Hear What Our People Have to Say

How would you explain your job to someone not in engineering?

I work in the design, construction, investigation, assessment, repair, and rebuilding of building envelopes; the shell of the building, that keeps the outside, out, and the inside, in.  My projects involve windows, walls, roofs, foundations, and all the bits in between on anything from new construction to 100+ year old heritage buildings.

How do you contribute to the built environment, to make a building better?

The building envelope is the first line of defence for the building’s structure and for the people and equipment inside. Through building envelope design, repairs, and upgrades I can help improve building efficiency and interior comfort, diagnose and fix issues like leaks and drafts, and help owners understand how to take care of their buildings so they can last.

Is there a project you are particularly proud of?

I am proud of projects where a building envelope condition assessment or investigation has led to uncovering serious issues with a building right in the nick of time. My intuition and support from my team have led to several projects where we identified serious structural issues, concealed leaks and hidden deterioration, or even just crucial maintenance tasks that if left undone could result in major problems. Coming up with repair details and seeing a project through to a complete recovery is the best part of my job.

Can you describe a typical day?

Depends on the day. Sometimes I am out on site reviewing a building or checking in with an active construction project. Other days I am in the office or working from home to get reports issued, coordinate project administration tasks, or follow up with clients and the rest of the EngLink team. And most days it’s a bit of both. I have a lot of variety in my work, which keeps things interesting and fun.

What is it like working at Engineering Link?

Engineering Link has a very hands on and collaborative work environment. I know everyone in the office, and I have worked with a fair number of people on different projects. I can lean on my colleagues for advice, technical support, or even just a listening ear when it comes to project work. We also have plenty of social events and activities that provide opportunities for people from different departments to get to know each other, like boardgame nights, technical presentations, and monthly events.

What does mentoring look like at Engineering Link?

Mentoring goes hand in hand with the collaborative work environment. I can always find someone in the office willing to talk through a problem or offer insight on a project. The building envelope department has scheduling groups where we share project updates and lessons learned in weekly meetings. My scheduling group lead acts is my mentor for day-to-day things, but I am also mentored by other senior staff on different projects so I can learn from a variety of sources. I work with our co-op students and junior staff to provide mentorship as well.

What advice would you give to students in engineering/someone just starting in the industry?

Make connections! Get to know people at networking nights, in your first job, and at events put on by PEO and other engineering organizations. You’ll be surprised how the people you meet pop-up in your work over the years. Connections I have made with colleagues, owners, property mangers, building operators, contractors, and other project managers have been a key resource in navigating the engineering world.

How would you explain your job to someone not in engineering?

I make 3D models of buildings and then cut them apart to make blueprints. It sounds simple, but there’s a lot of precision that goes into building something digitally before it ever gets built in real life.

How do you contribute to the built environment to make a building better? 

Working in Revit, I spend a lot of time coordinating our structural model with other disciplines’ models. It’s all about catching mistakes before they happen. A conflict found in the model is a lot easier to resolve than one found on site.

What is a project you are proud of?

I’m proud of our work on 128 Peter Street. It’s an interesting project that required a very detailed Revit model and multiple rounds of clash detection to get right. 

Can you describe a typical day?

I get into the office, make a coffee, and then it’s into reviewing markups, drafting, coordinating, and troubleshooting Revit issues. There’s usually do some work on our Revit standards and families etc. And then usually another coffee.

What is it like working at Engineering Link?

It’s great working with such a tight-knit group of people. There’s a real sense of camaraderie here, and that makes it a nice place to work.

What does mentoring look like at Engineering Link? 

Everyone is responsive and close by, so it happens naturally. Most people end up being mentored by more than one person, and there’s always someone willing to hear you out and guide you.

What advice would you give to students or someone just starting in the industry?

Learn Revit. Revit is a super valuable tool! Whether you plan to work with it or not, it’s incredibly important to understand it’s capabilities and limitations. There’s so much value that can be added to projects with a well-made, intentional Revit model.