Zeynep Benk

Zeynep Benk joined PLANT's team in 2016, shortly after moving from her native Istanbul to Toronto. She arrived in Canada with a Master of Science in Landscape Architecture from Istanbul Technical University and more than a decade of professional experience on projects in several large Turkish cities. A full OALA (Ontario Association of Landscape Architects) member since 2021, Zeynep brings a keen interest in landscape art, a meticulous eye for detail, and a talent for harmoniously coordinating the work of complex, multidisciplinary teams to our practice. Early in her tenure at PLANT, she project-managed the landscape for The Commons, a new, LEED Gold facility designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects for the University of British Columbia Okanagan campus in Kelowna, BC. Zeynep was instrumental in developing the design for The Commons’ terraced rain garden. Integrated with a cistern, this riverbed-inspired, naturalized garden retains all stormwater runoff on site. Zeynep recently completed the masterplan for three new City of Toronto parks and one park expansion in the Six Points district, which surrounds the new Etobicoke Civic Centre. She is now project managing two of those park spaces through to construction completion and is also PLANT's project manager on the Billie Wilder Therapy Garden at University Health Network’s Bickle Centre. Designed by PLANT in collaboration with SpruceLab Inc., this garden will provide a rehabilitation centre’s patients and their families with green, accessible outdoor space and opportunities for community gardening in raised beds.