Mr. Ellis coined the phrase over forty years ago, ‘design’ is not a product, but a process’, to explain how he viewed his architectural philosophy, based on a solid commitment to excellence in architecture, planning and interior design.

Since then Mr. Ellis has earned an international reputation for expertise in the design of highly complex buildings for academics, medicine, science and research, which possess not only technical innovation, but noted for their particular attention to the human condition. This is what sets him apart. The unending process to create buildings borne from experience and the knowledge that one keeps learning, to move forward.

Mr. Ellis founded the firm davidELLISarchitect inc. (DEA) with the objective of becoming the premiere design firm in the north. Throughout the years Mr. Ellis built the practice through his specialty for designing buildings containing a high degree of technology integration. He and Marie Hunter, senior technologist, have worked together since 1987 as the sole designers and project leaders for virtually 100% of every science and research project the succession of firms and partnerships executed in the past 40 years. The firms he founded and led as principle architect and designer, sole interior designer and sole laboratory architect, include the Short + Ellis Partnership, david ELLIS architect (DEA), Ellis + Pastore (EPA), Ellis, Pastore, Oswin (EPO), EPOH, until re-establishing the firm back to its roots of david ELLIS architect (DEA).

His designs are regularly featured in design and architectural journals and have received a number of international and national design awards, such as his winning entry for the World Bank’s Malaysian Health Development Project Design Competition, awards from the American Architectural Woodwork Institute (LSSU Crawford Hall), the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (Floreani Clinic) and the Canadian Terrazzo, Tile and Marble Institute (2000 Ontario Winter Games Pool and Recreation Centre). Recognition of technical expertise is evidenced by his ‘R&D’ ‘Laboratory of the Year’ (the only ever awarded to a Canadian Architect), two ‘Ontario Global Traders Awards’ for his research and scientific design work abroad, was honoured by presenting the Keynote Address to the Commonwealth Scientific Conference held in Sarawak, Borneo, ICF Design Award for the best multi-family residential project in North America and recent recognised as the Best Educational Architectural Firm in Ontario, as well as his invitation into ‘Team Canada’.

Mr. Ellis’s work has been published in: ‘The Canadian Architect‘, ‘Perspectives‘, ‘One Thousand Architects‘, ‘Architecture Malaysia’, ‘Magazin fur Kunden und Mitarbeiter’, ‘Cabin Life Magazine’, ‘Dimensions Magazine’, ‘Research and Development. Recently he was the only northern Ontario architect recognized in ‘100 + 25’, a history of architecture in Ontario over the past 25 years. Additionally his buildings have been used in two feature length films, including “Love of My Life” starring the alumni of the hit comedy “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, plus the interiors of the Winter games Pools used in many scenes of the TIFF winning movie, “Little Big Ones”.

He has also contributed in many other related areas, such as his expertise in the development of the Ontario government’s ‘Heritage Tool Kit‘. Recognised for his contribution to science and technology in design, he has been honoured by presenting the key note address to the Commonwealth Scientific Congress, the US Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association annual convention in Chicago and the Ontario Global Trader’s Awards, in addition to lecturing at Construct Canada, Toronto, the Pittsburgh Scientific Conference and many other architectural design symposia.

He serves his community as a past Board member of the Algoma Community Hospice, Past President and current Board Member of the Art Gallery of Algoma, the Municipal Heritage Committee and as Chair of the Algoma Society of Architects, sits on the Sault Ste. Marie Accessibility Committee, member of the Soup Kitchen’s Community Healthcare Committee and just provide volunteer design work for the City Police Gore Street project. This is in addition to coaching and participation in a dozen other community boards, committees and sports organisations. Recently he was a WADA official for a World Cup Track Meet and has designed and built bicycle frames that have been used at World Championships and at the Olympics.