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Let’s be real: most modern houses are just expensive boxes of air wrapped in white drywall. You walk in, it’s clean, it’s "minimalist," and it’s about as soulful as a hospital wing. We’re over it. At Bolen Engineering, we spend our days staring at the bones of buildings, and we’ve realized that the best bones don't need to be hidden behind a layer of gypsum. Enter Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). If you haven’t met CLT yet, think of it as plywood on steroids: massive, structural

Location: Kelowna, BC Kelowna is the kind of place that makes people want to build well. Big views, steep sites, evolving neighbourhoods, and a community that cares what gets added to the landscape. That’s exactly why we’re excited to be here. Bolen Engineering is officially planting a flag in Kelowna. We’re here to work alongside the local community and help homeowners, builders, and architects move projects forward with sharp structural thinking, clear communication, and a

OVERVIEW Location: Western Canada Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) rebar, also known as glass fiber reinforced polymer rebar, is one of the most interesting shifts happening in structural engineering right now. It is an innovator’s playground: a material that challenges old assumptions, opens up better ways to build, and makes “that’s how it’s always been done” sound pretty tired. The case for paying attention is simple: superior corrosion resistance, lower embodied car

Location: Every Job Site from Victoria to Golden, BC If you’ve been framing houses in British Columbia for more than a minute, you probably have a rhythm. You know where the studs go, you know how to slap on the OSB, and you know that "lateral loads" are just a fancy way of saying "don't let the wind knock this thing over." But since March 10, 2025, that rhythm has hit a massive speed bump. The seismic changes within Part 9 of the 2024 BC Building Code (BCBC) aren't just a mi

The regulatory landscape for residential construction in British Columbia is defined by the BC Building Code (BCBC). Within this framework, Part 9 governs the design and construction of housing and small buildings. While Part 9 provides prescriptive paths for wood-frame construction, the transition from prescriptive design to required professional engineering is often determined by project complexity, geographic location, and specific municipal bylaws. At Bolen Engineering, w