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5 Questions with Lionel Tauro

Lionel is a mechanical CAD/BIM Operator, an animal & music lover and an important member of the MAT 4Site team. Trade marked by his big smile and commitment to being at work before the sun rises, he will always leave you with a sense of optimism and joy.

  1. What are you most proud of?

I am proud of having a great bond with nature and wildlife, I can connect with them in a special way. I’m also proud of my family and that I can sing to all of you!

2. How has the pandemic affected your life?

It’s definitely changed – I used to go on vacation and be free with the animals and now some places like Niagara falls stopped interactions with all wildlife. It’s a let down. Obviously it’s important to keep us safe but I pray for things to get back to normal soon so I can explore mother nature again.

3. How is life at MAT 4Site?

I love working at Mat4site. I love the people around me and I think I am the happiest person alive.

4. What is your favourite thing about your industry?

I think communicating with all our teams and getting the job done. Also my most favorite thing is teaching all the junior staff new tricks and helping people out – it’s what I love to do.

5. What are you working on now that you’re excited about?

Well I am working on many different cool projects at the same time. Right now I’m excited about working on Edwin Li’s project – AHU Replacement for the Peel District School Board. Working with people like Edwin drives me to do better and that really excites me. I just like working with people in general, love to teach, love to take the lead and love to help out. That’s me in a nutshell!

Sustainability at MAT 4Site Engineers

May 21, 2021
Written by Imogen Bobert-Hahn

Engineering is putting sustainability at the forefront of its industry. We are starting to take responsibility for our future and the impact we make on the environment, while realizing cost effective ways to attain sustainability and design energy efficient systems. Speaking with Ace Garcia, a Mechanical Designer here at MAT 4Site who specializes in Energy Modelling, I ask about what sustainability means to him: “We’re not only talking about what’s happening today, but preparing for what will happen in the future.” He says although we do not have a crystal ball, emission rates make it easy to predict the trend of our environmental impact and consequences. “Right now they have probably decreased because of the pandemic but once we get back to normal life and business activities, emission rates will jump back drastically and continue to warm up our climate.”

“If you can predict what the temperature will be thirty years from now you can design based on that information. If you don’t consider climate change in the next thirty years, your systems will be affected. When you take in these considerations, the building can continue to perform efficiently for many years and will have been designed to adapt and be prepared for these changes.” Toronto has already started to experience blackouts and flooding due to climate change (to learn more visit https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/8e13-180503_Final_PRA_summary_vDIGITAL.pdf) but initiatives are being taken to address these issues.

Toronto’s largest culprit of greenhouse gasses are building emissions. Toronto is forecasting to reduce 3.9 millions of tonnes by 2050 due to improved building efficiency. (See graph below from https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/2018-council-issue-notes/climate-change/)

Considering the future of building energy efficiency, Ace says, “I think Electrification of the building is the future, we can heat more efficiently as more technologies are being developed and more systems are integrated. Having a DC (direct current) network in a building can harvest solar energy via solar panels and power up motors, lighting, heating and air-conditioning and the electric car. Electricity has lower gas emissions than natural gas, and with an increase of investments in solar/wind farms and nuclear energy, there is reason to be optimistic about future electricity prices.”

Climate change will continue to affect everyone’s lives necessitating fundamental changes in how we construct and operate our everyday systems. Using HadCM3 climate models and energy modelling reports, Ace says, “We can prepare and ensure our designs adopt the most efficient and cost-effective methods in alignment with our changing climate.”

Welcome Joe!

MAT 4Site Engineers is proud to announce our new Vice President of Electrical Engineering, Joe Calabria.  Joe brings over 20 years of Electrical Engineering and Project Management expertise across multiple industry sectors.  He is a registered Professional Engineer across multiple provinces in Canada and is also a LEED Green Associate.  We are excited to have him join us on our Mission to help our clients create their Best Buildings.

It’s been 2 years. We miss you.

Today marks the 2-year anniversary that we lost our dear friend, and partner, Milenko. We had known Milenko for 17 years at the time of his passing, and we were partners for 13 of them. This picture was that last one taken of the three of us together. As you might imagine, we went through a lot over the years. Janusz and I dearly miss him, as does everyone else that knew and worked alongside him. His presence and his personality were just so unique. Milenko was a great engineer and a wonderful person. Since his passing, we have done our best to honour him in the great work that we do – he would have expected nothing less. It was bittersweet that we marked our 15th Anniversary last month. He wasn’t there to celebrate it in person, but he was definitely with us in our hearts. Milenko, on behalf of the entire MAT 4Site family, we miss you.

Thank you!

This month marks our 15th year anniversary. We really didn’t know where we were going when we started back in 2004, but we are certainly happy to be here now. We will have a lot to say over the next few months during this time of celebration. This message is one of thanks.
First, we would like start by thanking our clients. A business isn’t much without clients is it? All of the Core Values, Visions and Mission Statements in the world wouldn’t matter much if our clients didn’t believe in them as well. Together, we have made a true impact in our world by creating efficient new buildings and breathing new life into old ones. You have given us the opportunity to help you achieve your goals. You have given us the opportunity to work collaboratively with you and feel like a genuine part of your team. We look forward to continuing to help you build on your success by helping you create your best buildings. We cannot be who we are without you. Thank you.
Secondly, we would like to thank our industry partners. We have worked with, and will continue to work with, many consultants, suppliers, and contractors over these past 15 years. You are an important part of our team. You have been so helpful – whether you were providing us with expertise; introducing us to the latest and greatest technology; helping us investigate some uncovered issue; or proficiently building what have designed; your contributions have been crucial to our success. It would have been impossible to have completed all that we have done without you. Thank you.
Finally, and certainly not least, we would like to thank our team – the best team ever. Work is just work when you show up to simply execute some pre-defined tasks. But you have helped us create something much more than that. Our culture – your culture – has given us the best environment for us to do our best. We lean on each other because we can depend on each other. We work hard for each other because we trust each other. You make it fun. You make it real. You make us the best. None of this would have ever happened without you. Thank you.

July 2017

This has been an eventful month!
A lot of changes are going on here at MAT4Site. We are going with the flow and moving toward great things. This month we celebrated Summer by participating in a Murder Mystery with Slixer Entertainment. It was an enjoyable experience with a lot of laughs and problem solving. Photos should be available soon on our Facebook page.
Anthony Colin won the Best Award for being able to meet all his deadlines with a broken shoulder, while working from home. That is the type of dedication and loyalty we value and strive to display here at all times. Way to go Anthony. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Also, Welcome to all of our new team members! We are thrilled to have you on board and we are looking forward to creating the Best buildings together!

Big News!

MAT 4Site Engineers has been chosen to design a complete heating and cooling retrofit at 361 University (Toronto Courthouse) and 130 Queen St (Osgoode Hall) incorporating a complete geothermal system!  The project will be a benchmark project for Infrastructure Ontario in terms of energy recovery and greenhouse gas emission reduction.  We are excited to get going and we will provide more updates moving forward!

 

MAT 4Site would like to give a special thanks to the following companies for their contributions to this year’s tournament:

– Airex

– ALGAL

– APPLIED ENERGY

– ANTRIM

– Automated Logic Ontario

– Brown Daniels

– CDML

– CIVIL Underground

– CTAS

– CUNEO INTERIORS

– Dineen Construction

– E&S Mechanical

– ECOH

– EFI CONCEPTS

– Electrotech

– Engineered Air

– Frontier Group

– Gator

– HTS

– INTEGRACON

– Johnson Controls

– KILDONAN

– LIEBERT CANADA

– McWatters

– NISCO

– OHE

– Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club

– Royal Custom Contracting

– SA ARMSTRONG

– Siemens

– SOLID CONSTRUCTION SERVICES

– STRACOR

– Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation

– Trane

– Trillium Hydronics

Thank you for helping us celebrate our anniversary and for your generous contributions to the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation!

 

 

MAT 4Site has just turned 12!

We would like to thank all of our clients, staff and industry partners for another successful year.  We couldn’t do it without you!  Together, we are making buildings their Best!  We look forward to entering our “teenage” years next year!

MAT 4Site Golf Tournament is sold out!

We look forward to another great golf tournament tomorrow at the Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club!  This will be our biggest tournament ever!  For those that have missed the opportunity but still want to donate to the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation, please feel free to contact jennette@mat4site.com