Latest news with #structuralengineering
CTV News
09-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Fenced off and shut out: Elizabeth Ziegler families continue to wait for engineering report
The Waterloo Region District School Board says it plans on sharing the findings of a structural engineering report on Elizabeth Ziegler Public School later this week. Families have been waiting for the report, which they hope will shed some light on the future of the shuttered school. 'It's been three months since the original issue was found and there have been structural assessments that have been happening,' said Ian McDonald, whose daughter used to attend Elizabeth Ziegler. 'The challenge is, we're a few weeks past the deadline that the board set to report on what those findings are.' Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo façade damage Part of the exterior of Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo appeared to be missing on March 4, 2025. (Dave Pettit/CTV News) His daughter now has to take the bus to Sandowne Public School. 'Sandowne is on the other side of the highway. So, the kids are busing across and will bus again next year,' McDonald explained. Some of the students are still learning at Elizabeth Ziegler in portables behind the school. But McDonald's daughter already knows she'll be going to Sandowne again next year, along with hundreds of other students, as the school board has extended the closure of Elizabeth Ziegler. Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo A fence blocked off access to Elizabeth Ziegler Public School in Waterloo, Ont. on March 4, 2025 due to structural testing. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News) 'It's really the lack of information that's been a problem,' said McDonald. 'I'm worried there's a lack of urgency and accountability in the board and in the trustees at this phase of the process.' That frustration comes from the fact that a structural engineering report has yet not been released, especially due to concerns about the safety of the building's façade. McDonald praised the teachers and staff at both schools for making the transition as smooth as possible. The fact that the board missed self-imposed deadlines for releasing the report, he noted, also impacts staff and leaves them in limbo too. Until Monday, the board had repeatedly said it had not yet received the report from the engineering firm, which was why nothing had been released. 'I think we're already thinking about 2026-27. That's 15 months away. When this originally happened, it was 18 months,' said McDonald. 'But if the issues here are more significant and the school needs to be torn down or otherwise, something that might take multiple years, I think we deserve to know so we can make better plans.' He also worries about how much money may be spent in the assessment phase and any eventual repairs, and wonders what will be left to make his daughter's school experience a good one upon a return to Elizabeth Ziegler – if there even is one.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Worthing's Grafton car park may remain shut amid safety concerns
Councillors will be asked to approve the continued closure of a car park in Worthing which was forced to shut last month due to concerns over unstable engineers have been assigned to investigate the Grafton multi-storey car park after recent inspections raised safety concerns about the of Worthing Borough Council (WBC) will later be asked to consider a report on the car park's condition, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The cabinet will also consider a report to return in July to discuss the future regeneration on the site alongside assessing the progress made since the initial closure on May 16. In a note requested by WBC, HOP Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers said it supported the closure of the car park until further notice. 'Debris detachment' It said: "Our note outlines that there are risks of failing/falling parts of the structure that threaten the safety of the public, users of the car park and is dangerous. "Hence, we agree it is appropriate to close the whole of the car park for urgent investigation and review."According to HOP, the monitoring approach used for several years to manage the "resulting overhead debris risk" is becoming "increasingly unreliable at pre-empting overhead debris detachment".The car park, which is over 60 years old, was closed because of am unstable High Alumina Cement November 2023, Worthing Borough Council announced plans to sell and demolish Grafton car park, a move which had first been mooted in 2007.
CBC
19-05-2025
- Science
- CBC
UBC researchers develop new shock absorption system for highrises to withstand big earthquakes
A team of researchers at University of British Columbia have developed a new design for highrises that could help tall buildings withstand major earthquakes, while keeping people safe inside. Led by structural engineering professor Tony Yang at UBC's faculty of applied science, the project aims to prepare cities like Vancouver for the "big one." "We are expected to have very large earthquakes," Yang said. Traditional highrise designs rely on a rigid concrete core, which typically place elevators and stairwells inside the central core. But the new system, the researcher says, allows buildings to move and absorb energy through dampers, outriggers and rocking foundations, rather than resist the shaking rigidly. "These are like the shock absorbers in your car," he said. "The design philosophy for the traditional system is to protect the people who live inside, but not the status of the building afterwards," he added. "[With the new system] the owner can feel confident that the building, its occupants and its contents are protected during and after significant shaking." Earthquake simulations The system was tested at the International Joint Research Laboratory of Earthquake Engineering in Shanghai, China, a facility with a large enough "shake table" to simulate a full-scale, magnitude-9 earthquake. Researchers say UBC's one-fifth scale model remained fully functional after more than 100 simulated quakes. According to Yang, the system allows for lighter construction and more usable space inside the building, making it both more resilient and cost-effective. "In traditional construction, [builders] put a lot of reinforcement inside central concrete, putting money and labour into it," he said, explaining that the new design philosophy puts less stress on the concrete core and foundation. He says it may offer long-term savings by reducing the need for large foundations or post-quake repairs, making the new design "much cheaper" to use. According to a report released by the City of Vancouver last November, modelling suggests a magnitude 7.2 earthquake would cause significant damage to many aging, privately owned buildings — the majority of which are rental properties. While the new system is aimed at new construction, Yang said it could also be incorporated into some older buildings — though the process would be more complex. Brent Toderian, Vancouver's former chief planner, says any advancement that makes concrete buildings safer is important — but says builders need to shift toward greener materials. "Concrete has a large carbon footprint," he told CBC News. "We are in the process of this hopefully continuous transition to more sustainable building materials." WATCH | Builder pushes for mass timber homes: Builder pushes for mass timber homes as B.C. lumber industry faces tariff pain 2 months ago Duration 2:28 As B.C.'s softwood lumber industry, which is heavily dependent on U.S. exports, faces a double whammy of tariffs, some say that mass timber construction in the province could be a way forward. Toderian pointed to mass timber as a renewable and climate-conscious alternative, and said long-term planning should account for both safety and environmental impact. City of Vancouver Coun. Lisa Dominato said the city is interested in learning more about the research and its potential applications. "We anticipate more density and development in the future," Dominato said. "If we can benefit from that technology, and the research is happening at UBC, I think it's a good thing for the city." Looking ahead, Yang says he hopes to work with engineering firms and local governments to explore integrating the design into new building projects.
CTV News
17-05-2025
- Science
- CTV News
New technology from UBC will help Vancouver high-rises endure major earthquakes
Vancouver high-rises aren't adequately protected under the current building code, says UBC structural engineering professor Dr. Tony Yang.
