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.
Experienced Condominium Managers In Ottawa
Capacity Engineering Limited assists Condominium Corporations around Ontario protect their structures. In addition to Reserve Funds, Maintenance Plans and Performance Audits, we aid Corporations execute their maintenance works as well as address unforeseen circumstances. We design and project manage roof repairs, IGU replacement, parking garage repairs, balcony repairs, pool repairs and much more. When issues with the building arise, CEL works quickly to investigate and resolve the matter.
Maintenance Plan
Capacity Engineering provides a detailed maintenance plan to our condominium clients.
Reserve Funds
We work with condominiums in Ottawa to put together a detailed reserve fund to plan for the future.
Our Condominium Services
Capacity Engineering is able to offer a wide range of services to our condominium clients. We can provide you with a detailed building condition report, a comprehensive outline of your reserve funds, technical audits, maintenance plans, along with being able to handle the management for your upgrades and repairs, and much more.
Reserve Funds For Condominiums
Capacity Engineering has been creating reserve funds for condominiums for over 10 years now. We have hired staff who come from former condominium management positions, and know what makes a useful and effective reserve fund. We put together a detailed, easy to read report in a spreadsheet for you, assigning an expense plan for the next 50 years.
Technical audits for Condominiums
Condominiums across Ottawa are able to benefit from our technical audits that Capacity Engineering provides. Your condominium needs to know what condition all of your technical components are in. We facilitate the inspection of your mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and any other technical components like cooling towers, heat pumps, and other equipment.
Building Condition Reports For Condominiums
Our building condition report is a great tool to examine what the current condition your building is in, as well as how you can expect it to age. We identify current issues that need to be fixed, as well as detailing what issues may arise in the future, and when that may happen. We examine everything from the structure of the building, to the condition of the paint and carpets to give you a great outlook on the future of the building.
We Offer Many Other Condominium Services
Capacity engineering offers a wide range of condominium services to clients across Ottawa. If you don't see the service you're looking for on this page, please reach out to us and we'll be glad to assist you in whatever needs you have.