About Parallel Studios

Dusk sky with visible moon and bright planet or star, dark house with lit window, and trees in the distance.

The Studio

Parallel Studios is a design-led fabrication studio based in South Frontenac, Ontario. The studio operates fully off-grid, powered by on-site renewable energy systems, and is structured to support focused, hands-on work across materials and disciplines. This approach reflects a broader commitment to sustainability, self-sufficiency, and long-term thinking.

The studio functions as a creative hub, where daily practice, experimentation, and disciplined work are central to how projects are developed. Design, fabrication, and problem-solving happen in close proximity, allowing ideas to be tested, refined, and carried forward with care and intention. While much of our work is developed and fabricated in the studio, we also carry out extensive site work, including installation, coordination, and hands-on execution within active buildings and project sites.

Parallel Studios brings together a tight-knit group of craftspeople and designers, fostering a collaborative environment that values curiosity, material intelligence, and thoughtful execution across all scales of work.

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Tristan Adams

Tristan Adams leads Parallel Studios with over 25 years of experience across architectural fabrication, woodworking, glass, and heritage conservation. His work spans residential, commercial, and public projects, grounded in material understanding, technical problem-solving, and careful execution.

Alongside his architectural and fabrication work, Tristan has maintained an active art practice that informs how he approaches form, proportion, and material. This perspective supports a design process that is exploratory and rigorous, allowing projects to respond thoughtfully to context rather than relying on fixed solutions.

Prior to founding Parallel Studios, Tristan operated a custom design and woodworking company in Kingston and worked on a wide range of architectural and conservation projects throughout Canada. His experience includes complex site work, fabrication, installation, and coordination across disciplines, shaping the studio’s integrated approach to design and construction.

The Team

Parallel Studios is a small, tightly knit team of craftspeople and designers with experience spanning sculpture, glass painting, tool and instrument making, architectural fabrication, and design. Each member brings a distinct skill set and perspective, allowing the studio to work fluidly across materials and project types.

We work collaboratively, valuing the way shared problem-solving and close coordination strengthen the quality of the work. This collective approach allows individual expertise to contribute to a cohesive whole, supporting projects that are thoughtful, well resolved, and carefully executed.

Interior of a house with a large window offering a view of trees and a river. A person with a hat is sitting at a dining table, looking outside. There is a small dog on the window sill. Some chairs, a hanging light fixture, and a plant are visible inside.