Do you find yourself in interesting situations at work? We want to hear about them. Pitch your idea for this feature to

sparkmag@stantec.com.

The anchors were set. We tugged and pulled our anchor slings every which way from the safety of the under bridge inspection vehicle bucket and then checked to make sure there was no movement and no chance of them sliding off. There wasn’t. Still, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a moment of relief that first time the bucket dropped out from underneath me and I was floating, the Colorado River 900 feet (274 metres) below.

The first time I was on rope on this structure, I was out for four hours. And once you’re on rope, you’re on rope. Nobody’s going to come get you. Nobody’s going to come and hang out.

On Hoover, we were actually on four ropes most of the time. You have to have ropes attached to both ends of the span so you can maneuver along the bridge length. You pull on one and release the other, so you can position yourself where you want. It takes a little bit of acrobatics, I guess.

It might have been the morning of the third day on rope before I stopped and turned around to face the chasm below and thought, “What an amazing privilege.” You’re so focused on the task at hand, doing your job inspecting this engineering marvel, and making sure that you’re safe; it can take a while to stop long enough to take in just how exposed you are. It’s not often you get to hang void of contact with any structure while looking down on the Hoover Dam.

We always say, “There’s no glory in bridge inspection,” but Hoover was a glory job.

by Nicholas Cioffredi, as told to Philippe Roulston

Visit the Bridges StanNet Community Site for more compelling details from Nick.

Bridge Inspector Nicholas Cioffredi Tells All

WHAT IT’S LIKE TO…

8 SUMMER 2013 9

Stantec was selected by the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to perform bridge inspection and load rating services on a statewide basis, including on O’Callaghan - Tillman Memorial Bridge, also known as the Hoover Dam Bypass, or “Hoover.”

Building wayfinding into the architecture reduces the clutter and confusion of excessive signage. For example, varied ceiling treatments and brighter lighting provide strong visual cues to help passengers identify where the gates are. Stanis Smith Architect, Vancouver, British Columbia

This space feels like it has the perfect amount of light at all hours of the day. How? Automatic sensors control all artificial lighting in the concourse to balance artificial and abundant natural light. Monica Olmos Lighting Designer, Toronto, Ontario

The planes outside are resting on pavement surfaces that are slip-resistant, intricately marked, and well-lit, all to enhance the safe and secure operations of aircraft, service vehicles, and support personnel around the clock and in all types of weather. Dave Dargie Transportation Engineer, Scarborough, Maine

What you don’t see is thousands of bags per hour, suspended below unsuspecting travelers’ feet, finding their way to the right plane after their own long-distance, multi-checkpoint conveyor trip through laser scanners and explosive detection systems, finally to be sorted into the correct baggage cart by the airline. Janet Harvey Baggage Systems Designer, Montreal, Quebec

Designers think about sounds as well as sights, so while flooring treatments provide elegance, design interest, and easy maintenance, they also don’t go “clickety click” when you wheel your bags over them. Stanis Smith Architect, Vancouver, British Columbia

An 8-foot-high wall ensures no possible interaction between domestic and international arriving passengers, as required for security reasons. Can’t see it? In this terminal it’s made of glass so passengers can still enjoy views outside to the runway and inside to the living wall. Rian Burger Architect, Toronto, Ontario

Long before anything in this photo took shape, the client and consultants had to model the projected volume of passenger activity, including peak activity. But even armed with this data, it is costly for a client to design a terminal for peak passenger flow, resulting in the potential of some congestion at peak times, even in such a beautiful and spacious traffic area as this. Warren Thompson Strategic Management Consultant, Winnipeg, Manitoba

A mix of full-service restaurants, lounges, and cafes provide panoramic views of art installations, local performers, and the living wall. An easy walk from gates, they also give passengers confidence that they’ll make their flights so they can relax and enjoy their refreshments. Janice Hicks Interior Designer, Vancouver, British Columbia

When the average person passes through an airport, they often notice the bustle of people in transit, look out at the planes on the tarmac, or seek out their favorite places to eat and shop. But what if you could see an airport through the eyes of an expert?

WHAT OUR EXPERTS SEE

AIRPORTat the

14 SUMMER 2013 15

compiled by Philippe Roulston

Stantec provided architectural, interior design, and mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering services for a new expansion and renovation to Edmonton, Alberta’s International Airport Terminal Building.

Céline Therriault

Stantec: Where I became of value.

She started out as a young Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) graduate, inexperienced yet open to new opportunities. That was four years ago. Since then, Céline Therriault, an interior design technologist in the Edmonton, Alberta, office, has taken on various roles—from interior design lead to technical design support; tackled projects—from small renovations to brand new buildings; and become an avid volunteer.

During her earlier projects, Céline began to realize her value. “I'd just started, and about a year in, I got to work on the ATB Spruce Grove new build, which I helped support to successful completion.” Her confidence and résumé of skills and experience have been steadily growing with each project. “When I started, I felt that everyone else knew more—but now I’m less intimidated,” she says.

A recent career highlight was the basement-turned-selection center, Design Q, for Qualico Developments. As the lead interior designer, she was involved from start to finish. “I worked directly with the client to establish the requirements, create a schematic design, and draft the construction drawings,” says Céline. “I also helped coordinate the mechanical, electrical, and structural teams.” The result is a warm, inviting central space where new homeowners can select finishes and upgrades for their home.

Meanwhile, Céline’s volunteer efforts are positively impacting Stantec’s MS Bike Tour team. She took on a leadership role this year and as acting captain, helped put the team together for the 180-kilometre ride.

A confident member of the Stantec community, Céline has become not only valuable, but also indispensable.

Six-Word Stories Unpacked

by Greg Burchell

by Chau Lam

6

To find links to Stantec’s Six-Word

Story Project, type the following into your

computer’s Chrome or Internet Explorer

web browser address bar exactly like this: http://sparkonline

Brandon Morris

Bringing healthcare to the Arctic Circle.

Yellowknife, Northwest TerritoriesEdmonton, Alberta Mechanical EngineerInterior Design Technologist

In Northern Canada, a small team of nurses working out of a small, poorly supplied medical clinic might be the only option for medical assistance—if any exists at all. So we can easily understand why Brandon Morris is excited about three new health centers he and his Stantec colleagues have designed. “They’re a big deal for northern communities,” he says.

Brandon, a mechanical engineer from Pembroke, Ontario, has worked in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, for the past three years. He often travels to communities accessible only by plane or helicopter, where people traditionally assessed their own health problems, then decided whether medical care in a larger center was required. “Now that local care is accessible, that option becomes more attractive,” says Brandon.

The centers—in Repulse Bay and Taloyoak, Nunavut, and in Norman Wells, Northwest Territories (combined population: 2,300)—are in various stages of completion. They don’t (or won’t) have the facilities of a full hospital, but have examination and trauma rooms, office space for permanent nurses, and residences for visiting doctors. “A patient in serious condition can be diagnosed in part by a nurse, and, if need be, a medevac can fly the patient to places like Yellowknife, Iqaluit, or further south,” Brandon explains. “If the condition is not critical, the patient can make an appointment with the next visiting doctor.”

The new health centers, as well as new government office buildings, water treatment plants, and fuel tank farms, are being built with new federal and territorial funding. This influx of support is stimulating the otherwise stagnant economy, creating opportunities for local businesses and promoting on-the-job training. “The communities are definitely changing,” says Brandon. “New facilities are helping these remote locations operate more like a southern community does.”

SUMMER 2014 7

10 SUMMER 2013 11

A colleague asks you to help out with the latest United Way campaign. You’re given an opportunity to drive cancer patients to chemotherapy appointments in your free time. You get mail from various charities, all worthy, asking for you to donate time or money. With all of the volunteer opportunities out there, how do you choose?

Start with your heart. Volunteering is personal, so it makes sense to get personal about it. If you have a passion or interest, or something you care deeply about, there’s likely a volunteer opportunity that relates to it. Here are a few stories to inspire you.

by Chau Lam and Lana Bertsch

VOLUNTEERING: YOUR HEART KNOWS BEST

Wendy GoldenthalPhoenix, ArizonaHuman resources manager Wendy Goldenthal’s passion was her two beloved cats and devoted companions of 19 years, Cody and Taylor. When they passed away in 2011, Wendy needed a way to deal with her grief. So she got involved with Gabriel’s Angels, an organization that provides pet therapy to abused and at-risk children. “Our team—another volunteer, a dog, and me—visits an after-school program for homeless kids aged seven to ten a few times a month,” explains Wendy. “We teach empathy, respect, trust, and a host of other life skills these children have not learned through traditional channels.”

Her passion for Gabriel’s Angels has grown out of her love for Cody and Taylor. “It’s the perfect combination because I get to work with animals, which I love, and I end up helping the children in the community, too,” she says. “I think it turned out to help me as much as the kids!”

Jason MillerBoston, Massachusetts“I’ve been volunteering since I was old enough to be helpful,” says landscape designer Jason Miller. While in high school, Jason traveled to the Appalachian Mountains to volunteer with his youth group. Then in college, he led a mission trip to Pennsylvania

and volunteered at his church as a deacon where he assisted with the youth group. Jason continues to keep his passion for volunteering alive with Stantec. In a recent span of nine months, he coordinated 16 volunteer efforts ranging from book and clothing drives to blood donations and Movember participation.

Why volunteer so much? “It’s a joy to be able to give something back as I’m so fortunate with all I’ve received,” says Jason. But there’s much more to it for Jason than gratitude. Making one-on-one connections with people is what really keeps him coming back. “I enjoy hearing people’s stories. I also enjoy working with others, whether we’re sorting food into boxes or serving someone a plate of hot food.”

How employees choose to invest in their communities

Clayton’s story is one of many related to Stantec’s response to the Alberta flood. Be sure to check out the Alberta South StanNet Community Site and StanNet articles for more.

Clayton Dunford Calgary, AlbertaGraphic artist Clayton Dunford didn’t live in High River, Alberta, or come from there, but he had developed a connection to it that compelled him to take a bus with 20 other Stantec employees from Calgary on July 9, 2013, to help people whose lives were devastated by recent flooding. “I used to lay tile and floor in a previous job and my work often took me out there,” Clayton explains. “Many people have donated hammers, brooms, and other necessities, but I really wanted to donate my time. My colleagues and I wanted to go down to High River and help make a difference in a family’s life in any way we could, even if it was just to put a smile on their faces.”

That family happened to be a single mom with three kids. Their basement

was completely submerged. Their life lay scattered in pieces around them. The team was moved to help. “We busted up tile, ripped out carpet, pulled out all the basement windows, and cleared the yard of any debris that we could,” says Clayton.

Although they deserved to feel good about what they’d done, they left feeling like they hadn’t done enough. As he shook the hand of the homeowner’s father, Clayton asked if he could do anything else. “He told us that we did too much already and that he couldn’t possibly ask us to do anything more.”

by Patti North

Being community-minded often goes beyond fundraising and volunteering. After a long, hot day working on fisheries field habitat assessments, Environmental Services co-op student Dan Zayonc and his crew lead, Gerrit Velema, cooled off in a lake in Smithers, British Columbia. Dan noticed an unsupervised boy wading out in the water without a life jacket. A trained lifeguard, Dan watched him like a hawk, and sure enough, the child’s head went under water and he started exhibiting classic “ladder-climbing” drowning behavior. Dan launched himself into the lake and pulled the boy to safety. He returned the child to his parents, who were completely unaware of the situation at hand. For the full story, check out the Environmental Services and British Columbia StanNet Community Sites.

Like Clayton Dunford, many other Calgary, Alberta, employees traveled the 64 kilometers (40 miles) to High River, Alberta, to help with flood relief, including (l-r) Dave Storrow, Ramsay McCreary, Ryley Speers, Brock Middleton, Kirk Morrison, Bernadette Saraceni, Kevin Elliot, Nici Maguire, and Peter Flanagan.

STANTEC TO THE RESCUE!

We filled “satchels of care” for cancer patients; assembled wheelchair lighting systems; donated and boxed food for local food banks; built houses for Habitat for Humanity; sorted and packed school supplies for students; spruced up community centers; cooked and served meals for seniors and the homeless; gave blood; cleaned rivers, parks, beaches, and roadways; and did so much more. Our collective action on Stantec in the Community Day—over 4,000 of us from virtually every office around the world—put smiles on children’s faces, set Twitter ablaze, and helped launch our new brand in a meaningful, memorable way.

Our participation also helped us build our own community. “Knowing that [Stantec] is doing good work in communities and giving back to communities means it’s a company that we’re going to feel more invested in and trust and stick with in the long term,” says architect Jenna Beltram, who helped her colleagues clean up Allandale Woods in Boston, Massachusetts.

Stantec in the Community Day was so successful that our senior leadership team decided to make it an annual event. So if you missed out on September 10, 2013, don’t worry, you’ll get another chance in 2014—not that our employees need an excuse to give back to their communities.

For more Stantec in the Community Day stories and photos, check out your StanNet Community Sites and our Facebook page, and be sure to watch the “Oh, What a Day”video, which you can find on our Video Hub on the StanNet homepage.

Stantec in the Community Day—what a way to launch our brand!

Walking the Community Talk

8

Roseville, CA Miners Ravine Trail CleanupPhoto: Joe DiGiorgio

AUTUMN 2013 9

St. John's, NLCommunity Food DrivePhoto: Crockwell Photography

Boston, MAAllandale Woods CleanupPhoto: Jenna Twomey

San Francisco, CAGlide Memorial Church, Dinner Service Food PrepPhoto: Holly Wickland

Mississauga, ONLakeside Park CleanupPhoto: Mike Kesteven

Bags of waste our volunteers collected along the park’s shoreline—they left no stone unturned!

30+

10 AUTUMN 2013 11

Dubai, UAEBurj Al Arab Beach CleanupPhoto: Ronaldo Jaring

Dubai, United Arab EmiratesShoreline CleanupPhoto:

Regina, SKUnited Way Regina, Paper Crane Community Arts CentrePhoto: Pete Escanlar

Irvine, CASecond Harvest Food Bank in the Great ParkPhoto: Kelly Rellaford

Cottage Grove, WIAdopt-a-Highway Cleanup, County Highway BB Photo: Brea Akim

Edmonton, ABOliver School Photo: Tom Young

Broome County, NYBoys and Girls Club of Western Broome County,Carnival Game BuildingPhoto: Tina Guley

Vancouver, BCTetra Society of North America, Wheelchair Lighting Systems Assembly Photo: Philippe Roulston

New York, NYRiverside Park CleanupPhoto: Antonis Panayotatos

AUTUMN 2013 1312

Branford, CTShoreline Greenway Trail Cleanup and MaintenancePhoto: Mike Favaloro

St Michael, BarbadosFitts Village Esplanade Makeover, St. JamesPhoto: Alison Archer

Waterbury, VT Green Mountain Club Visitors Center CleanupPhoto: Carrianne Knight

Tucson, AZJulian Wash Linear Park Cleanup Photo: Cindy Laughlin

Pittsburgh, PA Satchels of CaringPhoto: Denmarsh Photography

Rochester, NYHigh Falls Trail CleanupPhoto: Glenn Peck

AUTUMN 2013 1514

Number of satchels, since 2003, that Satchels of Caring volunteers have handcrafted and filled with therapeutic and inspirational items for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

6,200

by Mark Tracy

I start my commute with the Wyman Power Station off in the distance. That sight reminds me of our Power engineers and designers working hard at Wyman to keep the lights on at my home, my kids’ schools, and my office.

While I bike around Portland’s Back Bay, I’m reminded of Tom Emery and Pat Clark’s work creating a community rain garden that treats polluted stormwater before it runs into Casco Bay. I am thankful for their efforts when my kids want to jump into the ocean on a hot summer day.

I see the stack at the ecomaine energy-from-waste power station as I near the office. I’m proud that we’re assisting ecomaine in its quest to reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste while also providing cost-efficient, renewable energy that reduces our carbon footprint.

Yes, Stantec is a huge part of my community. Take a look around. You’ll be surprised at the influence Stantec has on our daily lives.

A Ride with a View

Next, I pedal past the construction of the new Martin’s Point Bridge. Stantec’s Transportation group is acting as the owner’s engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation to ensure that the new bridge design keeps me from falling into the cold Presumpscot River.

How my commute shines new light on designing with community in mind

by Mark Tracy

16 AUTUMN 2013 17

When he’s not exploring the local off-road commuting trails on his bike and managing his helmet hair, Mark can be found leading the Power practice area based in our Scarborough, Maine, office.

10 miles. 45 minutes. Not long—but that bicycle commute from my home

to my office has opened my eyes to the presence Stantec has in the Greater Portland,

Maine, community.

Winding through old neighborhoods and woodsy trails, I come upon Deering High School. My memories go back to the time I had to condemn the deteriorating bleachers at the football field. I remember the efforts of our Buildings Engineering group to develop a master plan for renovating Memorial Field so we can now enjoy Friday-night football games on a new turf field in a safe and well-lit environment.

I travel by the Portland Jetport. Our Aviation group worked to increase parking garage and jetway space. I'll have more options when I travel. And our Fuel Systems Engineering group is working on replacing an underground single-wall fuel tank at the rental car facility. Soon I’ll be seeing a new aboveground tank and not have to worry about contamination from an old fuel tank rupturing.

WINTER 2014 15

Not too loud, not too quiet— our engineers keep sound levels just right

Being able to hear accurately in a hospital setting is crucial. So when Stantec’s architects and interior designers were designing the new emergency and psychiatric emergency departments at Nanaimo Regional Hospital in British Columbia, they brought in our acoustics engineers to help.

“We work with the architects from the design stage until the construction drawings are prepared,” explains Kana Ganesh, an acoustics engineer working out of the Markham, Ontario, office. “We take the drawings at fifty percent, when they’re conceptually thinking ‘this can be drywall, this can be glass, and we’ll have a tile ceiling.’ We’ll run a simulation and tell them where there could be a problem.”

Noises can be too loud—such as in hospital and healing environments— or noises can be too quiet so sound is not "masked"—like in an open office where you can hear everyone else’s phone calls, and they can hear yours.

Acoustic engineers solve noise problems in three ways: absorption, blocking, and controlling. For example, a loud HVAC unit in a building can generally be controlled mechanically. If not, the sound can be absorbed through a number of different materials placed strategically in the sound wave’s path. But if that unit is owned by someone else, acoustics engineers have to look at blocking the noise.

Being involved in the design stage gives acoustic engineers a lot of flexibility in how they customize a space. As the field of acoustical engineering grows, more and more institutions are seeing an acoustic advantage.

For example, Kana’s team recently completed an open-concept library project that needed to separate a kids’ area on one side from a study area on the other, with the checkout in between. The bookshelves already installed didn’t block the noise. “We can’t control the kids,” Kana laughs. “They’re kids!” So the team installed sound absorption panels after using computer models that determined how much sound the

A Sound Design

14

panels would need to absorb to create a comfortable environment.

Defining the quality of the speech at hospital care stations and then providing optimal acoustical quality is a challenge. For the Nanaimo Regional Hospital, a few variables were considered: distance, surface finishes, voice level, and background noise. Some of these variables were not controllable, such as distance and voice level; however, surface finishes could be changed.

CATT Acoustics software was used to predict the Speech Transmission Index (STI) at the care stations. The STI indicates whether selected materials on various surface finishes will provide “good” speech intelligibility. It also helps to ensure optimal acoustical conditions for nurses in care stations so that they can hear each other and can hear patients calling from their rooms.

The past decade has seen rapid growth in the acoustics field, and many hospitals now have a section in their specifications devoted to acoustics. “This wasn’t the case several years ago,” Kana says, noting that the biggest growth has been in the education and healthcare sectors. “Fortunately for us, Stantec works in both.”

Our acoustic engineers need to model sound levels outside of the hospital to understand how noise from the surrounding neighbourhood will affect the indoor environment, as well as how mechanical systems on the roof (marked in blue) impact the nearby homes (marked by blue and white balls).

Middle top: Variables like distance between people, voice levels, and surface finishes all affect speech quality. The first two can’t be controlled, but surface finishes can. For the hospital’s nurse care stations, our acoustics engineers used CATT Acoustics software to predict the Speech Transmission Index (STI) of a range of surface materials for the stations.

Middle bottom: The engineers use computer modeling software that was developed in-house to analyze how sound will transfer through a building from its source. In this image, the ducts and ventilation of an HVAC system are shown. These transfer sound throughout the building.

Stantec’s acoustics engineers helped solve anticipated noise problems in the new emergency and psychiatric emergency departments at Nanaimo Regional Hospital in British Columbia.

by Greg Burchell

Jason and a crew of Strathcona County firefighters saw the once-vibrant community of High River, Alberta, disintegrate before their eyes, the aftermath of the devastating flood of June 2013.

On the first night, the crew found a small scrap of dry ground between two rows of submerged houses. After salvaging lost chairs from the water, they sat, ate dinner, completely alone with the smell and sight of rot and decay. High River was abandoned, unrecognizable.

A scene straight out of the post-apocalyptic TV drama The Walking Dead, Jason thought. Who could have known the rain would lead to this?

The assessments went on for days, the devastation evident on thousands of houses. Jason and his inspection crew members jumped in and out of sludge, discussing what happened, assessing the structure of each home, and meticulously measuring, sampling, listening, and taking notes.

After spending weeks wearing a respirator and disposable plastic coveralls while assessing the damage, Jason met with hundreds of the thousands of displaced High River residents. For many people, Jason had dire news. Some houses couldn’t be saved. Others would need massive remediation and restoration—not covered by most insurance companies. Despite getting bad news, after weeks of not knowing, the people of High River were grateful to hear it. At least they could now take their first big step towards rebuilding their community.

Jason’s experience in High River is one of hundreds of stories about the ways Stantec employees respond to disasters in the communities where we live and work. One year after the 2013 Alberta floods, we look back at the role Stantec played—and continues to play— in creating resilient communities in southern Alberta.

Jason Moroz, a structural engineer from Calgary, Alberta, never thought he’d be doing this: navigating by boat through muddy, debris-clogged water, assessing damage to people’s homes. Houses, surrounded by water, by all that makes a house a home—toys, photo albums, chairs, blankets—bobbing, sloshing, and swirling. Inside, silt- and mud-caked carpets, walls, and furniture. Picture frames, kids’ drawings, collections—destroyed. Memories—lost.

12 SUMMER 2014 13

After the

FloodCatastrophic flooding in southern Alberta. The costliest disaster in Canadian insurance history. The Stantec community responds.

by Kaity Brown

To find links to some of these examples, type the following into your computer’s Chrome or Internet Explorer web browser address bar exactly like this: http://sparkonline

SUMMER 2014 1514

Weaselhead Flats Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Fish Creek Provincial Park Restoration Douglasdale Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Lafarge Pathway Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Beaverdam Flats Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Bonnybrook Wastewater Treatment Plant

Light Rail Transit and Roadway Repair

Saddledome Assessment and MitigationInglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

4 Street Underpass Flood MitigationRiverWalk Flood MitigationBow Valley College Flood AssessmentEmergency Riverbank Stabilization

St. Patrick’s Bridge Flood Recovery

Maple Ridge Golf Course Flood Restoration

Sue Higgins Park Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Sue Higgins Pedestrian Bridge Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Sandy Beach Flood Recovery and Erosion Control

Assessment of Historical House in Mission

Calgary Police Service Administration Building Flood Assessment

City of Calgary Emergency Operations Centre

Shaganappi Point Golf Course Flood Restoration

Pumphouse Theatre Flood AssessmentCity of Calgary Pathway and River Cleanup

City of Calgary Building Assessments

City of Calgary Flood Mitigation Program

Relief

Mitigation

Response

Recovery

Great Plains Temporary Neighborhood

Calgary Zoo Emergency Response

Siksika Poor Eagle Flats Relief ShelterGleichen Bridge Repair

Flood Protection Berms in Medicine Hat

Okotoks Well #1 Amendment Licensing

Helping One Of Our Own in High RiverStantec Volunteers Help Homeowners in High RiverHigh River Building Assessments

Siksika Crowfoot New Temporary Neighborhood

Siksika Deerfoot Sports Complex Relief Shelter

Siksika Deerfoot Sports Complex New Temporary NeighborhoodSiksika Crowfoot Relief Shelter

Red Deer River Basin Feasibility Study

Chiniki & Bearspaw Interim Housing

Canadian Paci�c Rail Washout Emergency Response

Saddlebrook New Temporary Neighborhood

Boulton Creek Flood Damage Repairs

Crowsnest Pass Flood Damage Assessment

Highwood Junction New Temporary Neighborhood

Wesley Interim Housing

Calgary

Okotoks Water Treatment Plant Flood Mitigation

Medicine Hat Parks Flood Repair Program

Alberta Flood ResponseMaps Legend

Southern Alberta

Calgary

Alberta

Alberta Flood ResponseA year has passed since unprecedented floods swept through southern Alberta, resulting in Canada’s costliest natural disaster. Since then, communities throughout the province have defined what it means to be resilient in the face of devastation. With such a wide scope of skills and

expertise, our people have been on the front lines of recovery from the beginning. The maps below demonstrate the scope of our work—relief, response, recovery, and mitigation in various locations from Banff in the Rocky Mountains to Medicine Hat in the prairies.

In 2013, southern Alberta saw water levels previously never thought possible and a path of unprecedented destruction carved throughout southern Alberta. Communities along the Bow, Elbow, Highwood, Red Deer, Sheep, Little Bow, and South Saskatchewan rivers were hit hard. More than 100,000 people were displaced and 32 local states of emergency declared. Many would return to homes destroyed and communities changed forever. With damage estimates in excess of $5 billion, this is Canada’s costliest natural disaster.

WINTER 2014 9

Walking along the streets of Ahmedabad, India, is . . . an adventure. A lack of useful sidewalks.

Cars, rickshaws, bicycles, animals everywhere. No logical traffic patterns. Cars whiz by you from all directions. A camel-drawn cart crosses your path while a cow lies down next to a fruit vendor.

“If you’re walking—or even driving—it’s risky,” says urban designer Neha Karode. For years, designers in our Ahmedabad office wanted to do something about the problem, but this wasn’t their focus. They worked mostly on private building and development projects, getting little opportunity to work on public sites.

R&D to the RescueBut then in late 2010, Burt Hill—with its Ahmedabad office—joined Stantec. As Ahmedabad staff learned about their greatly expanded network of resources and capabilities, working on public streetscapes and intersections became a possibility.

So when business center managing leader, Gopinath (Gopi) Akalkotkar, heard about Stantec’s Research & Development (R&D) Fund, he talked with his team about getting the project off the ground. With improving safety and creating a walkable city for Ahmedabad’s six million people the chief goals, senior urban designer, Saumil Mevada, applied for an R&D Fund grant—and was successful!

Laying the GroundworkWith the necessary financial support, Gopi and Saumil assembled a team, starting with hiring Neha Karode and enlisting staff in the office, including

Streets

MeanHow do you create order from chaos in Ahmedabad, India? With a little help from the Stantec Research & Development (R&D) Fund.

architect, Damini Patel, and junior architect, Priyanka Dave. The team undertook an exhaustive course of research into the conditions of the city’s streets and identified examples of what is and isn’t working in other intersections in India and across the globe. The goal? To conduct a case study of a select site, complete with solutions to discuss with the city— at no cost to the client.

Top: Birds, cows, cyclists—they all stake a claim to Ahmedabad’s streets.

Bottom: Many sidewalks aren’t exactly pedestrian friendly, forcing walkers into the street.

Six million people share the streets of Ahmedabad—in cars, motorcycles, and rickshaws, as well as on bike and foot.

by Alison Smith

8

10 WINTER 2014 11

The team studied Iskon Circle, a busy intersection of a major artery with satellite roads, service lanes, and a tangle of pedestrian walkways, vendors, and storefronts. For months, they visited Iskon Circle several times, talking to people, observing behavior, and documenting and photographing everything.

They identified several key issues in Iskon Circle, pinpointing traffic movement and parking as the biggest concerns. With no clear hierarchy among users—and no traffic signals, crosswalks, or usable sidewalks—pedestrians and bicyclists could be sharing a lane with cars and trucks. What’s more, few parking spaces but many open areas meant drivers parked their cars haphazardly, further muddling traffic patterns.

Creating the VisionAfter studying best practices from around the world, the team developed three design concepts for the intersection (see next page), each representing a different level of intervention and some sort of identifiable gateway for the city. “The whole idea is

to help create a safe environment that also creates a sense of place,” says Saumil. The team presented its research and preliminary concepts internally to other senior staff members, and after further refinements, the research was presented to the city last fall. So far, the reception has been positive. The next challenge is getting the funding from the city to move the ideas forward. “We are now trying to get more people in the city interested and excited about this,” says Gopi. “This was just a starting point. We want to do more projects like this that could help make a difference to our community.”

The plan may already be working. The team presented its Iskon Circle research as part of an interview with the city for a project to create guidelines for a central business district—and won! “We’ve wanted to do this kind of work for the city but never had the resources to pursue it,” says Saumil. “The Stantec R&D Fund grant made it possible for us to do that.”

Foot Over Bridge The foot over bridge (also referred to as foot-bridge above) concept allows pedestrians to cross above traffic, adds a tensile roof for protection from the weather, and defines architectural guidelines for buildings.

The Iskon Circle research team included (l-r) Damini Patel, Priyanka Dave, Neha Karode, Saumil Mevada, and Gopinath Akalkotkar.

Split Plaza The split plaza concept more clearly defines travel lanes and adds attractive sidewalks and art to create a sense of belonging.

Central Plaza The central plaza concept adds clear overhead traffic signals, signage, and a large landscaped island. The concept removes billboards and overhead cables to streamline sight lines.

Today, the intersection at Iskon Circle is a mishmash of pedestrians, cars, rickshaws, and bicyclists, all using the same open corridor. Our team developed three alternatives for redesigning the intersection to be more organized, welcoming, and safe.

“I was diagnosed with testicular cancer in early 2010, five months after I first started to feel symptoms,” says Ryan Capelle, a cancer survivor and project manager in our Minneapolis, Minnesota, office. “When you go through something as life changing as cancer, you learn a lot of lessons. As I lay there in fear for my life, I learned about what matters, about all the things I took for granted.”

That was the first time cancer changed Ryan’s life, but his story—told in full on our Video Hub—doesn’t end there. “Sadly,” he continues, “once I realized that my cancer was treatable and once I started on the path toward getting healthy again, life started to take over, and I found myself slowly forgetting the lessons I’d just learned. Before I knew it, I was back into my old busy life, taking things for granted and not slowing down to pay attention to my own health.”

Ryan had been in that pattern for four years when he decided to let cancer change his life a second time. Like many Stantec employees, Ryan had participated in Movember every year, but this year he made a conscious decision to share what he’s been through. “This message is for anyone who’s wondering, who’s not feeling right but is putting the signs on the back burner. Don’t hesitate; don’t take that risk; slow down and realize what’s essential in life. Then see your doctor and get that screening done.”

Screenings are particularly crucial to Ryan, who wasn’t diagnosed until several months after first sharing symptoms with his doctor. “Next year, join Movember so that you too can help other people become aware of men’s health issues and raise money for research to develop simpler screenings—including blood tests—that are safer, less expensive, and more effective.”

Cancer changed project manager Ryan Capelle’s life. Twice. Now he wants to help you.

The Movemberists

Four years have passed since Ryan Capelle was diagnosed with cancer. Now cancer free, Ryan decided in 2013 to speak out about his experience. “I’m no longer holding back because sharing might help someone else,” he says. “You don’t have to donate money to make a difference. Talking about cancer or mental illness with your family is an excellent way to contribute to the cause.”

We thank Ryan for generously sharing his story with Stantec. To hear more about what he experienced and learned during

his battle with cancer, go to our Video Hub, accessible on the StanNet home page.

12

In our Rocklin, California, office, Brian Wickes (left) provides moral support to Jason Foster (right) as he enhances his natural facial hair growing skills.

The mustache mafia. Don’t mess with this crew from our Vancouver, British Columbia, office as they grow their 'staches to combat prostate cancer and raise awareness about men’s health. Back row (l-r): Douglas Stimson, Philippe Roulston, Donald Nguyen. Front: Darren Miller.

No mustache? No problem. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, office made sure all employees, regardless of their mustache-growing abilities, showed support for Movember. Back row (l-r): Brian Wiebe, Stasa Veroukis, Deanna Pelland, Steven Zacharuk. Front row: Leo Korenbaum, Wayne Byczek, Mike Boissonneault, Justin Dahl, Trevor Calley.

Talk about a statement 'stache! Jeff Grob with his handlebar mustache is just one of the New York, New York's Movember team. Jeff is joined by Ben Lague, Danny Cohen, James Ariola, Aaron Ruccio, Jude Cecilio, Justin Racelis, Luigi Napolitano, and Juno Garcia.

WINTER 2014 13

by Philippe Roulston

30 SUMMER 2014 31

Don Belliveau Fredericton, NB

35

Our clients are our raison d’être; they are responsible for our projects and, ultimately, our careers. Being responsive and creative, doing good work, and having a service-minded attitude leads to strong client relationships and repeat work, which in turn leads to success.

A round of applause!We’re pleased to see so many people at Stantec earning service awards. Warmest congratulations to everyone. We needed extra space to list the many award recipients. Please visit StanNet to see more service award winners.

We have a lot of collective wisdom in our Company that’s worth sharing, so we asked award recipients who submitted a photo to spark to share something they’ve learned that might help others build their career. You’ll see a few replies below and can check out more on your regional StanNet Community Site.

Milestone Service Awards

Dave McCabe Edmonton, AB

40

Stantec is a great company to work for if one is willing to work hard.

Gary Morien Rochester, MN

30

Try to do things outside your comfort zone. It keeps you in front and makes life interesting.

Ida Rowat Calgary, AB

Jonathan Keeling Lexington, KY

Craig Johnston Kitchener, ON

25 2020

The most important lesson I’ve learned over the years is not to assume anything before knowing the facts, and never overreact—doing so always backfires. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, and remember that everyone is dealing with their own issues.

Keep your commitments! Keeping your word is very important. If you make a commitment to someone— a client, coworker, friend, or family member—make sure you do everything you can to honor it. At Stantec, this is especially true for when we communicate project deadlines to clients.

Often we use email as our primary form of communication, but picking up the phone to connect with others is the most effective way to resolve questions and potential issues, and build positive working relationships—these relationships make us successful.

Marti Mueller Rochester, NY

25

Never lose your sense of curiosity or humor. You will need both to survive and succeed.

Dan MacEachern, Geotechnical Technician, Dartmouth, NSKrissy Flesoras, Associate Scientist, Rancho Cordova, CABrad Webb, Principal, Edmonton, ABRay Martinez, Senior Project Engineer, Portland, OR

We express our condolences for the recent loss of the following valued employees. Our thoughts are with their families, friends, and colleagues.

In Memoriam

30

25

James McLaughlin Scarborough, ME

Sherry Weinmeier Irvine, CA

Wayne Edwards Laurel, MD

Oscar Garcia South Burlington, VT

Steve Hickey Charlottetown, PE

Steve Wright Laurel, MD

George Bogue South Burlington, VT

John Steven Toronto, ON

Lorne Hildebrandt Calgary, AB

Megan Churchill Laurel, MD

Peter Cloake Sydney, NS

Byron Cook Winnipeg, MB

Dale Kocarek Columbus, OH

Doug Hamming Vancouver, BC

Andy Purves Calgary, AB

years

years

Michelle Murphy Fredericton, NB

Joan Raymond North Bay, ON

Terry Ross Calgary, AB

Lee Mann St. Paul, MN

Jane Tillman Lexington, KY

Jennifer Degen Edmonton, AB

Mike Gerlach Phoenix, AZ

Erica Brown Farmington Hills, MI

20 years

Brian Bennett Edmonton, AB

Henry Sikorski Hauppauge, NY

Tim Hinrichs New York, NY

Janice Moberly Rancho Cordova, CA

40 years

50 years

Dave Hetherington Fredericton, NB

Bruce Travis Calgary, AB

Dave Krywiak Edmonton, AB

Dennis O’Brien Rochelle Park, NJ

35 years

45 years

40Kenneth W. Duncan, Calgary, ABDonald Hall, Edmonton, ABRolando Perez-Parada, Edmonton, ABDomenico Calabria, Edmonton, ABBob Young, Lexington, KY

35Paul Walkington, Ottawa, ONKok-Chung Wong, Toronto, ON

30Robert Cody, Rochester, NYPerry Dalton, St. John’s, NLBrian Moeller, Hamilton, ONRoger Ballinger, Columbus, OHJulie Liptak, Laurel, MD

25Walt Cooper, Tempe, AZDarrell MacLean, Dartmouth, NSLionel Borges, Sidney, BCEdward Mozuraitis, Guelph, ONValerie McLean, Calgary, AB

20David Cheshire, Bakersfield, CABrian Tiede, Rochester, NYKevin Doyle, Rochelle Park, NJThomas Morman, Columbus, OHRuel Ramirez, Markham, ONJiang Wang, Kitchener, ONCharles Cowan, Calgary, ABStephen Johnson, Sarasota, FLRobert Griffin, Butte, MTDiane Zacharuk, Edmonton, ABMark Hatton, Sudbury, ONAdam Crace, Lexington, KY

Jason Mosley, Fort Myers, FLTana Riva, Arlington, TXJan Mulligan, Edmonton, ABCaroline Hong, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NLLeo Booth, Dartmouth, NSEric Finnamore, Saint John, NB

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One dramatic night and 11 days to follow—that’s how long it took principal Herb Moussa (San Francisco, California) to see his role as a healthcare designer from a whole new perspective. His young daughter, Sarah, was transferred from a local hospital with a serious medical condition to the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children’s Hospital. Herb spent 11 days there during her recovery, feeling the stress of an emotionally fragile parent. He also saw the fears of young patients in unfamiliar surroundings and the amazing work done by healthcare professionals to comfort them.

The experience provided Herb with an unexpected blessing. No stranger to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, he was serving as project architect on its replacement facility, the UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay. The new facility includes a cancer center, women’s hospital, and the new UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital—the very place where patients like Sarah will be treated. In designing the new medical center, Herb has reflected on what would make the experience better for patients like his daughter, parents like himself, and the clinicians that helped save his daughter’s life.

For the rest of how Herb Moussa’s emotional story impacts how he designs with the patient, parent, and medical communities in mind, visit the Healthcare or California North StanNet Community Sites.

“I view this project through the eyes of both a designer and a parent who saw his child and family go through the most trying time of their lives,” says architect Herb Moussa.

Design with Community in Mind

by Danny Craig

Stantec architect Herb Moussa shows his daughter, Sarah, around the site of the new University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children’s Hospital.