Deirdre Ellis holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Carleton University and a Masters of Applied Sciences (Planning) from the Université de Montréal and is both a LEED AP BD+C and a WELL AP. A love of nature and an appreciation of our place within it, inspired her to focus on Sustainable Design throughout her career. She joined NFOE architecture in 2010 and became a principal of the firm in 2018. She has experience in a variety of project types including health care and laboratory buildings working with multi-disciplinary teams in an integrated design process.
While she grew up in Montreal she considers herself a child of the world, having been fortunate enough to live and travel around the world. She is keenly aware of the power of architecture in place making. She started her formal career in Jamaica, spending time in Ottawa, before returning to Montreal in 2010. The experience of significant climate events (hurricanes, ice storms, heat waves and blackouts) has focused her interest in how to improve the resilience of the built environment. She is specifically interested in how architecture can have a significant voice in addressing the pressing concerns of our times including climate change, environmental stewardship, human health and social justice.