The best of B.C.’s engineering industry were celebrated at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver during the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia (ACEC-BC)’s 27th annual Awards for Engineering Excellence Gala.

“The Awards for Engineering Excellence winners represent the best and brightest in our industry, and the winning projects are some of the most amazing work that we have seen from B.C.’s consulting engineers, who have been showcased on this stage for 27 years now,” said Keith Sashaw, president and CEO, ACEC-BC.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Engineering Excellence this year went to Fast + Epp for the structural design of the Grandview Heights Aquatic Centre in Surrey (pictured above). The ambitious and daring project involved designing the roof to resemble a gently undulating and metaphorically appropriate wave form.

The superstructure was constructed using a highly unusual structural system – a novel hanging timber catenary roof suspended between concrete buttresses and free-spanning 55 metres.

Rather than employ conventional steel roof trusses, glue-laminated timber ‘cables’ were introduced, reducing the effective structural depth by 90 per cent. This served to reduce building volumes and energy costs, sequester carbon, and provide the community with an architecturally striking and functionally efficient recreational environment.

Awards were also given in five categories: Buildings, Municipal & Civil Infrastructure, Transportation & Bridges, Energy & Industry, and Soft Engineering. ACEC-BC also recognized the outstanding contributions of three individuals.

For full list of winners, see the March/April issue of Construction Business or visit ACEC-BC