The second-place submission stood out for its integration of innovation, local manufacturing, and constructability.

The design combined a high-performance panelized envelope, thermally efficient balcony strategies, and an innovative window concept tailored to cold climates. Overall, this was a forward-thinking and practical solution that notably improves envelope performance.

Alan Aftanas, P.Eng., LEED AP, FEC

Alan is a Mechanical Engineer with over 38 years of design and project management experience in areas of building systems and natural gas capacity planning. Alan’s career has been in whisky production for Seagram’s in Gimli, sustainable building system design (including mechanical design on the Hydro Downtown Office building) and as Manitoba Hydro’s Lead Natural Gas Capacity Planning Engineer. Currently, Alan is a freelance researcher studying building system solutions for the net-zero future.

Neil Klassen C.E.T., FEC (Hon)

Neil has worked in consulting engineering for more than 43 years. He graduated from  RRC with a diploma in Structural Engineering Technology and has worked as a Structural designer/drafter and as a Project Manager on a wide variety of project types. Neil has managed engineering technologists, engineers and scientists in delivering large multi-year engineering projects for private and government clients.