ISSUE #2 • 2017 Crowchild Trail–Flanders Avenue Interchange in Calgary delivered on-time as design-build project Aerial view of the Crowchild Trail-Flanders Avenue Interchange prior to opening to traffic Canada Lands Company, a federal Crown corporation a collaborative, results-driven approach to the design-build specializing in real estate and development, is developing process. The Westpro/Associated team began detailed a sustainable community in southwest Calgary, in an area design early in 2015. Demolition of the existing structure was formerly occupied by Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Calgary completed in September 2015. Currie Barracks. Once developed, the Currie development Project Manager, Jim Zagas, tells us, “The project had an will be home to over 12,000 people, and includes parks, retail aggressive construction schedule. We were able to meet spaces and other amenities. schedule by strategically staging our design, and submitted To service the area, the existing Crowchild Trail-Flanders the design elements in stages to allow construction to Avenue Interchange needed to be upgraded to accommodate commence early, while continuing to design in parallel with the projected traffic volumes. In collaboration with the City of construction.” Calgary, which would take ownership of the interchange The contract required Westpro to complete construction of the infrastructure following completion of construction, interchange in 19 months, while maintaining existing traffic Canada Lands Company tendered the new Crowchild flows on Crowchild Trail, which regularly services over 80,000 Trail-Flanders Avenue Interchange project as a design- vehicles per day. Calgary Transit, another project stakeholder, build contract. Associated Engineering and Westpro (now a also stipulated strict schedule requirements. division of Pomerleau) were awarded the contract, bringing FEATURED ARTICLES: ViewPoints - Design Charrettes | 4 Fischer-Hallman Road | 7 YVR Rainwater Harvesting| 9 Associated recognized at 2017 Research can revolutionize ACEC-BC Awards Gala wastewater treatment Associated Engineering has secured a Collaborative Research & Development grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Associated Engineering received an Award of Merit for the Research Council (NSERC) of Canada, in partnership with South Fork Water Treatment Plant project at the Association of Metro Vancouver and the University of British Columbia. Consulting Engineering Companies - BC’s 28th Annual Awards Dr. Dean Shiskowski, Vice President, Water Resource Recovery for Engineering Excellence in March. tells us, “The grant funds a two-year research program in aerobic granular biomass or AGB - a potentially revolutionary Located in Nanaimo, BC, the South Fork Water Treatment technology in biological wastewater treatment.” Plant is the largest, siphon-powered, membrane filtration plant in North America. The innovative use of siphons, rather Elegant in their simplicity, aerobic granular biomass systems than pumps, reduces the building footprint and saves capital, use rapid-settling, millimetre-scale biological granules, operating and maintenance costs. Employing a two-stage combined with high biomass concentrations, to provide membrane filtration system increases treatment efficiency a more compact wastewater treatment facility footprint. to more than 98%. The South Fork Water Treatment Plant Compared to secondary treatment systems using traditional provides safe, reliable drinking water, in an energy-efficient flocculant biomass, AGB systems reduce the land area needed and environmentally-sustainable manner. for wastewater treatment, construction-related resources, embedded greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. Associated Engineering was also part of the team that completed the Lord Strathcona Elementary School Seismic The University of British Columbia is our academic partner. Upgrade, which received the Lieutenant Governor’s Award - Metro Vancouver, our industrial partner, has contributed the highest award given by ACEC-BC. We completed design of funding, research space and logistics support at its Annacis the civil works for this project. Research Centre. (Continued on page 3) AE Today is published for IN THIS ISSUE employees and friends of Crowchild Trail–Flanders Avenue Interchange in 6 Staff Profile: Eben Kruger the Associated Engineering 1 Calgary delivered on-time as design-build project group of companies. 7 Environmental Assessment and Design of 2 Associated recognized at 2017 ACEC-BC Awards Gala Fischer-Hallman Road improves infrastructure Visit our web site at capacity of important traffic corridor in Region www.ae.ca for past issues Research can revolutionize wastewater treatment of Waterloo of AE Today and for office 3 Associated announces succession in technical 8 St. Albert Transportation Master Plan lays the contact information. leadership team foundation for a sustainable, multi-modal, If you would prefer to receive Stella Madsen honoured by Regina Engineering transportation system AE Today via email, please Society email [email protected]. 9 Proposed rainwater harvesting system at YVR Lower Mainland office moves to Vancouver in strengthens Vancouver Airport Authority’s September sustainable design leadership 4 ViewPoints - Design Charrettes lead to creative 10 Building Communities solutions 11 Employee News 5 ViewPoints (continued) 12 Celebrating Canada 150 Crowchild-Flanders Interchange (continued) 2 Associated announces succession in technical leadership team Two of our long-serving technical leaders, in the design of highways, roadways, John Fussell, Senior Vice President, and pathways, and brings experience in Transportation, and Herb Kuehne, Senior alternate delivery. Vice President, Civil Infrastructure, retire A Senior Civil Engineer, Chris has 29 years on June 30, 2017. of experience in municipal infrastructure Kerry Rudd, President & CEO, is pleased and land development. Chris specializes to announce that Alan Emery has in pipeline design, including infrastructure accepted the role of Senior Vice President, renewal and trenchless technologies. Alan Emery Chris Skowronski Transportation, and Chris Skowronski will Congratulations to Alan and Chris! take on the role of Senior Vice President, Infrastructure. Alan and Chris will provide business development and technical Thank you to John and Herb for your guidance to our staff, and technical support to our clients. leadership and contributions to the company over the years. We wish you both a long and happy retirement. A Senior Transportation Engineer, Alan has more than 35 years of experience across Canada and in the UK. He specializes Stella Madsen honoured by Regina Engineering Society The Regina Engineering Society presented this year’s (l to r) Derrick Engineering Excellence Award to Stella Madsen, Operations Tannahill, Manager for our Regina office. The award recognizes Stella Stella Madsen, for her outstanding leadership and technical ability over Angela Hickie- her almost 40-year career in engineering, during which time Miller, and she has worked for the University of Saskatchewan, the Nancy Inglis Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, the City of Lethbridge, the City of Regina, and, most recently, developing our Transportation Division in Regina. Aerobic Granular Biomass Lower Mainland office moves systems need less space to Vancouver in September Dean, who is also an Adjunct Professor of Civil Engineering at We are moving our BC Lower Mainland office to a new, UBC, leads the research program. Wastewater Engineer, Jason LEED Gold building, aligning with our focus on sustainability. Leong from our Burnaby office, coordinates the day-to-day Effective September 1, 2017, our new office address is: activities and provides support to the participating graduate #500 - 2889 East 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5M 4T5 students. Jason completed his Master’s thesis on AGB performance in treating municipal wastewater. Our telephone number remains the same at 604-293-1411. www.ae.ca 3 ViewPoints - Design Charrettes lead to creative solutions by John Cope, B.A., B.E.D.S., M.Arch., SAA, MRAIC, LEED AP Benefits of holding design charrettes include the following: • Each participant is engaged, has a voice and is considered an equal on the team • Stakeholders come together in a positive environment that facilitates fast and interactive decision-making. • The forum creates partnerships and positive working relationships • Participants understand priorities of different functional groups • Open sharing of ideas inspires all members of the team Most projects, especially multi-discipline projects, involve • Brainstorming and dialogue are helpful in situations calling a number of stakeholders, including the client with its for new ways of looking at things departments and user groups, community groups, authorities • Joint problem-solving results in creative solutions. having jurisdiction, the general public, and of course the design team. On projects large or small, there is generally a lot How do you conduct a design charrette? of background information to review: planning documents, Conducting a design charrette can be quite straightforward. In project definition reports, programming documents, user its very basic form, the project manager gathers participants requirements, reports, and site information, for example. The together in a room. Paper and pens are provided to each project team must understand the overall objectives of the person. One person is designated as the facilitator, who writes