kunaal Mohan is now a Certified Passive House Designer
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the Coolearth team: Kunaal Mohan has officially passed his exam to become a Certified Passive House Designer! With this achievement, Kunaal joins architect and project manager Geoff Christou and Colleen Whyte—who previously earned the same designation—making Coolearth Architecture home to three full-time Certified Passive House Designers. This… - Hybrid Mass Timber Structures
Hybrid Mass Timber has become an increasingly common term over the last few years as the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry has been moving towards more sustainable options for structural systems. Hybrid Mass Timber refers to the combination of engineered wood products with other structural materials, such as concrete and steel, often for aesthetic,… - Beyond Simulation: Real-World Thermal Data from Our Rammed Earth Guesthouse
Coolearth recently had the opportunity to see the guesthouse of our Cherry Valley Rammed Earth project in Prince Edward County independently studied and published in Frontiers in Built Environment (Harvey & Szentesi-Nejur, 2025). Titled “Field-based thermal performance analysis of a cement-stabilized, core-insulated rammed earth house in a cold climate,” the paper by Gabriel Harvey and… - Intergenerational Housing Model: Building for Generations, Aging and the Planet
In a world of rising housing costs, increased demand for childcare and elder care, and heightened levels of loneliness and isolation, intergenerational housing has become an increasingly popular model to address today’s economic and social challenges. The premise is simple; a dwelling or property that houses one or more generations (typically) within the same family…. - Understanding Green Building Certifications in Practice
Energy-efficient, durable, and climate-responsive buildings are increasingly shaping how we design and evaluate the built environment. Rising energy costs, evolving municipal standards, and growing awareness of operational carbon have shifted high-performance design from a niche specialty toward a broader professional expectation. Several popular certification systems help structure this work. Each has a different emphasis —… - Planning Delay Invoice Generator
Across Ontario, the average Site Plan Approval now takes 23 months (Source: OAA Report, 2024). For affordable and community projects, those months aren’t theoretical. They translate into lost financing, missed grant applications, missed construction seasons, and higher rents. That’s why we built the Planning Delay – Invoice Generator, a web app that lets anyone calculate… - Coolearth Featured in The Globe and Mail: Mount Dennis Child-Care Centre
We’re proud to share that Coolearth Architecture was recently featured in The Globe and Mail as part of Dave LeBlanc’s Architourist column Baking cookies in Toronto’s first net-zero child-care centre (Sept. 17, 2025). The story highlights the new Mount Dennis Early Learning and Child Care Centre, designed by CS&P Architects in association with Coolearth Architecture…. - Free Climate + Sustainability Tools for Architects and Designers: Canadian Architect
We’re pleased to share that Coolearth was referenced in the latest issue of Canadian Architect – October 2025 in a feature on free and pay-what-you-can climate software resources. The article highlights a range of powerful tools available to building professionals—from embodied carbon calculators to climate data portals and benchmarking platforms. These free or pay-what-you-can resources… - Peterborough Straw Bale Passive House – Construction Update
The clients for this project, a young family, wanted a home that is healthy, energy efficient, and closely connected to nature. They were drawn to simple proportions inspired by the rural vernacular, and to materials that are natural, low-toxicity, and durable. The design reflects these priorities with straw bale insulation, wood fibre, mineral wool, lime…
Gallery
Explore a selection of photos of Coolearth’s recent projects, including high-performance housing, childcare, hospice, community buildings, custom homes, and deep energy retrofits.
Testimonials
The team at Coolearth Architecture believe that successful design is about communication, integrity, and a commitment to shared core values, backed by hard work. We believe that architecture is a service and we strive to achieve customer satisfaction.