08/19/2026
From planning intern to Senior Director, Orli Schwartz’s career at Lanterra has grown alongside many of the communities she has helped bring to life.
Orli first joined Lanterra as a planning intern in 2016 while completing her Master’s degree in Urban Planning from York University. After graduating in 2018, she returned full time and now serves as our Senior Director of Planning & Development.
Her role touches virtually every stage of a project’s lifecycle. From rezoning and site plan approvals to condominium registration, Orli works closely with municipalities and project teams to navigate the complex planning process required to turn a vision into a built community.
It’s the variety of that work that she enjoys most. Beyond planning applications, her role has included everything from public parks and heritage conservation to public art, with each project bringing its own challenges and opportunities to problem-solve.
Two projects stand out in particular: Artists’ Alley and Glenhill. Orli worked on both from the zoning application through to the plan of condominium and registration.
As she puts it, “Those projects were my babies before I had babies!” Seeing them progress from plans and applications to completed buildings has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career.
Her advice to those entering the industry? Never stop asking questions, find a great mentor, and never pass up a worthwhile networking or volunteer opportunity.
Outside of work, Orli has been dancing for years and still takes hip-hop classes. She also has an eye for the built environment, photographing urban infrastructure and landscapes in her spare time.
Thank you, Orli, for the expertise, curiosity, and dedication you continue to bring to Lanterra and the communities we build.
