Posted by tracey rossignol on Wed, Apr 04, 2012 @ 05:58 PM
Glotman Simpson is sponsoring the upcoming 2012 Spring Session BC: Positioned to Lead seminar conducted by the BC Construction Roundtable.
Leading with LEED? How successful is the sustainable agenda?
Sustainable design and construction is the new normal. The City of Vancouver has taken the lead with its ambitious plan to become the greenest city in the world by 2020 and its recent adoption of its 2020 carbon neutral buildings strategy. Now that we have experience in the delivery of sustainable buildings, come and learn first-hand of the City of Vancouver's initiatives, projects, requirements, incentive programs and proposals for new codes and bylaws, including ASHRAE 90.1 2010; hear from a contractor's LEED AP of the issues, challenges and costs facing contractors in project implementation; and learn of the legal issues that have to be considered and addressed to avoid disputes, and the top 5 things that have given rise to green litigation in the US.
Speakers:
- Alberto Cayuela, PEng, PMP, LEED AP Associate Director, UBC Sustainability Initiative
- Susan Hildebrandt, GSC, LEED AP, CPI Project Manager and Director of Sustainable Building Practices, Scott Construction
- Marina Pratchett, Fasken Martineau
- David Ramslie, Sustainability Program City of Vancouver
Details:
- When: Thursday April 19, 2012 - 8:00am - 11:30 am
- Where: CIRS Building UBC, 2260 West Mall
- Cost: Members $50 / Non-members $90
For more information and/or to register visit BCCR
website.
The session is application for 3.5 Core AIBC CES learning units.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Wed, Aug 24, 2011 @ 04:10 PM
The Glotman Simpson Cycling Club hosted 380 riders at the 4th Annual Cypress Challenge: A Fundraiser for Pancreatic Cancer in memory of Jack Poole on August 20th. The event, presented by Concert Properties and Jeff Mooney & Suzanne Bolton, was the most successful to date raising $125,000 for pancreatic cancer research fund at the BC Cancer Foundation.
Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancer types, in part because early detection is difficult. With so few survivors to advocate and raise funds, events like the Cypress Challenge are important to help raise awareness and support more research. The Glotman Simpson Cycling Club is dedicated year round to raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research. The Cypress Challenge is their biggest fundraiser of the year.
Jack Poole, who was the driving force behind the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, died of Pancreatic Cancer in October 2009 just a few months shy of seeing his dream come true. He was a man of great spirit, drive and determination and his commitment to the community and to the public good was something he highly valued. The 4th Annual Cypress Challenge is dedicated to his memory.
The final total of $125,000 comprised of 100% of all rider registrations, cash sponsorships, donations and raffle proceeds. The event was hosted by the Glotman Simpson Cycling Club and Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers, with the support of over 60 volunteers.
The Cypress Challenge route from the bottom of CypressMountainto the top of Hollyburn's Cross Country area covered 13km at a steady 6.5 per cent grade – which wouldn’t be out of place as a hill climb in the Tour de France. New this year was a First Peak category for recreational riders to climb 5km to theFirstPeak Look-out.
For race results and photos click here.
Video Cypress Challenge Hillclimb 2011 from Shig Tamagi on Vimeo.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Tue, Mar 08, 2011 @ 04:58 PM
Glotman Simpson recently completed work on the Capitol Residences building. The building sits on the historic 1922 Capitol Theatre site. The site’s rich cultural history is continued in this new mixed-use building with an expansion to the Orpheum theatre, and new Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music. The 25,000 square foot educational facility occupies the first four floors of the 43 level building, and includes an acoustically isolated, 120 seat recital hall with recording capabilities.
Innovative Structural Solutions
Creating state-of-the-art, acoustically isolated music facilities in a mixed-use building within a high seismic zone required unique structural solutions. The Orpheum and VSO School of Music facilities were completely isolated from each other and from all ambient noise. The acoustic isolation is gained primarily through an air gap between airtight constructions in the floor, walls and ceilings. Such gaps alone, though, don’t allow gravity and seismic inertial forces to be transferred to the core walls during earthquakes. The solution was, in part, vibration, lateral and vertical isolation of the floors, walls and ceilings.
Most challenging was the Recital Hall (Orpheum Annex), which required a preferred noise criterion (PNC) 15, and was located adjacent to the elevator shaft. A 50 millimeter acoustic separation gap was recommended in the slabs around the elevator core on the first four floors, including the fifth floor slab that carries the loads of the 38 floors above. Lateral and vertical isolators were designed by Glotman•Simpson to support the weight of the slab and help transfer inertial forces from these floors into the core walls during an earthquake.
The result is a building that seamlessly mixes the arts into an urban residential facility.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Mon, Dec 06, 2010 @ 04:38 PM
We have always believed that we are a great place to work. And we take our corporate values of people, leadership, quality, creativity and integrity very seriously. So last spring we thought we’d put that opinion to the test by participating in the Best Companies to Work for in BC survey. We hoped the survey would provide feedback from our team on what we are doing well and what we need to improve. Plus the opportunity to see how that compared to other local Vancouver businesses.
On November 30th, BC Business announced the Top 10 “Best Companies to Work for in BC” and the top firms in 11 industry specific categories. Over a 100 BC companies participated. We were announced as the 5th ranking company in the Professional Services and Communications category. We were certainly in good company in our field along with Chemistry Consulting Group Inc., Habanero Consulting Group, Benefits by Design Inc and 6S Marketing Inc. We were also thrilled, in our first year participating, to be ranked 12th overall.
Our employees have clearly told us they:
- believe Glotman Simpson has a good reputation in our field
- have confidence and trust in our leadership
- feel we retain high quality employees
- are proud to work here.
We are so pleased they feel this way. And we firmly believe this great team is the reason we continue to provide high quality and innovative solutions to our clients.
View the full list of winners on the BC Business website or in the December issue of BCBusiness Magazine.
Posted by Tracey Rossignol on Thu, Oct 28, 2010 @ 12:06 PM
The Richmond Olympic Oval and its team of structural engineers, Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers and Fast & Epp, received one of the highest levels of excellence in quality of engineering, innovation, and imagination with the Canadian Consulting Engineers (CCE) 2010 Award of Excellence for buildings. The annual awards, now in their 42nd year, were presented by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies and Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine on October 26, 2010 in Ottawa.
For Glotman•Simpson, structural engineers for the building’s base structure, a true challenge was designing a building that could provide a level ice surface to meet the Olympics’ exacting standards on a site with notoriously unstable soils. Pressure from the 33,000-m2 building had to be spread in almost perfect uniformity across the site’s boggy surface. Nearby buildings were known to settle as much as 200 mm, but the level of the Richmond Olympic Oval could not vary any more than 3 mm in 3000 mm, nor 20 mm over its full length -- a distance 4-1/2 times the length of a football field.
The solution Glotman Simpson designed is a concrete basement structure on a very large, 6-acre concrete foundation raft. This approach provides exceptionally good control over the levelness of the building. The raft raised the ice slab to above grade, which improved the interior environment, and it eliminated the need for expensive deep foundations. The resulting survey measurement was so flat they could not measure any differential settlement.
Fast & Epp, structural engineers designed the roof with sweeping long-span timber and steel hybrid arches that support an array of “wood wave” panels.
About Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers – We are one of North America's premier structural engineering firms. We offer our clients leading-edge structural solutions in the areas of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential design. With over 4,000 projects completed in the last 45 years, we have proven our ability to provide innovative and cost effective answers to the most complex structural problems. For more information visit our website at GlotmanSimpson.com.
Creative Thinkers, Cleverly Disguised as Engineers.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Wed, Sep 29, 2010 @ 06:17 PM
Large Post Tensioned Beams Spanning 18.8 Meters Provide Unobstructed Line Of Sight In Lecture Halls
The First Phase of the UBC Sauder School of Business revitalization project adds 50,000 square feet to the existing 216,000 square feet of the Henry Angus Building, providing a new facility for the Robert H. Lee Graduate School and a dedicated undergraduate centre.
The new four storey building has classrooms on two levels, a library on one level, two lecture theatres on the top floor and a lecture hall in the basement. The LEED Silver equivalent building is concrete to grade and steel framing above grade with chevron braces and composite beams.
In the basement there is a large lecture hall that required that no columns block students’ line of site. Glotman•Simpson utilized large post tensioned transfer beams, spanning 18.8 meters, on the ground floor to allow for no columns in the basement lecture hall space. These beams support the entire building structure above.
The new building had to be seismically separated from the existing adjacent buildings, which were used for gravity support along the east side and parts of the north and south sides. Glotman Simpson provided horizontal slip connections at the building to building joints to allow the new building to move independently.
The roof uses long span Glulam beams to accommodate the curved sloping roof of the lecture theatres at the top level.
The first phase of this project was completed in January 2010.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 @ 03:19 PM
Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers has introduced the latest in their nature series brand ads. Great structural engineering finds innovative ways to actualize an architect’s vision. Many of those answers find their basis in nature. This is the core idea for this series of ads for Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers.
The new ad, developed by KinleyJones, speaks to the need to work together to build community Public Private Partnerships (P3s) projects. The ad features bees who are known for working collaboratively for the common good. Similar to Glotman Simpson’s historically collaborative approach to structural engineering. An example of this is Glotman Simpson’s recent work on the Surrey Outpatient Care & Surgery Centre.
Body Copy:
Nature gives us superb examples of creatures working together to build structures for their common good. Public Private Partnerships ( P3s ) are being recognized as the smartest way for us to follow Nature’s lead.
Glotman Simpson brings an historically collaborative approach to solving P3 structural problems. We also combine high-level analysis with state-of-the-art 3D modeling. Our recent work on the Surrey Outpatient Care & Surgery Centre is a good example. This P3 required a flexible and open interior space, with unconventionally wide spans. We answered the architect’s vision with innovative and economical solutions.
The Surrey Outpatient Care & Surgery Centre is just one of a number of leading-edge structural solutions that we’ve recently developed. To find out more about Glotman Simpson’s approach to engineering, please visit our website. You’ll see a number of our collaborative structural solutions there.
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This latest ad is the 4th in the nature series campaign. The previous ads have featured:
- Spider Web / Vancouver Convention Centre – “Nature excels at designing strong and remarkable structures with a minimum of materials...”
- Lily Pads / Richmond Olympic Oval – “Great structural engineering finds innovative ways to actualize an architect’s vision. Many of those answers find their basis in nature...”
- Leaves / Langara College Library - “Nature’s designs manage to be both simple and complex at the same time….”
For more examples of our leading-edge structural solutions visit glotmansimpson.com.
Posted by tracey rossignol on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 @ 06:16 PM
The Glotman Simpson Cycling Club hosted 199 cyclists of all ages and abilities in the 3rd Annual Cypress Challenge August 28th, raising $50,000 for the Betty Ergas Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund through the BC Cancer Foundation.
Photo(l to r) - Geoff Glotman (Managing Principal Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers), Brendan Robinson (VP Development for BC Cancer Foundation), Paul Carson (long time local sports broadcaster and pancreatic cancer patient)
Geoffrey and Myriam Glotman created the Cypress Challenge in 2008 after losing Myriam’s mother Betty Egras to pancreatic cancer.
“Pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancer types, in part because it is difficult to detect early,” said Geoff. “With so few survivors to advocate and raise funds, we decided to establish this event to raise awareness and support more research. We believe that more funds for research will lead to improved outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.”
Working with the BC Cancer Foundation, the couple founded the Betty Egras Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, which supports a new multi-disclipinary pancreatic cancer research program started at the BC Cancer Agency by Dr. Silvia Ng.
“We know that we can improve patient treatment through research,” said Brendan Robinson, Vice President of Development for the BC Cancer Foundation. “It is thanks to generous donors like the Glotmans that we are able to fund groundbreaking research at the BC Cancer Agency. As Foundation donors, they truly become partners in the discoveries they make possible.”
The 2010 Cypress Challenge was hosted by long-time local sports broadcaster and broadcast executive Paul Carson, who is currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer. Paul told the crowd of cyclists, “I’ll be riding next year. I might be bringing up the rear, but I’ll be here.”
The Challenge route from the bottom of Cypress Mountain to the top of Hollyburn's Cross Country area covered 13km at a steady 6.5 per cent grade – which wouldn’t be out of place as a hill climb in the Tour de France. Ten different age categories ensured winners of all abilities.
For the first time this year, the Cypress Challenge benefited from a large number of generous sponsors. Special thanks go to Lower Mainland Steel, ZLC Financial Group, North Shore News and Team 1040 for their generous support.
About Pancreatic Cancer
It is estimated over 500 people in British Columbia will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. This cancer has few early warning signs as symptoms are not specific and similar to many other gastrointestinal disorders. This difficulty in early detection contributes to pancreatic cancer having the lowest survival rate of all cancer types. The Canadian average for five-year survival is six per cent. When diagnosed in its later stages, it is exceptionally resistant to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, and surgery is not recommended.
A number of doctors and researchers at the BC Cancer Agency are taking on the challenge of pancreatic cancer to create hope for patients and their families in British Columbia. A full spectrum of questions are being asked — from basic research into how normal pancreatic cells become cancerous to how patients respond to different forms and combinations of treatment.
About the BC Cancer Foundation and the BC Cancer Agency:
The BC Cancer Foundation is an independent charitable organization that raises funds to support research and care at the BC Cancer Agency. The BC Cancer Agency provides a comprehensive cancer control program for the people of British Columbia and conducts research into the causes and cures for cancer. For more information, please visit: www.bccancerfoundation.com.
About Glotman•Simpson Cycling Club
In British Columbia, cycling is steadily becoming the predominate sport for getting into shape. In Vancouver, nine out of 10 people own a bike and around 80 per cent of them will participate in a cycling event in their lifetime. Team Glotman•Simpson was created, in 2005, by a group of friendly riders who want to promote a positive image for cycling. As one of Vancouver’s largest cycling team and clubs, with over 175 members, we are cycling's ambassadors and must continue to promote a safe and fun environment for others who ride and those who interact with riders like motorists.
The Glotman•Simpson Cycling Club is dedicated to raising funds for pancreatic cancer research. The Cypress Climb is their largest annual fundraising event. In 2009 the club raised $42,000 for pancreatic cancer research.
About Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers
Glotman•Simpson is one of North America's premier structural engineering firms. We offer our clients leading-edge structural solutions in the areas of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential design. With over 4,000 projects completed in the last 45 years, we have proven our ability to provide innovative and cost effective answers to the most complex structural problems.
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Media Inquiries:
Tracey Rossignol
trossignol@glotmansimpson.com
604-377-4954
Photos via Flickr
Full Ride results
Posted by tracey rossignol on Thu, Aug 19, 2010 @ 12:02 PM
Local Structural Engineer Behind Ride To Cure Pancreatic Cancer.
Geoffrey and Myriam Glotman created the Cypress Challenge event in 2008 after they lost Myriam’s mother Betty Ergas to Pancreatic Cancer. “Pacreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate of all cancer types, in part because it is difficult to detect early”, says Geoff. “With so few survivors to advocate and raise funds, we decided to establish this event to raise awareness and support more research. We believe that more funds for research will lead to improved outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.”
Working with the BC Cancer Foundation the couple founded the Betty Ergas Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund to support a new multi-disclipinary pancreatic cancer research program started at the BC Cancer Agency by Dr. Silvia Ng.
Geoffrey is Managing Principal at Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers, a firm founded by his father Martin over 45 years ago, which has grown to be one of North America's premier structural engineering firms. The firm is responsible for the structural design of some of Vancouver’s most prominent buildings including the: Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion, Woodward’s Re-develoment, Vancouver Olympic Village, the Richmond Olympic Oval Base Structure and the Wall Centre.
Geoffrey and Myriam Glotman are available for pre-event or event day interviews.
About the Cypress Climb: Part Three
On August 28th over 200 cyclists of all ages and abilities will climb 13km up Cypress Mountain to raise money for pancreatic cancer research. 100% of proceeds go to support the Betty Egras Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund through the BC Cancer Foundation.
Date: Saturday August 28, 2010
Location: Cypress Mountain, West Vancouver
Time: 7:30am sign in / 9:00am start
Entry: Minimum $25 donation online in advance or $40 event day ($10 donation suggested for spectators)
Registration: glotmansimpsoncycling.ca
Categories:
Mens : under 35 35 to 44 45 to 54 55 to 65 65+ Clydesdale (+210 lbs)
Women: under 35 35 to 44 45 + Clydesdale (+160 lbs)
About Pancreatic Cancer
It is estimated that over 500 people in British Columbia will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. It is a type of cancer that does not give much warning in its early stages. As an organ of the digestive system, symptoms are not specific and similar to other gastrointestinal disorders. This difficulty in early detection contributes to pancreatic cancer having the lowest survival rate of all cancer types. The Canadian average for five-year survival is six per cent. When diagnosed in its later stages, it is exceptionally resistant to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, and surgery is not recommended.
A number of doctors and researchers at the BC Cancer Agency are taking on the challenges that pancreatic cancer poses to create hope for pancreatic cancer patients and their families in British Columbia. Questions are being asked across the pancreatic cancer spectrum — from basic research into how normal pancreatic cells become cancerous to how patients respond to different forms and combinations of treatment.
As the philanthropic partner of the BC Cancer Agency, the BC Cancer Foundation raises and stewards funds to support breakthrough research and enhancements to care for cancer patients in British Columbia. If you would like to learn more about pancreatic cancer, please feel free to contact Krista Constantineau at 604.675-8191 or kconstantineau@bccancer.bc.ca.
About Glotman•Simpson Cycling Club
Cycling in British Columbia is steadily becoming the predominate sport for getting into shape. In Vancouver, 9 out of 10 people own a bike and around 80% of them will do some sort of cycling event in their life time. Team Glotman•Simpson was created, in 2005, by a group of friendly riders who would like to promote a positive image for cycling. As one of Vancouver’s largest cycling team and clubs, with over 175 members, we are cycling's ambassadors and must continue to promote a safe and fun environment for others who ride and those who interact with riders like motorists.
The Glotman•Simpson Cycling Club is dedicated to raising funds for pancreatic cancer research. The Cypress Climb is their largest annual fundraising event. In 2009 the club raised $42,000 for pancreatic cancer research.
About Glotman•Simpson Consulting Engineers
Glotman•Simpson is one of North America's premier structural engineering firms. We offer our clients leading-edge structural solutions in the areas of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential design. With over 4,000 projects completed in the last 45 years, we have proven our ability to provide innovative and cost effective answers to the most complex structural problems.
- 30 -
Media Inquiries:
Tracey Rossignol
trossignol@glotmansimpson.com
604-377-4954
Posted by tracey rossignol on Thu, Aug 12, 2010 @ 02:21 PM
Dr. Didier Pettinga joined Gloman Simpson in 2007. His particular focus has been in seismic design and assessment of buildings. He is a PhD, seismic specialist, an Engineer with design and construction administration experience in reinforced concrete, masonry and structural steel construction.
Didier graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (1st Class Hons.) from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2002 with specialization in structural and geotechnical engineering. He spent four years at the University of Pavia, Italy, completing his Masters and Doctorate in Earthquake Engineering. He maintains close ties to research and developments in seismic design and structural systems through the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and University of Toronto.
Didier has worked on wide range of projects like the RCMP E-Division and SFU Shrum Physical Sciences Building. When asked about his most memorable project he says the Georgia Hotel and Georgia Tower. This was his first full seismic design project with Glotman Simpson and are in such a high profile location that he can’t help but be reminded about their design each time he goes into downtown Vancouver.
On a personal level Didier was attracted to Vancouver for the easy access to world-famous mountain biking and skiing, both inbounds and backcountry. This has since spread to sea-kayaking and trail running. He says “if it gets me out of the city and lifts the heart-rate - I'm up for it”.