Thomas Morrison
By Dr. Thomas Morrison, P.Eng.,CAHP, Heritage Standing Inc.
Our surroundings impact who we are. This includes our built environment and our buildings. I believe it is important to conserve our buildings by finding ways they can contribute to a vibrant life. I believe in sustainability and the importance of re-using what we already have. I believe that working within the constraints old buildings initiates new and exciting ideas; and contrary to popular belief, I know from experience that it is usually less expensive to conserve an old building than to build new.
Heritage Standing Inc (where I serve as the Principal Engineer) is an engineering firm focused exclusively on helping clients with old building challenges. Our values are reflected in what we do, and our desire to make the world more sustainable and to contribute to societal well being is an ideal match with our technical knowledge of old buildings.
Our surroundings impact who we are. This includes our built environment and our buildings. I believe it is important to conserve our buildings by finding ways they can contribute to a vibrant life. I believe in sustainability and the importance of re-using what we already have. I believe that working within the constraints old buildings initiates new and exciting ideas; and contrary to popular belief, I know from experience that it is usually less expensive to conserve an old building than to build new.
Heritage Standing Inc (where I serve as the Principal Engineer) is an engineering firm focused exclusively on helping clients with old building challenges. Our values are reflected in what we do, and our desire to make the world more sustainable and to contribute to societal well being is an ideal match with our technical knowledge of old buildings. 
New buildings are designed, but old buildings are conserved. The construction industry is trained for the design and construction of new buildings. This can create problems for old building owners trying to find financially practical solutions; the solution they are often given expects their old building to act “just like new.” Every building is different and must be treated uniquely. Over time we have developed a set of general recommendations for owners:
Recommendation 1. Understand your building & understand your needs. The better you understand your building and your needs the better you can focus your actions on the areas that most need attention and repair projects can be minimised (both in what is done, and what it will cost).
Recommendation 2. Plan your interventions or repairs carefully. Projects can start to increase in scope quickly if it is not well planned before construction starts.
Recommendation 3. Get a second opinion. Opinions may vary, and typically if there are different thoughts you (as owner) can select the opinion you prefer. Engineers do not have to agree, and with old buildings will often come to different opinions that could have big impacts on the project. Design and planning typically costs much less than construction.
Recommendation 4. Ask questions and be willing to push for better solutions. It is your building and there are often many options to solve a given problem. Always be willing to push back and ask someone to give you more options.
Recommendation 5. Ask for explanations. It should be possible for any consultant or contractor to explain the issues in a straightforward manner. For example, while it is not realistic for me to explain the details of how I evaluate earthquake performance in a unique building, I should be able to explain the concepts and how they apply to this situation.
Recommendation 6. Stay involved. While it takes more work to remain involved in the process it will lead to better solutions.
Recommendation 7. Aim for integrated projects where all parties can discuss. New construction creates a hierarchy that is not always helpful in conservation projects. Engineers, masons, architects and carpenters should all be able to discuss the issues. Having team members distancing themselves from the discussion does not benefit the project. 
As consultants our role is to help owners find better solutions. Old buildings are unique, often with materials and construction techniques that are different from what we use today. Our starting point is always understanding how a building is standing today; if that can not be explained you do not understand the building. We use this as our starting guide and then work through each project using a medical model approach (case history, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring). This methodology has resulted in many projects we are extremely proud of, both around the world and here at home.
We provide a range of services for old buildings, each customized to the building and owner:
• Condition Assessments
• Conservation-based Engineering Evaluation and Design
• Master Plans
• Third Party Review & Second Opinions
• Structural Health Monitoring
Please contact us if you have any questions:
Heritage Standing Inc.
Website: HeritageStanding.ca
Email: tmorrison@heritagestanding.ca
Phone: (506) 459-3203
Dr. Tom Morrison is an Expert Member of the International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage, Co-Chair of the Preservation Engineering Committee of the Association for Preservation Technology International, and Board Member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals. He has worked on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, National Historic Sites, and local barns. Tom enjoys an interesting challenge.
Dr. Morrison completed his Ph.D. in seismic evaluation and rehabilitation of existing buildings at McGill University in Montreal. He then assumed his present role as principal engineer at Heritage Standing Inc., an internationally renown consulting firm that is based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Prior to founding Heritage Standing Inc, Dr. Morrison held a position at the Heritage Conservation Directorate, the division of Public Works Canada dedicated to overseeing engineering and architectural work on all federally designated and owned heritage properties.
