Our Team
We bring decades of practice and multiple perspectives together to design buildings that respond to people, place, and long-term impact.
Veronica Madonna
Founder and Principal Architect, FRAIC, OAA, MAAVeronica Madonna is an award-winning Canadian architect and researcher whose work bridges architectural practice, research, and implementation. With over 25 years of experience, she brings a depth of professional knowledge shaped by leadership roles within some of Canada’s most respected architectural practices, and by a sustained commitment to advancing sustainable and regenerative design.
Veronica is licensed by the Ontario Association of Architects and the Manitoba Association of Architects and was named a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (FRAIC) in 2020—an honour recognizing architects who have made outstanding, nationally recognized contributions to the profession through design excellence, research, leadership, and service.
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Veronica is also an Associate Professor at the RAIC Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University, where her teaching and research focus on low-embodied-carbon construction, mass timber and wood technologies, and regenerative design strategies. Through this role, Veronica actively connects academic inquiry with industry practice, advancing applied research that informs real-world building outcomes.
Her work is distinguished by the integration of research into practice. Veronica has led and contributed to national research initiatives advancing mass timber, wood technologies, and low-embodied-carbon construction, including the Canadian Guide to Mid-Rise Wood Construction. Her current research explores advanced forest-based biomaterials and the holistic performance of mass timber buildings, with a focus on housing, schools, and workforce communities in rural and regional Canada.
Prior to founding Studio VMA Inc., Veronica was a Principal at Moriyama & Teshima Architects, where she led the design and delivery of complex, award-winning institutional projects across the country. Her leadership on landmark projects such as Limberlost Place at George Brown College—a ten-storey mass timber, net-zero carbon academic building—and the Honey Bee Research Centre for the University of Guelph has received international recognition for design excellence and sustainability.
At the core of Veronica’s practice is a belief that architecture can act as a catalyst for resilient, inclusive, and regenerative communities. She approaches each project with a systems-based mindset, bringing together research, design excellence, and collaboration to deliver architecture that is both visionary and grounded—responsive to people, place, and long-term impact.
David Di Biase
Partner and Technical DirectorDavid Di Biase is an accomplished Canadian architect and technical leader with over 25 years of experience across architectural design, construction, and building science. His work is defined by a deep understanding of how buildings are conceived, regulated, constructed, and adapted over time—bringing clarity and rigor to complex projects.
Before co-founding Studio VMA, David served as a Senior Project Manager, leading large-scale mixed-use commercial and residential developments from early design through construction. His expertise in design technology, zoning, building codes, and building science has guided numerous projects through demanding approval processes and delivery phases, ensuring technical excellence and regulatory compliance.
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David has played a pivotal leadership role in several high-profile adaptive reuse and heritage projects in Toronto. As Design Lead and Project Manager for the transformation of the historic 1897 W&D Dineen Co. Building at 140 Yonge Street–2 Temperance Street, he oversaw a contemporary two-storey rooftop addition and comprehensive interior renovation. The project carefully balanced modern interventions with heritage conservation, integrating new elevators and upgraded commercial spaces while minimizing impact on the original structure.
He also led the design and delivery of the 35 McCaul Street project, which involved a three-storey addition and the creation of a central atrium linking two heritage buildings in the Grange neighbourhood. The design introduced an interior court and circulation spine that enhanced connectivity, daylight, and shared use, while respecting the scale and character of the surrounding context. David successfully navigated the Site Plan Approval process with the City of Toronto and led meaningful engagement with The Village of the Grange community.
David’s approach is grounded in respect for existing buildings and urban fabric, combined with a forward-looking commitment to performance, adaptability, and longevity. His work integrates contemporary systems and construction strategies within sensitive contexts, creating buildings that are durable, functional, and deeply connected to their surroundings.
Chantal Shahmooradian is an architectural designer and emerging professional whose work spans design, research, and fabrication. She holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Toronto Metropolitan University and is currently completing a Master of Architectural Science. Chantal is an Intern Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects and a recipient of the Canadian Association for Women in Construction Bursary.
Since 2020, Chantal has been an integral member of Studio VMA, working closely with Veronica Madonna on design- and research-driven projects that advance sustainable construction, low-embodied-carbon strategies, and advanced wood building systems. Her contributions span early design, technical development, and research translation.
Intern Architect Chantal Shahmooradian
Studio VMA is a principal-led practice that works in collaboration with a trusted network of engineers, researchers, fabricators, academic institutions, and community partners across Canada and internationally. This model allows us to remain agile while bringing deep, project-specific expertise to each commission.
We welcome conversations with clients, communities, and collaborators seeking thoughtful, low-carbon architectural solutions.
Customer Service Manager