TANIA BORTOLOTTE
OAA, ARIDO, FRAIC, LEED AP
Founding Principal, BORTOLOTTO
Tania Bortolotto is the founder and CEO of BORTOLOTTO, an architecture and interior design firm established in 1999, now proudly celebrating 25 years in business. As the majority owner of this woman-owned, WBE Canada Certified company, Tania brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her practice. She is a Fellow of the Royal
Architectural Institute of Canada and a LEED accredited professional. Tania also served as an inaugural member of Waterfront Toronto’s Design Review Panel for several years and was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award from Toronto Metropolitan University. A passionate design advocate, she generously contributes her time to numerous design and academic committees, panels, and juries, and is actively involved in individual mentoring and speaking engagements.
Tania is driven by the belief that architecture profoundly influences society’s quality of life, and their work consistently reflects a commitment to enhancing community well-being and fostering inclusive, thriving environments. The firm is grounded in its four pillars: artistry and innovation, sustainability and wellness, human-centric design, and client commitment. Their inspiration lies in the symbiotic relationship between architecture and the human experience, striving to create designs that seamlessly connect built environments with the natural world.
Under Tania’s visionary leadership, Bortolotto has grown steadily and gained national recognition, earning numerous design distinctions and awards. Today, the firm is at the forefront of designing projects with construction costs of up to $90 million, encompassing a diverse range of facilities including schools, recreation centers, long-term care facilities, and social housing redevelopments. These projects highlight the firm’s deep expertise in crafting public buildings that serve and uplift diverse communities, enhancing the lives of those who use them.
OAA, ARIDO, FRAIC, LEED AP
Founding Principal, BORTOLOTTO
Tania Bortolotto is the founder and CEO of BORTOLOTTO, an architecture and interior design firm established in 1999, now proudly celebrating 25 years in business. As the majority owner of this woman-owned, WBE Canada Certified company, Tania brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her practice. She is a Fellow of the Royal
Architectural Institute of Canada and a LEED accredited professional. Tania also served as an inaugural member of Waterfront Toronto’s Design Review Panel for several years and was honored with the Alumni Achievement Award from Toronto Metropolitan University. A passionate design advocate, she generously contributes her time to numerous design and academic committees, panels, and juries, and is actively involved in individual mentoring and speaking engagements.
Tania is driven by the belief that architecture profoundly influences society’s quality of life, and their work consistently reflects a commitment to enhancing community well-being and fostering inclusive, thriving environments. The firm is grounded in its four pillars: artistry and innovation, sustainability and wellness, human-centric design, and client commitment. Their inspiration lies in the symbiotic relationship between architecture and the human experience, striving to create designs that seamlessly connect built environments with the natural world.
Under Tania’s visionary leadership, Bortolotto has grown steadily and gained national recognition, earning numerous design distinctions and awards. Today, the firm is at the forefront of designing projects with construction costs of up to $90 million, encompassing a diverse range of facilities including schools, recreation centers, long-term care facilities, and social housing redevelopments. These projects highlight the firm’s deep expertise in crafting public buildings that serve and uplift diverse communities, enhancing the lives of those who use them.
Project Spotlight
ÉS JEUNES SANS FRONTIERS
This project involves a 13,170-square-foot second-floor expansion to an existing elementary school, designed to accommodate 216 students across 9 classrooms. The program integrates leading-edge teaching and learning technologies, with wide corridors featuring built-in seating areas interspersed between banks of lockers. The design also includes modestly scaled student social gathering spaces, illuminated by an expansive pop-up skylight that floods the corridor with natural light.
The project is rooted in creating a built environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of every student. By placing the student at the center of the design, this empathetic, user-centered approach results in spaces that are safe, clean, functional, and inspiring. The design fosters an environment that encourages curiosity and wonder, promoting active learning within a comfortable and flexible space where teachers can facilitate children’s natural exploration of the world around them.
Bortolotto approaches innovative school design by exploring ideas tailored to the unique characteristics of each project. By considering the specific qualities of the site, the needs of its users, the functional requirements, and the existing building context, Bortolotto develops a student-driven design concept. The firm is committed to creating meaningful built environments by focusing on the activities, movement, and experiences of every individual and group within the space.
Our team brings over 25 years of experience in educational design, consistently recognized for our innovative approach. With a proven methodology, we deliver inspiring and functional school environments on time and within budget. Our diverse portfolio includes new construction, deep retrofits, renovations and expansion projects of child care centers, elementary schools, secondary schools, and post-secondary institutions.
ÉS JEUNES SANS FRONTIERS
This project involves a 13,170-square-foot second-floor expansion to an existing elementary school, designed to accommodate 216 students across 9 classrooms. The program integrates leading-edge teaching and learning technologies, with wide corridors featuring built-in seating areas interspersed between banks of lockers. The design also includes modestly scaled student social gathering spaces, illuminated by an expansive pop-up skylight that floods the corridor with natural light.
The project is rooted in creating a built environment that prioritizes the health and well-being of every student. By placing the student at the center of the design, this empathetic, user-centered approach results in spaces that are safe, clean, functional, and inspiring. The design fosters an environment that encourages curiosity and wonder, promoting active learning within a comfortable and flexible space where teachers can facilitate children’s natural exploration of the world around them.
Bortolotto approaches innovative school design by exploring ideas tailored to the unique characteristics of each project. By considering the specific qualities of the site, the needs of its users, the functional requirements, and the existing building context, Bortolotto develops a student-driven design concept. The firm is committed to creating meaningful built environments by focusing on the activities, movement, and experiences of every individual and group within the space.
Our team brings over 25 years of experience in educational design, consistently recognized for our innovative approach. With a proven methodology, we deliver inspiring and functional school environments on time and within budget. Our diverse portfolio includes new construction, deep retrofits, renovations and expansion projects of child care centers, elementary schools, secondary schools, and post-secondary institutions.
