A strong foundation: Honouring Jim Montgomery and empowering future engineers

When Gabriel Capettini walks into the I.F. Morrison Structural Engineering Laboratory, he sees more than concrete, steel and hydraulics. He sees possibility. As a structural engineering master’s student at the University of Alberta, he represents the kind of emerging researcher whose work will be supported by a new fund created in honour of a local legend.

Gabriel Capettini (Photo by Christy Dean Photography)

Thanks to the generosity of a group of industry leaders known as the “Friends of Dr. Jim,” the newly established Jim Montgomery Endowment in Structural Engineering is helping fund graduate students like Capettini as they conduct experimental testing that lays a foundation for the future of the field. It’s a gift that aligns with the university’s Shape the Future campaign, supporting student research that advances real-world change.

“An investment like this is phenomenal,” says Capettini. “It means a lot to know that people outside academia believe in us and are willing to support what we’re doing.”

Named for the U of A grad, former professor and renowned structural engineer who is still pushing engineering boundaries, the endowment celebrates Montgomery’s legacy and gives the university community a powerful new landmark: the Jim Montgomery Strongwall.

Towering 30 feet high and six feet thick, the Strongwall is a central fixture of the newly renovated lab. It’s also a massive piece of equipment — one that allows researchers to test how building components perform under extreme forces, such as earthquakes or wind.

“The Strongwall enables us to test full-scale systems that other labs may not be able to accommodate,” says Capettini. “It's the kind of opportunity few students get, and it’s made even more meaningful now that it bears Jim Montgomery’s name.”

Montgomery’s contributions to the field are embedded in the very infrastructure of Edmonton and Alberta. From Edmonton’s Rogers Place to the Walterdale Bridge, from new engineering buildings at the U of A to structural design codes used across the country, his legacy as a mentor, builder and leader spans generations.

The endowment was spearheaded by Jeff DiBattista, a fellow engineer, mentee and friend of Montgomery. Together with colleagues and industry peers — many from design firm DIALOG, where both industry leaders have worked — Friends of Dr. Jim raised more than $140,000 and counting, supporting structural engineering graduate students working in the Morrison Lab.

“Doing what we can to not only honour Jim Montgomery for everything he’s done, but to pay it forward to the next generation is just really satisfying,” says DiBattista. “This endowment ensures that students can continue to do research that impacts not only the profession but our communities.”

That impact, Capettini says, is already visible. With the recent renovations and addition of the Strongwall, the Morrison Lab’s research capabilities have elevated the way they do things and opened doors to innovative structural solutions including seismic-resistant designs. And with new support, the possibilities are expanding.

“This lab makes the U of A one of the top schools for structural engineering in Canada,” says Capettini. “Having a facility like this, and knowing we have the backing of leaders in the industry, gives us the confidence and the means to push boundaries.”

He adds that it makes a big difference knowing people like Montgomery and DiBattista care deeply about student success.

“It reminds us that we’re not alone. We’re part of a community that believes in what we’re capable of.”

On May 15, at a celebration with friends, former students and members of Edmonton’s engineering community, the Strongwall was officially named in Montgomery’s honour. It included the unveiling of original artwork by Michael Zabinski of Hereby Architectural Inc., with fabrication and installation of the artwork donated by Norfab Manufacturing. Now permanently part of the Strongwall, it's a tribute to Montgomery – a man whose work helped define a city — and a reminder that the strongest structures are the ones built to support others.