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8 | J UNE 2017 Scott Torrance Landscape Architect It's a forward-thinking practice, with traditional customer service values. And as an early adopter of Revit and BIM, the team strives to stay ahead of research and development to ensure the best possible outcome, each and every time. Another example of how the practice stays ahead of the curve is Torrance's involvement in the green roof sector. "Back when the interest in green roofs started in Toronto, and before there was a Green Roof Bylaw, I found there were a lot of claims being made by the industry that were not backed up by local research or data, so we contributed to a research grant that supported the new green roof lab at the University of Toronto, which in turn allowed us to access its data, talk to its researchers and bring clients to see real examples," says Torrance, who today sits on the Technical Advisory Committee for Toronto's Green Roof Bylaw. One notable green roof that Scott Torrance has designed is the Native Child and Family Services. "It is a really unique green roof right in the heart of Toronto. Its users can go experience native prairie grasses and wild flowers, and really connect to nature. It's a beautiful space." The practice is also in the process of finishing Maddie's Healing Garden at Phillips House, a much-needed facility that will provide child and adolescent mental health care, as part of the North York General Hospital. The therapeutic green space will be used to provide active and thoughtful engagement for all patients during their treatment. The design also blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces. By restoring the existing historic terrace, along with a new trellised veranda and outdoor dining area, patients, their families and staff will have access to a sunny and wind-protected space they can enjoy throughout all the seasons. In fact, Scott Torrance Landscape Architect has a massive portfolio when it comes to insightful and interesting projects. "We are currently developing a master plan for the Toronto Botanical Gardens and Edwards Gardens in Toronto. Its site is right on the top of the Don Valley corri- dor, providing a truly unique setting in an urban ravine for a world-class botanical garden. It is also a trail head of sorts, where you can ride your bike from there to Lake Ontario," explains Torrance. "Currently it is a little removed from the core, so we are looking at making this a destination instead. We are working with a diverse group of stakeholders to make this an incredible resource for the city, and spending a lot of time with our design team – which includes a hydrologist and water engineer, City of Toronto and Toronto Botanic Garden staff – looking into how to make this a showpiece for the watershed. We have a large part of the city's run-off flowing through our site, which not only creates challenges but also lots of opportunities," he adds. Then there's the West Toronto Railpath – a 2.1-kilometre multi-use trail and open linear park located within Toronto's Junction neighbourhood along the alignment of a former rail corridor. The project combines the restoration of historical rail bridges with the installa- tion of new public art, and is situated within a palette of indigenous planting. "The area is so diverse in terms of its character, and was wild and overgrown, which we maintained and yet made functional and safe. We collected seeds from the native plants so we could restore the ecology there. We wanted to recreate something that people could experience and indeed had experienced in the past," says Torrance. And then of course, there's the Regent Park revitalization, which plans to trans- form Canada's largest and oldest social housing project into a vibrant mixed income community. The neighbourhood, which has faced challenges arising from physi- cal isolation from the rest of the city, a lack of amenities and a reputation for crime and social problems, is currently undergoing a transformation that includes adding enhanced pedestrian connectivity, parks, commercial space, community facilities, and a mix of market, social, and affordable housing featuring diverse styles of sus- tainable architecture. In keeping with the Revitalization Plan's initiative to provide residents with quality amenities, the landscape architectural component of Block 20, a residential building with a mix of rent geared to income and affordable rental units, features two amenity roofs, and a green roof and streetscape planting. "I remember as a kid going to my grandmother's house and driving by Regent Park. Years later, when I was at university, I did my thesis project on the site, but I never thought I would have the chance to work on it. Now it has been rebuilt and is a wonderful new community; it makes me very proud to be a part of such an impor- tant project," explains Torrance. When it comes to the future of Scott Torrance Landscape Architect and land- scape architecture in general, Torrance believes it is essential to keep pushing design to ensure high performing landscapes are produced. "We want people to understand the challenges and beauty of urban life, and connect with the natural forces of which interact with their landscape. We live in a society where people are placing more and more value on experiences, and con- sidering what makes a place special. We need to keep questioning and working on how to create these unique and special experiences for people. "Now that we have augmented our services with the talents of the FORREC team, we are well-aligned to place make in our urban work," he says. "You need diverse perspectives to bring something new to the table. Being able to draw on people that create incredible spaces around the world means something very exciting for our Canadian design work. I'm very excited about the future." A Regent Park: Block 20, Toronto, ON Centre for Native Child and Family Well Being, Toronto, ON West Toronto Railpath, Toronto, ON Victoria Park Subway Station and Bus Terminal, Toronto, ON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIO GIAMBATTISTA + JEFF McNEILL + BEN RAHN/COURTESY SCOTT TORRANCE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

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