Architectural judgment shaped by some of North America's most complex projects.

Christopher Hoyt, Architect, AAA, OAA

CH Architect is led by Christopher Hoyt, a licensed architect (OAA, AAA) whose career spans hands-on design delivery and senior advisory roles on major institutional and infrastructure initiatives across provincial, municipal, and international contexts.

Christopher’s work includes project roles at KPMB Architects, Diamond Schmitt Architects, and Shalom Baranes Associates, as well as four years as Senior Architect and Selection Committee Member on the LeBreton Flats Redevelopment at the National Capital Commission - one of the most complex and politically contested public redevelopment initiatives in Canada’s recent history. This breadth - across design, governance, procurement, and stakeholder management - is what CH Architect brings to clients who recognize that good architecture depends as much on early judgment, clarity, and alignment as it does on design talent.

Ciaran Head-Smith

Ciaran Head-Smith is a designer at CH Architect. He contributes to design development, visualization, and research, bringing a strong graphic sensibility and a thoughtful approach to representation.

Ciaran is currently completing his Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. Prior to joining CH Architect, he gained professional experience with Formline Architecture, where he supported project teams through drawing production, visualization, and design coordination across a range of project types.

A member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, Ciaran maintains an active parallel practice as a self-taught artist, producing contemporary acrylic and digital work that explores Indigenous identity and cultural continuity. His artistic perspective informs his architectural approach, with a focus on integrating traditional knowledge and material expression into contemporary design work.

Ciaran is particularly interested in advancing Indigenous representation in the built environment and contributes to projects with a sensitivity to cultural context, narrative, and place.

Aria MacDonald

Aria MacDonald is an architectural designer at CH Architect and an active member of the firm’s design team. She contributes to project development through drawing, modeling, and visualization, supporting clear communication of design intent from concept through delivery.

Aria is currently completing her Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Design) at Carleton University in Ottawa. Her academic work explores how architecture can respond to complex social, political, and environmental conditions, with a particular focus on sustainability and landscape integration.

With experience in community-oriented projects, Aria brings a thoughtful, client-focused approach to her work, combining strong design sensibility with rigorous problem-solving. Her upbringing in Nova Scotia informs a grounded understanding of natural systems and a commitment to environmentally responsive design.

A competitive track and field athlete, Aria has represented Carleton University at a high level, demonstrating focus, discipline, and resilience - qualities that carry directly into her design work and collaborative approach within the studio.

What makes CH Architect different

Front-end expertise: we engage at the earliest stages, where the cost of ambiguity is highest and the opportunity for long-term value is greatest
Governance and procurement fluency: drawing on direct experience advising boards, senior leadership, and multi-stakeholder teams through complex public processes
Independence: CH Architect does not compete for the projects it advises on; our counsel is structurally uncompromised
Scale literacy: the ability to bring large-project thinking to smaller contexts - and to distill residential-scale precision into complex institutional programs

CH Architect operates with a strong commitment to professional integrity and ethical practice. Advisory work is structured to ensure independence, transparency, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest. Christopher is a member of both the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and the Alberta Association of Architects (AAA).