|
|
||
|
From left to right: Benjamin Gregory, James Johnson, Jon Neuert
KITCHENER, Monday, December 5, 2022 – The WalterFedy Board of Directors is pleased to welcome three new shareholders to our ownership team: Benjamin Gregory, James Johnson, and Jon Neuert. Ben, James, and Jon are leaders in the architecture, engineering, and construction space, and have made exceptional contributions to the communities we serve. We wish them continued success as they grow in their practice and as partners in the firm.
“The addition of these three people to our shareholders’ table is great news for WalterFedy,” says Garth Cressman, CEO. “I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with each of them. Their unique viewpoints and experience will be instrumental as we continue to grow WalterFedy into a future-focused organization.”
In addition to their personal experience, our new shareholders bring with them the perspective of the talented teams they represent, including architecture, engineering, and the newly acquired boutique firm Baird Sampson Neuert.
Benjamin Gregory, OAA, MRAIC, M.Arch, LEED AP, is a problem-solver, passionate about design and particularly interested in architecture’s ability to promote social and environmental sustainability. He is certified as a LEED® Accredited Professional and is working towards becoming a Passive House Certified consultant. Ben’s expertise is focused on the residential and commercial sectors working with private developers, owner-operators, and non-profit groups such as the House of Friendship, YW Kitchener-Waterloo, and Beyond Housing. Ben has provided his design expertise and project management on many high-profile commercial and residential projects (including mass timber) and is currently designing a 9-storey Passive House project which, when constructed, will be the first in The Waterloo Region. Ben is also a mentor and team leader who brings a passion for his work, strong client focus, and creativity to every project in which he is involved.
James Johnson, P. Eng, is a seasoned mechanical engineer. His design experience is vast and varied, from institutional research laboratories and pharmaceuticals to office buildings and district energy. Backed by a solid technical foundation, James excels at finding creative solutions to complex design challenges and has a natural ability to navigate adversity. His vast experience make him a knowledgeable and supportive leader and mentor who willingly shares his expertise to help grow the next generation of engineering professionals. Outside of work, James supports his community as a Cub Scouter and as chair of the property committee at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Toronto.
Jon Neuert, OAA, AIA, LEED, CAHP, FRAIC, has extensive experience in the programming, planning and design of a wide array of community facilities that extends over 30 years of professional practice — the last 20 as Principal of Baird Sampson Neuert. His professional experience has been focused in the area of public building and post-secondary facility planning, programming, and design, and includes projects completed for over a dozen University campuses. Inducted as a ‘Fellow’ of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Jon has served as project architect, designer, and principal-in-charge of many of the firm’s award-winning projects, including three projects recognized by Governor Generals Medal - Canada’s highest architectural design award. Jon is a keen collaborator and has decades of experience leading and working with stakeholder teams in the realization of impactful, public-minded projects and sustainable community development.
Congratulations Ben, James and Jon. The WalterFedy community looks forward to your leadership as we strive to enhance the world around us.
###
ABOUT WALTERFEDYWalterFedy’s ambition is to enhance the world around us. As one of Canada's first integrated design firms, we play a crucial role in shaping the way our communities feel and function. We understand the art of multi-disciplinary collaboration and leveraging our collective talents to elevate design solutions. It’s an incredible responsibility backed by 70 years of experience and a simple principle – everything matters.
In 2022, WalterFedy acquired Toronto architecture firm Baird Sampson Neuert, a partnership that has extended both teams’ capacity to offer intelligent design solutions across Canada delivered by passionate architecture and engineering professionals.
WalterFedy Media ContactKatie McQuaid Manager, Marketing and Communications 519-576-2150 x229 |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
And just like that, after seven fantastic weeks, our 70+ Acts of Good campaign has come to an end. When we set out to celebrate WalterFedy’s 70th Anniversary, we knew we had to do something that would include and benefit the community around us.
In the final three weeks, we covered a lot of ground, including purchasing 70 trees through the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to be planted in the Waterloo Region via their Give Grand program. This isn’t the first time we’ve teamed up with the GRCA and we hope to work with them again to help plant some of those trees!
After a successful run at Community Fridge KW, we connected with Community Fridges Hamilton to fill up the Beasley Fridge in Downtown Hamilton for three days. Like their Kitchener counterpart, Community Fridges Hamilton provides 24/7 low-barrier access to free food provided entirely by the community. We were happy to play a small part in filling their fridges for a week and look forward to supporting them again in the future.
We also purchased seven essential items from YWCA's wish list for their affordable and supportive housing project on Block Line. We’ve been providing project management services to this project and were happy to give back and help support this project that is so important to the Waterloo Region. We wrapped up the campaign by delivering 401lbs of food and $915 to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. That translates to 3,060 meals to help feed our hungry neighbours. In Hamilton, our team rallied to provide an assortment of festive gifts that will be distributed to people in need this holiday season through the Good Shepherd.
We’re sad that the campaign is over, but after a long 2021, this was the perfect way to end the year. We might be 70, but we’re feeling spritely heading into 2022 . We look forward to finding new and exciting ways to live out our core value of community building! |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
The International Parking and Mobility Institute recently honoured Metrolinx’s Cooksville Go Station with an Excellence in Architectural Design award in their June publication of Parking & Mobility Magazine. The project, conducted in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario, includes a new station with upgraded pedestrian tunnels, platforms, and an overhead pedestrian bridge; a civic plaza; a bus loop; and a six-storey parking structure with 1,900 spaces for commuters.
Servicing a corridor with the third-highest ridership of the seven rail corridors in Ontario, the Cooksville GO Station is an important node in the Province’s transit system. Metrolinx’s goal was for Cooksville to evolve into a major mobility hub connecting users to larger transportation networks.
As Project Architect on the station, WalterFedy’s architectural team worked closely with the Design Architects, NORR Architects & Engineers, to ensure the facility anchored the Cooksville GO Station with iconic architecture to create a sense of placemaking at the urban and human scale. The facility’s most notable feature is the geometric mesh façade abstracted with long, slotted cut-outs. The cladding adds texture and movement to the building and has the unique characteristic of transfiguring the façade with the changing position of sun and shadow.
The system was designed to maximize natural light and airflow while minimizing light disruption in the surrounding neighbourhoods. The design team also employed Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and accessibility standards to ensure passive supervision of the parking structure. The design is meant to increase the user experience and ease of use for all, regardless of ability or need.
Congratulations to everyone who had a hand in making this project a grand success!
You can view the full project profile in the IPMI Parking & Mobility e-magazine on pages 60-61. |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
KITCHENER, Thursday, November 12, 2020 – The WalterFedy Board of Directors is pleased to announce three new shareholders are joining our ownership team. Congratulations to Patrick Darby, Matt Ninomiya and Russ Parnell who have all proven themselves as leaders within the firm and will be strong representatives of WalterFedy moving forward.
“We are proud to be adding these three talented professionals to our shareholders' table,” says Jamie Van Dyk, Chair of the WalterFedy Board of Directors. “Each one brings different skills and experiences to the group and their voices will be valuable additions to our ownership team.”
All three represent different departments and showcase the breadth of talent within our organization.
Matt Ninomiya, MBA, P.Eng., leads the Land Development practice with our Civil Engineering group. Matt joined the WalterFedy team in late 2018 and has made big strides for our business since coming on board. He brings a strong energy and client focus to every project he works on. Whether it be finer details on a small site or a big picture vision of a subdivision, Matt is passionate about designing and building the communities we all call home. He is also actively involved in the home building industry and serves as a Director on both the Waterloo Region Home Builders Association Board and the Brantford Home Builders Association Board.
ABOUT WALTERFEDYWalterFedy is a dynamic, integrated firm delivering creative design solutions and practical built environments. Our expertise includes architecture; mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering; energy and carbon solutions; asset and facilities management; project management; and construction management through our sister company, AEC Developments.
Our staff of nearly 200 people serve from two locations in Kitchener and Hamilton. Together, we support clients across Canada with their commercial, healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and residential projects.
--
Website – walterfedy.com
WalterFedy Media Contact |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
Garth began his career at WalterFedy back in the early 2000s. Fresh out of school and eager to make an impact, he quickly demonstrated an aptitude for mechanical engineering design and leadership. In 2007, Garth changed direction and took on a project management role with a local construction firm. When he returned to WalterFedy in 2014, he brought with him a wealth of experience, an MBA, and a determination to give back to the company that kickstarted his career.
“So many people invested in my development as a young engineer here,” says Garth, “I’m honoured to lead the company in developing the next generation of leaders.”
The appointment comes on the heels of a new and profound strategic plan, nearly a year in the making.
“As we prepared to launch an ambitious strategy laid out by our Board of Directors, we recognized the need for an agile leader to fully realize the potential in our goals,” says chairman of the board, Jamie Van Dyk. “We are excited by Garth’s enterprising nature and unshakeable drive which are well-matched to the challenge ahead for WalterFedy and AEC. Garth is and will continue to be a strong ambassador in our community and for the firm.”
“My primary goal is to help us realize our potential—to self actualize,” say Garth. “In general, we’re well-aligned as an organization, so now we are looking to provide clarity on what makes us special as a firm and in the marketplace.”
Garth is the company’s 9th CEO and is taking over for Paul Reitzel as he rounds out his term.
ABOUT WALTERFEDYWalterFedy is a dynamic, integrated firm delivering creative design solutions and practical built environments. Our expertise includes architecture; mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering; energy and carbon management; asset and facilities management; project management; and construction management through our sister company, AEC Developments.
Our staff of nearly 200 people serve from two locations in Kitchener and Hamilton. Together, we support clients across Canada with their commercial, healthcare, education, municipal, industrial, and residential projects.
--
Website – walterfedy.com
WalterFedy Media Contact
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
WalterFedy is thrilled to announce that our team has been awarded the QEII New Generation project in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of a design-build team led by Lindsay Construction.
WalterFedy will be providing architectural services for the new parking garage being built across from the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The largest healthcare infrastructure project in the province's history, this $29 million structure will contain 500 parking spaces to accommodate visitors to the hospital and adjacent Museum of Natural History.
“We’re excited to be supporting Halifax’s growth with this important project,” says Project Manager, Jamie Van Dyk. “We look forward to working with Lindsay Construction and the project stakeholders to design a facility that will meet the community’s needs well into the future.” |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
On December 13, 2019, two groups of WalterFedy volunteers visited the St. Jacobs Lions Club to help fill Christmas stockings for StuffIn Stockings.
Established in 2010, StuffIn Stockings is led by the St. Jacobs Lions Club, a group that believes everyone should feel special and remembered on Christmas day. What started as a small passion project has grown exponentially over the past nine years and, along with many community partners, is helping create holiday memories for many in need. This year, volunteers stuffed almost 3,000 stockings for infants to seniors, for 27 different charities.
Melissa Fishman, WalterFedy Lighting Team Leader, is the Vice President of the St. Jacobs Lions Club and connected us with StuffIn Stockings for the 2019 holiday season. We began collecting stocking stuffers in November. In early December, we teamed up with several committee members to fill stockings and learn more about the program’s impact in Waterloo Region.
“I’ve been involved with StuffIn Stockings for a number of years and as we get bigger, having corporate support is so important,” said Melissa. “I love being a part of something that means so much to the community and can bring a smile to someone’s face over the holidays.”
While we were volunteering, CTV News came for a visit to learn about the StuffIn Stockings story for their In Your Backyard segment. Mellissa also put CTV’s Max Wark to work stuffing stockings for different age groups.
Congratulations to the StuffIn Stockings team for all their hard work and another successful holiday season.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
Every October, the WalterFedy community rallies around our Hockey Helps the Homeless (HHTH) team. The annual tournament supports local charities and in 2019, Lutherwood, House of Friendship, oneROOF Youth Services and YW K-W Emergency Shelter will split the funds raised at the tournament.
Our Team Captain, Steve Hales, has been involved with HHTH since the tournament’s inception six years ago. “Our company hockey team was participating in other local fundraisers when the opportunity to join HHTH came up and we knew it was a great fit with our corporate values,” says Steve. “The chance to play with ex-NHL and Olympic athletes and hear stories from their playing days also made it a unique experience to take part in.”
But what is it about this tournament that keeps our employees coming back year after year? “This tournament is a great opportunity to give back to several local charitable organizations at the same time,” says Jordan Hardy, WalterFedy HHTH team member. “I’ve been volunteering with my family since I was young, but what I didn’t know growing up was just how many charities there are. Contributing to four charities at once reaffirms my belief of how critical it is to give back, provide support to your neighbour, and be thankful for what you have.”
Jordan’s project management skills have been called on this year to manage the overall internal fundraising efforts for our team. Along with a BBQ, a jersey day and a 50/50 draw, the team also coordinated a huge silent auction to fundraise for the tournament. “The entire company comes together to support the fundraising efforts of our team and we really appreciate it,” says Jordan. “It shows how important community support is to our company.”
The tournament is run entirely by volunteers from industries across the Waterloo Region. Donna Lloyd, a long-time WalterFedy employee, well-known community member and hockey enthusiast has coordinated all those volunteers for the past five years. “I’ve been volunteering in our community for as long as I can remember, but being involved in this tournament has brought together my passion for hockey and my love of working with the community,” says Donna. “I truly believe in why this tournament is run; every Canadian needs a safe place to call home and the support to thrive.”
This year’s tournament exceeded their huge fundraising goal of $235,000 and raised $260,000! They also surpassed a total of $1 million dollars raised since the tournament’s inception. Congratulations to this phenomenal community event for all your successes. WalterFedy is happy to be a part of all the amazing work you’ve done supporting our community. |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
(CINCINNATI, OH and KITCHENER, ONTARIO; November 28, 2018) – Cincinnati-based Hixson Architecture & Engineering and Ontario-based WalterFedy announced today that they are working together to create a new $660 million value-added fresh poultry facility in London, Ontario for Maple Leaf Foods. Hixson is serving as the lead firm to design and engineer the 640,000 square foot facility, with WalterFedy collaborating to provide architecture and engineering services in Canada. The plant is expected to be one of the most technologically advanced poultry-processing plants in the world, incorporating leading-edge food safety, environmental, and animal welfare processes and technologies. Construction at the London site is expected to begin in the spring of 2019, with start-up planned for the second quarter of 2021. According to Michael H. McCain, President and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, the new, world-class facility “will enable Maple Leaf to meet the steadily growing consumer demand for premium, value-added poultry products, and strengthen Canada's food system." In addition, said McCain, this will be “the largest single-site investment ever made in the Canadian food sector.”
Greg Hammond, President and CEO of Hixson, also offered his thoughts on the project. “For 70 years, Hixson has been working with companies throughout North America to design and engineer facilities that can stand the test of time while meeting our clients’ needs for food safety, employee safety, and productivity,” said Hammond. “We are proud to have been selected by Maple Leaf Foods to design this historic project.”
“We are excited to be partnering with an organization like Hixson,” said Paul Reitzel, CEO of WalterFedy. “They have a long history of doing excellent work in the food industry. Our firms have the same commitment to values and talented professionals that deliver meaningful and functional projects to our clients.”
Read more about this project, including its economic impacts.
ABOUT HIXSONHixson is an architecture, engineering and interior design firm specializing in projects for corporate office environments, retail projects and industrial processing facilities. Listed as one of the top firms in North America, Hixson delivers insight and advocacy leading to intelligent project execution through 16 integrated technical disciplines. To learn more, please visit www.hixson-inc.com.
ABOUT WALTERFEDYWalterFedy is a dynamic, integrated design firm of architects, engineers and construction management professionals. With over 65 years of experience, WalterFedy excels at delivering creative solutions and practical built environments that enrich communities. |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
It’s the time of year where a group of architects, engineers, techs and support staff get together to build something beautiful out of cans for The Food Bank of Waterloo’s CANstruction Event. 2018 was one of our most ambitious builds to date, both in the number of cans and cost. Our CANstruction team fundraised for two months and the design team worked for even longer perfecting the design for us to build and show off at Conestoga Mall from May 6-13.
Our build took hours (and hours and hours…), but we finally finished our CANmeleon after six hours and one partial tail redesign. We think our sign description of why we chose this design says it all – “Hunger isn’t always visible to the naked eye, like the beauty of a Chameleon. People you work with and talk to daily might be users of the Food Bank and you’d never know. We want to encourage people to support the community members you can’t always see, but are all around you. Show your true colours and support the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and this year’s CANstruction efforts!”
Congratulations to the Food Bank on yet another fantastic CANstruction event! |
||
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
Katie McQuaid 15 March 24, 2023 |
|
|
Isabella Manasan 1 March 21, 2023 |
|
|
Business Development 39 December 5, 2022 |
|
|
Emily Wettlaufer 1 September 14, 2022 |
|
|
Garth Cressman 2 August 6, 2021 |
|
|
Aurrey Drake 13 April 7, 2021 |
|
|
|
Patrick Campbell 1 April 6, 2021 |
|
|
Krystin Scheels 4 October 13, 2020 |
KITCHENER, Thursday, October 1, 2020 – The WalterFedy Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Garth Cressman is the new CEO of WalterFedy and AEC.
General Inquiries