studio

Mike Tocher

Partner, Landscape Architect and Planner

Mike is both a registered professional planner and full member with seal of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. His portfolio of experience is balanced between large scale master planning, site planning, parks design, detailed design, and construction management. He has professional degrees in landscape architecture, urban planning and environmental science from the Universities of Guelph and Calgary.

As a planner, Mike has been involved in a number of main street and downtown studies looking at the development potential of sites, urban form, and opportunities for pedestrian linkages and public realm improvements.

As a landscape architect, Mike’s experience includes a wide range of urban, suburban and rural public spaces, from open space master planning and environmental management plans to detailed design, tender drawing preparation and contract administration. This includes a variety of streetscape projects taken from concept through to construction.

Since April 2008 Mike has been an instructor at the Chang School at Ryerson University, teaching landscape construction materials and techniques to students in the School’s Landscape Certificate Program, both in the classroom and online. As a result Mike is well versed in the latest materials and construction trends in the industry.

mtocher@thincdesign.ca

Peter Heyblom

Partner, Landscape Architect

Peter Heyblom is a leading practitioner in the field of landscape architecture. Throughout his over 25 year career, he has worked on a diverse selection of key and acclaimed projects in association with highly respected firms. Peter has studied industrial design, resource management, and has a professional degree in landscape architecture. Since establishing thinc design, he is committed to bringing this level of dedication and skill to both this venture and his clients.

Although Peter approaches design from a landscape architectural vein, his interest lies in all facets of the design process. His weaving of different disciplines creates a unique and rich solution. While the results provide a strong design solution, he insists the design must stand up to the rigours of modern constraints. The solution must be creative, but implementable. Resilient but flexible. His solutions also promote the intertwining of vibrant public open spaces with healthy ecosystems, creating whole interactive systems.

Peter thrives on exploration. Whether it is walking in new parts of Toronto, or camping in the wilds of Northern Ontario, his sense of discovery provides a clear vantage point to his design of spaces. He believes in creating intricate spaces, ones which can be discovered and enjoyed, not only for the immediate experience, but also for their return value: an investment that increases with time and experience.

pheyblom@thincdesign.ca

Misha Franta

Senior Associate, Landscape Architect

Misha is a landscape architect at thinc design, and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Specialization in Urban Planning from Concordia University in Montreal.

Since joining thinc design in early 2016, Misha has worked on detailed design and master planning for a variety of public realm projects including parks, playgrounds, schools, trails and streetscapes throughout Ontario. He has also worked on a number of mixed-use and residential developments in the private realm. Misha is proficient in producing concept sketches, working drawings, construction drawings, presentation and marketing images, report writing and design.

He has been the lead staff on various projects, collaborated on multidisciplinary design teams, and facilitated public consultation. Misha has led and participated in all stages of a project, small, medium and large scale, from conceptual design through to contract administration.

mfranta@thincdesign.ca

Leandra Correale Ferguson

Senior Associate, Planner, RPP, MCIP

Leandra is a Senior Associate at thinc design. She has a Master of Environmental Studies, Planning from York University; a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences with Honours, Geography and Ecology, from the University of Guelph; and a Certificate in Parks and Recreation Management from Parks and Recreation Ontario and York University.

As a Senior Associate, Leandra acts as a Planner and Project Manager for a variety of parks, recreation, and trails master plans, coordinating team members, conceptualizing key priorities and approaches to plans, advising and providing quality control, conducting needs assessments, and ensuring the project remains on schedule.

An excellent communicator who is passionate about parks and recreation, she leads community consultations with residents, Council, staff, stakeholders, and interest holders to ensure every plan reflects each community’s unique context.

lcorreale_ferguson@thincdesign.ca

Nick Taylor

Associate, Landscape Architect, ISA Certified Arborist

Nick graduated from the University of Guelph in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture. He is a full member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, as well as an ISA Certified Arborist.

Prior to joining thinc, Nick worked with Baker Turner Inc. in Brampton, where he managed projects from concept through to implementation, and was exposed to a variety of project types and scales. Through that work he developed confidence in site inventory, design, and communication with clients and consultants.

ntaylor@thincdesign.ca

Danielle Lenarcic Biss

Associate, Planner, RPP, MCIP

Danielle is an Associate at thinc design and a Registered Professional Planner. She holds a Master of Planning from Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) University and a Bachelor of Arts with First-Class Honours from Mount Allison University.

As an Associate, Danielle leads projects and teams to advance the firm. She leverages her nimbleness, proven work ethic, conscientiousness, and strong interpersonal skills to gain the trust of clients, collaborators, and community members.

Working as a senior planner and project manager, Danielle develops parks and recreation master plans for municipalities of all sizes that are grounded in thorough writing, research, needs assessments, and community engagement.

dlenarcicbiss@thincdesign.ca

Stacey Zonneveld

Landscape Architect

Stacey is a landscape architect at thinc design, and holds a Master of Landscape Architecture Degree from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies Degree with Specialization in Urban and Regional Environments from York University in Toronto.

She joined thinc design after spending a year working abroad in Amsterdam at Lodewijk Baljon Landscape Architects. Decidedly familiar with the influences and voices that define Toronto, Stacey is excited to be working in her hometown and the landscape of southern Ontario that she grew up in.

As a landscape architect, Stacey has worked on the detailed design and master planning of public parks, playgrounds, schools, streetscapes and private mixed-use and residential developments. She has collaborated on multidisciplinary design teams and facilitated public consultation, and has taken part in all stages of a project, from conceptual design and public consultation through to contract administration.

szonneveld@thincdesign.ca

Paul Bukowiec

Landscape Designer

Paul is a graduate of Landscape Architecture with a minor in Business at the University of Guelph. He was a landscape architectural student intern with thinc, and returned upon graduation. He has developed a strong graphic design skill set and an intuition for functional and aesthetic design.

From a young age, he has been passionate about drawing and creating, and expressing his creativity through landscape design is something he is enthusiastic about. Living in Toronto for most of his life has given him a strong aspiration for urban landscape design, aimed at creating lively and viable spaces for all to enjoy. In his downtime you can find him outdoors, cycling, backpacking or gardening.

At thinc, Paul assists with a wide range of project tasks. He has worked on several parks and recreation master plan proposals, designed layouts for reports, and worked closely with senior landscape architects to develop conceptual designs and presentation graphics for clients throughout Southern Ontario.

pbukowiec@thincdesign.ca

Madison Busby

Landscape Designer

Madison is a graduate of the University of Guelph’s Landscape Architecture program, with a certification in Environmental Citizenship. With a strong passion for environmental health and conservation and a keen interest in art and biology, she found landscape design to be the ideal career path.

During her studies, Madison undertook an honours thesis exploring ecosystem integration within urban landscapes. Her research addressed climate issues and biodiversity loss through integrative nature-based solutions. This research was at the forefront of her final Capstone project, a redesign of Mississauga’s Sheridan Centre that drew on New Urbanism, including urban and streetscape design, community design, sustainable design, and mixed-use development.

Her seasonal work in landscape maintenance and garden centre sales and design gave her extensive knowledge of plant identification and care, and an understanding of the importance of native planting and maintenance for ecosystem health and natural heritage.

mbusby@thincdesign.ca