Waterloo co-op students apply hands-on skills to build a sustainable future at RDH Building Science
By: Jed Bick (he/him)
Students utilize strategic preparation skills from their academic courses in workplace design and sustainable construction projects.
RDH Building Science Inc. (RDH) drives innovation in building improvement by seamlessly integrating science, design and construction expertise.
RDH works with clients to meet energy and climate goals for their buildings, focusing on energy performance targets and energy-saving programs. These goals and targets are part of RDH’s larger picture of sustainability in its buildings and projects.
The team at RDH recently accomplished a successful sustainability project, providing energy performance and building enclosure consulting services for the construction of new student residences at the University of Victoria.
With the help of Waterloo co-op student Nicholas Sterner (he/him) (BASc ’24), the project met high-performance energy efficiency standards. One standard included Passive House certification, which reduces its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) to its absolute minimum on these all-electric buildings. This certification guided the University of Victoria towards its stringent campus GHG reduction targets.
Sterner spent three co-op work terms at RDH, where he performed a variety of tasks including airtightness testing to assess airflow rates through the building envelope. The tests far exceeded target values and goals to meet Passive House certification. Sterner was responsible for writing the results report that went to the University of Victoria.
Nicholas Sterner (BASc ’24), building science engineer (EIT) at RDH
“Nick’s name is on that report, which is fantastic, it speaks volumes about his abilities,” says Andrea Pietila (she/her), associate and senior energy and climate engineer at RDH. “It also says a lot about the trust we put in co-op students.”
Sterner contributed to other meaningful work during his work terms at RDH. He collaborated with a BC energy-based company, where he researched developing a new incentive program for homeowners to invest in air sealing upgrades for their homes. These air sealing upgrades help to reduce energy consumption, save homeowners money and help with overall sustainability targets.
Andrea Pietila, associate and senior energy and climate engineer at RDH
Sterner also spent a term in RDH’s Oakland, California office where he utilized professional design software to create three-dimensional renderings of complicated building facade details.
Sterner used the renderings to aid the project team with realizing approaches for achieving building enclosure continuity while mitigating the impact of environmental conditions on the building’s performance. The three-dimensional renderings identified possible areas of concern that could affect the building’s energy efficiency, allowing the team to address these areas before construction.
Sterner’s successful work terms demonstrate why RDH employs many Waterloo co-op students. In RDH's experience, students are motivated from their first day on the job and capable of contributing to projects and tackling challenges.
“Any Waterloo student I’ve worked with is always keen to be involved in new projects,” says Pietila. “They come in with a hands-on background and great knowledge from their classes.”
Waterloo students are ready to jump in and succeed in the industry
Waterloo’s academic programs provide an experiential learning model that prepares co-op students to approach projects in the workplace. An active contributor to this model is Dr. John Straube (he/him), P.Eng., an associate professor joint-appointed to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the School of Architecture. Dr. Straube also serves as a principal and senior specialist at RDH. With ties to the classroom and the workplace, Dr. Straube has a first-hand understanding of what companies are looking for from co-op students and can apply that to his teachings in class.
People at our organization and in the industry want students to not only learn on the job, but to come in with a curiosity of how to figure out a problem. Those are the kinds of students we cultivate at Waterloo.
Curiosity and a relentless drive to question and enhance concepts, designs and projects are invaluable traits in workplaces like RDH. Sterner, and other Waterloo co-op students, demonstrate how companies that foster curiosity and provide opportunities for meaningful work can engage and motivate students to make a positive impact while advancing projects.
“Problem-solving has always been a huge influencing factor in the work I want to do, as I like to be continually challenged,” says Sterner. “That’s what drew me into RDH and kept me coming back for multiple co-ops.”
Waterloo co-op students, like Sterner, come prepared to contribute to the building science, architecture and construction sector.
“I’ve had many employers routinely tell me how surprised and encouraged they are that Waterloo co-op students understand how to read and create building, architectural or civil engineering drawings and sketches in the workplace,” says Dr. Straube. “We’re teaching students those skills in their first term so that after four months, they’ve gained some proficiency in those areas.”
The goal is to have students apply their skills in the workplace from the get-go. By having them involved from day one, we ensure they can meaningfully contribute to the organization and leave a beneficial and lasting impact.
Dr. John Straube, associate professor at Waterloo and principal and senior specialist at RDH
“We're teaching them to be applied engineers, not philosophers, so they're aware and capable of contributing within the environment they're entering,” says Dr. Straube.
As RDH looks to build upon a sustainable future, the company plans to continue to involve Waterloo co-op students.
“I love hiring them,” says Pietila. “I think it's great we have so many Waterloo alumni end up with full-time jobs here. I can't see us ever not having Waterloo co-op students.”
Banner photography by: Michael Elkan