Client: Christ The Saviour Orthodox Chruch
Expertise: Structural Design
EQ Homes chose us for our proven ability to deliver value, innovative engineering solutions, and strong regulatory coordination.
Project Overview
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, originally constructed in the late 1960s using pre-cast tee wall panels, required a major renovation and expansion to support the needs of its growing community. After two previous attempts by other consulting teams failed to secure a building permit from the City of Ottawa, the church reached out to Capacity Engineering Limited for our forensic expertise, problem-solving ability, and experience with complex legacy structures.
CEL’s involvement included both Integrated Systems Testing (CAN/ULC S1001) led by Coleton Fisher and a complete structural review and redesign of the addition and retrofit led by Maurice and the structural team.
Why Choose Capacity Engineering?
The church selected Capacity Engineering because of our:
- Proven success with complicated structural systems, including aging pre-cast tee panel buildings
- Forensic engineering expertise, critical for understanding past design issues
- Ability to resolve long-standing permitting challenges with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
- Value-focused design approach, avoiding unnecessary demolition or expensive hardware
- Reputation for practical, efficient solutions that respect both budget and community needs
After multiple failed attempts with other firms, CEL’s technical depth and investigative mindset made us the natural partner for moving the project forward.
Scope Of Work
- Conducted Integrated Systems Testing (CAN/ULC S1001) to ensure building systems performance and code compliance
- Performed a detailed review of previous submissions to determine why earlier attempts were denied by the City of Ottawa
- Identified the root cause of AHJ concerns and the unnecessary cost escalations proposed by the second consultant
- Prepared retrofit and expansion plans that retained much of the existing structure, preserving value and reducing disruption
- Eliminated the need for costly road closures and full panel removal
- Coordinated directly with AHJ officials to address technical concerns and secure approvals
- Oversaw structural completion of the retrofit and addition
Project Outcome
Capacity Engineering delivered substantial value to the church community by:
- Resolving years of stalled progress by identifying and correcting issues that two previous consultant teams were unable to address
- Avoiding unnecessary demolition, saving the client significant costs and preserving the building’s original structure
- Providing a practical, safe, and code-compliant design without reliance on expensive specialty hardware
- Restoring trust with the AHJ, resulting in successful permit approval
- Delivering a structurally complete and fully approved expansion that supports the long-term use of the church facility
CEL transformed a previously unbuildable project into a completed structural success, demonstrating our ability to solve complex problems with precision, creativity, and care.