Canadian Consulting Engineer OctoberNovember 2012 by Annex Business Media

For professional engineers in private practice

OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2012

20 2 ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRIAL TREATMENT & GREEN BUILDING WIN TOP AWARDS SELLING OURSELVES SHORT AN OPINION

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contents

October/November 2012 Volume 53, No. 6

features Cover: Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation. Photo courtesy CEI Architecture. See story p. 32.

Selling Ourselves Short. See story p. 21

departments Comment

Up Front

ACEC Review

Products

Advertiser Index

Events

Next issue: Recladding First Canadian Place; steel structure innovations; energy saving buildings.

2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Innovation and Sustainable Development. By Maud Cohen, ing., Jury Chair.

Schreyer Award Photocatalytic Gas Treatment for Uniboard Pfleiderer by exp.

Tree for Life Award & Award of Excellence Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation by The AME Consulting Group.

Awards of Excellence BC Place Revitalization by GENIVAR and Geiger Engineers.

Vale Living With Lakes Centre by J.L. Richards & Associates.

Biodiversity Centre, Université de Montréal, by Bouthillette Parizeau & Associés.

VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre by Fast + Epp.

Maison symphonique de Montréal by SNC-Lavalin.

Sherbourne Common by The Municipal Infrastructure Group.

Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility by CBCL.

Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation by Associated Engineering.

Vancouver City Central Transmission by Golder Associates.

Tailings Management at Greens Creek Mine by Klohn Crippen Berger.

Haiti Prototype Schools by Blackwell Bowick, Halsall Associates, Quinn Dressell Associates, Read Jones Christoffersen.

The Winners Photographs of people on the award winning teams.

on topic Engineers & the Law Defence Against Wrongful Dismissals. By Stuart Rudner, Miller Thomson LLP 18 Opinion Selling Ourselves Short. October/November 2012

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By M.G. (Ron) Britton, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Conversations Stantec’s Olympian. Kayaker Mark de Jonge won a bronze at London 2012.

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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engineer FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE

comment

CANADIAN

C O N S U LT I N G

Editor

Bronwen Parsons E-mail: bparsons@ccemag.com (416) 510-5119

Heroic engineering stories can inspire

Senior Publisher

Maureen Levy E-mail: mlevy@ccemag.com (416) 510-5111 Art Director

wards programs are intended to impress and inspire. (It’s true they often disappoint as well, especially those of us who receive the dreaded “thank you for entering, but unfortunately . . .” letters.) Hopefully young engineers who read the following pages about the challenges and triumphs of the projects that won 2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards (see p. 24 ff.) will be encouraged and driven in their own work similarly to strive beyond the norm. For true inspiration, however, there can’t be a better – or at least a more interesting and entertaining – read for young engineers than Bill Bryson’s book, At Home (Anchor, 2010). Though the book’s subtitle is “A Short History of Private Life,” Bryson uses domesticity as just the starting block for an encyclopaedic historical tour of everything remotely related to construction and buildings, not to mention the health sciences, agriculture, food, dressing habits ... you name it. Along the way from prehistoric dwellings at Skara Brae in the Orkney Islands, to Monticello in Virginia and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Bryson covers such ground as the invention of bricks, cement and other materials, of how windows, chimneys and staircases began to be used, and on a larger scale, how massive constructions like the Crystal Cathedral, the Erie Canal and London’s sewage infrastructure came about. The latter is among the most inspiring of Bryson’s tales in showing how heroic engineering has transformed our lives. By the mid-19th century London’s drains were overwhelmed and the Thames became a “dense, goopy sludge that wouldn’t wash away.” After a particularly hot and dry summer in 1858 known as “The Great Stink,” an engineer named Joseph Bazalgette came to the rescue. This elfin-sized figure with a huge curling moustache led a work that resulted in 1,200 miles of brick tunnels being inserted into the metropolis. Bazalgette “brilliantly exceeded every expectation,” says Bryson. In constructing the sewer the engineer managed to create the Chelsea, Albert and Victoria embankments. He made room for an Underground tube line, gas and utilities, and a new road above. The Thames could now flow much more freely, and the waste of three million people was carried to huge outfalls on the city’s eastern edge. Too bad that 20 years later in 1878 a pleasure boat (the Princess Alice) collided with another boat and sank just at the point where the pipes disgorged, and 700 people drowned in the sewage. Beside these fascinating anecdotes that Bryson throws at us from every page (would that engineering reports could borrow his talents), what really comes across from his book is how important individual engineers are in getting things done -- not just the great and famous, but also lesser known individuals as well. Through sheer acts of will they designed and invented structures that have benefited the health and welfare of millions. (See Professor Ron Britton’s thoughts on heroic engineers of the past, too, p. 22.) We live in an age where infrastructure projects are stalled at every turn --- witness the gas turbine plants cancelled in Toronto recently. But hearing how engineers have struggled and persevered, sometimes at enormous personal cost, to do what they had to, can be an inspiration – and a delight – for us all. Bronwen Parsons 4

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Ellie Robinson Contributing Editor

Rosalind Cairncross, P.Eng. Advertising Sales Manager

Vince Naccarato E-mail: vnaccarato@ccemag.com (416) 510-5118 Editorial Advisors

Bruce Bodden, P.Eng., Gerald Epp, P.Eng., Chris Newcomb, P.Eng., Laurier Nichols, ing., Lee Norton, P.Eng., Jonathan Rubes, P.Eng., Paul Ruffell, P.Eng., Andrew Steeves, P.Eng., Ron Wilson, P.Eng. Circulation

Barbara Adelt (416) 442-5600 x3546 badelt@bizinfogroup.ca

W A Y K G

Production Co-ordinator

Karen Samuels (416) 510-5190 Vice President, Publishing Business Information Group (BIG)

I s “ c s

Alex Papanou

President, Business Information Group (BIG)

Bruce Creighton Head Office

80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9 Tel: (416) 442-5600 Fax: (416) 510-5134 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEER is published by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. EDITORIAL PURPOSE: Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine covers innovative engineering projects, news and business information for professional engineers engaged in private consulting practice. The editors assume no liability for the accuracy of the text or its fitness for any particular purpose. SUBSCRIPTIONS: Canada, 1 year $60.95; 2 years $91.95 + taxes Single copy $8.00 Cdn + taxes. (HST 809751274-RT0001). United States U.S. $60.95. Foreign U.S. $60.95. PRINTED IN CANADA. Title registered at Trademarks Office, Ottawa. Copyright 1964. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in part or in full without the consent of the copyright owner(s). ISSN: 0008-3267 (print), ISSN: 1923-3337 (digital) POSTAL INFORMATION: Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Canadian Consulting Engineer, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9.

8 w

USPS 016-099. US office of publication: 2424 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, NY 14304-5709. Periodicals postage paid at Niagara Falls, NY. US Postmaster: send address changes to Canadian Consulting Engineer, PO Box 1118, Niagara Falls NY 14304. PRIVACY: From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us. tel: 1-800-668-2374, fax: 416-510-5134, e-mail: jhunter@businessinformationgroup.ca, mail to: Privacy Officer, BIG, 80 Valleybrook Drive, Toronto, ON Canada M3B 2S9. Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Member of the Canadian Business Press

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

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up front

CITIES

Cape Horn Interchange, Coquitlam, B.C.

It includes a new 10-lane Port Mann bridge over the Fraser River that is due to be completed in December. Hatch Mott MacDonald and MMM Group are leading the team of engineers on the onshore element of the scheme on behalf of Peter Kiewit and Flatiron Constructors.

TRANSPORTATION

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HVAC LIGHTING

Calgary’s Centre Street Bridge comes alive A new LED lighting system on Centre Street Bridge in downtown Calgary enhances one of the city’s most important historic assets. The lighting washes the four arched spans of the 1916 BeauxArts landmark with warm white light. The lights also dramatize four lions Lighting Design Innovations, studio 1826, Michael Heywood

Cape Horn interchange an “engineering marvel” What the province of B.C. called an “engineering marvel” took place in September in the Vancouver area. Overnight on September 22, girders were lifted into place to complete a new overpass in the Cape Horn Interchange, while traffic continued to pass underneath on Highway 1 using one lane in each direction. The new overpass connects Lougheed Highway to Highway 1, and is one of the final construction pieces required to connect the Cape Horn interchange to the Port Mann Bridge. The interchange is already the busiest in the province, carrying 120,000 vehicles a day and often creating a bottleneck for drivers. After some of its most complicated engineering takes place this fall, it will ultimately include 15 new ramps as well as other structures. Cape Horn is just part of the mammoth Port Mann/Highway 1 improvement project, the largest transportation infrastructure project in B.C.’s history. Overseen by the Transportation Investment Corporation, a crown corporation, the megaproject covers 37 kilometres of highways from Vancouver east to Langley.

Good prospects in Alberta cities Edmonton and Calgary are forecast to be the fastest growing metropolitan areas in Canada for the next four years, according to the Conference Board of Canada’s Metropolitan Outlook Autumn 2012. Much of this growth is attributed to the $29-billion worth of energyrelated projects under way, and nearly $86-billion in the pipeline. Saskatoon, Regina, Vancouver and Toronto are also expected to grow. However, Ottawa, Quebec City and Victoria will be affected by economic restraint in the public sector.

Centre Street Bridge, Calgary. continued on page 8

Legionnaire’s in Quebec City An outbreak of legionnaire’s disease in Quebec City this summer resulted in the death of at least 13 people and 177 cases of illness in the city. Until the actual cause of the Quebec outbreak could be verified, public health officials ordered that the cooling systems of 100 buildings be disinfected. Ontario also saw an increased occurrence of the disease this summer, with 59 confirmed cases between August 1 and September 11, compared to the average 18 or 19 cases for the month of August.

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up front

continued from page 6

(modeled after the large cats in Trafalgar Square) which stand guard on pavilions at each end of the bridge. The 396-metre crossing over the Bow River links downtown Calgary with the Crescent Heights neighbourhood. It is also a gateway to the city’s CBCL engineers meet water experts from Shanghai, China. Chinatown. water usage via metering. Lighting Design Innovations With files from Andrew Safer. designed the lighting. SMP Engineering were the electrical engineers. HERITAGE Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Trans-Canada Highway Design was the preservation architect. The project is part of an initiative is 50 years old The 50th anniversary of the Transby the city to animate its urban enviCanada Highway was marked in Sepronment by adding decorative lighting tember with the placing of a plaque to architecture and heritage resources. on the original commemorative cairn COMPANIES located on the highway east of RevelCBCL of Halifax meets stoke, in the spectacular mountains of Chinese delegation southeastern British Columbia. Six Chinese officials representing the The same day, a new Donald massive state-owned Qingcaosha Raw Bridge was opened as part of a Water Project in Shanghai met with $63-million upgrade to 3.5 kilometres senior managers at CBCL Consulting of the Trans-Canada between RevelEngineers in Halifax in August. stoke and Golden. Associated EngiSponsored by the World Bank, neering and Urban Systems engithe Chinese officials’ North Amerineered the bridge. can study tour focused on energy efficiency in raw water production and INFRASTRUCTURE operations. Toronto’s power Discussions during the two-hour grid gets a boost meeting at CBCL covered areas Tunnelling work for a major power such as the proper sizing and cleantransmission corridor across Toronto ing of intake structures between the has begun. reservoir and pumping stations, the MMM Group is doing the civil derelining of existing water lines, leak sign for the 2.4 kilometre tunnel, detection, and the monitoring of which will carry six high voltage ca-

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bles carrying an additional 100 MW of power to neighbourhoods in the city. The tunnel is 3-metres in diameter inside and will run 60 metres below ground from Bayview Avenue to Yonge Street. Ed Jetten, the project engineer with MMM Group, explains that the new concrete tunnel has to be at such a depth because of environmental concerns and the fact that the line crosses deep ravines. Known as Hydro One’s Midtown Electricity Infrastructure Renewal Project, the $115-million corridor replaces an existing power line which is nearing the end of its service life. The project is part of the provincial government’s plans to rebuild or replace approximately 80% of its electricity infrastructure. Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) applauded the start of the transmission project. Barry Steinberg, chief executive officer of CEO, said: “We are pleased to see the government prioritizing the need to replace aging electrical equipment and identifying how to increase capacity for our city that continues to grow in size and number. These are the types of decisions that don’t always get the attention they deserve because the infrastructure is invisible to the public. What people need to know is that the underground cable is approaching the end of its life and, if not maintained, cell phones, TVs, continued on page 10

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lights and other everyday essentials are at risk of not working the way we expect them to.” PROFESSION

PEO calls for “Provincial Engineer” after Elliot Lake tragedy In the wake of the collapse of the roof of the Algo Centre Mall in Elliott Lake in June, Denis Dixon, P.Eng., president of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), asked the province to create the position of a “Provincial Engineer.” The person would have a role similar to the province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health. Dixon said in a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty that a provincial engineer “could take overall authority for engineering works in the province, to provide specific direction in the event of situations like Elliot Lake, and to ascertain whether such situations are

indicative of systemic problems.” While a public inquiry is proceeding into what caused the tragic events in Elliot Lake, which resulted in two deaths and several injuries, PEO has begun its own investigations. PEOPLE

Engineers Canada has new CEO Kim Allen, P.Eng. is the new chief executive officer of Engineers Canada. Engineers Canada is Kim Allen the Ottawa-based national organization of the 12 provincial and territorial licensing associations. Allen was previously at the helm of Professional Engineers Ontario, where he was chief executive officer and registrar for over a decade. Catherine Karakatsanis, P.Eng., president of Engineers Canada, said: “His [Allen’s] strategic thinking, ex-

perience and leadership are an excellent complement to our team.” COMPANIES

Genivar on S&P/TSX GENIVAR, based in Montreal, has been added to the Standard & Poor TSX Composite Index. The index includes only the stock prices of the largest companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange, as measured by market capitalization. “Being included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index is a tremendous recognition of GENIVAR’s progress over the past few years,” said Pierre Shoiry, the company’s president and chief executive officer. BBA of Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec has opened an office in Toronto. This is the expanding company’s second location in Ontario following the opening of an office in Timmins last fall.

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW CHAIR’S MESSAGE

Awards signify consulting engineering sector’s enormous contribution

pon becoming the Chair of the ACEC Board of Directors, I remarked that “It’s an exciting new world — a world where there are opportunities for engineers to lead and excel in a way that hasn’t been available since the post Second World War infrastructure boom.” I believe that this year’s Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards reaffirm this. The award winning projects featured in this issue, and indeed all of the nearly 80 entries, testify to the enormous contribution that consulting engineering firms in Canada continue to make in a variety of fields. The awards gala hosted annually by ACEC is a keystone event for showcasing our members and elevating the image and profile of consulting engineers. This seems to be appreciated by ACEC member firms. Recent years have seen a significant increase in the number of project entries. Each year we see more creativity, more innovation and more ingenuity as consult-

ing engineers tackle complex challenges and create opportunities for their clients. I would like to thank Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine, our partner in staging these awards, and the jury members who committed many hours to review all of the submitted projects. Most importantly, I would like to thank all of the firms that participated in this year’s awards program. They, along with their clients and other contributors to these projects, all deserve our congratulations. Demand for our services continues to grow. Balancing economic, societal and environmental challenges is becoming more complex. Strategic and innovative ways of thinking are the new normal. There are so many outstanding projects worthy of recognition and we look forward to working with Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine to grow and expand the awards program in the future. No other industry or profession affects so many people in so many ways. This is a story that needs to be told. MURRAY D. THOMPSON, P.ENG. CHAIR, ACEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

MESSAGE DU PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL

Le programme des Prix met en valeur l’énorme contribution du secteur du génie-conseil

orsque je suis devenu président du conseil d’administration de l’AFIC, j’avais dit que « Nous vivons à une époque très stimulante… une époque qui présente aux ingénieurs une foule de possibilités pour mener à bien des projets et exceller d’une manière qui ne s’est pas représentée depuis le boom de l’infrastructure qui a suivi la Deuxième Guerre mondiale. » Je crois que le programme des Prix du génie-conseil de cette année vient le réaffirmer. Les projets lauréats présentés dans ce numéro, tout comme les quelques 80 projets qui ont été soumis pour le concours des Prix, attestent de l’énorme contribution des firmes canadiennes de génie-conseil dans une diversité de domaines. Le gala des Prix, qui est un événement annuel de l’AFIC, est une occasion idéale de mettre en valeur les projets de nos membres ainsi que le profil des ingénieurs-conseils. L’événement semble être bien apprécié par nos membres. En effet, nous avons constaté, ces dernières années, une augmentation considérable dans le nombre de projets qui sont présentés pour le concours des Prix. Tous les ans, nous voyons de plus en plus de créativité, d’innovation et d’ingéniosité alors que les ingénieurs-conseils relèvent des défis de plus en

plus complexes et créent des occasions pour leurs clients. Je tiens à souligner le travail de la revue Canadian Consulting Engineer, notre partenaire dans l’organisation de cet événement, ainsi que les membres du jury qui ont consacré de nombreuses heures à l’examen de tous les projets qui ont été soumis. Je remercie tout particulièrement les firmes qui ont participé au programme des prix de cette année. Ces firmes, de même que leurs clients et autres contributeurs à ces projets, méritent certainement nos félicitations. La demande pour nos services ne cesse de croître. L’art d’équilibrer des défis économiques, sociétaux et environnementaux devient de plus en plus complexe. Des manières de penser à la fois stratégiques et innovatrices sont la nouvelle norme. Comme il existe tant de nombreux projets remarquables qui méritent d’être reconnus, nous continuerons de travailler avec la revue Canadian Consulting Engineer pour mettre le programme des Prix encore plus en évidence dans les années à venir. Aucune autre industrie ou profession n’a autant d’impact sur tant de gens d’autant de manières. Cela, il faut le dire. MURRAY D. THOMPSON, P.ENG. PRÉSIDENT DU CONSEIL D’ADMINISTRATION DE L’AFIC

October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

Neil A. Cumming Wins 2012 Beaubien Award Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards

n October 23rd, Neil A. Cumming, FACI, P.Eng., was honoured at the 2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards as recipient of the prestigious Beaubien Award. Presented annually, the Beaubien Award recognizes individuals for their exceptional work as members of ACEC and for their lifetime contributions to the consulting engineering industry and to the engineering profession. On winning the award, Neil remarked “I am surprised and honoured to be selected to receive this year’s Beaubien Award. Although the award is presented to ACEC members who are deemed to have given exceptional service to the association and the consulting engineering industry, I look upon my activities with ACEC and other industry associations not as contributions, but as opportunities to learn, to improve oneself, and to interact with many outstanding colleagues. I am thankful to ACEC and its many members and participants to have had these opportunities.” Neil has provided outstanding leadership and is highly regarded for his contributions to the consulting industry, business and the engineering profession. He is a professional engineer with 35 years of experience in construction materials engineering, testing, inspection and evaluation. A recognized expert, Neil has been involved in several thousand projects, including

Left: Neil Cumming. Above: Neil Cumming and Oliver Gepraegs of Levelton Consultants Ltd. are presented with the 2008 B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Deputy Minister’s Award for Excellence in Specialized Engineering Services. Left to right: Kevin Falcon, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure; Oliver Gepraegs; Neil Cumming; John Dyble, BC Deputy Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

large commercial, industrial and infrastructure installations in western Canada. Neil earned his degree in Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia and joined Levelton Consultants Ltd. in 1977. He has held senior management positions in the firm, including President and CEO, and is currently Executive Vice President. Neil has championed the interests of the industry through his active participation in Consulting Engineers of British Columbia (now ACEC-BC), where he served as President in 2003-2004 and as Director for five years. He has been a strong contributor as the ACEC representative on the

Canadian Construction Documents Committee and has participated in a number of other professional associations and technical committees. As an industry educator, Neil is a regular speaker at technical conferences. Neil is the recipient of other industry awards and recognition, including Fellow of the American Concrete Institute, CEBC’s 2011 Meritorious Achievement Award and the Canadian Standards Association’s Award of Merit. Neil was selected for the Beaubien Award by his peers in the Canadian consulting engineering industry. The Beaubien Award was created by ACEC in 1984 in honour of Dr. James de Gaspé Beaubien, who founded ACEC in 1925.

ACEC Member Organizations: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - British Columbia, Consulting Engineers of Yukon, Consulting Engineers of Alberta, Consulting Engineers of Northwest Territories, Consulting Engineers of Saskatchewan, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba, Consulting Engineers of Ontario, Association des Ingénieurs-conseils du Québec, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – New Brunswick, Consulting Engineers of Nova Scotia, Consulting Engineers of Prince Edward Island, Consulting Engineers of Newfoundland and Labrador. 14

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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October/November 2012

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

ACEC Continues to Advocate for Long-term Infrastructure Investment o ensure long-term economic opportunity for its members, and for Canadians in general, ACEC continues to proactively advocate for long-term federal infrastructure investment. With support from its provincial and territorial Member Organizations, ACEC was well represented at regional infrastructure roundtables organized by federal Infrastructure Minister Denis Lebel during the summer of 2012. ACEC’s infrastructure task force coordinated messaging and Member Organizations took full advantage of opportunities to participate. Between ACEC and its Member Organizations, the consulting engineering sector was represented at roundtables in St. John’s, Charlottetown, Québec City, Toronto, Edmonton, Regina and Kenora. At the end of August, ACEC was also invited as one of a select group of national associations to participate in a national roundtable consultation in Ottawa hosted by Minister Lebel. This session included a focus on how to

Parliament Hill Day

CEC’s Parliament Hill Day is the most important and successful government relations event in the country for Canada’s consulting engineering companies. Parliament Hill Day 2012 provided an excellent opportunity to advocate, on behalf of the industry, for long-term infrastructure investment. Representatives of firms attending the 2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards and ACEC met with Members of Parliament to present a strong and coordinated message on the need for a long-term infrastructure plan that will strengthen the economy and enhance Canada’s competitiveness.

Photo courtesy Infrastructure Canada

Sheldon Hudson, President of Consulting Engineers of Alberta (far left) meets with government officials, representatives of the municipal sector, and community and business leaders in Edmonton, Alberta to discuss the development of a new long-term infrastructure plan for Canada.

increase private sector participation in public infrastructure and how to best use formal large-scale P3 approaches. ACEC’s efforts have received prominent attention and its message and approach have been highly appreciated by the Minister. ACEC intends to remain involved throughout the development of the long-term infrastructure plan.

ACEC also made a formal submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance during its annual pre-budget deliberations. In the submission, ACEC supported the government for its commitment to a long-term infrastructure plan for Canada. ACEC reminded Members of Parliament that infrastructure investments are very long term in nature and require planning that reaches into decades and not just years. The submission recognized the current need to balance much needed investment with current fiscal realities and called for a coordinated, well-planned, long-term approach to infrastructure investment. ACEC highlighted the Conference Board of Canada’s conclusion that of all fiscal stimulus measures, infrastructure investment has had the largest impact on economic growth. This not only validates the government’s stimulus spending on infrastructure, but also demonstrates the ongoing value of infrastructure investment to Canada’s economic health and prosperity. To view ACEC’s pre-budget submission to the Standing Committee on Finance, visit www.acec.ca.

October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW

PSMJ Seminars: Register Today! ACEC and PSMJ Resources, Inc., in collaboration with Consulting Engineers of Ontario, will offer business management training programs this fall. Discounted rates are available for ACEC members. SEMINARS OFFERED DURING FALL 2012: A/E/C Principals Bootcamp: November 6-7, 2012 – Toronto, Ontario

Project Management Bootcamp: November 27-28, 2012 – Toronto, Ontario

Every PSMJ Bootcamp offers a wealth of knowledge and insight in two information-packed days. Seminars deliver must-know strategies and must-have techniques – highly practical advice you’ll find plenty of opportunities to apply immediately upon your return to the office.

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Project Management Bootcamp Learn how to:

• Increase your labour multiplier to 5.0 or higher • Increase your profits by 25% without increasing your staff • Open new branch offices • Transition from a Project Manager to a Manager of Project Managers • Develop a results-oriented 2-page marketing plan • Pre-qualify your clients to weed out those who create more headaches than profits • Re-organize your project delivery to avoid losing any of your good clients • Benchmark your firm against others of similar size and type • Make your staff understand the importance of labour utilization • Write contracts that will reduce your A/R by at least 30 days • Become one of the top 10% firms to achieve operating profits exceeding 30% of revenue • Motivate your best performers while eliminating mediocre ones • Plan your ownership transition

• Bring projects in on time and under budget • Fulfil the 6 roles of a Project Manager • Actively manage the client relationship • Increase staff productivity in 5 ways • Effectively control “scope creep” • Make proposals become winners • Create budgets and schedules to produce success

To register, please visit www.acec.ca. For any questions, please contact ACEC at info@acec.ca

Compensation Data for Canadian Consulting Engineering Firms

or many, early fall is the time to prepare salary budgets for the upcoming year, and having current, accurate market data is crucial for making sound compensation decisions. Compensation costs can often be a company’s largest expense. If you pay below market, you run the risk of losing the employees you have already invested in, as well as limiting your ability to attract the employees you want. On the other hand, overpaying is a drain on your company’s finances. ACEC-Canada has partnered with Western Compensation & Benefits Consultants to produce an annual survey of Canadian consulting engineering companies. The 14th Annual Con16

Canadian Consulting Engineer

p13-17 CCE OctNov12 ACEC_1.indd 16

sulting Engineers Compensation, Benefits & Employment Practices Report is an easy to use and cost-effective way to ensure your salaries are appropriate. Buyers receive comprehensive information, specific to the consulting engineering industry on: • Current salaries and bonuses for 75 positions including: engineers/scientists, technicians/technologists; executives/management, HR, IT, accounting and payroll, and administrative staff • Expected changes in salaries for 2013 • Short- and long-term incentive plans • Group insurance and retirement plans • Policies on vacation, overtime, perks and more. Cash compensation is broken out

by geographic location as well as firm size and is released electronically, allowing customized analysis of data. Whether you have one office or offices across Canada, you will be able to map a compensation strategy that is right for you. The cost to purchase is $2,800 and members of ACEC-Canada receive a 15% discount. For less than the cost of a recruitment ad, you can own a tool to help you attract and retain the staff you need to remain competitive in today’s market. For more information visit: www. wcbc.ca/surveys/consultingengineers.

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engineers and the law

By Stuart Rudner, Miller Thomson LLP

A law that requires employees to make reasonable efforts to find alternative work when they are dismissed is starting to be applied more frequently.

everal recent decisions have seen employees clined to award any damages to the employee as it penalized for failing to accept reasonable found that he had completely failed to mitigate his offers of new or alternative employment damages by not accepting the offer made to after they are dismissed. him at the time of dismissal. The duty of employees to mitigate damIn a somewhat unusual case, the plaintiff ages that arise out of the termination of in Chevalier v. Active Tire & Auto Centre their employment has always existed. What Inc. was initially laid off, but after he althis means is that if an employee makes a leged constructive dismissal, his employer claim for wrongful dismissal and was advised by its counsel it did argues that they are entitled to not have the right to lay him more notice of dismissal or pay in off. As a result, the company took lieu thereof, they must be able to the unusual step of apologizing show that they made reasonable and inviting him to return to efforts to find new work. If a work in his previously held posi“I often recommend to court finds that the individual tion. However, the employee rehas not made these reasonable fused and continued with his employers that they avoid lump efforts, then the amount of damcourt action. Ultimately, a judge sum payments (unless they ages to which they may be entiof the Superior Court of Justice can agree upon a substantially tled can be reduced. in Ontario concluded he should It has long been recognized, have returned to work and he discounted amount) ...” however, that in the vast majority had entirely failed to mitigate his of cases the duty was virtually damages when he refused to do meaningless because the courts would require little more so. As a result, no damages were awarded. than a token effort on the part of an employee to satisfy Finally, a recent decision of the Superior Court of Quetheir obligation. Typically, it would only be in the rarest of bec (Levy v. Standard Desk Inc.) involved a 75-year-old emcases — where the employee could not show they had made ployee. When the plant was shut down, he was offered a any effort to find new work, and the employer was able to position with a related entity in a different municipality. A show that such work was available — a court might penalize shuttle service was even offered to make up for the extra the employee by reducing the amount of pay in lieu of no- travel. However, the plaintiff refused and sued. The court tice that he or she was awarded. found that although the plaintiff would have been entitled However, several recent cases suggest Canadian courts to 14 months’ notice, he was obligated to seek new employare taking a harder look and reducing awards to employees ment in the same manner a younger person would be, and if their efforts to find new work are found to be lacking. his failure to do so resulted in denial of damages. In Ghanny v. 498326 Ontario Limited, the plaintiff was a service manager with 18 years of service at a Toyota dealer- What this means for employers ship. His position was eliminated and he was offered a total Perhaps the recent trend is a result of the economic times of four months’ notice and pay in lieu thereof. However, he and the fact that people should be encouraged more was also offered a similar position at a Suzuki dealership strongly to accept reasonable offers of employment rather owned by the same company. The plaintiff refused this offer, than pursue litigation or collect employment insurance. and commenced his wrongful dismissal action. Although Regardless of the rationale, how can employers take advanthe Superior Court of Justice of Ontario found the appro- tage of this trend? First, after you dismiss an employee you should proacpriate notice period would have been 14 months, it de18

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©iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Defence Against Wrongful Dismissals

October/November 2012

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engineers and the law tively seek out evidence that there is employment available to them. Review online and more traditional sources, and speak with your contacts within the industry in order to identify any jobs that the employee in question could potentially apply for. When I am representing an employer that is faced or threatened with a wrongful dismissal claim, I ask them to provide this information on available positions to me, and I routinely forward the job postings to counsel for the plaintiff and “suggest” that their client might want to apply. If they don’t, it can be used against them in the course of litigation. Even if the employee has not retained counsel, it is open to the former employer to forward potential jobs and opportunities to the former employee, both in order to assist them and also to lay the groundwork for the company's own potential legal defence. In addition, if an organization is going to enter into a termination agreement, I often recommend that they avoid lump sum payments (unless they can agree upon a substantially discounted amount) in favour of salary and benefit continuance, with a clawback in the event the employee gains new employment. The company should then assist the employee in seeking new work by providing a positive letter of reference (as appropriate), monitoring available jobs, and even considering the provision of outplacement counsel. While this does involve some cost, if the employee is successful in obtaining a position sooner, then your company’s dismissal costs will be significantly reduced. Finally, if there is a potential claim, or if an employee is currently receiving salary and benefit continuance, it is always wise to keep track of whether she has new employment. Among other things, you can monitor her LinkedIn profile. It is often surprising how individuals that “forget” to report new employment to their former employer are quick to post the details on-

line. If you discover they have mitigated their damages, and the termination agreement allows you to do so, you can then cut off or reduce the severance payments. Alternatively, if there is ongoing or subsequent litigation, you can rely upon the information that you have obtained in order

to improve your negotiation and litigation position. CCE Stuart Rudner is a partner in the Labour & Employment Law Group of Miller Thomson LLP in Toronto. E-mail srudner@ millerthomson.com, or join his Canadian Employment Law Group on LinkedIn.

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energy efficiency opinion

SELLING OURSELVES SHORT Engineers' education is partly the reason engineers have become providers of technical services rather than being seen as people of vision.

t the June 2012 Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) Summit, industry leaders identified the threat of "public clients hiring . . . based on the lowest fees," and the "difficulty of finding staff with 10 to 20 years' experience" as two issues of concern. (www.canadianconsultingengineer.com, July 3) These issues are neither new, nor, at their root cause, are they confined to consulting engineering. One of my memories

from my graduate studies days at Texas A&M is a picture of J.C. Penny that hung in the Pennyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s store in Bryan, Texas. The statement under the picture read: "I have no debate with those who will sell for less. They, better than anyone, know what their product is worth."

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B Y M . G . ( R O N ) B R I T T O N , P H . D . , P. E N G .

Do we, the engineering profession, know what our "product" is worth? Are we prepared to make certain our customers know as well? Our profession suffers from being hidden in plain view. We reflect, both internally and externally,

continued on page 22 October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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opinion

continued from page 21

a "Sons of Martha" image, content to serve our “betters." We have allowed others to take control of the big picture, while we focus on answering the technical questions they ask. We, and the services we provide, have in the minds of

Maybe undergraduate degrees should focus on engineering in its broadest sense rather than specific technologies. Maybe four years (well 4.85) is too long for a first degree. Maybe technical competence, and the potential to meet many become a commodity. Thus we have the lowest fee technical licencing requirements, should require a designissue in consulting, and a “service” role within manufacfocussed Masters program. Maybe the B.Sc. and the P.Eng. turing and government. should become a general professional qualification for Historically engineers were the dreamers with both engineers who do not focus on technical detail. Maybe we the vision and the technical skills to cause change to need an additional, but different, professional designation happen. There are stained glass windows in Westminfor those who become, by whatever means, the tech specialster Abbey honouring the contriists. However, the profession must butions of British engineers. Peoexamine what engineering is and ple like Brunel, Eiffel, Ford and what we wish it to become before atMaybe the B.Sc. the Stephensons are remembered tempting to explain itself to others. and the P.Eng. should because they went ahead and did In today’s environment engineerwhat they “knew” needed to be ing is a team sport. Teams, by definibecome a general done. For the first half of the 20th tion, require persons with a variety of century, their influence shaped professional qualification skills. However, all teams must have our profession. leaders, and those leaders will define However, when scientists sucboth the direction and influence of for engineers who cessfully launched the first satellites their team. To a significant extent, do not focus on and the Space Race began, governengineers have allowed others to ments began providing significant take the leadership positions, both technical detail. funding for science research. Like inside and outside of the profession, our scientist colleagues, engineers while we have concentrated on dealfollowed the money. Engineering faculties shifted their ing with technical details. This leads to ". . . public clients focus to the fundamental scientific component of technihiring. . . based on . . . the lowest fees" and "service" posical issues. Fundamental research is about finding answers tions in the corporate/government complex. to questions, not finding solutions to problems. If our profession continues to allow others to define Today, faculties of engineering and applied science are who we are and what we are capable of contributing, the populated by academic staff who are promoted on the basis concerns identified at the ACEC Summit will continue well of their research accomplishments. These faculties prointo the future. From the perspective of the public (and duce the "academically qualified" graduates who flow into the corporate/government elite) the consulting industry is the licensure process. As one would expect, the research the most visible component of our profession. Your indusinterests and experience of academic staff have significant try is the canary in the cage. influence on classes and the overall curriculum. Classes Our profession needs to adapt as opportunities emerge. and the curriculum define engineering for new graduates. Our profession should lead, not follow. Many within the To be fair, the Canadian Engineering Accreditation broader profession are willing to work to find solutions to Board, on behalf of the profession, provides “specificathe problems. As that old cartoon character Pogo once tions” that undergraduate programs must meet. By and noted, "We have met the enemy and he is us." large, the graduates of Canadian programs, typically in their early 20s, meet those specifications. The graduates Dr. M.G. (Ron) Britton, P.Eng., are bright, energetic, eager to contribute, and inexperiis a professor and 3M Teaching Fellow enced. But their education, of necessity, has focussed on in the Faculty of Engineering at the how, not why. They are skilled at answering constrained University of Manitoba. questions, not at developing potential solutions. Commercially in all industries new graduates are and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine invites articles and always have been a cost to the system because they require commentaries on engineering education or any other topic of mentoring and development. The trick is to find a way to general interest to the engineering profession. Articles will be recoup some of that cost. If they receive proper mentorconsidered for publication either in print or on our website, ing and development, they will become, in 10 to 20 years, www.canadianconsultingengineer.com the potential employees with “10 to 20 years of experiContact the editor at e-mail bparsons@ccemag.com, ence." If they do not receive that mentoring, the current 416-510-5119. problem will persist. Maybe a part of the problem starts at its academic base.

“

”

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p21-23 CCE OctNov12 Opinion feature.indd 22

October/November 2012

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CHAIRâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COMMENTS

Innovation and sustainable development It was a great honour for me to chair the 44th annual Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards jury, assisted by a panel of volunteer judges, many of whom are known for their outstanding engineering achievements. As a jury, we found our work very exciting, even though the task of selecting 13 winners from among the 77 excellent projects submitted was far from easy. What excited us was that these projects helped us appreciate the capacity of Canadian engineering to innovate and integrate the concepts of sustainable development in designs of very high quality. In fact, in a world where innovation is the principal driver of wealth creation and where it is impossible to ignore the environmental and community aspects of a project, these aspects are precisely where engineers can and must make a difference. As creators and innovators, engineers contribute every day to helping society progress because they have ideas and are able to devise concrete solutions for bringing them to life. As members of society, engineers also have a responsibility for ensuring sustainable development. As we can see, our award-winners do not take their professional responsibilities lightly.

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By Maud Cohen, ing. Chair of the 2012 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Jury

October/November 2012

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2012 AWARDS

2012 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERING AWARDS

THIS YEAR’S ENTRIES

WHAT THE AWARDS ARE ALL ABOUT

Record number of entries in 2012 77 entries this year — a new record. (Last year 63) Entries per category: Buildings 23 Transportation 11 Water Resources 14 Environmental Remediation 4 Natural Resources, Mining, Industry and Power 4 Special Projects 9 Project Management 2 International 6 In-House Initiatives and Community Outreach: 4

44th Year This is the 44th year of the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards. They recognize outstanding work on projects of all types completed by Canadian consulting engineers. The judging criteria include: (i) originality or innovation in the use of new technology or a new application of existing technology; (ii) complexity, (iii) environmental impact, (iv) social and economic benefits; and (v) fulfilling the owner’s or client’s needs. The awards are a joint program of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Canada (ACEC)/l’Association des firmes d’ingénieursconseils - Canada (AFIC) and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine.

Note: awards are given according to merit; not assigned as one per category.

Celebration! The 2012 winning projects were presented at a Gala dinner event held at the Ottawa Convention Centre on October 23.

FROM ACROSS CANADA

Showcase of Engineering Excellence To see entered projects of 2011 and 2012, viewable in full as PDF files, visit the Awards Showcase http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/awards/ showcaseOfEntries.aspx

Information On-Line For more detailed information about the awards’ history, past winners and judging criteria, visit www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/awards

Province of entering firms British Columbia 15 Alberta 15 Saskatchewan 1 Manitoba 4 Ontario 24 Quebec 15 New Brunswick 3

continued on page 26 October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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A W A R D S J U RY

2012 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERING AWARDS JURY PANEL CHAIR MAUD COHEN, ING., is immediate

Past-President of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) the professional engineering association of Quebec with over 60,000 members. A graduate in industrial engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal, she also has an MBA, was recently honoured with a Fellowship from Engineers Canada, and was named one of 100 Future Women Leaders by Entreprendre magazine in 2011. She is a director with the CGI Group in Montreal.

JURORS WIESLAW M. CHOJNACKI, P.ENG., is

Head, Civil and Utilities in the Transit Expansion Department, Toronto Transit Commission. A civil engineering graduate from the Warsaw University of Technology, Poland, he has international experience in public transit facilities design and construction. He is currently involved in the Eglinton-Scarborough Crosstown Light Rail Transit project in Toronto. RONALD DE VRIES, P.ENG., recently retired as Senior Vice-President of Operations with Defence Construction Canada in Ottawa after 29 years with the organization. A civil engineer, he has been a member of many boards and committees involved in advancing procurement standards and innovative practices within the consulting and construction industry. He remains active in his own consulting company and as a member of the Construction Documents Committee.

JURORS The 12 jurors at the end of a hard day of deliberations on June 11 in downtown Toronto. Standing (left to right): Claude Faubert, Pierre Léger, Brenda McCabe, Ronald de Vries, Maud Cohen, Mitchel Sempler, Alfred Maurer, Antonio de Santiago, Wieslaw Chojnacki. Seated (left to right): Alistair MacKenzie, Donald Mavinic, Sheena Sharp.

ANTONIO DE SANTIAGO is Executive

Vice President, AFP (alternative financing and procurement) and Major Projects, with Infrastructure Ontario in Toronto. A civil engineer with an executive MBA from the University of Navarra, Spain, he has led large construction projects in North America and Europe, acting for public-private partnerships and international companies such as CINTRA, Construcciones Hogarsur and Agroman. CLAUDE FAUBERT is Vice President,

Collections and Research with the Canada Science and Technology Mu-

seums Corporation in Ottawa. He is responsible for the research and acquisitions activities of three national museums and is much involved in developing plans for a new museum of science and technology. PIERRE LÉGER, PH.D, ING., is Professor

of Civil Engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal. Previously he taught structural engineering from 1986 to 1992 at McGill University. His research focuses on the structural behaviour and safety of concrete dams and hydraulic structures. He is the author of more than 175 journal and conference papers. continued on page 28

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

October/November 2012

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A W A R D S J U RY

continued from page 26

ALISTAIR D. MacKENZIE, P.ENG., is a

DONALD S. MAVINIC, PH.D., P.ENG., is

SHEENA SHARP, OAA, MRAIC, is presi-

Professor Emeritus at Ryerson University. Previously he was chief engineer at George Wimpey Canada in Toronto, also working for that company in the U.K. on building, civil and oil and gas projects. He is a past president of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and chaired its National History Committee for several years. He is the author of scores of conference papers and magazine articles.

Associate Head, Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia, where he has been a professor since 1983. A specialist in wastewater treatment and biosolids management, he has published over 250 papers and won many awards. He is a special advisor to the U.S. Government and EU, and advisor to the Nunavut Territorial Government and Government of Peru.

dent of the Ontario Association of Architects. As such, she is involved in advising governments on regulations in the field of building energy use and collaborates regularly with the engineering professions. She is also a principal at Coolearth Architecture in Toronto, which specializes in sustainable design.

BRENDA McCABE, PH.D, P.ENG., is ALFRED B. MAURER, P.ENG., was City

Manager of Edmonton from 2000 to 2010, where he led a senior management team heading 10,000 employees and oversaw a budget of over $2 billion. His previous positions include city engineer for asset management and public works, and city engineer in the transportation department.

Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, where her previous positions include Vice Dean Graduate Studies. With industry experience in both construction and land surveying, she focuses her research on areas like risk analysis, the contractor selection processes, benchmarking and probabilistic modeling.

MITCHEL W. SIMPLER, PE, is Managing

Partner at Jaros, Baum & Bolles in New York, NY where he has been project manager of diverse building projects. He is also Chairman Elect of the American Council for Engineering Companies of New York. A graduate of Lehigh University in mechanical engineering, he has written papers on the design of special HVAC systems and is a member of the New York City International Building Code Rewrite Committee.

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SCHREYER AWARD

SPECIAL PROJECTS

exp

Photocatalytic Gas Treatment The top technical award goes to a project where Canadian engineers developed a groundbreaking technology to destroy polluting VOCs produced in the manufacture of wood panels.

For a new wood panel manufacturing plant in Moncure, North Carolina, Uniboard Pfleiderer asked exp to come up with a new process to treat the gases produced by the plant’s pressing and drying operations. Traditional methods used in the industry to oxidize and destroy polluting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were not viable options to the company, either due to space, operational and temperature considerations, or because they were too costly and harmful to the environment. Exp was recommended to the German-based parent company because the Canadian firm had developed an innovative process for two Uniboard plants in Quebec to effectively oxidize a single polluting compound – formaldehyde – via catalysis using oxygenated water. 30

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p30-34 CCE OctNov12 Schreyer_TreeforLife.indd 30

For the U.S. plant, exp needed to go further and develop a process that would destroy several different types of VOCs. The process also had to meet the State of North Carolina’s and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s very stringent environmental standards. Many unsuccessful attempts had been made in the past, and no other technology had been invented in over 30 years to address this kind of issue. Compact, cost-effective, non-polluting For the North Carolina project, exp developed the groundbreaking Photocatalytic Gas Treatment (PGT) process that exceeded all expectations. PGT is effective, economical, compact and energy efficient, and it does not produce greenhouse gases.

Exp’s experts in pure and applied science, working in the company’s own laboratories, steered the innovative PGT process through from concept to implementation. The PGT technology is now patented or has patents pending in 39 countries. It is a global first in advanced oxidation, where hydrogen peroxide is used to generate the oxidizing agent via photocatalysis, on an industrial scale, to dynamically treat polluting gases. In addition, the use of ultraviolet lamps to regenerate the stabilized catalyst, combined with hydrogen peroxide, represents one of the most groundbreaking and economical ways to oxidize polluting, water-soluble, organic compounds such as alcohols, aldehydes, phenolic compounds, etc. The EPA is carefully analyzing the

October/November 2012

12-10-02 1:03 PM

SCHREYER AWARD

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Left: gas treatment units at the plant in Moncure, North Carolina. Above: absorption towers, night view.

new technology because it might replace thermal destruction technology that, simply put, is efficient but at the same time is expensive and uses combustion to produce heat. This spring, exp was invited to Brussels to present PGT technology to the European Union’s committee for the recognition of new and innovative technology in environmental matters. Advanced oxidation process To meet all the criteria for the project, exp proposed the advanced oxidation technology using hydrogen peroxide. Exp developed the catalysts required for advanced oxidation, which in turn needed a source of energy to be reactivated. The method chosen to keep the catalysts active in the reaction water was energetic photons. Ultraviolet lamps were therefore used for

photon production, although sourcing these lamps and calculating their power requirements proved to be difficult, since none had ever been manufactured for this type of large-scale industrial application. In the presence of stabilized catalysts, the hydrogen peroxide generates an OH radical that reacts thoroughly with organic pollutants, reducing them to carbon gas. Extremely effective, this catalyzed reaction requires a very low concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the water to be efficient. The catalysts developed by exp contain no noble or heavy metals and are biodegradable. As water is a precious natural resource, PGT was designed to operate in a quasi-closed loop so that 99.99% of the water is constantly reused. Benefits to manufacturing and environment worldwide The technology reduces the factory’s carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons per year. Also, the technology provides a clean air environment inside the factory to ensure the health and safety of workers. The project was delivered in a very aggressive timeframe. Research had to be completed in 16 weeks – from early August to late November 2008 – so that pilot testing could begin in

early January 2009. Design engineering was initiated shortly after the beginning of the pilot tests to feed design details to the construction site. The engineering, the system’s on-site construction and the shop production of major parts were occurring almost simultaneously. The two PGT units were officially tested in October 2011 to evaluate their performance in the destruction of methanol and formaldehyde. The results were conclusive – both installed systems would allow the client to meet the EPA’s and the State of North Carolina’s regulations. Following the project’s success, interest in the technology in the U.S. has grown and over 22 licensing modification requests have been submitted to the EPA by hardboard factories wishing to use PGT technology (exp has Canadian patent: 2,527,450; U.S. patent: 7,304,187). The technology will benefit manufacturing worldwide and promotes Canadian know-how and engineering to other countries. CCE Name of project: Photocatalytic Gas Treatment (PGT) for Uniboard Pfleiderer, North Carolina, U.S. Award-winning firm (prime consultant): exp, Quebec City (Yves Charest, Bernard Blier, Eng., Martin Beaulieu, Stéphane Chabot, Eng., Réjean Paradis, Eng., Tony Denis, Eng.) Owner/client: Uniboard Pfleiderer JUROR COMMENTS

The jurors were impressed with this submission as it showcases a Canadian technology exported on a global basis that not only produces financial returns for the industry, but also tangible environmental benefits to society. This is engineering at its best — the practical application of an existing scientific theory for the benefit of society.

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TREE FOR LIFE AWARD & AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

BUILDINGS

THE AME CONSULTING GROUP

Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence This centre at the Okanagan College campus in Penticton, B.C. is targeting zero energy consumption.

Above: the students who occupy the building will study its operation as part of their curriculum. The building features include natural ventilation chimneys, operable windows, solar panels and external shading.

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of the teaching curriculum. It has exposed HVAC systems, hands-on lab access to HVAC building systems, interactive building controls and live demonstrable data on building energy consumption. The building targets LEED NC 1.0 platinum and the International Living Future Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Living Building Challenge. The Living Building Challenge has seven performance areas, but for AME Consulting Group, the mechanical consultants, the most notable is to target net zero energy consumption. An additional Living Building Challenge is that no energy for the building can be from combustion of any kind.

Geo-exchange and solar Penticton is located in the interior of British Columbia, a region with a dry climate and relatively hot summers and cold winters. Taking into account these conditions, several studies were completed to review the optimum building geometry, envelope and mechanical systems. For the mechanical systems, AME proposed an open-loop ground source water-to-water heat pump system, with in-slab radiant heating and cooling, combined with a hybrid natural and mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. A solar hot water system provides

Photo courtesy CEI Architecture

The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation at the Okanagan College Campus in Penticton, B.C. was conceived to meet the urgent need for construction workers and site managers who are skilled in the practices of sustainable building. The 73,000-sq. ft. building comprises six large trades shops, classrooms, a demonstration lab, study areas, gymnasium, offices and support spaces, as well as a rooftop testing and viewing area for roof mounted systems. One of the unique aspects of the building is that it is being used as part

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domestic hot water as well as supplemental building heat. Excess heat from this system is rejected to the ground via the geo-exchange system. Both evacuated tube and flat solar panels were installed for demonstration purposes and comparison. AME proposed using integrated hydronic PEX tubing as part of the concrete and wood composite wall panels for the gymnasium, rather than having hydronic pipes below the wood floor. Also, ductwork and displacement ventilation diffusers were integrated into the composite wall panels. The building, including passive and active systems, was modeled in IES Virtual Environment by AME Group to determine the optimum design and compliance with ASHRAE 90.1, 55 and 62.1. Hybrid ventilation The ground source heat pump system extracts heat from the earth using pumped ground water from production wells. In summer the heat pumps remain off and ground water only is passed through the heat exchanger to reject the heat from the building (no refrigeration cycle is used). Free cooling helps to further reduce the energy consumption of the building. The hybrid ventilation system uses mechanical ventilation with heat recovery when the outdoor conditions don’t allow natural ventilation through the operable windows. A roof mounted weather station includes a “green light” and “red light” system to indicate when to open or close the windows. Because this system requires

TREE FOR LIFE AWARD & AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

an active response by the students and faculty, it increases their awareness of the building’s energy use. Solar and wind assisted natural ventilation chimneys boost the natural ventilation. Control dampers on the chimneys open or close based on the wind direction to optimize the natural ventilation. When the natural ventilation system is not being used, the mechanical ventilation system provides outdoor air via displacement diffusers with reverse-flow heat recovery units at the air handling units. The design intent of the combined systems is to reduce building energy use as well as provide optimal indoor air quality and comfort for the occupants. Operation and energy use Because the system consists of simple mechanical equipment such as hydronic pumps, fans and heat pumps, it minimizes the amount of maintenance and simplifies the building operation. Meanwhile, the operation staff have an integral role in educating students and staff about the impact of building use on energy consumption. Overall the capital cost of the mechanical system was similar to that of a conventional HVAC system. In terms of its operational costs, modeling indicates energy savings of 64% over the baseline building (Canadian Model National Energy Code for Buildings). When the roof mounted solar photovoltaic power is included in the energy model, the savings increase to 92% over the baseline model. The carbon JUROR COMMENTS

Our greatest challenge as a building industry is to do our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mechanical engineers will play a crucial role if we are to succeed. This building team, and the mechanical engineers in particular, took on one of the most ambitious targets in our industry – the Living Building Challenge – and did so without sacrificing function, appearance or budget.

CEI Architecture

BUILDINGS

Corridor with mechanical systems visible along the ceiling.

emissions reduction is approximately 330 tons of CO2 per year (equivalent to CO2 emissions from 34,000 gallons of gasoline consumed). This innovative project was successfully completed within an accelerated construction schedule as well as on budget. CCE Name of project: The Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation, Okanagan, B.C. Award-winning firm (mechanical consultant): The AME Consulting Group, Vancouver, B.C. (Harold Stewart, Derek Schick, P.Eng., Jerry Chung, EIT) Owner/client: Okanagan College Other key players: CEI Architecture Planning Interiors (architect, prime consultant); True Consulting Group (civil), Applied Engineering Solutions (electrical), Recollective Consulting (sustainability), PCL Constructors Westcoast (general contractor, project management); Summit Environmental + Richards Hydro Tech (geo-exchange system), Swiss Solar Tech (solar). Supplier: Viessmann (solar collectors)

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

GENIVAR AND GEIGER ENGINEERS

BC Place Revitalization This award recognizes the engineers’ skill in designing a dramatic new retractable membrane roof for downtown Vancouver’s iconic stadium.

Above: stadium with new roof in open position; it is the largest cable-supported retractable membrane roof in the world.

BC Place Stadium is a 54,000 seat sports and entertainment centre that opened to the public in the early 1980s. By 2008, with the approach of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) engaged GENIVAR and Geiger Engineers to analyze the possibility of revitalizing the existing stadium as an alternative to demolishing it and rebuilding facilities elsewhere. Their analysis showed that the primary systems in the building were very serviceable, with the notable exception

of the air-supported roof. Renovating the building, including installing a new gravity supported roof, was estimated to be less than half the cost to demolish it and develop a new stadium elsewhere. The decision to refurbish also meant the stadium could keep its downtown location which is one of its greatest assets. Also, the environmental impacts of demolition and redevelopment would have far exceeded the environmental cost of revitalization. For the revitalization, the stadium’s

existing air supported fabric roof structure was replaced with a gravity supported fabric roof. The roof is the largest cable supported retractable membrane roof in the world and the first of its kind in North America. The structural concept had been used for several stadia in Europe but had not been previously incorporated into a roof of this scale both from a size and a loading perspective. GENIVAR was structural engineer of the base building upgrades as well as mechanical

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ENGINEERING FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT www.geigerengineers.com

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and electrical engineer for the project. Geiger Engineers were structural engineers for the new roof. The design was challenging because the new roof was placed on a base building that had not been originally designed for a gravity roof system. This meant dealing with increased gravity loads on the existing building, as well as the geometric challenge of placing the idealized circular shape of the new roof on the elongated flat oval shape of the existing stadium. In order to achieve a lightweight design the project team selected a membrane roof supported on posttensioned cable trusses. The cable truss system consists of 18 cable trusses having spans varying from 227 m to 186 m. The cable trusses are supported by 36 perimeter steel masts rising 47.5 m above the original roof’s concrete ring beam. The stability of the entire system is provided by a continuous steel compression ring forming an approximate circle to the outside of the steel masts at 18 m above the original roof’s concrete ring beam. This is balanced by a tension ring consisting of 10 cables located in a two tier grouping which form an approximate circle to the inside of the steel masts at the base of mast level. The resulting cable truss system provides a flexible vertical and lateral load carrying system which gains its stability from the force couple of the opposing compression and tension rings. Another technical challenge for the structural engineers was the laterJUROR COMMENTS

This is a complex and challenging project. It combined aesthetic qualities and significant innovations related to the roof and lateral load resisting structural systems, as well as innovative mechanical and electrical systems. Moreover the project was integrated into its urban location, while respecting the environment.

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

al load analysis. They developed several computer models and based on the analyses, vertical eccentrically braced frames were incorporated into the roof. Also, the top level of the shear walls in the base building were replaced with buckling reduced braces in order to limit the seismic forces transmitted to the roof. A full revitalization of the building mechanical and electrical systems was undertaken. One significant impact was the change from the pressurized conditions associated with the former air-supported roof and the atmospheric pressure environment of the revitalized facility. The adaptations involved decommissioning and redeploying numerous pressurization fans. The snow melt system that had been incorporated with the air-supported roof was also decommissioned. All these modifications, including significant upgrades to the electrical systems, resulted in cost savings for the owner. The project was done in two phases, with the interior upgrades completed in time for the 2010 Olympics and the structural changes completed in approximately 18 months by November 2011. The stadium can now continue to be a gathering place for British Columbians and its iconic shape continues to define Vancouver’s skyline. CCE Name of project: BC Place Revitalization, Vancouver Award winning firms: GENIVAR, Vancouver - prime consultant, structural, mechanical, electrical engineering and Geiger Engineers, Suffern, NY - roof structure design (Glenn Hubick, P.Eng., David Campbell, P.E., Karen Lynch, P.E., Adam Patterson, EIT, Seann Caldwell, P.Eng., Arnold Con, P.Eng.) Owner/client: B.C. Pavilion Corporation (PavCo) Other key players: Stantec (architect), Thurber (geotechnical), Schlaich Bergermann (specialist), Cannon Design (sports architect), Acoustical Design Group (acoustical); CM King (lighting) Contractor: PCL Constructors West Coast

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

BUILDINGS

J.L. RICHARDS & ASSOCIATES

Vale Living With Lakes Centre J.L. Richards/Perkins + Will

This award was given to a laboratory building that sits gently on its lakefront site — a quality essential to the scientists who occupy it.

Above: aerial view of the building as it is formed into the shoreline.

Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario is home to one of the most environmentally sustainable laboratories in North America. The Vale Living With Lakes Centre on the Lake Ramsey campus is a $21-million research facility that houses a partnership of scientists known as the Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Units. Their expertise is in industrially damaged water systems. JUROR COMMENTS

This project deeply impressed the jury members because of its capacity to represent engineering as it ought to be i.e. an innovating discipline that pays attention to social issues and seeks to integrate the environmental, community and architectural aspects of a project.

Naturally when it came to their own new building, the users had a desire to “walk the talk.” The form of their building was carefully designed for the shores of Ramsey Lake and is designed to be about the lake. Since the centre was completed last year, the client has had over 2,000 visitors and it has become a benchmark and resource for the public to learn about green building systems and design within Northern Ontario. There are two separate buildings: the Main Building, a two storey structure housing office, laboratory, teaching, and meeting spaces; and the Watershed Centre, a single storey structure that houses field crew operations and storage. J.L. Richards & Associates provided prime consulting, engineering, architectural, and project management services for the project.

The interior spaces provide a healthy and quiet work environment, offering spectacular views of Ramsey Lake. Interior spaces are naturally day-lit and are provided with natural ventilation. Stormwater management The client was very concerned that the project, both during construction and after, would not adversely affect the overall health of the lake and watershed. To address this concern, storm water on the site is carefully managed to hit one of three surfaces: the natural landscape, green roofs on the buildings, or parking areas. The green roofs act as a sponge to slow storm water down. They provide an initial level of polishing and then divert the water to two bio-swales within the parking area. The storm water is then deposited into a pond which acts as a cistern to store the water until it can be pumped back into the building to be used to flush toilets or clean equipment and gear. Storm water that lands on the parking area is filtered through permeable paving where, through filtration and a series of sub-drains, it is slowed and directed to the bio-swales or the pond. Finally, storm water that lands on the hillside beyond the centre is directed towards the bio-swales or the pond. All indications are that the system works as per the design intent. The water leaving the site is as clean or cleaner than pre-project conditions. Wood structure Wood was selected as the structural system partly because of its carbon secontinued on page 40

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continued from page 38

questering properties. Together with Woodworks! and local mills, the design team developed supply sources that could make products from locally harvested materials, such as FSC gluelaminated Jack Pine timber frame harvested in the Chapleau area and produced in Northern Quebec. The lateral loads of the main building are managed by wood-clad shear walls in the short direction and a structural panelized system in the long direction. The structural design team developed a special panelized system that was an extremely quick way to construct the building. It helped to finish the project one month ahead of schedule. Energy target The client calculated how much energy their former facility used (approximately $42,000 per year) and

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told the design team that if the new facility could not operate using the same amount of energy, then they did not want the new buildings. An important part of meeting this goal is a geo-exchange system that provides both heating and cooling. A field of 40 wells feeds three heat exchangers that in turn feed manifolds for in-floor heating. Auxiliary VAV units provide top-up heating in extreme cold periods and provide cooling in the summer. The green roofs provide additional insulation and are sown with wild blueberries, a species which thrives in the acidified soil of Sudbury. This is Sudburyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first extensive green roof and it will be the only blueberry green roof in the world (to the engineersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; knowledge). The design carefully integrates all systems so that they work together,

rather than independently. Working with all disciplines at the table allowed for cross fertilization of design principles between the team, so that in the end the project is holistic. CCE Name of project: Vale Living With Lakes Centre, Sudbury, Ontario Award-winning firm (prime consultant, civil, structural, mechanical engineers, architect): J.L. Richards & Associates (Jeff Laberge, arch., Saverio Parrotta, P.Eng., Laura Grover, P.Eng., Terry Vivyrka, P.Eng.) Owner: Laurentian University Client: Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit Other key players: Perkins + Will Architects (architectural partner); Fast + Epp (structural partner); Stantec (mechanical partner); K. Lang Engineering (electrical engineer), PWL Partnership (landscape), CFMS Consulting (commissioning), Tribury Construction (general contractor). Supplier: Interface (carpeting)

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

BUILDINGS

BOUTHILLETTE PARIZEAU & ASSOCIÉS

Biodiversity Centre, Université de Montréal The mechanical and electrical engineers of a new exhibition and laboratory building in Montreal took a comprehensive approach to sustainable design. A joint venture between the City of Montréal and the Université de Montréal, the new Biodiversity Centre building (Centre Sur la Biodiversité) will obtain LEED Gold certification with a reduction of 51% less energy consumption compared to Canada’s Model National Energy Code for Buildings. Bouthillette Parizeau, the consulting engineers who performed mechanical, electrical, commissioning and site supervision for the project, used heat load analysis and energy simulation to incorporate multiple sustainability measures in the building. These include a geothermal system, a solar wall, energy recovery and rainwater harvesting. The architects were Provencher Roy + associates. The 4,180-m2 pavilion is located at the Montreal Botanical Gardens near the Biodome and Olympic Park. Completed last year, it incorporates

JUROR COMMENTS

The centre embodies the essence of what sustainable design is all about: that the technology can coexist with high design and is not simply about saving energy. It is through this enlightenment that the ideas of sustainable design are carried to the next generation.

an exhibition centre as well as classrooms, laboratories and office space. It also has botanical collection storage that is maintained at a fixed temperature and humidity. From the outset the client wanted the building to comply with the principles of sustainability and LEED. Also, the project was undertaken as an integrated design, i.e. all the design consultants, client’s representatives and the researchers were involved in the design from the outset. Keen to innovate The client and engineers were keen to

Above: located off campus at the Montreal Botanical Gardens near Olympic Park, the centre is both a research laboratory and an exhibition centre. 42

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innovate and take bold measures on the electrical and mechanical side, such as choosing a geothermal system as the main source of heating and cooling. The closed loop geothermal system is designed to meet 100% of the heating requirements when the energy recovery measures are operational. One of the two chillers is a geothermal type and can respond to 48% of the cooling load, or 71 tons. Thus the geothermal well field operates to its maximum at all times to answer the load demands (18 wells with a depth of 122 metres meet the equilibrium for 100% of the heating load and for 48% of cooling loads at peak conditions). Through sophisticated building controls, the system avoids unbalancing the ground thermal conditions. The installation of a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) supplies 5,950 L/s to three air handling systems: the offices and laboratories, the exhibition hall, and the botanical storage areas. The DOAS includes a 193-m2 solar wall installed on two facades. In winter the solar wall has a 95% efficiency and provides an annual saving of 11 tons of carbon dioxide. Energy is also recovered from the exhaust air of the laboratories (90 kW), from the chiller compressors and from specialized rooms such as the electrical, server, and freezer areas. The HVAC system may operate

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BUILDINGS

in a free cooling mode in mid-season. Other energy efficient strategies include underfloor air distribution for the exhibition hall, frequency inverters, occupancy, daylight and CO2 sensors, operable windows, and a 15% lighting density reduction. To reduce water consumption and sewer discharge, the building has low-flow plumbing fixtures, and rain water is harvested from a section of the roof and distributed to non-potable fixtures such as urinals. The design was optimized to meet several criteria: daylight, views, comfort, access, security and functionality. For example, the building envelope has a high thermal value and consists of 48% windows. Since the building is outside the university campus, it had to be designed with two owners operating it simultaneously; the university maintains and operates the building, while

the city of Montreal controls the HVAC system of the exhibition hall. The team provided a detailed draft of costs at each stage of design. Completed in April 2011, its final cost is $15.4 million, with the mechanical and electrical work amounting to $5.4 million. The energy simulation demonstrated annual cost savings of $58,000 in operations and maintenance and 262 tons of CO2. Finally, the integrated design approach demonstrated to the owner and the other professionals that mechanical and electrical design has evolved. It is no longer a matter of finding a single recipe to meet any building’s needs. Although applying any of the above energy recovery measures separately would demonstrate results in a standard construction, using the measures combined in an integrated system under a centralized control system is innovative. The key is

to maximize their efficiency and sequence their operations at precise moments, and for this it is crucial to understand the behaviour of the whole building from the start through rigorous analysis. CCE Name of project: Centre Sur la Biodiversité de l’Université de Montréal Award winning firm (prime consultant, mechanical & electrical engineering): Bouthillette Parizeau & Associés, Montreal (Jacques Lagacé, ing., Caroline Paquet, ing., René Desrosiers, tech.) Owner/client: Université de Montréal, Ville de Montréal, IRBV Other key players: Provencher Roy + associés (architects); SDK (structural engineers); Golder (geotechnical); March& Houle et associés (civil), Teknika HBA (enhanced commissioning), Le Group Séguin Lacasse (landscape) Supplier: Xylem (pumps, heat plate exchangers)

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

BUILDINGS

FAST + EPP

VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre Fast + Epp was the structural engineering firm for the 19,000sq.ft. visitors’ centre at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens located in Vancouver, B.C. Forming an entrance point to the grounds, the iconic building serves as an interactive education centre and welcome portal to revitalize public interest in the gardens. It includes lecture rooms, exhibition space, a café, and guest services. The engineers collaborated with architects at Perkins + Will to develop the building’s most dramatic feature – a free-form, organically-shaped roof that metaphorically represents the petals of an orchid. The roof flows seamlessly into the surrounding landscape like an extension of the garden itself. From an engineering perspective, the main achievement and innovation was to use timber almost exclusively – and in an unprecedented manner – in such a complex roof form. The design team pioneered a wood solution in the interests of economy, sustainability, innovation, and to meet tight time constraints that had been imposed on the project by the federal government’s stimulus funding program. By using a highly sustainable product so convincingly, this type of work expands the industry’s potential to create environmentally-conscious public buildings that are also architecturally distinct, locally and internationally. Billed as “Vancouver’s greenest building” by local media, the VanDusen project sets the sustainability bar for future projects at a new high. It targets LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge status and challenges others to push the envelope

Nic Lehoux

“An obvious choice for an award,” said the jurors about this new Vancouver landmark. It has a complex free-flowing roof made almost entirely of wood.

Above: the petal-like roof enfolds over the entrance.

with wood innovation. The centre’s sustainable features include a green roof, rammed earth walls and natural ventilation.

True integrated design coordination between all the architectural and engineering services accelerated the construction process on site and alcontinued on page 46

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continued from page 44

lowed those involved to meet the budget objectives and an almost-unrealistic project schedule. The building also encourages the generous use of simple, staple products of the local forest industry.

al technology ensured an accurate assembly in the shop and precision fits when the panels arrived on site. Seventy-one unique panels consisting of glue-laminated wood and standard dimensional lumber components were designed by Fast + Epp Computer modeling and and subsequently fabricated by trapezoidal shapes StructureCraft Builders (a company While similarly complex building owned by the principals of Fast + forms (like Spain’s Guggenheim BilEpp). The engineers were able to bao Museum or the Music Experitackle the complex problem by ence Building in Seattle, Washingbreaking the project down into manton) have been achieved through the ageable pieces – trapezoidal-shaped use of steel or concrete, this is beroof panel modules that were typilieved to be the first example of wood cally within a 3.6-m wide by 18-m use for such a complicated shape. long shipping size. The units conThree different high-powered comsisted of doubly curved glulam edge puter modeling programs – Rhino, beams and sawn timber joists. Part of Revit and Inventor – were used to dethe ingenuity of this simple panelized approach- was using the curved velop the multifaceted geometrical• Ontario/Manitoba www.ebseng.com glulams as a “jig” in theBreslau shop ON to roof shape and each individual build320 Woolwich Street South, frame the complex geometry. ing component. This three-dimension-• British Columbia - www.c3is.ca 12220 Vickers Way, Richmond, BC

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JUROR COMMENTS

We appreciated that the building’s exposed structure was both technically advanced and represented the aesthetic centrepiece for the project. This coupling, together with the building’s significant sustainable design features, made this project an obvious choice for an award.

Panels integrate systems The prefabricated panels were designed to have mechanical, electrical, acoustical and ceiling finish components pre-installed. This approach allowed fast track construction that was able to mitigate exposure to the midwinter rain, and it ensured a high-quality installation. The panels include preinstalled thermal insulation, sprinkler pipes, lighting conduits, acoustic liner, and finished wood ceiling slats. To accommodate the undulating twists and turns of the building’s 50foot atrium, the engineers developed a novel universal panel-to-column connection to avoid unique connections at every support location. Additionally, the engineers created a lateral system to support the heavier mass of the building’s green roof, locating steel braces and concrete walls strategically, so both the functional layout and breathtaking views of the surrounding garden would remain unimpeded. Opened in September 2011, the landmark structure will afford the public an enjoyable experience for generations to come. CCE Name of project: VanDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre, Vancouver Award-winning firm (structural engineer): Fast + Epp (Paul Fast, P.Eng., Duane Palibroda, P.Eng.,) Owner: City of Vancouver, as represented by its Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Client/architects: Perkins + Will Canada Other key players: Ledcor (contractors, project management); Cobalt/Integral Group (mechanical and electrical engineers); Trow, R.F. Binnie (civil), BTY (quantity surveyor), B.R. Thorson (code).

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

BUILDINGS

SNC-LAVALIN

Maison symphonique de Montréal Built and designed as a fast-track P3 project, Montreal’s new concert hall is a striking venue with extraordinary acoustic qualities.

SNC-Lavalin

The Maison symphonique de Montréal is a project of technological and contextual complexity that provides a permanent residence for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Located at the Place des Arts complex in the heart of the city’s “Quartier des spectacles” (theatre district), the new concert hall increases Montreal’s worldwide exposure as a cultural centre. The 25,000-m2 facility meets the needs of the orchestra as well as the needs of other types of performances and shows. The building is also in the process of obtaining LEED certification for environmental sustainability. As a performance venue, the concert hall meets two ambitious objectives. First, there is a complete lack of any audible sounds and vibrations

from outside the building or from its equipment. Second, it has an exceptional acoustical quality that allows the sounds created on stage to be accurately projected to each audience member. The hall is comparable to the best halls in the world in terms of acoustics. Accelerated schedule and complex site SNC-Lavalin was awarded the project – the first cultural P3 project in Quebec – as a public-private partnership through its subsidiary, Groupe immobilier Ovation. SNC-Lavalin carried out all the engineering and construction, and secured project financing. Diamond and Schmitt/AEdifica provided architecture and design.

JUROR COMMENTS

Even though many of the technologies applied in this project were not new, the way in which they were brought together and integrated has resulted in an exciting, elegant and state-of-the-art concert hall.

When the contract was awarded in April 2009 there were fewer than 30 months from the start of construction to the inaugural concert to be held on September 7, 2011. Excavation work began less than one week after the contract award, at a time when the engineering in the proposal was very basic. The design team then had to quickly produce the demolition and foundation plans, while completing the overall engineering. The work organization and complex design of the building under the accelerated construction schedule required the client to specify and validate the project’s compliance to its needs at each stage. The magnitude of the challenge consisted in almost simultaneously carrying out the design and construction while observing the acoustical performance objective, and avoiding any delays, which would result in major additional costs. Another issue was created by the proximity of the other concert halls in Place des Arts, Canada’s largest cultural complex. Work had to be scheduled based on when other events were being held, and pedestrian and vehicular traffic had to be maintained during rush hour while ensuring the safety of the users and workers.

Above: general view of the concert hall.

continued on page 50 October/November 2012

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Bernard Fougère, MCCCF

SNC-Lavalin

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Left: Ventilation air is dispersed noiselessly from below the seats. Right: Rubber vibration isolators, each the size of a small sofa, are the only connection between the auditorium and larger building.

Box within a box To attain an ambient noise level of N-1, namely the complete lack of any audible sounds from the outside and from building equipment, the project team used high-tech solutions. The concert hall is a separate entity lying on acoustical cushions inside the building. It was designed to be somewhat like a box inside a box to insulate it from all outside noise or vibrations. This approach represented a challenge for the structural engineering team. The hall’s structural elements had to provide rigidity while being entirely separate from the structure of the building on which the hall was being built – not to mention the fact that the room and building had mul-

tiple curves. In addition, the new building was being built over a multilevel underground parking garage. Acoustic labyrinth for mechanical systems For the building’s mechanical design a good energy performance and a high level of comfort were required. The approach consisted of creating a microclimate for the audience to minimize the heating and cooling requirements for the entire area. This was achieved by distributing air under the seats at a very low air flow speed, which avoided generating any noise and uncomfortable air movements. The hall’s air-handling units are set up in mechanical spaces integrat-

ed directly into the ceiling structure. To prevent noise generated by the units from reverberating throughout the hall, the ventilation air is flown at low speed through an acoustic labyrinth capable of absorbing all the sounds generated by the system. Connecting the supply air ducts in the mechanical spaces to the distribution areas under the hall floor required careful coordination with the structural elements, especially given that construction was started before the design and coordination stages had been completed. CCE Name of project: Maison symphonique de Montréal Award-winning firm (prime consultant, engineering, construction, financing): SNC-Lavalin (Pierre Hénault, ing., Yves St-Georges, ing., Jean-François Pelletier, ing., André Courcy, tech, Alexandre Cloutier, ing., Francis Audette, ing., Raymond Bleau, ing., François Picher, ing., Sylvain Thériault, ing., Daniel Comeau, ing.) Owner/client: Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine (MCCCF) Other key players: Consortium Diamond and Schmitt/AEdifica (architecture and design).

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www.densona.com Toronto • Edmonton Denso North America Inc. 90 Ironside Cres. Unit 12 Toronto, ON M1X 1M3 Tel: 416.291.3435 Fax: 416.291.0898

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W AT E R R E S O U R C E S

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

THE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROUP

Sherbourne Common

Waterfront Toronto

A dramatic installation on Toronto’s waterfront showcases stormwater treatment infrastructure to the public.

Above: the installation’s scrim walls are brightly lit against Toronto’s night sky.

The East Bayfront Precinct of Toronto’s waterfront is a 22 hectare redevelopment site situated between Lakeshore Boulevard and Lake Ontario, from Jarvis Street to Parliament Street. When completely built, East Bayfront will contain 6,000 residential units, 3,000,000 square feet of commercial space and 5.5 hectares of open spaces and parks. At the heart of East Bayfront is Sherbourne Common, a park that serves as a public amenity and central gathering area for the new mixed-use community. The park incorporates a dramatic water treatment installation which not only functions as part of the park’s stormwater management system, but also serves as a showcase for the integration of infrastructure into the public realm.

The award-winning Pavilion Building in the park houses a pumping station and ultra-violet (UV) disinfection system in its basement. Lake water is treated in the Pavilion and then discharged through the park via a series of scrim walls and a stunning 230-metre man-made channel featuring water art sculptures. In the future during wet weather events, stormwater will also be treated and released through the park features. Thanks to these installations, people can enjoy the beauty of the park features and see an important piece of water infrastructure at work. Previous studies had suggested that stormwater should be treated in a separate underground chamber and released directly to the lake. However, neither the City of Toronto nor Waterfront Toronto, the agency in charge of

the development who was the client, were completely satisfied with the concept due to the challenge of constructing the facility in very poor soils, and the difficulty of maintaining the underground facility. Working for Waterfront Toronto and with West 8 + DTAH and Aquatic Habitat Toronto, The Municipal Infrastructure Group (TMIG) proposed an integrated facility that would pre-treat the water to remove grit and sediment prior to UV disinfection, and would then re-use the water in the park. After the idea was accepted, TMIG worked closely with the park designers, Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg and The Planning Partnership, and visual artist, Jill Anholt, to design the facility. TMIG were the project managers, lead designers and provided contract admin-

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Waterfront Toronto

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Above: people enjoying the water feature.

istration and inspection services for the pumping station, UV system and underground services. The project fulfilled several goals of Waterfront Toronto for the development of the East Bayfront community. The overall mandate for the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront included the creation of new public spaces, the creation of dynamic and diverse new communities, and the promotion of a

clean and green environment. To further emphasize the commitment to environmentally sound principles, Waterfront Toronto’s Sustainability Framework mandated the use of runoff water as a resource, to reduce potable water consumption and optimize the required extent of stormwater management infrastructure. In addition, the City of Toronto’s Wet Weather Flow Management Guidelines stipulate a level of stormwater management control for discharges to Lake Ontario. These rules have the long term objective of complying with the international Blue Flag designation, primarily to yield a swimmable waterfront. Extensive stakeholder management was required from the outset of the project and was at the centre of its JUROR COMMENTS

This project incorporates a rare combination of far-sighted thinking, practical engineering, tasteful architecture, high visibility and access to the general public. The “in your face” feature of this project, down on the Toronto Waterfront, is very appealing and refreshing — all centred around practical and much needed stormwater management. Well done!”

success. A collaborative effort was required with the team and with approval and regulatory agencies. For example, extensive consultation with Toronto Public Health was necessary to establish the suitability of the treated stormwater and lake water for the publically accessible water features. The incorporation of UV treatment in the management of stormwater runoff generated by redevelopment is a new frontier in this branch of engineering, reflecting the global recognition of the value of water and Canada’s role in pioneering water treatment technologies. CCE Name of project: Sherbourne Common, Toronto Award-winning firm (project management, lead design, contract administration): The Municipal Infrastructure Group (Mark Tarras, P.Eng., Mike Elliott, P.Eng., Dean Whittaker, P.Eng., Abe Khademi, P.Eng., Eric Tuson, P.Eng., David Ashfield, P.Eng., Angela Carley, P.Eng., David Scott, P.Eng., Dana Bowes, Pat Craig) Owner/client: Waterfront Toronto Other key players: Dillon Consulting (electrical), Alston Associates (geotechnial), Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg, The Planning Partnership (park design), Jill Anholt Studios (artist), Teeple Architects (pavilion architect).

Art with purpose Sherbourne Common: first park in Canada to integrate a UV facility for neighbourhood-wide stormwater treatment. To learn more visit, www.TMIG.ca/sherbourne.aspx 8800 Dufferin Street, Suite 200, Vaughan, Ontario L4K 0C5 t: 905 738 5700 | f: 905 738 0065 | tf: 1 888 449 4430 Photo provided courtesy of Waterfront Toronto

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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W AT E R R E S O U R C E S

CBCL

Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility A new wastewater treatment plant that sends its effluent offshore is helping to clean up the harbour of Saint John, New Brunswick. The Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility is the cornerstone for the Saint John Harbour Clean-up, which is a major initiative by the City of Saint John, the Province of New Brunswick and the Government of Canada to intercept and treat raw sewage from outfalls that discharge directly to the Bay of Fundy. Located adjacent to Red Head Marsh in East Saint John, the EWWTF is a conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment facility that is the largest secondary wastewater treatment facility in Atlantic Canada. Designed to treat an average daily wastewater flow of 35,000 cubic metres, with a peak daily flow of 80,000 cubic metres, the EWWTF provides significant benefits to the local community. Treated effluent from the plant is now directed more than 1 ki-

Above: placing the extended outfall.

lometre offshore into a mixing zone, as opposed to the previous situation where effluent was directly discharged onto Red Head beach. As a result local residents can now safely enjoy recreation activities in the area. The treatment plant provides preliminary treatment, screening, grit collection, sludge dewatering, primary clarification, secondary treatment, and disinfection via ultraviolet light. The new outfall is a 1370-mm diameter high density polyethylene pipe that extends 1.4 kilometres from the plant into the harbour. There it disperses treated effluent through a diffuser. The diffuser has 19 duck-billed check valves to release treated effluent over a 100 metre section. The valves are ideal for marine environments as they prevent salt water intrusion as well

JUROR COMMENTS

We liked this project because the consultant successfully designed the facility on an existing plant and adjacent to pristine environmental features. The outfall was efficiently constructed despite the challenging marine environment. Local residents can now safely enjoy recreational activities in the area.

as sediment infiltration and deposition in the outfall during low flow periods. The diffusers have the capability to self clean and reduce marine fouling. CBCL helped to select the most viable treatment process and provided civil, environmental, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation design for the $48.5-million project, which was completed in 30 months, with commissioning and SCADA integration completed by the fall of 2011. The design and construction faced challenges posed by the dynamic marine environment with its varying tide levels. Each day approximately 100 billion tonnes of seawater move in and out of the Bay of Fundy during tide cycles. This statistic is greater than the combined flow of the world’s fresh water rivers. The tide cycle can vary in water depth as much as 8 metres every six hours. As part of the design, CBCL developed a 3D hydrodynamic model of Saint John Harbour to predict the “near field” and “far field” effects of treated effluent on the receiving water body during a rising and falling tide. During the actual construction, continued on page 54

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the team had to cope with extreme low and high tides and quickly changing weather conditions. Also it was of paramount importance to coordinate the work with the local Port Authority, Transport Canada, cruise lines, and shipping lines, when working near navigation channels. As Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first incorporated city, Saint John is a major port of call for the cruise ship industry and is becoming a vibrant tourism destination. Another fundamental challenge was that the new plant is located on the site of the existing Hazen Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and adjacent to pristine environmental features. The solution chosen was to design and construct the new facility around the existing plant, which continued operating until the new plant was completed. The Hazen Creek plant was then demolished.

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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The site is also adjacent to Red Head Marsh, a provincial environmentally significant wetland that serves as prime habitat for migratory birds including the at-risk species known as the Least Bittern. To avoid disturbing the wildlife, non-traditional rock removal methods were used, including fracturing and cleavage with air pressure rather than traditional blasting. The team used the value engineering approach to optimize the design and provide maximum cost benefits to the city. The approach reduced the capital costs and improved the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance and operational flexibility. It also ensured that the client and team were fully engaged in the design. The EWWTF was the largest single project that the City of Saint John had ever undertaken. Improvements to the wastewater collection and treatment system that

convey untreated sanitary sewer flows to the EWWTF are ongoing. Dry weather raw sewage outfalls are being eliminated, and high bacterial loads have been eliminated in Courtenay Bay and over the Red Head Mudflats. By these means, the Harbour Cleanup project is implementing the infrastructure required to effectively collect and treat wastewater in Saint John for many years to come. CCE Name of project: Eastern Wastewater Treatment Facility, Saint John, N.B. Award-winning firm: CBCL Consulting Engineers (John Flewelling, P.Eng., Kevin Murphy, P.Eng., Jody Blakely, P.Eng., Tim McCluskey, P.Eng.) Owner/client: City of Saint John Other key players: Conquest Engineering (geotechnical), Murdoch and Boyd Architects (building code review), Pomerleau (general contractor).

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E N V I R O N M E N TA L R E M E D I AT I O N

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

ASSOCIATED ENGINEERING

Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation A large lake in a park in Burnaby, B.C. has been brought back to life thanks to innovative engineering approaches for wildlife monitoring and dredging. Associated Engineering led and completed a complex and innovative process to sustainably restore the pristine environment of Burnaby Lake, a 36-hectare body of water in the City of Burnaby east of Vancouver in B.C. Over the past 30 years, natural sedimentation, and development and construction activities in the 7,300 hectare Brunette River watershed in which Burnaby Lake resides had resulted in the steady accumulation of heavy layers of contaminated sediments on the bottom of the lake. In addition, the lake had become overgrown with vegetation and its precious open water characteristics had gradually disappeared. The aquatic quality had also degraded. In 2009, with $20 million in funding from the City of Burnaby and the province, the city launched a project that has resulted in the lake being restored. The project helped to reverse the effects of sediment infilling and increase the area of deeper open water. It also removed the contaminated sediments and improved the water quality conditions, thus protecting fish and wildlife, including salmonids, and improving the lake tributory for fish migration. Time constraints, strict regulatory conditions, and the need for cost efficiency all combined to demand a high level of dedication, collaboration, and innovation from Associated Engineering’s project team. Watching for turtles and cutting weeds The overall challenge was to develop an effective system to dredge the lake that would have a limited impact on the environment. Several

Above: dredging in process; the lake was divided into 16 dredge zones, partly to contain turbidity.

approaches were created that had never been previously implemented together on this type of project. First, the BC Ministry of Environment decreed that no dredging could take place during the winter season without confirming that the lake’s population of Western Painted Turtles – an endangered species – would not be harmed. The team developed a wildlife detection program using ground penetrating radar and a high resolution sonar camera that gave near-video quality images. The camera enabled the team to monitor the turtles in the lake’s water column. They tagged 45 individuals over the 20 month period and showed that the turtles remain active during the winter months. Not a single endangered turtle was harmed during the course of dredging the lake.

The team also developed a tailormade train of technologies to dredge, transport, and process the polluted and contaminated lake sediments. They recommended a hydraulic suction dredge with a cutter head auger to handle the removal of the vast quantities of aquatic vegetation. They divided the lake into 16 separate dredge zones, with each zone isolated by a double turbidity barrier. The barriers (a) aided in the capture and relocation of sensitive species prior to the dredging; (b); contained the turbidity caused by the dredging; and (c) enabled the effective monitoring of the lake quality post-dredging. Up to three zones were set up at any one time to complete the activities. The creation of 16 zones also protected the existing migratory routes for

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JUROR COMMENTS

Through the designers taking great care in environmental control and in the protection of fish and wildlife, a valuable natural resource was rejuvenated. These factors, together with the reuse of on-site resources like lake sediments, were key considerations in making this award.

Above: pipeline carrying dredgeage to treatment plant at western edge of the lake.

spawning salmonid species and allowed the public to have continued access to the lake while dredging was taking place (in most cases at a depth of 2 to 3 metres). By using suction dredge, lake and land-based booster pumps and a flexible pipeline, the dredgeate was effi-

ciently moved five kilometres away to a processing plant stationed in a parking lot at the western edge of the lake. An advanced treatment technology was developed to allow treated effluent to be discharged back into the lake. The process included shaker screens, inline grinders, equalization/

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www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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mixing tanks, centrifuges, centrate tank clarifiers, sand filters, flow return pumps, and a return pipeline. The use of an on-site electrical substation at the treatment plant rather than diesel generatores reduced the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon emissions. During the project 945,000 cubic metres of lake dredgeate and garbage were cleaned and processed. The material included contaminated sediments, automobile tires and parts, wire cables, metal poles, used beverage containers (cans, plastic bottles) and other plastic and paper waste. The lake sediments were reused as sub-grade for a future sports field nearby. As a result of the work, Burnaby Lake Park has been revitalized as an attractive natural environment, and transformed into a destination spot popular with Burnabyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s families and sports and wildlife enthusiasts. It has been re-established as a world-class rowing venue, with the Burnaby Lake Rowing Club once again considered a top training facility in North America. CCE Name of project: Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation, Burnaby, B.C. Award-winning firm (lead engineering consultant): Associated Engineering (Peter Degroot, P.Eng., Larry Martin, P.Eng., Dean Shiskowski, P.Eng., Dave Forgie, P.Eng.) Owner/client: City of Burnaby Lead environmental consultant: Enkon Environmental Prime contractor: Tervita Corporation Other key players: EBA Engineering (environmental and remote sensing); Atek Hydrographic Surveys (topographic surveying).

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , I N D U S T R Y & P O W E R

GOLDER ASSOCIATES

Vancouver City Central Transmission In installing long 230-kV transmission cables through the glacial till soils of False Creek inlet, the engineers made two technological breakthroughs. The Vancouver City Central Transmission (VCCT) Project was constructed to add to BC Hydro’s electricity distribution capacity. It is BC Hydro’s most significant investment in central Vancouver’s electrical grid in almost 30 years. It ensures a reliable electricity supply into the future since the new installation is resistant to earthquake damage and heat damage. A vital component of the VCCT project was the installation of three 850-m long 230 kV transmission cables across False Creek inlet. This work required two major breakthroughs in applying existing technologies to new and complex challenges. The breakthroughs were the successful completion of a large diam-

eter bore through glacial till soils using a Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) method, and the installation of a grouted conduit bundle system and transmission cables which had to conform to very strict seismic and thermal dissipation requirements. Neither of these technological achievements had been achieved before in Canada. The adopted solution was the most cost effective and timely option and it reduced any adverse environmental effects. The direct savings to the client in this case of not adopting a more conventional shaft and tunnel option were six months in construction time and $3 million in capital cost. Similar projects in the future will benefit by being able to use this more eco-

JUROR COMMENTS

This was a very well planned and executed project which succeeded in achieving minimal disruption in its challenging urban environment. The innovation of pre-drilling large-diameter horizontally directed bores in difficult glacial soil conditions contributed substantially to the project’s success.

nomical, faster and more reliable methodology. Horizontal Directional Drill Bore The project proved the feasibility of completing large diameter bores continued on page 61

Above: the 850-m long pipe conduit bundle being negotiated through Vancouver streets to the site. October/November 2012

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N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S , M I N I N G , I N D U S T R Y & P O W E R

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

KLOHN CRIPPEN BERGER

Tailings Management at Greens Creek Mine This award went to the engineers’ work in developing a method of storing mine tailings in an environmentally sensitive area of Alaska.

Above: typical pile expansion area with HDPE liner being placed; to the left are existing tailings which provided material for the laboratory seismic tests.

The Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company’s polymetallic mine (silver, gold, zinc and lead) is located on northern Admiralty Island in Alaska. A portion of the mine facilities located within Admiralty Island National Monument. The island is well known for having one of the largest populations of brown bears in the world, and it is home to many species of salmon,

birds, whales and deer, which makes it a popular destination for tourists. To have a licence to operate in such a sensitive area, mines have to have a safe tailings disposal method. The solution at Hecla Greens Creek Mine is the world’s first large dry stack filtered tailings disposal system. The approach has several advantages: it reduces the footprint of the tailings storage by over 50%, with no tailings JUROR COMMENTS

The project successfully overcame many challenges to achieve a unique solution to tailings management. Driven by a desire to be environmentally responsible and address issues of seismic stability, the project shows a leadership in this area that makes it worthy of recognition.

pond; it allows wildlife to roam freely without risk; and it allows for progressive and continuous reclamation of the land. As well, dry stacks can withstand static and seismic forces. This was the first mine in the world to adopt the filtered tailings disposal method and the facility has been operating the longest. Klohn Crippen Berger’s involvement with the tailings disposal facility dates back to before the mine was built, to the pre-feasibility and conceptual design stages in the early 1980s. The mine began operations in 1989 and constructed the first stage of the dry stack facility, which was designed by others. Following a brief continued on page 60

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Tailings Management at Greens Creek Mine shut down due to low ore prices in 1993 the mine re-opened in 1996 and Klohn Crippen Berger was asked to assist with further development of the pile, including an expansion to the tailings disposal area. Further expansion of the mine up to an additional 50 years is important to the economy of Southeast Alaska and the performance of the tailings area to date is a key determinant in the permit application. To help manage the design, construction and operation of the expansion, KCB had to determine whether dry stack tailings could withstand a major seismic event. They had to develop a tailings placement plan that could be implemented in a harsh and remote climate while meeting strict regulatory requirements, including federal and state air and water quality standards. And they had to develop solutions that would coexist with wildlife and would have a reduced visual impact. During the course of this work, major advances were made in understanding the seismic behaviour of filtered tailings, and the methods for design and construction of such facilities in a cold, wet environment. Thanks to the technical advances, demonstrated excellence, and environmental stewardship of the pile development and expansions from 1996 to 2012, the mine operators were able to build the confidence of the regulators to permit

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continued from page 59

future additional expansions. Water diverted from stack The work on the tailings disposal facility included installing geomembrane-lined cells, upgrading the water management system, and constructing infrastructure to support the mine operations. New water management structures were designed to intercept and divert surface water and groundwater (non-contact water) away from the tailings stack. The tailings stack also incorporates internal drainage structures to promote low phreatic levels. Water coming in contact with the tailings is collected and treated to meet permitted water quality standards, and ultimately discharged to the environment. Innovative construction techniques were developed so that tailings can be placed in small areas during all but the wettest of weather. The surface is roll-sealed and gently sloped to prevent water infiltration. Runoff is collected in settling ponds designed for storm flows. Water from the ponds is then sent to a water treatment plant for eventual discharge to the environment. Conventional methods of in situ testing were not conclusive in regard to the seismic performance of the tailings, so it was decided to undertake a sampling and laboratory testing program. To obtain the high quality samples needed for laborato-

ry testing, a new apparatus was developed for taking undisturbed samples. The samples were carefully transported to a special laboratory at UC Berkeley in California. The design work, construction observations and innovative testing demonstrated that further expansions could go ahead with confidence. Greens Creek is a flagship project and an example for other operators of the application of best practice tailings storage. The mine is able to safely coexist with one of the densest brown bear populations in the world and bears can regularly be seen roaming unharmed over the landform. Also, during site development, careful attention was paid to sight lines, which means nearby passing cruise ships can still have uninterrupted views of the wilderness. The testing information from the project is being further studied by Klohn Crippen Berger in collaboration with the University of British Columbia to benefit tailings management practices across the industry. CCE Name of project: Innovative Tailings Management, Greens Creek Mine, Alaska Award-winning firm (prime consultant, structural engineer): Klohn Crippen Berger, Vancouver (Len Murray, P.E., Rick Friedel, P.E., Lowel Constable, EIT, Daniel Klassen, EIT, Howard Plewes, P.Eng., Al Morrison, P.Eng.) Owner/client: Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company

October/November 2012

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

Vancouver City Central Transmission using the HDD method within dense glacial soils. These ground conditions have historically been considered as high risk with the potential to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;show stopping.â&#x20AC;? Using the HDD method to install the conduit resulted in a reduced carbon footprint and is one of the least disruptive pipe installation methods because it does not require trench excavation, seabed dredging or large entry and exit shafts. The HDD entry site on this project was in David Lam Park adjacent to False Creek. The park is much used and located near residential towers, a school and daycare centre. Its condition is now fully restored. Detailed geotechnical investigations showed that nearly 230 metres of the bore path for the HDD would traverse through glacial soils. Since there was no prior experience in Vancouver of successfully drilling a large diameter HDD bore through glacial soils, the team decided to do a preliminary test by predrilling the full diameter HDD hole through the glacial till and some 25 metres into the bedrock prior to completing the design. Special grout to replace the drilling mud BC Hydro required the three electrical cables to be physically separated by a minimum centre-to-centre distance, and the annular space between the ducts and the HDD bored hole to be filled with a grout with specified thermal resistivity characteristics. It meant

continued from page 57

Above: grout trial round pipe bundle.

designing a grout which was at the same time flowable, dense, stable and capable of replacing the drilling fluid (mud) in the HDD bored hole. The ability to successfully displace the mud from the 50-m-deep, 850-mlong HDD bore was critical to the success of the project and of major concern since prior industry experience was sparse and in most documented cases results were less than successful. To solve the issue, an innovative grout mix was designed, which involved testing a number of potential mixes and a large-scale, preproduction field trial. The final result is the first mud replacement grouting on this scale known to have been successfully carried out anywhere in the world. Although only three cables were to be installed, a relatively simple and efficient multi-pipe conduit bundle

design comprising seven pipes was adopted. This approach made field construction easier and provided redundancy in case of damage to one or more of the pipes during pullback. The multi-pipe bundle also allowed the incorporation of a cable cooling system if necessary. BC Hydro required the new cable system to meet the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) seismic standard and the cables to carry the rated load current without overheating. This significantly added to the complexity of the project. On the logistics side, the prefabricated 850-m-long, 140,000 kg prestrapped bundle required transporting over a distance of 1.3 kilometres, including negotiating three 90-degree bends. The bundle had to rest in the streets during the seven-day pull, which meant providing alternative transportation to affected residents and coordinating an effective public communications plan. CCE Name of project: Vancouver City Central Transmission (VCCT) Award-winning firm (prime consultant): Golder Associates (Naresh Koirala, P.Eng., Trevor Fitzell, P.Eng., Tom Bryski, P.Eng., Adrian Hansen, EIT, Don Gamble, Karen McMillan, Doris Zibauer) Owner/client: BC Hydro Other key players: Geotherm. and Constellation Group (designed the thermal grout design); Michels Canada (prime contractor).

October/November 2012

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AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H & I N - H O U S E I N I T I AT I V E S

BLACKWELL BOWICK, HALSALL ASSOCIATES, QUINN DRESSEL ASSOCIATES, READ JONES CHRISTOFFERSEN

Haiti Prototype Schools

This award went to four Canadian structural engineering firms who joined together and donated their services to help a devastated country rebuild its schools.

Above: Shane Copp of Reed Jones Christoffersen (at right) with a local architect and engineers from Finn Church Aid.

Above: St. Joseph school under construction.

On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, and reverberated throughout the country. The earthquake caused an estimated 300,000 deaths and destroyed or damaged large parts of the built environment, including over 4,000 schools in Port-au-Prince and 60 per cent of schools in a large area of Haiti’s southwest. In a country where half the population is illiterate, the loss of so much of Haiti’s educational infrastructure was devastating. In response to this disaster, a group of four engineering firms – Blackwell Bowick, Halsall Associates, Quinn Dressel Associates and Read Jones Christoffersen – answered a call from Finn Church Aid (FCA), a Finnish non-governmental organization, to help rebuild Haiti’s destroyed schools. Recognizing they could make a bigger 62

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difference if they banded together, the four firms created a joint venture to provide pro bono engineering services for FCA’s Haiti Schools Project. The goal was to develop and build at least two prototypes for permanent, durable schools that could be replicated throughout Haiti depending on the local conditions. The team also aimed to transfer knowledge and skills to local Haitian engineers and contractors to ensure that future projects in the country would be better designed to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. The team made a significant commitment to the project on a financial as well as a professional and personal level. The firms agreed to have at least one field engineer present in Haiti for the first year, and a team of designers in Canada to back up the field pres-

ence. A total of six engineers travelled to Haiti from Toronto and Ottawa to ensure the project’s smooth execution. Those who went to Haiti included Dan Carson of Halsall Associates; Christian Bellini, Michael Hopkins, Tim Joyce and Kenneth Cryer of Blackwell Bowick; and Shane Copp of Read Jones Chistoffersen. Shane Copp spent almost 17 months on the ground in Haiti, not only overseeing the structural work, but also assisting with project layout, demolition, scheduling, safety issues, quantity calculations, civil works, architecture, plumbing, electrical work, quality control, training of the site staff, and project administration. The team held weekly coordinaJUROR COMMENTS

We liked this project because it had immediate and long-term benefits to a devastated country. The effort put in by the firms involved to deal with many logistical issues was huge.

October/November 2012

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C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H & I N - H O U S E I N I T I AT I V E S

tion meetings via Skype and liaised not just with FCA, but also with local construction professionals, school principals, teachers and other members of the communities to ensure their needs were being met. Jointly, it is estimated the firms contributed over 3,500 hours in total. Rebuilding the schools presented considerable challenges. In addition to a basic lack of infrastructure, materials could be in short supply or expensive, and the results had to be achieved without resort to costly machines or skilled labour. For example, gravel was often produced by crushing stones by hand, which is a slow and laborious process. Another challenge was the remoteness of some of the school sites. St. Joseph School in Embouchure, for example, was located in a remote area that could only be reached by a rigorous two-hour hike down a hillside and

across a riverbed. This meant that the building materials had to be as lightweight and efficient as possible. Designs and drawings had to be simple and explicit because the local engineers and contractors had little experience reading them. Also Haiti has no building code. Despite the difficulties, the results exceeded all expectations and in just over a year, by the fall of 2011, two prototype schools had been built. The St. Matthieu school is a heavyweight structure of reinforced concrete columns and shear walls with masonry infill. It is a prototype suitable for areas accessible by road. The St. Joseph school is a lightweight alternative for rural areas where materials must be transported by foot. This prototype has a timber stud wall construction with plywood shear walls. Perhaps just as important, as one

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

school principal told the team, the Haiti schools project has provided hope – not only for a better future for Haitians, but also because it shows the difference that a small-scale volunteer engineering effort can make in improving our world. CCE Name of project: Haiti Prototype Schools Award-winning firms (structural engineering consultants): Blackwell Bowick, Halsall Associates, Quinn Dressel Associates, Read Jones Christoffersen (Shane Copp, P.Eng., Dan Carson, P.Eng., Liz Oldersaw, P.Eng., Shahé Sagharian, P.Eng., Jennifer Watson, P.Eng., Scott Wallace, P.Eng., Christian Bellini, P.Eng., Kenny Cryer, Ben Burke, P.Eng., Michael Hopkins, AsCT, Tim Joyce, P.Eng., Matti Kuittinen (Kombi Architects) Client/owner: Finn Church Aid and the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Other key players: YCF Group (contractor)

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October/November 2012

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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2012 AWARDS

W I N N E R S ’ G A L L E RY

CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERING AWARDS

Faces Behind the Winning Work

Schreyer Award 1. Photocatalytic Gas Treatment, Uniboard Pfleiderer, Moncure, North Carolina. exp, Montreal. Left to right: Martin Beaulieu, Bernard Blier, Yves Charest. Tree for Life Award & Award of Excellence 2. Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation, Okanagan, B.C. AME Consulting Group, Vancouver. Left to right: Harold Stewart, Derek Schick. Awards of Excellence 3. Centre sur la Biodiversité, Université de Montreal. Bouthillette Parizeau. Left to right: Jacques Lagacé, Caroline Paquet, René Desrosiers.

4. V ale Living With Lakes, Sudbury, Ontario. J.L. Richards & Associates. Left to right: Jeff Laberge, Laura Grover, Saverio Parrotta. 5. V anDusen Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre, Vancouver. Fast + Epp. Left to right: Duane Palibroda, Paul Fast. 6. V ancouver City Central Transmission. Golder Associates. Left to right: Adrian Hansen, Naresh Koirala, Karen McMillan, Tom Bryski.

In many cases the photographs show only a few individuals from the winning teams. For a complete list, see the credits in each project feature.

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

p64-65 CCE OctNov12 FacesWinnersCircle.indd 64

October/November 2012

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W I N N E R S ’ G A L L E RY

2012 AWARDS

7. H aiti Prototype Schools. Blackwell Bowick, Halsall Associates, Quinn Dressell Associates, Read Jones Christoffersen, Toronto. Back row left to right: Tim Joyce, Kenny Cryer, Sari Kaipainen (Finn Church Aid); Jennifer Watson, Dan Carson, Shane Copp, Liz Oldershaw, Shahe Sagharian. Front row: Christian Bellini, Michael Hopkins, Scott Wallace. 8. E astern Wastewater Treatment Facility, Saint John, N.B. CBCL Consulting Engineers. Left to right: John Flewelling, Tim McCluskey, Jody Blakely.

9. M aison symphonique de Montréal. SNC-Lavalin. Left to right: François Picher, Yves St-Georges, André Courcy, Daniel Comeau. 10. Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation, B.C. Associated Engineering. Left to right: Lambert Chu (City of Burnaby), Peter Degroot (Associated Engineering), Dipak Dattani (City of Burnaby); Dean Shiskowski (Associated Engineering). 11. BC Place Revitalization, Vancouver. GENIVAR, Vancouver and Geiger Engineers, Suffern, New York. Left to right: David Campbell, Karen Lynch, Glenn Hubick, Adam Patterson.

12. Tailings Management, Greens Creek Mine, Alaska. Klohn Crippen Berger, Vancouver. Left to right: Daniel Klassen, Lowell Constable, Rick Friedel, Len Murray, Howard Plewes. 13. Sherbourne Common, Toronto. The Municipal Infrastructure Group. Left to right: David Ashfield, Eric Tuson, David Scott, Mark Tarras, Abe Khademi.

13 October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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2012 WINNERS CIRCLE C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O A L L T H E W I N N E R S O F T H E 2 0 1 2 C A N A D I A N C O N S U LT I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A W A R D S

The Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre. Xylem is proud to be part of the project. Congratulations to the consultants for their insight in sustainable and LEED construction. A-C Fire Pump Bell & Gossett® Domestic® Pumps Hoffman Specialty® McDonnell & Milller TM

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p64-65 CCE OctNov12 FacesWinnersCircle.indd 66

October/November 2012

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12-10-02 1:05 PM

2012 WINNERS CIRCLE C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S T O A L L T H E W I N N E R S O F T H E 2 0 1 2 C A N A D I A N C O N S U LT I N G E N G I N E E R I N G A W A R D S

Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Technologies and Renewable Energy Conservation Okanagan College - Penticton, BC

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2012 CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEERING AWARDS

• Targeting LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge • Net-Zero Water Target • Building is Designed as a Teaching Tool for Green Construction Practices

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12-10-01 3:44 PM products

CCE 2012 Winners Circle HOUSE AD.indd 1

HVAC

Conserval Engineering (based in Toronto) is now producing the SolarWall 2-Stage system for windy locations and roof-mount projects. As in the original SolarWall technology, outside air is heated and drawn into an air cavity via tiny perforations in the collector. With the 2-Stage system, the air is heated a second time as it passes behind the top glazing. Conserval also has a 2-Stage version of the SolarDuct Rooftop heating system. www.solarwall.com Lennox’s multi-stage air volume (MSAV) supply fan technology for installation on light commercial rooftop units enables lower airflow during four conditions: part-load cooling, heating, ventilation and free cooling operation modes. The technology dramatically

reduces energy costs. Airflows can be customized with simple changes to the Prodigy unit controller. MSAV is also available in T-Class large split system units. www.lennox.com The Mini Canal radiator from Jaga Canada Climate Systems (photo right) is a simple and compact underfloor design that allows only the grill to be visible. Under the grill is a fast LowH2O element, which conserves more energy while emitting maximum heat. www.jaga-canada.com POWER

GE has launched two new products for utilities. The PowerOn Precision demand response management system

allows GE utilities to manage peak demand and provide support for grid stability. The Multilin Intelligent Line Monitoring System is an end-to-end monitoring solution with advanced analytics for overhead electric distribution networks. It improves network reliability by providing information on faulted and soon-to-befaulted circuits. http:// gedigitalenergy.com STORMWATER

Advanced Drainage Systems has a new storm water trap. The Nyloplast EnviroHood Structure is readily attached inside a manhole or catch basin to trap debris, oil, and other sediments. It is made from HDPE and has corrugated ribs. www.ads-pipe.com

October/November 2012

p64-65 CCE OctNov12 FacesWinnersCircle.indd 67

Canadian Consulting Engineer

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Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc.

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October/November 2012

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Grundfos Retrofits Canada’s Largest Financial Centre with Energy Efficient Boosters

oronto-Dominion (TD) Centre located in Toronto’s downtown core is Canada’s largest financial complex. Clustered together are six black towers spanning across six acres, with four of the towers occupying a full city block. Construction of the TD Centre was completed between 1967 and 1991, with the addition of its sixth tower in 1995. As with many of the buildings around it, TD Centre was approaching its 30 to 40 year old age mark and building owner Cadillac Fairview became concerned. Existing buildings surrounding TD Centre had undergone major restoration in order to compete with the new buildings going up in the area that were LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, offering more to their tenants. Cadillac Fairview decided it was time to go “green” and refurbish and retrofit all six of the centre’s towers to obtain a LEED certification of its own. This included replacing the old constant speed pressure boosting systems with new, sustainable ones to boost domestic drinking water up to the towers' top floors. One main obstacle was encountered while working with engineering firm H.H. Angus & Associates on the retrofitting; two of the existing booster pumps in tower one were notably large, providing more pressure capability then any single Grundfos pump. For phase one of the retrofitting, Bird Mechanical installed a fully integrated all-in-one BoosterpaQ system in tower one and tower five. For phase two of the project, Black & McDonald installed a total of five BoosterpaQ’s. To overcome the obstacle in tower one, two extremely large scale CR pumps (CR45-8-1) were used in parallel to replace each outdated pump model in order to provide the required pressure. The constant speed control panel wired to the system ensures that the pair of CR’s will be running identically. The BoosterpaQ systems were chosen for the following reasons: • The CR range of centrifugal pumps is extremely reliable and highly efficient. CR’s remain unchallenged as the world’s best vertical inline multistage pumps. • CR pumps are equipped with an integrated variable-frequency drive motor for complete control and optimum flexibility to ensure maximum performance. • The MPC (Multi-Pump Controller) is the brain behind the system and was specially designed for Grundfos booster pumps. It controls the number of CR’s in operation, as well as the speed of the individual CR’s. • The systems are ideal for water supply and pressure boosting in multi-story buildings, where the needs can vary significantly throughout the day. This capability keeps energy consumption at a low level, substantially saving on energy costs. • The systems are sturdy, compact units that are built to last. They are easy to install and operate and are service-friendly, saving on maintenance costs. Phase one of the BoosterpaQ installations began in January 2011 and Phase two began in September. The transition from the old systems to the new went smoothly. Grundfos sales engineers were very accommodating, performing system start-ups outside of regular business hours. TD Centre is currently involved in several initiatives to reduce energy consumption and waste in its work environment and the BoosterpaQ’s were a wise choice because they contribute to the Centre’s energy-efficiency goals. Currently, all six towers are pursuing LEED certification and two towers have already achieved that status.

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If you were planning to rout and seal your asphalt joints after they fail, think about the added costs of repairing what you’ve already done. Denso Re-instatement Tape is a polymer modified bituminous strip that is cold applied and designed to seal the joints between asphalt, concrete and steel, the first time. Re-instatement Tape seals around catch basins, manholes, utility cuts and next to concrete curbs prior to paving. Do it right the first time with Denso Road Products. For more information contact: Blair Slessor at 416-291-3435, email: blair@densona.com, or visit our website at www.densona.com SUPPLIER: DENSO NORTH AMERICA INC.

ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SEMINAR

An Engineering Design and Construction Seminar on Chance® Helical Piers and Micropiles is being held on February 8th and 9th, 2012 in Brampton, Ont. The seminar will provide techniques and know how to ensure the proper application, design, installation, material selection and specification for Helical Piers and Micropiles. The course will be instructed by a group of engineering professionals experienced in the manufacturing, research, design and application of these technologies. Participants will receive an in-depth two day classroom session and a Professional Development Certificate for 15 PDH credits. Contact us at: 866-649-3613 Email: info@ebseng.com, www.ebseng.com SUPPLIER: EBS ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

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JOIN THE NEW STANDARD IN BUILDING SPECIFICATIONS

Distech Controls’ Consulting Engineer Resource Center is designed to provide consulting engineers with documentation and information on our products and building management solutions, including datasheets, estimating and design guides, controller drawings, and more. Distech Controls is the global innovation leader in building automation and energy management solutions. Find out why more engineers specify Distech Controls. Sign up now! www.distech-controls.com/engineers SUPPLIER: DISTECH CONTROLS

OVER 20 YEARS AGO, FLEXHEAD INVENTED THE FIRST FLEXIBLE FIRE SPRINKLER CONNECTION.

That system was used in protecting billion dollar clean room facilities. Now, we’ve applied the same technology and quality to the commercial marketplace, and offer flexible fire sprinkler connections designed for use in suspended ceilings. FlexHeads are fast and simple to install; requiring no measuring, no cutting and no infield assembly. Benefits include simplified project management, faster occupancy, easier retrofits, and cost effective code compliance. FlexHead has also been seismically qualified for use in seismic areas and offer green benefits to building owners. Call us at (800) 829-6975 or visit www.flexhead.com for more information. SUPPLIER: FLEXHEAD INDUSTRIES

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GORMAN-RUPP PRIME AIRE ENCLOSED SILENT PUMP

NEW PUMPS CAN CUT ENERGY COSTS BY UP TO 80%

REVOLUTIONIZE REBAR ATTACHMENT - MADE IN CANADA

BENEFIT FROM YOUR FINANCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM

SOFT STARTER SSW-06

SOFTWARE FOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS

Gorman-Rupp Prime Aire model PA6C604045T-ESP offers high pump performance, sound attenuation enclosure, auto-start / stop operation and an environmentally friendly containment base. Flows to 2,750 USGPM, heads to 200’, 3” solids handling with easy impeller clean out and enhanced impeller to wear plate tolerance adjustment. It is self priming, runs dry without damage and is ideal for sewer by-pass applications or other applications requiring sound attenuation. www.grcanada.com SUPPLIER: GORMAN RUPP

The RC System changes the way concrete reinforcing rebar and mesh are installed. • Achieve an estimated 60% labour savings • NO NEED TO TIE, just clip-it on! • Ensures perfect perpendicularity and parallel installation • Unique stacking double mat system • A full versatile range for your applications: slab on grade, formwork, tilt-up, precast… • Obtain specified coverage compliant with CSA, ACI and CPCI design manual specs • Eliminate the rework typical of foot traffic: The RCS supports 400 lbs • Safer install: reduce back injuries and tie wire cuts. 1-800-387-9692, itwconstruction.ca, rcsystem@itwconstruction.ca SUPPLIER: RED HEAD

The SSW-06 is WEG’s third generation Soft Starter line. Its Keypad with dual display provides high visibility with bright red LED digits and easy programming. With built-in bypass contacts to eliminate heat dissipation once the motor is at full voltage it is extremely compact. This allows for simple integration in non-ventilated enclosures and replacement of electromechanical starters in Motor Control Centers. This product recently won the IF Design Award - Industrial Products Category. The main design attributes which conferred this award to the SSW-06 were the simplicity of constructive solutions and its user friendly operator interface. Call 1 877 PAMENSKY www.pamensky.com SUPPLIER: V.J. PAMENSKY

PRODUCT INFORMATION ANYWHERE YOU NEED IT

Download the new Simpson Strong-Tie® Literature Library mobile app to your iPhone or iPad to quickly and easily access our current Fastening Systems and Anchoring & Fastening Systems for Concrete and Masonry catalogs. Enjoy comprehensive search functionality, an easy-to-navigate table of contents, and zoom capability to view drawings and tables in detail. Download for the iPad and iPhone in the App Store. SUPPLIER: SIMPSON STRONG TIE

A Grundfos pump system refurbishment can deliver fantastic savings and performance improvements in older buildings – even without changes to the building envelope or piping. Learn more at www.thinkingbuildings.ca/grundfoscrew SUPPLIER: GRUNDFOS

Sponsored by Engineers Canada (the business name of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers), this program is designed for professional engineers, geoscientists and their families across Canada. We offer access to group retirement and savings plans at generally lower than market retail fees with personal, professional service. More information about this group advantage is available at www.brainshark.com/grs/mygroupadvantage or call 1-800-724-3402. SUPPLIER: GREAT-WEST LIFE

S-CALC™ 2012 - the ultimate cross-section property calculator. Ideal for sections of any size, shape or material combination. Featuring 9 steel section databases, 49 parametric shapes, a shape builder and more. Integrated with S-FRAME Analysis and other 3rd party platforms. S-PAD™ R10 – Steel member design and optimization software. Use S-PAD to quickly check a column, beam or brace without the need to build a complete detailed model. Input design loads and lengths of beams, columns or braces, then run that quick check, or auto-design for least weight, cost, depth and surface area. www.s-frame.com info@s-frame.com SUPPLIER: S-FRAME SOFTWARE INC.

THE STRAIGHT WAY TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY is all in the details. We’ll show you why.

The future is here and it starts now! Systemair as the leader in energy efficient ventilation equipment is launching the EC Campaign. Through collateral elements of this Campaign Systemair promotes and educates the market on the importance of the differential features and advantages ventilation products provide. Systemair has identified Specific Fan Power value, a compact slim design and a short payback time along with some other product’s features as the most important benefits. www.systemair.net SUPPLIER: SYSTEMAIR

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PRECISE CONTROL

Victaulic provides a complete line of balancing products that allow engineers to accurately control building temperatures all while optimizing energy efficiency. Eliminate fluctuations in temperature, increase occupant comfort and reduce energy costs. Products include: • Tour and Andersson Balancing Valves and Differential Pressure Controllers • Victaulic Koil-Kit™ Coil Packs For more information visit, www.victaulic. com/balancing SUPPLIER: VICTAULIC

CANADIAN CONSULTING ENGINEER 2013 MEDIA KIT

Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine provides high quality editorial coverage of the most pertinent and timely issues that affect engineers across Canada. The magazine reaches the consulting engineers who make the critical decisions on building and construction projects. This is exactly the audience you need to reach. Advertise your product or service with us. Be seen and be specified! To order your 2013 media kit, please send along your request to Maureen Levy at (416) 510-5111 or email: mlevy@ccemag.com

events

Construct Canada in Toronto on November 28-30 Construct Canada and its sister show, the National GreenBuilding Conference, take place over three days, November 28 - 30, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building. Now in its 24th year, Construct Canada is Canada’s largest annual construction industry conference and trade show. It includes 1,050 exhibits and hundreds of seminars, given by 450 speakers.

For engineering firms interested in exporting their services, there is the “International Business Program: Export Opportunities for Canadian Companies.” For smooth practising at home, there is “Construction Law Update on Managing Contract Performance.” Specific sessions in the Green Building Conference program include: “The Ten Most Common Energy Audit Prob-

lems,” “Chill Out! Sustainable Refrigeration Strategies for Server Rooms, Storage Facilities, etc.; and the “New and Improved BOMA BESt Certification.” Other concurrent shows in the same building are the Home Builder & Renovator Expo, PM Expo, Design Trends and Concrete Canada. Visit www.constructcanada.com; www.nationalgreenbuildingexpo.com

professional directory

Noise, Vibration & Acoustics Specializing in all aspects of noise and vibration measurement, analysis and control 905-826-4546 answers@hgcengineering.com www.hgcengineering.com

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manufacturer case study

pumps

Extending the Operating Lives of Older Pumps: Options and Opportunities

“S

o, what do we do about the pumps?” This question often comes up when consultants and engineers take on the refurbishment or upgrade of industrial plant or municipal water/wastewater facilities. Pumps are at the heart of many processes, so that poor performance – either unreliability or significant loss of pumping efficiency – can have serious consequences. Replacing older equipment can be costly, especially when replacement requires significant changes to infrastructure such as piping systems, power supplies and supporting structures.

ADVERTORIAL

KSB

Giving older pumps a new lease on life KSB, one of the world’s largest pump manufacturers, recognizes that in many real-world situations it makes excellent sense to rebuild older pumps rather than replace them. To serve this market, KSB operates a well-established service division that provides a comprehensive range of maintenance, repair and refurbishment services for pumps, including non-KSB products. As well, KSB recently acquired Standard Alloys Inc., a US-based company that employs sophisticated reverse-engineering and manufacturing tools to reproduce hard-to-obtain spare parts for pumps from any manufacturer. Thanks to these commitments, KSB has the capacity to restore pumps to like-new condition many decades after they have gone out of production. In fact, refurbished pumps can turn out better than new: with the gift of hindsight and new technologies, it is often possible to improve on the original design. A recent project undertaken by KSB illustrates the potential of the renewal approach. Several large high pressure pumps used to provide quenching water for an Ontario steel mill were running reasonably smoothly, but after over 30 years of service their overall performance had deteriorated to the point where they could no longer meet the requirements of the steel-making process. When the first of these pumps was opened up for inspection at KSB Pumps' Mississauga facility, serious erosion was found in the cast-iron casings near the intake. The installation of non-OEM wear rings in the past appears to have caused excessive turbulence and cavitation in these regions. The main task was to repair this damage. Wherever significant losses had occurred, a steel matrix was brazed into place and the final contour built up with high-strength ceramic filler. The pump’s impeller was carefully cleaned and re-balanced, while wear rings were replaced with new units that were contoured to reduce turbulence. These actions, along with an epoxy coating on the inner surfaces of the pump casing, resulted in smoother intake flows and improved efficiency. Original service documents provided by Standard Alloys established the correct specifications for other replacement parts, including bearings and gaskets. This pump is now back in service, delivering discharge pressures that are higher than the original design! These improvements are consistent with KSB’s “Fluid Future” strategy for improving the overall energy efficiency of pump-related machinery. KSB Pumps Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of the international KSB Group (total revenue 2011: more than 2 billion Euros, over 15.600 employees worldwide). KSB provides sales and service for pumps for the industrial, municipal, energy, mining, agricultural and building services sectors. KSB is located at 5205 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 3N8, Tel: 905 568-9200. www.ksb.ca October/November 2012

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Canadian Consulting Engineer

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conversations

Kayaker and engineer-in-training Mark de Jonge describes what it was like paddling to victory in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Stantec’s Olympian

Greg Redman

ark de Jonge is an engineer-in-training with Stantec Consulting in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. On August 11 at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London he won a bronze medal in the Men’s Kayak Single 200 metres race. CCE spoke to him in early September.

Q. SINCE YOU WON YOUR MEDAL IN LONDON, HAS IT ALL BEEN A BIT OF A WHIRLWIND FOR YOU?

Yes. But it has calmed down a bit — or I’ve got used to the pace! There are still things going on. I am going to the APENS annual meeting tomorrow, and the next day I get to do the opening kick-off for a Dalhousie University football game. Q. HOW DID YOU GET INTO KAYAKING?

We moved from Calgary to Halifax in 1997 and my parents wanted me to make some friends locally so they enrolled me in the Maskwa Aquatic Club program. I fell in love with kayaking that summer and decided to train in the fall and winter program. Q. DID YOU EVER THINK YOU WOULD BE AN OLYMPIAN?

I always dreamed of it actually. Before we moved to Halifax I was in judo. We had a couple of Olympians in my judo club in Calgary and I would see them walk in every couple of months and I realized that it’s possible to be one. Then, during the ’96 Olympics after I saw Donovan Bailey win the gold I became really excited about becoming an Olympian someday. Q. WHAT DO YOU DO AT STANTEC?

I’m an engineer-in-training, working in the geotechnical and materials division. I took a leave of absence in February 2011 to train full-time in Florida, Europe and different places within Canada. Q. WERE PEOPLE AT STANTEC SUPPORTIVE?

Yes, they were. My immediate supervisors were both all for it — Brian Grace and Peter Crowe. They brought it up to Hal Lewis, who is a regional leader, and he was also very supportive. I think they knew that it was my only chance to do that kind of thing in my life and they didn’t want me to have any regrets, so they let me do it, which was great. 74

www.canadianconsultingengineer.com

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Above: Mark de Jonge in action. Q. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU DURING THE RACE IN LONDON?

The crowd was so loud — much louder than I anticipated. As I was racing every time that my hand went by my head, the crowd was drowned out for a split second, so I could hear every stroke that I was taking in my own head. I just stuck to my race plan and it did pretty well. Q. SO YOU HAD NO IDEA YOU HAD WON UNTIL AFTER THE RACE?

They had a scoreboard up, and I just had to wait to see what had happened. It was a very close race. Q. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

That was pretty hard. It might have only been 10 or 15 seconds of waiting for the results, but it felt long. They first put the 1 and 2 results up, but I think because it was so close between 3 and 4, they took more time with that. Looking at the scoreboard it was hard knowing that I didn’t come 1 or 2. I was kind of disappointed at first. But I knew there was one spot left, and if my name came up that meant I got a bronze medal. So I was really happy to see I came third. And, of course, I'm very happy to be an Olympic medalist. Q. HAVE YOU BEEN BACK TO THE OFFICE SINCE?

Yes, we had a celebration at the office and we had another day when people brought their kids in to meet me and get some autographs. It has been really fun! CCE

October/November 2012

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Structural Pla

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Prefabricated Bridges

Sound Walls

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AIL-355 Build With a Canadian Innovation Leader Canadian Consulting Engineer, Oct/Nov 2012

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CALC S-

2012

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