New leadership begins at RAM, while Greater Vancouver and Toronto see tall proposals.

RAM Elevators & Lifts Inc. Expands Leadership Team

Edmonton-based RAM Elevators & Lifts Inc. announced in November 2019 that it had new leadership and expanded ownership. Western Canadian business leaders Corey Smith and Aroon Sequeira completed a majority investment and will assume the roles of president/CEO and chairman, respectively. RAM founders Richard Meunier and Sandy Smart will stay on as minority shareholders and serve as chief product ofcer and controller, respectively. “The expansion of our ownership group is very opportune,” Meunier said. “We look forward to this next chapter. . . with Corey and Aroon’s business acumen.”

Squamish First Nation Development Would Transform Vancouver

Eleven towers, up to 56 stories tall, would transform 500 Squamish First Nation acres near the foot of the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver, The Architect’s Newspaper reported, citing the Vancouver Sun. Designed by Revery Architecture with undulating, vegetated balconies and “fns,” the towers would contain roughly 6,000 residential units, promising to help address Vancouver’s rental housing shortage. The ground level would be devoted to public greenspace, rather than podiums. The Squamish Nation isn’t required to jump through the typical city-planning hoops but vows to “work closely with Vancouver city staf to construct a cohesive vision for the site,” being  called Senakw.

Futuristic, Gold Condo Tower on Drawing Board in Toronto

A futuristic, gold, 79-story condominium tower designed by Giannone Petricone Associates is on the drawing board at 80 Bloor Street West in Toronto, blogTO reported in November 2019, citing Urban Toronto. If built now, the 266.5-m-tall tower would the ffth tallest in Toronto. The curved, tapered structure would contain 1,430 residences and retail at its lower levels, along with 140 underground parking spaces for residents and 32 for visitors and retail tenants. The site is currently home to the fagship Harry Rosen store and head ofce, which would be incorporated into the new tower connected to the Bay subway station.