Meet the Team
Our group has a long history of leadership, design, and execution of laneway and garden suites in Toronto. As architects, developers, planners, and community leaders, our experience in developing a generative framework for laneway and garden suites make us the ideal team for helping you realize these exciting new housing typologies.
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.
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
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 practices, Matt possesses an infectious enthusiasm for laneway suite design. 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.
Ryan Fernandes
Intern Architect, Project Manager
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.
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.
Ron Adriano
Intern Architect
Ron holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Waterloo. He brings with him a broad range of professional experience having worked on multiple typologies from large institutional to small commercial and residential projects in Toronto, New York, and Hong Kong. Ron is passionate about architecture that serves people through everyday life; highlighting charm, not only in design, but in the experiences it supports.
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.
Luisa Gonzalez
Architectural Designer
Luisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science from Ryerson University. Her professional experience includes a variety of scales and typologies including multi-use commercial, residential, cultural, and institutional projects across Canada. Luisa plays a key role in our schematic design team, working with our clients to envision their dream suites. Luisa’s keen eye for design and attention to detail ensures we are always putting forth refined design solutions that not only meet, but exceed all expectations.
Armando Gutierrez
Architectural Designer
Armando holds a bachelor in Architectural Science and a minor in Sociology from Ryerson University where his interests in urban development and responsible densification of the city fuelled his passion for laneway and garden suite typologies. Armando utilizes his previous experience in construction, drafting and manufacturing, to work with the design development team responsible for preparing material for permit applications.
Holly Ning
Architectural Designer
Holly is currently a Co-op student studying Architectural Science at Ryerson University. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she has developed a keen interest for small residential typologies and the potential for innovative and impactful design within our urban context. Holly approaches each project with curiosity and invokes critical problem solving throughout the design process. Holly actively contributes to Lanescape’s project development with her refined skills in digital modeling and visualization coupled with her experience in academic research and real-estate administration.
Alexia Mereuta
Architectural Designer
Alexia is a Co-op student currently completing her bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science at Ryerson University. Her experience in the Architectural Science program has cultivated Alexia’s construction conscious attitude to design, without losing sight of greater ideas on architecture’s role in social advocacy and improvement of the urban environment. She is passionate about how multidisciplinary collaboration lends itself to impactful design. Alexia contributes to Lanescape’s operations in various project phases through her thoughtful approach, diverse skill set, and experience in drafting and visual representation.
Daniela Carter
Architectural Technologist
Daniela Carter comes to Lanescape with an Architectural Technologist Diploma from Sheridan College where she earned multiple awards for academic achievement. Daniela’s experience ranges from prefabricated laneway suites to commercial retail spaces across Canada. She is passionate about the future of laneway and garden suites and the role they play in providing families access to housing. Daniela’s extensive experience is well-suited to her role at Lanescape which spans across zoning approvals, design development, and building permit coordination.
Paolo Jabile
Architectural Technologist
Paolo’s passions lay in innovative detail-oriented architecture, heritage conservation and urban design. As an undergraduate student at Ryerson University, Paolo explored unique housing typologies in Europe, complimenting his knowledge of urban design with an enthusiasm for innovative construction processes and techniques. Since graduating, his professional experience has centered on the design of single-family dwellings. With his thorough knowledge of construction detailing, processes and materiality, Paolo is a key member of our production team responsible for preparing materials for zoning review, permit applications, and tender/construction documentation.
Bruna Mendes
Accountant
Bruna joins Lanescape from over half a decade living in Sydney, Australia. Originally from Brazil, she built a reputation for enhancing the performance of finance departments in the construction and design sector. Bruna has extensive experience working with cross-functional teams in the service industry and is skilled in dealing with complex data to solve problems. She holds an Environmental Engineer bachelor’s degree from SENAC University (Brazil), a Master’s in Health and Safety Engineering from the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), and a Master’s in Business and Accounting from Victoria University (Australia). Bruna brings to Lanescape her broad knowledge set to ensure a holistic approach to project financing and accounting.