Author: Kirsten Nielsen

Winners

The most recent challenge for our annual contest focused on leveraging AI to improve our internal workflows. 


Every year, the HH Angus Innovation Hub hosts the Innovation Challenge, a staff competition that invites participant teams to come up with answers to specific engineering-related questions or issues.

In our most recent challenge, each team was assigned a different workplace process that could potentially be improved through the use of AI, and was tasked with creating an AI prototype to address the challenge. Their responses also required a business case for their solution, outlining considerations such as costs, privacy concerns and implementation strategies.

Taking 1st prize: the ‘AutoMates’, who rose to the challenge of automating the capture of meeting minutes in HH Angus’ standard format. Recording meeting minutes is a vital but time-consuming aspect of project management. The AutoMates wowed the judges with a comprehensive AI solution to convert meeting recordings into transcripts, along with attendee lists, content summaries, and other key information. They also charmed the room by using a scene from “Hamlet” to run the tool through its paces. Congratulations to Laura Farid, Max Mizrahi, Nigel Harvey, Shaun Lee, and Shawn Shi.

In 2nd place: the ‘Energy’ team created an AI-driven contract review tool to automatically identify terms and conditions requiring special attention. The judges were particularly impressed with the team’s financial model, which included a full sensitivity analysis. Congratulations to Amanda Reed, Aminur Khan, Curtis Straughan, Souheib Seddi, and Steven Lieu.

In 3rd place: the ‘CONNECTed Intelligence’ team’s AI solution focused on creating a project folder structure manager. Their proposed program was able to sort files based on HH Angus' standard folder structure, as well as identify duplicate files within a project folder. Congratulations to Chris Fitzgerald, Edmond Dinu, Janet Wai, Mark O'Sullivan, and Michael Perez.

We congratulate all of the participant teams and thank all the staff who provided support and resources to the Innovation Challenge, with a special shoutout to organizers Mannat Kaur and Sarah Kennelly. You have all helped “Expand What is Possible. Together. For a Better Future.”

 

This evening, BIG-TO, the Building Intelligence Group’s Toronto Chapter, hosts HH Angus’ Krigh Bachmann, Design Technology Leader, and Mahmoud Ghandour, Smart Buildings Program Manager at Siemens, speaking on “Digital Twin: Myths vs Reality”. Their thought-provoking presentation will examine what digital twins are today, how they are evolving, and what their potential future impact may be. Krigh and Mahmoud will also discuss how digital twins relate to building intelligence, BIM for Facilities Management, and smart buildings.

HH Angus’ work in digital twins bridges the physical and digital worlds for our clients by creating 3D models of their existing buildings. Owners, developers, facility managers, architects, engineers and contractors are now able to incorporate accurate as-built 3D models into planning, design, construction and ongoing facilities management. To learn more, get in touch with Krigh here. 

 

 
Leadership portraits on abstract background

Our strategic growth and national expansion plan – HH Angus now has offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal – is creating new opportunities for staff to further their careers. To support HH Angus’ growth, we recently evolved the structure of our leadership team and are delighted to announce the following appointments.

 

Health Division
Kim Spencer appointed  Vice President | Marianne Lee appointed Director | Eric Suderman appointed Director | John Bastian appointed Associate Director | Rita Patel appointed Associate Director  | Jeff Vernon appointed Associate Director

Our Health Division, with over 110 dedicated team members, has been providing engineering design services to the healthcare sector for over 75 years on projects that span master planning, new construction (CM, P3, Alliance, Progressive Design-Build and other delivery models), renovations, retrofits and building systems upgrades. Recent and current work includes Cowichan District Hospital Replacement, new South Niagara Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital New Patient and Surgical Tower, Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre, and the THP Broader Redevelopment Project – Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital.

Commercial Division
Christopher Piche appointed Vice President

From office towers and post-secondary campuses to airport terminals and sports venues, our Commercial Division provides a range of services including base-building engineering, tenant improvements, vertical transportation, lighting design, ICAT/IMIT, sustainability engineering, energy modeling, commissioning, fire protection, smart buildings and more. Recent and current projects includes the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex, WPP Waterfront Campus, Saint-Hubert Airport Terminal, Burrard Exchange, and the Great Canadian Gaming Woodbine Casino Redevelopment in Toronto.

Connect Division
Sheldon Epp appointed Associate Director

Angus Connect helps our clients drive digital transformation by leveraging existing and emerging technologies – from harnessing the power of data to artificial intelligence to IoT and more. Services span digital strategy and visioning, change management, operational readiness, master systems integration, and ICAT/IMIT design and implementation. Recent work includes SickKids Hospital Digital Strategy and Roadmap, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Smart Campus Plan, Build Nova Scotia Master Systems Integrator, and ICAT/IMIT Design and Implementation for the new Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre.

Energy Division
Phil Schuyler appointed Vice President

The Energy Division helps clients transition new or existing building assets to meet their decarbonization, resilience and financial goals. Our Energy team specializes in designing and implementing strategies for on-site energy generation and battery energy storage systems, low carbon heating and cooling plants, optimizing energy efficiency and integrating renewable energy technologies. Some of their recent work includes Creative Energy District Energy and Low-Carbon Steam Plants, Enwave Pearl Street Energy Centre Decarbonization, and the Mirvish Village Energy System & Central Utility Plant.

Technology Division
Craig Sievenpiper appointed Vice President

Our Technology Division provides engineering design and commissioning services to develop complex critical facilities across Canada, the United States and Europe. This includes data centres, research and laboratory facilities, clean rooms, transit stations, pharmaceutical, and advanced manufacturing facilities. Their current and recent work includes TTC Waterfront East LRT Union Station & Queens Quay Link, St. Michael’s Hospital Brain and Heart Centre Commissioning, and numerous confidential data centre projects in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, various US states and several European countries.

Knowledge Management
Paul Seager appointed Vice President, Engineering

HH Angus’ Knowledge Management team oversees our professional practice, including engineering standards, legal and quality improvement measures, growth of the Technical Management group, and development and dissemination of technical knowledge across the firm.

We are also pleased to announce several appointments within our Senior Management Group:

  • Megan Angus appointed Senior Vice President, Strategy and Digital Services
  • Sameer Dhargalkar appointed Senior Vice President, Business Development & Marketing
  • Rodney Mons appointed Senior Vice President, Technology and Technical Services
  • Kevin O’Neill appointed Senior Vice President, Operations

“It’s a point of pride for us that we are able to grow and develop such outstanding leaders within the firm.” commented Paul Keenan, President. “In each case, these appointments acknowledge the individual’s strong commitment to advancing our technical expertise, innovation, outstanding project delivery, and building strong client and industry relationships.”

We congratulate all of the above on these significant appointments. Recognized as proven and trusted leaders in their fields, they continually demonstrate a strong passion for and commitment to HH Angus’ vision of expanding what is possible – together – for a better future!

 

The new Quw'utson Valley  Hospital (Cowichan) aims to give back to the people and the land it will serve.

Today, Meagan Webb, Senior Manager and Operational Lead in our Vancouver Office, is speaking to the Royal College of Physicians in London UK, at its European Healthcare Design Conference. Meagan is presenting on the new Quw'utson Valley Hospital project (formerly Cowichan District Hospital replacement), together with Shane Czypha and Cameron Shantz from Parkin Architects.

A low energy and low carbon design solution was specified for the new hospital. HH Angus, working with the rest of the design team, devised a number of innovative solutions and the project is now on track to be Canada’s first CaGBC Net Zero Carbon hospital and first fully electric hospital. The project is targeting LEED Gold.

To learn more about the new hospital and its features, click on the link below:

https://hhangus.com/projects/cowichan-district-hospital-replacement/

 
 

Electrifying buildings is a significant part of the decarbonization solution within the built environment.

Today, the BC Construction Roundtable hosts a panel of experts to discuss how all levels of government and the private sector can advance efforts – from municipal mandates to design initiatives to construction processes – towards decarbonizing British Columbia. Moderated by Quin MacKenzie from Luuceo Consulting Inc., the panel includes Samson Tam (Director of Development, Creative Energy), Jacqueline Spray (Electrification Program Management Office, BC Hydro), and Sean Pander (Green Building Manager, City of Vancouver).

As the lead project consultant for Creative Energy’s Vancouver downtown decarbonization project, we are proud to be co-sponsoring this event with them! Learn more at the link below:

https://bccr.net/event-5140916?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=2/2/2023