RJC Engineers: 78 Years of Shaping Canada’s Built Future
Sep 9
3 min read
RJC Engineers began as a small structural engineering practice in Vancouver in 1948, quietly helping to shape Canada one building at a time. Almost eighty years later, it has become one of North America's top engineering firms, with offices across Canada and in the United States.
RJC’s story is about more than just growth. The firm has always believed that engineering is not only about materials, but also about the people who use the spaces and the country those spaces serve. As Canadian cities change and face new climate challenges, this people-focused, Canadian approach to structural work matters more than ever.
A Foundation of Ownership and Mentorship
RJC started in Vancouver and has grown into a multidisciplinary firm with over 700 employees, working across Canada and into the United States. The company says its team includes some of Canada’s top engineers and puts real effort into mentoring the next generation. Because RJC is fully employee-owned, the engineers responsible for projects have a direct stake in making sure the work is done right.
This approach shapes the company’s culture. Everyone takes personal responsibility for their work, while senior engineers are encouraged to stay, share their experience, and mentor the next generation rather than move on once they have built their careers. RJC describes its philosophy as engineering that “listens, leads, and lasts”—a commitment to its clients and to its long-standing role in shaping Canada’s built environment.
Structural Design: Shaping Skylines
Structural engineering remains at the heart of RJC’s work, helping shape skylines from Vancouver to Toronto and across Canada. For the team, structural design is more than a technical exercise—it is a careful balance of cost, function, and sustainability that begins early in the design process. RJC engineers collaborate closely with architects and owners to ensure that each building’s structure supports not only its appearance but also how it is used every day. When structural elements are exposed, the team sees an opportunity to turn them into features that contribute to a project's character and create something everyone involved can take pride in.
Building Science: Designing for Canada's Climate
Canada’s climate is hard on buildings, and RJC’s building science team works to prevent weather-related problems from turning into costly issues. They focus on building enclosures, such as walls, windows, and roofs, which protect interiors from harsh winters. The team sees these as some of the most important parts of any structure. RJC experts have inspected and repaired hundreds of enclosures, from old downtown masonry to modern glass towers, learning how materials handle freeze-thaw cycles and humidity. They use this experience in new designs from the start, so buildings are better prepared for Canada’s climate.
Restoration: Preserving the Built Environment
Building a country is not always about new construction. RJC’s structural restoration team works to keep existing buildings in good condition. They use their expertise in engineering, building science, and materials to determine why older structures are deteriorating, since there is rarely a single cause. For decades, RJC has restored and maintained buildings across Canada, helping heritage sites, parking structures, and mid-century towers remain in use rather than being demolished. Each project is treated as a unique challenge, with a focus on building long-term trust with clients.
Sustainability and the Path to Net-Zero
At RJC, sustainability is part of everyday decisions about materials, energy use, and durability, supporting Canada’s net-zero goals. The firm has a strong team of LEED Accredited Professionals and Green Associates, so most projects already have sustainability expertise involved without needing outside consultants. RJC has also joined SE 2050, committing to reduce the carbon footprint of its structural designs by 2050. Its Embodied Carbon Action Plan explains how the firm will reach this goal on real projects and encourage others in the industry to do the same.
Nearly 80 years after its founding in 1948, RJC Engineers continues to be guided by a simple idea: the value of a building comes from the people who use it and the communities it serves. Employee ownership helps keep that principle at the centre of the company’s work. From restoring heritage buildings to designing new towers and working toward net-zero carbon, RJC sees its role as part of the broader effort to shape Canada’s built environment, rather than simply as a behind-the-scenes contractor. Much of that work may never be visible once a project is complete, but it is through these buildings that RJC continues to build its legacy, one structure at a time.
Art Gallery of Alberta. Credit: RJC Engineers Art Gallery of Alberta. Credit: RJC Engineers Art Gallery of Alberta. Credit: RJC Engineers
BMO Centre Expansion. Credit: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) BMO Centre Expansion. Credit: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) BMO Centre Expansion. Credit: Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC)
Centennial College A-Building Expansion. Credit: RJC Engineers Centennial College A-Building Expansion. Credit: RJC Engineers Centennial College A-Building Expansion. Credit: RJC Engineers
CIBC Square. Credit: RJC Engineers CIBC Square. Credit: RJC Engineers CIBC Square. Credit: RJC Engineers
Erin Mills Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Erin Mills Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Erin Mills Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers
Guildford Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Guildford Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Guildford Town Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers
Hillcrest Centre. Credit: RJC Engineers Hillcrest Centre. Credit: RJC Engineers Hillcrest Centre. Credit: RJC Engineers
Rundle LRT Station/36th Street NE Pedestrian Bridge. Credit: RJC Engineers Rundle LRT Station/36th Street NE Pedestrian Bridge. Credit: RJC Engineers Rundle LRT Station/36th Street NE Pedestrian Bridge. Credit: RJC Engineers
Square One Shopping Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Square One Shopping Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers Square One Shopping Centre Redevelopment. Credit: RJC Engineers
Sunalta LRT Station & Elevated Guideway. Credit: RJC Engineers Sunalta LRT Station & Elevated Guideway. Credit: RJC Engineers Sunalta LRT Station & Elevated Guideway. Credit: RJC Engineers
The Well. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier The Well. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier The Well. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier
UBC Sauder School of Business Renovations and Additions. Credit: RJC Engineers UBC Sauder School of Business Renovations and Additions. Credit: RJC Engineers UBC Sauder School of Business Renovations and Additions. Credit: RJC Engineers
UBC Student Union Buildin. Credit: RJC Engineers UBC Student Union Buildin. Credit: RJC Engineers UBC Student Union Buildin. Credit: RJC Engineers
University of Waterloo Engineering V Building. Credit: RJC Engineers University of Waterloo Engineering V Building. Credit: RJC Engineers University of Waterloo Engineering V Building. Credit: RJC Engineers
Yonge + Rich Condos. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier Yonge + Rich Condos. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier Yonge + Rich Condos. Credit: RJC Engineers & Dustin Fournier
