"A natural curiosity has led to my increasing interest in research related to sustainability throughout my career, with specific focus on mass timber structures, high-performance envelopes, passive design strategies, and zero-carbon and net-zero buildings."

Leland joined MJMA in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Master of Architecture from the University of Waterloo, in addition to a background as an associate professor for the University of Waterloo’s Rome Program. In this and other experience gained prior to joining the firm—including several years at Montgomery Sisam Architects and Giannone Petricone Associates in Toronto, as well as in freelance practice—Leland has focused on sustainability measures, notably passive design strategies, the use of local materials, and especially mass timber construction. Leland has worked in an advisory role for all of MJMA’s mass timber projects, and his passion for sustainable design and construction is evident in many of the firm’s community centres and campus projects, including academic buildings at the University of Toronto, Queen’s University, McMaster University, George Brown College, and Centennial College.