The Ottawa Construction News – October 2013 – PAGE D5 John G. Cooke & Associates Ltd. celebrates 20 th anniversary Engineer leads in heritage restoration, building successful relationships with contractors and sub-trades STAFF WRITER – The Ottawa Construction News Special Feature John Cooke has melded the new with the old, combining current structural en- gineering accomplishments with excep- tional heritage building knowledge. Yet there is more to the story behind John G. Cooke & Associates Ltd., celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Cooke and his team has achieved consistency, relia- bility and respect from the trades as well as building owners; no minor accomplish- ment considering the economic, labour supply and design challenges in heritage work. “John has put together what is likely the youngest team of heritage engineers in Canada,” said Robert Watt, president of RJW Gem Campbell Stonemasons Inc., who has worked on dozens of projects with Cooke since 1997. “He listens to masons and is always willing to solve problems through discussion.” Cooke’s current and recent projects in- clude significant work in the Parliamen- tary precinct restoration (including the West Block and the former Bank of Mon- treal on Wellington St.), churches includ- ing St. Patrick’s Basilica, and hotels such as the Chateau Laurier. His practice has also contributed to several non-heritage buildings, applying creativity and prob- lem-solving innovations for a diversity of projects. In hindsight, by starting his practice in 1993 at the height of a major multi-year recession, Cooke realizes he picked the perfect time to go into business. He had worked with Toronto-based engineers Anrep & Associates for six years, after immigrating to Canada from Ireland. Cooke moved to Ottawa to set up an Anrep branch office but, shortly after, Anrep decided to shutter it. Instead of ac- cepting a position in Northern Ontario, Cooke and some of his colleagues, John Barton, Grazyna Materna and Mary Cooke (his wife) decided to break away and form what is now John G. Cooke & Associates Ltd. –––––––––––––––––––––– Continued on page D6