Gaston Tolila and Nicholas Gilliland began working together in 2003 through a humanitarian architecture competition for which they were laureates. This nomadic dispensary project was then exhibited at the Pompidou Center in 2005. Since then, they have continued to collaborate on architecture, urbanism and design projects, using their knowledge of public and private work acquired in renowned international architecture offices. 

In 2011, they created the Tolila+Gilliland atelier d'architecture. In 2012, their work received the "Prix d'architecture du Moniteur 2012 pour la première oeuvre" (French National prize for the first built work). Today, the atelier develops a broad range of architecture programs (housing, public works, offices, ...) with a particular attention to integration of each project into its own historic, geographic and environmental context.