b'PEOPLE POWER: Q&A PEOPLE POWER :Q&A with Sophie MercierBy Matthew BradfordS ophie Mercier wasnt originally planning to become a building envelope engineer when she graduated from university. But after over 20 years in the industry, she has become a building science specialist with numerous successes and a new company to her name. Today, Sophie is principal and co-founder of Evoke, a building science and energy consulting firm in Vancouver, B.C. BCBEC Elements reached out to chat about her new venture and career to date. BCBEC Elements: What is your industry focus, and how has that guided your career?Sophie Mercier:I am a building envelope engineer who did my masters degree in shotcrete. Coming out of university, I didnt imagine that I would be practicing in the field I am in today. However, when I completed school, the leaky condo crisis was in full swing and companies were dying for engineers to fix all those buildings. I found someone who was ready to hire a French Cana-dian girl who knew nothing about building science but believed I had the right attitude, and I was lucky enough to work with some of the best mentors someone in building science can ask for. I owe a big thanks to Pierre Gallant and Mark Lawton for that. Today, I cannot imagine doing anything else. I love buildingBE: What would you consider to be your proudest accomplishment?science, working with architects, developers and builders, andSM:It would definitely be looking at the people I have worked with being part of building the world we will live in tomorrow.and mentored over the years and seeing how well they are doing. Of course, their success is not my doing, but if just one conversation gave them what they needed, or the assurance or knowledge they might have been missing, then that was time well spent. BE: What projects have you found to be the most exciting or interesting?SM: A lot of people talk about their tallest building; of course, they are not to be discounted. For me, though, it has often been the Evoke is a Building Science and Energy Consulting firm that offerssmaller buildings that have been the most exciting. The first one that sensible solutions to all our engagements regardless of size andstuck with me was the Salt Building in Southeast False Creek, a heri-complexity. Our team is technically driven, people focussed,tage heavy timber building that was renovated to be a gathering place and always looking to share our specialized knowledge to helpduring the 2010 Olympics and still breathes its colourful history.clients and industry make well informed and timely decisions. Then, there was the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, a Evoke Building Engineering Inc.beautifully engineered wood building designed in the shape of an info@evokebuildings.com orchid and certified LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge. It www.evokebuildings.com was the first time I encountered a roof plan that looked more like a topographic map.6 BCBEC ELEMENTSA BCBEC PUBLICATION'