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S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 | 47 Electrical & Communication Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E SY H O U L E EL EC T R I C; C A P I TA L R EG I O N A L D I S T R I C T Experts in the electrical and communication systems world prove anything is possible by NATALIE BRUCKNER W ith an ever-growing desire for a clean power market and major leaps being made in the world of technology, experts in the electrical and communication systems sector have not only stepped up, but are taking the lead. And while COVID has impacted every sector in some way, the industry has been busier than ever and is well positioned to tackle any challenge that comes this way. Steven Nemetz, CEO at Nemetz (S/A) & Associates, agrees that it has been quite a year and says that one of the biggest challenges was keeping the flow of information and deliverables at a high level to ensure projects remained on schedule. One of the biggest advancements Nemetz is see- ing right now is the increase in the use of smart devices in suites for lighting, temperature control, AV systems, and some appliances, so that everything can be controlled and monitored directly from a person's smart device. Moving ahead, Nemetz has updated its drawing standards, office procedures, and quality control to be prepared for the next wave of projects. "One of the most inspirational projects we are working on is the re-development of Oakridge. Through many challenges with respect to the pandemic issues, downturn in the economy, and increasing construc- tion costs, we have successfully managed to work with the owners, consultants and contractors to pro- duce a win-win situation to date," he says. Ben Rajewski, team lead, electrical, at Williams Engineering agrees that COVID has had a significant impact on the sector as design becomes more human centric. "Organizations like WELL and Fitwel are promoting this with human centric design certifi- cations. Electrically, this means having lighting that works with, not against, a person's circadian rhythm, it also means providing individuals with as much control as possible to make their space comfortable. This control can come in the form of dimmable light fixtures or powered shades," explains Rajewski. He adds that sound masking has also become more important for employee comfort. "Many indi- viduals have gotten used to an enclosed home office, now they are often being asked to move back to an open office setting with additional background noise. Sound masking helps make this less intrusive to the employee." Another significant trend he is seeing is an increase in more standalone booths for "heads down focus time." Rajewski explains that electri- cally, these are connected with power and data so that work is not affected. "Generally speaking our designs are adapting to the changing world and it is exciting to see how we adapt going forward!" Williams has been involved with a num- ber of exciting projects of late. One of which is the Coronation Community Sports Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. The sports centre will be one of the only indoor velodromes in North America and will be connected to the Peter Hemingway Aquatic Centre to allow for complete triathlon training in one facility. "The electrical engineering in this facil- ity required extensive and detailed design of the lighting for the cycle track in order to ensure that the lighting levels uniformly cover the track at the required brightness for competition. Cyclists may exceed speeds of 85 km/hour on the track, so bright, uniform lighting that allows for clear visibility while riding is important. We used multiple lighting soft- ware packages to model and check our calculations to ensure the lighting will work once installed. Each fixture has a specific aiming angle and setting and will be installed using a laser aiming guide. The project will be going for approval from City Council in November of this year and we hope to see con- struction started soon after," says Rajewski. While challenges such as an ever-electrifying society exist, Rajewski is excited to see the evolution of the sector. "In my career I have seen the light- ing industry shift from fluorescent fixtures to LEDs, heavily adopt green sources of energy like solar and wind, and integrate data design throughout build- ings. The world is increasingly becoming more digitized and electrified so it is exciting to be in a space that will help implement the new technology on the horizon, whatever it may be." Derek Fettback, district manager at Western Pacific Enterprises Ltd. (WPE), says that one of the biggest changes in 2020 was wash facilities on proj- ects so trades workers could actually wash their hands. "It seems like something that would have always been in place but wasn't, and hopefully is something that lasts long past COVID," he says. Like the other experts, he agrees that skilled labour is going to be one of the biggest challenges the industry has in the coming years. "Major proj- ects are ramping up or just getting going all across B.C. – things like the new St Paul's Hospital and several other hospitals, LNG Canada, Site C, and Skytrain expansions. These will stress an already taxed supply of skilled workers in all trades and something the Government is going to need to take action on right away," explains Fettback. WPE has wrapped up three projects recently that Fettback was proud to be a part of: McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant that now ensures Victoria's wastewater is processed and not just dumped into the ocean; Edmonton's LRT Valley Line expansion; and a major SkyTrain upgrade across all stations in the system. "We are also currently working on The Post rede- velopment in Vancouver and parts of the Trans Mountain expansion. These are two great examples of the diversity of work in the electrical industry, with The Post being two office towers built on a her- itage site, and Trans Mountain a heavy industrial pipeline project bringing oil and gas to the coast from Edmonton." Houle has also been busy of late with numerous hospital projects underway including the design- assist Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and Royal Columbian in New Westminster, B.C. "We are definitely seeing more design-assist proj- ects entering the electrical sector, which means we Stay Connected Complex in-slab conduit installation, University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C. McLoughlin Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, Victoria, B.C.