About us:
Established in 2001 in Toronto, Milman & Associates provides structural and civil engineering and project management services throughout Canada, the United States, and overseas. What began as a small company quickly grew into a reputable firm of highly skilled and experienced engineers, inspectors and designers.
Our long list of clients is varied, from industrial and commercial to institutional and environmental, but all of them have one thing in common: the need for excellent design solutions. That happens to be our specialty.
Milman & Associates approaches every new structural problem and client as unique, which is reflected in our creative and sensible designs. We are experts at using computerized finite element analysis to model and design three-dimensional complicated steel and concrete structures, structures supporting vibration and impact equipment, concrete canopies, and cantilevered stairs.
We design different types of special structures, including retaining walls, cluster-pile foundations, foundations for vibrating equipment, mat foundations, circular and rectangular concrete tanks, piperacks, and open steel structures for chemical and petrochemical equipment.
We specialize in the design of concrete watertight structures, such as clarifiers and holding tanks. Our extensive knowledge of concrete mixes and innovative additives and admixtures allows us to design concrete products of excellent quality.
Our considerable experience in all aspects of the design and construction process, from assessment and rehabilitation to detailed design and site supervision, helps us achieve the best results for our many clients. We strive for excellence on every project we undertake.
The staff at Milman & Associates are dedicated to every project from start to finish. Many years of long standing client relationships are a testament to the importance of fostering and creating long standing partnerships.
What we Stand for:
- Quality
- Efficiency
- Creativity
- Cost consciousness
space
Highlights:
- Preferred structural consultant for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority since 2005.
- Pre-qualified structural engineering consultant for University of Toronto since 2005.
- Infrastructure Ontario has selected Milman & Associates as a structural engineering consultant since 2014
- Preferred structural consultant for Cameco’s Port Hope Conversion Facility since 2013.
- Preferred structural consultant for the City of Peterborough for 2014-2016.
- Preferred structural consultant for the City of Toronto since 2016.
- Pre-qualified structural engineering consultant for Toronto District School Board since 2021.
Our Expertise
- Surveys and evaluations of existing structures
Aging structures should be assessed due to required upgrades, change in equipment layout, change of use, or simply because some show signs of distress or deterioration. The Owners may require renovation and rehabilitation work performed on existing steel and concrete structures.
For example, old unheated steel warehouses may be subject to extensive corrosion, while the concrete of parking structures may be severely impacted by chlorides (as was discovered during conditional surveys conducted by Milman & Associates of Terminal 2 and 3 parking structures at Lester B. Pearson International Airport).
A Milman & Associates’ team will conduct a detailed visual survey of all visible structural members of the existing building for signs of rust and corrosion, cracks in concrete elements, concrete deterioration, condition of bolted and welded connections, condition of masonry walls, spalled and scaled concrete cover, etc. The team will also examine the plumb of the vertical structural members and the deflection of the horizontal members (Link Train inspection, Airport Road overpass).
If we are asked only to provide assessment and evaluation of the existing structure, we conduct static and seismic analyses based on loading information and other data gathered (as was done in the investigation of the Departure Floor cracks at Terminal 3 or at Bell Canada building at 21 Canniff St, Toronto).
Following the analyses, the senior structural engineer determines whether the building is in compliance with recent building codes and/or specific client requirements. In this type of evaluation, we use the current NBC Part 4 “Structural Commentary to NBCC, Commentary L, for the Structural Evaluation and Upgrading of Existing Buildings”.
- Rehabilitation and repair of existing steel and concrete structures
Typically, structural drawings of old structures are unavailable. Even if they exist, for rehabilitation purposes, we conduct our own detailed site measurements to ensure the accuracy of the drawings and to ascertain that the drawings in fact correspond to conditions in the existing building, i.e. additions may have been built, or new loads and equipment may have been added, which may not be reflected in old drawings (University of Toronto, Simcoe Hall).
If we are asked only to provide assessment and evaluation of the existing structure, we conduct static and seismic analyses based on loading information and other data gathered (as was done in the investigation of the Departure Floor cracks at Terminal 3 or at Bell Canada building at 21 Canniff St, Toronto). Following the analyses, the senior structural engineer determines whether the building is in compliance with recent building codes and/or specific client requirements. In this type of evaluation, we use the current NBC Part 4 “Structural Commentary to NBCC, Commentary L, for the Structural Evaluation and Upgrading of Existing Buildings”.
In the events of structural inspections Milman & Associates will prepare a proper safety procedure based on the Client’s requirements.If, upon consultation with the client, Milman & Associates concludes that the structure is damaged, our rehabilitation specialist will develop a rehabilitation procedure. This may include reinforcement, filling of cracks with special adhesive materials, temporary shoring, etc.Here are a couple more examples: Glycol Waste Tanks #1 & #2 and Pearson Airport’s Terminal 3 Parking Garage Inspection and Rehabilitation.
- Design of Special Structures, foundations and waterproofing
We design different types of special structures including but not limited to: retaining walls, cluster-pile foundations, foundations for vibrating equipment, mat foundations, circular and rectangular concrete tanks, steel and concrete piperacks, and open steel structures for chemical/petrochemical equipment.
We are experts in using computerized finite element analysis to model and design three-dimensional complicated steel and concrete structures, structures supporting vibration and impact equipment, concrete canopies, and cantilevered stairs.The company specializes in the design of special types of concrete watertight structures – clarifiers and holding tanks. By using special types of concrete mix designs, as well as incorporating innovative additives and admixtures, we achieve the excellent quality of the final concrete product. These are some examples: Wastewater Treatment Plant – Hamilton – Concrete Tanks, Bell Canada – 21 Canniff St. – Power Upgrade – Steel Platform for Generator, University of Toronto – Galbraith Building – Foundation for Structural Press, GTAA – Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 3 – Departure Floor Vibration Control Measures, Wastewater Treatment Plant – Hamilton – Pile Foundation Investigation, and Adidas Headquarters – Interior Scissor Staircase.Milman & Associates Limited possess vast experience in design and rehabilitation of waterproofing systems for watertight structures. We use specially designed concrete mixes that provide to new concrete structures excellent watertight properties often in combinations with plastic fibers. The excellent quality of concrete for new water holding structures, designed by our engineers, is proven in several projects.Rehabilitation of existing water holding concrete structures is also an important part of our expertise. Some existing watertight concrete underground structures, especially designed to hold substances like waste glycol collected at airports, are losing waterproofing qualities due to numerous reasons. Our engineers have an excellent experience based on actual trials and construction by using special cementations waterproofing crystalline materials. Some examples: GTAA – Central De-Icing Facility – Waste Glycol Tanks and Wastewater Treatment Plant – Hamilton – Special Concrete Mixes and Concrete Tanks.
- Detailed structural design
New Buildings: Relying on architectural layouts, we create a preliminary structural scheme, which subsequently helps the architect produce a more detailed design. Simultaneously, we develop the most effective and economical scheme for the main structural members. Throughout the design process, while meeting the demands of the client, architects and mechanical engineers, we also monitor the cost aspect of our design to ensure that it comes within the client’s budget.
Based on the final architectural and mechanical layouts, soil reports, and specific client requirements, the design group develops the most economical and effective structural design by utilizing our most modern technical resources and software, such as computerized 3D modeling using finite element analysis. Subsequently, the structural designers create detailed structural drawings for architect and client review from approval stages to the building permit and construction.These are some examples: Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hamilton, Ford Canada, Oakville – Fuel Cell Bldg, Power Plant in Bonair (Netherland Antilles), and Turtle Jack’s Restaurants – various Ontario locations. Additions to Existing Buildings: We begin by investigating existing structural and architectural drawings, if they exist. If they are unavailable, our field inspectors conduct detailed structural surveys that include: on-site measurement of main structural members, testing of materials, compiling load information of floors and roof, investigation of existing soil conditions, and types of foundations.
For testing of materials such as concrete and steel, we employ our sub-consultants. Based on the findings, and the proposed architectural or mechanical layout, we discuss with either the architect or the mechanical consultant the most appropriate and cost-effective approach to the design of the addition/expansion. Once the layout is established, we conduct static and seismic analyses of the existing building to determine the structural impact of the proposed addition.
Based on these analyses, we determine whether reinforcement of the existing structure is necessary. The procedure of designing a new addition is similar to that of designing a new building (see above). These are some examples:University of Toronto – Simcoe Hall and George Brown College – New Athletic Centre. Post-Design Consulting Work: After the design work is complete, we proceed with the development of specifications, tendering process, site supervision and compilation of “as built” drawings.
Depending on the stage of the project, different members of our structural team participate in design or construction meetings. We conduct reviews of all shop drawings for consistency with construction documents. During site reviews, our structural inspector will report all discrepancies and deviations from structural construction documents. Once the project is completed, our team issues “as-built” drawings based on site review reports, construction changes, etc.
- Feasibility studies and Preliminary design
The standard approach to the design process has changed in the last few years. More and more owners, prior to investing big dollars into steel and concrete on the construction site, are looking for justifications for going into the full mode of design and construction.Prudent clients are asking for feasibility studies that show the final construction cost. There are also design-build tenders for large or medium sized projects, where the owners are looking for the fixed price of a complete product based on a preliminary design. The highly skilled Milman & Associates team has extensive experience for conducting preliminary structural designs, based on minimal information from the owners. Due to the vast knowledge in different industrial processes and types of construction, we can approximate the sizes of structural elements of high precision and come up with bills of materials that the contractors or owners can use with high certainty for their cost estimates.
- Contract administration
Milman & Associates’ team conducts project management and contract administration for projects where steel and concrete structural and civil work constitute the majority of the project.For mechanical and electrical parts of project management, we engage our sub-consultants with which Milman & Associates has long standing relationships.Here are some examples: Wastewater Treatment Plant – Hamilton, GTAA – Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 3 – Departure Floor Vibration Control Measures and GTAA – Central De-Icing Facility – Waste Glycol Tanks