Our Studio

Keith Nyhof

MBCSLA, CSLA
Principal

Keith Nyhof grew up in southern Alberta watching his father’s nursery and landscape contracting company bring landscapes to life. He often joined his father at the office, drawing landscapes and using the photocopier to make youthful creations. Evidently these were formative experiences, as Keith went on to study landscape architecture at the University of Guelph as an adult, obtaining his professional designation in BC in 2007, and co-founding BENCH in 2012.

Since 2004, Keith has been involved in the design and implementation of public and private projects throughout BC, Alberta and Ontario. He has extensive field experience, specializing in MMCD project contract administration, and has managed high-profile projects throughout the Okanagan, including the Kelowna Police Services Building, Enderby’s Cliff Avenue Streetscape Revitalization, and the Giant’s Head Trails Re-Development Plan in Summerland.

Keith spends his free time with his young family, and at every opportunity participates in the activities that the Okanagan Valley is famous for.

Xenia Semeniuk

MBCSLA, CSLA, LEED AP
Principal

Xenia Semeniuk has been involved in the design of landscape architectural projects in the Okanagan and Vancouver since 2007, and co-founded BENCH in 2012. After completing an undergraduate degree in environmental politics and policy, Xenia worked for an environmental law organization and a sustainable transportation NGO before returning to study landscape architecture at UBC, drawn to the idea of the physical manifestation of policy through design. Her professional interests lie particularly in the field of green infrastructure and regenerative design, and she is a past co-chair of the Thompson-Okanagan branch of the Cascadia Green Building Council.

Xenia has overseen the landscape architectural scope of projects throughout the Interior of British Columbia, recently including the Okanagan College Vernon Trades Training Facility and Bus Loop, the UBCO Transit Exchange, Phantom Creek Estates Winery in Oliver, and the City of Kelowna’s Ellis Street Design Guidelines. If she’s not in the office, Xenia is likely to be found on skis, on a bike, or at the farmers’ market.

David James

MBCSLA, CSLA
Senior Landscape Architect

David is a registered member of the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects and has a breadth of professional experience in both the private and public sector. David has 27-years of professional experience in Vancouver, Calgary and Kelowna and has played a lead role in the design and implementation of Western Canada’s most notable parks and open spaces.

During his recent tenure as a park planner with the City of Kelowna, David was involved in preparing the Parks chapter for Kelowna’s 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP), working as park of an integrated planning team across several City departments to create new policies and guidelines for the acquisition and development of active parks, linear parks and natural areas. His involvement concerned developing new strategies to allow various park types to form a comprehensive open space network in support of Imagine Kelowna’s vision, the OCP’s growth strategy, and direct future planning and development efforts over the next 20 years.

Lesley Harty

MBCSLA, CSLA
Landscape Architect
On leave until January 2024

Growing up just outside of Winnipeg, Lesley spent much of her time outdoors either cross-country skiing, running, or hiking, immersed in the expansive prairie landscape of farm fields, picturesque sunsets, and granite outcrops of the boreal shield. These experiences informed her desire to pursue a career that would allow her to contribute to protecting wild and natural spaces, which led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design at the University of Manitoba, and then a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture.

After graduating in 2017, Lesley joined BENCH. She loves the challenge of designing in the complex environment of the Okanagan – with its sensitive, drought- and wildfire-prone landscapes. She has a keen eye for detail and excels at balancing diverse design considerations such as topographic complexity, strict policy parameters, and the needs of stakeholders. For Lesley, one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession of landscape architecture is being able to see projects in which she was involved come to life through construction and in use by the community.

Josh Fender

BFA, MLA, BCSLA Intern
Landscape Designer

Josh holds a BFA from UBC Okanagan and graduated from UBC’s Master of Landscape Architecture program in 2022. He is inspired to create more liveable cities, and is passionate about trying to find design solutions that meet the needs of communities while simultaneously preparing for and responding to the realities of a changing climate. To this end, Josh’s MLA graduation project reflected on the prospect future of Kelowna’s local neighbourhood streets. Rooted in real-world policy objectives of the newly-released 2040 Official Community Plan, the compounding pressures of climate change, and a shifting mobility culture, his graduate work challenges urban design conventions with the aim of improving the street as a socially- and environmentally-resilient space.

Xinran Sui

BA, MLA, BCSLA Intern
Landscape Designer

After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Architectural Design and Visual Art, and subsequently a Master of Landscape Architecture degree, from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design from the University of Toronto, Xinran joined BENCH in 2022. She is inspired by the way that landscape architecture can encourage people to explore urban spaces, engage in social connection and cultural practices, and get in touch with nature. She is also passionate about addressing big topics such as sustainability, environmental restoration, and cultural vibrancy, and believes it is important to keep these elements in mind on each project, regardless of scale. Xinran has excellent technical skills and attention to detail, and plays a key role in the production of complex presentation and technical drawing packages at BENCH.

Will Xiao

BSID, MLA
Landscape Designer

Will began his design journey at Western Michigan University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. While attending a graphic workshop in Las Vegas during his studies, he was introduced to a wide array of design professionals, which led him to discover the realm of landscape architecture. It was the connections made during this experience that ultimately inspired him to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture at UBC, from which he graduated in the spring of 2023.

Will grew up in the serene mountainous landscapes of Shiyan in central China. His childhood years were predominantly spent alongside his grandparents in the countryside, amongst rugged peaks and meandering rivers which inspired a life-long bond with the natural world. He brings this inspiration to Kelowna, where he is excited to acquaint himself with the tapestry of the landscape and lifestyles of the Okanagan Valley.

Will is particularly delighted of the special magic that happens when people animate a space he’s been involved in designing, and use it in unexpected ways. Away from work, Will’s favourite place to recharge and connect with nature is on the shores of Okanagan Lake, where he enjoys the tactile experiences of the water, sand and breeze.

Chelsea Pihach

BA
Studio Coordinator

As Studio Coordinator, Chelsea is responsible for daily operations, communications, and proposal preparation at BENCH. She joined the team in January 2022, bringing with her a background in marketing, administration, and logistics. She holds a degree in Psychology from Queen’s University and spent years traveling and working abroad before moving to BC in 2019.

Upon her arrival in the Okanagan, Chelsea was struck by the familiarity of the lakes, topography and agricultural landscapes; to her, they resembled the region of Southern Ontario where she spent her youth. She identifies the Niagara Escarpment as an extremely influential landscape in her life, playing a large role in her upbringing along the shore of the Great Lakes and the Welland Canal.

Chelsea is passionate about spending time outdoors for the benefit of both physical and mental well-being and is inspired to be a part of a team that endeavours to create places that encourage communities to connect with their natural environments.