HEY, i'm jb. Landscape. Urban. +Graphic Designer.

CLICK HERE FOR a few selected projects from the 2010s. for professional landscape work, shoot me an email.

Hey, I'm Justin-Benjamin 'JB' Taylor! A Guyanese-Lebanese designer and educator, practicing as a Landscape Architect and Urbanist. Originally from Hamilton, I’ve been working and residing as a guest on unceded Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh territories in Vancouver since 2013.

My Bachelor of Environmental Studies and professional degree in Urban Planning were an ideal fit for my personality! I've always felt that "variety is the spice of life," and have been labelled at times a "jack of all trades". As it turns out, Planning is one of the most "generalist" professions you can enter... so all thanks goes to Mr. Cvitak, my high school construction teacher, for steering me from Architecture towards a broader study. I completed my studies at the University of Waterloo School of Urban Planning in 2013, majoring in Urban Design and a minor in Knowledge Integration (i.e. transdisciplinary studies). After completing my Masters degree at UBC School of Architecture + Landscape Architecture (2016), I joined the faboulous proving-grounds of Durante-Kreuk and became a registered Landscape Architect in 2018.

I think the common thread for me in all these hobbies and ventures is problem-solving. I love to be useful! The main driver in what I call "my pursuit of peace", is to always make things easier for the people around me. Even in social situations, I try to figure out where I can fit in, what vibe to tap into to best service the group's dynamic. A chameleon of sorts. Constantly adapting to fit, to be the glue, sometimes brings with it the pleasure of getting to learn something new! For example, in 2020 I co-founded the non-profit Black+Indigenous Design Collective with the aim of bringing awareness to B+I youth of the power of world-building through the disciplines of Planning, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture. I anticipated that most of my contributions would be design-related, but ultimately it was a hugely helpful learning experience in business development and administration. I stepped away in 2024, but would love if you took a moment to look for ways you may be able to support BIDC.ca and their current programs! Perhaps even by simply sharing their mission of solidarity and centering marginalized voices within the Spatial Design fields. If you or your workplace is able to financially or professionally support the work, please do reach out to the Directors.

A final bit of insight. My favourite phase of design is the research process. It is so foundational to understand the context of a problem; where the fundamental and obvious needs of the stakeholders are resolved, but more importantly, nuanced desires and special moments may be revealed. I aim to be a facilitator, finding the best solutions through a highly collaborative, yet succinct, iterative process. I hold on to the idea of "transdisciplinarity" (i.e. complex problems cannot be solved by a single discipline, or even by just professionals) to guard against the persistent ego of being a designer. We must always aim to build robust teams that are in the sole pursuit of community-building. That is where the true success of a project lays.

EXPERIENCE

SvN Architects + Planners | Senior LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, 2024 – 2025

ONTARIO LINE

- The Ontario Line will be a 15.6 kilometre underground and elevated rail line pacing through Toronto, with over 40 connections to existing transit infrastructures. Extending from Exhibition to the former Science Centre, 15 new stations and auxillary service buildings will connect the residents of the City. 8 of these stations will be augmented by complete Transit-Oriented-Communities.
- My role was largely as a primary Subject Matter Expert (SME) & Reviewer for the Ontario Line Technical Advisory Team (OLTA/"One Team") retained by the clients of Metrolinx (MX) and Infrastructure Ontario (IO). My role expanded in the last several months to Lead the project management of the North Segments. To summarize, all submittal drawings related to the advancement of Design or Construction for these facilities were thoroughly examined and guided by our team's technical responses. In the course of the year we reviewed hundreds of drawing packages through a highly detailed and legally-bound design and planning process. Although my tenure was short, I am proud to have substantially contributed to the evolution of the station infrastructures in this great City.

LEAD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

- Masterplans | Surrey Central City Transit-Oriented-Community, BC MOTI IDB Surrey-Langley Skytrain Transit-Oriented-Area site.

UBC SALA | ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, w 2021

Design Studio IV | LARC 504: [RE]VISITING HOGAN'S ALLEY

DURANTE-KREUK | LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, 2018 – PRESENT | INTERN LA, 2016 – 2018

HIGHLIGHTS

Design Development, Detail Design, Construction Documents, Planting Plans, Illustrative Rendering + Presentation Graphics, Client + Consultant Coordination, Peer Mentorship

PROJECT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE | CLIENT + DESIGN LEAD

Masterplans & Multi-Tower | Surrey City Centre Development, Maple Ridge City Centre Development, The Boot Development, The Luxe, Plaza 104 Surrey, Liveable Deep Cove, Abbotsford Village...
Parks & Open Space | White Rock Memorial Park, Burnaby Village Museum, Brewery District Transit Plaza, Burke Mountain D9 Park...
High-Rise | The Pacific Tower & Artscape Passive House, Meridian, Elements, 880 Pandora, Broadway Tower, 525 Seymour, The Cedar, The Ellsworth, Altus...
Mid-Rise & Townhome | River Park Place 2, Elevate at Pemberton, Eleven West, Kits Block, The Lina, Victoria & 11th, Haven Townhomes, 14th Avenue Townhomes, Arcola Street, Vista, Como Lake, The Brownley, Cascade Gardens...
Institutional | TRU Nursing & Public Health, VIU Trades Precinct...
Commercial | Sheraton & GCC Redevelopment, 550 Cambie, Richmond Centre Ph2, TAB PC...