INNOVATION July-August 2015

Prince Naif Centre for Health and Science Research –Female Branch The Prince Naif Centre for Health Science Research—Female Branch, designed for King Saud University in Riyadh, will enable students to study research in cancer, molecular biology, genetics, infectious diseases and several other medical disciplines. This new state-of-the-art 8,000 square meter laboratory building will comprise research laboratories, multi-functional research facilities, administration offices and lecture rooms, as well as a cafe and auditorium. A striking sustainability feature of the building is a load-bearing façade with composite panels designed to minimize

solar gain, yet allow light into the building. The façade was faceted and built with outward and inward angles considering the daily and seasonal sun path to minimize the cooling energy consumption. A structural challenge was to coordinate steel

columns embedded in the façade with multifaceted façade openings and the roof steel structure. Zelimir Anic, P.Eng., was Buro Happolds’ project director of the multi-discipline design team.

Enabling LowCost High Tech Prosthesis Firgelli Technologies’ products are becoming increasingly popular in the prosthesis market. A variety of commercial, open source, and hobby groups are looking to Firgelli for simple, compact, and powerful linear motion. Earlier this year OpenBionics won The Best Product Innovation Award at CES 2015 for leveraging 3D printing technology and innovative design to bring low-cost, highly customizable prosthetic hands within reach of those that need them the most. And, inside each hand are five of Firgelli Technologies’ most compact actuators, the PQ12. These feedback actuators provide fine, powerful, and complex movements, while still allowing OpenBionics to achieve a weight almost half that of leading robotic hand manufacturers. Firgelli offers micro linear actuators ranging from small enough to fit within a prosthetic hand to large enough to lift hundreds of pounds in a full exoskeleton.  APEGBC members involved: Mike Baker, P.Eng., and Ruaridh Mackinnon, EIT.

Glenrose Tidal Marsh Project The Glenrose Tidal Marsh sites are in North Delta on the main arm of the Fraser River. The project involved creating intertidal freshwater marsh habitat at three locations: Glenrose Downstream, Glenrose Cannery and Gunderson Mudflat, and is part of Port Metro Vancouver’s Habitat Enhancement Program. The project was undertaken to improve the productivity of the Fraser between the Alex Fraser Bridge and Gunderson Slough by providing high-quality habitat for juvenile salmon rearing and other fish and wildlife, and in response to requests from First Nations to protect archaeological values. Work included brush clearing, slope protection, containment berms, channel dredging, and raising the substrate for marsh habitat. Owner: Port Metro Vancouver. Consultant Team: Moffatt & Nichol, Hemmera and GL Williams & Associates. Earthworks: Kwikwetlem First Nation/Quantum Murray LP Joint Venture. Plant Installation: TFN Construction/Matcon Civil Joint Venture. APEGBC members: Charlotte Olson, P.Geo. and Mike Tranmer, P.Eng. (Port Metro Vancouver); Gord Ruffo, P.Eng.; Christian Brandl, Co-op Student–UBC Engineering; Michael Cho, P.Eng.

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