The Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) announced the winners of their 2022 awards, including 26 Awards of Excellence and Merit, as well as the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement and Harold L. Morrison Rising Young Professional awards.
“These awards recognize the best-of-the best in engineering design and innovation,” said CEA president Ryan Gidluck. “The winners this year are exceptional examples of what can be done by Alberta’s consulting engineering community.”
Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement Award 2022: Paul Ruffell
Harold L. Morrison Rising Young Professional Award 2022: Tia Hill, P.Eng.
Building Engineering – Commercial
Award of Excellence: Peter Lougheed Hospital Pandemic Response Unit
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Alberta Health Services
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Sprung Structures; CANA Construction
In March 2020, Calgary accounted for 63% of Alberta’s confirmed cases of COVID-19. Stantec Consulting Ltd., along with Alberta Health Services, Sprung Structures, and CANA Construction worked together to build a temporary treatment facility to accommodate the predicted pandemic peak in May 2020. Communication and coordination between all disciplines, physicians, and nurses was critical. The facility was designed and entirely constructed under three weeks, providing an additional 70 treatment spaces for patients in Calgary.
Building Engineering – Commercial
Award of Merit: Platform Innovation Centre & Parkade
Firm: Entuitive Corporation
Client: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, on behalf of Calgary Parking Authority
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Kasian Architecture; 5468796 Architecture Inc; Supermetal; Colliers Project Leaders (Sub-consultants); EllisDon; Smith + Andersen (Contractors); Platform Calgary
The Platform Innovation Centre & Parkade in Calgary, Canada is no ordinary parkade. Built to be future-proofed, it can adapt to fit multiple uses, ensuring it has a long life. Overcoming technical and construction challenges that included building a bridge structure over top of an active LRT line and next to a CP Rail line, the project is truly a feat of engineering. Structural engineers, Entuitive worked alongside CMLC, Colliers Project Leaders, Calgary Parking Authority, Platform, Kasian, 5468796, EllisDon, Supermétal, and Smith + Andersen to bring this project to life.
Building Engineering – Institutional
Award of Excellence: Mackimmie Tower Redevelopment
Firm: DIALOG
Client: University of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Entuitive Corporation; SMP Engineering (Sub-consultants)
Building Engineering – Institutional
Award of Merit: Edmonton Convention Centre Atrium Renovation
Firm: DIALOG
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Howell-Mayhew Engineering Inc; Morrison Hershfield Limited (Sub-consultants); Bird Construction (Contractor)
Community Development
Award of Excellence: Glenmore Dam Infrastructure Improvement: Dam Rehabilitation and Bridge Deck Replacement
Firm: Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Other Key Players: GEC Architecture; SMP Engineering; RJC Engineers (Sub-consultants); Coast Demolition; Dakota Reclamators Ltd.; RS Foundation Systems; Custom Electric Ltd.; Linita Design & Manufacturing; AAA Steel Ltd.; Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited (Contractors)
Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) was retained by the City of Calgary to rehabilitate the Glenmore Dam and replace the bridge deck as part of the Glenmore Dam Infrastructure Improvement Program. The project added extra storage capacity to the City’s drinking water supply and reduced the flood risk downstream. KCB retrofitted a 100-year-old concrete structure with an innovative approach that minimized demolition and added computer-controlled steel gates to the dam. The project enhances public recreation with an improved bridge deck that forms part of the 27-km trail system around the Glenmore Reservoir and Elbow River.
Community Development
Award of Merit: Bear Street Reconstruction: Prioritizing Pedestrians in Banff
Firm: WSP
Client: Town of Banff
Location: Banff, Alberta
Other Key Players: The TULA Project/ground cubed; Level Playing Field; Landscape Irrigation Solutions; Taylor Geotechnical Engineering (Sub-consultants); Bremner Engineering and Construction Limited (Contractor)
The Bear Street Reconstruction project created a pedestrian-priority street in the heart of the Town of Banff. Running parallel to Banff Avenue, Bear Street is home to a mix of visitor and local-oriented services alike. The $9.5 million reconstruction transformed the street into a pedestrian-friendly space where people can partake in the local amenities, or relax and take in the mountains.
The overarching design concept of Bear Street prioritizes a people-centric shared space, encourages active modes of transportation and increases pedestrian amenity space while still enabling vehicle access, while maintaining the very distinct cultural character of this unique community.
Community Outreach and In-House Initiatives
Award of Excellence: Golder Technical Excellence and Innovation Program
Firm: Golder Associates Ltd.
Client: Golder Associates Ltd.
Location: Global Program with substantial Alberta (Edmonton/Calgary) content
Golder’s Technical Excellence and Innovation Program is a natural expression of our collegial culture. Golder’s Technical Communities bring together professionals within a common technical discipline, or who provide the same specialized service, to share knowledge, best practices, and technical resources. The Technical Communities create diverse mentoring and learning opportunities for staff at all levels. Golder’s Innovation Program supports innovation in all its forms, from technological breakthroughs to incremental improvement of services we are already providing and converts bright ideas into goods or services to create value that satisfies the needs and expectations of our clients.
Community Outreach and In-House Initiatives
Award of Merit: Inclusion and Diversity
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Location: Calgary, Alberta
At Stantec, we believe that inviting, embracing, and celebrating differences creates opportunity and inspires our best work. That’s why our Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) program provides a range of opportunities, resources, and events for our employees to celebrate and encourage discussions around this topic. Over the last decade, we have formed Employee Resource Groups and I&D Council Committees to support and encourage I&D efforts; provided training to our employees to overcome unconscious biases; partnered with organizations that work with Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and LGBTQ2+ communities; implemented a diversity supplier program; and provided scholarships to underrepresented groups.
Environmental
Award of Excellence: Astotin Creek Resiliency Study
Firm: WSP
Client: Strathcona County
Location: Strathcona County, Alberta
Other Key Players: University of Alberta; InnoTech (Sub-consultants)
Multiple severe floods in Astotin Creek over the past decade triggered the need for an interdisciplinary study to develop a Watershed Resiliency Action Plan. WSP’s study balanced environment, engagement, and engineering to create a healthy watershed. The analysis incorporated vegetation, soils, wildlife, fish and aquatic habitat, surface and groundwater studies, climate analysis, innovative eDNA and modeling techniques plus extensive public engagement. This robust assessment will lead to a holistic resiliency action plan with a focus on nature-based solutions. The goal is a community supported plan which enables both residents and Mother Nature to thrive. Study partners: University of Alberta and InnoTech
Environmental
Award of Merit: 2020 Ice Jam Flood Wastewater & Stormwater Systems Recovery
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
In any emergency, quick effective action is critical. During April 2020, Stantec’s rapid response to the 2020 Ice Jam Flood helped mitigate severe damage to the wastewater and stormwater systems. Deployment of dewatering pumps, emergency access roads, and outfall inspections limited the disruption to RMWB infrastructure. As the waters receded, focus shifted to recovery and 24-hour sewer inspection and cleaning efforts to remove accumulated debris in the sanitary and storm sewers. The Municipality was grateful for our efforts, commenting: ‘‘…Stantec personnel were essential to restoring water and wastewater infrastructure during the hardest times our community has faced in generations.”
Environmental
Award of Merit: Development of Climate Change Data for Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses in The City of Calgary
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: City of Calgary / Calgary Airport Authority
Location: Calgary
The City of Calgary and its community partners are committed to increasing the resiliency of our community to the effects of climate change. A key input in this process is robust climate project data for use in infrastructure design, operational planning and community decision making. This project, jointly funded by the City and the Calgary Airport Authority, is an important step in the City’s approach to climate change adaptation. The purpose was to develop “future climate” data to determine the impacts of climate change, identify design and cost implications, and eventually build infrastructure that is more climate resilient.
Project Management
Award of Excellence: Peter Lougheed Hospital Pandemic Response Unit
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Alberta Health Services
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Sprung Structures; CANA Construction
In March 2020, Calgary accounted for 63% of Alberta’s confirmed cases of COVID-19. Stantec Consulting Ltd., along with Alberta Health Services, Sprung Structures, and CANA Construction worked together to build a temporary treatment facility to accommodate the predicted pandemic peak in May 2020. Communication and coordination between all disciplines, physicians, and nurses was critical. The facility was designed and entirely constructed under three weeks, providing an additional 70 treatment spaces for patients in Calgary.
Project Management
Award of Merit: Crowchild Trail Short-Term Improvements
Firm: Joint Submission: Associated Engineering and ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: ADP Engineering Ltd.; Bison Historical Services Ltd.; Canadian Highways Institute Ltd.; Patching Associates Acoustical Engineering Ltd.; Thurber Engineering Ltd.; (Sub-consultants); Graham Infrastructre LP (Contractor)
ISL was engaged to develop a new vision for the future of Crowchild Trail using an award-winning planning and engagement process. Associated Engineering (AE) was separately engaged to lead rehabilitation of three area bridges and confirmed feasibility of adding new lanes over the Bow River. With the bridge widening anchoring a suite of short-term recommendations, this $87 million project was approved in 2017. ISL, AE and other partners worked collaboratively to integrate their designs into a single construction contract, delivering the highly complex work over three years with no daytime lane closures, and fulfilling Calgarians’ expectations to “fix the bridge!”
Small Firm- Big Impact
Award of Excellence: Pushing The Line: Groat Road Storm Trunk Rehabilitation Phase 2
Firm: SMA Consulting Ltd.
Client: EPCOR
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Associated Engineering; SMA Consulting Ltd.; Stantec Consulting Ltd. (Sub-consultants); Shanghai Construction Group Canada Corporation (Contractor); Thurber Engineering Ltd.
EPCOR’s Groat Road Storm Trunk Rehabilitation (Phase 2) project is one of the largest sliplining projects in Western Canada. 3.9 km of 2-metre trunk was rehabilitated under live flow conditions with minimal disruption to two of Edmonton’s busiest arterial roads. The project pushed the limits of sliplining technology and faced the wettest summer in forty years, collapsed sections, huge voids, and COVID-19. The team’s creative and collaborative approach, depth of technical experience, advanced techniques, and agile responses ultimately resulted in successful completion—under budget.
Small Firm- Big Impact
Award of Merit: Driftpile Cree Nation Wastewater Treatment Facility
Firm: M2 Engineering
Client: Driftpile Cree Nation
Location: Driftpile
Other Key Players: Thurber Engineering Ltd.; Pals Geomatics Corp.; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd.; Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd.; Riddell Kurczaba Architecture Engineering Interior Design Ltd.; Ptarmigan Engineering Ltd.; J. Davis Engineering Ltd.; Wave Engineering Consultants Inc. (Sub-consultants); Alberco Construction Ltd. (Contractor)
Driftpile Cree Nation is a proud community on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake. This project involved the design and construction of a new hybrid-lagoon to replace their old wastewater lagoon, which had failed within its first year of operation. The new system is an aerated lagoon with partial mechanical features and biological treatment for nitrification. The new facility provides effluent quality exceeding regulatory requirements.
M2 Engineering led the project through planning, design, and construction. Our sub-consultant team included: Thurber Engineering, Pals Geomatics, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Hutchinson Environmental Sciences, Riddell-Kurczaba Architecture, Ptarmigan Engineering, J. Davis Engineering and Wave Engineering.
Studies, Software and Special Services
Award of Excellence: Drinking Water Infrastructure Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: Alberta Innovates and Alberta Environment and Parks
Location: Alberta
Other Key Players: University of Alberta – Watershed Science and Modelling Laboratory
Recognizing the impact of climate and extreme weather on the supply of safe drinking water, Alberta Innovates with Alberta Environment and Parks partnered to study the climate change risks of extreme streamflow events at 48 municipal drinking water facilities across Alberta. Associated Engineering provided a high-level assessment of the water infrastructure, considering historic vulnerability and increased risks of future extreme streamflow events due to climate change. This study helps municipalities understand the risks of the changing climate to their drinking water infrastructure, identify facility and knowledge gaps, and make informed decisions and plans to ensure safe drinking water for Albertans.
Studies, Software and Special Services
Award of Merit: Development of Climate Change Data for Hydrologic and Hydraulic Analyses in The City of Calgary
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: City of Calgary / Calgary Airport Authority
Location: Calgary
The City of Calgary and its community partners are committed to increasing the resiliency of our community to the effects of climate change. A key input in this process is robust climate project data for use in infrastructure design, operational planning and community decision making. This project, jointly funded by the City and the Calgary Airport Authority, is an important step in the City’s approach to climate change adaptation. The purpose was to develop “future climate” data to determine the impacts of climate change, identify design and cost implications, and eventually build infrastructure that is more climate resilient.
Sustainable Design
Award of Excellence: Edmonton Convention Centre Atrium Renovation
Firm: DIALOG
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Howell-Mayhew Engineering Inc; Morrison Hershfield Limited (Sub-consultants); Bird Construction Co. (Contractor)
The revitalization of the Edmonton Convention Centre’s multi-level atrium along the slope of Edmonton’s River Valley was an opportunity to do more than just replace 35-year old glazing. DIALOG’s architectural, electrical, mechanical and structural engineering teams worked with Howell-Mayhew Engineering and Morrison Hershfield to modernize numerous systems in the atrium.
The renovations include a higher performance building envelope, modernized lighting and mechanical systems, structural upgrades, and Canada’s largest building-integrated solar photovoltaic system with an embedded Morse code poem to enjoy. It allows the Centre to showcase their ambitious sustainability goals while achieving them
Sustainable Design
Award of Merit: Blatchford District Energy System – Phase 1
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Pinchin Ltd.; START Architecture Inc. (Sub-consultants); Chandos Construction Ltd.; Park Paving Ltd. (Contractors)
With the closure of its municipal airfield, the City of Edmonton developed this downtown area as an innovative, environmentally friendly community. Associated Engineering collaborated with the City to design the Blatchford Neighbourhood’s District Energy Sharing System. The project features a geoexchange field, utilizing earth’s energy for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, and Canada’s largest application of an ambient-temperature, energy distribution system. The buildings employ heat pumps to share unused energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Blatchford residents can take pride in living in Alberta’s most forward thinking, sustainable community, providing a model for community-based climate change mitigation across Canada.
Sustainable Design
Award of Merit: Calgary International Airport East Deicing Apron
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Calgary Airport Authority
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Tetra Tech Canada Inc.; PCL Construction Inc.; Carbon Cure (Contractors)
In the fall of 2018, WestJet and Air Canada indicated to the Calgary Airport Authority (YYC) an immediate need of a centralized deicing facility. Stantec worked with YYC for the deicing apron design, including a diversion structure to divert deicing glycol runoff for treatment. The project achieved the goals of reducing at-gate times, improving passenger experience, and reinforcing YYC’s environmental stewardship. The completion of the East Deicing Apron means that the airport is self-sufficient in recycling spent glycol, where it can be re-used on aircraft deicing, and removes the chemical treatment burden on the City of Calgary’s wastewater treatment plants.
Transportation Infrastructure – Roads, interchanges, airports, mass transit
Award of Excellence: Trans-Canada Highway Avalanche Mitigation
Firm: McElhanney Ltd.
Client: Parks Canada Agency
Location: Glacier National Park, British Columbia
Other Key Players: Dynamic Avalanche Consulting Ltd. (Sub-consultants)
Glacier National Park is home to a unique 43.8 km transportation corridor which contains the Trans-Canada Highway, the Canadian Pacific Railway, and a densely concentrated cluster of 135 high-frequency avalanche paths. For Parks Canada Agency, McElhanney partnered with Dynamic Avalanche Consulting Ltd. to improve the safety and reliability of this critical corridor by implementing industry leading avalanche mitigation solutions. These solutions, integrated with the incredibly complex existing avalanche control program, reduce the avalanche risk to roadway users and help keep Canadians moving safely year round.
Transportation Infrastructure – Roads, interchanges, airports, mass transit
Award of Merit: Crowchild Trail Short-Term Improvements
Firm: Joint Submission: Associated Engineering and ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Other Key Players: WSP; Graham Infrastructure LP (Contractor); DP Engineering Ltd.; Bison Historical Services Ltd.; Canadian Highways Institute Ltd.; Patching Associates Acoustical Engineering Ltd.; Thurber Engineering Ltd. (Sub-consultants)
ISL was engaged to develop a new vision for the future of Crowchild Trail using an award-winning planning and engagement process. Associated Engineering (AE) was separately engaged to lead rehabilitation of three area bridges and confirmed feasibility of adding new lanes over the Bow River. With the bridge widening anchoring a suite of short-term recommendations, this $87 million project was approved in 2017. ISL, AE and other partners worked collaboratively to integrate their designs into a single construction contract, delivering the highly complex work over three years with no daytime lane closures, and fulfilling Calgarians’ expectations to “fix the bridge!”
Transportation Infrastructure – Transportation Structures
Award of Excellence: Crowchild Trail Bridge Over Bow River
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.; Thurber Engineering Ltd. (Sub-consultants); Graham Construction (Contractor)
Associated Engineering’s innovative design for rehabilitating and widening Calgary’s Crowchild Trail Bow River Bridge Interchange improves functionality and safety, and extends the service life of the 50 year old, severely deteriorated structure. Associated’s team conceived a cost effective, sustainable solution involving reusing the existing structure, thus avoiding extensive demolition, limiting waste, and protecting the river. The team’s complex traffic staging plan mitigated interruption to commuters, pedestrians, CP Rail, and businesses during construction. Associated’s design for bridge widening and realigning access ramps eliminates congestion on this interchange, reducing emissions, and improving the quality of life for more than 100,000 commuters every day.
Transportation Infrastructure – Transportation Structures
Award of Merit: Groat Road Bridge Rehabilitation
Firm: DIALOG
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Al-Terra Engineering Ltd.; Thurber Engineering Ltd.; Spencer Environmental Management Services Ltd.; JDE Construction Management Ltd.; EDA Planning + Urban Design Inc. (Sub-consultants); Graham Construction & Engineering Inc. (Contractor)
The Groat Road Bridge spans the North Saskatchewan River and is located in the heart of Edmonton. The bridge rehabilitation replaces the existing haunched concrete girder bridge built in 1955 with a new haunched steel girder bridge. The new bridge carries four lanes of traffic with a widened sidewalk across the river. The rehabilitation reuses the existing concrete piers and abutments, along with several design modifications, and meets the provisions of the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code. The demolition of the existing bridge began in May 2018 with the new structure being opened to traffic in October 2020.
Water Resources
Award of Excellence: Glenmore Dam Infrastructure Improvement: Dam Rehabilitation and Bridge Deck Replacement
Firm: Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: GEC Architecture; SMP Engineering; RJC Engineers (Sub-consultants); Coast Demolition; Dakota Reclamators Ltd.; RS Foundation Systems; Custom Electric Ltd.; Linita Design & Manufacturing; AAA Steel Ltd.; Flatiron Constructors Canada Limited (Contractors)
Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) was retained by the City of Calgary to rehabilitate the Glenmore Dam and replace the bridge deck as part of the Glenmore Dam Infrastructure Improvement Program. The project added extra storage capacity to the City’s drinking water supply and reduced the flood risk downstream. KCB retrofitted a 100-year-old concrete structure with an innovative approach that minimized demolition and added computer-controlled steel gates to the dam. The project enhances public recreation with an improved bridge deck that forms part of the 27-km trail system around the Glenmore Reservoir and Elbow River.
Water Resources
Award of Merit: Driftpile Cree Nation Wastewater Treatment Facility
Firm: M2 Engineering
Client: Driftpile Cree Nation
Location: Driftpile
Other Key Players: Thurber Engineering Ltd.; Pals Geomatics Corp.; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants Ltd.; Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd.; Riddell Kurczaba Architecture Engineering Interior Design Ltd.; Ptarmigan Engineering Ltd.; J. Davis Engineering Ltd.; Wave Engineering Consultants Inc. (Sub-consultants); Alberco Construction Ltd. (Contractor)
Driftpile Cree Nation is a proud community on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake. This project involved the design and construction of a new hybrid-lagoon to replace their old wastewater lagoon, which had failed within its first year of operation. The new system is an aerated lagoon with partial mechanical features and biological treatment for nitrification. The new facility provides effluent quality exceeding regulatory requirements.
M2 Engineering led the project through planning, design, and construction. Our sub-consultant team included: Thurber Engineering, Pals Geomatics, Northwest Hydraulic Consultants, Hutchinson Environmental Sciences, Riddell-Kurczaba Architecture, Ptarmigan Engineering, J. Davis Engineering and Wave Engineering.
Featured image: Glenmore Dam Infrastructure Improvement project. (CEA)
