ABOUT
N48 Origin
"Great projects come from strong relationships"
North 48 Engineering takes its name from the place we call home. Victoria sits north of the 48th parallel, where the Salish Sea meets the Pacific coast. We're rooted in a region where communities value thoughtful design, long-term stewardship, and buildings that stand the test of time. More than a coordinate, N48 is where we've built our careers, our relationships, and the communities we're proud to serve.
After more than six decades of combined experience, Taio Waldhaus and Rob Walter founded N48 with a simple idea: great projects come from strong relationships. They wanted to create a firm where clients always know who's doing the work, where decisions are made by experienced engineers, and where attention is focused on the craft of design and project execution.
Today, N48 focuses on the kinds of projects that have defined their careers: recreation and aquatic facilities across Canada, and civic, institutional, and residential buildings close to home. The work is technically demanding, deeply rewarding, and exactly what the firm was created to do.
How We Work
We take the time to understand what a building needs to do, not just technically, but for the people who will use it and the operators who will maintain it.
We stay involved through every stage. We respond when we say we will. We tell clients the truth, even when the truth is complicated. And we work hard to make the whole process feel easy.
Rooted Here
We're based in Victoria because this is where we belong. The Pacific Northwest — from its coastline, its climate, and its particular quality of light on the water — shapes how we think about buildings and what they should do.
We believe in permanence, in long-term thinking, in infrastructure that serves communities for generations. The ocean reminds us to think bigger than today, bigger than ourselves — to take in a breath, and take in the view.
48°25'42" N 123°21'53"W
It's where we are, it's who we are.
Trust
North 48 builds long lasting relationships with building owners, operators, and clients by building trust one project at a time. This photo was taken in Christchurch, New Zealand at the Pioneer Recreation and Sports Centre. Rob Walter, Co-Founder of N48 provided the design for the pool systems when the facility was first constructed in 1989. Taio Waldhaus, Co-Founder of N48 is pictured in the filtration room with Nick Yannakis, Director of Aquatic Services at Beca, evaluating the new membrane filtration system currently keeping the water in pristine condition.
Balance
Finding the right balance between client priorities for systems is at the heart of our process. At N48 we pay particular attention to client needs and apply that learning to selecting systems, whether it is capital cost, operational simplicity, sustainability, or innovation. This photo was taken at the Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island after a full renovation of the main campus building originally constructed in 1927. Each traditional heating radiator was removed, shipped to New York for refurbishment, and reinstalled in its original location in the building. This particular radiator was the seat for the Head Boy during morning uniform checks. These nostalgic radiators were connected to a new high efficiency heating system that substantially reduced the campus' carbon and energy consumption.
Craft
We believe that engineering is a craft. With a hi level of coordination and attention to detail, architectural intent can be expressed unfettered from the systems that support a building. At N48 we employ advanced analytical tools that can minimize mechanical systems and reduce cost, while delivering a quality of space that is perfectly comfortable without the occupant knowing how it was delivered. This photo captures piping connecting air source heat pumps to the Temasewtx Aquatic Centre in New Westminster. When swimmers look up at the natatorium's CLT ceiling, they don't see any mechanical systems but experience some of the best air quality of any pool in British Columbia.
Trust
Clients feel heard, informed, and taken care of from the first conversation to final commissioning.
Balance
Calibrated to every client.
Between cost and sustainability.
Between performance and simplicity.
Craft
Good engineering looks effortless. We've spent our careers honing the details so buildings work efficiently and systems blend seamlessly.
Every project starts with a conversation.
Tell us about yours.