Meet the Team
Our group has a long history of leadership, design, and execution of laneway houses in Toronto. As architects, developers, planners, and community leaders, our experience in developing a generative framework for laneway suites make us the ideal team for realizing this exciting new housing typology.
Craig Race
Co-Founder, Architect
Craig’s design process focuses on environmental and contextual sensitivity. His skill in crafting buildings that fit sensitively into their surroundings has engendered a passion for laneway development. In addition to his role at Lanescape, Craig operates an architecture and development practice focused on environmentally-conscious, contextually sensitive residential design. It was during his time on the West coast that laneway housing was conceived as a legitimate concept, allowing Craig to become familiar with the advantages and challenges of this emerging housing typology.
Alex Sharpe
Co-Founder, Entrepreneur, Developer
As an undergraduate student, Alex studied business with a major in real estate and housing. His education and career experience developing residential and commercial real estate has enhanced his knowledge of urban economics and the impact of regulation on land uses, both of which play a critical role in the development of cities. In addition to his role at Lanescape, Alex is a real estate developer and founder of a luxury shared office co-working company.
Andrew Sorbara
Co-Founder, Developer
Andrew began his career working as a planner in the private sector, and for the Committee of Adjustment at the City of Toronto. His initiatives have sought to advance design quality, product innovation and in doing so, creatively test the real estate market in Toronto. Andrew is a private residential developer in Toronto, and Chair of the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation (TPFP), an independent partner organization of the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry, and Recreation division. The TPFP is developing and implementing program initiatives with assistance and funding from Toronto City Council.
Kareem Sethi
Chief Financial Officer
Kareem graduated with honours from McGill University with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, double major in Economics and Finance. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Kareem served as an Associate in the Business Recovery Services of PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., from 1999 to 2003. Kareem has served on a number of private boards and has been a Non-Executive Independent Director of Emerson Radio Corp. since 2007, which is listed on the ARCA exchange in NYSE. Kareem is an avid runner, loves the Toronto Maple Leafs and wants to be an architect in his next life.
Tony Cunha
Architect, Senior Manager
Drawing from over ten years experience in architectural design and construction, Tony imparts his diverse skill-set on all facets of our practice, overseeing our daily operations. Tony’s passion for laneway development began with his award-winning research on high-performance affordable housing as a graduate student at Ryerson University. His professional experience centers on the design and construction of unique residential solutions with a passion for navigating the challenges and opportunities of creative urban infill development.
Matt Hagen
Intern Architect, Project Manager
Matt leads Lanescape’s design team, collaborating closely with our clients to develop suites that are both functional and architecturally refined. With diverse experience at several award-winning design practices, Matt brings a unique perspective to laneway suites with a passion for challenging the status quo. Matt holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Architecture from Carleton University, where he received the AIA Henry Adams Medal for academic excellence. Matt’s passion for design is especially evident in his previous work with Storefront Manitoba, a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise appreciation of architecture and the built environment.
Sarah Tyl
Architectural Designer
Sarah is immersed in all aspects of Lanescape’s operations and assists our team throughout various project stages in addition to playing a key role in our ongoing advocacy efforts. Sarah is currently an Architectural Science Co-op student from Ryerson University, with a passion for residential architecture, local urban context and environmentally-conscious design. Her professional experience has centered around residential design, ranging in scale from townhouse developments to high-rise apartment buildings.
Kenan Elsässer
Architectural Designer
Kenan manages Lanescape’s project planning and preliminary design phases in addition to community outreach efforts and video media production. Kenan earned his Bachelor of Architectural Science at Ryerson University and his professional experience ranges from the construction and renovation of detached homes to the design of townhouses and mid-rise developments. Kenan has a passion for blurring the traditional boundaries of urban planning, architecture and digital media.
Matthew Ferguson
Intern Architect
Matthew plays a major role in design, coordination and execution of our laneway suite projects through a wholistic design sensibility complimented by technical skill that is invaluable to both our team and our clients. His explorations of midrise residential prototypes and net-zero energy laneway suites have sparked international acclaim, and fuelled a passion for creative problem solving, which he deploys with rigour and enthusiasm on each of our projects.
Paolo Jabile
Architectural Designer
Paolo leads our production team, preparing materials for zoning review, permit applications, and tender/construction documentation. Paolo holds a Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson Universityand since graduating, his professional experience has centered on single family dwellings with an interest in developing high performance construction details and techniques. His passions lay in innovative detail-oriented architecture, heritage conservation and urban design.
Ryan Fernandes
Intern Architect
Ryan plays a central role in Lanescape’s schematic design phase, working with our clients to envision their dream homes through a resourceful, elegant, and context-driven approach. Ryan holds a Master of Architecture and Bachelor of Architectural Science from Ryerson University, where he took on an active role in the creation of a green materials database and the design and construction of an ultra-sustainable housing prototype. Ryan has received several awards including the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, the RAIC Honour Roll, and the grand prize for the international US D.O.E Race to Zero competition in 2017.
Phil Lao
Architectural Technologist
Phil’s role is primarily focused on consultant coordination in addition to producing contract documents, construction details and materials required for permit approvals, tendering, and construction. With an educational background both in architecture and construction management, Phil worked on a variety of building typologies in Canada, Australia, and Asia before joining the Lanescape team. Phil’s passion for creatively resolving technical details allows our team to push the boundaries of design while continually evolving both our process and portfolio.
Kate Jones
Architectural Designer
Kate is responsible for managing Lanescape’s social media and community outreach while assisting with preliminary design phases. Kate earned her Bachelor of Architectural Science at Ryerson University, where she developed a passion for creative and contextual design and urban infill housing typologies in Toronto. Since graduating, her professional experience has included the design of commercial projects, large residential developments, and single-family dwellings in various practices across the city. Kate’s deep knowledge of design marketing combined with a diverse project-based skillset renders her invaluable to both our day-to-day operations and ongoing advocacy efforts.