| Work Detail |
The Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA) held its 27th annual Showcase Awards Gala in Edmonton, presenting 13 awards of excellence and 12 awards of merit, from a total of 54 submitted projects by CEA member firms.
“These awards recognize the best-of-the best in engineering design and innovation,” said CEA president Jason Maurer. “The winners this year reflect the exceptional minds in engineering who make a difference in the lives of all Albertans.”
During the evening, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for distinguished service was presented to Herb Kuehne, MBA, P. Eng.
“We are very proud to recognize Herb for his long and distinguished career as a consulting engineer,” said Maurer. Kuehne was a past president of CEA and also served on the ACEC Canada board. “Herb is very deserving of this prestigious award based on his contribution to our Industry,” commented CEA CEO Ken Kozakewich.
Also in recognizing young professionals, the Harold L. Morrison Award was presented to Caityln Osz-Theriault, P. Eng., CSM, a low-carbon solutions specialist with Stantec Consulting.
“One of the highlights of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta Awards Gala is to recognize the outstanding talents of a future leader,” said Maurer.
Firm: WSP
Client: Town of Drayton Valley
Location: Drayton Valley, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd.; RJC Engineers; Arrow, a division of Englobe; Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Contractors: Chandos Construction; AltaPro Electric Ltd.; Priority Mechanical; Master Pools Alta Ltd.; XMG Commercial Floor Coverings; Spartan Steel Ltd.
Other Key Player: Brazeau County
The Ricochet Oil Corp Aquatic Centre is designed with eight swim lanes, leisure pool, steam room, hot tub, waterslide, and multi-purpose rooms. The following IPD team met regularly in a co-located “Big Room” throughout the project: Town of Drayton Valley, Brazeau County, Group2, WSP Electrical and Civil, Chandos, AltaPro Electric, RJC, Arrow, Stantec, Spartan Steel, Priority Mechanical, Master Pools, and XMG Flooring. The project’s sustainability and net zero efforts included 300kW of solar on the roof. Our team successfully secured ICIP and MCCAC funding for the Aquatic Centre by meeting specific energy reduction and sustainability targets.
Firm: Englobe Corp.
Client: ONE Properties; REVOne Westmount LP
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Contractors: Clark Builders; MCL Power Inc.; Jetco Mechanical Ltd.
Other Key Player: DIALOG
Responding to the increased demand for seniors supportive living in downtown Edmonton, Glenora Park is a complete community under one roof offering everything needed to age-in place gracefully with dignity.
Englobe was honoured to provide advanced mechanical and electrical engineering for the Glenora Park retirement residence. Combining custom engineered features, with a low-impact design, the team delivered a state-of-the-art LEED certified facility meeting all stakeholder needs.
The beautiful, assisted living and respite care facility was built to modern standards with modern technology and functions today as a vibrant part of the community and point of pride for all residents.
Firm: Smith + Andersen
Client: University of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Duke Evans Inc.; Entuitive Corporation; SMP Engineering; O2 Planning + Design Inc.; Footprint; EllisDon Construction Services Inc.;
Botting & Associates; ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
Other Key Players: Diamond Schmitt Architects; GGA-Architecture
Mathison Hall is a space dedicated to entrepreneurial thinking and experiential learning experiences – part of a $90 million project at the University of Calgary’s main campus to transform the delivery of business education. As the mechanical engineers on the project, Smith + Andersen implemented high-efficiency mechanical solutions and upgrades that achieved a total 54% energy cost reduction against a reference model based on ASHRAE 90.1-2010, as well as a net-zero energy increase across both the new Mathison Hall and existing Scurfield Hall. The systems were skillfully integrated to support the University’s aspirations for a bold and innovative campus landmark.
Award of Merit: Windermere Fire Station 31
Firm: SMP Engineering
Client: City of Edmonton
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Smith + Andersen; RJC Engineers
Contractor: PCL Construction
Other Key Players: S2 Architecture; gh3*; Urban Systems Ltd.; Complete Power Solutions
Windermere Fire Station 31 began as a pilot project with the City of Edmonton with the goal of being the first net zero facility for the City. To meet net zero parameters, the electrical design for the 16,300ft2 building included energy efficient systems such as radiant heating and cooling systems, LED lighting & controls, photovoltaics (PV), mechanical systems, generator, and firefighter dispatch alert. 382 solar panels were incorporated onto the roof, allowing the PV system to offset the buildings carbon emissions. Construction commenced in 2021, and the grand opening of the $21.5 million fire hall took place in August 2023.
Award of Excellence: Downtown Flood Barrier and Public Realm Improvements, Eau Claire Plaza to Riverwalk
Firm: Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: O2 Planning + Design; Bison Historical Services Ltd.; SMP Engineering; ION Irrigation Management Inc.;
ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.
Contractors: Graham Infrastructure LP; Wilco Contractors Southwest Inc.; Double Star Drilling; R.W Gallant Equipment Ltd.;
Dobbin Electrical Services; Landform Inc.; Greenscape Irrigation
As a result of the June 2013 event, a flood barrier was constructed from Eau Claire Plaza to Reconciliation Bridge, protecting downtown Calgary during a 1:200 year event. In concert with Calgary’s plans to revitalize the public realm of the downtown core, this critical infrastructure was seamlessly integrated with new public spaces and pathways to improve the south bank of the Bow River for Calgarians. Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd. was retained to provide engineering, geoscience, and environmental services. Construction was completed by October 2023. The flood barrier will avert flood damages up to 200 million dollars throughout its life-cycle.
Award of Merit: Edmonton Community Health Hub North
Firm: Englobe Corp.
Client: Jadecor Developments Ltd.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Contractors: Territorial Electric; Modern Niagara
Other Key Player: START Architecture Inc.
An outdated Canadian Tire outlet was transformed into the Community Health Hub North, an accessible, safe, sustainable team-based healthcare centre. Anchored by a family physician and diverse health disciplines, the Hub delivers culturally attuned services to meet the complex needs of Edmonton’s Belvedere community.
Englobe provided the advanced mechanical, electrical and structural engineering for the new facility. By championing innovative solutions and proactive project management, they helped the client realize their vision for a comprehensive facility that goes beyond traditional healthcare.
Supporting wellness in the community, the Hub provides essential lifechanging and lifesaving care to those who need it most.
Award of Excellence: Inclusion & Diversity: A Culture of Belonging Where Everyone Can Thrive
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: GHD Limited
Location: Alberta
Inclusion and diversity are at the heart of our business and core to our values of safety, teamwork, respect, and integrity. These values define us and allow us to create lasting value internally for our people and externally for the communities and clients we serve. Indicative of our commitment, GHD has created Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to foster a community of belonging that enables its members and allies to grow. GHD is also committed to providing our employees opportunities to contribute to the communities in which we work and live, such as supporting Habitat for Humanity and United Way.
Award of Merit: GHD in the Community: Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: GHD Limited
Location: Alberta
Ocean Wise is a global conservation organization on a mission to build communities that take meaningful action to protect and restore our ocean. Staff from GHD offices across Canada came together to coordinate efforts from the East Coast through to the West Coast in support of Ocean Wise. During the month of May 2023, GHD staff collected approximately 766 lbs of waste over close to 15km of community parks and water shorelines.
Award of Excellence: Claystone Landfill Gas Quantification Program
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: Claystone Waste Ltd.
Location: Ryley, Alberta
The Claystone Landfill Gas (LFG) Quantification Program is a detailed surface emissions direct-measurement quantification program implemented at the Claystone Regional Landfill. The program was developed to demonstrate that the Scholl Canyon Model does not accurately represent actual LFG emissions due to unique site conditions after the site became regulated under the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reductions Regulation (TIER). GHD was challenged with developing a program that demonstrates direct quantification of LFG emissions without the presence of a LFG collection system. This program has been managed on an annual basis for over 3 years successfully by GHD.
Award of Merit: Centre Street Gravel Bar Reshaping and Fish Habitat Restoration Project
Firm: WSP
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Tannas Conservation Services Ltd.; Dr. Greg Courtice
Contractors: Priestly Demolition Inc.; Dakota Reclamators Ltd.
A gravel bar occupying one-third the width of the Bow River downstream of the Centre Street Bridge in Calgary was increasing upstream water levels. The City of Calgary, WSP and their subconsultants, Tannas Conservation Services and Greg Courtice, collaborated to provide engineering design, regulatory support and construction management services for the removal of gravel bar materials and reshaping to create fish habitat. Novel turbidity monitoring methods were incorporated into the construction plan, allowing in-stream works to be completed without isolation measures while maintaining compliance with suspended sediment limits. Hydrocarbon contamination and historical artifacts encountered during excavation presented additional challenges.
Award of Excellence: Travers Solar
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: PCL Construction; Axium Infrastructure
Location: Vulcan County, Alberta
Sub Consultants: CIMA Canada Inc. (CIMA+); Tulloch Engineering
Contractor: PCL Construction
Travers Solar puts the Village of Lomond on the map as a home to Canada’s largest solar project. PCL brought in our Stantec team to provide civil and electrical engineering services for the solar array, along with CIMA + for substation design, and Tulloch Engineering for pile design. We worked diligently to complete the electrical, civil, and storm water management design, creating a balanced site with care and precision. Owned by one of Axium Infrastructure managed funds with Axium acting as an asset manager, Travers generates enough electricity to power 163,568 homes and offset 323,835 tons of carbon emissions annually.
Award of Excellence: Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant: Plant D Expansion
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Jacobs; AECOM
Contractor: Graham Construction & Engineering
The City of Calgary’s Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant is the world’s largest cold-weather BNR facility, treating wastewater for 1.2 million people and discharging into the Bow River. Since its original construction, population growth and stringent treatment limits have driven numerous plant expansions. Over the last few years, Stantec led the Plant D Expansion, ultimately increasing the facility’s capacity by 135ML/d through the construction and upgrade of two primary clarifiers, two bioreactors, four secondary clarifiers, six digester units, the ultraviolet disinfection system, biogas storage and flaring facilities, a flood protection berm, and a new effluent diffuser outfall.
Award of Merit: Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Bypass
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Sub Consultant: Thurber Engineering Ltd.
Contractors: OCL Group; BIRD Construction; Sureway Construction Group
The Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Phase 2 project provides a robust sanitary sewer trunk for the Timberlea Neighborhood in Fort McMurray. The Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Phase 2 project traversed unstable slopes, crossed several pipelines, shallow utilities, two interchanges and passed through the built-up neighbourhood of Timberlea and a busy WWTP. Using a trenchless technology, horizontal directional drilling, microtunnelling, and pilot tube auger boring minimized impact on the environment, and the public.
The Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Phase 2 project demonstrates the benefits of integrated project delivery and proactive and open stakeholder engagement to implement infrastructure that benefits the community.
Award of Excellence: Leslieville Wastewater MAGNA Biofilter Wetland System (MBWS)
Firm: MAGNA Engineering Services Inc.
Client: Clearwater County
Location: Leslieville, Alberta
Sub Consultants: MAGNA Engineering Services Inc.; Cleantech Controls Inc.; King Engineering & Consulting Inc.; PrairieGeo Engineering Ltd.
Contractor: Everest Construction Management Ltd.
MAGNA Engineering, in collaboration with Cleantech Controls Inc., King Engineering & Consulting, PrairieGeo Engineering, and Everest Construction Management completed the Leslieville MAGNA Biofilter Wetland System (MBWS) project on behalf of Clearwater County.
The MBWS is a trailblazing wastewater wetland treatment system that allows for cost-effective treatment of wastewater using simplified operational practices. This approach not only meets the community’s growth needs, but rises to more rigorous effluent targets, all while simplifying infrastructure to minimize complex operational routines. The MBWS is a showcase of cold climate application for wetland treatment systems and is a beacon innovation in the wastewater management industry.
Award of Merit: Edmonton Community Health Hub North
Firm: Englobe Corp.
Client: Jadecor Developments Ltd.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Contractors: Territorial Electric; Modern Niagara
Other Key Player: START Architecture Inc.
An outdated Canadian Tire outlet was transformed into the Community Health Hub North, an accessible, safe, sustainable team-based healthcare centre. Anchored by a family physician and diverse health disciplines, the Hub delivers culturally attuned services to meet the complex needs of Edmonton’s Belvedere community.
Englobe provided the advanced mechanical, electrical and structural engineering for the new facility. By championing innovative solutions and proactive project management, they helped the client realize their vision for a comprehensive facility that goes beyond traditional healthcare.
Supporting wellness in the community, the Hub provides essential lifechanging and lifesaving care to those who need it most.
Award of Excellence: Closing the Infrastructure Gap for First Nations
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: Assembly of First Nations
Location: National Project
Other Key Players: Indigenous Services Canada; First Nations Engineering Services; BTY Group; Planetworks Consulting Corporation;
Yalleedesigns; Over 400 First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations and Indigenous Services Canada needed to understand the actions and investments required to close the infrastructure gap for First Nations across Canada by 2030. Associated Engineering documented, for the first time, the costs of maintaining, renewing, upgrading or expanding existing infrastructure while considering climate adaptation and energy management. Level of service improvements to accessibility, drinking water, and all-season road access were examined. This study recognizes and emphasises the inequity and societal difficulties associated with substandard infrastructure, as well as the opportunities and benefits that may be realized by narrowing the infrastructure gap.
Award of Merit: Geohazard Change Detection Research Project
Firm: Klohn Crippen Berger Ltd.
Client: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
Location: Alberta
Alberta’s sustainable economic growth requires continued safe and reliable economic corridors. Transportation and Economic Corridors (TEC) manages hundreds of active geohazard sites that impact the province’s highways. Many geohazards, which include unstable soil slopes and embankments, rock falls, subgrades and retaining walls, extend beyond the highway right-of-way onto private or crown land in natural terrain, frequently in remote or inaccessible areas. Traditional monitoring techniques can be financially onerous with negative impacts on the environment and employee safety.
Klohn Crippen Berger and the University of Alberta have partnered to establish a research program aimed at enhancing TEC’s geohazard management strategy. The research focuses on evaluation of geohazard monitoring techniques, enhancement of risk management practices, reduction of environmental footprint, and reduction of impacts outside the highway right-of-way.
Award of Excellence: Northwest Inner City Upper Plateau Separation
Firm: Associated Engineering
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Thurber Engineering Ltd.; Delve Underground
Contractors: Whissell Contracting Ltd.; Ward & Burke Construction Ltd.
The Northwest Inner City Upper Plateau Sewer Separation Project is a multi-year project designed to alleviate flooding in the community of Sunnyside in Calgary. Associated Engineering proposed and designed a 765 m long, 3.4 m diameter microtunnelled inverted siphon, the largest microtunnel in North America, to intercept stormwater from the upslope communities, and divert it directly to the Bow River. Trenchless construction was preferred to minimize disturbance to the Sunnyside community and to traverse varying geology from the upper plateau to the Bow River. This passively operated solution has the benefit of saving both capital and operational costs.
Award of Merit: Tent Mountain Renewable Energy Complex
Firm: GHD Limited
Client: Evolve Power
Location: Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
The Tent Mountain Renewable Energy Complex (TM-REX) Project is the proposed redevelopment of a disturbed legacy metallurgical coal mine site near Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. This transformational, integrated project is a first-of-its-kind globally. The challenge for Evolve was to find a way to deliver a sustainable and socially accepted project with strong economic value that could attract investment and utilize the unique features of the site and location. The resulting Project includes a pumped hydro energy storage facility (PHES), a green hydrogen production electrolyzer, and a wind farm off-site (to be owned by the Piikani First Nation).
Award of Excellence: West Calgary Ring Road DB1
Firm: AECOM
Client: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.; Spencer Environmental Management Services Ltd.; Great Northern Engineering Consultants Inc.
Contractor: EllisDon Construction Services Inc.
Opened in July 2023, the West Calgary Ring Road DB1 is a critical interchange and part of the connection of the Ring Road from the Bow River to Old Banff Coach Road including significant upgrades along the Trans-Canada Highway. The constraints and challenges of this complex project required many innovative, unique and creative solutions. A constructable and economical design is a result of technical excellence. The identification of risk items and mitigations ensured the advancement of the work and the achievement of the project milestones. Procured by EllisDon, AECOM was lead designer supported by ISL Engineering, Spencer Environmental and GNEC.
Award of Merit: Tli?cho All-Season Road
Firm: Hatch
Client: Peter Kiewit and Sons ULC; Government of the Northwest Territories
Location: Near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Sub Consultant: Thurber Engineering Ltd.
Contractor: Peter Kiewit Sons ULC
The Tlicho All-Season Road is a new 97 km-long roadway connecting the Town of Whatì to Highway 3, west of Yellowknife. Hatch, supported by subconsultant Thurber Engineering, provided design services to Kiewit, the design-builder on this P3 project. The roadway features four bridges, over 200 culverts, and three bridge culverts. The roadway and geotechnical designs focused on reduction of settlement due to melting permafrost and muskeg soils. Watercourse structures were sized to accommodate increases in flow due to climate change and forest fires. The project delivers significant benefits to the Tlicho Settlement Area, reducing travel-time and providing employment opportunities.
Award of Excellence: Athabasca River Bridge on Hwy 813: Bridge Replacement on Active Landslide
Firm: COWI North America Ltd.
Client: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
Location: Athabasca, Alberta
Sub Consultant: Tetra Tech Canada Inc.
The Athabasca River Bridge on Hwy 813: Bridge Replacement on Active Landslide project includes the design and construction of a new bridge to replace an aging structure in Athabasca, Alberta. Replacing a bridge over an active landslide requires innovative solutions. Collaboration between COWI, Tetra Tech, and TEC resulted in a resilient and cost-effective design approach. The design harnesses the bridge’s natural flexibility by accommodating ground movement through a combination of geotechnical and structural measures, including flexible abutments and modular components. This project will provide a potential alternative approach for future designs in similar landslide locations, reducing costs and enhancing infrastructure resilience.
Award of Merit: Twinning of Stoney Trail over the Bow River in NW Calgary
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultant: Thurber Engineering Ltd.
Contractor: Flatiron-Aecon Joint Venture
As part of the Calgary Ring Road, completion of the northwest section required twinning the first Stoney Trail bridge over the Bow River. This project involved road and bridge components, and the construction of a new a new five-span river crossing, a 470m-long bridge over the Bow River, directly west of the existing Stoney Trail bridge. The new bridge was segmentally cast-in-place using a balanced cantilever method – a rare method of bridge construction that only allowed for a small working area for construction. Since starting in 2019, construction proceeded through the pandemic to a successful opening to traffic in 2023.
Award of Excellence: Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant: Plant D Expansion
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: City of Calgary
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Sub Consultants: Jacobs; AECOM
Contractor: Graham Construction & Engineering
The City of Calgary’s Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant is the world’s largest cold-weather BNR facility, treating wastewater for 1.2 million people and discharging into the Bow River. Since its original construction, population growth and stringent treatment limits have driven numerous plant expansions. Over the last few years, Stantec led the Plant D Expansion, ultimately increasing the facility’s capacity by 135ML/d through the construction and upgrade of two primary clarifiers, two bioreactors, four secondary clarifiers, six digester units, the ultraviolet disinfection system, biogas storage and flaring facilities, a flood protection berm, and a new effluent diffuser outfall.
Award of Merit: Cold Lake Fish Hatchery Upgrades
Firm: Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Client: Alberta Infrastructure
Location: Cold Lake, Alberta
Sub Consultant: Innovasea Systems Inc.
Contractor: Sure-Form Contracting Ltd.
Other Key Players: LCR Mechanical Contractors Corporation; Electric Services Grand Centre Ltd.
Owned by the Province of Alberta, the Cold Lake Fish Hatchery produces approximately 65,000 kg of fish annually to support stocking programs in provincial lakes. The facility did not recirculate water and had a substantial energy demand for heating and operation that totaled $1 million per year.
In 2020, Stantec was hired to upgrade the hatchery by implementing a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and other functional improvements. Completed in November 2023, the project caused a dramatic decrease in environmental waste and energy consumption, saving taxpayers $870,000 per year while Fisheries contribute over $160 million per year to Alberta’s economy. |
