Meet the Associates – Paul Paquet
We are thrilled to announce that Paul Paquet (P.Eng., M.A.Sc.) has joined the ASPECT team as an Associate in our Toronto office. Paul graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering, and in 2009 with a Master’s of Applied Science, Structural Engineering. He began his career working on Transportation, Infrastructure and Sport Facilities, then added Education and other sectors to the mix. He has extensive experience across North America, Asia, the UK, and the Middle East, and has been a key player in shaping the businesses he has been a part of.
Paul has worked on several high-profile and award-winning projects, including the Toronto Pearson Airport Pier G Expansion, York University Subway Station in Toronto, PanAm Games Athletics Stadium in Toronto, York University, Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence in Toronto, and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain
Paul strives to create avenues that promote innovation, and through his leadership drives streamlined communications between disciplines. He has a passion for sophisticated methods of working, and with advanced skills in parametric design and the implementation of digital workflows, he delivers high quality, tailored design solutions that add value to projects and communities.
SELECTED PROJECTS
TORONTO PEARSON AIRPORT PIER G EXPANSION*
The Pier G Expansion is a project designed to meet the continued growth of Toronto Pearson Airport. The first phase involved 3 temporary gates to facilitate the remainder of the construction. The second phase will involve a north connection and south expansion, and the last phase is a west expansion. Learn More…
Gensler | Toronto, ON
YORK UNIVERSITY SUBWAY STATION*
With its distinctive boomerang shape, the York University station serves Toronto’s second-largest university with a vital link to downtown. It features a station box of 160 meters, platform length of 150 meters and depth of 18.5 meters; the station box was efficiently ‘shoe-horned’ into the very tightly constrained site between existing settlement-sensitive buildings. Environmental features include cool roof and green roofs, increased daylight levels, and landscaping with native and drought-tolerant species. Learn more…
Foster+Partners, Adamson Associates Architects | Toronto, ON
PAN AM GAMES ATHLETICS STADIUM*
This stadium, now known as the York Lions Stadium, was designed to TO2015, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) specifications. The stadium includes 3,160 fixed-seating for spectators (7500 seats during games), Class 1, 400m track and infield, broadcast facilities, athlete change rooms, equipment storage, office and classroom space. The stadium has achieved LEED Silver certification. Learn More…
Cannon Design | Toronto, ON
YORK UNIVERSITY BERGERON CENTRE FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE*
This building is home to York University’s civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering programs. The five-storey structure looks weightless, with a cloud-like design intended to represent the principles that define the engineering program’s goals. The building contains a variety of teaching and research labs, workshops, collaborative classrooms, studio spaces and social areas for students and faculty, and is LEED Gold Certified. Learn more…
ZAS Architects | Toronto, ON
*Work performed prior to joining Aspect
PUBLICATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
Aside from engineering many state-of-the-art buildings, Paul has also engaged with the engineering community through the publication below:
| Journal of Engineering Mechanics, Volume 138, Issue 4 | Under-determined Blind Identification of Structures Using Modified Cross-Correlation Method | 2012 |
ASPECT couldn’t be happier to have Paul as a key member of our team. Our Associates are some of the best in the structural engineering business - learn more about our Associates.
Promotion Alert! – Ilana Danzig
We are super proud to announce that Ilana Danzig (P.Eng., Struct.Eng., PE, SE, M.Eng.) has recently been promoted to Associate Principal in our Vancouver office!
Since joining Aspect in 2019, Ilana has had a tremendous impact on both the work of the firm as well as professional growth of our team. She is extremely well respected as an engineer and mentor, both within our team and also within the industry - and has been a role model for many along the way. She brings the whole package to the table: top shelf technical excellence, a passion for teamwork and collaboration, and, importantly, a diplomacy and sense of humanity and compassion that she applies to all of her interactions.
As an Engineer, Ilana is especially passionate about structural mass timber design and seismic engineering. In her new position at ASPECT, she will play a key leadership role in the development of the Vancouver office, with focus on acquisition and delivery of projects in the US.
RECENT PROJECTS
Terminus Office Building
Langford, BC
A 5-storey mass timber post-and-beam building that contains the first ever steel Buckling Restrained Braces housed within a timber frame. Located in a high seismic region in Langford, BC, the lateral system needed to be highly ductile while allowing the wood to be exposed. The team therefore developed a glulam frame that provided the over strength and drift compatibility needed for a BRB system.
Architect: Jack James Architect
Tallwood 1
Langford, BC
A 12-storey encapsulated mass timber building consisting of ground-level commercial space and 11 storeys of residential units, with 1 storey concrete podium and 2 levels of underground concrete parkade. The structure is a streamlined and efficient point-supported CLT on glulam post floor plate, with highly ductile eccentrically braced steel frames. Tallwood 1 is celebrated as the first mass timber tall building on Vancouver Island, and one of the first built in Canada.
Architect: Jack James Architect
Wadajir Market & Residences (Modular Building)
Tukwila, WA
A modular mass timber, multi-storey project consisting of 96 units of family housing and a community marketplace. The CLT volumetric modules will be situated atop a one level mass timber podium structure with commercial and mixed occupancies below.
Architect: Mithun
Darrington Wood Innovation Center
Darrington, WA
An industrial facility that will include a CLT & Glulam Factory, a 3D Modular Factory, a Sawmill, as well as smaller pre-fabricated boiler and kiln buildings, at 245,000 sq.ft. total. True to the project’s name, the buildings are intended to be innovative and modern structures and will be built from high-performing Mass Timber materials and systems chosen for their cost, ease of fabrication, strength, and performance.
Architect: Mithun
Modular CLT Townhomes
Seattle, WA
An exciting, first of it’s kind, volumetric modular townhome project in Seattle. The project will be comprised of 7 units at 1,100 sq.ft. each, incorporating offsite prefabricated CLT modules on a concrete foundation. CLT shear walls are used as the Seismic Load Resisting System.
Architect: Mahlum
Rockford Place
Langford, BC
Two 6-storey mixed-use residential buildings totalling 165,000 sq.ft. with 2 levels of underground parkade each. The structures are concrete to the main floor, and from level 2 up are comprised of CLT floors on light wood frame walls, with additional lofts on the 6th floor.
Architect: Jack James Architect
Capilano University Student Residence
North Vancouver, BC
This new Student Housing Facility will provide 362 beds of student accommodation and related facilities. The project is comprised of a 6-storey student residence of 87,000 sq.ft. (light wood frame on concrete transfer slab), and a 1-storey dining hall of 7,000 sq.ft. (mass timber on shallow concrete foundation). Learn more…
Architect: IBI Group/HDR
PUBLICATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
Ilana has not only engineered many state of the art buildings, but she also gives back to the engineering community through her publications and talks, such as:
| Tallwood Cost Comparison Study | Canadian Wood Council | Not Yet Published |
| Technical Guide for the Design and Construction of Tall Wood Buildings in Canada. Contributor and Peer Reviewer | Published by FPInnovations | 2013 and second edition in 2022 |
| Terminus, Vancouver Island: Solving a Mass Timber Challenge in a Seismic Region | The Structural Engineer (IStructE publication) | April 2022 |
| Terminus: Innovative Seismic Design For Mass Timber | Published in New Zealand Timber Design Journal, Volume 29, Issue 4 | November 2021 |
| Speaker | Future of Prefabrication Symposium, UBC | March 2022 |
| Mass Timber in High Seismic | Structural Engineering Podcast, Episode 59 | May 2021 |
| Terminus: Innovative Seismic Design | Published in Construction Business | April/May 2021 |
| Speaker | Future of Prefabrication Symposium, UBC | March 2021 |
| Demystifying Tall Wood Buildings | Published in Construction Business | September/October 2020 |
| Tall Wood Buildings | Conferences in Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, and Edmonton with WoodWORKS! BC | 2019 |
| Mass Timber + Prefab Housing | Mass Timber Meetup | September 2021 |
Please join us in congratulating Ilana on this much-deserved promotion!
Learn more about our stellar team here.
Malahat Skywalk Wins in the 2021-22 Wood Design & Building Awards
We are extremely proud to announce that the Malahat Skywalk has won the Canadian Wood Council
Structural Innovation Award in the 2021-22 Wood Design Awards!
The Malahat Skywalk is an exciting new tourism project on Southern Vancouver Island. The project consists of three main structures: a single-storey Visitor Center, a 500m (1,650 ft.) long elevated Boardwalk, and the 30m (100 ft) high mass timber Viewing Tower, where visitors enjoy stunning views of Finlayson Arm and the distant Coast Mountains. Objectives are to protect and enhance the ecological values of the area, collaborate with First Nations, balance public use with ecological values, and connect visitors of all accessibility levels to the area’s natural values and cultural heritage.
The single-storey Visitor Centre contains a café and gift shop, and features mass timber and light wood frame. From there, the elevated Boardwalk leads visitors through the forest canopy, zig-zagging through the arbutus forest reaching heights of 15m (50 ft.) tall.
The intent of the Tower structure is to bring visitors of all abilities into nature, so the use of wood was imperative to the look and feel of the attraction. The design looked to successful precedent structures locally and internationally, and was driven by the accessibility requirements. A gentle spiral ramp takes visitors up to the 30m (100 ft.) high viewing platform and is cantilevered off a ring of glulam columns. A galvanized steel central spiral staircase provides emergency egress and support for a slide and adventure net.
The Tower and Boardwalk both employ hybrid timber and steel construction. The Tower consists of Douglas Fir Glulam columns and beams with steel connections and lateral bracing. The Douglas Fir Glulam was chosen for its structural performance and durability in exterior exposure. The Boardwalk consists of Glulam beams spanning between structural steel tripods and struts which carry the gravity and lateral loads down to the foundations, which are anchored into bedrock. Between the primary Glulam beams there is steel diaphragm bracing for stability.
The majority of the wood is exposed to the elements except the primary Glulam columns of the tower. The decision was made to clad these columns in a thin 3/4" CLT panel as they are the only element that is not replaceable. The rest of the wood elements are thoughtfully detailed to be weather resistant to support the longevity of the structure. These elements can also be replaced or refinished as needed.
The ability of wood elements to be maintained and/or refinished throughout the structure’s lifecycle is one benefit. Another is that it is lightweight, which allowed the components to be prefabricated into large sections and lifted with mobile cranes through the forest. This minimized the clearing required to construct the Boardwalk.
The size and remote location of the site made placing concrete a challenge. However, the lightweight wood structure allowed for small concrete foundation sizes which had the added benefit of minimizing the impact on the forest, while also reducing the embodied carbon of the structures.
Since opening in Summer, 2021, the Malahat Skywalk has become one of the most popular attractions on Vancouver Island. We are proud to have been part of this stellar team, bringing this exciting project to life:
- Malahat Skywalk
- Murdoch & Company Ltd.
- Kinsol Timber Systems
- Styxworks
- Evolution Building Science
- GroundFX
- Western Archrib
- Wide Open Welding
- Ryzuk Geotechnical
- Tom Barratt Ltd. Landscape Architects
Images: Hamish Hamilton
Meet the Associates – Thomas Brotschi
We are thrilled to announce that Thomas Brotschi (B.Sc.BFH) has been promoted to Associate in our Bern office! As a specialist timber engineer, Thomas has a unique skill set, along with valuable knowledge of the supply chain, and the timber industry as a whole. He began his career as an on-site licensed carpenter, then went on to study timber engineering at Bern University of Applied Science, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Wood Engineering. He spent his internship in Canada, and during this time gained experience in steel and concrete design, rounding off his skill set.
His portfolio of delivered mass timber structures ranges from high-end single-family homes, to sports and multi-purpose halls, to large-scale educational and multi-storey residential buildings. As part of his leadership role, he is spearheading our shop drawing and specialty timber engineering services.
Thomas has worked on several high-profile and award-winning projects including the Shaare Zedek Cancer Center in Jerusalem, Israel; B&B Guimarães in Guimarães, Portugal; Brunel Center in Bristol, UK; Northstowe Education Campus in Cambridge, UK; and Press House in London, UK.
Thomas is passionate about Mass Timber, and his thesis focused on NLT design and implementation in Canada, part of which formed the basis for the US and Canadian NLT Design & Construction Guides.
SELECTED PROJECTS
SHAARE ZEDEK CANCER CENTRE
Shaare Zedek Medical Centre is one of Israel’s most prominent health sciences organizations. Aspect is engaged to help develop the roof / lobby area of the new expansion, which is a mass timber structure with a large atrium skylight resembling a “butterfly”. Along with concept development, Aspect facilitated the RFQ and RFP process to help find the right partner for execution of the timber structure. Learn more…
Farrow Partners | Jerusalem, Israel
B&B GUIMARAES
A new B&B facility comprised of two base levels of reinforced concrete and two 4-storey CREE buildings overtop, with a total floor area of 77,500 sq.ft. Aspect provided complete structural engineering for the system, the complete shop drawing package for the prefabricated timber-concrete-hybrid slabs and prefabricated light wood frame panels, as well installation drawings. Learn more…
Grupo Casais | Guimarães, Portugal
NORTHSTOWE EDUCATION CAMPUS*
Part of a larger masterplan development, this project involved a number of buildings including a secondary school, special needs school, and sports facilities. The entire structural frame above ground for the buildings is formed from CLT and glulam comprising over 3000m3 timber. A special challenge was the requirement for a future extension of the sports hall, solved with a state-of-the-art glulam truss connected with glued in rods. Learn more…
Frank Shaw Associates | Cambridge, UK
PRESS HOUSE*
An affordable mixed-use residential development in Neasden, London, comprised of four blocks of varying heights, between 2 to 8 storeys. The CLT and glulam frame sits on top of a concrete podium, which forms the parking space and an elevated courtyard. CLT shear walls and floor plates create an efficient structure featuring hanging steel balconies attached to the main frame. Learn More…
Eurban | London, UK
*Work performed prior to joining Aspect
ASPECT couldn’t be happier to have Thomas as a key member of our team. Our Associates are some of the best in the structural engineering business, learn more about our Associates.
Meet the Associates – Eva Chau
We are thrilled to announce that Eva Chau (P.Eng., M.Eng.) has been promoted to Associate in our Toronto office! Eva has a wealth of experience in designing with all major building materials on projects ranging from small house renovations to large institutional, commercial, and civic projects. In her leadership role, Eva provides mentorship to our younger engineers and supports business development in Toronto. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and a Masters degree in Structural and Earthquake Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Eva has worked on several high-profile and award-winning projects including St. Luke’s United Church Redevelopment in Toronto; Oakville Fire Station No.8; Humber River Regional Hospital in North York, ON; Royal Canadian Electrical & Mechanical Engineering School in Borden, ON; and Pioneer Village Subway Station in Toronto.
Eva is passionate about structural engineering and always strives to help clients realize their unique visions. She believes that expressive and ambitious architecture does not have to come at the expense of rational and efficient structural systems.
SELECTED PROJECTS
ST. LUKE’S UNITED CHURCH
A new 12 storey residential building that will be constructed directly adjacent to the heritage St. Luke’s United Church. A portion of the new building will project overtop of the existing church. The project also includes demolition of some of the more recent additions around the main Sanctuary, and repurposing the existing main sanctuary building for new programming. Learn more…
KPMB Architects | Toronto, ON
OAKVILLE FIRE STATION NO.8
Oakville Fire Station No. 8 is a hybrid structure – a combination of mass timber and structural steel. Aspect was the specialty mass timber engineer working under Element 5 who was responsible for the supply of the mass timber package. The building is designed with a high performing building enclosure resulting in better thermal performance and reduced energy costs. Learn More…
Lett Architects, Element5 | Oakville, ON
ROYAL CANADIAN ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERING SCHOOL*
This 140,000 sq.ft building serves as the central training facility for all Canadian Armed Forces mechanical and electrical engineers. Built to accommodate modern military vehicles and specialized training equipment, the building includes storage areas, administration and office spaces, classrooms, and six high-bay shop spaces for equipment maintenance training.
RDHA Architects | Borden, ON
PIONEER VILLAGE SUBWAY STATION*
One of the 6 new subway stations on the TTC’s York-Spadina subway extension, this 175,000 sq.ft. station is a distinct, whimsical architectural landmark incorporating a unique subway entrance hall clad in weathered steel and red porcelain enamel. The adjacent bus terminal features a cantilevered Corten canopy.
IBI Group, aLL Design | Toronto, ON
*Work performed prior to joining Aspect
ASPECT couldn’t be happier to have Eva as a key member of our team. Our Associates are some of the best in the structural engineering business, learn more about our Associates.
Adam Gerber Wins Inaugural SEABC Young Meritorious Achievement Award
We are thrilled to announce that our very own Adam Gerber has won the inaugural SEABC Young Meritorious Achievement Award! This award is granted to an engineer who demonstrates significant professional achievements early in their career.
Adam is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the field of Engineering. He is a teacher, mentor, and an exceptional Engineer. He’s a problem solver, always thinking outside the box and not afraid to use sound judgement in tackling engineering challenges. He enthusiastically trains and mentors those starting out in the field. And finally, he is a consummate professional – extremely well respected by his peers and those he works with throughout the industry.
Adam has a breadth of hands-on and technical experience, which is largely unique in the field of Structural Engineering. Prior to and throughout his Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia, he gained experience in the design and construction of timber structures as a carpenter, foreman, estimator, and structural EIT. This enables him to view projects from the perspective of designers, builders, and managers, assisting him in creating cost-effective, constructible, and efficient solutions. Adam is also a certified Passive House Consultant.
Adam returned to the University of British Columbia where he earned his Master’s degree in Structural and Earthquake Engineering. His research focused on the development of timber-concrete composite technology and vibration performance of floors. His work in this area sought to identify high-performance and low-cost connection technology, and compare their performance across several mass timber products. The test program, widely cited throughout the industry, was the largest of its kind and demonstrated the safety, viability, and opportunity for the further implementation of the technology in Canada and around the world.
Adam joined Aspect Structural Engineers at its inception in 2016, and became a Principal in 2018. His leadership and influence has been pivotal in both laying the foundations for the business and in championing the positive growth trajectory of the firm.
Adam currently acts as one of the Managing Principals, as well as the Toronto office lead. Most recently, Adam completed his MBA in December, 2020, which has further enabled him to deepen the firm’s business management and strategic planning functionality.
Big congrats, Adam - well deserved!
Meet the Associates – Shawn Kennedy
We are thrilled to announce that Shawn Kennedy (P.Eng., PE, M.A.Sc.) has joined the ASPECT team as an Associate in our Toronto office. Shawn graduated from the University of Sherbrooke in 2011 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering, and began his career in Vancouver working mainly on Institutional, Commercial, Residential and Mass Timber projects. He completed his Master’s in Civil Engineering in 2014 from the University of Laval in Quebec City, where his research focused on connections for Mass Timber products.
Shawn has worked on several high-profile and award-winning projects in Canada and Internationally, including the Ashram Temple of Light in Kootenay Bay, BC; NLC Heavy Mechanical Trade Building in Dawson Creek, BC; Terrace House in Vancouver, BC; OSU Forest Science Complex in Corvallis, OR; and Créteil Office Building in Paris, France.
Shawn is passionate about Mass Timber, and his Master’s research focused on fastener capacity in timber engineered products, which served as the basis for the development of design equations on the latest CSA 086 standard.
SELECTED PROJECTS
ASHRAM TEMPLE OF LIGHT*
This remote temple for the Yasodhara Ashram is on the forest’s edge overlooking Kootenay Lake. The structure consists of 8 large glulam arches connected by an innovative ring moment connection. Prefab light frame panels are laid across the arches to create the 3D flower shape of the temple. Learn more…
Patkau Architects | Kootenay Bay, BC
NLC TRADE CENTRE*
This building at the Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek provides workshops for carpentry, welding, plumbing, millwright, wind turbine technology, as well as student commons, classrooms, and offices. The building includes several skylights and long perimeter clerestories. The efficient mass timber structure includes prefabricated edge laminated veneer lumber (LVL) roof panels, LVL posts & beams, and cross laminated timber (CLT) walls. Learn More…
McFarland Marceau Architects | Dawson Creek, BC
COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA HMTF TRADE CENTRE*
A training facility for the students of heavy machinery, this building includes a large multifunctional workshop and several dedicated technology laboratories. Designed to offer much natural light, this two storey facility aims for an industrial yet elegant look, with structure including concrete, steel, masonry, and mass timber. Learn more…
OMB Architects | Dawson Creek, BC
HILLCREST RESIDENCE*
An exceptional private home in Whistler, perched above Alta Lake. The finished product demonstrates a distinct attention to detail. Steel framing was utilized to achieve impressive cantilevers and wood construction was opted for at the upper levels. The residence is Passivhaus intent using specialized connectors to minimize the effect of heat bridges.
Gort Scott Architect | Whistler, BC
*Work performed prior to joining Aspect
PUBLICATIONS / PRESENTATIONS
Aside from engineering many state-of-the-art buildings, Shawn is also engaged with the engineering community through publications and talks such as:
| ISM & SCGC Montreal & Quebec City | Oregon State University Peavy Hall Project | 2020 |
| Cecobois (Montreal & Quebec City) | Innovations in Mass Timber Design | 2018 |
| Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) | Mass Timber Structural Innovations | 2017 |
| WCTE Quebec City | Design Equations for Dowel Embedment Strength and Withdrawal Resistance for Threaded Fasteners in CLT | 2014 |
| Publication (WCTE) | Design Equations for Embedment Strength of Wood for Threaded Fasteners in the Canadian Timber Design Code | 2014 |
| Publication (WCTE) | Design Equation for Withdrawal Resistance of Threaded Fasteners in the Canadian Timber Design Code | 2014 |
| Publication (WCTE) | Design Equations for Dowel Embedment Strength and Withdrawal Resistance for Threaded Fasteners in CLT | 2014 |
ASPECT couldn’t be happier to have Shawn as a key member of our team. Our Associates are some of the best in the structural engineering business, learn more about our Associates.
ASPECT + Business Continuity + Public Health
On March 14th, 2020 ASPECT Structural Engineers adopted a work-from-home policy for our offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Switzerland.
What this means for our clients and how have we changed our day-to-day practice:
- We've leveraged our existing IT systems to make this transition (relatively) seamless and anticipate little-to-no interruption in our service.
- Aspect will attend all coordination meetings as scheduled digitally. We are happy to facilitate digital meeting spaces; please reach out if you would like assistance with this.
- We have suspended all business-related international travel and will work with you to ensure that our participation in meetings and design charrettes carry out digitally per above.
- Site reviews for local projects will continue as normal. Plan for our engineers to reach out beforehand to ensure appropriate health precautions and social distancing.
- Site reviews for non-local projects will be performed on a case-by-case basis. We will continue to rely on digital inspection methods, and engage local consultants as needed to ensure limited impact on construction schedules.
- The Aspect offices will be closed to all non-staff. Enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures have, and will remain, in place for the foreseeable future.
We are committed to these measures in the interest of public health and will monitor the appropriate channels and provide an update once we are able to revert to the "old normal".
We hope this message finds you safe and healthy and we look forward to continuing to work on amazing projects for our amazing clients!
We are here to help. Please feel free to Contact Us with any questions.
ULI Toronto: Mass Timber Construction MasterClass
Join Aspect Principal Bernhard Gafner at ULI Toronto for a Mass Timber Construction MasterClass, February 25, 2020. This class is designed for those interested in building with mass timber who want to explore the advantages as well as the procedures:
Planning, designing and building a mass timber building is radically different than a conventional structure. Understanding how it is different, advantages, constraints, timelines, risks etc. are key to market adoption in order to realize the benefits. This session is designed to be a master class by Bernhard Gafner that will provide attendees with an intimate knowledge of what it means to plan, design, procure and construct a mass timber building.
Cover image is Dream/CityScape mass timber Distillery Ribbon building designed by SHoP Architects & Quadrangle.
Oakville Firestation No.8 CLT Install
Oakville Firestation No.8 CLT install in progress. ASPECT is the specialty mass timber engineer working under Element5 Co. who is responsible for the supply of the mass timber package. MCH Design & Build is providing the install.
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