INNOVATION July-August 2015

UBC Student Union Building The new five-storey AMS Student Union Building (SUB) encompasses social and recreational activities plus office, food, and retail spaces. Following a BC Hydro Energy Study using Virtual Environment Modeling software, AME designed cost-effective alternative passive energy sources to assist the building in its LEED Platinum target by harnessing energy from renewable sources and designing a high-performance envelope. The energy strategies include utilizing heat recovered from UBC’s district steam condensate to provide building heating and domestic hot water heating, harvesting solar energy to provide cooling and domestic hot water preheat, and on-site rainwater treatment for re-use in the building’s plumbing systems. Occupant responsive controls and innovative hybrid solutions optimize payback periods with energy efficiency, capital costs, system complexity, and reduced environmental impact. Owner: UBC Properties Trust. Mechanical Engineers: AME Consulting Group (Matt Younger, P.Eng.; Alex Chou, P.Eng.; Jerry Chung, EIT; Scott Stewart, EIT; Tim Lo, EIT; Mike Gamble, EIT; Tighe Weare, EIT). Photo: Alex Chou.

Composite Barrier Wall/ Rockshed In November 2012, a 53,000 cubic meter rockslide buried the Canadian National Railway track at Mile 109.43, causing a four-day service disruption. Klohn Crippen Berger was contracted to assess rock landslide hazard and design a protection structure. Using a combination of practical and innovative techniques, KCB constructed a composite barrier wall/rock shed structure. A challenge was the ongoing train traffic. To protect the work site, a mesh attenuation curtain was draped across the active slope. KCB used modular components, including precast retaining wall, roof panel, and footing components as well as steel support frames, which could be installed in discrete segments during short closures. A significant slide shortly after completion proved the rock shed effective and rail service was not disrupted. Project owner: Canadian National Railways. Prime

consultant: Klohn Crippen Berger. Project team: Matthieu Sturzenegger, P.Geo.; Tim Keegan, P.Eng.; Keith Mitchell, P.Eng.; Lubos Petrik, P.Eng.; William Wu, P.Eng.; Bruce Hamersley, P.Eng.; Kayla Kugler; Ann Wen, P.Eng.; and Garry Stevenson, P.Eng./P.Geo., FGC.

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