The Team
David Ruhl, P. Eng.
Principal & Technical Consultant
David is a University of Toronto Engineer who bridges the gap between theoretical building science and the reality of the job site. As a Professional Engineer and Certified Passive House Designer, he views a home’s envelope, structure, and systems as a single integrated system.
Having spent years physically building houses, Dave brings a level of practicality to his designs that is rare in the consulting world. He focuses on constructibility and efficiency, ensuring every project is straightforward to execute and designed for a 100-year horizon. At Ruhl Builds, he provides technical stewardship for our custom projects, protecting the client’s investment and ensuring the engineering holds up to the design intent from start to finish.
Lee Vosburgh, B. Des.
Design Director
Lee is an OCADU designer who leads the aesthetic and spatial design of our projects. Lee focuses on the human experience; how light, volume, and texture make a space feel. She ensures that even the most complex builds remain warm, intuitive, and deeply connected to their environment.
Lee’s work is rooted in a heritage-inspired philosophy and a preference for natural materials. By balancing classic styling with a modern understanding of how families actually live, she creates environments that evoke a sense of comfort and ease. At Ruhl Builds, she guides the visual narrative for our design work, ensuring the final result is as beautiful as it is durable.
Our Core Pillars
Engineering Accountability
As a Professional Engineering firm, we are governed by a code of ethics and a standard of professional responsibility. We don’t guess at structural viability or moisture management; we calculate it. This provides our clients with a level of risk mitigation and technical clarity that is rare in residential construction.
Informed By Craft
Having personally constructed the complex assemblies we draw, we possess a rare intuition for how materials behave and how trades operate. This hands-on experience allows us to develop buildable, real-world solutions that eliminate site-level friction, reducing both schedule and cost.
Heritage
Minded
A building must perform, but it must also have a "soul." We draw on the timeless qualities of traditional cottage architecture; honest materials, careful proportions, and a sense of place to ensure that our design projects feel like they have always belonged to the landscape.
Why Our Approach Works
Most building projects suffer from a handoff problem: an architect’s vision is lost in the contractor’s execution, or an engineer’s solution compromises the design.
By integrating the engineer and designer perspectives from day one, we eliminate that friction. We provide a singular thread of accountability that ensures your investment is technically sound, architecturally significant, and built to last for generations.
Experience That Informs Judgement
Our background includes years of hands-on experience with building retrofits, renovations, and new construction. That experience now informs our design and advisory work, allowing us to identify risks early, evaluate options realistically, and guide decisions with an understanding of how buildings are actually assembled and maintained over time.
Rather than offering prescriptive solutions, we focus on helping clients understand trade-offs, priorities, and long-term implications so decisions are made with confidence.
How We Work With Clients
We take a measured, collaborative approach to each project. Some clients engage us for full design services, others for consulting or owner representation during construction. In every case, our goal is the same: to bring clarity, structure, and calm leadership to a process that can otherwise feel fragmented or overwhelming.
We work best with clients who see their project as a long-term investment and value thoughtful decision-making over speed or trend-driven outcomes.
Next Steps
If you’re planning a new build or major renovation and are looking for experienced design and advisory support, we invite you to start a conversation.