Vancouver Convention Centre

When I started my Canadian career in 2004, I was very lucky to start with an amazing project, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, an expansion part to the existing building.

The building is over 135,000 square metres in 6 storeys. Design of the floor beams (horizontal elements to carry vertical loads in the load path, technically speaking) was a big challenge because of:

- Very long spans, up to 70 m
- Cranked beams spanning from one level to another with up to 50 deg slopes
- Heavy loads
- Limited deflections at most locations
- Limited beam height at certain locations

Built-up beams (WWF technically) with heights over 1,000 mm and masses over 500 kg/m were used very often, while some customized heavy girders with heights of up to 2,500 mm and customized high strength steel (Fy = 450 MPa, technically) were used for exceptional long spans and cantilevers.

I have to add, I was double lucky to start my Canadian career not only with a great project, but also with a great consulting firm, Glotman.Simpson, and under direction of a great structural engineer, Mr. Rob Simpson.

This beautiful building was inaugurated last week followed by an open house last weekend. Watch a short video of the open house:



See photos of the open house on my photoblog. See a panorama of the building under construction one year ago. This panorama would be best seen downloaded to full screen.

World without Engineers

Can you imagine a world without engineers? Well, let me help you...

How about a flight for a dream vacation


And transportations


The other side of the bridge? No problem! Try this bridge


Listen to your MP3s


Or watch your favourite TV show


Computers, select from latest models, laptop or desktop

Communicate with friends and colleagues


Good night!

Declan

Declan Galbraith (born 19 December 1991) is an English singer of Scottish and Irish origin.

He and his family live in Hoo, a village near Rochester, Kent. His grandfather was in a band, played several instruments, and took Galbraith to the concerts he was participating in, and the mix of Scottish and Irish musical traditions inspired Galbraith and became his early musical influence.

Although he is a British citizen and singer, Declan is more famous and well known abroad. The extent of his fame is widest in Germany where most of his albums were promoted, his songs recorded, and videos made. His first album in Germany had soon sold 200,000 copies within the year of release. As well as Germany, many other countries in Europe consider Declan as one of its well loved celebrities.

Watch a phenomenal song by Declan Galbraith, Tell Me Why



Source: Wikipedia

Major & Minor Scales

Natural scales


Flat scales


Sharp scales

Transformation of Logos

Heiligenstadt

206 years ago this day, Beethoven felt so bad that decided to commit a suicide. It was October 6, 1802, in Heiligenstadt, a small village near Vienna.

But in a testament, well known as the Heiligenstadt Tetament, he wrote to his brothers:

For my brothers Carl and [Johann] Beethoven

O you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic... how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret causes of my seeming; from childhood my heart and mind were disposed to the gentle feelings of good will, I was even ever eager to accomplish great deeds, but reflect now that for six years I have been a hopeless case, aggravated by senseless physicians, cheated year after year in the hope of improvement, finally compelled to face the prospect of a lasting malady (whose cure will take years or, perhaps, be impossible). Born with an ardent and lively temperament, even susceptible to the diversions of society, I was compelled early to isolate myself, to live in loneliness, when I at times tried to forget all this. O how harshly was I repulsed by the doubly sad experience of my bad hearing, and yet it was impossible for me to say to men speak louder, shout, for I am deaf. Ah how could I possibly admit such an infirmity in the one sense which should have been more perfect in me than in others, a sense which I once possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few surely in my profession enjoy or have enjoyed.

O I cannot do it, therefore forgive me when you see me draw back when I would gladly mingle with you, my misfortune is doubly painful because it must lead to my being misunderstood, for me there can be no recreations in society of my fellows, refined intercourse, mutual exchange of thought, only just as little as the greatest needs command disposition, although I sometimes ran counter to it yielding to my inclination for society, but what a humiliation when one stood beside me and heard a flute in the distance and I heard nothing, or someone heard the shepherd singing and again I heard nothing, such incidents brought me to the verge of despair, but little more and I would have put an end to my life... only art it was that withheld me, ah it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had produced all that I felt called upon me to produce, and so I endured this wretched existence--truly wretched, an excitable body which a sudden change can throw from the best into the worst state... Patience, it is said that I must now choose for my guide, I have done so, I hope my determination will remain firm to endure until it please the inexorable parcae to break the thread. Perhaps I shall get better, perhaps not, I am prepared. Forced already in my 28th year to become a philosopher... O it is not easy, less easy for the artist than for anyone else. Divine One thou lookest into my inmost soul, thou knowest it, thou knowest that love of man and desire to do good live therein. O men, when some day you read these words, reflect that you did me wrong and let the unfortunate one comfort himself and find one of his kind who despite all obstacles of nature yet did all that was in his power to be accepted among worthy artists and men.

You my brothers Carl and [Johann], as soon as I am dead if Dr. Schmid is still alive ask him in my name to describe my malady and attach this document to the history of my illness so that so far as possible at least the world may become reconciled with me after my death. At the same time I declare you two to be the heirs to my small fortune (if so it can be called), divide it fairly, bear with and help each other, what injury you have done me you know was long ago forgiven.

To you brother Carl I give special thanks for the attachment you have displayed towards me of late. It is my wish that your lives be better and freer from care than I have had. Recommend virtue to your children, it alone can give happiness, not money, I speak from experience, it was virtue that upheld me in misery, to it next to my art I owe the fact that I did not end my life with suicide. Farewell and love each other. I thank all my friends, particularly Prince Lichnowsky and Professor Schmid. I desire that the instruments from Prince L. be preserved by one of you but let no quarrel result from this, so soon as they can serve you better purpose sell them, how glad will I be if I can still be helpful to you in my grave. With joy I hasten towards death... if it comes before I shall have had an opportunity to show all my artistic capacities it will still come too early for me despite my hard fate and I shall probably wish it had come later, but even then I am satisfied, will it not free me from my state of endless suffering? Come when thou will I shall meet thee bravely.

Farewell and do not wholly forget me when I am dead, I deserve this of you in having often in life thought of you how to make you happy, be so.

Heiligenstadt October 6,1802 Ludwig van Beethoven

For my brothers Carl and [Johann] to be read and executed after my death.

For a strange reason still unknown, he has left the name Johann blank throughout the text.

Ironically, this was my lucky day, 26 years ago... I married my lovely wife the same day Oct 6, 1982.

Vancouver Children's Choir

It was couple of years ago when I had a post introducing the stunning Vancouver Children’s Choir. I also wrote down the lyrics of their beautiful performance of the song “Can You Imagine?”

The song was so touching that made me translate the lyrics into Persian then. Now, I’ve prepared a video clip of the song for you. Please watch: