BIOENGINEERING DEMONSTRATING THE BENEFITS OF - Tax Incentives for R&D Energy-efficient Recladding - Canadian Consulting ...
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For professional engineers in private practice MARCH/APRIL 2021
DEMONSTRATING
THE BENEFITS OF
BIOENGINEERING
Tax Incentives for R&D
Energy-efficient Recladding
Public Engagement for
Infrastructure Projects
PM# 40065710
www.canadianconsultingengineer.com
the ART of Building
Sustainability
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BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY.
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will they provide a way
forward that maintains
backward compatibility?
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contents
March/April 2021
Volume 62, No. 2
features
Twinning Alberta’s Highway 15
Planning and design were fast-tracked for a new highway bridge and
architectural underslung pedestrian bridge over the North Saskatchewan
River. Construction is expected to finish next year.
Cover photo courtesy Kerr Wood Leidal Associates By Dan Morin 12
See page 16
A Net-Zero Fire Hall
A fire hall that opened in 2018 in Richmond, B.C., targeted both LEED Gold
certification and net-zero emission performance, in part by using structural
thermal breaks to support and insulate its cantilevered roof.
By Tracy Dacko 14
Demonstrating the Benefits of Bioengineering
Along Alberta’s Bow River, a new initiative has showcased next-generation
techniques for protecting riverbanks from flooding, as an alternative to such
conventional methods as rock riprap.
By Mike Gallant, P.Eng. 16
Making the Most of R&D Incentives
Many of Canada’s consulting engineers are not aware of valuable research
and development (R&D) tax incentives that can be reinvested in their work,
let alone how to go about claiming them.
By Richard Hoy 18
See page 14
Calculating Arc Flash Incident Energy and Boundary
It is important for electrical engineers to be familiar with IEEE 1584.1, a guide
that explains steps to complete a power system study, calculate arc flash
incident energy and boundary and generate a quality engineering report.
By Terry Becker, P.Eng. 22
departments
Comment 4
on topic
Up Front 5
ACEC Review 7
Products 28 LEGAL CONVERSATION
For consulting engineers retained A Natural Resources Canada
to provide services in relation (NRCan) pilot project is bringing
to public engagement for large aging community housing units
infrastructure projects, there in one Ottawa neighbourhood
Next issue: are many important factors to to net-zero energy performance
Future-ready mechanical consider, including legal risks. through the addition of custom
systems. By Karen L. Weslowski 24 prefabricated exterior panels. 30
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 3
engineer
FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE
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4 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021
up front
its Westside irrigation canal project,
which comprises Clifton Associates,
Associated Engineering (AE) and
Stantec.
The team will be led by Regina-
based Clifton. The work will encom-
Rendering courtesy LAC
pass the first stage of the Lake Diefen-
baker irrigation expansion, the largest
infrastructure project in the Saskatch-
ewan’s history, which is intended to
double the province’s amount of irrig-
able land.
Ottawa super-library aims for ing the open-pit mine’s remaining
Photo courtesy Associated Engineering
net-zero carbon infrastructure and rehabilitating the
The Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and remote (fly-in/fly-out) site. Golder will
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) offer employment opportunities for
are making significant enhancements nearby Indigenous community mem-
to their new joint facility to achieve bers in the day-to-day management
net-zero carbon performance. of the site, including direct hiring of
Prior to these changes, the design labourers and operators and company
for the building in downtown Ottawa’s contracts for security, cleaning and
LeBreton Flats district already com- catering, among other services. Both
plied with the Leadership in Energy Golder and De Beers will provide skills Over the next 12 to 18 months,
and Environmental Design (LEED) training and business development to the team will complete an overall
Gold standard, which addresses eco- serve the community after the mine’s preliminary engineering design for
logical land and water use, energy effi- closure. the first and second phases, which will
ciency and sustainable materials. Now, inform geotechnical, soil suitability
$34.5 million in additional federal and geographical mapping, environ-
Photo courtesy De Beers Group
funding will also allow for: mental services and extensive consul-
• building envelope and insulation tations with First Nations and other
upgrades. stakeholders.
• triple-glazed windows. “This legacy project will reinforce
• rooftop and façade solar panels. Saskatchewan’s position as a leader
• an indoor ‘green wall.’ in global food security, while building
• additional sustainable materials. on the vision made possible by the
“Golder has a strong track record creation of Lake Diefenbaker half a
The major infrastructure project is of successful closure and rehabilita- century ago,” says Wayne Clifton, CEO
scheduled to begin construction this tion of industrial sites around the of the firm that carries his name.
year, be completed in 2024 and offi- world, including working with local The first phase will rehabilitate and
cially open to the public in 2025. communities where they operate,” says expand the canal system to increase
This is the second major sustain- Maxwell Morapeli, De Beers’ head of irrigable land by 80,000 acres. The
able infrastructure project for LAC; it asset retirement. “We look forward to second phase will further build out
is building a new net-zero carbon pres- benefiting from their experience as the project, adding 260,000 acres.
ervation facility in Gatineau, Que., we continue the responsible closure of Finally, the third phase will build out
which is set to open next year. Victor mine.” the Qu’Appelle south water convey-
The closure project mobilized ance project, adding an estimated
Golder to lead closure of Golder’s team—including construc- 120,000 acres.
Ontario’s only diamond mine tion, environmental and mining spe-
De Beers Group has appointed Golder cialists—to the site earlier this year NRCan helps fund Fast + Epp’s
as prime contractor for the closure and the work is expected to continue mass-timber HQ
of the Victor Mine, Ontario’s first to 2023. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
and only diamond mine, which oper- announced funding support for con-
ated from 2008 to 2019 in the James Saskatchewan names team for struction of consulting engineering
Bay Lowlands, some 90 km west of Westside irrigation canal firm Fast + Epp’s new head office,
Attawapiskat First Nation. The government of Saskatchewan through the Green Construction
The work will include demolish- has named the engineering team for through Wood (GCWood) Program.
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 5
up front
• Ann Clancy, manager (infrastruc- COMPANIES
ture and environmental manage- CIMA+ acquires Groupe-
ment), Hatfield Consultants. conseil TDA
• Louise Curran, senior cost consul- CIMA+ has acquired Groupe-
Photo courtesy Fast + Epp
tant, Turner & Townsend. conseil TDA (TDA Consulting
• Christina Fletcher, advisor, Collings
Group), headquartered in Baie-
Johnston.
• Harminder Kaur, associate direc-
Comeau, Que., which has more
tor, Turner & Townsend. than 70 employees, including
• Anita Le, project manager and engineers, technicians and senior
The four-storey mass-timber hybrid group leader, Jacobs. managers. The acquisition brings
office is being built in Vancouver. • Dayna Peloquin, structural engi- the total number of CIMA+
Federal minister of digital govern- neer, WSP Canada. employees to more than 2,400 and
ment Joyce Murray visited the site in • Michelle Saumure, structural engi- expands its presence in Quebec’s
early March to announce $648,250 in neer and project manager, WSP North Shore region.
support. Canada.
“The building will serve as a living • Christine Tschetter, director of Hatch celebrates 65 years
lab, with ongoing thermal, moisture project services, RAM Engineering. Hatch, headquartered in
and vibration monitoring,” says Fast • Jessica Wheatley, project engineer Mississauga, Ont., is continuing
+ Epp partner Paul Fast. “It will also (infrastructure), WSP Canada.
to mark its 65th anniversary in
house a concept lab, where physical • Adrienne Willoughby, process engi-
testing of mass timber components neer, Jacobs.
2021. The firm was founded in
will take place.” Toronto in 1955 as W.S. Atkins &
The GCWood Program, first Meanwhile, nominees for Outstanding Associates. Early projects included
announced with the federal govern- Leader include: Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
ment’s 2017 budget, encourages the • Amrita Banerjee, senior project subway tunnels and the Quebec
use of wood in non-traditional con- manager (highway design), Binnie. Iron & Titanium (now Rio Tinto)
struction projects, including tall and • Jo Balmer, associate (program and metallurgical complex in Sorel-
low-rise non-residential buildings and project manager), Arup Canada. Tracy, Que. Gerry Hatch joined
bridges. It has made $39.8 million • Luba Ebert, director of project in 1958 and the company was
available over a four-year period, start- delivery, RAM Engineering. renamed Hatch in 1962. Today, the
ing in 2018-2019, with non-repayable • Karen Freund, vice-president (VP) company has grown to encompass
contributions to projects’ eligible and geographic sales manager for
more than 9,000 employees in
incremental costs for demonstrating Canada, Jacobs.
innovative wood products and systems. • Sarah Howard, manager (build-
more than 70 offices around the
ings/structures), WSP Canada. world.
Engineering firms represented • Arielle Kadoch, sector leader
in nominations for 2021 WIN (transmission and distribution Englobe acquires
Awards power delivery in Canada and for Terraprobe
The Women’s Infrastructure Network North American export), Stantec. Englobe, which specializes in
(WIN) announced the nominees for • Karen McMillan, senior manager soil, material and environmental
its 2021 awards program, including (infrastructure management), Hat- engineering and has offices
many professionals at Canadian con- field Consultants. across Canada and Europe, has
sulting engineering firms. Nominees • Kerra Mruss, manager (transporta- acquired consulting engineering
for Emerging Leader include: tion planning), WSP Canada. firm Terraprobe, headquartered
• Christina Addorisio, associate • Tamar Nalbandian, manager
in Brampton, Ont. The companies
director, Turner & Townsend. (mechanical and electrical engi-
• Bailey Arnott, structural engineer, neering), WSP Canada.
have partnered on projects in the
WSP Canada. • Tamsin Silvester, director (trans- past. The acquisition increases
• Annie Batsaikhan, senior cost con- portation systems), WSP Canada. Englobe’s presence in the province’s
sultant, Turner & Townsend. • Jennifer Stephenson, senior engi- Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula
• Marie-Eve Belzile, infrastructure neer and project manager (build- region, provides additional
maintenance manager, SNC-Laval- ings/structures), WSP Canada. support to its own office in nearby
in. Brantford and adds approximately
• Marie-Pier Charbonneau, senior WIN will present both awards at a vir- 200 employees.
legal counsel, SNC-Lavalin. tual event on Apr. 29.
6 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING
ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW
CHAIR’S MESSAGE
COVID One Year Later: Optimism Grows But Uncertainty Remains
I
t has now been a year since the start team. This provided us with an opportunity to directly
of the COVID-19 crisis. While the make our case to balance core and transformational
consulting engineering industry has investments and to accelerate current commitments in
been able to sustain itself over the last order to inject much needed money into the economy
12 months, compared to other sectors, sooner, providing much-needed stimulus to strengthen
there is continued uncertainty and con- the post-COVID recovery while closing the infrastruc-
cern regarding the coming construction ture deficit more quickly to strengthen the economy in
season and beyond. Recovery of the cur- the longer term. Furthermore, this could more evenly
rent economic crisis will require a major stimulus - and distribute the investments year-over-year, which would
no form of stimulus is more effective than infrastructure. help our industry and our municipal partners to manage
However, this will require significant and timely invest- resources and capacity.
ment by the private and public sectors. Minister McKenna, acknowledging the knowledge,
In support of its members, ACEC-Canada has long expertise and practicality of our members, recognizes
advocated for predictable, sustained infrastructure that our industry is willing and well-positioned to help
investment to ensure the consulting engineering indus- government achieve its infrastructure goals. Some areas
try and its partners in construction can maintain capac- in which ACEC-Canada and its members’ expertise can
ity. It is a message that is critical now more than ever for be of particular assistance include supporting govern-
the government to hear and understand as it develops its ment plans for a national infrastructure assessment
plan for post-COVID economic recovery. and identifying effective, industry-recognized best prac-
In the past months, various announcements that touch tices for sustainable engineering (such as Envision or re-
on and include infrastructure investments have been instituting the National Guide to Sustainable Municipal
delivered by the government. The programs announced Infrastructure). ACEC-Canada has also offered to facili-
to date have reflected an emphasis on achieving climate tate a Canada-wide roundtable of experts in delivering
change goals and developing a green economy. While infrastructure to help the Minister achieve the govern-
ACEC-Canada agrees with the government that there is ment’s infrastructure goals.
a unique opportunity to invest in “transformative” proj- The ACEC-Canada team based in Ottawa continues to
ects, it is also an opportunity to strengthen the economy follow up with Minister McKenna and officials at Infra-
by closing the infrastructure deficit. In fact, investing in structure Canada to identify ways of collaborating toward
core infrastructure is necessary to provide the economic effective and efficient infrastructure programs that not
capacity for the success of these transformative projects. only support our industry but, more importantly, also
Core infrastructure can be developed sustainably while improve the economic, social and environmental quality
also creating jobs, stimulating the economy, closing the of life for all Canadians.
infrastructure deficit and making investments in trans- It is worth noting that we are not alone in our advoca-
formative projects economically viable in the long-term. cy. We joined with our stakeholder partners as the Build-
Also, core infrastructure can address immediate needs in ing for Recovery coalition in order to educate policy and
smaller, remote and/or Indigenous communities. decision makers on the importance of the design and
It is also important that these investments be made in construction sector and the important role it can play in
a timely manner. While there is no doubt that the federal rebuilding our economy. For this edition of ACEC Review,
government has made significant commitments to infra- we talked to our partners at the Canadian Construction
structure, many programs were significantly back-end Association, the Nation Trade Contractors Council of
loaded, with large amounts of investment planned for Canada and the Allied Equipment Distributors about
the later years of the programs. These are already com- the coalition and how we can help lead Canada out of
mitted funds that could make an important difference the pandemic toward a better future for Canadians. I
now, rather than in three or four years. encourage you to visit the Building for Recovery website
Along with ACEC-Canada President and CEO John (www.buildforrecovery.ca) and add your voice to this
Gamble and Vice-President Martine Proulx, I recently campaign.
had the opportunity to meet with Infrastructure and ANTHONY KARAKATSANIS, P.ENG.
Communities Minister Catherine McKenna and her CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ACEC-CANADA
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 7
IN DISCUSSION
with
What is the most important
I
n Discussion with ACEC is a series of informal conversations between ACEC- thing the federal government
Canada, government decision makers and business leaders. In this edition, can do to leverage
ACEC-Canada speaks to the Building for Recovery coalition, formed to put infrastructure investments?
pressure on elected officials to get committed infrastructure funding flowing and
help rebuild the Canadian economy in the wake of COVID-19. CCA - The federal government must
The coalition includes ACEC-Canada, the Associated Equipment Distributors ensure committed infrastructure
(AED), the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and the National Trade funding is fully allocated. In addition,
Contractors Council of Canada (NTCCC). by ensuring timely approvals are deliv-
ered to projects, the government can
stimulate the economy as we head into
About the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) pandemic recovery. The evidence –
CCA is the only national association representing contractors (general, trade, like that of the Public Policy Forum
civil) and manufacturers, service providers and suppliers in Canada. Backed by in their report, Building the Future:
20,000 member firms drawn from 63 local and provincial integrated partner Strategic Infrastructure for Long-Term
associations, CCA gives voice to the public policy, legal and standards develop- Growth – shows that for every dollar
ment goals of contractors, suppliers and allied business professionals working invested in public infrastructure, gov-
in or with Canada’s institutional, commercial and industrial (ICI) construction ernments can expect to see a return
industry. in investment of two to four dollars. It
creates immediate employment and,
About Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) more importantly, it also creates new
AED is the international trade association representing companies that sell, rent, resources and opportunities for com-
service and manufacture construction, farm, energy, mining, forestry and indus- munities. From roads to housing to
trial equipment and related supplies. The Canadian equipment distribution broadband to hospitals, infrastruc-
industry, which is dominated by small-medium-sized, family-owned businesses, ture benefits everyone. These invest-
has more than 420 locations across Canada that employ over 27,000 workers and ments improve social, economic and
accounts for at least $8 billion in annual economic activity. environmental quality of life for all
Canadians and fuel economic growth
About the National Trade Contractors Council of Canada (NTCCC) for decades to come. With federal
NTCCC represents the best interests of the trade contracting sector in Canada and provincial governments work-
in the context of the industry as a whole. NTCCC’s member associations rep- ing in collaboration with Canada’s
resent over 12,000 firms across Canada. The Council has identified several key construction sector, we can ensure
projects of focus: prompt payment legislation, both federally and provincially; that we build back a stronger, more
supporting the use of unaltered forms of industry-accepted standard forms of resilient country from the pandemic.
contracts; improvement of drawings and the impact on construction efficiency; The time is now to deliver on billions
and support for industry-wide acceptance of a national change order standard, of dollars of investments, so that we
combined with a national education/awareness program. can start to rebuild our economy.
To learn more about Building for Recovery and its stakeholder organizations, AED - Despite the need for stimulus
visit www.buildforrecovery.ca. and the billions of dollars of existing
infrastructure commitments, many of
8 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021
these commitments are aren’t planned back better also presents an oppor- skilled labour in many different indus-
for several years. And many of the cur- tunity to eliminate the infrastructure tries. It also staunches the industry’s
rent commitments have been slow deficit, noted as recently as 2019 in continued capacity for innovating and
to roll out. Delays in getting projects the Canadian Infrastructure Report Card. improving upon existing methods. A
started is a missed opportunity to Growing the economy will be essen- clear, balanced and flexible pipeline
inject much needed stimulus into the tial to making further investments in of projects will create jobs, enhance
economy while closing the infrastruc- community and social infrastructure communities and ensure stability in
ture deficit and improving the quality more viable in the long term and the Canadian economy going forward.
of life for Canadians. The Parliamen- ensuring the design and construction Beyond new builds, the 2019 Canadian
tary Budget Officer recently expressed sector remains stable should future Infrastructure Report Card warned that
concern that the federal government outbreaks occur in the shorter term. Canada is facing a serious infrastruc-
is behind in its investments through The construction sector is ready to ture deficit, with seven different asset
the Investing in Canada plan by over $2 rebuild Canada’s economy, but all categories defined as needing urgent
billion. Now is the time to deliver on levels of government must deliver on upgrade or repair. The timely approv-
these commitments. We need to catch infrastructure investments now to get al of projects and swift rollout of exist-
up to spur economic growth, create projects started. ing funding is critical in addressing
jobs and provide confidence to the these issues and will have long-term
industry and the private sector. When What are some of the risks benefits on communities. Studies also
the construction sector is working, all associated with delayed show that every dollar invested at key
other parts of the Canadian economy construction projects? Likewise, points in an asset’s life cycle results in
are also growing. what are some of the benefits six to 10 dollars in savings later. An
in better supporting the ample supply of projects in uninter-
NTCCC - The federal government’s industry with timely approvals? rupted cycles also helps our firms to
Investing in Canada Plan appropriately continue our workforce training and
seeks to leverage infrastructure invest- CCA - Canada’s construction indus- recruitment efforts.
ments to improve communities and try continued to operate throughout
create opportunities for more Cana- COVID-19 with relatively little disrup- How has the pandemic affected
dians over the long term. Considering tion. As such, it is well-positioned to supply chains in the United
the impact of COVID-19 on the econ- be on the frontline of Canada’s eco- States and Canada and what
omy, the plan should allow additional nomic recovery, but delays to existing can be done to better address
flexibility for project selection and and future projects can have immense gaps in the system?
give immediate priority to infrastruc- drawbacks. Without predictability on
ture that grows the economy, creates project timelines, it is difficult for AED - While the pandemic has
jobs and re-invigorates local commu- firms to bid accordingly, which can impacted the equipment supply chain
nities. Supporting a broad base of cause severe issues of sector capac- in several ways, it is important to
infrastructure will also provide the ity if projects are being awarded in note that prior to COVID-19, it was
economic capacity to invest in long- boom/bust cycles. This has a further already strained. Increased machin-
term, transformative projects, while impact on workforce retention – work- ery demand resulted in longer lead
providing support to small communi- ers cannot be expected to remain idle times than those to which the industry
ties that often most need it. Investing for lengthy periods of time, especially was accustomed. The situation was
in infrastructure to help Canada build when there is such a high demand for exacerbated by trade and tariff issues,
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 9
ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING
ENGINEERING COMPANIES | REVIEW
including the uncertainty surrounding the Canada-United ers to adequately meet market demand and distributors to
States-Mexico Trade Agreement, which was only final- maintain proper inventory levels to fulfill the needs of its
ized in 2020. During the pandemic, manufacturers were customers—the companies building and maintaining vital
forced to significantly reduce operations due to public infrastructure.
health requirements, resulting in even longer lead times
on equipment orders. Shipping capacity in many areas is What are the benefits of having a predictable
overwhelmed, delaying product delivery, and ports have pipeline of skilled jobs on communities, families
had significant backlogs. Meanwhile, in both Canada and and economic recovery at large?
the United States, construction work continued.
To alleviate the strain on the heavy equipment supply NTCCC - Trade contractors are, for the most part, small
chain, first, the COVID-19 pandemic must be resolved. to medium size businesses that depend on a steady cash
Defeating the virus will allow manufacturers to increase flow to operate. A stable stream of jobs and projects allows
workforce and production. Additionally, governments at them to grow their workforces by bringing on apprentices
all levels must resolve the uncertainty surrounding infra- because they will have confidence in having a sustainable
structure funding and spending. Otherwise, contractors workflow. This is an economic win-win-win for the indus-
postpone equipment purchases, which impacts how dis- try, for our communities and for Canadians at large.
tributors stock and maintain inventory. Long-term predict- When there is uncertainty regarding projects, whether
ability in infrastructure investments will allow manufactur- it be delays or cancellations, trade contractors will imme-
diately reduce their workforce, as they are unable
to maintain employees on the payroll who are not
actively working. With continued uncertainty, it is
likely that contractors will continue to operate with a
Succession planning: reduced workforce, leading to less economic oppor-
tunities overall. Additionally, they will reduce invest-
Building resiliency for the future ment back into their business to maintain liquidity to
deal with a volatile or uncertain flow of projects. This
By Rowley Mossop, Principal, Innovia reduces employment and puts pressure on the ability
innoviapartners.com to train new apprentices. And it is trade contractors
that employ 80% to 90% of workers on any given job
O
ver the past year, we have been advising clients to use the site. Their ability to take on and train new appren-
pandemic as an opportunity to double-down on organi- tices is critical to ensuring workforce availability in
zational design and building resiliency. More recently, construction. It also creates uncertainty in the work-
however, we have witnessed an appetite for one service in force, as there is less assurance of long-term work and
particular: succession planning. fewer available jobs, reducing total wages flowing into
While Covid upended business as usual, it didn’t alter households and, consequently, household spending.
the fact that every firm will eventually change hands. Some The reduced employment opportunities impact com-
principals have found that their assumptions about succession munities at large, as construction is a large employer
didn’t hold up under the pressures of the downturn. Business across Canada.
owners are not only concerned with ensuring their financial When private and public sector investment does
security, but also a horizon of leadership that will safeguard start flowing following a contraction, contractors are
the future of the companies they’ve worked so hard to build. faced with and must respond to a rapid increase in
The earlier that owners begin planning, the greater demand. This often generates economic overexten-
the probability of success; this is even more true in the face sion and solvency issues, since trade contractors gen-
of increased risks. Developing an effective succession plan erally finance the first 60 days on the job and require
entails taking an integrated look at business strategy, people, cash flow to take on new work. Often, they become
and finances. Leaders who understand succession planning as stretched too thin and solvency issues occur. If the flow
a value-building process for the long game will see near-term of work and project were steady, it would create better
advantages: by proactively raising the expertise of their staff, financial health for trade contractors, construction
they are creating meaningful career pathways, increasing their workers and their families, as well as the communities
firm’s ability to grow and pursue strategic opportunities, and where they live.
ensuring long-term sustainability.
10 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021To celebrate International Women’s Day,
eight of Canada’s leading construction media
brands teamed up to deliver an exclusive
virtual event. You can view the content on-
demand, and stay on top of news throughout
the year, at women-in-construction.ca.
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CANADA’S WINDOW AND DOOR MAGAZINE GLASS CANADAtransportation
Twinning Alberta’s
Highway 15
Planning and design were fast-tracked.
By Dan Morin
T
he twinning of Highway 15 near Fort Saskatchewan, government fast-tracked its delivery.
Alta., is adding a new 330-m long highway bridge and The existing river bridge carried just one lane of undi-
architectural underslung pedestrian bridge over the vided traffic in each direction, resulting in a significantly
North Saskatchewan River, along with roadway, retaining substandard level of service, given the volume of 23,000-
wall and other bridge work on both sides of the river. plus vehicles per day—more than 50% higher than in 2009
Planning and detailed design, completed in 2019, were and continuing to grow.
fast-tracked to address congestion and safety issues for In the past, collisions often resulted in the entire bridge
this important corridor between Edmonton and Alberta’s being closed to vehicles, which made for long lines of traf-
Industrial Heartland. AECOM’s Edmonton team served fic, with no nearby alternative for crossing the river and
as prime consultant and delivered the design within 14 restricting access for emergency services. The twinning will
months by working collaboratively with stakeholders. Proj- improve safety and reduce disruption caused by accidents.
ects of this magnitude typically take upward of three to four The underslung pedestrian bridge, meanwhile, will pro-
years to plan and design. vide an important link for pedestrians and cyclists between
Alberta’s ministry of transportation challenged AECOM an existing trail network within Fort Saskatchewan and a
with the aggressive schedule, which called for an innovative recently constructed trail that runs along the west side of
approach to project management and risk management. the river in Sturgeon County.
Both parties realized the traditional planning and design
process needed to be modified to reduce timelines without Design challenges
compromising on technical attention to detail and report- The roadway’s vertical alignment design was very challeng-
ing requirements. The project relied upon regular discus- ing to meet the clearance requirements of the existing
sions with the City of Fort Saskatchewan, Sturgeon County, overpasses on both sides of the river and the freeboard
the River Valley Alliance, utility companies, regulatory to the underslung pedestrian bridge. This challenge was
agencies, CN Rail and private landowners. addressed with an innovative superstructure arrangement,
Construction began in 2019 and should finish in 2022. with tapered girders along three of the five spans.
With the pier locations selected to optimize the struc-
The need for improvement tural efficiency of the tapered superstructure, the piers
The twinning of Highway 15 will provide wide-reaching and were positioned away from the deepest portion of the river.
long-lasting benefits for Albertans. Improved access will This would reduce the project’s in-stream work, construc-
help support the economic growth of the region, where tion risk, scheduling, costs and environmental footprint.
planned development includes two multi-billion-dollar Technical innovation also extended to a number of the
petrochemical facilities. Reduced travel times will benefit bridge details, including casting the deck expansion joints
Renderings courtesy AECOM
not only commuters to the Industrial Heartland, but also into position after all joint rotations to better support super-
agricultural producers and businesses across Fort Saskatch- imposed dead loads and significantly reduce structural
ewan, Sturgeon County and Strathcona County. fatigue for the joint fingers. The slender structure of the
Indeed, the project is important for the efficient move- underslung portion, meanwhile, was designed to mitigate
ment of goods and people throughout the entire Alberta vibrations and resonance.
Capital Region and beyond, which is why the provincial Highway twinning beneath an existing CN Rail bridge
12 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021transportation
The project includes a pedestrian
bridge, to be illuminated at night. prequalifying general contractors, based on the
specific attributes required for the project.
In addition, AECOM ensured all utility cross-
ing agreements and environmental permits were
secured prior to the awarding of the construc-
tion contract and mitigations were in place for
risks during construction, such as scour of the
existing bridge piers. CCE
Dan Morin is a project manager for AECOM.
required AECOM to design two addi-
tional bridge lengthening spans while
allowing the railway to maintain oper-
ations throughout construction. This
required careful co-ordination plan-
ning.
On the east side of the river, the
highway’s design was widened from
two to four lanes within a constrained Leading
urban corridor. Soil nail retaining
walls were specified from the top down
with Science®
to retain the fills at the abutments of Tetra Tech’s scientists and
two city bridges. This design concept engineers are developing
meant theses bridges could be kept, sustainable solutions for the
rather than replaced, thus reducing world’s most complex projects.
the project’s cost and impact. With more than 3,500 employees
in Canada and 20,000 associates
Environmental impacts worldwide, we have grown to
The project team’s environmental become one of North America’s
goals included minimizing impacts, largest engineering firms.
securing all approvals and leaving a
long-lasting benefit.
The most significant environmen-
tal impact identified was constructing
the new river bridge piers, which use
earthen berms for access. The design
team was conscious to minimize the
number of permanent piers in the
river compared to the existing bridge,
to reduce permanent habitat loss for
fish. The team also specified minimal
construction and materials to limit
turbidity during berm installation.
Further, the underslung pedestrian
bridge will offer a sustainable trans-
portation option over the river for
cyclists and pedestrians and provide
a key connection for the River Valley
Alliance’s ‘Ribbon of Green’ vision,
which calls for a continuous network
of river valley trails from Devon to Fort
Saskatchewan.
Reducing risks
tetratech.com |
Reducing construction risk was anoth-
er key goal. This was achieved by
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 13
Tt_ad_CCE_island_MAR21.indd 1 3/26/2021 4:39:13 PM
CCE_Tetra_MarApril21.indd 1 2021-03-29 1:46 PMbuilding envelope
A Net-Zero Fire Hall
Structural thermal breaks help reduce energy consumption.
By Tracy Dacko
I
n 2018, a new fire hall opened in engineering firm Fast + Epp, wrapped carbon footprint.
Richmond, B.C., replacing an older a stout reinforced concrete shell in a “We saw the fire hall building as
building. Its design targeted LEED brick veneer for the first two levels. a gateway to the public sphere,” says
Gold certification and net-zero emis- The third storey, resting on top of this Steve DiPasquale, project lead for Van-
sion performance, in part by using plinth, has a steel frame structure, couver-based HCMA Architecture +
structural thermal breaks to support accommodating an open window-wall Design, another member of the team.
and insulate its cantilevered roof. system. The administrative offices are “We wanted a dramatic gesture, so
recessed by balconies on three sides. we designed the cantilevered roof to
Flagship facility To support the roof, six wide-flange serve as a marker for the pedestrian
Located on the western edge of Rich- steel beams span the length of the route that winds through a civic com-
mond’s civic precinct, the three-storey, structure and cantilever 6 ft beyond plex and terminates at City Hall.”
24,240-sf Brighouse Fire Hall No. 1 is the north side. On the south side, the
the flagship facility for the city’s fire- roof slopes upward and cantilevers 18 Preventing heat dissipation
rescue department, serving a region ft to shade one of the balconies. One of the project’s goals was to
Photos courtesy HCMA Architecture + Design
that includes Vancouver International A cross-laminated timber (CLT) reduce energy consumption by
Airport. The building includes four roof deck serves as a structural plate more than 50% compared to a base-
fire truck apparatus bays and training that spans the beams and provides a line building, as specified by Cana-
areas on the ground floor, living quar- warmer wood-finish material for the da’s Model National Energy Code.
ters on the second floor and adminis- underside. CLT, composed of dimen- Although the fire hall predates British
trative offices on the third floor. sional lumber glued in perpendicular Columbia’s newer Energy Step Code,
The building’s functions require layers, is growing in popularity for it nevertheless adheres to that code’s
fire-rated masonry construction. The floor plates, roof decks and shear walls mission of achieving net-zero perfor-
design team, including consulting because of its esthetic appeal and low mance by 2032.
14 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021building envelope
To achieve this goal, the design “As a steel beam passes from the
team specified efficient insulation, interior to the exterior, a thermal
heat recovery ventilator (HRV) sys- break reduces the risk of condensa-
tems and an air-to-air heat pump. tion forming in the middle of the wall
Unfortunately, energy modelling also assembly,” DiPasquale explains. “Oth-
revealed significant heat loss through erwise, once the assembly starts to
steel beams penetrating the building fail, water ingress and other moisture
envelope. related problems can develop.”
“We looked at several systems to The combined goals of energy effi-
create a thermal break in the beams, ciency and resilience called for careful
including a custom design, but we focus by the design team.
weren’t getting a big reduction,” says “The large cantilever isn’t
Ian Boyle, a principal structural engi- your everyday thermal break,” says
neer at Fast + Epp. DiPasquale. "We worked closely with
The firm had successfully used consultants in the planning and design
The beams are reinforced at the connection
structural thermal breaks on projects phases and then made sure the details
point of the steel-to-steel structural thermal
in much colder climates. Boyle pro- breaks, which are positioned in line with the were executed well in the field. Even if
posed using the same approach for wall assembly. you have a building that’s well-insulat-
the fire hall. ed, if those details don’t perform, you
The resulting roof design incorpo- balconies, canopies or roofs—present can really lose efficiency.” CCE
rates 60 steel-to-steel structural breaks the danger of introducing moisture
to thermally separate the six wide- into the wall assembly, when warmer, Tracy Dacko is marketing manager for
flange beams on either end, penetrat- moist air condenses on the cooler sur- Schöck North America, which engineers
ing the building envelope from the face of the steel. structural thermal breaks.
interior to the exterior. In addition to
reducing heat loss through the steel
beams, this approach provides struc-
tural support for both the long and ASPHALT JOINT TAPES
short cantilevers. Specifically, six struc-
tural thermal break modules were
used on each 18-ft cantilever and four
on each of the 6-ft cantilevers.
In the steel-to-steel thermal breaks,
stainless steel components penetrate
R-15 insulation blocks, enabling the
necessary structural integrity, while 3 YEARS 15 YEARS
reducing heat transfer by up to 75%. Without With
Densoband Densoband
“This approach uses stainless steel
instead of mild steel threaded rods DO IT ONCE • DO IT RIGHT • DO IT DENSO
and bolts,” Boyle explains. “Stainless
steel is about 70% less thermally con- COLD AND HOT APPLIED BITUMEN
ductive than mild steel.”
An added benefit of the material is JOINT SEALING TAPE
corrosion resistance. Re-Instatement Tape and Densoband are polymer
modified bitumen tapes for long-term sealing between
Providing resilience existing materials and new asphalt installations
Another special requirement for a
fire hall is the capability to serve as a
post-disaster facility. Regulations man-
date specific structural, mechanical
and electrical guidelines to ensure the
facility remains functional after earth- Denso North America Inc.
quakes and other calamities. LEADERS IN CORROSION PREVENTION & SEALING TECHNOLOGY
This need, too, informed the speci- (416) 291-3435 | sales@densona-ca.com
fication of the thermal breaks, since www.densona.com
cantilevered steel structures—such as
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 15
CCE_MarApril20_Denso.indd 1
CCE_DENSO_1-3SQUARE_JUNE19_LAZ.indd 1 2019-07-03 11:13
2019-07-03 3:58 PM
AMwater resources
Demonstrating
the Benefits of
BIOENGINEERING
Calgary’s ‘living laboratory’ openly shares new findings.
By Mike Gallant, P.Eng.
F
or Alberta, the Bioengineering both common and new techniques nique to allow for summer con-
Demonstration and Education and openly shared its documentation, struction, when live cuttings should
Project (BDEP) is a significant ini- research findings and performance not be used, to provide construc-
tiative that showcases next-generation monitoring results through a munici- tion schedule flexibility.
techniques for protecting riverbanks pal website, www.calgary.ca/BDEP, • a new scour protection technique
from flooding, as an alternative to which was launched in 2020. equivalent to riprap that uses only
such conventional methods as rock vegetation and locally available
riprap. About 100 trees, 2,300 shrubs Novel techniques materials.
and 30,000 live cuttings were planted Bioengineering is still an emerging • a new technique that combines
to improve riparian (i.e. aquatic-terres- field in Canada. In Alberta, specifical- live cuttings with rooted plants to
trial) health. ly, with a low rate of vegetation survival increase biodiversity, wildlife habi-
Alberta Environment and Parks (typically only around 50%), projects tat and nitrogen fixing.
partnered with the City of Calgary have not always been successful. • a new technique that incorporates
to undertake the BDEP to mitigate The BDEP, however, demonstrated submerged refuge shelters under
impact to fish habitats and improve how higher vegetation survival rates a timber crib wall to provide fish
riparian health along a 680-m stretch could be achieved using best practic- habitat along the bank.
of the Bow River in the community of es. Indeed, through focused attention
Inglewood, in the wake of a 2013 flood to vegetation design, installation and Challenges and resolutions
recovery program. maintenance, performance monitor- During the 2013 flood, the Bow Riv-
As design lead and engineer of ing shows the BDEP’s rate of vegeta- er’s velocity reached 4 to 5 m/s and
record, Kerr Wood Leidal Associates tion survival is 80%. the riverbed dropped by about 4.5 m
(KWL) of Calgary completed the proj- This was accomplished by imple- at the site, forming the river’s deepest
ect’s design in collaboration with Hem- menting 14 different techniques at scour hole in Calgary. After conduct-
mera Envirochem (prime consultant), 10 treatment areas with a variety of ing a detailed analysis, KWL designed
Terra Erosion Control (bioengineer- hydraulic, geotechnical and environ- a self-launching riprap scour apron
ing specialist), Polster Environmental mental conditions. Of these tech- that included rock structures for fish
Services (bioengineering specialist), niques, half were novel to Calgary, habitat.
O2 Planning & Design (landscape including: When the BDEP’s design was nearly
architect), and Thurber Engineering • three new techniques for vegetat- complete, a new transit bridge within
(geotechnical engineer) between July ing existing riprap bank protection the site was announced. KWL col-
Photo courtesy KWL.
2016 and September 2017, followed by works to enhance aquatic habitat, laborated with the bridge design team
construction by DFH Enterprises from wildlife passage, riparian health to minimize the need to redesign the
February 2018 to June 2019. and esthetics. BDEP. They worked to increase the
The project successfully showcased • a new vegetation preparation tech- bridge’s dimensions to accommodate
16 www.canadianconsultingengineer.com March/April 2021water resources
a wildlife corridor and two BDEP viewpoints. under the aforementioned bridges.
These measures had minimal impact on the Three techniques for retrofitting exist-
bridge’s cost and construction schedule. ing rock riprap erosion protection with veg-
The original contract included removal etation were piloted in the BDEP. Monitor-
and disposal of historic construction debris ing found the resulting vegetation survival
from the riverbank. The extendt of debris, rates ranged from 60% to 97%.
however, was larger than expected. Several
change orders had to be issued to facilitate Spreading the word
the removal and disposal of approximately Technical presentations about the BDEP
2,000 tonnes of concrete rubble, wood debris have been delivered at the site and at local
and rusting steel. About 100 trees, 2,300 shrubs and and international conferences. In addition
To secure an experienced contractor and 30,000 live cuttings were planted. to KWL-initiated research with the Univer-
reduce construction risk, the design team sity of Calgary, the project’s contract docu-
developed a custom tender evaluation based There were ments have been used as a template for 10
on price, experience and project understand- significant other projects within the same overall flood
ing. Even with this effort, 27 site instructions cost savings recovery program.
and 54 requests for information had to be compared to a The performance monitoring program is
administered over nine months during con- conventional still underway, with a 10-year duration, evalu-
struction. approach. ating and reporting on the project’s impact
on fish habitat, wildlife, riparian health and
Socioeconomic benefits bioengineering structural integrity. The first
The BDEP provides many social benefits. It increases bio- year’s results have already shown the BDEP’s effectiveness
diversity and improves riparian health and water quality by exceeds expectations. CCE
replacing riverbank debris with native vegetation; serves to
protect the historic neighbourhood of Inglewood from the Mike Gallant, P.Eng., is a senior water resources engineer with
next big flood; provides access to green space and an edu- KWL.
cational amphitheatre, gathering space and lookout points;
helps educate the public about bioengineering and riparian
health through interpretive signage; and links the Ingle-
wood Bird Sanctuary and Pearce Estate Park with a wildlife
corridor, nature trail and pathway; provides safe passage for
wildlife under Cushing Bridge and the new transit bridge.
As mentioned, it also shares key information with other
professionals, so they can incorporate bioengineering tech-
niques into their own designs and improve other projects’
outcomes. » Stormwater » Civil Infrastructure
The BDEP also provided cost savings. Its final construc-
tion cost was $4.15 million; a riprap design covering the » Facilities Design » Community
same project footprint would have cost about $5.15 million,
Infrastructure &
mostly due to the import of rock riprap. » Water Resources Development
Other, unquantified economic benefits come from
enhanced fish and wildlife habitats, improved water quality » Wastewater » Energy
and new recreation opportunities.
» Environment » Utility Management
Environmental benefits
Beyond those already mentioned, the BDEP achieved fur- » Water Supply & » Electrical
ther environmental enhancements. Treatment
For one, its fish habitat enhancements—including shel-
ters, overhanging vegetation, boulder clusters and rock
spurs—were so extensive, they earned offset credits for
Greater Vancouver | Vancouver Island
application on another municipal project.
The design team incorporated an existing nesting area Calgary | Okanagan | Kootenays
for federally protected bank swallows. During construction,
it was screened off to limit disturbance. After construction,
the swallows were observed returning to it. For more information visit, kwl.ca
Similarly, ongoing performance monitoring has con-
firmed local wildlife is using the corridors constructed for it
March/April 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineer 17
CCE_Kerr Wood Leidal_MarApr21_CSA.indd 1 2021-03-31 9:35 AMYou can also read
