Mechanical Engineering

If mechanical building systems are designed properly, you won’t even notice them.

Mechanical engineering is all about the invisible. Occupant comfort, air quality, plumbing – all things that, if systems are designed properly, you shouldn’t notice at all. Every building is different, and the best engineering professionals know that you must balance pragmatic, traditional approaches with innovative, forward-thinking solutions.

After 55 years of mechanical engineering, we know what we’re doing. Our mechanical designs are known for unparalleled detail, providing creative solutions that meet our client’s priorities. And those priorities can (and will) change over time. Our decades of experience, combined with our open-minded approach, results in better, more sustainable design.

Considering that buildings account for 34.8% of global energy use and 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually, sustainability must be the priority for mechanical building system design. So while mechanical building systems should be largely undetected, these are design decisions that will have a lasting, global impact.

Smith + Andersen Accepts 2023 ASHRAE Technology Award for 70 Gloucester

Announcement

Credit: Rendering courtesy of DIALOG

Centennial College A-Block Expansion

Toronto, ON

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Sifton Properties Head Office

London, ON

THE NET BENEFIT OF NET ZERO

With less than a decade left to meet Canada’s 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals, the call for Net Zero in the built environment is steadily increasing. More and more building owners are prioritizing Net Zero Energy, Net Zero Carbon, or Net Zero Ready targets. Backed by decades of experience across multiple design and engineering disciplines, Smith + Andersen is uniquely positioned to guide project teams toward Net Zero goals.

CHECK OUT some of our Net Zero and Net Zero Ready projects

THE LOWER THE CARBON

Technology like hydronic air source heat pumps are well-developed and deployed in temperate European markets. In colder climates, such as Canada, there is significantly less deployment… but that’s all on the brink of change. With the federal government’s Net Zero emissions goal, low carbon technology plays a crucial role in this objective. Industry leaders at Smith + Andersen draw from extensive knowledge of building systems (across many market sectors), and our national experience in providing low carbon and carbon neutral design solutions under every type of budget and schedule.

LEARN MORE about our commitment to sustainability on our responsibility page

Credit: Rendering courtesy of s2e Technologies

Eve Park

London, ON

PHOTO CREDIT: MICHAEL WACH

University of Calgary Mathison Hall

Calgary, AB

“[The enVerid Air Scrubber] is an HVAC technology that has not yet been used in the Canadian market, so it faces the initial battle of 'bleeding-edge' technologies. It seemed right to be testing this technology on ourselves as a proof-of-concept for our clients…”

Kevin Farbridge, Principal

LEARN MORE about the installation of the first commercial CO2-Reducing Air Scrubber in Canada

MITIGATING STACK EFFECT

Stack effect – the bane of tall tower design. Air goes out through openings on the upper half of the building, air rises as it warms up, moving up through elevators, stairs, and other vertical penetrations, and negative pressure and cold air moves through the lower levels. All of this causes unnecessary strain on HVAC systems, moisture in the building, and strange “wind tunnels” from the hallways. Through our experience on high-rise office and residential designs, we’ve made stack effect a non-issue.

LEARN MORE about how we mitigated stack effect at M City

Images Courtesy of Ruby Photo Studio

M City Phase 1

Mississauga, ON

150 King Street West

Toronto, ON

BUILDING ASSESSMENTS & IMPROVEMENTS

Your mechanical or electrical equipment has broken down. Your building systems have reached end of life. You're worried about just how you'll replace that rooftop cooling tower without disrupting tenants and interrupting vital, day-to-day building operations. You need an engineering design consultant that understands the nuances of upgrading existing building infrastructure.

That's where Smith + Andersen's Building Assessment and Improvements Group comes in.

CHECK OUT our building assessment experience

A SPACE FOR COMFORT & COLLABORATION

An office gives a clear picture of what a company is really like. The space is an investment for a company – an investment in their people and an investment in the future. Designing an office space must show an understanding of the brand, while also acknowledging the flexibility that is needed in order for that space to grow. From unifying design standards across the country, to Schedule “C” lease validations, our dedicated tenant specialists understand office spaces.

CHECK OUT some of our office space designs across the country

Coca-Cola Headquarters

Toronto, ON

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Shopify Offices (Performance Court Building)

Ottawa, ON

Credit: Photo by Stephanie Jager Photography

Unity Offices

Calgary, AB

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AWARD-WINNING INNOVATION

While we prefer our designs to be invisible, there is the odd instance where we think mechanical design SHOULD be seen. Particularly when you’ve implemented an award-winning design solution that also happen to looks pretty cool...

LEARN MORE about the Earth Tubes at the University of Toronto Scarborough Environmental Science & Chemistry Building