HH Angus wishes you all the best of health and happiness for the holiday season and the year to come, and may 2025 be your best year yet!
With all the activities surrounding the seasonal celebrations, why not let our ‘magic snow globe’ take some of the worry out of making your New Year’s resolutions? Click ‘Play Now’ for our idea of helpful suggestions!
Congratulations to Nick Stark, Executive Vice President at HH Angus, on his selection for UofT’s Engineering Alumni Hall of Distinction Award. These awards recognize and celebrate University of Toronto engineering alumni for outstanding achievement. This year’s winners showcase the wide range of engineering careers, as well as how engineers influence and impact the built environment and how we all interact with it.
Nick’s commitment to engineering, innovation and sustainable design is well known in the industry. He has previously been recognized with the PEO/OSPE Medal for Engineering Excellence for his outstanding contributions to the profession.
As Executive Vice President, Nick leads HH Angus’ expansion in Vancouver and Western Canada and focuses on growing our Sustainable Engineering services. In addition, Nick’s technical expertise continues to benefit our staff through his efforts as a mentor and advisor, helping to build the skillsets of our employees so that HH Angus continues as industry leaders. Nick served as the firm’s Principal-in-Charge for the massive $2 billion+ CHUM P3 project in Montreal, and our team’s work on that project was honoured with the Schreyer Award, Canada’s highest honour for engineering. He is currently deeply involved with our work on the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement in BC which will be Canada’s first CaGBC Net-Zero hospital and BC’s first fully electric hospital.
Nick also helps shape the industry’s professional standards and codes in Canada through his work with the CSA Technical Committee on Health Care Facilities. For twenty-five years, he has been chairing the CSA Subcommittee on Special Requirements for HVAC Systems in Health Care Facilities, and is also a vice-chair of Z8000, Health Care Facilities. He has recently taken on the Vice Chair role of a new Subcommittee focused on adapting standards to deal with the impacts of climate change as well as making sure they are appropriate for northern facilities.
“Nick has an innate ability to bring out the best in others,” says Marianne Lee, Principal and Associate Director, Health Division. “He encourages and motivates them to be innovative thinkers and problem solvers and inspires the team to deliver the best-possible solutions to our clients.”
We congratulate all the 2024 EAN award winners on their achievements and for their commitment to mentoring the next generation of engineers. Click here to read more about this year’s winners.
HH Angus’ work in Vancouver and across Western Canada continues to increase, which has led to our recent move to larger premises in order to accommodate our growing team of almost thirty people.
For almost two decades, we have been working on significant projects in Vancouver and communities across BC and Alberta. These include clients across all our specialized divisions - Health, Technology, Commercial, Energy, and Angus Connect (digital strategy and ICAT design). The excellent work of our staff, along with their acknowledged expertise, has led to many additional projects and has furthered our ‘trusted advisor’ role with clients.
Effective immediately, we will be supporting our growing portfolio of work in the west from our new space in the Bentall Centre, located in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown core, near the intersection of Dunsmuir and Burrard Streets across the street from the Burrard Skytrain Station:
HH Angus and Associates Limited
Three Bentall Centre
595 Burrard Street
Suite 453, PO Box 49081
Vancouver, BC V7X 1G4
Nick Stark, Executive Vice President leading our expansion in Western Canada, commented on the outstanding support we have been receiving from all quarters, adding: “I am proud of what our amazing team in Vancouver has accomplished, and our new space will improve our resources and abilities do our best work. We look forward to strengthening and expanding our relationships with our clients and collaborators across BC and the west.”
William joined HH Angus in 2021 as a new graduate.
Why did you want to become an engineer/designer?
In high school, I discovered a love for math and physics, and when I learned that mechanical engineering was a good blend of the two, that’s what drew me to it. As for the designer aspect, I’ve always had an eye for design, to the point that I contemplated studying architecture. But with poor drawing skills, I decided that probably wasn’t the path for me; however, with the role I’m in now, I’m still able to fulfill that design interest (with computer software to help!).
What drew you to HH Angus?
I was attracted to the diversity of projects the firm is involved in, from hospitals to airports to data centres and so many more. After applying, what really sealed the deal for me was the team of people who interviewed me, all of whom I now work with everyday. They were all incredibly friendly and outgoing, which holds true for the rest of the organization as well, and that warm atmosphere was what I was really looking for in the workplace.
What are some of the things you like about working here?
My favorite thing is the people I work with and the community. Everyone is friendly and always willing to help wherever they can. As a new graduate with minimal industry experience, this was particularly helpful as I had a lot of questions to ask!
Another of my favorite things here is the flexibility. From hybrid working and flex time to half-day Fridays, the company has different mechanisms in place to help employees maintain a good work-life balance.
How would you explain your job to someone not in engineering?
When I’m asked what I do, my answer is usually “we design the systems that keep buildings liveable and comfortable - heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing, fire protection, lighting, electrical systems, etc.”. As for my own role, I explain that it includes a little bit of project management, some design, and also time on-site.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day might include meeting with various parties involved in the project - clients, contractor teams, or other consultants. In between meetings, I work on the deliverables I have on my plate, which might include producing drawings for a design, reviewing submittals or contractor requests for a project in construction, or talking through a question with a colleague.
Some days I’m on-site for a construction site review or commissioning activity. I always find time spent on-site to be an incredible learning experience, physically seeing how a system functions or working through a coordination issue that’s come up during installation. On-site time really is the last puzzle piece in understanding how a design comes together, as you get a better understanding for it and what it takes to implement.
Why did you want to become an engineer/designer?
In high school, I discovered a love for math and physics, and when I learned that mechanical engineering was a good blend of the two, that’s what drew me to it. As for the designer aspect, I’ve always had an eye for design, to the point that I contemplated studying architecture. But with poor drawing skills, I decided that probably wasn’t the path for me; however, with the role I’m in now, I’m still able to fulfill that design interest (with computer software to help!).
What drew you to HH Angus?
I was attracted to the diversity of projects the firm is involved in, from hospitals to airports to data centres and so many more. After applying, what really sealed the deal for me was the team of people who interviewed me, all of whom I now work with everyday. They were all incredibly friendly and outgoing, which holds true for the rest of the organization as well, and that warm atmosphere was what I was really looking for in the workplace.
What are some of the things you like about working here?
My favorite thing is the people I work with and the community. Everyone is friendly and always willing to help wherever they can. As a new graduate with minimal industry experience, this was particularly helpful as I had a lot of questions to ask!
Another of my favorite things here is the flexibility. From hybrid working and flex time to half-day Fridays, the company has different mechanisms in place to help employees maintain a good work-life balance.
How would you explain your job to someone not in engineering?
When I’m asked what I do, my answer is usually “we design the systems that keep buildings liveable and comfortable - heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing, fire protection, lighting, electrical systems, etc.”. As for my own role, I explain that it includes a little bit of project management, some design, and also time on-site.
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day might include meeting with various parties involved in the project - clients, contractor teams, or other consultants. In between meetings, I work on the deliverables I have on my plate, which might include producing drawings for a design, reviewing submittals or contractor requests for a project in construction, or talking through a question with a colleague.
Some days I’m on-site for a construction site review or commissioning activity. I always find time spent on-site to be an incredible learning experience, physically seeing how a system functions or working through a coordination issue that’s come up during installation. On-site time really is the last puzzle piece in understanding how a design comes together, as you get a better understanding for it and what it takes to implement.
Is what you’re doing at HH Angus what you expected to be doing when you graduated?
In all honesty, no. In addition to having an eye for design as a kid, by far my biggest passion was airplanes and the aviation industry. For years I dreamed of becoming a pilot and, upon starting my engineering degree, I saw myself working on the design side of the aviation sector. Then, in a summer internship, I had the opportunity of working in the design and construction industry, and when it came time to decide where I wanted to work after graduation, I liked the idea of returning to that sector as this would give me lots of client-facing experience, which I enjoy, as well as the opportunity to work on a range of big and small projects.
How has HH Angus helped you grow in your career so far?
My work here has helped me gain confidence and given me the opportunity to take on different projects and challenges. At times, as a new graduate, you might experience a bit of the ‘imposter syndrome’ and feel that you don’t have the qualifications to work on something, but the most important thing to remember is that the best and sometimes only way to learn something is by doing. And that’s not to say that you’re totally on your own; there are always others with more experience who are ready to support and assist where needed. But it’s important to take the opportunity to first work on the task yourself, apply your knowledge, and then compile your questions and work through them with your colleagues so that you can learn from the experience. Then the next time around, you’ll be better equipped and know exactly how to approach the task.
Can you recall a useful mentoring tip?
A helpful piece of advice came from some of my more senior colleagues: every hurdle you face in a project is a lesson to be learned and will only make you into a better engineer down the road. Only through experience and working with different manufacturers and their products do you get a full understanding of which solution is best suited for a given situation.
What’s the best thing you have learned on the job to date?
There’s not just one way to do something, there can be multiple ways to achieve the same outcome. For example, in designing the cooling system for an elevator machine room in one of my projects, our team’s initial proposal was to install a split AC unit in the room to directly cool the space. However, another way to achieve cooling for the space would have been to add supply and exhaust ducts and fans to pull fresh air from outside and exhaust hot air back out. While the solution with an AC unit was more effective for cooling quickly, it was more expensive and had a different range of space implications. At the end of the day, the best solution is the one that meets the client’s needs in terms of desired cooling, cost, and other considerations. So, in that sense, another key thing I’ve learned is that the “best” solution to a design challenge is defined by a lot of different factors.
If someone asked you if they should apply to HH Angus, what would you tell them?
“Absolutely!” I would go through my list of favourite things about the company, and the reasons I joined and stay. These would include the variety of sectors we work in, with lots of opportunities to gain different experiences and learn from some of the best in each area. There’s also the collaborative, friendly work environment that keep me excited and looking forward to each workday. And, as mentioned earlier, flex time, hybrid working and half-day Fridays!
When you tell people outside the company about HH Angus, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
It’s usually some of the larger and well-known projects we’ve worked on. These could include Canary Wharf in London, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), various hospitals like Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and St. Michaels in Toronto or CHUM in Montreal, or some of our transit projects such as various TTC Subway stations or the Eglinton Crosstown LRT project. These usually pique people’s interest and rightfully so, as they’re interesting projects to be involved in and change the way people live and move.
What inspires you?
I enjoy seeing the physical product of my work and, in a sense, watching my designs come to life. There’s something unique about seeing what you’ve designed actually implemented in a building.
What aspect of your work do you enjoy most?
I enjoy commissioning most. This is quite different from the design side of our work and involves being brought onto a project as an independent 3rd party to review and witness the testing of installed equipment and building systems, and verifying that they are operating in accordance with the original design intent. I enjoy this part of my work the most as it’s a very collaborative process involving your team, the design build team, and the contractors, and is a key step in bringing a design build project to completion.
What are some of the trends and/or technologies in the AEC sector that you find exciting?
I’m excited about rapid fabrication technologies such as 3D printing. The use of 3D printing in design and construction offers several advantages, some of which include greater design freedom and the ability to develop and produce more complex designs with greater ease, reduced waste, and increased speed of production.
If you could change one thing about how buildings are designed and constructed, what would it be?
Aside from perhaps my childhood dream of constructing buildings out of Lego, if I could change one thing it would probably be to make it an even more collaborative process. While many projects go smoothly, there are always cases where something goes wrong, whether that be delays or design problems, and then the “finger-pointing” ensues. It’s important to bring a team-oriented mindset to solving the problem and getting things done, as opposed to pitting project members against each other.
What skills or traits have helped you to advance in your career so far?
A key skill that’s helped me advance in my career and in life generally is good organization. When dealing with multiple deadlines in university, the best way to stay on top of them is to be organized, whether that means having a list of all the tasks you need to complete or a calendar breaking down the day and what gets done when. The same holds true in the workplace when handling multiple projects with different needs. Staying organized and on top of things not only helps you get things done but allows you to keep track of everything on your plate, identify what your top priorities are, and move those items up on the list.
What would people be surprised to learn about you - do you have any secret talents or hobbies?
I love to travel, but more specifically I love to fly. I started pursuing my private pilot’s license in high school (even before I was old enough to drive a car!), and in my spare time I create content for my YouTube channel where I review airlines and their services. And getting that content means a lot of flying in my personal time!
I also love to bake! In fact, baking was one of the topics that came up during my interview. It turns out that there’s quite a community of bakers at the company, so whether you’re a sourdough bread baker or a ‘cookies and cakes’ kind of baker (which is more my speed) there’s lots to bond over (and even more to eat!).
Evan joined HH Angus in 2018, and is an Engineering Designer working with our Health Division.
Tell us your favourite thing about working at HH Angus.
This is an easy question – it is definitely the people! Within the first few months, I got this strong feeling of community and support from everyone. I found that everybody is happy to take the time to listen to any questions you have and always willing to help and to explain new design concepts. It came as no surprise to me that, within short time, you start to refer to your colleagues as your HH Angus family.
What drew you to HH Angus and consulting coming out of school?
Consulting was an attractive option coming out of school. It allowed me to combine the technical engineering I’d been learning with some of the business-related aspects that go along with consulting, such as project management, coordination, working with clients and meeting their needs – that definitely made consulting attractive. As far as why HH Angus, the long history of the firm and the high-profile project list made it an attractive option; it was definitely a good sign to me to see all those accomplishments.
Where did you hear about the new grad openings at HH Angus?
It was through my university’s website. When I spoke with people from my program, they knew students who had done coop terms with HH Angus, and they gave the firm high reviews. So, it definitely got me excited to apply.
How do you personally contribute to design and construction here at the company?
I started on the design side, working behind the scenes, running simple duct sizing calculations or working in CAD and building my foundation of the design knowledge that we use every day. Today, I am in a design-construction role for the Royal Inland Hospital project, living and working in Kamloops BC. I get to work with our design team and coordinate the actual design that is ongoing as we are building a hospital here. We also investigate site-related issues or as-built conditions that may need to be accommodated. I am helping with the design and coordinating with the construction, and I’m really enjoying this new role.
So you are there working with the construction and contractors?
It has been interesting so far to see the other side of the work, which I used to see only from the design perspective. I am attending all the contractor’s meetings now, so I see a more holistic approach, where we need to not only focus on the best way to design the system but also focus on what will work for constructors, and to take that into consideration in the design process.
How has working at HH Angus helped you grow your career?
HH Angus has been a fantastic place to begin and grow my career in consulting. It has provided me with solid foundation to develop my engineering design knowledge. In addition, it has allowed me to receive a gradual introduction to those important business-related skills: whether it’s coordinating a project or liaising with the client, it’s been a great introduction to develop my fundamental technical knowledge while exposing me to some of the behind-the-scenes activities that our business is rooted in.
What made you want to become an engineer or a designer?
My love for engineering came from my grandfather. He was a civil engineer. As I grew up and did more research, I learned that behind the engineering is finding the solution. That’s what engineering is! I found that I love to be handed challenges and then work out the solution within the unique constraints of that issue. Doing that is often challenging, but you feel rewarded after, when you are able to come up with the best possible solution. Getting to do that on a daily basis, when every day you face a new challenge or problem, that makes the work exciting.
As I grew up and did more research, I learned that behind the engineering is finding the solution. That’s what engineering is!
What are some of the projects that you are most proud to be involved in at HH Angus?
Working here in Kamloops on the Royal Inland Hospital project blew everything else out of the water. Getting this opportunity and seeing the value that it has for society makes me proud to know that I am contributing to the overall healthcare system of the country. We are not front line workers, but knowing that the work that I am doing will contribute to people’s lives being saved, ensuring that the building operates as it should and that all the systems keep running – that makes me proud of this project.
How has HH Angus' mobility program helped you with your new role in Kamloops?
Being given the opportunity to move across the country was a dream come true for me. Combining my love for new experiences with the new responsibilities and exposure associated with this role, I knew I had to jump on this opportunity. HH Angus' mobility program helped make my cross-country move seamless, with the numerous support measures and resources that were provided. That level of support still remains to this day and it almost feels as if I still work in the Toronto office
Is what you are doing at HH Angus what you expected to be doing when you graduated?
If you were to tell me two years ago that I would be on the other side of the country working on a construction site solving all these as-built and construction issues as they arise, I definitely would not have thought it would be the case! But, in terms of daily problem solving and those things that made me want to become an engineer, I am definitely doing that and getting the opportunities to solve challenges.
Evan's life in Kamloops
What are some of the things that you like about HH Angus, aside from work?
It does not apply so much here in Kamloops, but before I transferred out here, I would say the extracurricular activities that go on throughout the company. Whether it is the Friday afternoon hockey games, softball or volleyball … I love that. I looked forward to those days every single week. It really helped me grow friendships within the company, and it just makes showing up to work that much better when you can ask someone if they are excited for the game later, or chat about upcoming events and how it went last week, or go out and enjoy a beer afterwards. I really, really enjoy that.
What’s the best thing that you’ve learned on the job?
Perseverance. We’d all like to paint our job as some walk through the park with rainbows, but we can find ourselves in difficult situations that require hard work and critical thinking to get to a solution. I find perseverance leads to success in the end - learning to push through those tough times.
What is your proudest moment here?
The proudest moment I’ve had so far happened when I had been at HH Angus only a few months. I was working on generator report for a client, and it had been weeks and weeks of research, report writing, formatting, and implementing client feedback. The proudest moment was at the end, after I had poured hundreds of hours into this deliverable. We got the feedback from the client on the final report and it was glowing. They were so appreciative of all our work, they loved the content, and they were happy with the depth of detail. We received high praise. Meanwhile, I was still at an entry-level role in the company. To have received such high praise directly from the client and knowing the hard work I had put into this report, that definitely was a very proud moment and I felt really good about it.
Tell us about an experience when a senior staff helped you, maybe early on in your career.
When I started working with my manager in Tech, he was always sharing wisdom with me, whether simple design tips or how to succeed in our role as engineers, things to look out for, and also life advice. When I told him about this current opportunity in Kamloops, he told me to jump all over it, that it would be a great experience for me. Having someone who is able to share their knowledge and experience with you has been really great, and it definitely molded me into the person that I am today with the firm. Numerous times, just having good advice passed down has helped me and led to my success.
When you are out with friends who don’t work in the industry, what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you start describing the company?
We design electrical and mechanical systems for various buildings, from data centers to healthcare facilities and more. But, it’s not just the work. I also describe it as this fun-loving place where it feels like everyone is just hanging out together. You are surrounded by good company and you enjoy spending the day with your work friends; a lot of people get jealous when they hear that. All the extracurriculars that we do and all the fun that I have participating in them – everyone has a hard time believing that I leave work at noon on Fridays to go play hockey for an hour and the day is done after that. Just one of the many benefits of our flex-time policy!
You are surrounded by good company and you enjoy spending the day with your work friends; a lot of people get jealous when they hear that.
What inspires you?
Being able to make a difference. Sometimes it’s hard to see the direct impact your work has on a project and it is not until the structure is being built and the building is operating that you are going to see the impact that you made. In some cases, you are just add air conditioning into the building and it goes unnoticed for most of the people. But being able to make a difference and knowing that you put hard work into these system designs, providing solutions that keep the client happy, using the latest technologies – it’s rewarding even though you may not be getting direct recognition from end users. It’s knowing that the work you are doing is having an impact; that inspires me to work harder and think a little more critically versus taking the easiest route.
What are some of the trends and tech that excite you the most?
For me, it’s the increased awareness around energy and efficient operations of our systems. For example, I didn’t realize how much thought and effort needs to go into coming up with complex design sequencing in order to run air handing units. It may not necessarily be new technology but it is utilizing new and emerging methods of energy conservation and energy recovery, and we’re discovering how to incorporate those into the design. That’s what gets me and other people on this current project excited. It is a lot of work, and you definitely have to start thinking in new creative ways. But it is exciting to help build the future and make a difference on the energy front.
What skills or trait have helped you the most to advance in your career?
Communication skills - engineering is a discipline where people understand how things work, but being able to effectively communicate your understanding and your ideas - how you see things in your head - is an important part of what we do. Having strong communication skills has definitely led to my success on projects.
Is there something people will be surprised to learn about you?
I have a big appreciation for classical music, and jazz and blues … something not popular in my age group. I have appreciation for arts, I love taking time to visit museums.