Read Jones Christoffersen (RJC) Ltd. specializes in concrete and building restoration engineering challenges Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd. (RJC) has grown from a purely structural engineering firm to one of the leading consultants in the concrete and building restoration indus- try. Its success is based on an ability to adapt to client needs and an understanding of how structures behave and perform in the Canadian environment. Beginning in 1948 as a structural engineering firm, the company added parking planning, then concrete restora- tion and building restoration. It also expanded its opera- tions from its western base to include eastern offices. RJC now operates in Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Calgary, Ed- monton, Lethbridge, Kitchener, Toronto and Kingston and has a growing staff of 475. Managing principal Philip Sarvinis, P.Eng., says the com- pany’s evolution and history allows it to view each project individually and to seek best approach, rather than imple- ment cookie-cutter solutions. “This approach sets us apart from many others in the industry who have a standard ap- proach to handle a standard problem. We recognize there is nothing standard and apply our experience and expertise to assess the problem from first principles and then find the best and most cost-effective solution for each project.” RJC started its structural restoration group in 1977 to assist clients with deteriorating building stock. “As struc- tural engineers we knew how structures behaved and how they perform structurally when exposed to our environ- ment. Knowing how they are designed, how they behave pre and post deterioration stage, makes us the ideal choice to rehabilitate these structures.” Sarvinis says research and development is a big part of the company’s culture and ensures staff is at the top of their game and that the company continues to explore new possibilities and new solutions. “In the 80s we were the first to bring hydro-demolition to Toronto when we worked on the Manulife Centre parking garage. This was a mixed residential and commercial property so restoration work had to be sensitive to the needs of both and traditional methods would have been too disruptive.” The company has also worked on the Terminal 2 parking garage at Pearson International Airport, the CN Tower, the Toronto Convention Centre, Sheraton Centre Hotel, York- dale Shopping Centre and Toronto City Hall. Sarvinis says employee safety is paramount. In-house and off-site training and courses are required before any staff member is allowed on a job site. Continued on page 49 48 – Winter 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report