With schooling in architecture and engineering, I heavily lean towards architecture. For these types of projects, I have to rely on my architectural skills, which I thoroughly enjoy. There are about a dozen or so industry people in Vancouver who are registered in both engineering and architecture, and I believe I may be the only one not still practising architecture. BE: How has your lengthy involvement in the national and provincial building codes and standards impacted your career? DW: I have spent 20+ years on the NBC Standing Committee on Environmental Separation, and currently I am serving my second term as Chair. I also took the Certified Professional Program while I was at the City of Vancouver that allows professionals to take on the responsibility of inspecting buildings based largely on Part 3 of the Code. This involvement gave me a new interest and respect for building codes. One of the challenges I have had as a member of the national committee is that the NBC is already looking at changes coming for the 2020 code, and a province like B.C. is only just now adopting the provisions from the 2015 code. At times I struggle to keep my head around the code provisions that we are actually using in B.C. compared to where we are in the national code development process. There are many new things coming in the building envelope area of the Code that I am proud to have been involved in changing. BE: Would you encourage young engineers and architects to look at the building envelope industry as a career path and if so, why? DW: If it’s your mindset and you like working in the environment of building science, it can be a very interesting area of work both from an engineering and architectural stand- point. Building envelope science will always be an area of opportunity. People like me find they sort of “walk sideways” into this specialty, but it is very rewarding. B.C. now has master’s degree programs offered through BCIT that focus on building sciences. Because of this, we now have more B.C. professionals who enter the industry with building envelope education. BE: As a past President of BCBEC, what do you see as the association’s role in the industry going forward? Will it change in the future? DW: BCBEC was formed by professionals like me to educate people on the science of building envelopes. It was formed at the time of the “leaky condo” crisis in the province, and there was a demand to have an organization that could provide education on this relatively new area of science. I think the association will continue to focus on education and providing student funding to increase awareness in this important area. BE: On a personal note, what do you do in your spare time (hobbies, sports, travel)? DW: I had a bout with cancer some years ago and since I have recovered, I volunteer as a peer counsellor for the Canadian Cancer Society helping cancer patients through their illness. I have been involved in singing groups for most of my life and currently sing in a choir known as Jubilate. I have also been an avid cyclist since the late 1970s. SPRING/SUMMER 2019 9