Daily Commercial News by ConstructConnect | December 15, 2022

Breaking away from tradition using innovative techniques was an underlying theme of this year’s Concrete Ontario award winners.

Buildings at Carleton University in Ottawa and the University of Toronto’s downtown campus were among the winners of the 2022 Concrete Awards presented by Concrete Ontario.
Journal of Commerce by ConstructConnect | December 12, 2022
Leon Plett, P.Eng., MIStructE, Struct.Eng., LEED® AP | Managing Principal

During a panel discussion hosted by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, experts discussed community awareness, overbuilds and residential retrofits as important paths forward for increasing Victoria, B.C.’s seismic safety.

“We have the opposite of (earthquake) hysteria in Victoria, which is denial,” said Leon Plett, managing principal with RJC Engineers.

Plett’s firm has retrofitted and seismically upgraded dozens of buildings in Victoria, but he said there is still a need to raise community awareness to get more done.

He said a lack of urgency within the general and developer communities can be a roadblock when trying to design earthquake-resistant buildings.
Journal of Commerce by ConstructConnect | December 12, 2022

The massive steel superstructure of the $500-million BMO Centre expansion project in the Stampede Park grounds near downtown Calgary has been completed and hundreds of skilled trades have now turned their attention to enclosing the building so they can begin the inside work.
ABEC Building Science Perspective | Fall 2022
Ryan Page, BSc. , E.I.T. | Engineer-In-Training

For tall buildings, façades comprise
the majority of the building envelope, the critical component for structures providing separation between the conditioned and unconditioned environment. Building façades continue to evolve aesthetically, in complexity, but also in efficiency.

However, building façades deteriorate due
to environmental exposure, lack of maintenance, design and construction errors, or a combination of such factors [1]. Deterioration can result in potential unsafe conditions, and if unaddressed, can jeopardize public safety and surrounding properties. Understanding that these conditions can develop throughout the service life of buildings, prompts the need for periodic inspection and assessment of building exterior façades to identify such hazardous conditions.
CondoBusiness | November 23, 2022
Duncan Rowe, BASc, MEng, P.ENG., LEED® AP, BECxP, CPHD | Principal

Owners of existing condos are in a unique and challenging position as we progress toward 2030. New regulations from multiple levels of government are forcing condominium boards and property management companies to consider more than just a simple cost-benefit calculation when examining repair and retrofit options.

Many condos are getting older and facing decisions about upgrading major components, such as parking garages, windows, walls, and roofs. These components do not generally have quick paybacks, are considerable capital expenses, and can take multiple years to deliver.
SABMag - The Passive House issue | Fall 2022

The Putman Family YWCA is Hamilton’s first affordable housing residence for women and children. The six storey building comprises four floors of apartment units above a ground floor and basement podium that opens to a community garden on one side. The interconnected ground and basement levels provide community services to residents and the greater community, while the sixth floor provides community and amenity spaces for residents.

Of the 50 apartment units, 15 were reserved for women living with developmental challenges. Priority for all units was given to women from marginalized and Indigenous communities who have experienced domestic violence and homelessness.
Canadian Property Management | November 16, 2022
Peter Machnee, MEng., P.Eng. | Regional Manager

As society evolves, codes change, and exterior forces like climate change and global economics impact the way buildings are designed and constructed, it’s critical to have an eye on current and future trends. While no one could have foreseen a years-long pandemic shuttering the world’s offices and storefronts, developers today are well-aware that anything is possible. Meanwhile, climate change has increased the likelihood that a major weather event could strike at any moment, whether you live in PEI, Ontario, or BC. Factoring in these once “doomsday-esq” considerations has become central to a building’s ability to stand the test of time.

So, what are the “Big 3 Forces” currently shaping building design? Peter Machnee, Regional Manager, RJC Engineers, gives us his expert opinion:
Canadian Consulting Engineer | Nov 15, 2022

Scott Wallace, until recently an executive principal with Canadian firm RJC Engineers, received the Ed Keate Award at the recent Canadian Parking Association’s Trade Show and Conference in Quebec City, Quebec.
The Canadian Parking Association (CPA) was founded in 1983 to unite interested parties to form a cohesive national voice for the parking industry.

The Founder’s Awards, the Ted Seeberg Award, and Ed Keate Award, recognize and celebrate those who make a valuable contribution. The Ed Keate Award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to advancing knowledge in the parking industry.
Passive House Canada | Oct 31, 2022

This month, we spotlight a group of RJC Engineers employees and Passive House Canada members who are passionately committed to high performance buildings.

  • Terry Bergen, Managing Principal: 27 + years with RJC, Passive House Canada member for 5 years
  • Tiffany Sun Dela Cruz, Project Engineer: 4.5 years with RJC; PHC member for 4 months
  • Brandon Gemme, Project Engineer: 4 years with RJC; received CPHD designation in April 2021
  • Sameer Hasham, Project Engineer: 12+ years with RJC, PHC member for 3 years
  • Leslie Peer, Principal: 24 years with RJC; PHC member since 2017
  • Maddie Reid, Project Engineer:  5 years with RJC; PHC member for 2 years
  • Duncan Rowe, Principal: 15 years with RJC; PHC member since 2018
Urban Toronto | October 28, 2022
John Kooymans, BSc, P.Eng. | Principal

30 years ago, if you were to look out at the skyline of Downtown Toronto, you would see the hints of what was to come. The high-rises, the bright lights, the density, all of these things that define the perpetually evolving Downtown core we know today were already there, just in an early adolescent state. In 2022, one looks out at the skyline to see a kaleidoscopic medley of textures that shine, reflect, and dance in the light. While concrete, brick, and stone is also there, a revolution has taken place; a revolution in glass engineering.