Rethinking the future: Ædifica welcomes a new generation of shareholders to sustain growth and inspire the business community
13 May, 2025
The architecture firm relies on a governance model rooted in merit, mentorship, and shared value creation.
In a context where more than 57% of Quebec SMEs lack a structured succession plan and over 34,000 businesses are expected to change hands over the next decade, Ædifica is taking a bold step toward long-term sustainability by welcoming 11 key talents from within the firm as company shareholders.
The internal process leading up to this announcement was highly structured, guided by principles of meritocracy and framed by mentorship and professional development. It’s a strategy designed to develop talent from within while enhancing the value delivered to clients and the firm alike. Following a similar announcement in 2019, Ædifica once again demonstrates that a succession model based on internal ownership transition can be both human-centered and high-performing, a benchmark for forward-thinking governance in Quebec’s entrepreneurial sector.
A Structured Model for Entrepreneurial Transition
In 2019, Ædifica launched a formal succession pathway that offers select employees equity stake in the firm, based on a clear set of criteria including expertise, strategic value to the firm, business development skills, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to the company and its clients. Far from symbolic, this initiative is backed by a mentoring and coaching program designed to support career advancement and growing strategic involvement in the company’s future.
“By welcoming these leaders into our shareholder group, we are not just planning for succession, we are building a stronger firm, rooted in collective intelligence and focused on the future.”
Recognizing Talent and Shared Leadership
This model places talent development at the heart of corporate governance, fostering the evolution of professional, managerial, strategic, and business development skills based on each individual’s strengths, aspirations, and current or future role within the firm. The goal: to cultivate collaborative and interdisciplinary leadership, with team members actively contributing to Ædifica’s mission, vision, and growth.
“After more than seven years as an architect at Ædifi ca, joining the shareholder group has allowed me to deepen my engagement with an innovative employer making a positive impact in its community. This program is not only an economic opportunity, it’s an invaluable learning journey. I’m being supported to fully unlock my entrepreneurial potential.”
Pioneering Governance in the Architecture Industry
Ædifica stands out as a pioneer in a sector where structured succession models are still the exception. By integrating its top talent into the ownership structure through a structured, systematized approach, the firm is setting a new standard for governance practices within the architecture industry. This strategy ensures business continuity while supporting the evolution of the firm’s model in response to market shifts.
A Mutually Beneficial Commitment
The model offers tangible benefits to new shareholders:
- Annual dividends proportional to their equity participation
- Share value appreciation tied to the company’s growth and profitability
- A path toward increasingly strategic leadership roles, including potential advancement to the executive leadership team and board of directors
- Greater involvement and influence in shaping Ædifica’s strategies
This approach strengthens employees’ sense of belonging, professional fulfillment, and overall productivity.
“By promoting this ownership model, we’re engaging our talent in an ambitious collective vision that evolves organically as our people grow and take on new challenges. Our team is creative, forward-thinking, and united by a culture rooted in human values. Ædifi ca is above all a collective of people in service of purpose-driven projects, a catalyst for transformation guided by intelligence, commitment, and the shared ambition to build a sustainable future. This program invites our people to see Ædifi ca as a platform on which to build a career aligned with their long-term aspirations. And that’s key to the survival of Quebec businesses looking to grow into the future.”
About Ædifica
Ædifica: Drive positive impact, Innovation at the Intersection of Expertise
A pioneer in sustainable development since its founding in 1985, Ædifica has positioned itself as a strategic partner for its clients by integrating complementary expertise in the built environment. Its mission is to provide integrated service and project solutions at all scales, maximizing human well-being with a focus on sustainability and resilience.
With more than 130 architects, urban planners, interior designers, and engineers, Ædifica supports North American and international clients in strategically navigating major transformations in urban planning, advancing toward carbon neutrality and climate resilience.
Its business sectors include housing, workplace and commercial environments, real estate development, transportation and infrastructure, education, and other institutional sectors.
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