Waterloo

Chris is recognized as an expert in the field of building monitoring as well as enclosure and building systems testing. Chris’s formal education in architecture and engineering is balanced by two decades of building enclosure design and testing experience.

Chris oversees much of the work done through RDH Building Science Laboratories, and he regularly consults on the development of experimental test programs for academic institutions, building product manufacturers, and government agencies.

Examples of Chris’s research work include the Thermal Metric Project, a multiyear investigation of thermal performance in full-scale wall assemblies; and the development of an apparatus and test method that measures dense-pack airflow resistance to support the development of the Building Performance Institute’s test standard BPI-103 and material standard BPI-102.

Before joining RDH, Chris was a founding principal of Building Science Consulting Inc. and a founding partner of Balanced Solutions Inc., an innovative Canadian building science RD&D consultancy.

Based in Waterloo, Jonathan is an important part of our Building Science Laboratories team. He regularly leads laboratory research, forensic analysis of building failures, hygrothermal modeling, and field monitoring of building enclosure performance.

A trusted resource, Jonathan has managed more than a dozen full-scale field tests of wall and roof performance in various locations throughout North America. He has also been involved with numerous new construction site audits for residential and commercial construction, from the design phase through to the final walk-through.

In 2007, Jonathan completed his master’s thesis on Drainage in Small Cavities in Wall Systems as part of the Building Engineering Group at the University of Waterloo. This research has been published in various forms, and he presented it at the Alaska Building Science Network conference and the 11th Canadian Conference on Building Science and Technology.

A prominent figure throughout North America, Dr. Straube is an influential and driving force in the industry. Well-known in a variety of building science and research circles, he helps guide the direction of RDH and is seen as a mentor to all levels of staff.

He has broad experience in the building industry and is considered an international expert, having been involved in the design, construction, repair, and restoration of buildings in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.

Dr. Straube is also known for his academic contributions as an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Architecture at the University of Waterloo, where he teaches courses in structural design, material science, and building science to both disciplines.

Ian brings technical rigor, building science innovation, and restoration ingenuity to RDH. When he joined RDH’s Waterloo, Ontario, office in 2024 as a Principal, Ian was already well-versed in critical building science fundamentals and state-of-the-art technologies that can deliver climate-responsive, durable, and comfortable buildings to end users. He is passionate about the impact building science has on the built environment and on helping RDH’s clients reach their climate goals.

Whether contributing his knowledge to new construction or the rehabilitation, restoration, or renovation of an existing structure, Ian supports designers’ efforts to realize their vision without compromising integrity. His deep understanding of design and architecture at the intersection of building science fundamentals allows him to optimize projects for value, efficiency, energy performance, and resiliency at every turn.

Ian has also given numerous talks for industry groups, tradeshows, and conferences. He has presented guest lectures to the University of Waterloo engineering program and provided industry mentoring for Architectural Engineering student projects.