FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL | ALLYSE Y. Li
BID, MUD, LEED
Founding principal of RAAW, ALLYSE Y. LI (RID) is the vision behind the Vancouver based interior design, contracting and residential development firm and company group. Since 2016, LI has successfully led over a hundred interior projects ranging from residential to commercial, multifamily to hospitality. Her expertise in interior architecture is met with unparalleled design leadership and sensitivity towards feasibility, rendering every RAAW project awe-inspiring and distinct.
Where interior design is traditionally tasked with the creation of exclusivity, LI aims to address inclusion. Beyond practice, her influence as a design educator continues to grow, as she regularly engages with students in design colleges throughout Canada and the US. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Interior Design at YU, Ontario, teaching senior design thesis studios and advanced project estimating. Through socially responsive design thinking, she works to bridge gaps between industry and academe.
PRESS & Publications
The GLOBE AND MAIL /MAY 2024
Harvard GSD /Execed 2023
International Design & Architecture /Awards INTERVIEW 2023
Design et al. IDA 2023 | Westbury | ADERA | Chen Residences /Shortlisted
The Construction Source Canada /March 2022
The NYC Journal /Top 30 Interior Designers in 2022
CIDQ RID Spotlight /May 2022
Extended from practice, LI’s multidisciplinary background drew her to explore themes in urbanism with an interior-centric approach, focusing on affordable, resilient and scalable built forms across the residential development landscape. With background in urban land economics, her research concerns transitional densification, hybrid typologies and alternate tenure systems that pivot on the spatial economics of the internal life. These explorations question the contemporary built environment and existing socio-economic dynamics from human centred lens, and are positioned for grounding with RAAW’s design-led development model. Her belief as a scholar and designer-developer boils down to the idea that no urban participant should be denied access to quality, attainable and equity-building housing options.
To further leverage design for positive social outcomes, LI translates the firm’s design-build capacity into efforts for Vancouver’s Chinatown revitalization, leading active change through a granular approach —the critical conservation of retail interiors as community spaces, empowering local stakeholders. Currently, she is working in collaboration with Inge Roecker of AIR Studio, piloting this approach for ‘Ren He Tang’, a Chinatown based non-profit Chinese medicine practice led by Doug Moore. As an urban designer and interior designer, she is an advocate for retrofitting neighbourhood resilience and delivering urban renewal without gentrification.
LI also holds an ARCT in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, with theory and history pedagogy since 2011. She is the mother of two, and enjoys continued design practice and research alongside navigating motherhood. In her free time, she also works with her children, rethinking the role of early design education for next-generation designers and urbanists.
PROJECT CONTROLLER | Jeremy Z. lei
B.A, Building Technologist & Licensed Residential Builder
With a diverse background in interactive arts and technology, and architectural design with specialization in building science, JEREMY LEI serves as an architectural technologist and facilitator for project construction at RAAW. With interest in model making and detailing, LEI's technical expertise in building science allows him to lead project visualization, both the virtually and in reality. LEI supports the IGMP design model by ensuring all designs are followed through with sound implementation on the project site.
Since 2019, LEI has undertaken the art of Muay Thai boxing and is a motorcycle enthusiast. With a past as an independent filmmaker specializing in short films, and mixed media, he believed in capturing reality through the lens, as a means of a narrative, the simple unfiltered truth. Translated into the field of design execution, he applies the same philosophy in all that he undertakes. Focused and attentive to details, he is committed to the quality delivery of every project.
LEI is currently pursing graduate studies in Architecture through RAIC for architectural practices. His experience is met with extensive practice-based knowledge in building technology and construction. He is RAAW Contracting Ltd.’s nominee for the holder of the BC Residential Builder’s licensure with CHBA-BC.
PROJECT CONTROLLER | ROCKY Y. LEE
PhD. P.Eng.
A senior member of RAAW Design Group, LEE oversees project execution phases in RAAW’s Contracting and Development divisions. He consults our clients and colleagues on complex project scopes and processes associated with project execution, cost control, and consultant(s) coordination in relation to the design vision. With over 25 years of multidisciplinary project experience, LEE works in conjunction with both the contracting and design teams to ensure projects are executed with state of the art planning to optimize quality, cost and schedule alignment across all project consultants and affiliated stakeholders.
LEE is interested in project feasibility and optimization of ROI at every project scale, focusing on the residential middle density development sector. With a unique blend of engineering background and project management skills, he plays an integral role in ensuring all RAAW Development and Contracting projects are successfully carried out from the initial conceptualization to final manifestation.
Associate Interior Designer | Carl Wang
BID, Millwork Design Specialist
CARL WANG encompasses a robust skillset in the interior design and planning framework, with a focus on design documentation and site implementation. His design philosophy and RAAW’s people-focus approach to design converges in the design process, which is essentially is a journey that begins and ends with strong teamwork, and client relations. Carl is committed to continued professional development and learning and is on his way to obtaining NKBA (National Kitchen & Bath Association) certification.
Currently, he is actively engaging with the industry in RAAW x Leicht pilot initiative, commercial interiors and luxury residential millwork scopes in multiple Vancouver based projects.
Associate Interior Designer | Jason Y. Wu
BID, Interior Designer
JASON WU is an interior designer with background in planning for functional spaces that are both sustainable and aesthetically outstanding. With passion for modern interiors, his interests in furniture design and documentation is an integral part of the successful interior design project management. Jason’s focus on practicing interior design is paired with his continued dedication to learning.
He is currently working towards his RID designation and is a supporter of regulated, professional and distinguished interior design practice and standards.
Associate Interior Designer | PERI KONE
BID, Interior Designer
PERI KONE holds a bachelor in Interior Design. Her passion for interior Design extends from her lifelong love of expressing creativity through a do-it -yourself mentality and desire to inspire other through art, architecture, and culture. Peri views design as a means to leave legacy to generations by creating spaces that integrate communication, connection, and feelings. Her purpose is to help her clients to create a space that reflects their personality.
Peri has a strong sense of spatial organization, design details and creative energy. Her on-going efforts to better her professional practice through the NCIDQ qualification process is reflected in her pursuit of the examinations while working as a designer. “Design is your story in one space”, is the way Peri puts it.
