The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has appointed Dr. Guido Wimmers as the new dean of the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment (SOCE). He will take over from Wayne Hand, who has been dean since 2015.

In this role, Wimmers will lead the team of faculty and staff across the school’s full-time and flexible learning programs, while also providing critical support in ensuring academic excellence and innovating to build an agile workforce.

Wimmers earned his Ph.D. from the Doctoral Program in Engineering Science and a Master’s degree in Architectural Engineering from Leopold Franzens University in Innsbruck, Austria. He brings extensive industry leadership in the field of sustainable construction practices.

Prior to moving to Canada in 2007, Wimmers collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams across Austria, Germany, and Italy, focusing on energy-efficient and sustainable building projects. In B.C., he played an instrumental role in the implementation of the International Passive House Standards in B.C. and across Canada.

Wimmer’s distinguished career led him to a tenured professorship at the University of Northern British Columbia where, in 2014, he assumed the role of inaugural chair of a novel Master of Engineering Program in Timber Engineering. Under his leadership, an interdisciplinary curriculum emerged that seamlessly integrated modern timber engineering, building physics, prefabrication principles, and practical project experience. In addition, he was pivotal in the design and construction of the Wood Innovation Research Laboratory, which allowed for the testing of large-scale integrated wood structures using engineered wood products.

Wimmer has previously served as a consultant for the City of Vancouver, and the BC Construction Association’s Construction Innovation Committee.