About - AAmp Studio

AAmp is an architecture & design studio committed to creating beautiful, informed and transformative experiences. We pride ourselves on an innovative, thoughtful, and collaborative approach to design: from initial concept through realization, we work closely with our clients to find simple, elegant and intelligent solutions tailored specifically to their needs.

In short, we believe design is a cultural experience that is layered, democratic and collaborative.

Architecture & Interior Design

Residential
Hospitality
Retail
Office

Branding & Graphic Design

Visual Identity Systems
Wayfinding
Environmental Graphics

Anne-Marie Armstrong, AIA, MRAIC Co-founding Principal

Anne-Marie Armstrong is Principal and Co-founder of AAmp Studio. She grew up in Toronto and has lived in several cities, most notably Los Angeles, New Haven and London, before relocating back to Toronto where she now lives with her husband and young family. Through her practice, teaching and research, Anne-Marie is deeply committed to increasing diversity, equity, access and inclusion within the field of design. She is an Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) at University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design.

Accreditations Registered Architect in California (CAB), Registered Architect in Ontario (OAA), American Association of Architects (AIA) member and Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) member.

Education University of Waterloo, Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies. Yale University, Master of Architecture.

Experience 15 years (Residential, Commercial & Institutional).

AAvocations Anne-Marie is an avid long-distance runner (and chaser of a very active toddler!), she enjoys all forms of racquet sports and was a former competitive figure skater.

Andrew Ashey, AIA Co-founding Principal

Andrew Ashey is Principal and Co-founder of AAmp Studio. He grew up in New Hampshire where he formed an interest in architecture and education at a young age. These interests brought him to larger and more diverse cities over the next 20 years, notably Boston, New York and Los Angeles. After this period, a desire to set down roots in a more intimate and familiar city with great cultural and natural amenities brought him back to the northeast, where he lives with his husband near Portland’s Back Cove. Andrew is currently on the Board of Directors for AIA Maine, the Board of Directors for Architalx, a founding committee member for the Spatial Design Academy at the University of Southern Maine, and previously served as a part time faculty member at Parsons School of Design in New York and served as Teaching Fellow at Yale University.

Accreditations Registered Architect in Maine, American Association of Architects (AIA) member.

Education Northeastern University, Bachelor in Science with Concentration in Architecture. The New School, Master of Art with Concentration in Media Studies Yale University, Master of Architecture Architectural Association, Visiting Students Program (VSP).

Experience 17 years (Residential, Urban Design, Mixed-use Highrise, Commercial and Hospitality).

AAvocations Andrew loves the outdoors – hiking, biking, beaching, endless city wandering, but above all he loves plants and gardening. He also enjoys time spent with his large family in New Hampshire and traveling with his husband, who has an equal affinity to explore and meet new people.

Charlie Payne, RA Project Manager & Architect

Charlie is an architect who grew up in Maine and Rhode Island. After completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at SCAD in Savannah, Georgia, Charlie relocated to California where he worked as an architect and designer for multiple large firms on education, workplace, spec office and retail projects. He relocated to Portland, Maine and joined AAmp, where he continues to practice architecture and has become an active participant in the local design community.

Accreditations Registered Architect in California (CAB), LEED Green Associate, Autodesk Revit Certified Professional.

Education Savannah College of Art and Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Architecture. Savannah College of Art and Design, Master of Architecture.

Experience 12 years (Education, Workplace, Spec Office, Retail/Restaurant and Residential).

AAvocations Charlie appreciates sliding around on boards, whether they be on snow, water or pavement. He cooks a lot, hangs with his wife and dog, and occasionally takes his campervan conversion on long excursions.

Ron Noble Project Designer

Ron is a designer based in Toronto. He holds a Master of Architecture from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), where he received the Architectural Research Centers Consortium King Medal for his thesis, “Electronic Waste and the Production of Waste”, which explored the geo-politics and toxic colonialism of e-waste as it relates to capitalist urbanization.

Accreditations Intern Architect with the Ontario Association of Architects.

Education Toronto Metropolitan University, Bachelor of Architectural Science and Master of Architecture.

Experience 6 years (Residential, Institutional, Commercial, and Mixed-use).

AAvocations Ron is generally a curious human with many interests. When not exhausted from the relentless energy required for the care of a little human, dog, and domestic partner, he enjoys pursuing his local hardware store. His current obsessions are plywood and tool organization.

Lena Ma Designer

Lena is a designer committed to challenging boundaries of conventional experiences through experimental innovation and playfulness. Lena has co-authored papers presented at the HUIC Conference 2023, DAKAM Arch Design 2021, and CAADRIA 2021 for her research advancing architectural pedagogy. In respect to her design achievements, Lena has received recognition such as the University of Toronto’s Faculty Design Award, the Minto Sustainability Award, and the Ontario Association of Architects Awards.

Accreditations OAA Intern Architect (to be signed up through U of T).

Education Toronto Metropolitan University, Bachelor of Architectural Science. Toronto Metropolitan University, Minor in Philosophy. University of Toronto, Master of Architecture.

Experience 2 years (Institutional, Residential & Wayfinding).

AAvocations Lena is a lover of crafts and is currently an aspiring potter and knitter. After jam-packed travel adventures, she enjoys scrapbooking memorabilia of her trips while watching re-runs of Friends and sipping her second bubble tea of the day.

Alexandra Kiss Project Designer

Alexandra Kiss is a designer and artist based in Toronto. Apart from architecture, she has an affinity for art in which she investigates growth and senescence as cyclical temporal processes. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Her drawings have been featured on the cover of Architectural Theory Review, Volume 25, Numbers 1-2 published by Routledge.

Education Cooper Union Irwin S Chanin School of Architecture, Bachelor of Architecture.
Yale University, Master of Architecture.

Experience 10 years (Residential, Mixed-use and Commercial).

AAvocations Alex enjoys art, cycling & hiking.