Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) presented 13 awards of excellence and 11 awards of merit at its 26th annual Showcase Awards Gala, held in Calgary.
“These awards recognize the best of the best in engineering design and innovation,” said CEA president Ryan Betker.
Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement Award 2023 – Brian Pearse
Harold L. Morrison Rising Young Professional Award 2023 – John MacKenzie, P.Eng.
The 24 winners, as follow, were chosen from among 41 projects submitted this year from a cross-section of Alberta’s consulting engineering firms:
Building Engineering: Commercial
Award of Excellence: Arrow Engineering, State-of-the-Art Shredder and Recycling Facility
Client: General Recycling
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: IBI Group
General Recycling’s redeveloped recycling facility is a true engineering marvel. The multi-staged scrap metal processing facility is one of a handful in Canada, 1 of 2 in Alberta, and is the largest in Western Canada.
Arrow Engineering provided the complex mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering for the cutting-edge facility. By challenging industry standards and encouraging innovation, they helped the Client realize their vision of ‘shredding for a better tomorrow’.
Capable of processing over 120 tons per hour, the facility diverts tons of waste from landfill and cuts more than 700,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually, making a big environmental impact.
Award of Merit: RJC Engineers, University District Block 23
Client: University of Calgary Properties Group
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Smith + Andersen, Designcore Engineering Ltd, Civitas (sub consultants); Graham Management Services LP (contractor); GGA-Architecture
Block 23 is the retail and lifestyle amenity for the University District development. Fronting onto the Central Commons Park, the development consists of a mixed-use building joined by a community plaza space. The building is composed of a CRU ground floor and two to three levels of office above. Collaboration with the owner, architects and sub-consultants ensured the successful completion of this project in 2022.
Building Engineering: Institutional
Award of Excellence: DIALOG, Telus World of Science Edmonton – Aurora Expansion
Client: TELUS World of Science Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: WSP (sub consultants); Delnor Construction Ltd. (contractor)
TELUS World of Science Edmonton is the destination to engage Albertan’s hearts and minds in science. DIALOG provided architectural and engineering services for the Aurora expansion, including a new science gallery, expanded lobby, box office, gift shop, and a reimagined pedestrian-first entrance. The project removed a significant portion of the existing building envelope to create the breathtakingly open lobby. The building promotes sustainable design with stormwater diversion, solar PV modules, EV charging stalls, and a high albedo roof. The result is a truly outstanding facility that strengthens the client’s mission to ignite curiosity, inspire discovery, celebrate science, and change lives.
Award of Merit: RJC Engineers, Innovation Crossing
Client: Heritage Park Historical Village
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Remedy Engineering, SMP Engineering, Urban Systems Ltd. (sub consultants); Akela Construction Ltd. (contractor); Ace Architecture
Innovation Crossing is a new educational building located in Calgary’s Heritage Park that provides programming showcasing how renewable resources are being used today and into the future. The facility is ultra-efficient, incorporating numerous sustainable technologies that also function as exhibits to show renewable energy in action. This single-storey building is composed of a main exhibition hall with back-of-house service areas and a south facing exterior patio.
Community Development
Award of Excellence: Arrow Engineering, Roxy Theatre Rebuild
Client: The Theatre Network
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Group 2 Architecture; Chandos Construction Ltd.
When Edmonton’s iconic Roxy Theatre burned down on January 13, 2015 the City lost the heart of its entertainment scene. Though the Roxy was gone, it wasn’t forgotten, and the community rallied to resurrect the theatre.
Arrow Engineering was honoured to provide advanced mechanical, civil, electrical, and structural engineering for the Roxy Theatre rebuild. By meeting extremely challenging accessibility constraints and maximizing acoustics, the new Roxy is a state-of-the-art facility.
Today, 84 years after opening to the public, the Roxy has reclaimed its prominent place in Edmonton’s cultural sphere as a vibrant heritage piece and point of pride for residents.
Community Outreach and In-House Initiatives
Award of Excellence: McElhanney, McElhanney Cares Alberta
Caring for our communities is at the forefront of everything we do at McElhanney. As one of our core values, this statement ensures we care about each other, our clients, and our communities each day.
The McElhanney Cares program helps us celebrate community involvement and sponsor meaningful local activities through company-wide and branch-specific initiatives. By creating a sense of goodwill, trust, and pride in our staff, the employee-run program results in a mutual benefit for our company and communities. This past year we supported over 200 local charities, with over $630,000 and countless hours of in-kind donations and volunteer work.
Environmental
Award of Excellence: Tetra Tech, Modern Integrated Waste Management Facility
Client: City of Lethbridge
Location: Lethbridge County
Other ReLumen Engineering Inc., Kumlin Sullivan Architectural Studion Ltd., Sunwise Engineering Ltd., Feeg Engineering Ltd., BCB Engineering Ltd. (sub consultants); Whissel Contracting Ltd., McNally Contracctors Ltd., GoldRidge Sand and Gravel, Secure Energy Services Inc., Southwest Design & Construction Ltd., Engineered Compost Systems, John Zink Hamworthy, DMT Mechanical Ltd. (contractors)
Lethbridge had an ambitious vision of rapidly modernizing their Waste and Recycling Center to receive and process multi-stream wastes and improve environmental performance. In just five years, Lethbridge and Tetra Tech completed over 30 projects worth over $20 million highlighted by a Compost Facility diverting up to 40TPY from landfill, a Hydrovac Facility collecting up to 43,000m3 of waste from the surrounding region, a landfill gas system that will reduce GHG emissions by around 15,000T CO2e per year and a 43m long stain-less steel leachate riser installed within a failing concrete manhole that will improve landfill performance.
Award of Merit: Associated Engineering, Determining the Value of Natural Assets
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Green Analytics Corp. (sub consultant)
The City of Calgary selected Associated Engineering to inventory its natural assets, consider their benefits, and measure their financial value. Associated’s unique approach engaged different City business units and applied environmental economics to build a shared understanding of the services provided by natural assets, ranging from increased property valuation to habitat protection, carbon storage, and urban heat reduction. Accessible through an interactive dashboard, this knowledge brings additional insight into urban planning decisions and forms an industry-leading foundation to manage natural assets as an integral part of the greater urban assets portfolio.
Project Management
Award of Excellence: CIMA+, Terwillegar Drive Stage 2 Priority Ladder Process
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Associated Engineering (sub consultant); EHAN Engineering Ltd.
In today’s fiscal reality, public sector clients look to stretch their budget dollars to only build what is necessary. It can be a difficult process to determine which components of a project are more important than others to maximize the value of an investment in key infrastructure. The City of Edmonton retained CIMA Canada Inc. (CIMA+), along with Associated Engineering, for the design development and construction of the Terwillegar Drive Stage 2 project. A priority ladder process was created to help make decisions on priority components within the budget. EHAN Engineering assisted in facilitating the Priority Ladder value engineering process.
Award of Merit: Englobe, Westwood Garage Demolition
Client: NAIT
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Graham Construction
NAIT retained Englobe to manage the geotechnical engineering and environmental services for the Westwood Garage demolition. The scope included the large-scale remediation of diesel contaminated soil, and hazardous materials assessment and abatement monitoring for all structures.
The outcome was a clear piece of property poised for redevelopment and a project that perfectly captured the sustainable and safe vision NAIT had for the demolition and remediation program.
In replace of derelict buildings situated on a hazardous contaminated site that endangered both animal and human life, was a beautiful parcel of land that NAIT could transform into learning facilities or residential units.
Small Firm, Big Impact
Award of Excellence: SMA Consulting, Advanced Schedule Analysis Platform (ASAP) for Successful Project Management
Client: SMA Consulting Ltd.
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: City of Edmonton; Edmonton Catholic School Division
In construction, we all know time is money. The schedule tells the story of the project, tracks progress, and is a crucial reference during disputes. But is a given schedule reliable? SMA has integrated scheduling experience, industry best practices, and real-world challenges to develop our comprehensive Advanced Schedule Analysis Platform (ASAP). The platform incorporates advanced visualization with multiple schedule analysis techniques, including forensic schedule analysis, innovative network analysis, and Monte Carlo simulation, and has been used on projects and programs from $10 million to $1 billion in size to assess impacts, recover from schedule delay, and help ensure success.
Award of Excellence: Arrow Engineering, Roxy Theatre Rebuild
Client: The Theatre Network
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Group 2 Architecture; Chandos Construction Ltd.
When Edmonton’s iconic Roxy Theatre burned down on January 13, 2015 the City lost the heart of its entertainment scene. Though the Roxy was gone, it wasn’t forgotten, and the community rallied to resurrect the theatre.
Arrow Engineering was honoured to provide advanced mechanical, civil, electrical, and structural engineering for the Roxy Theatre rebuild. By meeting extremely challenging accessibility constraints and maximizing acoustics, the new Roxy is a state-of-the-art facility.
Today, 84 years after opening to the public, the Roxy has reclaimed its prominent place in Edmonton’s cultural sphere as a vibrant heritage piece and point of pride for residents.
Award of Merit: Al-Terra Engineering, Terwillegar Drive (Whitemud Drive to Anthony Henday Drive) Concept Planning for Capacity and Operational Improvements
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd., Twenty/20 Communications, Thurber Engineering Ltd., SMA Consulting Ltd., ACI Acoustical Consultants, Spencer Environmental Management Services (sub consultants)
For 40 years, Terwillegar Drive in southwest Edmonton was planned as a freeway corridor with interchange connections to the crossing residential roadways, Anthony Henday Drive and Whitemud Drive. The project team determined the objectives and goals of the Concept Planning Study could be achieved in a more cost-effective and timely manner through an eight-lane expressway (3 general purpose lanes & bus lane in each direction). A lit SUP path on the east side provided a fully multi modal corridor. The final concept meets or exceeds the required operational capacity of the corridor at estimated cost savings of ~$900M compared to the freeway.
Studies, Software and Special Services
Award of Excellence: Associated Engineering, City-Wide Stormwater Mapping and Modelling
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
The City of Calgary selected Associated Engineering for the development of GIS mapping and detailed stormwater models of city neighbourhoods that experience localized flooding during heavy rainfall events. Associated Engineering’s unique, automated programming and spatial routines produce detailed overland drainage maps on demand, assisting City engineers in making timely and informed decisions to reduce flood risks. Automation has allowed the City to gauge the impacts of future growth, while dramatically reducing the time required to respond to Calgarians’ concerns, protecting public safety, property and the environment in the most cost-effective manner.
Award of Merit: Tetra Tech, Risk-based Highway Geotechnical Asset Management System
Client: Alberta Transportation
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Tetra Tech Canada Inc. and Alberta Transportation developed an innovative risk-based Geotechnical Asset Management (GAM) framework, transforming Alberta Transportation’s current Geohazard Risk Management Program into a GAM program. The intent of the GAM framework development was to enhance AT’s ability to effectively prioritize, measure, and manage life-cycle investments in assets such as slopes, embankments, retaining walls and subgrades, based on performance expectations and risk tolerance.
Alberta is Canada’s first province to develop a risk-based Geotechnical Asset Management Framework. Implementation of the GAM framework aligned with the state-of-the-art NCHRP Geotechnical Asset Management Implementation Manual (NCHRP, 2019) and ISO 55000 principles.
Sustainable Design
Award of Excellence: Tetra Tech, Modern Integrated Waste Management Facility
Client: City of Lethbridge
Location: Lethbridge County
Other ReLumen Engineering Inc., Kumlin Sullivan Architectural Studion Ltd., Sunwise Engineering Ltd., Feeg Engineering Ltd., BCB Engineering Ltd. (sub consultants); Whissel Contracting Ltd., McNally Contracctors Ltd., GoldRidge Sand and Gravel, Secure Energy Services Inc., Southwest Design & Construction Ltd., Engineered Compost Systems, John Zink Hamworthy, DMT Mechanical Ltd. (contractors)
Lethbridge had an ambitious vision of rapidly modernizing their Waste and Recycling Center to receive and process multi-stream wastes and improve environmental performance. In just five years, Lethbridge and Tetra Tech completed over 30 projects worth over $20 million highlighted by a Compost Facility diverting up to 40TPY from landfill, a Hydrovac Facility collecting up to 43,000m3 of waste from the surrounding region, a landfill gas system that will reduce GHG emissions by around 15,000T CO2e per year and a 43m long stain-less steel leachate riser installed within a failing concrete manhole that will improve landfill performance.
Award of Merit, RJC Engineers, Innovation Crossing
Client: Heritage Park Historical Village
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: Remedy Engineering, SMP Engineering, Urban Systems Ltd. (sub consultants); Akela Construction Ltd. (contractor); Ace Architecture
Innovation Crossing is a new educational building located in Calgary’s Heritage Park that provides programming showcasing how renewable resources are being used today and into the future. The facility is ultra-efficient, incorporating numerous sustainable technologies that also function as exhibits to show renewable energy in action. This single-storey building is composed of a main exhibition hall with back-of-house service areas and a south facing exterior patio.
Transportation Infrastructure: Roads, interchanges, airports, mass transit
Award of Excellence: Klohn Crippen Berger, Spray Lake Coal Road Mine Void Risk Mitigation
Client: Alberta Transportation
Location: Canmore
Other Key Tetra Tech Canada Inc., Challenger Geomatics, 3vGeomatics, ATS Traffic (sub consultants); DCL Construction Services Ltd., R.S. Foundation Systems Ltd., Triton Environmental Consultants Ltd. (contractors)
Following the decline of coal mining in the Town of Canmore, Highway 742 (Spray Lakes Road) was constructed over the abandoned No.1 mine. As part of Alberta Transportation (AT)’s Geohazard Risk Management program (GRMP), which manages approximately 500 geohazard sites along the province’s highways, a large coal mine void was identified that appeared to be expanding upwards towards the highway. Klohn Crippen Berger developed a design that mitigated the risk and ensured early detection of future deformations below the highway. Construction completed in 2021 and it was the first coal mine void backfilling project completed by the AT GRMP program.
Award of Merit: DIALOG and Al-Terra Engineering, Jasper Avenue New Vision
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Al-Terra Engineering Ltd., DIALOG, EDA Planning + Urban Design, Thurber Engineering Ltd., Twenty/20 Communications, The Archaeology Group, SMA Consulting Ltd. (sub consultants); PCL Construction, Abalone, CKB Construction, Thompson Infrastructure, Seven M Construction, Black & McDonald, Lafarge, Vector Construction, Place-Crete Systems, Old World Paving Stones, Oliver James Site Furnishings, Can-Trafffic Services, Kichton, Visco Demolition and Recycling (contractors)
Jasper Avenue is an important cultural, social, and economic centre for the City of Edmonton, and is designated as one of the City’s “main streets.” The vision for this project was to transform the Avenue into an attractive people place, while maintaining its importance as a transportation link. The revitalization of Jasper Avenue’s streetscape is seen as a catalyst to private sector redevelopment, a symbol of the vitality of downtown, and is a place Edmontonians can be proud of. The project is along Jasper Avenue, from 97 Street to 100 Street, and 97 Street, from Jasper Avenue to 102 Avenue.
Award of Merit: Urban Systems, Montgomery Main Streets
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: RJC Engineers, Thurber Engineering Ltd., ADP Engineering Ltd., Russell PR Inc. (sub consultants); ALSA Road Construction Ltd. (contractor); City of Calgary
Bowness Road runs through the heart of Montgomery in northwest Calgary. The first of the City of Calgary’s Main Streets to be reconstructed, this project delivered public realm and streetscape improvements to encourage focused redevelopment and vibrancy along the corridor. Sustainable design measures like street trees and bioswales will increase the climate resiliency of Bowness Road. Urban Systems, City of Calgary, and ALSA Road Construction worked together to deliver enhanced space for walking, cycling and transit while increasing safety for all road users. The project was completed seven months ahead of schedule and within the City’s capital budget.
Transportation Infrastructure: Transportation Structures
Award of Excellence: WSP, 9th Avenue Bridge Replacement
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary
Other Key Players: COWI North America Ltd., Tetra Tech Canada Inc., Maskell Plenzik & Partners Eng Inc., Sturgess Architecture, W Architecture & Landscape Architecture LLC, Donald Luxton & Associates Inc. (sub consultants); PCL Construction Management Inc., Supreme Steel, Lafarge Canada Inc., Bauer Foundations Canada Inc., Ironclad Earthworks Ltd. (contractors)
The 9th Avenue Bridge crossing the Elbow River is a historically significant connection between adjacent communities that dates back to Calgary’s original founding. Since 1909, the crossing was served by a riveted through-truss that had reached its practical service life by 2017.
WSP Canada lead an integrated consultant team to deliver the design and construction oversight of the demolition of the original truss and installation of a tied arch replacement bridge. The completed arch is the first of its kind in Calgary for a roadway bridge and stands out as a resilient and architecturally significant structure for future generations.
Award of Merit: Thurber Engineering, Peace River Shop Slide/Hwy 2 Off Ramp Tied-Back Concrete Wall Pile
Client: Transportation and Economic Corridors
Location: Peace River
Other Key Players: DIALOG Design (sub consultant); Kichton Contracting Ltd. (contractor); Transportation and Economic Corridors
In the Town of Peace River, the Highway 2 off-ramp at 99th Avenue continued to slump despite various stabilization attempts. Thurber Engineering and subconsultant Dialog Design, designed a solution to permanently fix the landslide. A 246-metre-long pile retaining wall consisting of 141 cast-in-place concrete piles capped with a reinforced concrete waler was installed. Included were 79 tie-back anchors and a three-meter high steel soldier post and timber lagging retaining wall. The solution was developed using finite element modelling software that incorporated soil-structure interactions under various loading conditions. This methodology allowed greater certainty during design and a better performing product overall.
Water Resources
Award of Excellence: Stantec, Tweddle Drainage Upgrades
Client: EPCOR Water Services Inc.
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: M.A.P. Water and Sewer Services Ltd., Kran Construction Ltd., Weinrich Contracting Ltd., CKB Construction Ltd. (contractors)
Common for neighbourhoods built before the 1980’s, excessive ponding and flooding can occur due to the lack of overland drainage. Stantec was fortunate to participate with our client EPCOR Water Services Inc. in implementing a wide array of flood mitigation measures in southeast Edmonton from 2012-2022. This included project management, initial assessment and analysis, concept generation, preliminary and detailed design, cost estimation and procurement assistance, inspection, and construction management. Through our utilization of 2D modeling technologies, Stantec was able to determine the root causes of the flooding and safely mitigated to protect the neighbourhoods from future extreme weather events.
Award of Merit: Associated Engineering, Trestle No. 3 Rehabilitation and Steel Pipe Replacement
Client: EPCOR Utilities Inc.
Location: Edmonton
Other Key Players: Thurber Engineering Ltd. (sub consultant); Whitson Contracting (contractor)
After discovering several major issues at Trestle No. 3, EPCOR retained Associated Engineering to rehabilitate and replace the corroded steel pipe and fix erosion issues impacting the ground around the trestle. The project team worked together to implement a series of innovative designs and construction methodologies to overcome the challenges posed by lack of access and the steep ravine slopes. Risks during construction were managed by using alternative construction methodologies allowing workers to safely traverse the steep slopes and provide protection from falling debris. Now completed, the rehabilitated trestle is safe, functional and no longer an environmental liability for EPCOR
Featured image: Telus World of Science Edmonton – Aurora Expansion. (CEA)