INNOVATION-May-June-2020

ICEBREAKER/ESCORT TUG “VILJA” “Vilja” is a 36-metre TundRA 3600–Hybrid icebreaker/ escort tug designed to Finnish-Swedish ice class 1A Super, capable of breaking one metre of ice at speed up to three knots and was delivered to the Port of Luleå, Sweden, in July 2019. The tug is designed as a compact icebreaker with a hull structure that exceeds Finnish-Swedish ice class strength requirements. The tug was designed by Robert Allan Ltd. and built by Gondan Shipbuilders of Spain. The new vessel is used for ice management, firefighting, and navigation aids, and will assist ships, and conduct coastal towing in the northern sector of the Gulf of Bothnia. The vessel is equipped with an innovative hybrid propulsion system featuring diesel main engines, in-line shaft electric motor/generators, and electric battery energy storage which allows effective power and fuel consumption management. The vessel is capable of performing transit and standby operations on electric battery power only, or operate in electric boost mode to maximize power. Participants: Robert Allan Ltd.: Dr. Oscar Lisagor, P.Eng. (Project Director), Bilyana Ivanova, P.Eng. (Project Manager), Robin Stapleton, P.Eng. (Electro-Mechanical Engineer) P hoto courtesy of G ondan S hipbuilders .

“75” CUSTOM RESIDENTIAL PROJECT This ornamental and minimalistic residence, known as “75”, sits on a hay farm in the Canadian Pacific Northwest. Characterized by emphatic curves and defined lines, this house is built on graceful hollow ribbed concrete “lily pads”. To achieve the fluid shape of these concrete columns, Fast + Epp designed a formwork system with the architect using conventional materials (plywood and form ties) to create an unconventional free form pattern. A slow, continuous pour schedule allowed the adjusted concrete formula to cure at the same rate as it was being poured. Discrete restraints were provided to the base structure for lateral stability. Also described as “chanterelle mushrooms”, the hollowness of these columns extends to the roof, allowing for trees to be planted in the roof and the house to blend in its surrounding landscape. Participants: Fast + Epp: Paul Fast, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., Nick de Ridder, P.Eng., Thomas Duke, P.Eng. Architect: Omer Arbel Office.

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