INNOVATION July-August 2012

2011 2012 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

The Espro Press The Espro™ Press is a precision coffeemaker invented by Christopher R McLean PEng and Bruce Constantine of Vancouver-based Espro Inc. A typical French Press filter is ineffective and allows too many grinds into your cup. The Espro™ Press works like a French Press, with two improvements. Its vacuum insulated stainless steel vessel maintains a consistent brew temperature so you can extract a specific flavor profile from each coffee. The patent pending two stage microfilter keeps grit out of your coffee and allows the aromatic oils through. The result is an aromatic and grit-free cup of coffee. The 30 oz size was launched using a crowd sourcing website called Kickstarter, and sold over five times more than estimated. The Espro™ Press was featured in the April print issue of Popular Science magazine. The neighborhood surrounding the Fraser Heights Recreation Centre is rapidly expanding and a bigger facility was required. The new 1,500 m 2 expansion doubles the space of the existing facility, adding an outdoor patio, a large fitness and wellness centre and a state-of-the-art 700 m 2 , spring floor gymnasium. The building shadows LEED Gold standards and is fully accessible. Half of the addition was placed on top of the existing facility. To achieve this, a portion of the old roof was stripped and the existing tilt panels were cut to suit. Furthermore, a seismic expansion joint was cut through the existing structure to minimize the effect of the new expansion. Much of the expansion cantilevers beyond the existing footprint to minimize the physical footprint, yet maximize space, giving the added illusion of levitation. Owner: City of Surrey. Architects: Shape Architecture. Structural Engineers: Wicke Herfst Maver Consulting. Electrical: Applied Engineering Solutions. Photo: Caleigh Meneghetti. Fraser Heights Recreation Centre Expansion

Fuel Storage Facility A consortium of airlines at Vancouver International Airport has built a new 40 million litre fuel storage facility, consisting of four tanks, each 30.5 m in diameter by 14.6 m high. The facility is the largest of its kind inWestern Canada, providing a five to seven day buffer against fuel supply fluctuations. The state-of-the art facility has been built to the region’s strict seismic requirements and accommodates the major settlement potential of Sea Island soils. The tanks are fitted with floating roofs to reduce emissions and lower the potential for vapour ignition, as well as an array of radar dispersion screens to allow construction near aircraft manoeuvring areas. State-of-the-art fire protection, water deluge, surveillance and monitoring systems provide round-the-clock protection. Owner: Vancouver Airport Fuel Facilities Corporation. Project Manager: FSM Management Group (Adrian Pollard PEng). Designers: EBA Engineering Consultants (Richard Kohler PEng, Ralph Everts PEng), Argus Consulting (Dan Frank PEng).

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