Giving the best of oneself in order to become established. This is a major challenge!

The expansive Four Seasons Montréal project, which spans from 2015 to 2019, allows ELEMA to anchor its foundation and move forward. It is the return to Montréal of a prestigious hotel chain offering the finest in urban chic dining and luxury residences.

On a Thursday afternoon in 2015, Dominic receives a crucial call at 3 p.m. An hour later, he arrives at the client’s location and is back in the office at 5:30 p.m. He then calls on his team, eight employees at the time. “This is the only time I told the employees: this week-end, everybody works because this will either save us or shut us down.” Everyone pitches in and works diligently
until Sunday night. On Monday morning at 8:30, the ELEMA team is at Carbonleo in Brossard, roll of printed plans in hand.

Competence, agility and receptivity to business opportunities allow ELEMA’s stakeholders to keep pace with the ever-changing world of engineering

The growing team contributes to the execution of architectural works of unprecedented complexity, especially when it deploys its expertise in the structural glass sector.

In the summer of 2022, ELEMA acquires CPA Structural Glass, a company with which it has already collaborated on ambitious projects such as the restoration of the Grand Théâtre de Québec and the glass floor of the Pointe-à-Callière Museum.

In September 2022, ELEMA sets foot in Calgary, Alberta and opens its first office there under the leadership of talented engineer David Optyker, who has been a resident of the city for over a decade.

Generosity is an essential part of ELEMA’s values; whether it be in terms of time, educational commitments, or donations. 

“For example, we give a annual scholarship in architecture/structure to the Cégep de Saint-Laurent, we donate time to various engineering and architecture schools in the region, and last year we helped making holiday baskets for Moisson Montréal. Every December, Dominic organizes the “President’s Breakfast”, where he prepares breakfast himself for all our team members to thank them.” M.H.

ELEMA collaborates to the work entitled Contemplation by Pascale Girardin, a creation suspended between the 9^th and 18^th floors of the central outdoor atrium of the Four Seasons Hotel Montreal (2018-2019).

La force ouvrière, at the Michel Chartrand Park

At the Michel Chartrand Park in Longueuil, one can contemplate the first collaboration between ELEMA and the renowned sculptor Armand Vaillancourt for the massive work La force ouvrière – Hommage à Michel Chartrand. This judicious combination of art and engineering can also be admired at the entrance of ELEMA’s offices where another creation of Armand Vaillancourt can be found: coloured prints that magnify a large glass door.

Dominic is a calm, humble, and very human manager. A former hockey coach in his spare time, he is described as an excellent leader. Someone who knows how to surround himself with the right people and who doesn’t hesitate to help his colleague’s rise and shine professionally. Generous and empathetic, he is sensitive to the plight of the less fortunate in our society. Dominic is proud of his profession. “The beauty of our work is that we can actually see it and touch it. It’s built. It’s not abstract. It will be there for 20-30-50-100 years. That’s what motivates me.”

Félix is blessed with an excellent repartee and a good sense of humour. Perceptive, quick-witted and affable, he displays an extraordinary talent that is recognized by his peers. With a great artistic sensibility, he collaborates on several works. His enthusiasm is only matched by his expertise. “There’s always a solution to a problem, maybe that solution will be out-of-the box.”

Martin is an exceptional communicator. Described as a cornerstone by his
co-workers, he is the man for the job. He is sociable, articulate and versatile. Martin’s speech is filled with great humanity, just like ELEMA’s. “Human relations are very important to us, and this goes beyond numbers, because engineering can be a bit dry. We make sure that the client is
taken into consideration, we ask them if there is anything we can improve. We are transparent.” 

Born into a family of entrepreneurs, Ricardo knows all the work involved in the logistics of a company. With a degree in architecture from Brazil, he is persistent, with a calm and collected temperament that allows him to face challenges with philosophy. “We’re passionate. We’re here as partners, not just to design structures and make them fit. We really want to understand the dream – what the client wants, and do the things that we need to do to make that dream become a reality.”

With an impressive intellectual presence, Jake is an experienced engineer who handles situations with skill and confidence. Charismatic and assertive, he puts his expertise to good use with young engineering colleagues and students at McGill University, where he is a project supervisor. His professional reputation helps ELEMA to grow. “We don’t just have a conservative approach. We can create a vision, a bold structure. That’s why we have the term ‘creators’ in our tagline, it’s because we see ourselves as people who innovate.”