Team

Ian is a Registered Architect in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and holds certification with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). He is a LEED-Accredited Professional with a specialty in Building Design and Construction and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis.

Beginning in 1999, Ian worked for architecture firms in San Francisco and Philadelphia, on projects ranging from small kitchen and bathroom renovations to multi-million-dollar hotels and laboratories. He has served intermittently on the Architecture Faculty at Philadelphia University (now Thomas Jefferson University), teaching freshman courses in basic design principles, as well as upper-class seminars in Revit modeling and technical documentation. He regularly serves as a guest critic at other Philadelphia architecture schools. Ian’s teaching is geared towards helping students to be better able to understand and describe their own design processes through improved verbal, technical, and graphic skills.

In his free time, Ian enjoys reading books, collecting quirky treasures to display in the office, and spending the weekends at the shore with his family. You can get a peek inside his head on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/tonerarch.

Sara is a highly motivated Architect, Interior Designer and Sustainable Designer with design experience in residential, higher education, K-12 facilities, health care, preservation, sustainability, commercial, retail and hospitality design.  In addition, she was an Adjunct Professor at Kent State University teaching Architecture and Interior Design.  As a perpetual student of architecture, she actively engages in new experiences that will advance her knowledge and skills.  Sara has a passion for design competitions, mid-century modern architecture, and technology. When Sara is not at work, you can find her chasing her daughters and enjoying family hikes.

Sara joined Toner Architects in 2016 and was promoted to Principal in 2021. She is a registered architect in Pennsylvania and Ohio, a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and holds certifications with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) and the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). She is a LEED-Accredited Professional with a specialty in Building Design and Construction, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, a Master of Architecture, and a Master of Business Administration, all from Kent State University.

Sam is a transplant from Ithaca, New York who came to Philadelphia as part of his pursuit of sustainable architecture and design. Though he came for school, he stayed for his deep affection for the city. Sam is a graduate from Drexel University’s 2+4 Architecture program and has been a key member of the Toner Architects Team since September 2018. He has a varied background including working previously in both the design and construction sectors of the architecture industry. Sam is passionate about sustainability and green design. He is a Registered Architect in Pennsylvania and a LEED Green Associate.

Sam applies his interest and enthusiasm for technologies old and new to his work, and advocates embracing new ideas and methods while responding to established techniques. Besides architecture, Sam enjoys hiking, road trips, film photography, and exploring and documenting Philadelphia.

Catharine joined Toner Architects after years of professional experience spanning across multiple states in the Eastern US. Working extensively in both New York City and North Carolina, she specializes in high end residential construction and boutique commercial projects with additional experience in historic preservation and urban planning. While her first love is architecture, Catharine also has a special interest in graphic design. She’s curated and worked on exhibitions in New York City and Kentucky and has provided branding and prototype design for various companies.

Catharine is a Registered Architect in Pennsylvania and holds certification with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). She has a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Kentucky with a minor in Art History. In her free time, you can find her exploring the diverse neighborhoods of Philadelphia or venturing to sculpture parks all over the US.

With a background in sustainability-focused nonprofit work, Melanie is passionate about building a world that better serves everyone in it. She is excited to apply this at Toner Architects in her hometown of Philadelphia. Melanie studied Geography at McGill University and has experience coordinating public recreation space expansion in Philly, leading sustainability initiatives at McGill and organizing policy advocacy on Capitol Hill.

In her free time, Melanie can be found trying new restaurants with friends, hanging out with family and enjoying time in nature.

Born in Northeast Pennsylvania and a graduate from Temple University, Gary joined Toner Architects in 2024. With particular interest in historical and cultural preservation and adaptive reuse and repair of existing masonry structures, he has over ten years architectural experience in the northeast US, specializing in residential and commercial projects.

In his free time, Gary enjoys live music and art, biking, running and exploring the outdoors and spaces both built and natural. He is interested in cooking and is consistently aiming to learn new and better techniques. He has lived in Philadelphia since 2006 in multiple neighborhoods, currently living in Fishtown with his wife Kate and dog Leti.