Qianqian Zhao, Building Performance Analyst

What drew you to engineering?

When I was younger I wished that my Radio-controlled aircraft hadn’t crashed into a tree, my Battleship model had never sunk to the bottom of the lake, and my Mini 4WD car was better.  So I picked engineering as my profession, to make these things happen.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far?

I’m working on a project of where I studied as a student.  As a part of the design team I’m involved in the energy modelling, watching the building envelope demolition and the intensive renovation as it nears completion!

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

The uncertainty. Engineers make things happen in different ways. If the target is on the other side of the river we could build a bridge, design a ship, create a tunnel, or make an aircraft to get across. A number of factors need to be considered in the final decision including technology, environmental, safety, economic, and social.  The uncertainty excites me because I know nothing about the future, but have a hand in transforming it.

Shea Gonzalez, Electrical Technologist

What drew you to engineering?

A combination of my Dad who was a mechanical engineer and my passion for mathematics throughout my school years.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far? 

Attending the grand opening of the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff. It was my first project at DIALOG and have such a nostalgic feeling towards Banff, after growing up in Calgary and staying at the Hotel. It was just the coolest feeling to see your drawings come to life. Getting to see the completed project and celebrating alongside the client, contractors, fellow designers was incredibly special.

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

The advancements in 3D modeling, virtual reality and renderings. Primarily used in architecture, these technologies can now be applied to engineering to further inform design decisions. When applied to construction I believe this will allow for a more detailed and coordinated design while reducing waste and increasing efficiencies.

Larissa Ulcar, Associate, Structural Engineer

What drew you to engineering?

I enjoy solving problems – project problems, my own problems, and others’ problems. I’m always looking for new and creative solutions and at the end of the day it’s hard to turn my brain off. Also, the built environment fascinates me. I’ve always been curious about how cities and their buildings, bridges, transit systems came to be.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far? 

The coolest moment of my career (thus far) might be walking / crawling inside the steel arch ribs of the Walterdale Bridge. How many people can say they’ve done that?!

That’s soon to be topped though by a much-anticipated project milestone. I’ve worked on the Valley Line Stage 1 (Southeast) LRT project for the last seven years and I am very much looking forward to its upcoming Service Commencement and riding the rails with Edmontonians later this year.

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

The endless opportunities the future of engineering will bring. Planning, designing and building more resilient, sustainable, diverse and ethical communities is no small feat but I look forward to tackling these large and complex problems with support from my colleagues and peers.

Jennifer Harmer, Building Performance Consultant

What drew you to engineering?

I started my career in buildings as general project support for a very small mechanical design firm. I decided to pursue a Master’s degree to build out more education to support the work I was doing and found the Masters of Building Science program at (formerly) Ryerson University. Through this program I discovered the world of building performance analysis, and found that the sustainability consultants tend to live at the intersection between the other design professionals, who often end up siloed in their disciplines. As an energy consultant, I can be the communication connection between the architect, engineers, owner, and regulators, to find a collaborative path toward high-performance buildings.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far? 

It’s very cool to see a building that I worked on in the design or schematic stage exist in real life, and to know that I had some small part to play in the huge exercise that is building design, development, construction, and operation.

I really enjoy mentoring / coaching others on how to build energy models and develop their energy consultant expertise. It has been cool over my career to see my colleagues grow in their roles and in the industry, and branch out into different areas of expertise. It’s a very small industry so I like to see where everyone ends up, and how we are all working in our own way to fight climate change and make good buildings that people will enjoy.

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

We are starting to see a shift in motivation and an acceleration of high-performance building strategies being adopted. As the public and policy-makers get more serious about tackling climate change, owners are starting to think longer-term and strive toward high-performance because they want better buildings, even if there can be an increased upfront cost. There’s also a broadening of the definition of “better buildings” to include occupant wellness, operational and embodied carbon, thermal comfort, and resilience.

Jordyn Kent, Structural EIT

What drew you to engineering?

A combined interests in math, science, design, and problem solving. I always found the design of our built environment interesting and wanted to contribute to that.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far? 

Visiting the construction site for Markdale Hospital. This was my first time seeing the construction of a project that I had worked on, and it was incredible to see the design come to life.

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

The role engineering has in combating climate change. Focus on sustainability has become increasingly important, which is bringing on new challenges and opportunities to have a positive impact. I am excited about the innovative solutions that are being developed to achieve carbon neutrality and am looking forward to working more with mass timber as an alternative to conventional materials.

Andrea Powell, Mechanical Engineer

What drew you to engineering?

The first time that I can distinctly remember being interested in building design was in the third grade after watching Mike Brady, from The Brady Bunch, assemble scale concept models. After that, I started dreaming up my own designs. My interest continued to grow and eventually led me to an undergraduate in engineering.

Before enrolling in University, I asked myself a simple question. “What do you love to do even on the toughest day?” For myself, the answer was science and mathematics which naturally led me to Mechanical Engineering. Our industry is fast-paced and often challenging. However, even on my most challenging days, I find enjoyment in the innovation, the positive impact that we have on our communities, and the lifelong pursuit of knowledge.  I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

What has been the coolest moment in your career so far?

When I worked for a manufacturing company as an EIT, the engineering offices were attached to shop floor. Every piece of the design was custom made and located just a few feet from my desk. I was tasked with designing a piece of equipment as well as creating a test environment that could demonstrate its performance. This was the first opportunity that I was given to see firsthand my design leap off the page to be built and tested.  Engineering bridges the gap between theory and practice. It allows you to be hands-on, create, improve and – when you’re lucky – have a tangible impact on the world.

What excites you most about the future of engineering? 

The relatively recent spotlight shone on sustainable has led to inspiring steps and thoughtful innovation within our industry. I think the industry is starting to see that integrated design can have meaningful ways to improve our built environment. Integrated design is what DIALOG does best and it’s encouraging to see DIALOG stepping forward as a leader.