Issue 1, 2015 - Associated Engineering

ISSUE #1 2015
TODAY
Associated Engineering achieves Best Managed Companies
Platinum status
Associated Engineering’s senior Board of Directors: front - Brian Tod (Chair), Rod Karius, Kerry Rudd; middle row - Ian Reid, Lianna Mah, Martin Jobke,
Elizabeth Dowdeswell (former Board member); back row - Herb Kuehne, Greg Kaupp
Associated Engineering has once again been named one of Canada’s
Best Managed Companies for excellence in business performance and
management. This latest recognition marks the seventh consecutive
year that the company has received this prestigious award, sponsored by
Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business, and MacKay
CEO Forums. Associated Engineering now joins a select group of
Canadian-owned and managed companies as Platinum members of the
program.
“I want to congratulate Associated Engineering on becoming a
Platinum member,” says Peter Brown, National Co-Leader of Canada’s
Best Managed Companies Program and Senior Practice Partner, Deloitte.
“This designation exemplifies consistency, commitment, and the ability
to be flexible in a changing marketplace. These qualities are what make
Associated Engineering such a great business success story and one of
Canada’s Best Managed Companies.”
F E AT URED
Climate Change Adaptation 4
Since Associated Engineering was first recognized in 2008 as one of
Canada’s Best Managed Companies, the company has grown and solidified our place as one of Canada’s premier consulting firms. During this
period, we have almost doubled our revenue and staff numbers have
increased by 40%. Our services have expanded to include environmental science, urban planning, landscape architecture, energy, asset
management, and facilities engineering. Geographically, we have added
seven offices across Canada and acquired two companies, all the while
staunchly retaining our corporate culture.
Kerry Rudd, President & CEO, states, “We are honoured to receive this
prestigious recognition and join the elite group of Platinum members of
the Best Managed Companies. This award is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff, and the vision of our leadership team.
Looking ahead, we will continue to advance our position as a leader in
our market and as an employer of choice.”
AR TI C L E S:
Highway 40 Flood Repairs 5
Wood Innovation & Design Centre 12
Associated Engineering receives multiple honours at the
2015 Consulting Engineers of Alberta Showcase Awards
Owen Mierke recognized with the Harold L. Morrison Rising
Young Professional Award
Owen Mierke, Project Manager,
Northern Infrastructure Division,
was recognized with the
Consulting Engineers of Alberta’s
Harold L. Morrison Rising Young
Professional Award. This award
recognizes the achievements
of young professionals who
demonstrate excellence in their
field of expertise, the business
of consulting engineering, and
dedication to their community.
Owen has extensive experience in
municipal consulting engineering
and construction. His experience
includes projects such as the
Highway 69 water supply line, the Taiga Nova Eco-Industrial Park
for the Wood Buffalo Housing and Development Corporation, and
subdivision expansion for the Fort McMurray First Nations, all in Fort
McMurray, Alberta.
Before graduating from the University of Saskatchewan in Civil
Engineering in 2006, Owen spent summers working with Associated
Engineering in construction inspection and administration. He started
full-time with Associated Engineering, in municipal infrastructure,
immediately following his graduation. Owen has been a speaker at
professional conferences, and was the Project Manager of the 2014
NASTT Northwest Chapter Trenchless Project of the Year Award.
“Owen demonstrates communication and project management skills
well beyond his years of experience,” says Helder Afonso,
Vice President and General Manager of our Alberta North operations.
Congratulations, Owen.
Water Environment Research Foundation recognizes
Associated Engineering’s support
(l-r) Dave Anderson with award for Calgary International Airport Runway Development project, Edith Asselin and Steven Justus holding the award for
the Fort McMurray Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, and Matt Somes and Des Kernahan with the award for Highway 40 Emergency Flood Repairs in
Kananaskis.
In February, Associated Engineering celebrated multiple awards at the Consulting Engineers of Alberta Showcase Awards 2015 Gala, held in
Edmonton, AB. A distinguished panel of judges from industry and the business community recognized us with the following awards:
technology providers and consulting firms. The
Foundation’s research portfolio spans wastewater
collection and treatment, resource recovery,
watersheds and ecosystems, and human health
effects, and extends into stormwater-related issues.
Our participation in Water Environment Research
Foundation activities and use of its resources and
tools continues to benefit our staff, projects, and
clients, and keeps us connected to leading edge
research in this practice area.
Award of Excellence (water resources and energy production
category) for the Fort McMurray Water Treatment Plant Upgrade. One
of the judges commented that, “A blend of new construction with the
optimization of existing infrastructure, this project highlighted a team
effort.”
Award of Merit (environmental category) for the Highway 40
Emergency Flood Repairs in Kananaskis. A collaborative effort with
the Alberta Transportation, contractor Volker Stevin, this roadway
was reinstated on time, less than five months after the devastating
floods that hit southern Alberta in 2013.
The Foundation is a US-based, non-profit
organization that funds and manages water quality
research instigated by its corporate subscribers,
which include utilities, various levels of government
and private sector organizations, including
Award of Merit (transportation infrastructure category) for the
Calgary International Airport Runway Development Project. Judges
commented that, “This project demonstrated incredible excellence in
engineering with a high degree of difficulty and extremely impressive
technical acumen.”
We were also recognized as a team member on the Award of
Excellence (project management category) for the Calgary Airport
Trail Tunnel Project (received by CH2M Hill).
Chris Skowronski promoted to Vice President, Infrastructure
I n
th i s
5 Highway 40 flood repairs reconnect the world to
Kananaskis
3 Owen Mierke recognized with the Harold L.
6 Profile - Mark Dhillon
Water Environment Research Foundation
recognizes Associated Engineering’s support
Chris Skowronski promoted to Vice President,
Infrastructure
4 ViewPoints - Leadership and responsibility in a
changing climate
TODAY
Kerry Rudd, President & CEO, has appointed Chris Skowronski,
P.Eng., as Vice President, Infrastructure, for the Associated
Engineering group of companies.
i ss u e :
1 Associated Engineering achieves Best Managed
Companies Platinum status
Morrison Rising Young Professional Award
2
The Water Environment Research Foundation
(WERF) recognized Associated Engineering as a
10-year supporter of its mission, purpose, and
research programs at the annual Water Environment
Federation (WEF) conference in New Orleans
in September 2014. We are one of only a few
Canadian Water Environment Research Foundation
subscribers.
7 Sustainable, urban design improves Edmonton’s
Central LRT station and revitalizes Jasper Avenue
8 Triple bottom line evaluation supports decisionmaking for upgrades to the City of St. Thomas
Water Pollution Control Plant
9
Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program
protects public safety and property in
Saskatchewan
10 2014 Service Awards
11 Building Communities
Employee News
12 Wood Innovation and Design Centre showcases
expertise and global leadership in wood design
and construction
In his new role, Chris provides technical support and business
development assistance to our infrastructure teams across
Canada, in the areas of linear water and wastewater systems,
drainage, roadways, and infrastructure planning and renewal. Chris
previously served as the Division Manager of Infrastructure for the
Central Alberta Region. He has over 26 years of experience in civil
engineering management, design, planning, and rehabilitation of
urban infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is a cornerstone of our consulting engineering
services,” says Kerry Rudd. “Our infrastructure staff has increased
significantly over the past few years. To address our growing
needs, Chris will assist Herb Kuehne, our Senior Vice President,
Infrastructure, as we continue
to build and develop our
infrastructure capabilities in our
offices across Canada.”
“I’m really excited to work with
our staff and clients across
the company,” Chris says. “I
understand the limitations in
funding that many municipalities
face, combined with aging
infrastructure and infrastructure
deficits. I believe sustainable,
integrated planning and
infrastructure rehabilitation are
key to developing cost effective
solutions.”
www.ae.ca
3
ViewPoints - Leadership and responsibility in a changing
climate - Brian Guy, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.H.
by
Continental ice is retreating. Alberta glaciers lost 25% of their surface
area between 1985 and 2005, and the Greenland ice sheet lost 708
billion metric tonnes of ice between 2004 and 2007 alone. The arctic
sea ice cover is disappearing. The month-of-September ice cover
decreased by 50% between 1984 and 2012. Permafrost, which
covers half of Canada, is melting rapidly as well. Due to melting
continental ice and thermal expansion, the volume of water in the
oceans is increasing, and sea levels are now rising at a rate of
30 cm per century, and this rate is increasing. Our sophisticated
climate models predict that the changes that have been observed
will continue into the future, even if significant success is achieved
in curtailing the human contribution to the changing climate.
At Associated Engineering, we believe that we
have a responsibility to be aware of historical and
future trends in climate when we are designing
new infrastructure.
Climate changes are putting existing infrastructure such as buildings,
roads, pipelines, and airports at risk. In addition, scientists and
engineers now recognize that continuation of the climate trends of
the recent past has implications for the design of new infrastructure.
At Associated Engineering, we believe we have a responsibility to
consider climate change when designing new infrastructure. We
also need to inform our clients about climate related risks. Where
4
TODAY
(continued from page 4)
These and other project examples were highlighted at a Capacity
Building Seminar that the company hosted in Vancouver on
November 6–8, 2014. At this seminar we shared knowledge and
recent experiences, discussed current approaches to engineering
design that consider the effects of climate change, and encouraged
conversations about climate change, with staff and clients.
Our goal is to continue our tradition of providing sound advice based
on proven methods, while remaining leaders in understanding the
climate change process and the associated risks to infrastructure and
the environment, communicating climate change risks to clients, and
incorporating climate change knowledge into our work in consistent
and meaningful ways.
Notwithstanding the successes we have achieved thus far in
addressing climate change, we have more work to do. Our next
steps include the following:
For more information, please contact:
• Increased effort to educate staff about climate change, specifically
with respect to recent climate trends in each region of the country,
and the implications of climate change on our work
About the author:
Brian Guy, Ph.D., P.Geo., P.H., Vice President
and General Manager of Associated Engineering’s Environmental Science Division. Brian’s
technical expertise includes assessment and
management of hydrologic changes related
to land development, population growth, and
climate change; hydrologic, hydraulic, and
sediment transport modelling; and water
management planning.
• Increased effort to ensure our staff have a common understanding
of the responsibility we have to inform and educate our clients
about climate change
Melting glaciers and continental ice are increasing sea levels at 30 centimetres per century
Across the world, including here in Canada, the climate is changing.
In Canada, the average air temperature increased by 1.5°C between
1950 and 2010, which is about twice the global average increase
over that period. Across our three northern territories, the rate of
change has been even more extreme, with a rise of 1.5°C to 2.5°C
between 1950 and 2010. Changes in air temperature are being
accompanied by changes in precipitation patterns and amounts,
and increasing frequency, magnitude, and duration of extreme events
such as droughts and storms. In turn, these changes in climate are
having profound spin-off effects.
ViewPoints
clients wish to consider the implications of a changing climate in their
projects, we must be prepared to bring up-to-date knowledge of
climate science and future climate scenarios to the table, as well as
design tools and processes that include consideration of a changing
climate.
Associated Engineering staff includes scientists and engineers across
the country who have the knowledge and experience needed to
understand and accommodate the risks associated with a changing
climate. Our project portfolio features projects from coast to coast to
coast, including the following:
• Assessment of future impacts of climate change as part of the
Water Quality Master Plan for the City of Toronto
• Evaluation of how climate change is affecting the sustainability
of winter roads for the City of Thompson, Manitoba
• Assessment of the implications of a changing climate on the
design of a future building at the University of Saskatchewan,
using the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee
(PIEVC) protocol
• Assessment of risks to the City of Calgary water supply and
distribution system due to a changing climate, using the PIEVC
protocol
• Assessment of the implications of a changing climate on streamflows and water demand in the Okanagan and Similkameen River
Basins in B.C. to support water management planning projects
in the region, and to help establish a new set of operating rules for
Osoyoos Lake, an international water body whose management
falls under the jurisdiction of the International Joint Commission
• Evaluation of the vulnerability of the sewerage infrastructure in
Metro Vancouver to a changing climate, using the PIEVC protocol
• Development of a risk evaluation process to assess the risk to
buildings in the Northwest Territories related to extreme events and
a changing climate.
(continued on page 5)
• Re-examination of our approach to project work to ensure that we
consider climate change in a consistent way in all of our work.
Dr. Brian Guy at 250-545-3672, or [email protected].
Highway 40 flood repairs reconnect the world to Kananaskis
The Alberta floods of 2013 caused devastating impacts to nature,
infrastructure, and the public. The landscape remains scarred today. Alberta Transportation, which is responsible for the province’s
highway network, was one of many organizations acutely affected by
the floods. The government immediately began calling in additional
resources to aid in restoring these areas for the public. A section of
Highway 40 through Highwood Pass was one of the hardest hit, with
more than 100 locations in a 55 killometre stretch that were significantly damaged. This unique portion of highway reaches the highest
elevation of any paved road in Canada, and provides immeasurable
benefits to society, allowing public access to nature and unique recreational opportunities.
Alberta Transportation retained Associated Engineering to determine
strategies for the reconstruction including handling and disposal of
debris from the water flows and protection of the infrastructure from
future floods. In addition, design and construction needed to be fasttracked to reopen the highway to national and international travellers.
Associated Engineering’s diverse team of professionals brought
their accumulated experience to provide innovative and technically
focused solutions to address environmental, schedule, and
communications challenges. These challenges included working
in the environmentally sensitive headwaters of the Highwood River
(Storm Creek); spawning habitat for the provincially threatened bull
trout. Senior Engineer Des Kernahan advises, “We found efficiencies
and executed smart solutions that also helped control repair costs.”
Erin Rooney, Professional biologist, tells us “We applied our understanding of the regulatory requirements and worked with regulatory
agencies, our design team, and the construction team to develop
designs that minimized further environmental impacts, fast-tracked
approvals, and minimized impacts to the schedule during project delivery.” Creation of a data management tool to capture and organize
data from environmental monitoring enhanced the project delivery
and provided a value-added tool that Alberta Transportation can use
in the future.
Highway 40:10 was returned to service less than
five months after the floods, restoring the highway
for travellers from around the world.
Highway restoration was completed while minimizing environmental
impacts and working in a remote, mountainous environment with
minimal access to communication.
Darryl Schalk, Construction Manager, tells us “This project truly
was a Tri-party success story with significant contributions by all
involved in the work, including Alberta Transportation, Volker Stevin
and Associated Engineering/Summit staff.”
One of the 117 damaged sites on Highway 40 after the 2013 flooding
www.ae.ca
5
Determination, and good mentors helped Mark Dhillon
achieve his goals
Sustainable, urban design improves Edmonton’s Central LRT
Station and revitalizes Jasper Avenue
left: (l-r) Kerry Rudd, Martin Jobke, Mark Dhillon, Stewart Parkinson, and Dennis Desjardins
left: Jasper Avenue during construction
Mark Dhillon, a Senior Civil Engineer and Manager of our Victoria
office, was inspired to become an engineer early in life. Upon
entering junior high school, Mark’s curiosity about design and
construction convinced him that he was destined to become an
engineer.
Mark attended the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
to become a Civil Structural Technologist. While at BCIT, Mark met
Alistair Black, then Associated Engineering’s BC General Manager
and later President & CEO (1996-2005), at several of the school’s
industry networking events. Mark attributes Alistair’s influence
for planting the seed to pursue further education and become a
Professional Engineer. After graduation and working in the industry
for four years, Mark decided to return to school and complete a
degree in engineering. Mark says, “It is interesting to note that
Associated Engineering played an early role in that major decision,
and that I have ultimately ended up as part of the Associated
Engineering family.”
For his engineering studies, Mark enrolled at Lakehead University in
Thunder Bay, Ontario. Upon graduating, he returned home to BC.
Back on the west coast, Mark met his mentor and future business
partner, Stewart Parkinson, who hired him as an engineer-in-training
with Duncan and Associates’ Victoria Branch. The company was
subsequently purchased by Stewart and rebranded as 1st Team
Consulting Ltd. Mark credits Stewart for providing him with the
opportunity to become the General Manager of 1st Team Consulting.
This was instrumental in honing his business acumen and gaining a
greater understanding of the consulting business.
In 2011, the Victoria-based company merged with Associated
Engineering. The transition was smooth, as both firm’s core values
were aligned and they had a long-standing professional relationship.
Mark says, “Something that stood out to me when joining Associated
Engineering was the people. I can honestly say that I believe them to
be the most friendly and talented professionals that I have met during
my career. I am proud to be part of the family.”
As a Project Manager, Mark feels that all projects have their
challenges and test your expertise, and this is one of the things that
attracted him to the career of a consulting engineer. Mark recalls one
6
TODAY
right: Mark with his wife, Theresa and daughter, Jenna
memorable project for the Canadian Department of National Defence,
designing a water booster station and water reservoir. Mark’s team
was successful in obtaining the detailed design assignment.
After reviewing the overall criteria, it was clear that the preliminary
design could be optimized. Mark’s team developed a solution which
would ultimately save the client several million dollars and provide
a more robust system. After a third-party review, the client agreed
with Mark’s team and implemented their proposed solution. Mark
says, “The overall scope of the project was reduced significantly, as
our solution eliminated many of the original infrastructure upgrades,
resulting in our original contract and work being reduced. However,
we provided tremendous value to our client, which I am still extremely
proud of to this day.”
As the leader of our Victoria office, Mark considers mentoring an
ongoing process which happens every day and at every level. He
likes to give younger staff challenging projects that push them out
of their comfort zones. Mark believes this provides them with the
opportunities to apply their knowledge and develop solutions.
Mark shares that it is sometimes difficult for young engineers to
decide on a focus and it comes down to the opportunities available
at the time. Mark’s philosophy is “you get out what you put in”. He
believes that working hard, ensuring that the product is good quality,
and addressing clients’ needs will forge strong relationships, resulting
in repeat business and recognition in the market.
During his career, Mark has been involved on Committees and
Boards with APEGBC’s Victoria Branch; the Consulting Engineers
of BC (now ACEC-BC); Canadian Standards Association; and the
United Way.
Outside of the office, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife,
Theresa and their daughter, Jenna. As a family, they enjoy travelling
and undertaking house and yard projects. Mark and Theresa support
Jenna’s athletic pursuits, as a player on the University of Victoria
Vikes varsity field hockey team and the Canadian Under-21 field
hockey team. Mark also enjoys cycling through the streets of Victoria
and recently purchased a new bike for his wife, so they can enjoy
another activity together.
right: Revitalized Jasper Avenue features wider sidewalks, benches, bikeracks, trees, and new lighting
The Central Light Rapid Transit Station in the City of Edmonton is
a major transit hub and connects commuters to downtown office
buildings and the street above through a network of pedestrian
walkways.
In 2009, the City initiated a structural rehabilitation project for this
30+ year old facility that was experiencing significant water leakage.
The City retained Associated Engineering to design and oversee
repair construction. The work included structural and substructure
elements, architectural improvements to the station concourse,
electrical enhancements, and access and safety improvements.
At the same time, City planners were working on a concept for a
New Vision for Jasper Avenue to re-establish and re-vitalize the city’s
“main street” along three blocks between 100th and 102nd Street.
The City saw the LRT project as an opportunity to implement the first
phase of their Jasper Avenue New Vision, and retained Associated
Engineering to complete improvements to Jasper Avenue, along with
the LRT station improvements.
The City wished to establish an urban design framework and new
streetscape design to guide the revitalization and evolution of the
corridor as a more pedestrian-oriented, attractive, and vibrant
signature street. In addition, the City anticipates that beautification
of Jasper Avenue’s streetscape will spark business development
and renewal. As the City’s Prime Consultant, Associated Engineering
worked with a number of City departments and stakeholders to reach
consensus on design criteria and standards, and with a landscape
architect sub-consultant for the design of the new Jasper Avenue
streetscape. Design criteria also addressed environmental conditions
and long-term sustainability.
Recognizing the risk of the disruption to business and traffic during
construction of this high profile project, a Value Engineering and
Constructability Review was carried out during preliminary design
to identify and evaluate alternative approaches to construction
scheduling and staging. The final strategy offered optimum value to
the City, the travelling public, and local business and building owners.
The analysis took into account competing factors such as costs,
disruptions, quality, and constructability.
The structural rehabilitation component of the LRT station included
designing a new stainless steel reinforced high performance concrete
slab on top of the existing girders, new steel columns for the
substructure elements and carbon fibre wrapped existing girders to
repair the effects of water infiltration. Upgrades were also designed
to the roof structures under the sidewalks of Jasper Avenue; these
covered basement level spaces connected to adjacent buildings
and the station. Associated Engineering worked with two building
architect sub-consultants on the design of the new concourse
level walls, ceiling, and lighting and on the replacement of two
existing street level entrances. A new concourse level and retrofit
of an existing space at street level was also carried out. Modern
building systems were also added including a new power feed, new
uninterrupted power supply, an emergency generator and enclosure,
and a new fire alarm system. Upgrades were also made to the
existing sprinkler systems.
This challenging and visionary urban renewal
project was completed while maintaining traffic
and addressing businesses and public concerns.
The Jasper Avenue streetscape improvements included more
accessible and wider sidewalks. Energy-efficient light-emitting
diode (LED) street lighting was added for sustainabilty. Aesthetic
improvements included granite and timber benches with sandblasted
images and poetry, stainless steel furniture, new bike racks and
garbage cans. In addition new tree planting soil cell technology was
used to allow planted vegetation and trees to flourish.
Central LRT station
www.ae.ca
7
Triple bottom line evaluation supports decision-making for
upgrades to the City of St. Thomas Water Pollution Control
Plant
The City of St.
Thomas located
in southwestern
Ontario owns
and operates the
St. Thomas Water
Pollution Control
Plant. Originally
built in 1925, the
plant has been
upgraded and
expanded several
times. The plant
currently has an
average rated
capacity of 27,300
cubic metres per
day.
In 2010, the
City completed
a Master Plan for the plant following the Ontario Municipal Class
Environmental Assessment process. The Master Plan included
a preferred upgrade option for the anaerobic digestion system to
address capacity concerns and mixing requirements. The current
anaerobic digestion facility consists of three anaerobic digesters,
but only two are operated as digesters. Digester No. 2 and Digester
No. 3 normally operate in series as anaerobic digesters to stabilize
the biosolids, while Digester No. 1 is used as a sludge holding tank.
The Master Plan called for a new digester, and new mechanical
mixing systems for Digesters No. 2 and 3; Digestor No.1 would
remain as a holding tank.
In 2012, the City of St. Thomas retained Associated Engineering to
complete a structural condition assessment of the three digesters
and prepare preliminary design documents and cost estimates for
the rehabilitation of the digesters. We discovered the tank of Digester
No. 2 required significant structural repairs to the concrete roof in
order to pass the pressure testing requirements. Project Manager,
Paula Steel says, “We advised the City that similar structural issues
would likely be uncovered in the remaining digesters. Due to the high
structural repair costs required for the roof of Digester No. 2,
we recommended to forego the work on Digesters No. 1 and No. 3.”
Associated
Engineering
recently
completed
a Digester
Planning and
Implementation
Study. The goal
of this study was
to determine
upgrade options,
including life
cycle costs,
that would
address both
short-term and
long-term needs
of the anaerobic
digestion system.
Geotechnical
and preliminary hydrogeological investigations have revealed some
challenging areas with poor soils and requirement for dewatering.
The impact of these conditions were included in the cost estimates to
ensure the City allocates appropriate funds and contingencies.
A triple bottom line evaluation process was used
to determine the preferred digester upgrade option
to allow the plant to meet the needs in a costeffective, environmentally-sound and codecompliant manner.
The City is following their environmental stewardship and
sustainability goals, and requested that digester gas or biogas use
options also be evaluated as part of the Study. We narrowed down
a wide range of biogas use options and identified three potential
options for further evaluation: (1) cogeneration using internal
combustion engines (2) cogeneration using microturbines and
(3) vehicle fuel system. A life-cycle evaluation determined that the
vehicle fuel system was the preferred option. We have completed
the triple bottom line evaluation of the three digester upgrade options
for the plant and selected the preferred upgrade plan. The City is
currently using this information to allocate capital and operating
budgets to allow them to implement the preferred digester upgrade.
The Digester Planning and Implementation Study report will form
the basis of an Environmental Assessment Amendment to the St.
Thomas Water Pollution Control Plant Master Plan, completed in
2010.
Our key personnel on this project included Paula Steel, Nancy Liu,
José Bicudo, Paul Shi, Dusan Fil, Suzie Bizzaro, and Kevin Yu.
St. Thomas Water Pollution Control Plant
8
TODAY
Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program protects
public safety and property in Saskatchewan
House surrounded by flood waters
Extreme weather events are common in Saskatchewan. A drought
year can be followed by flooding, or both events can happen
within the same year, as seen in 2010. In recent years, government
agencies in Saskatchewan have projected and seen incremental
increases in the severity of flooding across the province. This
widespread flooding is due to a variety of factors, including ground
saturation, higher lake and river levels, standing water, significant
snow and rainfall events, as well as insufficient water evaporation.
In 2011, the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency launched the
Emergency Flood Damage Reduction Program to provide assistance
with emergency flood damage reduction or prevention measures
for communities, rural municipalities, businesses, non-profit
organizations, individual farm and country residences and cottages.
As part of this proactive approach to flooding preparation and
response, the Agency retained Associated Engineering to visit flood
threatened areas, assess flood issues, and make recommendations
on what could be done to prevent or reduce the amount of damage
to homes or other buildings.
topographical survey and design of permanent works. The use of
Global Positioning System equipment allowed our project members
to carry out accurate surveys, and complete surveys efficiently in
single or two-person teams. The project team then provided reports,
design and construction services for permanent works.
The Associated Engineering team provided
emergency assessments and recommendations
for flood damage reduction and mitigation.
Marvin says, “Our large complement of staff with various skills and
proven experience helped to fast track the project.
Our key personnel involved with this project were Marvin Loewen,
Mark Guidinger, Jaylyn Obrigewitsch, and John van der Eerden.
The project involved a total of eight specific assignments, and 58
separate site assessments for individuals and communities. Project
Manager, Marvin Loewen, tells us, “The project team faced many
challenges, including difficult access to sites, safety concerns,
assisting people in crisis, and the need for a quick response.”
On each assignment, the project team outlined the findings and
recommendations for flood protection and, together with the
Saskatchewan Water Security Agency, developed a plan outlining
future steps. If construction equipment was required to build
berms, cut roads or levies, or if sandbagging supplies were needed,
we assisted in locating local contractors to do the work on an
emergency basis. In some cases, the recommended actions required
Bridge at risk of wash out
www.ae.ca
9
Congratulations to our 2014 Service Award recipients!
Associated Engineering congratulates the following individuals who reached service milestones with the company in 2014. Our service recognition
program recognizes our staff’s contribution to our growth and success.
ALBERTA
Dean Reidt
Janet Miller
Richard Zepick
5 Year
Omar Abdel-Jabbar
Dino Borrelli
Richard Coldbeck
Malcolm Cooper
Karla Hoffman
Gail Ivany
Eben Kruger
Marianne Lund
Candice Pearce
Joe White
10 Year
Oksana Bratok
Cameron Braun
Rudy Chan
Bob Jardine
Jacquelyn Jensen
Mitch Lejeune
Alan Lui
Russell Martin
Aleem Samji
Juliana Tang
Stuart Esplin
15 Year
Tara Alexander
Corinne Arkell
Roger Nelson
Susan Howard
20 Year
Bart Cassady
Risto Protic
Barry Way
25 Year
Gregory Edwards
Janet Miller
Doug Olson
Gord Roberts
30 Year
Dean Reidt
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Leif Marmolejo
Gene Mazza
Damian McGuinness
Wayne Riley
Steve Root
Nicole Tamm
Linda Wojcicka
15 Year
Simeon Dee
Helen Du
Jhunn Dualan
Dave Hayward
Brent Phillips
5 Year
Evelyn Aguila
Joe Alcock
Nik Cuperlovic
Aaron Deane
Victoria de Guzman
Dejan Erdevicki
Scott Fomenoff
Alex Jancker
Mike Klawikowski
Mingyu Li
Martin Pritchard
Rain Wang
20 Year
Brian Guy
Hugh Hamilton
Matt Henney
Sam Lui
10 Year
Keith Kohut
Freda Leong
Rebekka Lindskoog
5 Year
Robert Borne
Shawn Fehr
Robert Hancox
30 Year
Karen Kinakin
40 Year
Louise Parnell
SASKATCHEWAN
Alicia Masserey
Erin Turner
Joshua Yohnke
Building Communities
$19,607 raised for Movember 2014
Through the efforts of 94 MoBros and MoSistas, Associated
Engineering raised more than $19,607. Thanks to Shane Cook for
his work as our Movember network administrator, and the local team
leaders for rounding up participants in another successful campaign
for men’s health!
10 Year
Jason Forest
20 Year
Bert Munro
Scott Taylor
25 Year
Richard Zepick
ONTARIO
5 Year
Nick Benjamin
Anna Comerton
Melissa Reichert-Kilbey
10 Year
Chris Caers
Dusan Fil
Mark Mascioli
15 Year
Caroline Korn
Mike Richardson
20 Year
Susan Howard
above left: Karen Kinakin with Alistair Black celebrates her 30th year of service. right: Louise Parnell celebrates her 40th year of service with (l) Martin
Jobke, Vice President & General Manager, BC and (r) Kerry Rudd, President & CEO
TODAY
In the spirit of the recent International Women’s Day, our Burnaby
office organized a donation drive to support the Downtown Eastside
Women’s Centre in Vancouver. Many bags and boxes of clothing,
household items, books, and other necessities were collected enough to fill an entire office! Thank you to Stacy Boczulak for
leading this campaign in support of those less fortunate in our
communities.
15 Year
Bob Hawboldt
some of our Edmonton Movember team show off their Mo’s
Warm winter gear collection for Mission Possible
Our Burnaby office collected many winter jackets,
sweaters, blankets, sleeping bags, and even
provided some Christmas decorations to aid
people challenged by homelessness and poverty in
Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Thanks to Jacquie
Arnouse for leading the collection drive!
Employee News
Burnaby staff with large assortment of collection items for the Downtown
Eastside Women’s Centre in Vancouver
Sutha Suthaker, Ph.D., P.Eng. has been
appointed as National Practice Leader, Water
Treatment. He will provide leadership and
technical support in water treatment to staff and
clients. Sutha has over 25 years of experience
in modelling and optimization of water treatment
processes. He has participated in many projects
involving innovative process and technologies to
meet stringent water quality guidelines.
Bob Hawboldt, Ph.D., P.Eng. has been
appointed as National Practice Leader, Fluid
Dynamics. He will provide leadership and
technical support in fluid dynamics and
modelling to staff and clients. Bob has 30 years
of experience specializing in computational fluid
dynamics (CFD), hydraulic transient analysis,
and analysis of pumping systems, flow control,
mixing, conveyance, and water storage.
Michael Whalley, M.Eng., P.Eng. has been
appointed as National Practice Leader,
Wastewater Treatment. He will provide leadership
and technical support in wastewater treatment
and water resource recovery to staff and clients.
Mike has over 35 years of experience in the
design of wastewater treatment facilities. He is a
recognized expert in disinfection of wastewater
and water by ultraviolet disinfection.
Freda Leong, P.Eng. has been appointed
Manager, First Nations Infrastructure in our
Burnaby office. Freda is a Senior Civil Engineer
with 18 years of experience. She has managed
numerous First Nations projects throughout BC.
Her recent projects have included feasibility
studies, design and construction of water
supply and treatment, sewage collection, and
residential and community drainage systems.
AE Today is published for employees and friends of
the Associated Engineering group of companies.
Visit our web site at www.ae.ca for past issues of
AE Today and for office contact information. If you
would prefer to receive AE Today via email, please
email [email protected].
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Burnaby office donates items to Women’s Centre for International
Women’s Day
associatedeng
Comments or suggestions for future issues can
be made to: Lianna Mah, M.Eng., P.Eng., FEC,
Editor
(t): 604-293-1411
(f) 604-291-6163
or email us at [email protected]
associatedengineering
associated-engineering
www.ae.ca
11
Wood Innovation and Design Centre showcases expertise
and global leadership in wood design and construction
(l) Exterior of the Wood Innovation Design Centre
(r) Interior of the Wood Innovation Design Centre showing some of the wood elements
The Government of British Columbia conceived the idea of
developing an innovative, all-wood facility in 2009, and through
Partnerships BC, initiated the Wood Innovation and Design Centre as
a design-build project. Following preliminary stakeholder consultation
and planning, efforts began on a business case to define the
project’s needs and requirements. The intent of the facility was to
help promote expertise in advanced building systems, engineered
wood products, interior wood design, and other value-added wood
products. Located in the City of Prince George, the project would
also support the revitalization of the municipality’s downtown.
Partnership BC wished to push the boundaries of what was possible
under the BC Building Code for wood construction, and retained
Associated Engineering as part of the Owner’s Technical Team to
provide technical guidance. Our team members brought extensive
experience and knowledge of heavy timber structures, as well as
special wood products. As the owner’s technical representative,
we developed the first Site-Specific Regulation and Building Code
Compliance Strategy, addressing structural implications of using
wood solutions for tall and multi-use structures.
Mark Porter, Structural Engineer and Division Manager, Technical
Services, tells us, “We worked closely with provincial and local
governments to achieve acceptance for the possible approaches in
anticipation of what proponents might provide.” The major challenges
were building code compliance, structural systems, and acoustical
control, as well as electrical, lighting, and communication.
The Request For Proposals documents specified that wood was to
be a predominant material in both the interior and exterior designs,
as well as in the main structural systems. The project’s goal was
to highlight new and innovative wood building products and
techniques and in doing so catalyze new wood product development,
commercialization and adoption.” Current BC Building Code
requirements mandated that a building of this height and occupancy
be of non-combustible construction. We worked closely with key
stakeholders, including provincial officials, code consultants, and
researchers, to develop a Site Specific Regulation for proponents to
use as the foundation of their design proposals.
12
TODAY
We developed Request for Proposal documents
that satisfied stakeholders and met the vision for
this world-class centre of excellence.
Structural Engineer, Jermyn Wong, says, “Flexibility was built into
the Statement of Requirements to handle new and creative design
suggestions, such as the possibility of a proponent suggesting
a wood core for the building.” Specifically, the Statement of
Requirements stated that, “The Design-Builder should consider
design decisions that deviate from the indicative design when such
deviations serve to improve an aspect of the design.” As the expert
evaluation team was comprised of leaders in wood building design
and construction, environment, engineering and other technical
areas, we provided the necessary input and review of viable technical
considerations.
By developing Site Specific Regulations to accompany the BC
Building Code and the project’s Request for Proposal, the team
facilitated the safe use of engineered wood. The facility shows the
positive outcomes arising from expansion of current building codes made possible with thorough risk analysis and project management.
The final design effectively met the conditions outlined in the Request
For Proposals documents, using a selection of wood materials
sourced from throughout British Columbia, including Douglas-fir,
cedar, hemlock, pine, and spruce. In addition, the project parameters
enabled the use of engineered wood products prefabricated and/or
produced in BC.
Completed in fall 2014, the iconic six-storey Wood Innovation
and Design Centre is the tallest, multi-use wood building in North
America.
The centre is a model for future tall buildings using wood as a key
component.