Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/833835
J UNE 2017 | 7 Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Scott Torrance Landscape Architect remains committed to enriching the urban experience by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI Stay Connected O n his bike ride to the office in downtown Toronto, Scott Torrance stops a moment to take in the beauty that surrounds him. Looking at the world through his eyes, you witness a great appreciation of the connections between the physical dimension, the history and the ever-changing landscape that make up the urban environment. When people ask Torrance what he does for a living he tells them, "I connect peo- ple to nature." In official terms he is practice leader, landscape architecture studio at Scott Torrance Landscape Architect (a division of FORREC Ltd.); but to him, his role embodies so many aspects that are integral to city living today. "Humans are very social creatures, but we also need to connect to the growing and living things around us, like migrating birds and the seasons. While most of my work is urban, I feel it is becoming increasingly important to have that connection to nature as urban environments get more dense," he explains as he heads into his office and is welcomed by the sound of birdsong outside his window. Torrance's philosophy hasn't changed since he started Scott Torrance Landscape Architect Inc. in 2004. The company naturally grew over the years, employing 12 staff who specialized in the public, private and corporate sector in Toronto, with a focus on designs for public parks, campuses, transit infrastructure, libraries and new development. The staff pride themselves on striving to augment and enrich the urban experi- ence for people and enhancing site ecologies. The firm also advocates strongly for planting native and non-invasive species, reusing stormwater runoff, incorporating green roofs and increasing biodiversity in the urban environment. Last year, Torrance's company merged with entertainment design company FORREC Ltd., renowned for its design of theme parks, water parks, resorts, mixed- use destinations and visitor attractions. As an international, multidisciplinary company with 120 employees including landscape architects, creative directors, interior designers, graphic designers and architects working around the world for some of the biggest brands, this brought a per- spective to design that truly enhances what Scott Torrance Landscape Architect does. "Merging with FORREC was a big part of the evolution of the company. There was just a great synergy that made so much sense. The two firms joined to become greater than the whole and we are able to provide our clients and projects, no mat- ter what size, with a diverse perspective on things by bringing world-class interna- tional experience and perspective to the table," says Torrance. Despite the merger, Scott Torrance Landscape Architect has managed to main- tain the many personal and boutique aspects of a small company, while benefitting from the global expertise and experience of FORREC. Walk into the office on Dufferin Avenue in the vibrant Liberty Village neighbour- hood (and in a great old building that once made electric lights during the war) and you get a true sense of what the firm is all about. "When people come here they immediately get the creative vibe. People of all ages and experiences are gathered over large drafting tables, while people next to them are working on the latest virtual reality technology; someone is drawing with a pencil, while another is using state-of-the-art digital animation," explains Torrance. And don't be surprised to see the CEO playing pool with other staff members dur- ing the middle of the day, or on the ping pong table, which Torrance brought along from his old office to get the creative juices flowing.