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TOBIAS FAST
Partner at Fast + Epp
TOBIAS FAST became Partner at Fast + Epp at just 33 years
old, a milestone that recognizes his exceptional technical leadership, business impact, and role in shaping the future of the
structural engineering 昀椀rm. A highly accomplished structural
engineer, Tobias holds a Master of Applied Science in Structural
& Earthquake Engineering and a Bachelor of Applied Science
in Civil Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Licensed as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng., P.E.) and Structural
Engineer (Struct. Eng.), he began his international career working with top engineering 昀椀rms in New York and London. He later spent time in Fast + Epp’s Frankfurt o昀케ce before joining the
Vancouver team, building a diverse portfolio that ranges from
Manhattan skyscrapers and tensioned structures at the London
Zoo to major civic and institutional developments.
As Engineer-of-Record, Tobias leads several of the 昀椀rm’s
most signi昀椀cant and complex structural projects across North
America. His project portfolio includes Sixth & Blanco in Austin,
Texas—a hybrid mass timber mixed-use development spanning an entire city block—and the Harry Jerome Community
Recreation Centre in North Vancouver, which stands as the
city’s largest capital project to date. He also led the structural
design for the Williams College Museum of Art in Massachusetts, a 76,800-square-foot mass timber structure de昀椀ned by a
highly complex, warped cross-laminated timber (CLT) roof that
demanded precise coordination between architects, engineers,
fabricators, and contractors. Additionally, he served as Engineer-of-Record for the Smith Athletic Park indoor soccer facility
in Langley, BC, featuring expressive glulam arches.
In addition to his project portfolio, Tobias oversees Fast +
Epp’s Concept Lab, the 昀椀rm’s dedicated research and development hub focused on driving structural engineering innovation.
Under his oversight, the Concept Lab explores novel materials and computational design approaches through physical
testing. This work has yielded commercialized solutions for the
built environment, such as the TCN timber connection detail
to streamline on-site assembly, while validating structural
strategies that have directly in昀氀uenced building code changes
and broader industry standards. Tobias has also spearheaded
the 昀椀rm’s digital practice by re昀椀ning BIM work昀氀ows, creating
internal software tools, and launching applications like the Bay
Design Tool to accelerate emerging tech adoption.
Tobias combines technical excellence with a collaborative,
people-昀椀rst approach. Known for his calm decision-making
and ability to simplify intricate engineering problems, he
creates an environment where multidisciplinary teams align
ambitious architecture with practical constructability. He takes
an active role in mentoring younger engineers, regularly shares
practical lessons at industry conferences on mass timber and
computational design, and helps foster a learning culture built
on curiosity and trust.
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SITE REPORTS
TOBIAS' professional background spans the globe. He's
worked in New York, London and Frankfurt.
In 2023, Tobias was named a Partner at Fast + Epp, joining
Paul Fast and Robert Jackson in the firm’s leadership.
What their peers said: "Tobias is an exceptional leader at Fast
+ Epp. He brings a really collaborative approach to the work he
does, is a mentor to young engineers, and contributes to our
greater industry through the testing & research we do through
our Concept Lab."
