At Glotman Simpson, we specialize exclusively in structural engineering; it is our sole focus, and we take pride in doing it exceptionally well. Our depth of experience allows us to tailor our approach to a wide variety of project types and collaborate effectively within diverse teams. Historically, our private-sector work formed the core of our business, but our firm has been involved in many major institutional projects including the UBC Sauder School of Business, the Vancouver Convention Centre West, and the Richmond Olympic Oval. There is a growing demand for all forms of public infrastructure, particularly in healthcare and education, and it is an opportune time to leverage our structural engineering expertise to meet these needs.
With over 15 years of experience, we are proud to announce Ryan Nikiforuk as our Director, Institutional Projects. Ryan has played a key role in the success of projects such as the Royal Inland Hospital Patient Care Tower and Burnaby Hospital Phase 1. In his new role, Ryan will continue to drive our commitment to excellence by focusing on strategy, guidance, and mentorship – while assisting others in project delivery. His deep understanding of technical and seismic issues combined with his collaborative approach to coordination, will be invaluable as we take on new and exciting institutional projects.
Ryan’s Evolution
Ryan’s journey within the construction industry began with some wooden blocks gifted to him by his grandfather before he could walk. By the age of 8, he and his dad were building a picnic table out of scrap wood, and at 15 he was designing and selling his own woodworking projects. In high school, Ryan worked as a summer labourer in residential construction, ultimately graduating with the top woodworking award and pursuing engineering at UBC Okanagan, where he helped establish the Engineering Undergraduate Society as its founding president.
Ryan came to our firm after a few years in construction, starting with our Construction Administration (CA) team as a Field Engineer where he conducted over 2,000 site visits in two years. This role allowed him to bridge the gap between construction and consulting, transitioning into a Design Engineer position, a Project Engineer, and then an Associate. A few years ago, we asked Ryan what his favourite thing about working at GS was, and he replied “Without a doubt, it is the people. Engaging with and supporting those I work with both internally and externally on a day-to-day basis.”
Navigating the Evolving Institutional Landscape
Institutional projects require strong management to navigate government processes and coordinate with diverse stakeholders, and we feel that Ryan has demonstrated that time and time again. Ryan has continually identified individuals within our firm who have a natural interest and affinity for institutional work. By engaging team members early in institutional projects, we are building a strong pipeline of talent equipped to handle the challenges of this sector. Ryan’s role has evolved to focus on strategy, guidance, and mentorship, while remaining involved in early project work, ensuring continuity and growth within the firm, enabling us to tackle these projects successfully for years to come.
As the market shifts toward new procurement models such as Progressive Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery, and Alliance, we have found that the underlying theme of these models align with how our firm has always done business. Our expansion in the institutional sector underscores our commitment to delivering community-focused projects with meaningful social impact, and we’re excited to have Ryan lead this initiative for us.