UCalgary academic leader inducted into National Academy of Construction

Dr. Janaka Ruwanpura, vice-provost and associate vice-president of research (international) at the University of Calgary, was recently inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Construction for his outstanding contributions to the construction industry.

The citation of his election describes Dr. Ruwanpura as an “esteemed university leader with an international reputation for excellence in project management and best practices research and creator of collaborative degrees and funding models for students."

Ruwanpura, as a longtime professor of civil engineering in the Schulich School of Engineering, is the fourth Canadian and first Calgarian to receive this honour among hundreds of elite members who are committed to advancing the North American construction industry. In 2019, he was also recognized by his Alma Mater at Arizona State University with a distinguished Alumni Award.

He has been an academic staff member in Schulich since 2001 and held a Canada Research Chair Tier 2 in Project Management Systems. The senior leader was also a director of the Centre for Project Management Excellence before he became a senior leadership team member at UCalgary in 2013.

Ruwanpura has construction and engineering degrees from the University of Moratuwa, Arizona State University and the University of Alberta.  Additionally, and as a mentor and supervisor of over 150 graduate students, he produced more than 180 refereed publications. Ruwanpura also led the development of many best practices and tools through research in construction engineering, civil engineering and project management. He developed a toolbox of 10 targets for improving construction productivity, and the i-Booth© kiosk, which is now in commercial use as an electronic tool to deliver information, drawings and details to managers on the job site.

“I want to warmly congratulate Dr. Ruwanpura on his induction into the National Academy of Construction. It is a testament to his expertise, collaboration, and leadership abilities. His academic, innovative and research-intensive contributions in the areas of engineering and construction are ‘game changers,’ ” says Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor, University of Calgary.

Ruwanpura has also earned accolades for his work in developing a more productive and efficient workforce in the Canadian construction industry. For his efforts to showcase Canada internationally, he was awarded the Walter Shanly Career in Construction Engineering Award from the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the Industry Partnership Award from Calgary Construction Association.

He is a licensed professional engineer in Alberta and a professional quantity surveyor in Canada. He is also a professional/chartered member of the global Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, which is based in the United Kingdom, and a fellow of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering.