Tag: HH Angus

Cowichan

British Columbia's first fully electric healthcare facility has achieved Zero Carbon Building - Design Standard™ certification from the Canada Green Building Council. This is the first hospital in Canada to achieve this certification. The Standard guides the design of new buildings and major renovations of existing ones so they can achieve zero carbon operations. Environmentally sustainable  hospital design delivers benefits for healthcare operators, patients and healthcare staff, and the communities they serve.


The Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) - Design Standard™ defines low-carbon design and operational performance for buildings. According to CaGBC’s website, “The Zero Carbon Building – Design Standard™ guides the design of new buildings and major renovations of existing ones so they can achieve zero carbon operations. The Standard is comprehensive and evaluates the anticipated carbon emissions from building operations like heating and cooling. Project teams must carefully consider the embodied carbon of construction materials, refrigerants used in HVAC equipment, and building airtightness. Project teams must also evaluate strategies to minimize electrical grid impacts."

The Project

HH Angus is providing mechanical and electrical consulting engineering to the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement Project (CDHRP) on Vancouver Island, as part of the design team under the Nuts'a'maat Alliance (Island Health, EllisDon Corporation, Parkin Architects, BC Infrastructure Benefits and Infrastructure BC). The project is being developed for Island Health to replace the existing facility in North Cowichan, BC. When it opens in 2027, the new hospital will be three times larger than the existing facility at 57,448 m2 (607,601 ft2), and will increase capacity from 148 beds to 204 beds. The hospital will expand capacity for inpatient and ambulatory care, with seven operating rooms, additional procedure rooms, an expanded birthing unit, pediatric spaces, outpatient clinic services, expanded diagnostic imaging, an expanded emergency department, and a rooftop helipad. Mental health services will be updated with a 20-bed inpatient psychiatry unit and a four-bed psychiatric intensive care unit.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability has been at the core of the decision-making process for this project, with a focus on carbon reduction. Its ZCB – Design™ certification reflects achieving a 38% embodied carbon reduction from baseline and, as the first all-electric healthcare facility in British Columbia, the CDHRP’s design has an operational energy performance that significantly surpasses its target.

The design strategies focused on reducing the project's embodied carbon emissions, maximizing energy efficiency, electrifying the mechanical systems, using new-generation low GWP refrigerants, and designing an optimized PV array.

In its press release announcing the ZCB – Design™ certification, Island Health provided the following highlights of the hospital features supporting patient and staff wellbeing and environmental benefits:

  • Fully electric operation: The first all-electric hospital in B.C., it eliminates reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Highly energy efficient design: A high-performance building envelope minimizes heat loss, reducing overall energy demand by 30% compared to the current hospital.
  • Better air quality: Advanced ventilation and filtration systems support cleaner air, benefiting people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and COPD and providing greater operational resilience during wildfire smoke events.
  • On-site renewable energy generation: Rooftop solar panels will generate 2.5 percent of the hospital’s annual energy needs, reducing operating costs and reliance on external energy sources.
  • Water conservation strategies: 60% more water-efficient than the current hospital
  • Sustainable materials: Use of low-carbon concrete, mass timber, rebar and insulation to minimize embodied carbon in construction.
  • LED lighting which uses 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs; and
  • Low global warming potential refrigerants to minimize carbon emissions in mechanical equipment. 

The EllisDon and Parkin-led (ED+P) design team, in association with HH Angus, ZGF Architects, Bush Bohlman and Partners, and RDH, understood the significance of the project goals and the importance of targeting the Zero Carbon Building – Design™ certification. Their leadership, efforts and collaboration allowed the team to meet and exceed the project requirements, together with the leadership of Island Health. The project team members have been consistently committed to following through on the design approach and to finding all opportunities to improve.

To view a short video about the project’s construction progress, click here.
To read more about our work on the Cowichan District Hospital Replacement project, click here.

Image/s courtesy of EllisDon Construction & Parkin Architects

Best Managed Header

We are honoured that
HH Angus and Associates is again included among Canada's Best Managed Companies. 

A Gold Level member, this is our seventh consecutive year of being recognized among Canada’s Best for our consistent performance and long-term vision.

Canada’s Best Managed Companies is one of the country’s leading business awards programs recognizing innovative and world‑class businesses. Celebrating over 30 years, the CBMC program awards excellence in overall business performance and growth of best in-class, Canadian-owned companies with revenues of $50 million or more.

“The 2025 Best Managed winners exemplify the highest Canadian business standards of innovation, adaptability, and bold leadership,” said Derrick Dempster, Partner, Deloitte Private and Co-Leader, Canada’s Best Managed Companies program. “Their relentless ambition, determined focus, and strategic agility have led them to remain competitive on the world stage, creating sustainable economic growth in an evolving global market.”

To attain the designation, companies are evaluated on their leadership in strategy, culture and commitment, capabilities and innovation, governance and financial performance. Paul Keenan, President of HH Angus, commented on today’s award: “Being named a Best Managed company acknowledges the value of our careful management of our day-to-day operations, our thorough planning for both the short and long-term future of the firm, and our success in identifying growth opportunities, whether those are in sectors, services or geography. We’re very honoured and excited to once again be recognized by the Best Managed program.”

HH Angus also enjoys a strong company culture that values and celebrates innovation, technical excellence, and dedication to client service. Our staff of approximately 450 professionals, across offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, is laser-focused on delivering a broad range of successful projects in Canada and internationally to help our clients realize their goals. They share the firm’s expanding focus on decarbonizing the built environment to benefit the environment and provide a wide range of services to support the development of smart and sustainable cities. Earning the Best Managed Companies Award year after year is a reflection of their commitment and loyalty, and the vital role they play in HH Angus’ success. 

We also recognize that the Best Managed honour would not be possible without the trust and loyalty of our valued clients – we appreciate the important role they play in HH Angus’ success.

2025 marks HH Angus’ 106th year in business. For the firm to be thriving and deserving of this award after more than a century in business speaks to a tradition of resourceful, resilient and innovative leadership. Building on more than a century of success, we continue to strengthen the firm to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

HH Angus est fière d'avoir une fois de plus été reconnue parmi les sociétés les mieux gérées au Canada en tant que member Or.

C’est la septième année consécutive que nous sommes reconnus parmi les sociétés les mieux gérées au Canada, grâce à nos performances constantes et notre vision à long terme.

Le programme des sociétés les mieux gérées au Canada (CBMC) est l’un des principaux programmes de distinction des entreprises du pays, qui reconnaît les entreprises novatrices et de classe mondiale. Célébrant plus de 30 ans d’existence, le programme CBMC reconnaît l’excellence des performances d’ensemble et de la croissance des meilleures entreprises canadiennes, dont le chiffre d’affaires est égal ou supérieur à 50 millions de dollars.

« Les lauréats des sociétés les mieux gérées de 2025 illustrent les normes canadiennes les plus élevées en matière d’innovation, d’adaptabilité et de leadership audacieux, » a déclaré Derrick Dempster, associé, Deloitte Sociétés privées, et co-responsable du programme des sociétés les mieux gérées au Canada. « Leur ambition inébranlable, leur détermination et leur agilité stratégique leur ont permis de rester compétitives sur la scène internationale, créant ainsi une croissance économique durable dans un marché mondial en constante évolution. »

Pour obtenir cette distinction, les entreprises sont évaluées sur leur leadership en matière de stratégie, de culture et d’engagement, leurs capacités et leur innovation, leur gouvernance et leurs performances financières. Paul Keenan, président de HH Angus, a commenté la distinction reçue aujourd’hui : « Être nommée l’une des sociétés les mieux gérées reconnaît la valeur de notre gestion rigoureuse des opérations quotidiennes, de notre planification minutieuse à court et à long terme de l’avenir de l’entreprise, ainsi que notre capacité à identifier les occasions de croissance dans des secteurs, des services ou des régions géographiques. Nous sommes très honorés et très heureux d’être à nouveau reconnus par le programme des sociétés les mieux gérées. »

HH Angus jouit également d’une solide culture d’entreprise qui valorise et célèbre l’innovation, l’excellence technique et le dévouement au service de la clientèle. Notre équipe, composée d’environ 450 professionnels répartis dans nos bureaux de Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Ottawa et Montréal, se consacre entièrement à la réalisation d’une vaste gamme de projets fructueux au Canada et à l’échelle internationale afin d’aider nos clients à atteindre leurs objectifs. Ils partagent l’intérêt croissant de l’entreprise pour la décarbonisation de l’environnement bâti au profit de l’environnement et fournissent une large gamme de services pour soutenir le développement de villes intelligentes et durables. Le fait de remporter la distinction des sociétés les mieux gérées année après année témoigne de leur engagement et de leur loyauté, ainsi que du rôle essentiel qu’ils jouent dans le succès de HH Angus. 

Nous reconnaissons également que la distinction du prix des sociétés les mieux gérées ne serait pas possible sans la confiance et la fidélité de nos précieux clients. Nous apprécions le rôle important qu’ils jouent dans le succès de HH Angus.

L’année 2025 marque la 106e année d’activité de HH Angus. Le fait que l’entreprise soit prospère et mérite cette distinction après plus d’un siècle d’activité témoigne d’une tradition de leadership ingénieux, résilient et innovant. Forts de plus d’un siècle de succès, nous continuons à renforcer l’entreprise afin de relever les défis et saisir les opportunités de demain.

We’re pleased to introduce Daniel McKague, who has joined HH Angus as Director, Business Development. Daniel brings 20-plus years of business development (BD) and marketing experience in the AEC industry, in BD roles with architecture, consulting engineering and commercial real estate firms. He will be working closely with our Engineering Operations and Marketing teams to identify emerging opportunities, forge new client partnerships, and expand market share within our current sectors.

 “Daniel is an outstanding addition to our team, bringing great business instincts, strong AEC experience and a proven track record. We’re looking forward to continue building great relationships with our clients and industry partners”, remarked Sameer Dhargalkar, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing.

For his part, Daniel is looking forward to applying his deep industry experience and established client and partner connections to supporting HH Angus’ growth: “Relationships are critical to the success of any business, especially in the AEC market. Joining a firm that has over 100 years of success shows the value that HH Angus places on relationships and quality service. I’m looking forward to working with internal and external teams and supporting the Firm as it continues to provide excellent service, value, and insight to our clients and partners.”

Daniel is Past President of the Ontario Chapter of the Society of Marketing Professional Services and is an active member of industry organizations including NAIOP and ULI. 

If you would like to learn more about HH Angus’ wide range of services across all our business sectors, please contact our BD team:

Daniel McKague

daniel.mckague@hhangus.com

JD Tattle

jd.tattle@hhangus.com

Tim Peters

tim.peters@hhangus.com

Recently, the British Columbia Construction Roundtable hosted the ‘Electrify BC Roundtable’ in Vancouver. The event focused on the role of electrification in decarbonizing the built environment, as well as the electrification of buildings and energy infrastructure. Attendees were treated to informative presentations from Creative Energy,  BC Hydro and the City of Vancouver. HH Angus co-sponsored the event with Creative Energy. What follows are a few key takeaways from the Roundtable, courtesy of our low carbon energy specialists who attended the event.

The Zero carbon step code takes effect in BC on May 1, 2023. Four new GHG emission levels are being introduced, similar to the BC Energy Step Code. The intent is to reduce the consumption of natural gas used by buildings by moving towards electrification.

Electrification of buildings and energy infrastructure is gaining momentum fast. BC Hydro is making significant investments in distribution infrastructure and working with the province and municipalities on policies to incentivize moving away from fossil fuel energy sources to low or zero-carbon sources.

Good progress is being made in the decarbonization of new construction, and policies are coming from the City of Vancouver to address decarbonization of existing buildings.

The roundtable was a great opportunity to get a big-picture sense of the industry and how various stakeholders are looking at decarbonization.  It’s obvious that a lot is happening in both the public and private sectors.  One of the concerns facing developers is the cost and availability of power.

The Roundtable’s main focus was on electrification of buildings, and the challenges in scaling up distribution:

  • Capacity is there at the system level but distribution at the local level, particularly in high growth areas, requires more focus and development
  • Funding schemes are being reconsidered to help reduce the burden on developments while still protecting ratepayers
  • Current generating capacity can accommodate growth until 2030
  • Some numbers with the BCH electrification plan – 3100 GWh added, 930000 tons of CO2 reduced, 1.6% rate reductions
  • BC Hydro is introducing a voluntary time of day tariff to incentivize reduction in peak loads
  • A lot of natural gas is still in use – approximately half of residential buildings and two-thirds of family homes are heated with natural gas

Creative Energy provided insights on their various projects, including reporting a reduction in carbon by ~40,000 tons of CO2 per year once electrification project is complete. Other Creative Energy projects include waste heat recovery, ocean heat exchange, geo-exchange and, for downtown, they are looking at high-lift heat pumps and steam-to-hot water heat exchangers

The City of Vancouver has the most aggressive targets and is implementing not just the ZEPB (Zero Emissions Plan for Buildings). One of its priorities is to focus on reducing the building loads (i.e. conservation) and finding cleaner energy sources, not just electricity but other district energy solutions (sewage heat recovery, Burnaby incinerator heat recovery for River District). The monitoring of emissions and energy consumption of existing buildings will become mandatory in the city via the Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool for tracking. It will target existing multi-family residential buildings after 2024, and existing commercial buildings larger than 1000 ft2 after 2026. 

For more information on HH Angus’ low carbon and net zero carbon solutions, please contact lowcarbon@hhangus.com.

Ian McRobie

P.Eng., CEM, EGBC, LEED AP BD+C  

Halley O’Byrne

P.Eng., LEED AP