The use of new, fast and frequently changing digital technology to solve problems in our industry has been ongoing since the adoption of Building Information Modeling. In social media we now hear about this digital transformation on a daily basis. Digital twins, machine learning, the Internet of Things, and robotics. How do we adopt rapidly changing technology, and how exactly are these technologies impacting the way we do business?
Robert belongs to a rare breed of university-trained, specialized timber engineers. Following graduation with a Master’s degree from Warsaw Technical University, Robert set his eyes on Canada, for an opportunity to study at UBC under the world renowned professor and practicing engineer Borg Madsen, inventor of the now widely used timber rivet connection system.
During his last year at UBC, Robert was offered a position with J. Novacek & Associates, a leading innovative Vancouver consulting firm in the field of timber engineering. Robert spent four years with Novacek, where he carried out the structural design of a number of landmark projects such as the Odlum Drive condominium project with architect Peter Cardew and the Engine 374 enclosure at the Vancouver Roundhouse.
In 1997, Robert co-founded Equilibrium Consulting Inc. Through his career, Robert has worked on over 600 projects, several of which have received awards, including the Hooded Merganzer Restaurant in Penticton with Nick Bevanda Architect and the Art Gallery of Ontario Galleria Italia with architect Frank Gehry, one of the most complex timber structures ever built.
In 1997, Robert co-founded Equilibrium Consulting Inc. Through his career, Robert has worked on over 600 projects, several of which have received awards, including the Hooded Merganzer Restaurant in Penticton with Nick Bevanda Architect and the Art Gallery of Ontario Galleria Italia with architect Frank Gehry, one of the most complex timber structures ever built.
Robert is a long-standing member of the O86 “Engineering Design in Wood” code committee, and a member of the recently formed CLT code committee. Robert is regularly invited to lecture on the subject of timber engineering at national and international symposiums and conferences. Robert is committed to sustainability and energy performance and was involved in the design of the first “Passivhaus” projects in Canada.
The use of new, fast and frequently changing digital technology to solve problems in our industry has been ongoing since the adoption of Building Information Modeling. In social media we now hear about this digital transformation on a daily basis. Digital twins, machine learning, the Internet of Things, and robotics. How do we adopt rapidly changing technology, and how exactly are these technologies impacting the way we do business?
Santiago’s educational background is in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Digital Media Arts, and Computer Science. Santi has worked in the manufacturing industry in a variety of roles including quality control, technical writing and time studies. Throughout those years in the manufacturing sector, he learned lean manufacturing philosophies and methods. He then worked in design firms as a Computational Designer, focused on complex geometry for buildings with advanced timber structures in North America, as well as steel and concrete mega-projects in the Middle East and Asia. Today Santi is a Senior Product Designer at Katerra, developing software solutions to support the design and fabrication of mass timber buildings.
