The lead engineer on an 11-storey residential high-rise in Langford that had to be evacuated after it was deemed structurally unsafe has been stripped of his licence.
Brian McClure was also ordered to pay a maximum fine of $25,000 and pick up $32,000 in legal and investigation costs.
The Engineers and Geoscientists B.C., the regulatory and licensing group for the professions, said McClure admitted to unprofessional conduct and incompetence in designing the former Danbrook One building, and demonstrated a “serious breach of trust” to the profession and people’s confidence in their homes.
The building, which is being upgraded under new ownership and has been re-branded RidgeView Place, was evacuated just days before Christmas 2019.
It was close to full occupancy — 86 of the 90 units had rental tenants — when structural flaws were discovered and Langford pulled the building’s occupancy permit.
Brian McClure admitted in a consent order to the Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. that he demonstrated unprofessional conduct, and that the structural design drawings for Danbrook One were deficient and certain aspects of the seismic design and gravity load resisting system did not comply with the building code.
The existence of significant defects identified in the structural design drawings also demonstrated incompetence on his part, according to the regulatory group.
The consent order said McClure admitted he failed to undertake an adequate design process, did not perform a sufficient number of field reviews or properly document those reviews, and failed to take adequate steps to address serious concerns about the building’s design that were brought to his attention during construction.
Langford pulled the occupancy permit after an independent review indicated the building was not in compliance with the building code and had several safety concerns. But that was started after Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. disclosed to the city that it was conducting an investigation into McClure’s conduct and had concerns over the building’s structural design and failure to meet the building code.
“The public deserves to have confidence that their homes are being designed to rigorous standards, and this case represents a serious breach of that trust,” Heidi Yang, CEO of Engineers and Geoscientists B.C., said in a statement. “As a result, the individual involved can no longer practise professional engineering in British Columbia.”
Centurion Asset Management acquired the building in 2019 and began correcting structural flaws the following year. It started marketing the 90 units in May and Langford approved an occupancy permit. Mayor Stew Young said Thursday two engineers signed off on the work before the permit was granted.
McClure can’t reapply for a licence for two years. If he does apply for reinstatement, the regulatory body has set strict guidelines and conditions.
dkloster@timescolonist.com
