Comprehensive Landscape Architectural Services
Quinn Design Associates Inc. offers a full range of consulting services in Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Site Development. We continue to draw on our extensive knowledge and experience to provide design expertise for civic projects, healthcare facilities, college and university open spaces, hospitality and hotels, commercial office development, retail centers, and residential development.
From master planning to public consultation meetings to coordination with authorities having jurisdiction, we have the skills to navigate complex issues and communicate clearly in the critical early stages of a project. Our designs and construction documents are responsive and reliable, and we are actively using Building Information Modelling (BIM) software on many of our projects. We have successfully seen dozens of projects through schematic design, design development, municipal approvals, contract documents, and contract administration.
Our diverse portfolio of successfully built projects for both private and public clients in Canada and internationally demonstrates our firm’s dedication to sound design principles and seeing projects through to completion. We are committed to ensuring that our clients achieve their objectives.
Master Plan for Humber River Regional Hospital — Toronto, Ontario
Stormwater retention pond as a landscape feature at St. Catharines Hospital, Niagara Health System
Sustainability
Quinn Design Associates approaches each project with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, a value that is integral to our profession. QUINN consistently develops creative landscape solutions that support the principles of sustainable design.With each project, our firm plays an active role in ensuring that LEED targets are met or exceeded. Quinn Design Associates has introduced environmental initiatives on many projects, such as:
- creative storm water runoff management through the use of bioswales and water features
- emphasis on native and drought-tolerant plants
- specifying materials to reduce a site’s “heat island” effect
- innovative green roof design.
Our LEED Gold projects include:
- Humber River Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
- Quinte Consolidated Courthouse, Belleville, Ontario
- Durham Consolidated Courthouse, Oshawa, Ontario
- Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, Toronto, Ontario
- University of Windsor, Centre for Engineering Innovation, Windsor, Ontario
BIM model by Quinn Design Associates for Peel Memorial Centre — Brampton, Ontario
BIM — Building Information Modelling
Quinn Design Associates has been using Revit (BIM) software since 2014 as a value-added service for our clients. Our proficiency in BIM software, along with its 3D capabilities, allows us to collaborate with project architects, engineers, and the entire consultant team to create and work off one computer model. This coordinated approach improves efficiency, accuracy, and adaptability. Our ability to use BIM for clash detection during the design and drawing stages helps prevent costly problems from arising later in the project.
Our skilled staff uses BIM's 3D modelling capabilities to quickly study different design options that we can easily share with our client and the project team. We coordinate more effectively with architects, who can see and “walk through” our landscape design in 3D within their own model, rather than as a flat line drawing. Structural engineers can more easily calculate loading requirements. Mechanical engineers can more easily locate and understand required connections to the landscape scope. Electrical engineers can insert our landscape model into photometric analysis for exterior lighting. Our firm can use information from project civil engineers to create 3D topography in our landscape model.
By using BIM on the majority of our projects, we readily and accurately record, track, and cost landscape materials. Our improved efficiency and accuracy ensures that our design ideas are workable within the site, built context, and project budget.
Our Streetscape Conditions study for the office development at 160 Front Street West in Toronto, Ontario
Municipal Approvals
Quinn Design Associates has extensive experience in efficiently navigating municipal requirements and processes, such as Site Plan Approval. We have worked in municipalities throughout Ontario to secure approvals while preserving the project's design objectives. We have served as expert witnesses on numerous occasions at the Ontario Municipal Board.
From the early stages of the project, we ensure that our design is in compliance with the regulations and expectations of authorities having jurisdiction. Our collaborative work approach and consistent communication with our client and the consultant team, in addition to maintaining thorough and accurate documents, help facilitate a smooth approvals process to keep the project on track.