2015 BSS Recipients

Merlys Cristina Hernandez Echevarria

B. Arch. Intern Architect. MRAIC, LEED Green Associate.

Graduated with a five years Bachelor Degree in architecture program in Cuba, 1993.  With more than 15 years of experience, she arrived to Toronto in 2008. Later that year, she began working as self-employed, providing drafting and architectural services to several offices in Toronto. The Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) recognized her credentials in 2012, and right after that she started the Internship in Architecture Program with the OAA. She has worked in a variety of projects from residential, commercial, institutional and health care, located in Canada and abroad. She is currently working on her registration as architect in the province of Ontario.

Robert Fiornio

Robert Fiorino has an extensive background in energy efficiency, architectural design and construction processes. Robert is currently associated with the Ontario Architects Association as an Intern Architect, specializing in commercial retail developments at B+H Architects. He also is a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto, Rotmans School of Management.

Previously, Robert was a technical low-rise housing consultant, aiding distinguished builders across the country, to build more energy efficient and resilient homes for Canadians. He acted as the project manager and lead consultant for one of the federal government’s ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative (ecoEII) supported projects – which aimed to double the number of net-zero energy homes built in Canada and Union Gas' Optimum Home Program - which helped residential builders in Union Gas’ franchise area design, build and sell homes that would be 20 per cent more energy efficient than the current Ontario Building Code (OBC). He has also been involved in numerous studies including residential mechanical ventilation and greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector in Ontario.

Robert earned his Master degree in Architecture from the University of Toronto with a specialty in building science. He is a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Ontario Building Envelope Council. He is a past member of OHBA Technical Committee and OHBA Six Story Technical Committee.

Ingrid Hettinga

Ingrid has a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Civil Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto.  Her interest in building envelopes leads her to pursue a career investigating envelope failures, including rehabilitation and mitigation strategies.

Farzaneh Jalali

Farzi is a project technologist with the Building Science & Sustainability group at Pinchin Ltd. She graduated from Ryerson University with honors in Architectural Science program, specializing in Building Science. She has experience in building condition assessment and capital fund studies, investigation and testing of building elements, construction field review and design and preparation of technical specifications for restoration projects of different building envelope assemblies. She holds a Certificate in Building Science from University of Toronto and is currently enrolled part-time in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) Program at University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management (2017).

Dan Ji

Principle of R+D Building Solution Inc.
Bachelor of Civil Engineering, BS Certificate of U of T.
Professional Engineer of Ontario/Alberta/British Columbia/Nova Scotia
More than twenty –five- year working experience in Building envelope design, engineering, site review and consulting.
More than 100 projects completed in North American.
Main projects: RBC, AGO, TELUS, Aura, Project Delta, Harbor Plaza, Icon Bay, The Bow, One Rincon Hill.

Anthony La Torre

I would like to thank the Ontario Building Envelope Council for providing the designation of Building Science Specialist of Ontario. I have been working with Effective Building Engineering for the past four years as an Engineer in Training (EIT). I received my Bachelor of Engineering Science degree from the University of Western Ontario. EBE Ltd. is an Engineering firm specializing in Building Science and Structural Restoration. My role as a Project Manager has been to complete on-site field inspections, condition assessments and conduct construction reviews for a variety of rehabilitation projects including garage repairs, roof & window replacements and concrete balcony restorations. As part of my on-site field investigations, several technical measures including Thermographic Scanning and AutoCAD Drafting are utilized to address building envelope and structural deficiencies.

Marek Musiej

Marek is a Building Science Specialist with Pinchin Ltd. Marek conducts building envelope investigations and inspections as well as property condition assessments on commercial, industrial, high-rise residential and institutional properties. Marek graduated from the Architectural Technology program in Sheridan College and has previous experience working as a Field Construction Inspector for the TTC and a Building Envelope Technician at Predium Andersen Building Engineers.

Dev Sirwani, B.Eng (Civil), MBA, BSS

Tel: 647-785-1214
Email: devsirwani@gmail.com

Dev is a graduate Civil/Structural Engineer, Project Manager, Building Science and Business Development professional with extensive experience in construction industry. He specializes in building envelope systems, concrete restoration projects, industrial and commercial floorings including car-park decks, with thorough knowledge of associated material systems, installation methods, specifications, contracts and warranties. He is well versed with industry standards and prevalent practices.

Working for various multi-national groups in Dubai, over the last 15+ years Dev has worked as Consulting Civil/Structural engineer where he had been involved in design, specs and inspections on various commercial, industrial and residential projects. Later on working for international manufacturers in a Business development role his projects involved Dubai Airport, Festival City, and other mega projects which led to his taking a senior management role with a Specialist Applications Contractor.

Asmhan Whbi, P.Eng., BSS

Asmhan Whbi is a project engineer with over 12 years of professional experience, specializing in building engineering. She is a member of the Association of the Professional Engineer in Ontario. As a project engineer she is responsible for overseeing various building science projects, site inspection activities and processing of reports.  She is involved in engineering consultation, design and review of a variety of building components including roof design and inspection, building envelope systems, building condition surveys, reserve fund studies and inspections during construction for compliance with project specifications, codes, standards and Tarion Bulletin 19 requirements.