Western wind lab named historic site
Opened in 1965, the lab has helped to ensure that iconic structures like the CN Tower and the Confederation Bridge are safe.

A lab at Western University has been simultaneously designated a national and international historic site. In April, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the American Society of Civil Engineers gathered at Western’s Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel (BLWT) to unveil a plaque acknowledging the lab’s contributions to the field.

The lab opened in 1965 under the watchful eye of professor Alan Davenport, a civil engineer and pilot whose career-long interest in wind earned him the nickname “wind wizard.” Along with his faculty colleague Jim Stewart, Dr. Davenport designed a 30-metre-long testing tunnel that could mimic the dynamic wind conditions a structure would face in real life, with wind speed reaching up to 88 km/h (until then, most testing assumed uniform air flow). Phase two, including a second tunnel with a top wind speed of 160 km/h and a water tank, was finished in 1984.

The plaque states that the BLWT “developed the science of wind engineering, contributing to the overall reliability and economy of civil engineering structures around Canada and around the world.” The lab has been involved in testing thousands of structures, including Toronto’s CN Tower, the Confederation Bridge in Prince Edward Island, the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago, the Emirates Tower in Dubai and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Share
Most popular
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
Featured Jobs
- Emergency Medical Services - Dr. Ron Stewart EMS Clinician Scientist Dalhousie University
- Psychology - Assistant Professor, 9.5 month TermSaint Mary's University
- Director – Faculty Bargaining ServicesCanadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO)
- Dean, Faculty of Health StudiesBrandon University
More from News
-
Neurodiversity in Canadian postsecondary education
More support and recognition needed according to Conference Board of Canada report.
-
The Scarborough Charter and addressing anti-Black racism among francophone postsecondary institutions in Quebec
Under the charter, Canadian postsecondary institutions pledge to establish frameworks to eliminate anti-Black racism from their campuses.
-
Postsecondary education welcomes new government
Universities will be critical to economic growth, say leaders.
-
Judge overturns Quebec’s tuition hikes on out-of-province students
The decision is a partial victory for McGill and Concordia universities.
More from Campus news
-
Memorial med student makes art to assist classmates’ study
What started as a hobby is now helpful for both his degree and his fellow classmates.
-
UNBC prof developing toolkit to help women feel safe online
‘Digital rights is a very important form of gender equality.’
-
Laurier student’s art featured on a bus for Black History Month
The artist says her work’s impact is like a ripple in water.
-
Canada’s francophone universities: drivers of thriving communities
Despite challenges, Canadian universities in francophone minority settings actively contribute to their communities and the advancement of knowledge.
More from Articles
-
An historic undertaking for Indigenous education in Quebec
Quebec’s first university by and for Indigenous Peoples in partnership with the First Nations Education Council and Quebec universities.
-
Sports administration: an academic boom in a challenging market
Canadian sports administration programs are proliferating, but questions arise about whether available training outstrips job prospects.
-
Five UM scholars named among Canada’s Most Powerful Women
‘I like to think that a powerful woman is one who has the wherewithal to bring out the best in those she leads, mentors, and serves.’
-
UCalgary postdoc studying how to protect cattle from pesky flies
Not just a nuisance, flies pose potential health and behavioural risks to cows.
Post a comment
University Affairs moderates all comments according to the following guidelines. If approved, comments generally appear within one business day. We may republish particularly insightful remarks in our print edition or elsewhere.
1 Comments
I am wondering if the wind tunnel lab also tested the effects on pedestrians walking past these wind safe buildings.