Category: General
OnTrack: Our Journey to Net Zero
In the last few years, several ominous phrases have crept into our daily lexicon including “atmospheric rivers”, “quarantining”, “social distancing”, and “air-quality index.” Oxymorons are also taking over our headlines such as “stormy California” and “rainy Arizona.” Spurred by the pandemic and climate crisis, the world is changing faster than ever before – and our ...
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OnTrack: Beyond Conventional Practice: How One Inch Changed a Building
July 22, 2026 General GS Sustainability OnTrack Series
A floor slab may look like one line item in a structural concept, but it influences almost every part of the building: from ceiling heights and mechanical coordination to embodied carbon and long-term performance. In Vancouver, the typical floor system is a conventional 8-inch reinforced concrete slab. This system has become the industry standard as …
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Cypress Challenge 2026: Riding for Progress
July 10, 2026 General
In 2025, a record 906 cyclists across 65 teams participated in the 18th Annual Cypress Challenge. Founded by Geoffrey Glotman and Myriam Glotman in 2008, the event has raised more than $6 million for research and care initiatives. Last year, participants raised an unprecedented $825,000 for BC Cancer, continuing the event’s legacy of community-driven impact. …
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Balancing Visitor Experience and Long-Term Resilience in Banff
June 1, 2026 General
Following a competitive international design process, six multidisciplinary teams were shortlisted for the Banff 200 Block Redevelopment. Glotman Simpson, led by Paul Raff and Kengo Kuma + Associates were named the winner of Parks Canada’s international competition. Our role as the structural engineers was to support the architectural vision with practical, resilient, and technically integrated …
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OnTrack: The Low-Carbon Sweet Spot: How This Hotel Leads the Way
May 7, 2026 General GS Sustainability OnTrack Series
What actually drives lower embodied carbon in high-rise buildings? In February’s post, we reviewed a dataset of 26 projects issued for construction in 2025 and one particular project stood out. Not because it used new materials or unconventional systems, but because of how deliberately it was refined. Across the dataset, three strategies consistently led to …
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OnTrack: ECAP Recap: Our Commitment to SE2050
April 1, 2026 General GS Sustainability OnTrack Series
Just like tax season, our sustainability commitments involve annual reporting each spring. This provides an opportunity to reflect on both progress and constraints of the previous year, and to take stock of all that was achieved. Glotman Simpson is proud to be a signatory of the Structural Engineering Institute’s SE2050 movement and the Climate Smart Buildings …
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OnTrack: Sustainability at GS: 2025 In Review
December 16, 2025 General GS Sustainability OnTrack Series
In January, we set out a clear objective for the year: to establish a robust foundation for how we track, report, and ultimately reduce the embodied carbon intensity of our building structures. Embodied carbon – greenhouse gas emissions associate with material production, transportation, construction, and end-of-life – remains a critical lever in lowering the overall …
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