B.C. engineers salute their best work at ACEC-BC awards

British Columbia engineers highlighted their accomplishments at a recent awards celebration. The British Columbia chapter of the Associated Engineering Companies of Canada (ACEC-BC) held its 26th annual Awards for Engineering Excellence at the Vancouver Convention Centre on April 10.

"This year’s winners represent the best and brightest that our industry has to offer, and are a testament to the amazing work of B.C.’s consulting engineers that we have been showcasing on this stage for 26 years," said association president Keith Sashaw.

Awards were given in the categories of Buildings, Municipal & Civil Infrastructure, Transportation & Bridges, Energy & Industry, and Soft Engineering.

The Champlain Bridge Superbeam and Modular Truss project, located in Montreal, Quebec, was singled out for not only an award in the Transportation and Bridges category, but also won the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Engineering Excellence.

Buckland & Taylor was the consultant on the project.

The project was hit with an emergency situation when a major flexural crack was discovered in one of the post-tensioned girders of the bridge.

It was repaired over the next 48 hours by installing a stabilizing component – the Superbeam – until the winter weather subsided.

A steel truss was later installed as a permanent solution, allowing removal of the Superbeam.

"It’s quite special for us to be recognized by our peers. There were a lot of great projects up for awards and I’m very surprised we won given the competition we were up against, but I’m very pleased given the effort and complexity of the project," said Buckland & Taylor chief product manager Andrew Griezic said.

Fast + Epp won in the Buildings category for their work on the Kin Centre Complex in Prince George, B.C. and Urban Systems Ltd. took top prize in Municipal and Civil Infrastructure for their work on the Kamloops Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrades project.

The Nanaimo No. 1 and Energy Recovery Facility netted the Energy and Industry award for Associated Engineering, and in the Soft Engineering category, Morrison Hershfield won for their Building Envelope Thermal Bridging Guide created for BC Hydro Power Smart.

The Young Professional award was given to Mark Byram of Levelton Consultants Ltd., who has served as chair of the ACEC-BC’s Young Professionals’ Group and as an ex-officio member of the ACEC-BC board of directors.

The Meritorious Achievement award went to John Collings of Collings Johnston Inc.

He has worked in the transportation industry and has served on advisory and technical committees of national boards including the Transportation Research Board, Vancouver Board of Trade, and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada.

"Here’s a man that has spent 40 years in the industry and has spent decades in terms of contributing to not only ACEC-BC but learned societies and providing leadership and mentoring opportunities," said Sashaw.

"He really is a wonderful role model for everyone in the industry," Sashaw said.