Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/988637
J UNE 2018 | 7 Terraplan Landscape Architects Terraplan Landscape Architects continues to evolve by NATALIE BRUCKNER-MENCHELLI | photography & renderings COURTESY STUDIO TLA W ith the dramatic urbanization of the past decade, the role of the landscape architect has changed substantially. Today, in order to be thought of as innovators and thought-leaders, those in the profession must understand the changing concept of landscape architectural design: to connect neighbourhoods and build com- munity, and provide sustainable design and for quality of life in the built environment as partners with allied professions . . . and that's for starters These are just some of the ideas that drive the team at Toronto-based Terraplan Landscape Architects (studio tla). The five partners (Matthew Bernstein, Jeffrey Craft, David Jonas, Paul Marsala, and Alan Schwartz) and the diverse 28-member team are innovators and recognized thought-leaders for complex projects; from conceptual design and master plan- ning through to working drawings and on-site construction observation. And their passion is infectious. "The firm has changed considerably from its earlier days. We take pride in our evolution, the quality of our projects, our excellent client base, and the high-level capabilities of our people. It's our leadership and professional staff that make us so unique; we come from different educational and international backgrounds, but all share an understanding that we have a responsibility to design with innovation, creativity, and technical excellence," says Schwartz. Tla has evolved considerably from when it began in Toronto 35 years ago, but at its core the company has always remained extremely focussed, flexible, and forward- thinking; traits so necessary in this rapidly evolving sector. "Founding partners, David Jonas and Paul Marsala, graduated with degrees in landscape architecture from the University of Toronto, formed a partnership out of eagerness and necessity, and became heavily invested in the com- mercial and retail world, which informed their practice for decades. They were very successful at it," says Schwartz As their clients and the industry evolved, the firm recognized that it too must change and broaden its areas of work and expertise. Under Schwartz's leadership the team began to transform and evolve its portfolio to include a significant number of parks, mixed-use, residential, and master planning projects, and just recently underwent yet another major transformation. "The firm was quite excellent at the production of working drawings and highly competent and well-known for getting their work built, which is extremely admirable, but tla wanted to expand its core strength to one where design would lead," explains Craft. "Recently we made dramatic changes to the work process within the firm, including staffing structure, hiring practices, workflow, project management structures, and added a design review process that requires the work of all individuals to undergo rigorous review. Designs today need to be defended internally so that we achieve something remarkable. We understand that our approach to innovation and being an ideas-based firm is what ultimately attracts the majority of our clients to us and what builds a better world; for us it's about providing new and interesting ways to assist to improve quality of life." Craft joined tla 18 months ago, and as Schwartz says, has been an incredible asset to the firm. The story behind how he came to the firm is proof that studio tla knows what it wants, and is committed to succeed in its goals. "It was actually the competition for the National Holocaust Monument project in Ottawa that brought Jeff to the firm," explains Schwarz, who himself joined tla back in 2012, and while not being a landscape architect, brought a highly special- ized business expertise to the table. "We partnered with Quadrangle architects, but I was looking for greater input on the landscape side, so I began to cold call, in my mind, the three most important firms in North America, one of which was the SWA Group where Jeff worked. They connected me with Jeff who was a partner, principal landscape architect, and urban designer in the Dallas and Shanghai office, and that's how we started working together." As a result of the project, Schwarz and Craft established a unique working rela- tionship, and so when Craft went back to Asia where he was based, Schwartz saw an opportunity to entice him to Canada with an offer of a partnership as director of design. And the rest, as they say, is history in progress. Craft's international experience, holistic approach to landscape architecture, and deep understanding of the social, economic, political, and environmental impact of landscape architec- ture has led the company in an even more exciting direction. Another great example of the work done at tla is the Emery Village Business Improvement Area (BIA). Tla was retained by the City of Toronto to provide master planning and landscape design services, and one of its first tasks was to create a Capital Works Master Plan to provide an implementation framework for streetscape improvements over a 15-year timeframe. Canadian National Holocaust Monument, Ottawa, ON.