Our Clients in the Private Sector

Architects and Developers

Chatwin Engineering’s Building Science Division routinely works with Architects and Developers to develop building envelope assemblies for new commercial, institutional and residential projects. We provide cost effective, sound and durable solutions that satisfy the climatic challenges of our West Coast environment.

We typically offer a review service to Architects, but we can also develop the building envelope details for inclusion in the drawing package. We also provide support during the design development phase for projects that are being designed to LEED standards, specifically the durability credit. And we review design details during the construction phase for conformance to the design intent.

Our Urban Planning Group provides master planning of land development projects. Our planners, environmental specialists and civil engineers work together to develop projects that are cost effective and sustainable.

Our Civil Engineering Division provides full services to our land developer clients in the pre-design, design and consultation of the necessary infrastructure.

Strata Councils

Chatwin Engineering’s Building Science Division was created over a decade ago to assist the owners of residential condominium buildings suffering from premature envelope failure – the “leaky condo” crisis of the 1990s. Since that time we have been involved with the assessment and repair of over one hundred buildings. We can assist with condition assessment, design, tendering, permitting and construction phases. We can also provide second opinion and expert witness services in relation to premature envelope failures.

We work closely with council members and owners to ensure that repairs and improvements meet the original design appearance. And upon completion, we prepare a maintenance and renewals plan so owners can enjoy the longest-possible life of the envelope. This plan provides guidelines for renewing the individual components that form the building envelope. We can also provide similar services to existing or newly constructed residential buildings in the form of maintenance and warranty reviews, and Reserve Fund Studies.

Reserve fund studies are prepared to provide building owners with a plan for renewal and replacement of various building components, including building envelope, mechanical, and electrical systems. This plan allows owners to budget for future costs and maintain a sufficient contingency fund.

Rest assured, our designs meet or exceed current ‘Best Practices’ and warranty provider requirements.

Property and Building Managers

We routinely provide building envelope consulting services to property and building managers to assist them in managing their portfolio of buildings. We have prepared seminars for managers on such topics as indoor air quality, mould remediation, reserve fund studies, and warranty reviews. We can provide services ranging from the investigation of an isolated location of water ingress or poor indoor air quailty on a single building, to developing a capital replacement plan for an entire portfolio of buildings.

Lack of natural ventilation, combined with the extensive use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, has led to a large number of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems. In addition, high indoor relative humidity, roof and plumbing leaks, and building envelope failures can cause mould growth that further reduce IAQ and building durability.

Chatwin Engineering can now also provide services to bring building in line with BC’s Climate Action Plan. Our Building Science Division at Chatwin now offers an air leakage assessment service. We inspect buildings to determine locations of excessive air leakage through the building envelope, then report on the estimated cost of repair, the payback period based on the predicted energy savings, and the associated Green House Gas (GHG) emissions reduction.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS)

We provide services to REIT’s in the form of due diligence or pre-purchase condition surveys. These reviews are carried out for potential property acquisition or owner-operators of real estate portfolios. Surveys identify items that may reduce serviceability, increase maintenance, and that deviate from drawings, specifications, the Building Code, or reasonable levels of workmanship.

Chatwin Engineering’s Due Diligence Surveys provide buyers and investors with an opinion on the true condition of a facilities roof, hardscape and exterior wall systems prior to purchase. These surveys assist our clients to understand the costs likely to be incurred on a building - prior to purchase. The surveys provide budgets for repair, replacement, and on-going maintenance and they provide a thorough evaluation, essential for accurate assessment and profitable decision making.