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Mark Erickson M.Arch, BEDS, BFA
Partner + Principal
Mark is the steady hand at Studio North, ensuring that creativity is supported by a strong foundation. As Partner and Principal, he helps set the studio’s direction, balancing big ideas with the structure needed to make them happen. He is often the first voice clients hear when reaching out, guiding them into the creative process with a thoughtful and measured approach. While he participates in strategic decisions, his focus is on fostering the relationships and projects that fit within the studio’s vision. Alongside his role at Studio North, he divides his time between Arch House, where he connects people with architecturally designed homes, and The New Blank, a creative space that brings together designers, artists, and makers within the studio’s home.
His background in fine arts led him to architecture. While studying at the University of Calgary, he became fascinated with how we engage with space, how perspective shapes our perception, and how our bodies move through the world. He went on to earn a Master of Architecture from Dalhousie University, where he explored how conceptual ideas from sculpture, drawing, and material studies could translate into built form. His approach remains deeply considered, grounded in both artistic intuition and an understanding of how things get made.
Notable projects that Mark has led include Beaver Lodge Laneway, a series of homes that support the Eleanor Luxton Historic Foundation in Banff, and Base Camp Hotel, a hospitality project in Canmore that blends contemporary design with a strong regional identity. He also played a key role in Bird Hut, a treetop retreat in Windermere, British Columbia, designed as both a refuge for people and a nesting place for local bird species. His work extends beyond buildings to interactive public installations like Lightkeeper, a light-based artwork on Toronto’s waterfront that responds to wind and moon phases, casting waves of spectral light across Aitken Place Park. In addition to his design work, Mark has taught at the University of Toronto in a design-build studio for two summers, sharing his expertise with students while fostering hands-on learning. Whether designing spaces for living, gathering, or reimagining how people interact with their environment, his work is grounded in craft, context, and a lasting connection to place.
Mark finds balance between his work and his family, taking trips to the mountains and the family cabin, where he fishes, skis, and sometimes just sits quietly, taking in the landscape. He is always thinking about the next move, whether it is the future of Studio North, the creative community around the New Blank, or how to build something that will stand the test of time.
