Our Services
How Can We Help You?
Building Code Services + Building Permit Support
We love to spend our days solving the riddle of the rule book. The Building Code is our life – we live, breathe, and eat it. We also love to hunt for the solutions, so you don’t have to.
- Useful for building owners and developers, property managers, realtors, associations, or really ANYONE!
- We love helping you out by answering your questions, big or small! And if it’s by phone call, we might even get you laughing.
- Useful for architects, designers, and engineers working in the building industry.
- We review drawing sets – right from schematic design, through to the preparation of construction documents – to help you catch those red flags early on, and ensure the nitty-gritty meets Building Code before you apply for a building permit.
- “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” – let us save you the frustration that comes along with finding compliance issues before they negatively impact a project and it goes up in flames.
- Useful for anyone leading a building permit application.
- The permitting process can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, we got you! We are here with you every step of the way, and will de-mystify what the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) needs and from whom. AND, we’ll have a heck of a lot of fun along the way.
- Useful for projects in Indigenous communities, on federal lands, or in smaller jurisdictions where the AHJ does not have a Building Code specialist on board.
- Useful for those who desire a single point of contact to ensure consistency amongst all disciplines (architectural, mechanical, electrical, structural).
- We review drawings to ensure projects meet Building Code requirements and provide recommendations for solutions when the designs do not.
- We ensure each discipline’s drawings are Building Code compliant and aligned with the most updated drawing set.
- Useful for anyone experiencing obstacles with applying the prescriptive Building Code requirements to a project.
- Alternative Solutions provide flexibility in design and innovative solutions.
- Engineering Judgements can be extremely helpful in existing buildings where minimum requirements are a challenge to meet.
- Because Alternative Solutions and Engineering Judgements are a different path to compliance, a Building Code specialist is typically required for the design.
- Useful for AHJs looking for additional education and training, third party reviews and interpretations.
- We know how important it is to have your team up to speed, and how hard it is for AHJs to keep up with the constantly changing Construction Codes and associated standards. We work with you to find the best resources needed for your unique challenges.
- We provide project specific, independent opinions of Building Code compliance and matters of interpretation. Please note, this does not replace any municipal or provincial processes.
Placemaking + Creative Building Reuse
We don’t just see how buildings can be better, but also the urban environment around them. We are passionate about creating enchanting and interactive public spaces that foster conversation, a feeling of belonging, and connection to place.
Are you wondering how Kelsey managed to sell the idea that Placemaking fit in with the rest of Totemica’s services? If so, you aren’t the only one.
The obvious answer is that Kelsey and Andrea go together like PB&J and therefore so do Building Code and Placemaking.
To understand the more complex answer, you must be willing to fly like a bird with Kelsey up in the clouds. From the 33,333 ft view, the urban environment is a labyrinth with an endless number of paths to be taken as you go about your day. And we want you to have infinity options to travel through magical spaces as you do so.
As humans, we spend 90% indoors. Even being in the healthiest and most beautiful building does not hold a candle to feeling fresh air on your face and experiencing the weather (as opposed to talking about it). The more outdoor spaces available that you want to be in (even if you don’t know why), the happier your brain and nervous system will be.
Service options coming soon!