For more than two decades, city building inspector Dave Piotrowsky has worked to improve the life-safety features of residential and commercial buildings throughout Ottawa, city officials said.

To honor his 25 years of service with the planning and codes department, the City of Ottawa has scheduled a public retirement reception for Piotrowsky for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the city commission chambers at City Hall, 101 S. Hickory St., Ottawa.

For more than two decades, city building inspector Dave Piotrowsky has worked to improve the life-safety features of residential and commercial buildings throughout Ottawa, city officials said.

To honor his 25 years of service with the planning and codes department, the City of Ottawa has scheduled a public retirement reception for Piotrowsky for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday in the city commission chambers at City Hall, 101 S. Hickory St., Ottawa.

“I am thankful for Dave’s commitment to the community and his years of service here, and I hope others will join us in celebrating with him,” Richard Nienstedt, city manager, said in a news release.

Piotrowsky, who began his career with the city in 1987, has ensured Ottawa structures met uniform building codes, along with the associated plumbing, mechanical, electrical and other codes, city officials said. He is certified in a number of areas including building plans examiner, building official, combination residential inspection and commercial building inspection, the news release said.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Dave’s experience and certifications serving our community, and we will miss his skills a great deal,” Wynndee Lee, the city’s planning and codes director, said. “But we will also miss him as a great person in our department, who has been an enduring support for each of us in various struggles we all have faced over the years.”

Piotrowsky said he has enjoyed the relationships he has formed, both within the city as well as with contractors, designers and homeowners through the years.

The American Eagle Outfitters building project in the Ottawa Industrial Park is one of the more notable projects of his career, Piotrowsky said, because of its sheer size and complexity.  

“I have seen lots of buildings constructed, some demolition as well, but a great deal of change has occurred in that 25 years,” Piotrowsky said. “American Eagle was a tremendous project to work on, both the complexity as well as the design studies and testing to demonstrate the safety and code issues were being met. I enjoyed the process as well as the designers and managers making it go smoothly.”

Builders have learned to embrace uniform codes through the years as an important part of the construction and redevelopment process, Piotrowsky said in the release.

“When I first began, codes were still seen as a burden, a problem, and that the inspectors were adversaries in the process,” he said. “Over time and experience, as well as developing relationships, we have tried and often succeeded in being seen as partners in the process, to help the contractor and owner alike. The importance and values of codes by others has grown.”  

Kyle Trendel, owner of Devore + Associates Architects, 210 W. 13th St., Ottawa, agreed with Piotrowsky’s assessment of the industry.  

“It has been a pleasure working with Dave over the past six years,” Devore said. “He has added to the success of many projects throughout the city because of his knowledge and insight with an easy communication style.”