headshot of Cecily Eckhardt

Cecily Eckhardt

OAA, MRAIC, LEED GA, CPHD
Principal, Managing Director, Ontario

Cecily believes good design is more than the sum of its parts. “I love the idea that architecture isn’t static: It grows, it transforms, and it continues to mold communities long after the work is done.”

Her career has been shaped by a series of defining moments abroad—from a cultural exchange in Berlin and a visit to Mies van der Rohe’s National Gallery when she was 16 years old, to six months of community development work in Cape Town, South Africa as a young professional, to four years of architectural practice in London. These experiences reinforced her love for architecture, broadened her global perspective, and honed her craft. “To me, the best design isn’t just beautiful; it’s timeless, resilient, and deeply connected to the people who experience it,” she says.

Eventually, Cecily returned to Toronto, where she was born and raised. For over 17 years, she has led and contributed to many high-profile projects across Canada, including higher education, healthcare, science and technology, and student residence buildings. Now, as managing director of our Toronto and Ottawa studios, Cecily leads our Ontario practice based on the philosophy that the best designs arise when people have room to grow. She thrives on mentoring others, guiding young talent to find their own voice and channel it into purposeful, impactful work.

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Say hello to Cecily
Architecture should be both a reflection of the world and a response to its place—drawing inspiration from everywhere but staying true to the local culture and environment.
a person posing with hiking poles on a snowy field
For Cecily, movement is meditation. Whether she’s hiking, swimming, practicing yoga, or exploring the outdoors, it’s how she recharges and finds clarity.
Hiking in the Rockies, Banff, Alberta
two people hugging on a mountain overlook
For Cecily, movement is meditation. Whether she’s hiking, swimming, practicing yoga, or exploring the outdoors, it’s how she recharges and finds clarity.
Cecily on the Inca Trail in Peru with her husband, Mike
a person on a boat with a dog
Cecily, with her Havanese Rocco, at her cottage in Muskoka, Ontario
Looking up at the Panthéon in Paris
Cecily sees the world through color, texture, and pattern, always collecting inspiration from the places she visits.
Looking up at the Panthéon in Paris
a person striking a dancer’s pose on a lakeshore
Cecily sees the world through color, texture, and pattern, always collecting inspiration from the places she visits.
Striking a dancer’s pose at Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland
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