New partners named at Toronto’s SvN Architects + Planners

SvN Architects + Planners is proud to announce the appointment of Shonda Wang, Sony Rai and Liana Bresler as new Partners of the firm. This new leadership reinforces SvN’s long-standing reputation as one of the only design firms in Canada to provide integrated architecture, urban planning and urban design under one roof.

Sony Rai, Shonda Wang, and Liana Bresler (l-r). Images via SvN Architects + Planners
Sony Rai, Shonda Wang, and Liana Bresler (l-r). Images via SvN Architects + Planners

“As leaders in housing and mobility, all of this design intelligence comes into play,” says Drew Sinclair, one of SvN’s founding partners. “SvN works on difficult city building projects where there are no ready-made design solutions. With this new leadership we are recognizing the people who are leading the design of our region’s most complicated sites.”

Working in almost all major transit corridors of Toronto and the GTA, SvN Architects + Planners has a unique understanding of both the private market and public interests. SvN’s advice is in high demand due to the firm’s unique ability to navigate and stitch together city building investments with market realities. Their portfolio of work demonstrates the crucial ties between architecture, urban planning and urban design across Toronto and the GTA.

Notable transformative projects include the award-winning Six Points Interchange in Etobicoke, Dundas Connects and Hurontario LRT in Mississauga, Eglinton Connects, Toronto Port Lands Acceleration Initiative, Toronto’s Pan Am Athlete’s Village, and various multi-unit residential projects in both urban and suburban locations.

Shonda Wang, M.Sc, BSW, MCIP RPP

As one of Canada’s leading urban designers, Shonda Wang’s leadership is critical to SvN’s mobility practice. She brings over fifteen years of experience working on large-scale urban regeneration projects with some of North America’s largest engineering firms. Her extensive expertise includes transit-oriented intensification and the creation of walkable communities paired with mobility infrastructure. Shonda’s portfolio covers almost all major transit corridors in the GTA, and her work has earned the firm multiple local and national awards for projects such as the Six Points Interchange Reconfiguration, winner of the RAIC National Urban Design Award; and Eglinton Connects, winner of the Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence. Her work has transformed these corridors from car-focused arterials into dynamic complete streets with welcoming boulevards, public art, and protected bike lanes.

Sony Rai, M.Arch, B.Env.D

Sony Rai has been a key leader on SvN’s most significant architectural projects. His body of work includes numerous academic projects in North America and multi-residential housing projects throughout the GTA. Focusing on integrated housing innovation, his ongoing work at SvN includes the design of student residences, affordable rental and seniors housing. Sony also helps property owners unlock the development potential and land value of underutilized sites through the retrofitting and intensification of mid-century tower communities. Notable projects include Minto’s High Park Village; Mohawk College Fennel Campus Student Residence; and the Sumach, a contemporary seniors’ residence in Toronto’s Regent Park for the Daniels Corporation and Chartwell.

Liana Bresler, M.Arch, BAS, OAA

Liana Bresler’s expertise in housing and urban renewal has been critical to SvN’s tower community projects. Her portfolio includes leading infill developments, building retrofits, and institutional projects on very complicated urban sites. Notable projects (with SvN and as an Associate at LGA Architectural Partners) include the renewal of Cambridge Library’s main branch, Scarborough’s Civic Centre Library, as well as projects for Toronto Children’s Services. Marrying her technical expertise with urban planning, Liana brings a holistic understanding of the complexities of development which helps SvN’s clients transform big ideas into brick and mortar. From developing solutions for housing projects to unlocking the potential of an entire community block, Liana’s passion for renewal as a form of sustainability has made her a strong leader on a range of private and public sector projects.

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