8
25 YEARS Celebrating
25Y E AR S
Celebrating
BY GLORIA TAYLOR
When Vancouver, British Columbia-based Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. won the contracts to design three airport traffi c control towers for the Federal Aviation
Administration department in the United States, the structural engineering consulting fi rm created “blast hardened” structures able to withstand the most determined terrorist attacks.
For the new Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre in Victoria, British Columbia, the fi rm conceived a concrete building that could be erected quickly; while in Coquitlam, B.C., the company saved the City an estimated $2 million when it upgraded an existing arena to “seismic resistant” stan-dards in the most cost-effective ways.
When innovative solutions are called for, Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. is in its element. The structural engineering consulting fi rm prides itself on developing just the right solu-tions for clients and designs that respect the clients’ bottom line, says John Pao, President who co-founded the fi rm 25 years ago with Jack Bogdonov.
“We are innovative and the bottom line does count,” says Pao, adding that good listening skills underpin successful business relationships. “We pride ourselves on being good lis-teners.” As a result, Pao has regularly enjoyed feedback from clients and contractors that the company’s designs were cost effective, simple, and easy to construct.
Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd.Structural engineering consulting fi rm celebrates 25 years of innovative work
Above: VANOC offi ce, insets (left to right): Old Barn Community Centre, Laurel Place and Selkirk Place.
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Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Structural Engineers
Victoria, B.C.’s Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre: Working under the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s P3 structure, or public-private partnership, meant that moving the 500-bed, multimillion-dollar patient recovery centre along expeditiously was important. ISL Health, the con-struction consortium working on the new building, would be penalized for work that was late and be rewarded for work that was completed ahead of schedule.
Armed with that understanding, “We designed a system that was quick to build,” says Pao simply. “It was built on a concrete flat plate and the whole structure is poured con-crete, specially designed so it is easy to form and can be built quickly.” Under construction now, the new patient care centre is expected to be completed by the end of 2010, based on an extremely fast-paced schedule.
Walter Janzen, design engineer and Principal, says the company utilized a cost-effective technique to help increase the facility’s seismic resistance.
“It’s a hospital, so it has to be post-disaster, meaning that if an earthquake hit, the hospital has to continue functioning,”
Projects > > > >Airport traffic control towers: Called upon to guide pilots to a safe landing, air traffic controllers have huge responsibilities. In the wake of modern international terrorism, it is clear the con-trollers need the safest facilities in the world in which to work.
It was in the historic climate following 9-11 that Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. bid for and won a five year standing contract with the FAA to do the structural design work for blast-resistant air traffic control towers, which could also withstand environmental disasters.
The firm is currently working on three such towers: in Abilene, Texas (in design, not in construction yet in early July); Boise, Idaho (under construction) and Broomfield, Colorado (under construction).
“The structures are blast-hardened, which means that they are built to resist impact; mainly the kind of impact that results from a terrorist attack,” says Pao. “We won the contract because of our qualifications,” explains Pao, adding that the structures are among the most resilient the company has ever designed.
53Business & Trade Magazine®
Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Structural Engineers
Congratulations to the Management and Staff of Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Best wishes for the continued growth and success of
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Congratulations to Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. on your 25th anniversary!
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he says. As a result, the hospital is designed to more rigorous standards than conventional buildings.
The engineers grouted rock anchors (essentially long steel rods with cor-rosion protection) right into a layer of solid bedrock for stability. “What I’m doing with these rock anchors is hold-ing down the building,” explains Janzen, who says the technique, along with the use of concrete and specially detailed rebar, results in an economical way to achieve a stronger and safer building for patients and staff.
Coquitlam Sports Centre Renewal Project: The renewal of the sports centre is the single largest capital project ever undertaken by the District of Coquitlam. The project includes an extension to the existing main arena and strengthening of the existing structure to current code, along with the addition of two new NHL-sized ice rinks adjacent to the main arena.
“The existing structure was substan-dard in the roof capacity to support snow load in accordance with the cur-rent code and, of course, when it was originally built in the 1950’s, there was virtually no seismic design,” says Pao.
“Instead of building new shearwalls and braced frames, we strategically reinforced the capacity of the existing structure with a combination of wood and steel to increase the snow load and seismic capacity and, in so doing, saved the city about $2 million over conven-tional techniques,” says Pao.
Jozef Jakubowski, structural engi-neer and a Partner at Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd., says the company is reinforcing the existing structure from on top of the roof, rather than inside the arena space, in such a way that it doesn’t affect activities in the building.
“It’s the fi rst time this technique has been done in North America,” says Jakubowski, who is in charge of the design and quality control inspections during construction. “We basically set new boundaries here, along with the tradespeo-ple who have to execute the work.”
The upgrades began in late 2008 and, although the project is not expected to be completed in 2011, the contractor predicts that the construction will be completed well ahead of schedule.
Architectural Rendering of the Coquitlam Sports Centre
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Congratulations, Bogdonov Pao Associates, on a very successful 25 years!
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Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Structural Engineers
Surrey Olympic Training Venue: The Surrey Olympic Training Venue is a 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games preparation centre in Surrey, B.C.; a Legacy project which will be converted to a multi-purpose recre-ational facility after the Games.
Because of the importance of a strong architectural expression, Jakubowski says the structural design of this facility required creative use of various struc-tural engineering materials. The result is a structural design that is synthesized with the architectural theme through innovative structural integration of concrete, structural steel, and glulam timber.
“There is a lot of symbolism in the architecture and for this building, the structural engineer and the architect needed to work together in a uni-fied effort to express the artistry in the design,” says Jakubowski, adding that the firm is able to call upon years of experience working with architects and other professionals when designing the Olympic venue.
Garry Kirkham, Principal with the firm, says a broad-based portfolio speaks to the strength of the 30-plus employee firm.
“Many firms tend to offer services in a narrow field of practice where they focus on certain projects, whereas we tend to get involved in a variety of different projects,” says Kirkham. “Sometimes the challenges may be totally new to us, but we bring new ideas to projects based on the diverse experience that we have.”
Kirkham points to the company’s years of experience in formwork design. “This knowledge often helps us come up with more efficient designs for
concrete structures, since we’re thinking about the formwork as we develop the design. Because we’re able to exchange knowledge with contractors who build formwork, many of the senior engineers in our firm have a practical sense of construction, which contributes to an efficient design solution.”
Client focused philosophyOver the years, the company’s owner-
ship has changed – five principals today own and operate the professional engi-neering firm, and Jack Bogdonov has since retired from the company – but the firm’s client-focused philosophy is just as strong as ever: give clients the engineer-ing solutions that are best for the job at hand and the ones that make sense eco-nomically. Add to that the latest in-house developed software and technologies in pursuit of the best results.
That philosophy has worked well for the company, and today Bogdonov Pao has
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Congratulations to Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. on your 25th anniversary
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satellite offices in Bellevue, Washington, and Irvine, California, and an impressive client list. Through the years, it has worked with some of Canada’s largest most prom-inent construction firms – names such as PCL Construction Western Inc. and Scott Construction Group – and top architects and developers on an impressive diverse portfolio covering projects in Western North America from Alaska to California and from Hawaii to Colorado.
“We are not an average structural engi-neering consulting firm; we also offer construction engineering services. Our clients expect our solutions to be practi-cal and easy to construct,” explains Sean Dingley, Partner who specializes in con-struction services.
“Because our roots are in the con-struction services side of our industry, we know how buildings need to be built. We are always thinking of ways to save money and coming up with unique or innovative solutions.”
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Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Structural Engineers
How important is the bottom line to clients?“If they can spend $1,000 and save $10,000, it will be
money well spent by them,” says Dingley, who has been doing construction services engineering for 15 years.
Construction consulting services include custom product engineering, intricate scaffold design, formwork and false-work design, and renovation and demolition consulting. The department’s diverse project experience ranges from heavy civil works – such as tunnels, bridges, and dams – to a variety of specialized temporary structures, including grandstands, camera platforms, tents, stages, and bleacher seating.
“When it’s a concrete building, we help clients to design forming systems to support the concrete pour,” explains Dingley. “Sometimes, they need to remove columns or walls and we help them to safely support the building while they renovate. We help people gain access to bizarre situations such as the Lions Gate Bridge when it needs to be painted. We designed a very unique scaffolding system for them to paint the actual structures,” he says. The bridge was still able
They carry their load.We should know. We’ve worked closely with Bogdonov Pao Associates throughout their 25 year history, and on all types of challenging projects, from office buildings to arenas, and from community centres to air traffic control towers. Bogdonov Pao Associates consistently combines their best in creative talent and depth of experience to deliver the best in value-driven structural solutions to every project. Their 25th anniversary is a testament to their commitment to excellence, innovation, and exceeding expectations in the field of structural engineering.
Congratulations Bogdonov Pao Associates, to 25 years of solid strength!
Boise Air Traffic Control Tower, Boise, Idaho Rocky Mountain Metro ATCT and Base Building, Broomfield, Colorado
Gibsons Arena and Community Centre, Gibsons, BC
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to fully accommodate regular vehicle traffic while work was underway.
Company-wide, projects include everything from high rise buildings to institutional and educational facilities; from per-manent bridges to interesting temporary structures such as sports’ grandstands and movie sets.
“Right now, we’re involved in the Olympics,” Dingley sums up. With numerous venues being set up for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the firm has been engaged to design a large majority of the temporary bleachers, camera towers, and temporary structures that will be used during the Games.
Past meets futureAsk Pao what the 25th anniversary means to the company,
and he ventures that it has come a long way over the last two decades and the future looks just as eventful. “In the early days, we mainly provided construction engineering services. From this unique experience, we gradually developed our strong reputation as practical structural engineering designers. Today, we are still growing and particularly aiming to expand our U.S. operations,” he says.
As for Kirkham, he feels that maintaining a staff of about 30-plus positions the company well for the future.
“For the projects we do, it really is a plus,” he says. “Everybody is in on the game, and everybody gains knowl-edge. In a much larger firm, people are slotted in particular slots and they get very good in that specific thing that they’re doing, but they are not necessarily exposed to the overall chal-lenges of meeting the clients objectives,” says Kirkham.
“In my opinion, our firm is of the optimal size where we can take on significant projects and yet we are not so big that we can’t serve our clients with proper care and attention,” says Kirkham.
The partners say that having seasoned staff at the top also bodes well for clients as well as the junior staff who are men-tored by the company.
“From a client perspective, I am very hands-on,” says Janzen. “I am able to take control of what I am designing. From design to construction of the building, I am always involved. This can be very unique and satisfying in the structural consulting industry.”
Jakubowski, with more than 20 years experience as a design engineer, is convinced the firm is an excellent train-ing ground for junior staff. “We’re forever learning new things, new products, new techniques, and we create a work environ-ment where everybody wants to learn and have fun.”
Like the other partners, Dingley feels the company’s broad experience and willingness to diversify bodes well for the com-pany’s growth in the years to come.
For now, Pao knows that the best path to a successful future is the same path the company has taken all along. “Our cli-ent-centred philosophy is what has brought us this far,” he explains. “It means the company has had to innovate and evolve to meet the challenges of developing the best engineer-ing solutions. For 25 years we’ve been motivated to deliver a valuable experience to our customers,” Pao sums up. “And that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
“For 25 years we’ve been motivated to deliver a valuable experience to our customers. And that’s what we’ll continue to do.” – President John Pao
Congratulations to Bogdonov Pao on your 25th anniversary
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Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd. Structural Engineers
They carry their load.We should know. We’ve worked closely with Bogdonov Pao Associates throughout their 25 year history, and on all types of challenging projects, from office buildings to arenas, and from community centres to air traffic control towers. Bogdonov Pao Associates consistently combines their best in creative talent and depth of experience to deliver the best in value-driven structural solutions to every project. Their 25th anniversary is a testament to their commitment to excellence, innovation, and exceeding expectations in the field of structural engineering.
Congratulations Bogdonov Pao Associates, to 25 years of solid strength!
Boise Air Traffic Control Tower, Boise, Idaho Rocky Mountain Metro ATCT and Base Building, Broomfield, Colorado
Gibsons Arena and Community Centre, Gibsons, BC
VANCOUVER VICTORIA KELOWNAwww.ceiarchitecture.com
Bogdonov Pao Associates Ltd.
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