Claude Cormier, ASLA, landscape architect with CCxA, died on September 15 at his home in Montreal. He was 63.

Cormier is best known for his revitalized public space within the downtown office complex called The Ring. He is also known for Love Park in Toronto, a collaboration with gh2*, where he designed a heart-shaped pond that was enclosed by a 170-metre-long red mosaic, "love seat." The park opened in June and marks his final design.

 

He was born on June 22, 1960, in Princeville in southern Quebec. His father ran the family dairy and maple syrup farm, and his mother was a teacher. Cormier studied agronomy at the University of Guleph in Ontario. He then went on to study landscape architecture at the University of Toronto where he graduated in 1986. From there, he earned a master's from Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1994.

During his time at Harvard, Cormier was inspired by landscape architects Martha Schwartz and Peter Walker. Their work was more unique that that of the previous generation. Early in his career, he developed a reputation for abstract designs, bold use of color, and conceptual art. For example, he designed a seasonal display in Montreal titled, Pink Balls which was 170,000 strands of pink plastic spheres placed over Sainte-Catherine Street East. The display was done for five summers starting in 2011 and lead to higher foot traffic in the once depleted area.

Four years ago, Cormier was diagnosed with three types of cancer. After genetic screenings, it was found that the cancers were caused due to a rare genetic mutation called Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. With the grim diagnosis, he went on to work with biomedical researchers to help others facing the same condition through education and other tools.

Over the course of his career, Cormier was awarded over 100 professional awards including as an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada, Canadian and American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Architectural League of New York for lifetime award.