Pourya Nazemi

Biography Pourya is a Senior Heritage Planner at the City of Toronto, where he leads the review of complex development applications affecting heritage properties as part of the Heritage Planning Development Review team within Urban Design. He has been qualified by the Ontario Land Tribunal as an expert witness in heritage planning, heritage policy, heritage conservation, and urban design. Prior to his current role, Pourya was part of the City’s Heritage Planning Policy team, where he led Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Studies, oversaw the preparation of HCD Plans, and conducted Cultural Heritage Resource Assessments (CHRAs) in support of city-wide and area-specific planning initiatives. His public-sector work spans multiple scales, from shaping long-term planning frameworks through HCDs, Secondary Plans, and Urban Design Guidelines to undertaking the detailed review, design and evaluation of conservation projects. With an interdisciplinary background in architecture, heritage, and planning, Pourya brings over 20 years of professional experience in policy development, master planning, urban design, public consultation, and conservation strategy. His work emphasizes the integration of heritage conservation, planning and urban design to support complete communities and sustainable growth. Pourya holds a Ph.D. in Urban Conservation from Sapienza University of Rome and a Master of Architecture from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. He is a Registered Professional Planner (OPPI).

Academic Credentials M.Arch., Ph.D., MCIP, RPP, CAHP

Expertise , planning

Profession