Waterloo
Key Team Members
Whether it’s as part of a design team for a new construction project, developing energy efficient enclosure strategies, or working with a with a condominium owner group to plan for the renewal and maintenance of their building, our knowledge and experience is what sets us apart.
Chris Schumacher | M.A.Sc.
Principal, Senior Building Science Specialist
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.
Jonathan Smegal | M.A.Sc.
Associate, Senior Building Science Consultant
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.
Dr. John Straube | PhD, P.Eng.
Principal, Senior Building Science Specialist
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 Miller | P.Eng., LEED AP, CCCA
Principal, Building Science Specialist
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.
Related Case Studies
Explore the projects that have made RDH one of the leading building enclosure consulting firms in North America. From cutting-edge research facilities and institutional buildings, to soaring towers, residential condominiums and emerging urban districts, we are proud of our diverse portfolio of work.
Conventional Roofing Study
In conventional low-slope roof assemblies, also known as exposed-membrane roof assemblies, the membrane is on the exterior of the roof insulation and structure, exposing it to exterior conditions including temperature, solar heat gains, night sky cooling, abrasion, and dirt.
Read MoreDörken Systems Research + Development Study
We undertook a research and product development study to assist our client, Dörken Systems (then Cosella-Dörken), in developing best practices for window rough opening preparation and window installation using their DELTA®-VENT SA membrane, DELTA®-FLASH, and other products.
Read MoreToronto Community Housing ReSet Energy Program
As a building ages, the building owner is presented with opportunities to improve the building’s energy efficiency through renewal or rehabilitation.
Read More