A champion of inclusive and equitable design, Gail Shillingford joins the Global Design and Consulting firm as its Principal of Planning and Landscape Practice in Toronto
Global design and consulting firm B+H is excited to announce the addition of Gail Shillingford as Principal, Planning, and Landscape in Toronto.
With more than 25 years of experience in master planning, urban, and landscape design, Shillingford is passionate about applying her professional and personal knowledge to create processes and deliver solutions that encourage equitable and inclusive design. Her work is driven by a collaborative process in which community and stakeholder engagement is paramount, particularly where the voice of underrepresented communities needs to be heard.
“We are not designing for our clients. We are working with them to create environments for the end user to enjoy, feel a sense of belonging, and live well,” says Shillingford. “As designers, I strongly believe the onus is on us to engage our communities in order to do so, and through collaborative design, crossing disciplines and sectors. The result should always be something that we and the client can be proud of for years to come.”
Gail’s experience encompasses a variety of streams including all scales of city master planning and landscape design. She has developed award-winning visions, design frameworks, policies, guidelines, and detailed design for post-secondary campus master plans, community improvement and secondary plans, heritage conservation districts, LEED ND neighborhoods, downtowns, and waterfronts plans, and streetscapes design. In a rapidly changing world, Shillingford’s focus on her projects is entrenched in building resilient communities. She thrives on pushing the frontiers of design and enabling new approaches and new ways of thinking.
Add Shillingford, “I’m extremely excited to work with the B+H team to create inclusive spaces that bring people of all different cultures and demographics together.”
Throughout her career, Shillingford has helped lead and contribute to several award-winning projects including the University of Calgary’s University District Master Plan – 2015, Calgary; Seneca College’s (Three Campuses) Master Plan – 2012, Toronto; Brock University’s Campus Master Plan – 2003, St. Catharines; the Open Space Master Plan for the University of Toronto – 2001, Toronto; and the National Park Master Plan and Physical Development Plan for the island of Barbados – 1999, Barbados.
In her role as Principal, Shillingford will work closely with Global Director of Planning and Landscape, Tom Hook, to deliver complex projects that are rooted in building healthy, resilient, and inclusive communities.
“Gail brings with her a rich background in creating high-quality public spaces that foster connectivity, inclusivity, cultural diversity, sustainability, and healthy living,” says Hook. “Now more than ever, we are broadening our view of what healthy community planning means from every dimension, and Gail’s approach to design will be an invaluable addition to B+H to help lead this important work.”
B+H welcomes Shillingford at a busy time for the Planning and Landscape practice. The firm is currently working on a number of high-profile masterplan projects worldwide, including a new community vision plan in Gabon, Central Africa that manages urban density in a sensitive forest and wetland ecosystem. As well, the team is working in Canada on projects ranging from a biomimicry-based masterplan in New Lowell, Ontario to nature resort masterplans in both Blue Mountain Village Resort and Deerhurst Resort, also in Ontario.
About B+H
B+H is a global, award-winning consulting + design solutions firm. We leverage the core visualization and integration skills of an architecture and design practice to understand and articulate complex data into transformative solutions across a broad spectrum of sectors and services.
Founded on a nearly 70-year legacy of creating bold and inspiring spaces for people, B+H provides core architecture, planning, landscape, and interior design services. Today our team includes more than 450 curious designers, place makers, strategists, storytellers, and creative human beings who believe in embracing change and challenging the status quo to deliver resilient, healthy environments that make positive contributions to their communities and are characterized by vibrant human experiences.
Collaborating across 12 studios in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Diego, Dubai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Singapore & Ho Chi Minh City, B+H’s architects, interior designers, planners, landscape architects, organizational design specialists, experience designers, researchers, analysts, and brand strategists combine strategic thinking, bold design, and advanced technology with the creative human energy of an interdisciplinary, multigenerational team.