Irish 3D imaging technology to speed up construction projects

April 2021

Canadian Architect and Twenty + Change : Open Call for Emerging Practices (Deadline next week!)

April 2021

Metro Vancouver home sales hit all time record in March: real estate board

Building Magazine - Home sales and new listings set all-time records across Metro Vancouver last month, reports the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Amazon to bring workers back to offices by fall

Building Magazine - Amazon plans to have its employees return to the office by fall as the tech giant transitions away from the remote work it implemented for many workers due to the coronavirus pandemic....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Construction industry forecasted to need 300k more workers by 2030

Construction Canada- Construction requirements across Canada are expected to rebound in 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and rise through the coming decade—albeit at more muted levels than in the past 10 years.................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Small business struggling amid COVID 19 pandemic looks for aid in Liberals’ budget

Building Magazine- A group representing thousands of the country’s small businesses says many hope the Trudeau Liberals heed their concerns and reshape aid in the upcoming federal budget to help them survive the COVID-19 pandemic................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Toronto boasts two-fifths of North America’s tower cranes in latest tally

Building Magazine- When COVID-19 began spreading across Canada, the newly formed Broken Heart Love Affair creative agency had set up in a Toronto lightbulb plant-turned office building originally built in 1908...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Toronto boasts two-fifths of North America’s tower cranes in latest tally

ON-Site Magazine- Nearly 43 per cent of the tower cranes at work on skylines in 14 of North America’s largest urban centres are concentrated in a single city..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Revealing plans for Toronto’s Golden Mile Shopping Centre redevelopment

Building Magazine- Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (Choice Properties) has announced a new partnership with the Daniels Corporation (Daniels) to revitalize and redevelop phase one of its 8-ha (19-acre) Golden Mile Shopping Centre in Toronto, adjacent to the new Eglinton Crosstown LRT.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Canada’s Q1 downtown office vacancy rate rises to 14.3%, 4th straight gain

Building Magazine- Fengate, working on behalf of the LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada (LPFCEC), CRAFT Development Group, and Kingsmen Group Inc. have announced their co-development partnership for the ORCA Project in downtown Toronto.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Canada’s Q1 downtown office vacancy rate rises to 14.3%, 4th straight gain

Building Magazine- CBRE says Canada’s downtown office vacancy rate increased for the fourth consecutive quarter to reach 14.3 per cent as more properties became available in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal in recent months............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Toronto home sales up 97% in March, prices up as demand outstrips new listing

Building Magazine- The competition for Toronto homes remained intense in March as prices continued their steady rise and sales almost doubled from last year, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board reported Tuesday...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

OAQ unveils the 2021 Architecture Awards of Excellence winners

Canadian Interiors- The Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ) unveiled the 11 winners of its Architecture Awards of Excellence for 2021 during an online gala..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Future Ways of Hybrid Working

Canadian Interiors- As the majority of us remain working from home, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that businesses are still unsure of how they will continue to work in the future.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

The world’s first 3D-printed school is taking shape in Madagascar

Construction Links Network- Non-profit organisation Thinking Huts has partnered with architectural design agency Studio Mortazavi to create the world’s first 3D-printed school on the campus of a university in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. It is aiming to tackle the shortage of educational infrastructure which in many countries contributes to fewer children getting a good education........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Ontario investing in wearable contact tracing technology to help protect workers

Construction Links Network- The Ontario government is providing Facedrive Inc. with $2.5 million through the Ontario Together Fund to accelerate the deployment of its wearable contact tracing technology, TraceSCAN, which alerts users within a workplace who have been in close contact with individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. The company anticipates manufacturing about 150,000 devices under this project and creating 68 new jobs, including software, firmware and hardware engineers and machine learning specialists...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

A woman’s perspective on life in the construction field

On-Site Magazine-As a little girl, I must admit, a career in construction was not the most obvious choice. I recall enjoying the arts; I had a passion for drawing and painting, though I was proficient in science and math..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

April 2021

Home sales shifting towards pricier housing in several major markets, CMHC says

On-Site Magazine- The federal housing agency attributed the shift to fewer new immigrants, government relief programs that helped Canadians manage costs and pandemic-related employment troubles, which disproportionately kept younger and lower-paid Canadians out of the market...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

CMHC’s latest Housing Market Analysis cites imbalances, overheating, overvaluation

Building Magazine- According to the CMHC, sustained housing price increases still outpacing the recovery in fundamental factors, such as labour income, means Canada’s national housing market remains moderately vulnerable, with more pronounced vulnerabilities in large cities and smaller centres..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Toronto rents were supposed to drop as people fled the city during COVID 19. The data tells a much different story

Building Magazine- For apartment dwellers like Alex Venuto, the COVID-19 pandemic looked like an opportunity. After years of an impossibly tight Toronto vacancy rate, there were reports that the downtown had emptied out, leaving unoccupied units and landlords competing for tenants.........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Canada FIRST design team selected by Laboratories Canada

Construction Canada - Laboratories Canada (LabsCanada) has selected a joint venture team (known as Canada FIRST) comprising Architecture49, HOK, and WSP to design projects in the Ontario Regional Projects (LC) bundle........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Toronto architects present alternative design vision for The Foundry

Canadian Architect - An urban oasis that is safe, enlightening and engaging. A dynamic open space for festivals, performances, and celebrations big and small. A hub for activities for children, adults, and families all year round.......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Halifax building named after the construction crane that fell on it during storm

Building Magazine - An apartment building in downtown Halifax that was under construction when a crane fell on it during post-tropical storm Dorian has been renamed after the disaster that made it famous......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

The Importance of Keeping a Heritage Property/Building

Building Magazine - The connection between an organization and its buildings is perhaps no better demonstrated than in Freemasonry. In almost every city and town, Masonic Temples represent not only Masonic Homes, but a Community and Cultural Landmarks......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Vancouver commercial real estate investment activity picks up: Altus Group report

Building Magazine - Commercial real estate investment activity in the Vancouver market area picked up in the fourth quarter of 2020, closing out the year on a high note, according to Altus Group.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Arts Umbrella announces opening of new arts education facility

Building Magazine - Arts Umbrella is opening its brand-new arts education facility this April on Granville Island, Vancouver’s arts and culture hub....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Women in Contracting

Canadian Contractor - In March 2021, Canadian Contractor joined B2B trade channels across the country to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of women in construction across Canada and promote the next generation of young female leaders in our industry...................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

All-Female Construction Team Behind National Park

The B1M - AN ALL-FEMALE construction team is behind one of San Francisco’s largest new land projects.The Presidio Tunnel Tops project contains 5.6 hectares of new national parkland with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco..................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Five inspiring female architects changing the world with their work

The B1M - As part of our celebrations to mark Women in Construction Week 2021, we've rounded-up five incredible female architects who are smashing glass ceilings, inspiring young girls and changing the world with their work..................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

This abandoned gas plant from 1905 has found new life as an office

The B1M - CONSTRUCTION has begun on the new Madrid headquarters for Spanish infrastructure company Acciona.................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

CMHC says annual pace of housing starts in Canada slowed in February

Building Magazine - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in February slowed compared with January.................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Canadian households added record mortgage debt in Q4: StatCan

Building Magazine - Canadian households piled up a record amount of mortgage debt for the second quarter in a row amid low interest rates and high housing prices, Statistics Canada..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Women in Contracting

Canadian Contractor - Canadian Contractor joined B2B trade channels across the country to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of women in construction across Canada and promote the next generation of young female leaders in our industry...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Condo sales soar in Quebec City in February

Building Magazine - Residential real estate market statistics for the Quebec City Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) for the month of February have been released by the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB), based on the real estate brokers’ Centris provincial database...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Consultant evaluates the pros and cons of simulation software systems for construction

Daily Commercial News - Energy simulation software has come a long way in a short time to help building designers reduce the cost of energy in buildings...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Three-tower development in Kelowna to feature tallest building in B.C.’s Interior

Construction Canada - Kelowna, B.C., city council has approved Water Street by the Park, a three-tower development that includes 650 homes, 4181 m2 (45,000 sf) of retail and restaurant space, and what will be the tallest tower in B.C.’s Interior, standing at 133 m (442 ft) once completed...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

RIBA unearths archived talks from leading female architects

Architects' Journal - The RIBA has published four lectures by leading female architects of the 20th century, after rediscovering the recordings among the four million items in its archive..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

The hired fleet: New tech helps contractors manage deliveries from numerous haulers

On-Site Magazine - According to an infographic published by the Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel Association (OSSGA), up to 5,000 long haul trucks in both directions are transporting aggregates each day into the Greater Toronto Area alone..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Workplace Balance: First Gulf

Candian Interiors- Having worked with the developer on a variety of residential projects, First Gulf invited Figure3 to design a new workplace for their staff of 180, who had been working in a space of high cubicles and siloed work.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Building for Recovery coalition pushes governments to invest in infrastructure

Candian Consulting Engineer - The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada (ACEC-Canada), the Canadian Construction Association (CCA), the National Trade Contractors Council of Canada (NTCCC) and Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) have formed the new Building for Recovery coalition to urge the federal and provincial governments to deliver investments in infrastructure............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Construction groups warn homeowners to get quotes, ask questions as building boom continues

Construction Links Network- Two P.E.I. associations in the home construction and renovation industry say they are receiving weekly calls from home owners who are dissatisfied with the contractors or builders they’ve hired...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Construction industry fears a skilled-trades shortage

Construction Links Network-A new study by the Institute for Work and Health has found that lost-time injury claims to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) are 31 per cent lower on unionized building trade construction jobs than they are in a non-union environment. The study also found that claims for severe injuries are 29 per cent lower on union job sites..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Construction industry fears a skilled-trades shortage

Construction Links Network- Like so many other sectors, the trades are not immune from the wave of baby boomers set to retire in the coming decade, adding urgency to the recruitment of younger and underrepresented people, those in construction say.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

FABG architects designs glass pavilion to house Montréal university’s emergency facilities

Construction Canada- McGill University, Montréal, Qué., needed a new building to house three 1.5 MW emergency facilities, generators that will protect research activities in the event of a power outage.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Canada invests $31M in project to revamp public spaces in response to COVID-19

Construction Canada- The nearly $500-million project, which includes a theatre-style entertainment venue and hotel complex, will be the first new sports or entertainment venue built in Toronto since the BMO Field in 2007 and promises to be an unparalleled experience for fans and performance artists alike......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Canada invests $31M in project to revamp public spaces in response to COVID-19

Construction Canada- The Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Canadian government to transform public spaces in response to COVID-19......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Top 5 Coolest Buildings of 2020

Construct Connect - In a normal year, we typically see a few of the projects we have in early consideration get delayed or postponed, and 2020 was no exception, thanks in no small part to the coronavirus pandemic......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Colour Your World: products in Pantone’s 2021 colours

Canadian Interiors- Pantone has always aligned its yearly colour selections with the prevailing mood of the time. 2018 saw Ultra Violet, chosen to communicate originality, ingenuity, and forward-looking thinking: Living Coral’s choice for 2019 was meant to “embrace us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment” and Classic Blue was meant to “bring a sense of peace and tranquility” to 2020............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

W shaped recovery would be ‘very severe’ without government assistance: CMHC

Building Magazine - A W-shaped recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could trigger a nearly 50 per cent drop in housing prices and a peak unemployment rate of 25 per cent, if the government doesn’t offer relief, says the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

Toronto receives Canada’s first IREE certified strata owned condominium

Building Magazine - A strata-owned condominium, YCC 380 at 301 Prudential Drive in Toronto, has become the first private multi-unit residential building (MURB) in Canada to achieve Investor Ready Energy Efficiency (IREE) certification for an energy efficiency retrofit project............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

March 2021

NEUF architect(e)s launches inter-university program for its 50th anniversary

Canadian Architect- “We are very proud of the thousands of projects completed over the past fifty years, and we are equally proud of the great team we have built. The firm would have never come this far without the talent of our remarkable staff, and it is thanks to them that we will continue on our path of success for the next half-century,” said Bruno St-Jean, President and Partner, NEUF architect(e)s.............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Feds promise billions in new funds to build, expand public transit systems

On-Site Mag- The federal Liberal government is promising cash-strapped cities billions of dollars in permanent funding for their public-transit systems — though most of the money won’t start flowing until later in the decade.............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

City of Toronto partners with YWCA Toronto to open new affordable housing

Building Magazine- The city of Toronto officially opened an affordable and permanent supportive rental housing building that includes 120 apartments for women at 389 Church St. Operated by the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Toronto, the self-contained apartments provides a safe and supportive community for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women, gender diverse people, and youth and seniors who have experienced or who are at risk of experiencing homelessness............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

EllisDon Launches Community Builders Group to Deliver Affordable Housing

Building Magazine- EllisDon officially announced the launch of EllisDon Community Builders (EDCB), a new group within the company to assist clients who wish to deliver affordable and supportive housing............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Zaha Hadid Architects to design world’s first all-wood football stadium

Construction Canada- The English Football League has approved proposals by Forest Green Rovers to move into a 5000-seat, all-timber football stadium in Gloucestershire, England, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects...........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Kollectif portrays buildings and their designers with #WhoIsTheArchitect

Canadian Architect- To mark its 15th anniversary, Quebec-based architecture news site Kollectif has launched a social media campaign under the hashtags #quiestlarchitecte and #WhoIsTheArchitect. The effort aims to underscore the importance of naming architects and designers when buildings are featured in the news and on social media..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Salesforce outlines plans for the physical office, 9-5 workday

Building Magazine- Headquartered in San Francisco, Salesforce, the cloud-based software maker has made the statement that it will let most of its employees work remotely post-Covid, at least for part of the week. Similar announcements have been made by other tech giants such as Facebook and Twitter..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

'One Ontario’ aims to streamline development application approvals

Canadian Consulting Engineer- The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (ACEC-Ontario) is among the supporters for ‘One Ontario,’ a new collaborative initiative that aims to standardize and streamline the development application approval process across the province..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Emerging robotics technology may lead to better buildings in less time

Construction Links Network- Purdue University innovators developed and are testing a novel construction robotic system that uses an innovative mechanical design with advances in computer vision sensing technology to work in a construction setting..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Investment in Canadian building construction increased 1.5% in December

Construction Links Network- Statistics Canada reports that total investment in building construction increased 1.5% in December, following three consecutive months of declines. Investment in the residential sector reached a record high of $11.1 billion.On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction increased 1.0% to $12.2 billion in December.........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Technology Redefining the Construction Industry

Construction Links Network- There is a reason the adoption of technology is gaining momentum. It’s potential to improve jobsite operations gives companies a significant competitive advantage by connecting worksites, monitoring equipment costs and increasing productivity – even addressing challenges like remote site management........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Booming construction sector still subject to insurance market challenges

Construction Links Network- The construction sector has often been called the backbone of the Canadian economy, employing more than 1.2 million workers that represent around 7% of the total Canadian workforce. This sector is also expected be worth $455 billion by 2024, according to Randstad – nothing to sneer at as COVID-19 continues to take a toll on many other industries and the broader national economy........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

How cities can unlock the potential of laneway housing

Building Magazine- In Toronto, someone making $50,000 can only afford a one-bedroom unit in three of the city’s 140 neighbourhoods, forcing one-in-five renters to live in overcrowded shared apartments. To combat this issue, cities are building taller and taller condo towers to create more units. However, these towers are radically changing the surrounding neighbourhoods without improving affordability.......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Library and Archives Canada reaches significant enhancements to achieve net-zero carbon

Building Magazine- Significant enhancements to achieve net-zero carbon are being made to the joint Ottawa Public Library (OPL)–Library and Archives Canada (LAC) facility, which will soon take shape in downtown Ottawa......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Canadian employment drops in January, but construction bucks trend with big gain

On-Site Magazine- The construction labour market posted a strong showing to start 2021, even as employment in other parts of the Canadian economy slipped due to renewed COVID-19 restrictions.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Ontario begins reopening, loosening restrictions for construction projects

On-Site Magazine - Job sites not deemed essential under Ontario’s stay-at-home order last month will gradually be allowed to reopen throughout February......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

New flooring wayfinding by Mannington Commercial reflects current reality

Candian Interiors- Mannington Commercial is introducing a product- based solution called Wayfinding LVT to help interior designers and facility managers create safe commercial spaces.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

FABG architects designs an award-winning Cultural Center

Candian Interiors- A winner of an architectural competition held for the conversion of the Guy-Gagnon Arena into a Cultural Center for the borough of Verdun, Quai 5160 includes a 360-seat performance room, an art gallery, a mediation room, a circus school for the children of the neighborhood as well as the additional offices and spaces necessary to implement this mission.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Toronto architects share their design solutions to working and learning at home

Candian Architect- With offices closed during the pandemic and many kids kept out of the classroom, families have scrambled to carve out functional remote-learning spaces in homes that weren’t designed for the job.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

2021 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards program opens for entries!

Candian Construction Engineer- Today, the 2021 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards program officially opens for entries, with a new, streamlined, fully online process....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Work from home tax deduction could cost feds $260 million in lost revenue, PBO says

Building Magazine- The parliamentary budget officer says the federal government could lose out on $260 million from a simplified federal tax measure to let Canadians write off working from home due to the pandemic...................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Empire Communities Announces New Rental Housing Division

Building Magazine- Empire Communities has announced the company’s expansion into rental housing with the formation of Empire Rental Living, a vertically-integrated developer, builder, and operator of built-for-rent single-family and multi-family rental communities..................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

High demand and higher prices for Vancouver real estate in January: board

Building Magazine - Homes sales in much of Metro Vancouver in January increased by 52.1 per cent compared with sales from the same time last year................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Ontario launches first aid consultations to better protect workers

Canadian Interiors- IThe Ontario government has launched a consultation to modernize first aid requirements, with a focus on a proposal to enhance health and safety training standards at all workplaces.................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

IKEA celebrates festive family gatherings with a new collection

Canadian Interiors- IKEA Canada welcomes a new collection inspired by the colours and patterns of the Middle East. The vibrant production, entitled LJUVARE, celebrates festive family get togethers that embrace warm days and cool starry desert nights................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

UBC seeks submissions for the 2021 Margolese National Design for Living Prize

Construction Canada- The University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) is calling for nominations for the Margolese National Design for Living Prize, a $50,000 award recognizing a Canadian citizen who is making a profound and positive impact on the built environment through design................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Toyota Mobility Foundation Announces Finalists for the City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge

Building Magazine - The Toyota Mobility foundation (TMF) has announced RUNWITHIT Synthetics, among six solution ideas, as finalists for the City Architecture for Tomorrow Challenge (CATCH) program...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Toronto pilot project to examine ways to increase ‘missing middle’ in housing market

Building Magazine - Beaches-East York has been chosen as the location of a new housing pilot project aimed at expanding affordable housing options or the “missing middle” in the City of Toronto..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

CCDC releases service contract for consulting engineers

Candian Consulting Engineer - The Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) has introduced a new standard service contract to ensure fairness and balance between consulting engineers and project owners.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

5 Tips to Get Sustainable Building Materials Specified

Construct Connect - As a building product manufacturer, are you currently producing sustainable building products and materials? Over the past couple of decades, green and sustainable construction has slowly gone mainstream.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

What every architect needs to know about air and SarsCov2

Canadian Architect - A single strategy is like a single barrier, full of holes. A number of slices of defences adds up towards a near blockage of transmission – they all need to be taken together..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Sustainable Architecture and Concrete – Why They Can Work Well Together

Construction Links Network - Sustainable architecture and concrete are not always considered compatible. After all, the production of concrete is known as the cause for at least 8% of the world’s carbon emissions. It’s why many concrete producers nowadays are creating their own low-carbon concrete mixes. And it’s also why some architects are hesitant about their use of concrete.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Over 3k construction jobs lost in December

Construction Canada - Employment in Canada decreased by 28,800 jobs from November to December according to the December ADP Canada National Employment Report..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

U.S. GDP Growth and Initial Jobless Claims Bring Small Smiles

Construct Connect - There have been two important U.S. economic data releases today: (1) advance estimates of Q4 and full year 2020 gross domestic product (GDP) growth; and (2) the latest weekly initial jobless claims number............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

How Technology Can Solve Construction's Trades Shortage

Construct Connect - According to the 2020 Workforce Survey by the Associated General Contractors of America, more than half of responding construction firms said they could not find enough skilled tradespeople for their open jobs............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

In 2020, U.S. and Canadian Homebuilding Fought the Pandemic and Prevailed

Construct Connect - Housing starts in the U.S. and Canada plunged during the several months of late winter and early spring of last year, when the coronavirus arrived in North America as an almost entirely unknown but frightening force. At the time, employment suffered a huge hit and there was an expectation by most analysts that new homebuilding activity would be suspended for a long spell...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Expansion of Enwave’s Toronto district heating/cooling network

Canadian Consulting Engineer - New thermal energy storage tanks at 'The Well' development in Toronto's downtown west will provide year-round cooling and heating services..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Toronto condo renters, buyers landed negotiating power as Q4 prices dropped: TRREB

Building Magazine - If you were on the lookout for a Greater Toronto Area condo or apartment to rent or own late last year, new data from the region’s real estate board shows you might have had an edge in negotiations..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Canadian multi-suite residential and industrial real estate to outperform in 2021: Morguard

Building Magazine - Canada’s housing authority says retail, construction and services workers were the most common deferrers of mortgage payments in the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Canadian multi-suite residential and industrial real estate to outperform in 2021: Morguard

Building Magazine - Morguard Corporation released its 2021 Canadian Economic Outlook and Market Fundamentals Report, which reveals 2020 investor confidence in the multi-suite residential and industrial property sectors. Meanwhile, sales of retail and office property softened as a result of heightened sector uncertainty.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

U.S., Canada have lots of common ground, Trudeau says, as Kenney demands action

On-site Magazine - Joe Biden’s White House has a lot in common cause with Canada, Justin Trudeau said Friday as he urged people to look past the new U.S. president’s decision to kill off the Keystone XL pipeline project........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Skyscraper construction took a hit in 2020 due to the pandemic

Construction Canada - For many people, 2020 will be remembered as the year that nothing went to plan. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the same can be said for the tall building industry........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Tens of thousands of construction jobs at risk if government funds do not flow

Construction Canada - The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) is warning that construction jobs and the economic recovery of the province are at risk if the provincial and federal governments do not collaborate on a Safe Restart Agreement 2.0 early on this year........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

A Colourful Past by Giaimo revealed at DesignTO Festival 2021

Canadian Architect - Revealed as part of DesignTO Festival 2021, A Colourful Past transforms the upper windows of The Hermant Building at 19 Dundas Square through vibrant light and patterns, highlighting the many stories of the site and its cultural history........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

UBC opens the Margolese National Design for Living Prize

Canadian Architect - The University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA) has announced a call for nominations for the Margolese National Design for Living Prize, a $50,000 award recognizing a Canadian citizen who is making a profound impact on the built environment.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

CaGBC certifies first arena to zero-carbon standard

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Ottawa’s Amped Sports Lab and Ice Complex is the first arena certified to the Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC’s) Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Performance Standard......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Triax named to Inc’s Best of Business List for reducing COVID-19 risk in the workplace

Construction Links Network - Triax Technologies, Inc., a leading Internet of Things (IoT) worksite platform provider connecting construction, energy, manufacturing and industrial worksites, today announced that it has received the Silver award in the Business Products category of Inc. magazine’s inaugural 2020 Best in Business list.....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Top 10 Major Upcoming Public Building and Defence, Law Enforcement Construction Projects

Construct Connect - The accompanying tables show the top 10 largest upcoming Public Building and Defence, Law Enforcement construction projects in Canada. They are all in the planning stage and are mainly new projects, but may also involve additions and/or alterations.....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

Saskatchewan introduces new Construction Codes Act legislation

Construction Links Network - Government Relations Minister Don McMorris introduced legislation on Monday to repeal and replace The Uniform Building and Accessibility Standards Act (UBAS) with The Construction Codes Act (CCA).....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

New Business Opportunity in Interior Design Market

Building Magazine - The interior design market has been in decline for the past five years. It is saturated and highly competitive. Plenty of designers are available in every city, retail giants keep furniture prices low to stop new market entrants, general contractors are used to three types of offers: repaint, replace and repair............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

No going back: The abrupt turn to technology on job sites looks unstoppable

On-Site Magazine - The global pandemic, which accelerated the construction industry’s drive to adopt technology throughout 2020, may have been an aberration, but the widespread embrace of new tech tools on job sites is here to stay. ............................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

February 2021

GCCA launches a new biodiversity policy

Building Magazine - The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) launched a new policy document which outlines steps that GCCA members commit to taking to work towards the achievement of Net Positive Impact in cement, concrete and aggregates operations...........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Here are the construction activities that are permitted in Ontario

Construction Canada- The Ontario government declared a second provincial emergency under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) on January 12 in response to increasing number of COVID-19 cases. With these guidelines, new measures and restrictions have also been put on construction activity...........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

French hotel combines nature and architecture

Construction Canada- The Breitenbach Landscape Hotel proposes a holistic ecotourism experience in Alsace, a historical region in northeastern France. The project is inspired by Scandinavian traditions and builds on the region’s culinary, wellness, and nature opportunities..........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Urban Land Institute report urges Toronto to improve its aging housing towers

Canadian Architect- The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has released a report based on recommendations from an Advisory Services panel of sustainability and affordable housing experts. The report addresses how the city of Toronto can retrofit its aging apartment buildings to reduce their carbon emissions and be resilient to climate risks, while maintaining affordable rents.........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Promoting Equity & Justice Advisory Committee: RAIC volunteer opportunity

Canadian Architect- The RAIC is calling for volunteer members to serve on its new Promoting Equity & Justice Advisory Committee.The focus of the advisory committee is to support the development and implementation of the RAIC Promoting Equity and Justice Action Plan........................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Two Canadian architecture firms win AIA International Awards

Canadian Architect- Two Canadian architecture firms—HCMA Architecture + Design and PHAEDRUS Studio—have received American Institute of Architects (AIA) International Region Awards, in the Architecture and Interior Architecture categories respectively.......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts down in December

Building Magazine- The annual pace of housing starts in December fell compared with November, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp......................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

4 Common Risk Factors on Construction Projects

Construct Connect- All construction projects carry some level of risk. Being able to identify and manage risks requires skill, careful planning, and being able to make good decisions quickly.....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

7 Construction Technology Trends to Watch in 2021

Construct Connect- Last year was a banner year for construction technology adoption. According to JLL’s State of Construction Tech report, the coronavirus pandemic had a big impact on accelerating tech adoption in the construction industry in 2020....................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Average rent in the GTA down over 16 per cent annually: report

Building Magazine - The average asking monthly rent in the GTA for all property types was down more than 16 per cent year over year in November to $2,056, declining for the 12th straight month, according to the TorontoRentals.com and Bullpen Research & Consulting Toronto, GTA rent report...................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Permitted construction activities under Ontario’s new stay at home order

Building Magazine - Ontario has declared a state of emergency and issued a stay-at-home order that will take effect Thursday January 13 at 12:01 a.m. in response to surging COVID-19 infections that threaten to overrun the health-care system. According to the Province, the COVID-19 Response Framework (colour-coded zones) is paused during this time..................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Oxford unveils plan for 3 million square foot mixed use development at Yonge & Eglinton

Building Magazine - Oxford Properties Group (Oxford) submitted a rezoning application for Canada Square to redevelop the 9.2 acre midtown site with a 3 million square foot mixed-use masterplan.................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Construction loses jobs in December, faces spectre of further lockdowns in January

On-Site Magazine - The Ontario government has issued a stay at home order, requiring residents to remain in their homes except for essential trips to grocery stores, to access health care, or to commute to essential jobs................................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Construction loses jobs in December, faces spectre of further lockdowns in January

On-Site Magazine - Though most construction projects across Canada never came to a complete standstill as a result of COVID-19 — and shutdowns at those that did halt work were typically brief — the pandemic took a considerable toll on the industry’s workforce throughout 2020...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Design competition launched for Block 2 in Ottawa’s Parliamentary Precinct

Construction Canada - Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has released a request for qualification (RFQ) for an architectural design competition for the redevelopment of Block 2, a landmark site facing Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ont...............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Canadian Canoe Museum announces new site, new architect

Canadian Architect - The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) announced that Johnson Park, the City-owned property at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough, ON, has been deemed viable for the building of its new canoe museum..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

2020 sets new sales record for Toronto homes priced $3 million and up

Building Magazine - A record number of Toronto homes priced over $3 million sold last year, Re/Max said in a report this week, even as amid the economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Top 10 Major Upcoming Oil & Gas and Electric Power & Communications Construction Projects - Canada - January 2021

Construct Connect - The accompanying tables show the top 10 major upcoming Oil & Gas and Electric Power & Communications construction projects in Canada. They are all in the planning stage and are mainly new projects, but may also involve additions and/or alterations..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Top 10 Canadian construction trends to watch in 2021

Building Magazine - After a turbulent 2020, which forced the industry to adapt on the fly to a series of new on-site safety protocols and an abruptly altered building market, contractors are facing volatility in the year ahead, with growth predicted in some segments of the market and decline in others.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Top B.C. doctor limits staff increases at five major construction sites

Building Magazine - Thousands of workers who would normally return to their jobs at industrial projects in northern British Columbia after the holiday break are spending more time at home in an effort to ease the strain on the region’s health-care system.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

First time homebuyers see new opportunities, challenges in pandemic economy

Building Magazine - With mortgage rates at historic lows and price growth tapering in certain markets, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented both opportunities and challenges for first-time homebuyers............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Calgary sees highest December home sales since 2007 amid 40 per cent buying surge

Building Magazine - Calgary’s residential real estate market notched its best December since 2007 last month as real estate agents sold nearly 1,200 homes, the Calgary Real Estate Board said...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Vancouver home sales surge 53.4 per cent, setting new record for December

Building Magazine - Vancouver’s real estate market ended 2020 with a bang, as a December home-buying spree helped the market rebound from a weak 2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Zaha Hadid Architects to reconstruct Huanggang Port Area in China

Construction Canada - Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), the future Huanggang Port Area master plan in Shenzhen, China, will be an important node of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Science and Technology Corridor..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

UK study reports 58% decline in student satisfaction with spring move to online architectural studios

Canadian Architect - In October, the University of Bath released the final version of a National Design Studio Survey examining the impact of the spring transition to online learning in UK architecture schools..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

On-Site’s 2020 Canadian Construction Photo Contest: Enter today!

On-Site Magazine - Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your photography prowess — whether it’s an aerial shot of your sprawling work site that shines a spotlight on a big-budget project, a close-up of a grizzled colleague donning a face mask in a sign of the times, or a resplendent iPhone photo of your team in the midst of the perfect concrete pour.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Teeple Architects Announces New Leadership Team

Canadian Architect - Teeple Architects has announced five new principals: Richard Lai, Myles Craig, Tomer Diamant, Avery Guthrie and Wes Wilson. These internal leaders join founder Stephen Teeple, and Chris Radigan in managing the practice........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Toronto Society of Architects launches its first Gingerbread City

Building Magazine- The Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) has launched Gingerbread City, a virtual exhibit featuring 21 edible creations that reflect this year’s theme of “home”.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

The OAA invites its members to explore the SHIFT2021 Challenge

Canadian Architect- The OAA is calling on all its members—Architects (practicing, non-practising, retired), Intern Architects, Student Associates, and Licensed Technologists OAA—to explore the intersection of architecture and resiliency for the biennial SHIFT Challenge......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

2021 Preview: Stakeholders ruminate on COVID’s future impact on Canada’s construction sector

Construct Connect- The Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce invited stakeholders to assess COVID’s continuing impacts for 2021 through the lenses of leadership, health and safety, the economy and projects, and innovation.....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Construction survey shows B.C. firms expect less work in 2021 but need more workers

Construction Links Network- The association representing construction employers in British Columbia says most expect less work in 2021, although employees will see wages climb....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Green construction reduces new B.C. Starbucks’ carbon emissions by 30 per cent

Construct Connect- According to a press release, Nexii is able to minimize carbon emissions of buildings through two key innovations: its choice of building material and assembly process...................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

5 Signs You’re Overworking Your Construction Equipment

Construct Connect- Today’s equipment takes much of the weight off workers’ shoulders, but there are limits to what even this technology can do. What are the common signs of overworked construction equipment, and what can business owners do to prolong these machines lives?..................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

INNOVATION. DYNAMISM. TRADITION.

On-Site Magazine - There is no shortage of talent in Canada’s construction industry. Builders may not always get the credit they are due, but coast to coast, the next generation of leaders are finding new ways of working, embracing novel technologies and driving the industry forward — all while maintaining strong connections to the local communities they are helping build..................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Top 10 Largest Construction Project Starts in Canada and Trend Graph - November 2020

Construct Connect - The accompanying table records the 10 largest construction project starts in Canada in November 2020. Also included is the latest trend graph on starts. This looks at 12-month moving totals of the civil and non-residential building categories in Canada.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Raffles Milano offers 30 Scholarships for 2021 Master Courses in Design

Canadian Interiors - Italian fashion and design school Raffles Milano is awarding 30 scholarships up to 50 per cent of tuition fee for Master courses in Fashion Design and Business, Photography, Visual Design and Communication, Product and Interior Design starting in November 2021.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Canadian home sales on track for record year

Building Magazine - Statistics released by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show national home sales continued running at historically strong levels in November 2020................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

From restaurants to retailers, virus transformed economies

Building Magazine - When the viral pandemic erupted in March, employees of the small insurance firm Thimble fled their Manhattan offices. CEO Jay Bregman planned to call them back soon – as soon as New York was safe again...............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Proposed extension to new Montreal REM would add 23 more stations, cost $10B

On-Site Magazine - It will be at least another a year before the first phase of Montreal’s new Réseau express métropolitain (REM) carries its first passengers, but the driving force behind the project is already looking to expand the new light rail network..............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Maple Reinders picked to build new $457M organics facility in Halifax

On-Site Magazine - A P3 consortium led by Maple Reinders has been named the preferred proponent for a project to replace a pair of composting facilities in Halifax with a new organics processing plant.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects withdraw from Architects Declare

Building Magazine - Foster + Partners and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) have left Architects Declare, a network of architecture practices seeking to raise awareness about climate change and loss of biodiversity............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

CaGBC releases new report on Canada’s green building sector

Building Magazine - CaGBC released a new report that shows the potential of a green recovery that prioritizes green building. The report indicates that Canada’s green building sector can contribute 1.5 million jobs and more...........................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Risks facing those on construction sites

Federated Insurance - Those working in the construction industry face a number of risks everyday. While fire and water damage remain top risks in construction, there are many more—from slips and falls to cyber-attacks to equipment theft. ...............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

January 2021

Multi-suite residential and industrial real estate remained resilient during Q3 2020: Morguard

Building Magazine - During the third quarter of 2020, the multi-suite residential and industrial sectors of Canada’s commercial real estate remained resilient despite the economic slowdown resulting from the pandemic..............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Record low mortgage rate from HSBC

Building magazine - HSBC says it will offer rates below one per cent for some mortgages, which rate comparison website RateSpy.com says is a record low for Canada...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Energy-efficient community housing retrofit earns Canada’s first IREE certification

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Toronto-based Efficiency Capital’s energy-efficient retrofit of seven local WoodGreen community housing buildings has become the first project in Canada to achieve Investor Ready Energy Efficiency (IREE) certification, based on the Investor Confidence Project (ICP) framework....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

New smart helmet alerts miners and construction workers to stay 6 feet apart

Construction Links Network - Hard hats are used in a number of industries and are especially important as a protection device for construction workers, and miners underground. However, their design hasn’t changed much since they were first invented and patented in 1919...................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Meet the Winners of the 2020 Emerging Leader Awards

Construction Canada - The 2020 Emerging Leader Award winners were revealed during a special virtual ceremony on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. The awards honour members of the AEC community who demonstrate excellence, impress and inspire their co-workers, and are well on their way to becoming the next leaders in the profession...................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Oxford Properties unveils a three-storey sculpture in Toronto’s Financial District

Building Magazine - Oxford Properties Group unveiled a $2 million public art installation weighing more than 2.5 tonnes, and scaling over three stories high at The Terrace at Oxford’s Richmond-Adelaide Centre..................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Construction on $3.7B Turcot interchange in Montreal draws to close after six years

On-Site - The Quebec Ministère des Transports announced the final major component of the $3.67 billion Turcot interchange project opened to traffic after approximately six years of construction...................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

InterContinental Hotels Group breaks ground on first avid hotel in Canada

Building Magazine - InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) broke ground on its first Canadian property in Vaughan. The property is the latest international expansion for its avid hotels brand and is expected to open by spring 2022....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

NRCan invests in mass timber buildings for Chalk River Laboratories

Canadian Architect - Natural Resources Canada is investing nearly $4 million towards a series of mass timber buildings being constructed at the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited’s Chalk River Laboratories........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Statistics Canada – October building permits down 14.6%

Construction Links Network - Municipalities issued building permits worth $8.2 billion in October, down 14.6% from the previous month. September’s peak was the second highest value on record, with October’s results more in line with recent months...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Construction problems prevented National Research Council from opening vaccine facility on schedule

Construction Links Network - Construction problems delayed plans for a National Research Council manufacturing facility that could be making one of the leading COVID-19 vaccine candidates, but the facility also had no vaccine to produce after a controversial deal with China fell apart..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Reserve Properties and Westdale Properties break ground on Line 5 in Toronto

Construction Links Network - Reserve Properties and Westdale Properties marked the start of construction for Line 5 with a small ground breaking ceremony. Located at Yonge and Eglinton, a rapidly developing transit node in the city, Line 5 is the first of several projects by the development team slated for the area.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

10 ways AI is improving construction site security

Construction Links Network - AI and machine learning are reducing construction site accidents, theft, vandalism and hazardous operating conditions by analyzing 24/7 video feeds in real-time, gaining new predictive insights and contextual intelligence into threats........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

New eco-friendly, decomposing construction foam unveiled

Construction Links Network - Researchers have come up with a new, more eco-friendly and effective form of building insulation material. The new material was developed due to the shortcomings of the traditional polyurethane-based foam insulators. These traditional insulators harm the environment via the release of volatile compounds into the atmosphere.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

10 ways to provide adequate housing in the COVID-19 era

Building Magazine - In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, more than 3.9 billion people — half of the Earth’s population — have been asked or ordered to stay at home. But for a third of the world’s urban dwellers, that’s not a helpful command.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Mason Studio develops a case study for more resilient retail services post-COVID-19

Canadian Interiors - As the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted consumer behaviour and retail operations, many small businesses had to adapt to the new reality quickly. Although numerous retail processes can be reinvented in a virtual environment, several shops rely on in-person interaction, physical product demonstration, or the sale and purchase of goods and services to customers in a physical setting......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Public Purpose: Jury Notes on the Winners of the 2020 Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence

Canadian Architect - Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, this year’s Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence had a strong showing. The annual competition for design- and construction-phase projects received 132 entries, and the third edition of our architectural photography awards received 32 entries.....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Ontario Association of Architects Joins Workforce 2030

Building Magazine - The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), along with 14 other design and construction stakeholders, has signed the declaration to join Workforce 2030, a new coalition led by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC)....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Hariri Pontarini Architects wins bid to design new stand-alone Art Gallery of York University

Building Magazine - The Art Gallery of York University’s (AGYU) new, stand-alone art gallery, will be designed and constructed by winning architectural firm Hariri Pontarini Architects...................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Diamond Schmitt to design new Fredericton Performing Arts Centre

Construction Canada - The selection was announced following a review by the City and the Fredericton Playhouse of 20 submissions from architectural firms from across North America, and a shortlist of three finalists..................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Canada developing a new accessible homes standard

Construction Canada - The federal government, through the National Housing Strategy (NHS) delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), is providing $190,000 in funding to the CSA Group to support research and develop a national standard for affordable, adaptable, and accessible homes across the country.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

TSA launches its first gingerbread city showcase

Canadian Architect - The Toronto Society of Architects is launching its first ever gingerbread city showcase. The competition, which is happening during a time the organization would have held the annual BASH, is open to architects and non-architects, from Toronto and elsewhere................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Speeding up development approvals would create more jobs and housing: RESCON report

Building Magazine - A new report released by the Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) concludes that individual regions across the province would benefit from speeding up the development approvals process and backs the case for a harmonized e-permitting system.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

December 2020

Canadian Construction Association and KPMG in Canada launch Digital maturity assessment tool to gauge innovation

Construction Links Network - In a new initiative to assist Canadian construction companies gauge their level of construction innovation, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has joined forces with KPMG in Canada to launch the complimentary Digital maturity assessment tool for the construction industry................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Command Center Blog: Fast-Track Construction Projects Using Concrete Maturity

Construction Links Network - Use COMMAND Center to determine when new concrete structures and pavements have achieved adequate strength so you can open them to the public sooner................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Report: 1.5 million Canadian jobs in green building by 2030

Construction Links Network - Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has released a new report that shows the potential of a green recovery that prioritizes green building.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Canadian construction industry rebounds in Quebec, B.C. and Ontario, while Alberta continues to slow

Construction Links Network - Procore Technologies, Inc, a leading provider of construction management software, today published the latest worker hours report for the Canadian construction industry which showed construction activity during the COVID-19 pandemic continues to recover in Canada after an initial drop in the spring................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

One of B.C.’s iconic structures to be rebuilt

Construction Links Network - The Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at the University of B.C. is one of the province’s most iconic structures, a West Coast modern building with “Haida and Japanese esthetics” that “brings the outdoors inside.”................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Government funding allows public board to create enhanced construction program in Windsor

Construction Links Network - The board was able to offer the program to 19 students from seven different schools courtesy of $348,646 in financial support from Ontario’s Skills Catalyst Fund................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

3 Reasons to Add Integrated Estimating Tools

Construct Connect- Whether you’re a roofing or concrete contractor, your bidding process likely involves lots of moving parts. While you may already be using a digital takeoff tool to eliminate paper blueprints, your estimating workflow may still include a mixed bag of supplier and vendor spreadsheets................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Design team selected for the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Waterfront Arts District

Building Magazine - The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (AGNS) announced that the team of KPMB Architects with Omar Gandhi Architect, Jordan Bennett Studio, Elder Lorraine Whitman (NWAC), Public Work and Transsolar has won the international design competition for the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and Waterfront Arts District...............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Government of Canada launches $300M Housing Supply Challenge

Building Magazine - The Government of Canada has initiated the first round of the Housing Supply Challenge. The Challenge invites applications from across the country to propose new ideas and solutions that break down the barriers that limit new housing supply...............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

CMHC says annual pace of housing starts climbed higher in October

Building Magazine - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts increased in October.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

A fix for Toronto’s housing crisis could be hiding in plain sight

Building Magazine - Across Toronto and the wider region, up to 176,000 new units could be added to rental sites to meet crushing demand. These 950 infill sites are already purchased and zoned — there is simply room and an opportunity to add more............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Canadian Construction Continues to Rebound: Procore Construction Activity Index

Building Magazine - Procore Technologies, Inc, published the latest worker hours report for the Canadian construction industry. The report showcases how construction activity continues to recover in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic after an initial drop in the spring............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Manitoba moves to “Critical Level” pandemic response

Energy Manager Canada- Premier Brian Pallister and Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, announced that as of 12:01 am on November 12, the entire Province of Manitoba will move to the Critical Level (Red) on the RestartMB Pandemic Response System..........................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Alberta spending up to $55 million to boost energy efficiency in buildings

Energy Manager Canada- The Government of Alberta has announced that it will be funding its Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Energy Savings for Business program targeting small- and medium-sized industrial and commercial facilities that require financial assistance to invest in energy savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction projects.........................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

HOK Ottawa designs nature-inspired government co-working space

Canadian Interiors - When the Government of Canada contemplated developing a co-working concept for Federal employees seeking an alternate work experience, they chose Orleans, a suburb of Ottawa, for its pilot project........................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Ontario university breaks ground on all-new design centre

Construction Canada - Construction has begun on Carleton University’s all-new Engineering Design Centre, Ottawa, Ont., for its Faculty of Engineering and Design (FED).......................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

NRCan selects BBA to enhance cybersecurity for energy infrastructure

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has awarded a mandate under its Cyber Security and Critical Energy Infrastructure Program (CCEIP) to consulting engineering firm BBA to assess risks for industrial control systems (ICSs) relating to energy infrastructure......................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

International Icon: Vancouver House, Vancouver, British Columbia

Canadian Architect - The most remarkable view of the recently completed Vancouver House is from Granville Bridge, where an eviscerated façade curves away from the bridge like a screen shot from a video game. .....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Alberta Government invests up to $55 million to improve energy efficiency

Building Magazine - The Government of Alberta is funding Emissions Reduction Alberta’s (ERA) Energy Savings for Business program targeting small- and medium-sized industrial and commercial facilities through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Social Infrastructure and the Role Architects Play

Building Magazine - When people talk about spending to stimulate the economy, governments are often quick to turn to “shovel ready” projects. According to Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the CanInfra Challenge, we have an infrastructure deficit of hundreds of billions of dollars....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

GTA Realtors Report Record Sales Levels for Month of October

Building Magazine - The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) has reported that home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) were up again year-over-year for the fourth month in a row. According to TRREB, its members made 10,563 sales as reported through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s MLS® System in October 2020....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Architects DCA Blog: Creating Forward Motion by Working in Place

Construction Links Network - Over the last month, we’ve seen the world respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In Canada, as in many other parts of the world, we’ve seen the economy shut down while we work from home. As governments provide the much-needed support to people, small businesses and industries to deal with the day-to-day realities of this situation, we’re starting to see calls for re-opening businesses, even in phased approaches, to kick start the economy...................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

5 Tips for Making Smart Hires for Your Construction Company

Construct Connect - When interviewing and hiring new employees for your do you consider how the candidate will impact your construction company’s reputation? Your employees are the face of your company. Your company’s reputation is a direct reflection of the quality of the work they do and their professionalism on the jobsite. They can either help you build and maintain a strong reputation for your business or demolish it...................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Black granite disc commemorating the Colonial Tavern returns to Yonge St.

Building Magazine - A large black granite disc commemorating the Colonial Tavern will return to Yonge St., as a permanent landmark on the site of the iconic jazz club. Spearheaded by the Downtown Yonge BIA as part of its Music Strategy, and MOD Developments, the granite disc is a celebration of Toronto’s musical heritage..................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

The demise of the department store heralds a shift in downtown areas

Building Magazine - Over the past year, cities have become remarkably different places. The response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has resulted in less active public and shared spaces like parks, malls, streets and retail.................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Immigration Slowdown Shakes Real Estate Market to the Core

Building Magazine - The decrease in immigration caused by the pandemic has shaken the landscape of Canadian real estate to the core, states a newly released report by the Royal Bank of Canada................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Three Canadian architectural projects receive ACI Excellence in Concrete Constructions Awards

Canadian Architect - The ACI Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards were created to honor the visions of the most creative projects in the concrete industry, while providing a platform to recognize concrete innovation, technology, and excellence across the globe. To be eligible for participation in the Excellence Awards, projects needed to be nominated by an ACI Chapter or International Partner...............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Fixing construction’s payment problem

OnSite Magazine - In October of last year, Ontario became the first Canadian jurisdiction to make prompt payment on construction projects legally mandatory. Other provinces are expected to follow, and a federal statute mandating prompt payment on federal government contracts has been approved and is awaiting ratification...............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Slimming project pipeline a big concern for construction supply chain as frantic 2020 nears end

OnSite Magazine - Construction materials suppliers have spent much of 2020 digging out. Uncertainty and job site shutdowns this spring walloped demand, but by early summer, the need for concrete and lumber, among many other products, outstripped supply, leading to shortages, rationing and higher prices...............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Brightwater officially launches award-winning master-planned community in Port Credit

Construction Links Network - Recently recognized with the prestigious Award of Merit for Healthy Communities by the Canadian Institute of Planners, the Brightwater master-planned community launches by setting a new benchmark for waterfront communities and shaping the future of master-plan design in Canada and around the globe..............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

How will the design of commercial and multi-unit residential buildings change, post-pandemic?

Canadian Architect - The current global pandemic has quickly transformed our spaces, affecting how people are living, working, and moving through their day-to-day lives. Kasian’s team has been working on redesigning these environments and proposing pilot projects to pivot for use in the pandemic and in a post-COVID world..............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

On-Site and SitePartners launch inaugural Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction

On-site magazine - SitePartners and On-Site Magazine announced the inaugural 40 Under 40 awards in Canadian construction, recognizing the most exceptional, progressive, and innovative young leaders who are advancing the movement of construction in Canada..............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Condo rents may have plunged, but that doesn’t mean Toronto has become more affordable

Building Magazine - Toronto rents may have stopped climbing in recent months, but don’t hold your breath for a sustained shift in affordability until the city’s building boom includes more purpose-built rentals, says a senior analyst with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC)..............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Co-working companies adjust to running shared workspaces in a pandemic

Buildings Magazine - Flexible short-term workspaces from companies like WeWork, Spaces or Regus were once hailed as the future of the office as more people branched off into startups, freelance and gig work that allowed them to work from anywhere, with only intermittent need for offices.............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Property taxes continues to be a burden for Canadian Businesses: Altus Group Report

Building Magazine - Altus Group, in partnership with the Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC), released the 2020 Canadian Property Tax Rate Benchmark Report, which provides an in-depth look at property tax rates, both commercial and residential, in 11 major urban centres across Canada.............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Seven Ways COVID-19 Is Affecting Canadian Housing: RBC Report

Building Magazine - A new report has been released by the Royal Bank of Canada, authored by Robert Hogue, a member of the Macroeconomic and Regional Analysis Group, with RBC Economics............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

CCA launches Construction R&D Portal and Construction R&D Showcases to accelerate innovation

Construction Links Network - In a new endeavour to advance innovation within the industry, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) and Cognit.ca are delighted to announce the launch of the Construction R&D Portal and the Construction R&D Showcase speaker series............................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Polar architecture experts are building experimental Mars habitat

Construction Links Network - Having been responsible for designing Britain’s Antarctic Research Station, in addition to many other polar bases, Hugh Broughton Architects certainly knows a thing or two about keeping humans alive in harsh conditions. The firm is using this experience to imagine what would be required to shelter humans on Mars with a new experimental housing project...........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Modular construction will make homes affordable

Construction Links Network - Manufactured (also called modular) construction is the process of creating buildings or building parts in a factory and assembling them on-site like Legos. Because modular construction can cost 20-30% less and speed up construction timelines by 50%, the industry has grown over 34% since 2015, according to Census data..........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Herzog & de Meuron designs an ultra-slender skyscraper

Building Magazine - A mixed-use supertall tower designed by Herzog & de Meuron is set to rise above the northwest corner of Bloor and Bay Streets in Toronto’s Yorkville neighborhood. The glass-encased, ultra-slender 87-storey skyscraper will be the first building to be designed by the Swiss firm, with Quadrangle serving as project architect.........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

Gifts by architects, for architects (and others)

Canadian Architect - The pandemic has foregrounded the importance—and necessity—of supporting local economies and communities. In that spirit, we’ve assembled a 2020 gift guide of items made by Canadian architects........................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

November 2020

New Rapid Housing Initiative invests $1 billion to create up to 3,000 new homes

Building Magazine - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced today, the launch of the new Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) that invests $1 billion to create up to 3,000 new permanent, affordable housing units across the country.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Procore introduces App Management Metrics to give visibility into third-party app adoption

Construction Links Network - Procore Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of construction management software, today announced the launch of App Management Metrics, a new feature that provides customers with a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of their third-party application usage on the Procore platform.......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

New building codes under review not tough enough on energy efficiency

Construction Links Network - New Canadian building codes under review by a National Research Council committee would allow for designs that are not as energy-efficient as they could be, according to one university study......................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Crestpoint Real Estate Investments breaks ground on new Amazon fulfillment centre

Building Magazine - According to the developers, the fulfillment centre will create 1,000 new jobs and will be used to pack and ship large customer purchases such as sports equipment, patio furniture, fishing rods, pet food, kayaks, bicycles and other household goods.....................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

NRCan offers financial assistance to improve energy efficiency in industrial facilities

Building Magazine - Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Industrial Energy Management program is accepting applications to fund projects to be completed by March 31,2022..................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

CMHC reports annual pace of housing starts in Canada fell 20 per cent in September

Building Magazine - Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of housing starts in September plunged 20 per cent from August.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Toronto adds to tally despite COVID-19, stays well atop rival cities in latest crane count

On-Site - Toronto remains the runaway leader in the latest North American Crane Index from consulting firm Rider Levett Bucknall.................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Construction starts on The Wedge – an award-winning tower in Victoria

Construction Links Network - The Wedge, a sustainable new residential tower by Cox Developments in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada has commenced construction. The announcement comes after the development’s recent Gold Nugget Grand Award win as the Best On-The-Boards Multifamily Community. The $50M (CAD) highly-lauded and highly-anticipated development is located at 952 Johnson St. and 1400 Vancouver St. in downtown Victoria. The Wedge will deliver artful, award-winning architecture, tailor-made for its specific downtown location................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Ontario Construction Secretariat releases its fourth Coronavirus Contractor Survey

Building Magazine - Between September 8 and 18, 2020, the OCS led a Contractor’s Survey of 300 ICI (Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional) contractors on how the construction industry is showing signs of stability but anxiety over a second wave of COVID-19...............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Ontario greenhouses pilot testing energy efficiency technologies

Energy Manager - Two growers in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario are testing LED and AI systems with the support of the province's Independent Electricity System Operator..............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Construction starts on new Amazon fulfillment centre in Ajax

Construction Links Network - Crestpoint Real Estate Investments, Broccolini, and Blackwood Partners joined Rod Phillips, Ontario Minister of Finance and MPP for Ajax and John Henry, Regional Chair of Durham in a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday afternoon for the new 1.1 million square foot Amazon fulfillment centre in Ajax.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Industry responds to federal infrastructure announcement

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Justin Trudeau, announced a Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) three-year growth plan to invest $10 billion in new initiatives and create some 60,000 jobs across the country, addressing the economic challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

2020 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards celebration goes virtual

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Projects were submitted from across Canada, a nationwide jury pored through them all, deliberated on the finalists and selected the top candidates for both the Awards of Excellence and the Special Awards and now … Canadian Consulting Engineer and ACEC-Canada are nearly ready to showcase the winners!............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

The United Church of Canada establishes the United Property Resource Corporation

Building Magazine - The United Church of Canada’s (UCC) United Property Resource Corporation (UPRC) was created to meet the growing need for professional real estate development and management expertise within communities of faith and non-profits across the country.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

Downtown office vacancy rates rising in Canada as commercial subleases flood market

Building Magazine - Office vacancies are rising in Canada and could soar higher in the coming months as a second wave of the pandemic extends the mass exodus of workers from office towers and communal workspaces............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

October 2020

lt Green Canada launches Communities Program Pilot

September 2020

Brightwater officially launches award-winning master-planned community in Port Credit

September 2020

NRCan offering financial assistance for ISO energy management implementation

September 2020

NRCan offering financial assistance for ISO energy management implementation

Canadian Architect - The funding is to help commercial and institutional building owners and operators implement the ISO 50001 energy management system standard..............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

September 2020

Canadian Interiors - Landscape Forms introduces a collection of new products called Healthy Outdoor Spaces. This new portfolio of products includes modified and space planning solutions to help landscape architects create environments that support people’s health and well-being.........................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

July 2020

July 2020

Building Magazine- The Canadian Real Estate Association says home sales continued to rebound in June after plunging earlier this year due to the pandemic..........................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

July 2020

July 2020

Alberta to boost infrastructure spending by $10B, cut business taxes to reboot economy

On-Site Magazine - Alberta is cutting business taxes, pumping billions into infrastructure and making a full court press to lure jobs from Toronto, Montreal and elsewhere to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic...................................................⁣⁣View Article

July 2020

Investigations continue in Toronto after more nooses found at construction sites

On-Site Magazine - Two construction companies say they’ve contacted police and local government officials after nooses were found at multiple Toronto construction sites..................................................⁣⁣View Article

July 2020

CMLC reveals project team for Calgary’s new event centre

Canadian Architect - Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) announced the Prime Design Consultant (PDC), Construction Management (CM) and specialty firms selected to lead the design and construction of Calgary’s new Event Centre..................................................⁣⁣View Article

June 2020

Virus pummels commercial real estate, could end long boom

June 2020

Remote work: Employers are taking over our living spaces and passing on costs

June 2020

How Technology Can Steer the Construction Industry Out of COVID-19

Construct Connect - With people being strongly advised to follow social distancing protocols, the government had its focus on controlling the spread of illness by restricting travel and work. And just like any other industry, the construction world is also going through a tremendous struggle in sustaining the project pipeline and workflow....................................................⁣⁣View Article

June 2020

June 2020

June 2020

Canada’s housing starts continue to see regional impacts in May: CMHC Report

Building Magazine- CMHC’s recent monthly Starts and Completions Survey (SCS), excluding Quebec, was 196,750 units in May 2020, down from 198,644 units in April 2020........................................................⁣⁣View Article

June 2020

Ontario infrastructure investments face possible risk: report

Building Magazine- According to a new report prepared for the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO), municipal governments are facing the prospect of massive operating deficits due to the heightened need for services and a simultaneous drop in revenue........................................................⁣⁣View Article

June 2020

What does a post COVID restaurant look like? Dining experience might lose appeal

Building Magazine- Dining with your closest friends in a Plexiglas bubble, or grabbing a solo bite on a “bumper table” encircled by a large rubber tube, restaurants are trying to find creative ways to keep their customers safe — and physically distant — as they reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic.......................................................⁣⁣View Article

Building Magazine- Due to rising energy costs, heightened concern about greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to reduce carbon footprints, business, industry, and government are looking for ways to reduce energy usage, reduce energy costs and contribute to a more sustainable world.............................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

June 2020

Canadian Contractor - Government officials in B.C. are asking non-profit and Indigenous housing societies, First Nations, housing co-operatives and municipalities to submit ideas for new affordable housing projects................................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Construction Links Network - The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugo Lafontaine, Vice-President Digital Energy at Schneider Electric Canada, a leader in providing energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability.............................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Construction Links Network - According to the province, construction is scheduled to continue through the end of 2022 with the facility at the Foothills Medical Centre expected to open to the public in 2023.......................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Construction begins on Lotus Flower Stadium in China

May 2020

Health and Safety Association Guidance Documents for Ontario Workplaces During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Construction Links Network - The Ontario government works closely with four provincial health and safety associations (HSAs) to help set, communicate and enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act.....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Western Canadian firms dominate 2020 Governor General’s Medals in Architecture awards

Construct Connect - Architecture firms from Canada’s West Coast and Prairie provinces took the lion’s share of this year’s Governor General’s Medals in Architecture....................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Why the fight against COVID-19 must include indoor air humidity

Building Magazine - As the fight to stem the impact of COVID-19 continues, without a viable vaccine in sight for the immediate future, social distancing and stringent personal hygiene remains the key advice from governments around the world in halting the spread of the virus..................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Evolv1 achieves dual Zero Carbon Building certification

Building Magazine - The Cora Group has achieved dual certification for evolv1 under the Zero Carbon Building Standard.The building is the second to receive the Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC) Zero Carbon Building Standard – Design and Zero Carbon Building Standard – Performance certifications...................................................................................................⁣⁣View Article

May 2020

Construction Canada - The Association de la construction du Québec (ACQ) is fighting a new bylaw mandating green roofs of at least 20 per cent on all buildings over 2000 m2 (21,528 sf) in Gatineau, Qué.................................................................Read Article

March 23, 2020

Quebec outlines 10-year infrastructure plan

Canadian Consulting Engineer - Yesterday, Quebec’s provincial government presented its second Quebec Infrastructure Plan (QIP), representing a record $130.5-billion investment over the next 10 years, up $15.1 billion over the first QIP.............................................................Read Article

March 23, 2020

Canada Green Building Council updates Zero Carbon Building Standard

Canadian Architect - The Canada Green Building Council’s (CaGBC) recent updates to its Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard is designed to accelerate adoption of zero carbon building practices – and help the country meet its climate targets....View Article

March 2020

10 Essential Ways Contractors & Subs Must Respond to Coronavirus

March 2020

Commercial Real Estate In The Age of The COVID-19 Virus

Propmodo - Most of us remember the movie Outbreak, which turned 25 years old last week. A deadly virus had been spread by a spider monkey and a dramatic hunt for the simian patient zero ensued....View Article

March 2020

Icahn is shorting the commercial real estate market, which he says is going to ‘blow up’

CNBC - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn told CNBC on Friday he expects the U.S. commercial real estate market will crumble, much like the broader housing market collapse of 2008.....View Article

March 2020

COVID-19: Mental Health and Wellbeing

Informa - As the world continues to respond to COVID-19, we are increasingly feeling the impact in our places of work, our communities, and our day-to-day lives.....View Article

March 2020

Ontario declares state of emergency over COVID 19, closing bars and restaurants

Building - Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ordering the closure of bars, restaurants, theatres, libraries and banning public events with over 50 people.....View Article

March 2020

Government of Canada announces measures to support continued lending to Canadian consumers and businesses

March 2020
‘Act of God’ Clauses Could be Triggered in the Wake of Coronavirus
The Globe and Mail- As Canadian businesses begin to deal with the fallout of the novel coronavirus, many are evaluating whether their commercial contracts could be broken by force majeure clauses that cover events outside the parties’ control.... View Article

March 2020
Visualizing the History of Pandemics
Visual Capitalist- As humans have spread across the world, so have infectious diseases. Even in this modern era, outbreaks are nearly constant, though not every outbreak reaches pandemic level as the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has. Today’s visualization outlines some of history’s most deadly pandemics, from the Antonine Plague to the current COVID-19 event.... View Article

March 2020
Don't be Italy
Observable- When coronavirus cases spiked in Lombardy, officials thought they moved quickly—putting 50,000 people in 11 towns under lockdown. But it wasn't nearly enough: two weeks later, when they shut down the entire country, the epidemic was 100 times bigger with little sign of stopping.... View Article

March 2020
Coronavirus Will Change How We Shop, Travel and Work for Years
Bloomberg - Every economic shock leaves a legacy. The deadly coronavirus will be no different.The great depression spurred a “waste not want not” attitude that defined consumer patterns for decades. Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic still haunts German policy. The Asia financial crisis left the region hoarding the world’s biggest collection of foreign exchange. More recently, the 2008 global financial crisis drove a wedge through mature democracies that still reverberates, with workers suffering measly pay gains in the decade since... View Article

March 2020
U of T scientists working on coronavirus treatment among recipients of Canadian emergency grants
Toronto Star - As COVID-19 spreads internationally and at home, Canadian scientists have been given almost $27 million in federal government funding to accelerate research aimed at mitigating the outbreak and its negative impacts.... View Article

Skills Ontario celebrates International Women’s Day, continues to empower young women to pursue skilled trade and tech careers

Construction Links Network - This Sunday marks International Women’s Day, and Skills Ontario is proud to continue to support the movement for equality for women both inside and outside of the workplace.................................................................Read Article

March 9, 2020

Calling all building designers and contractors! How AI can improve your process

Construction Links Network - When it comes to construction projects, planning is everything — whether it’s a new hospital or an eight-unit condo.................................................................Read Article

March 9, 2020

Architectural events cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak

Construction Canada - As the worldwide number of people infected with the deadly coronavirus nears 90,000, some architectural and design events have been rescheduled or cancelled altogether due to the outbreak.................................................................Read Article

March 9, 2020

Ontario recognizes excellence in wood architecture

Construction Canada - The Canadian Wood Council’s Ontario WoodWorks program and the Ontario Forest Industries Association (OFIA) have recognized six winning projects as part of the Ontario Wood Design Awards program, which showcases excellence in wood architecture throughout the province................................................................Read Article

March 9, 2020

February 3, 2020

November 25, 2019

CEO Deron Brown's building background informs PCL expansion

Denver Business Journal- PCL Construction President and Chief Operating Officer Deron Brown took his position guiding the firm’s U.S. strategic direction in November 2018 and has already led in the securing of nearly $3 billion in new work. He’s also overseen the opening of offices in Florida and California, aiming to develop relationships with companies like Disney........................... Read Article

November 25, 2019

Sweeny & Co Architects To Design McMaster’s DeGroote School Of Business Addition

Building- Sweeny & Co Architects has been selected to design the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery, a new addition to the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University.The nine-storey building will include state-of-the-art classrooms, student meeting and collaboration space, as well as interactive technology.......................... Read Article

November 25, 2019

MU Architecture proposes paleo-futuristic tower in Québec

November 25, 2019

The CCA presents Building a new New World: Amerikanizm in Russian Architecture

November 25, 2019

"High-tech is ever edging away from its ecological and humanistic roots"

Dezeen- High-tech architecture has strayed far from its environmentally conscientious beginnings, but could rise again if it returns to them, writes Phineas Harper....................... Read Article

Quebec’s GSR automates and standardizes decontamination work

Canadian Consulting Engineer- GSR Construction Decontamination of Sorel, Que., has brought over established technology from Europe that it explains is new to the local market. Specifically, it says it is the first company in Quebec to acquire a Brokk robot and BCP 250 Planner, which can level internal partitions and even ceilings at contaminated sites, without requiring full demolition...................Read Article

November 20, 2019

RenoRun Secures $22.5 Million in Series A Funding to Redefine Construction Material Delivery

Canadian Contractor- "Startup brings ease of materials delivery to professional builders". Through a builder-friendly app, RenoRun saves contractors time and money by planning, sourcing and delivering scheduled or just-in-time building supplies and materials in less than two hours directly to the jobsite..................Read Article

November 20, 2019

How technology can help the construction industry overcome staffing challenges

Construction Links Network- Focusing in on the labor shortage problem, 80% of residential contractors and over 50% of commercial contractors reported difficulty filling craft worker positions in 2018, according to two separate surveys. With unemployment at a 50-year low, contractors are facing the most difficult hiring conditions in more than a generation.................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Procurement Perspectives: How best to monitor contractor performance fairly?

Daily Commercial News- Monitoring of supplier/contractor performance is the latest rage, both in the public and private sectors. Done properly, it is a great tool to assess how to work with certain suppliers moving forward. Done poorly, it can destroy the reputation of good contractors, and unfairly promote the work of subpar suppliers.................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Step Up to Imaginative Staircase Design for Your New Home or Whole Home Remodel

Jackson Design and Remodeling- A staircase design is one of the first elements of your home visitors will see and, as one of the most frequently traveled areas, uniquely balances functionality and style. Skillful staircase remodeling balances practical considerations such as durability and safety with innovative, appealing design. Here are some ideas for staircase design in your whole home remodel or new home.................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Three Projects Show Spanish Tile’s Wide Range

Metropolis- A hotel, a restaurant, and an office building show how Spanish tile can bring classic style and high performance to any space. While it’s true that few materials as ancient as ceramic tile have been so revolutionized by technology, with modern stamping, printing, and firing processes making high performance products available in an extremely wide range of styles.................Read Article

November 20, 2019

PCL Tops Off KingSett’s 700 Bay at Gerrard

PCL Construction- Concrete structure completed on new residential tower and overbuild project with expanded amenities. On October 24, 2019 representatives from KingSett Capital and PCL Construction gathered to celebrate completion of 700 Bay’s concrete structure with the workforce that are making the residential addition and renovation a reality.................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Pre-construction work gets underway for Hamilton LRT

Daily Commercial News- More than four years after the province of Ontario announced up to $1 billion to build a light-rail transit line in Hamilton, the first sign of construction is visible..................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Pharrell Williams is helping design condo towers in midtown Toronto

CTV News- Reserve Properties and Westdale Properties have unveiled plans for a new two-tower residential development to be built at Yonge and Eglinton in Toronto with design participation from music star Pharrell Williams....................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Selecting the right method for underground utilities

EquipmentJournal- Whether an underground utilities crew is installing fibre optic, conduit, cable, electrical, gas or water lines, choosing the right installation method is imperative to helping maximize productivity. While estimating a project, contractors should ask themselves, “what’s the right installation method for this project?”...................Read Article

November 20, 2019

Dutch construction workers protest environmental rules

CityNews- Thousands of Dutch construction workers are protesting restrictions they say are crippling their industry, the latest large-scale demonstration against the government’s environmental policies...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Residential sales across B.C. to rise 10.9% in 2020: BCREA

Business Vancouver – After what is expected to be a weak 2019 overall, with sales down 1.8 per cent from 2018, residential resale transactions in B.C. are predicted to recover significantly in 2020, according to a November 6 B.C. Real Estate Association forecast...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Tarion to add condo cancellation warnings to purchase agreements

The Star – Ontario homebuilder regulator Tarion is adding a new form to pre-construction condo purchase agreements that it says will help alert consumers to the risk that a project may never be completed...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Audit finds home warranty corporation Tarion favours builders over homeowners

CTV News – Ontario's auditor general says the corporation that enforces warranties on new homes has favoured the interests of builders over homeowners...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Canadian mid-century towers can have a high-performance future

Daily Commercial News – Mid-century residential towers — ubiquitous in many cities across Canada — have been “the backbone of our (public and private) affordable housing system” and can continue that path with the right approach to renewal....................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Basalt Just May Be the Magic Floor Material

House Beautiful – When San Francisco-based designer Catherine Kwong designed a Hawaiian vacation retreat for a family with minimalist taste, she decided to keep things simple by using the same flooring material throughout the entire house: basalt...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Apartment equipped with ‘mobile shell’ that stores solar radiation

Daily Commercial News – When Austrian architect Anton Falkeis met with a client for the design of a residential building in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, a few years ago he was “told to create something pretty new.”....................Read Article

November 12, 2019

What you need to know about getting a popcorn ceiling

Renovation Find –There are lots of reasons some people prefer the look of a popcorn ceiling. But here's what you need to know about having a popcorn ceiling in your home....................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Pro Tips for Caulk/Sealant Success

Tile Pro Depot – In case there are any gaps or seams in construction joints, they can lead to a lot of heartburn later. Ingress of moisture is just one of the problems. This could be accompanied by other irritants like a collection of dirt, grime or even small organisms. This is the reason caulks are used to ensure gas-tight or watertight integrity of those joints....................Read Article

November 12, 2019

Polish Your Skills: The Latest in Concrete Polishing

FCImag –As polished concrete continues to trend and rises in prominence, flooring contractors and installers must understand the do’s and don’ts of this tricky medium in order to complete projects on time, on budget and without callbacks....................Read Article

November 12, 2019

NextGen Professional creating new construction career connections

Daily Commercial News – A new company is connecting new graduates looking for employment opportunities in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) with employers in the industry...................Read Article

November 12, 2019

A 3D Print-Out You Could Call Home

NEW YORK TIMES – Using concrete and giant printers, home building may one day be much faster and cheaper. Architects and engineers are edging closer to this goal, by printing portions of houses and assembling or finishing them conventionally. The project, called TERA, is one of the latest experiments in 3D-printed houses...................Read Article

October 21, 2019

What political parties say about architecture and the built environment

OTTAWA, October 17, 2019 – Three parties have responded to questions from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) about sustainability, living conditions in Indigenous communities, federal procurement, and a national architecture policy for Canada. The RAIC is advocating for a better built environment during the 2019 federal election campaign with a questionnaire for Canada’s political parties. The election takes place Monday, October 21....................Read Article

October 21, 2019

Airbnb settles Quebec lawsuit over pricing; changes practice across Canada

MONTREAL - Airbnb users in Quebec have reached a settlement with the company over pricing transparency that has changed the way the company displays prices across Canada. Customers represented by LPC Avocat Inc. launched a class-action case in 2017 claiming that the company added between 13 and 17 per cent to the total price as service fees at the last step of checkout, in what they said was a violation of Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act.....................Read Article

October 21, 2019

Former Kitchener, Ont. auto parts plant gets retrofitted for cannabis cultivation

Construction is well under way in Kitchener, Ont. on the second phase of a project that entails transformation of a former auto parts plant into a state-of-the art cannabis cultivation facility. The project, at 530 Manitou Dr., is being carried out for James E. Wagner Cultivation (JWC) Corp. by a team that includes Ball Construction, Stecho Electric and Price Mechanical...........................Read Article

October 21, 2019

A Magnet for Minimalism

An unassuming brick building in Detroit’s long-neglected Core City neighborhood was once home to a booming repair shop in the heyday of automotive manufacturing. “Magnet Radiator Works,” was emblazoned on the entrance of the facility in faded red paint and still is, except today the 2,100-square-foot structure is instead one of the hottest restaurants to pop up in the Motor City this year............................Read Article

October 21, 2019

Office landlords, tenants learn how to attract new generation of workers

Landlords and tenants are learning that to attract millennial-generation workers, they need to upgrade their workplaces to add amenities. Workers between 24 and 39 years old tend to have different preferences than previous generations had, say landlords and business owners.............................Read Article

October 21, 2019

These algae tiles can turn any building into a pollution-scrubbing machine

As blogged on FastCompany.com, the aquatic plants referred to as algae are single-celled, nonflowering organisms, untethered to the ocean floor beneath them. A phenomenon known as bioremediation allows these microorganisms to remove pollutants from their surrounding environment as they move—and a new project from the Bio-Integrated Design Lab at London’s Bartlett School of Architecture puts this natural process to work scrubbing polluted water............................Read Article

October 21, 2019

Construction industry tinkers with wearable technology to improve safety, cut costs

As reported in the Hartford Business Journal, when it comes to danger in the workplace, few jobs are more treacherous than those on a construction site. Of the 4,674 private-sector workers who died on the job in 2017, one in five were in construction, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration statistics..............................Read Article

October 21, 2019

CTBUH reveals 50 most influential tall buildings

In conjunction with its 50th anniversary, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has revealed its list of the 50 most influential tall buildings of the last 50 years. On that list are 333 Wacker Drive (1983), 875 North Michigan Avenue (1969), and the AMA Plaza (1972), all located in Chicago. Located in New York City, the 4 Times Square (1999) building, 550 Madison Avenue (1983), and 601 Lexington (1977) are also in the lineup..............................Read Article

October 21, 2019

In wake of 2016 wildfire, Fort McMurray condo board struggles to find insurance

As reported on CBC News, after the 2016 Horse River wildfire that burned down more than 2,400 structures in Fort McMurray, residents of the 40-unit Winchester Greens condominium building considered themselves among the lucky ones. Their apartment-style units didn’t burn, but the condo board did claim $246,000 of smoke damage on its insurance. Three years later, the condo board is struggling to find insurance coverage, in part because of that wildfire claim.......................................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Hunters Point Library called out over accessibility issues

Three sections of Steven Holl’s recently opened Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, Queens, have raised concerns due to only being accessible by stairs and are now being reorganized. While the library was previously applauded for the staircase’s design, and there’s an elevator, it doesn’t provide access to the three, tiered levels of stacks above the lobby................................Read Article

October 15, 2019

CaGBC gets commercial real estate owners to disclose energy consumption data

As commercial real estate is a highly competitive business, you might expect property owners to keep their cards close to their chests. A new initiative, however, has encouraged three major players with buildings across Canada—QuadReal Property Group, Triovest and Concert Properties—to publicly share their portfolios’ energy and water consumption data, using the Canadian Green Building Council’s (CaGBC’s) new Disclosure data visualization tool.....................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Ontario hoping to speed up building permit process

The Ontario government continues its series of announcements affecting the residential construction landscape in the province. It recently announced a proposal to speed up construction of new housing and other projects by establishing an “administrative authority” to address areas where new permit approval services could be added and existing ones improved..........................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Commercial Real Estate: Turmoil at WeWork may impact Metro Vancouver office market

Turmoil at WeWork, the giant office co-working company, has yet to impact Vancouver’s office market, but future leases here between landlords and the New York company could eventually be affected, local commercial property insiders say........................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Eastern Construction gave out $600 bonuses after WSIB UFL erased

Ontario Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton announced an end to the WSIB’s unfunded liability charge in Toronto Sept. 24, a savings of $607 million to Ontario employers he said could be reinvested in new jobs, new technology and health and safety programs.......................Read Article

October 15, 2019

BIG reveals penthouses in Toronto's plant-covered King complex

BIG has revealed the design details of eight penthouses that will top its "boxilated" Toronto housing complex complete with private greenhouses, tea rooms and Nordic-inspired details. The new set of renders round out the details for the mixed-use King complex in the Canadian city, which BIG has designed for developers Allied and Westbank. It was revealed in 2016, and gained zoning approval in 2018............................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Landlords increasingly concerned about effect of cannabis use on rental property: poll

Nearly a year on from legalization, survey asks property owners and renters how they feel about cannabis use and growth in units. Landlords are increasingly concerned about effect of cannabis use on a rental property, according to a poll released October 8......................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Inside Innovation: Long road ahead for full AV in construction

The development of autonomous robotic vehicles (AV’s) for construction seems to make great sense. Potential productivity gains, a solution to the shortage of new entrants to the skilled labour force, and a desire to improve safety conditions for site workers make robotic vehicles an attractive, efficient alternative to manual operation of earth-moving equipment and vehicles...........................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Student Housing In Canada Is Being Ignored, And It Might Be Why You Can’t Afford Rent

In the endless debate over Canada’s high house prices and rising rents, foreign buyers have become the most popular target for blame, and a popular target for policy action now, too. But the problem may have more to do with a somewhat different group of people landing on our shores, and the fact no one is building housing for them: international students.......................Read Article

October 15, 2019

Procurement policies risk “hollowing out” sector: CCA report

Anticipated growth of mega-projects could polarize the construction industry into large general contractors and small subcontractors, with little room in the market for mid-size firms, warns a new report on trends impacting the sector released by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA)....................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Canada’s co-working sector grows, even as WeWork woes deepen

Questions continue to swirl about one of the co-working industry’s giants, but one thing is not in doubt; the flexible office workspace sector has exploded across Canada, quadrupling its footprint since 2014 according to new research by CBRE.......................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Roger Taillibert, architect of Montreal's Olympic Stadium, dead at 93

MONTREAL — Roger Taillibert, the architect who designed Montreal’s 1976 Olympic Stadium and relentlessly defended it against its critics, has died at the age of 93. The renowned French architect created hundreds of other buildings, including the Parc des Princes stadium and Deauville swimming pool in France and the Khalifa Stadium in Qatar...........................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Province renews emergency order for crane removal in Halifax

The Nova Scotia government renewed on Wednesday the localized state of emergency in the area surrounding a crane that collapsed during hurricane Dorian in early September. The state of emergency was set to expire on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., but it has now been extended for another 14 days............................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Cool bricks use evaporation to reduce heat for interiors

A team of scientists in Spain are creating passively cooling bricks which could replace or augment air-conditioning in residential and commercial spaces. Though they are described as bricks, the more formal description is hydro-ceramics, a “sandwich” created by a layer of hydro gel spheres with a fabric layer between two ceramic outside layers..........................Read Article

October 7, 2019

A Russian World Cup stadium could sink into a swamp

Russia spent over $14 billion to host the FIFA World Cup last July and August, with the Kaliningrad Arena itself costing about $300 million. However, only a year after hosting the games, the building has faced numerous issues due to the fact that the stadium was built on previously unused wetlands in a flood plain, with soil not equipped to handle such a large structure.......................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Bjarke Ingels Group Completes Vancouver House, a Modern Twist on New York’s Flatiron Building

Almost a decade ago, a young(er) Bjarke Ingels was commissioned to take on the challenge of designing a building among Vancouver’s labyrinth of roads and ramps. Today, when you drive across Granville Bridge into downtown Vancouver (a stretch that crosses False Creek, a body of water opposite to Vancouver Harbor), what catches your attention isn’t the sparkling sea or the snow-capped mountains in the background, but a 493-foot cantilevered residential tower that twists and turns as it stretches toward the sky.......................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Tory announces 'Green Will' plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from commercial buildings

Mayor John Tory is pulling together major commercial landowners in the city to form a new initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption and emissions as part of a larger effort to address climate change, less than a week after thousands of people took to the streets to demand immediate political action on the file..........................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Sustainable design is the most important election issue

Sustainable building and design is the most important issue for our readers in the upcoming federal election. Nearly 70 per cent of respondents to a survey conducted by Construction Canada earlier this month felt climate change is the priority.......................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Human Rights Tribunal approves female hiring strategy

B.C.’s first female-led construction company, Belle Construction, has been given the stamp of approval from the Human Rights Tribunal to exclusively recruit and hire female tradespeople.............................Read Article

October 7, 2019

ATCO’s Calgary HQ wins architecture award

International architecture practice Pickard Chilton has won two American Architecture Awards for its design of the ATCO corporate campus in Calgary, Alta., and the Northwestern Mutual Commons and Tower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin............................Read Article

October 7, 2019

Modified bamboo a steel rebar alternative?

Bamboo injected with an elastomeric polymer could prove to be a practical alternative to steel rebar as reinforcement in concrete. That’s the conclusion of research done by three engineering technology students for a Capstone project at Lethbridge College in Alberta......................Read Article

September 30, 2019

The Landlords Most Exposed To Thomas Cook’s Collapse

On Monday, it was officially announced that after 178 years in business, travel agency and holiday tour operator Thomas Cook has collapsed into insolvency, dragged down by debts of £1.7B. The failure has left tens of thousands of travellers unsure of how to get back from holiday, and almost 20,000 staff facing the prospect of losing their jobs. It will also leave property owners facing big losses.......................Read Article

September 30, 2019

Ontario establishes construction advisory panel

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS – The Ontario government is partnering with the construction sector by establishing a special advisory panel to provide advice on a broad range of workplace issues, Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton announced today.....................Read Article

September 30, 2019

Sou Fujimoto Architects will bring coliving to Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Sou Fujimoto Architects (SFA), in collaboration with The Collective, a London-based coliving developer, will be developing the former Slave Theater site at 1215 Fulton, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The building, currently in permitting, is projected to open in 2022. The 10-story, 240,000 square-foot project will be composed of three separate structures and will feature a mix of public cultural space and coliving apartment units...................Read Article

September 30, 2019

Crown Realty Partners Earns Top ESG Rating in GRESB Assessment

TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Realty Partners (Crown) is pleased to announce it has achieved a 5-star ranking in the 2019 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), a global standard for benchmarking sustainability performance for real asset investments....................Read Article

September 30, 2019

Nova Scotia hires two contractors to remove collapsed crane from Halifax building

HALIFAX—Days after declaring a localized state of emergency to speed up the removal of a construction crane toppled as post-tropical storm Dorian swept through Halifax, the Nova Scotia government has hired two contractors to take down the ruined crane..........................Read Article

September 30, 2019

New weapons detection system will be tested at Metro Toronto Convention Centre

A high-tech security system that uses 3D radar imaging and artificial intelligence to detect weapons will soon be beta-tested at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).........................Read Article

September 30, 2019

7 Mid-September Economic Nuggets ‒ With an Emphasis on Mega Project Construction

While it hardly seems academically acceptable, maybe the best way to describe the current economic environment at home and around the world is to label it ‘weird’........................ Read Article

September 23, 2019

This downtown St. John’s building is one of the most accessible in Canada

As reported on CBC News, Husky Energy’s downtown St. John’s office space and the building it’s in have been recognized as being one of the most accessible work places in the country. In 2017, Husky designed an accessible floor plan, which included colour-coded floors, better natural lighting for workers of all abilities, and adjustable workstations before moving into its 100,000-square-foot space at 351 Water St., managed by East Port Properties..................Read Article

September 23, 2019

WeWork delays $20bn IPO after struggling to interest investors

WeWork, the US office-sharing company, has postponed its stock market flotation after receiving a lukewarm response from investors. WeWork’s parent, We Company, had planned to launch an investor roadshow this week to drum up interest in its $20bn (£16bn) share sale, slashed from an initial valuation of $47bn.............................Read Article

September 23, 2019

Mercedes-Benz kicks off construction of new Toronto dealership

TORONTO — Ground was broken on the new Mercedes-Benz Etobicoke site in Toronto recently, with the firm touting new MAR2020 design standards that are guiding project design. The 95,900-square-foot facility will occupy a six-acre site at the southeast corner of The Queensway and The East Mall, adjacent to the Gardiner Expressway and Highway 427.......................Read Article

September 23, 2019

On the day of a global climate strike, Canadian architects commit to action on the climate crisis

OTTAWA, September 20, 2019 — The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) Committee on Regenerative Environments is calling on Canadian architectural and design firms to commit to combatting the climate crisis by signing a new Canadian Architects Declare pledge....................Read Article

September 23, 2019

Montreal’s Sun Life Building earns LEED Platinum certification

One of Montreal’s most iconic office complexes, the Sun Life Building, continues to pile up the honours. The century-old building has been awarded LEED EB Platinum certification by the Canada Green Building Council...........................Read Article

September 23, 2019

Inside Innovation: Lack of government-mandated BIM fails to slow its impact

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has taken hold in every aspect of construction project development. BIM is not new to the industry — it’s been around for a while. It’s global acceptance is confirmed by the fact that countries such as Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Norway, United Kingdom, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam have gone so far as to mandate the use of BIM in their public projects.........................Read Article

September 23, 2019

A look at the twisting museum bridge in Norway

As blogged on New Atlas, high-profile firm BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) recently completed a stunning new project in Norway. Aptly-named The Twist, it consists of a museum and bridge that twists 90 degrees near its center. The Twist is located in the Kistefos Sculpture Park in Jevnaker, outside Oslo. The idea is that visitors meander through works by famous artists like Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Lynda Benglis Yayoi and Fernando Botero, among others, then cross The Twist to complete their art tour...........................Read Article

September 23, 2019

Airbnb to become publicly traded company next year

Short-term rental company Airbnb says it plans to go public next year and list its shares on the stock exchange. The company made the announcement in a news release on Thursday, but declined to offer any details about what stock exchange it would list on or how much money it plans to raise in the process....................Read Article

September 23, 2019

P.E.I. man in coma after fall at construction site

As reported in The Guardian, a headfirst plummet onto concrete at a construction site last week has left an Emerald man battling for his life. Ryan Mahar, 32, fell roughly 20 feet while working to build a warehouse in the Elmsdale area on Sept. 4, his parents Dale and Lori Maher told The Guardian on Wednesday....................Read Article

September 23, 2019

Central Park Tower tops out to become the world's tallest residential building

The 1,550-foot-tall Central Park Tower is officially the tallest residential building in the world. After topping out earlier this week, the Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture-designed structure now stands nearly complete at 217 West 57th Street, higher than any of its neighbors on Manhattan’s Billionaire’s Row.......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Builders are swapping cement for weed to reduce pollution

As reported on Bloomberg.com, the hemp fields sprouting in a part of Canada best known for its giant oil patch show how climate change is disrupting the construction industry. Six years after setting up shop in the shadow of Calgary’s oil patch, Mac Radford, 64, says he can’t satisfy all the orders from builders for Earth-friendly materials that help them limit their carbon footprints.......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

How Montreal’s Habitat 67 is inspiring a new generation of apartments in Asia

As reported on CBC News, Habitat 67, a seemingly bizarre and innovative collection of modular apartments overlooking the St. Lawrence River, has been around for more than 50 years. Moshe Safdie still can’t believe it exists. “It’s like a fairy tale. How did I ever get it built?” said Safdie, 81. The Israeli-Canadian architect designed the project, and was in his 20s when it opened in 1967. Built for Expo 67 in Montreal’s Cité du Havre neighbourhood, not far from the Old Port, its cubist design, floor-to-ceiling windows and rooftop gardens were heralded as a new way to build urban housing....................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Killam Apartment REIT Confirms No Damage Following Hurricane Dorian

HALIFAX, Sept. 9, 2019 /CNW/ - Killam Apartment REIT (TSX: KMP.UN) confirms no major damage to any of its properties from Hurricane Dorian. Killam is waiting for power to be restored across the region......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Top Trends in Environmental Construction 2019

Trends come and go in the complex world of construction, particularly when there are so many technological advancements to keep on top of. Some, however, are here to stay – and the desire to use more sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques is one of those......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

American Society of Landscape Architects publishes guide to universal design

The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has published a guide to universal design meant to set the bar for universal accessibility in the landscape architecture realm beyond the largely quantitative requirements stipulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Quebec-based Locnest offers landlords peace of mind

When Samantha St-Louis first decided to rent out her three-bedroom detached home in Rigaud, she was leery of considering any prospective tenants with pets. Like many landlords, she feared she’d end up having to pay out of pocket to repair damage caused by misbehaving animals. She also worried about how her family would cope financially if she ended up with a deadbeat tenant who fell behind on the rent.......................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Decoding digital transformation in construction

As blogged on McKinsey.com, after spending five years and countless sums on trialing new software platforms and ways of working, the executive team at a large contractor was nearly ready to call an end to its digital-transformation program. Dozens of attempts to streamline projects with digital solutions, such as 5D BIM, had failed to deliver. A few had succeeded in the pilot phase, but the company had struggled to apply those solutions at scale....................Read Article

September 9, 2019

Oxford plans 1M square feet of rooftop solar

Look up next time you’re shopping at a major mall in the Greater Toronto Area — it might just make you green with delight. That’s because Oxford Properties will install a million square feet of rooftop solar panels atop its North American retail and industrial assets by 2022................Read Article

September 9, 2019

B.C.'s maximum allowable rent increase to rise 2.6% in 2020

The maximum allowable annual rent increase for B.C. has been set at 2.6 per cent for 2020, marking the second year under new provincial regulations that limit the increase to the cost of inflation. Under the old rules, landlords could raise rents by the cost of inflation plus two per cent, but a provincial task force last year recommended eliminating the two per cent add-on. Cabinet accepted that recommendation on Sept. 26, 2018....................Read Article

August 19, 2019

SNC-Lavalin chosen by Fengate for facility management at pair of new Newfoundland long term care projects

MONTREAL — SNC-Lavalin has been selected by Fengate Capital Management to provide facilities operations and maintenance (O&M) and lifecycle services for two new long term care (LTC) facilities in Gander and Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador.......................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Study of construction workers links poor sleep to injury risk

As reported on Safety+Health magazine, employers should prioritize efforts to help workers get a good night’s sleep, researchers from Colorado State University say after their study of construction workers found a connection between poor quality sleep and the risk of workplace incidents and injuries..................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Researchers and robots team up to build innovative pavilion in a German garden

Installed on the grounds of the 2019 Bundesgartenschau (BUGA) biennial horticulture show in Heilbronn, Germany, the BUGA Fibre Pavilion is the product of years of research in biomimicry. Biomimetic design aims to produce structures, materials, and effects after principles and processes found in nature. In other words, the BUGA Pavilion is a not-so-primitive hut inspired by fauna rather than flora.....................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Spruce Grove man becomes first Canadian to win world safety award

As reported in the Spruce Grove Examiner, Michael Brown is now officially one of the world’s best safety consultants. The Spruce Grove resident was nominated for the World Safety Organization’s Safety Person of the Year award earlier this year......................Read Article

August 19, 2019

New Vancouver office tower comes with architectural twists and turns

VANCOUVER — A new and unusual 32-storey office tower will soon climb up into downtown Vancouver’s skyline. Vancouver city council has approved a rezoning proposal for a new tower at 1166 Pender St. to replace a 15-storey office building currently occupying the site originally constructed in 1974. The original proposal for the new tower was submitted in October 2018 with a revised application in Feb. 2019...................Read Article

August 19, 2019

City of Edmonton announces incentives for the installation of solar panels

Edmontonians can now apply for solar installation rebates through the City’s Change Homes for Climate – Solar Program. The new incentive rate of $0.40/watt will cover roughly 15 per cent towards the cost of a home solar energy system installation. Previously, Edmontonians applied for solar rebates through Energy Efficiency Alberta, with $0.90/watt coming from the province and a top-up of $0.15/watt from the City of Edmonton................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Inside Innovation: The compelling case for EV charging stations

The popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is destined to grow in the future. One of the factors holding consumers back, however, is the availability of EV charging stations......................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Innovative building draws on Indigenous knowledge for design and materials

As reported on CBC News, it’s called a muskrat hut and the people behind it hope it can help alleviate some problems on First Nations and beyond. “The muskrat hut is a small mobile building that houses a bathroom, a shower, toilet and has a kitchen area as well,” said Alex Wilson, a professor with the University of Saskatchewan and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba where a prototype is being built....................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Designing for dementia: Long-term memory care, from the ground up

The Main Boulevard at the Village, a new development in Langley, B.C., wends through an idyllic scene. Car-free and edged by flower gardens, it starts at something called the Community Building – an airy, skylight space with a spa, salon and fireside café – before passing by clusters of quaint cottages, each painted a unique, rich colour such as terra cotta or teal. But the details of the neighbourhood reveal a different, deeper purpose...................Read Article

August 19, 2019

B.C. engineer leads Canadian team in post-Nepal earthquake rebuild

In April 2015, Nepal was struck by a major earthquake of 7.8 (out of 10) magnitude. The damage to people and property was, in the true sense of the term, awesome. More than 2,500 public buildings and over 500,000 private dwellings collapsed. Over 7,000 school buildings and more than 1,000 healthcare facilities were damaged. Soon after the disaster, the Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEE), a national, non-profit, technical society, sent a reconnaissance team of engineers and geoscientists to the small in area but large in population (30 million) Himalayan country....................Read Article

August 19, 2019

How Where’d You Go, Bernadette’s Production Designer Created the Film’s Stunning Fictional Architecture

You might not have heard of the architect Bernadette Fox, but in the fictional world of Maria Semple’s 2012 novel, Where’d You Go, Bernadette—and now in director Richard Linklater’s film adaptation of the story, out August 16—she is kind of a big deal..................Read Article

August 19, 2019

Inside Innovation: CarbonCure technology reduces GHG’s, makes concrete stronger

A Canadian company based in Nova Scotia is gathering wide-spread attention for technology that injects captured CO2 into cement and concrete products..................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Canada's Go Solar Guide & Directory

A new, easy to reference tool combining CanSIA’s annual member directory with advice and information for homeowners, businesses, and other building and land owners who want to go solar......................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Canada's Go Solar Guide & Directory

August 12, 2019

Deal allows Waterfront Toronto to block controversial Sidewalk Labs project by fall if key issues not resolved

Google affiliate Sidewalks Labs LLC and development agency Waterfront Toronto have reached an agreement that would allow them to scrap Sidewalk’s plans for a high-tech Toronto neighbourhood by the end of October if concerns about the project aren’t resolved....................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Inside the AIA’s efforts to address #MeToo

Last spring, Frances Halsband—one of New York City’s most respected and accomplished architects—was having the same conversation over and over again: What the hell is going on in architecture? After multiple women accused the movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and misconduct in the fall of 2017, women who have had similar experiences in other fields became emboldened to speak out....................Read Article

August 12, 2019

How can climate change impact Canadian concrete infrastructure?

According to an engineer and researcher at the B.C. Institute of Technology (BCIT), global climate change is expected to lead to the increased deterioration of concrete infrastructure in Canada in the future. Sudip Talukdar, civil engineering program coordinator in BCIT’s School of Construction and the Environment, did computer simulations of the effect of climate change on concrete in Vancouver and Toronto.................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Renovations Underway at Scotiabank Arena

It has been a big year for the Scotiabank Arena at Bay and Lake Shore in Downtown Toronto. The multi-million dollar renovation designed by Kramer Design Associates is bringing a refreshed look to the building that includes dark exterior finishes, an expanded video screen along the arena's west side overlooking Maple Leaf Square/Jurassic Park, as well as a new signage and plenty of other upgrades within..................Read Article

August 12, 2019

As Coworking Conquers Markets, Landlords Wonder How Much Is Too Much

WeWork, which has grown from a one-floor lease in SoHo to New York City’s largest private office tenant in the span of nine years, is expected to go public next month, targeting a $3.5B raise. But amidst the hype of the highly anticipated initial public offering, the commercial real estate community continues to wrestle with how to hedge against the exploding coworking and flexible workspace sector, and how to capitalize on it..................Read Article

August 12, 2019

City powerless to stop controversial Dartmouth hotel project

As reported in The Star, there’s nothing the city can do to stop a controversial 16-storey hotel development in Dartmouth. That’s the finding of a staff report requested by Halifax regional council in a last-ditch effort to see whether the municipality had any recourse to shut down the project at the corner of Prince Albert Rd. and Glenwood Ave.......................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Are these fireproof, hurricane-proof geodesic domes the post-climate change house of the future?

As blogged on FastCompany.com, in a world where wildfires and hurricanes are becoming more frequent, design for new housing would be smart to anticipate the climate disasters that are coming. So these new buildings aren’t made from wood or any other conventional building materials. Instead, they’re made from bioceramic—which can withstand disasters, and perhaps dramatically lower construction costs....................Read Article

August 12, 2019

Engineered system can cool buildings without the use of electricity

As blogged on TechnologyNetworks.com, engineers have designed a new system that can help cool buildings in crowded metropolitan areas without consuming electricity, an important innovation at a time when cities are working to adapt to climate change......................Read Article

August 12, 2019

The Architecture Lobby calls for pledges against designing detention centers

The Architecture Lobby (T-A-L) and Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) are once again calling on architects to boycott the design and construction of immigration detention centers and deterrence infrastructure....................Read Article

August 12, 2019

High temperatures can put workers at risk of heat stress

Richmond, B.C.– WorkSafeBC is reminding employers and outdoor workers about the risk of developing heat stress during hot weather. If not recognized and treated early, heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke..................Read Article

July 29, 2019

How women are leading the charge to recycle whole houses

As blogged on Smithsonian.com, when Ruthie Mundell was in high school, everyone laughed at her for digging through the trash. She’d count paper, cans and cardboard, keeping careful numbers on trash volume and recycling rates. Her “trash audit” led to a local recycling revolution in Leonardtown, Maryland, amounting to more bins and higher student recycling rates......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

Can Miami Design a Solution to Rising Seas?

Oh, Miami, America’s tropical fever dream. The city along Biscayne Bay has been half a fantasy since at least the 1950s, a raffish, pastel-colored, Art Deco, bikini-clad vision of escape. Miami Beach, the smaller island city floating just across the bay, sits at the heart of this illusion, a stroll along South Beach promising a chance to briefly escape the harder edges of daily life. Yet these two communities built on dreams are coming to grips with a reality some of the nation continues to deny: the impact of global climate change......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

Toronto firm ADR Chambers appointed new ANA overseeing adjudicators

TORONTO — Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey has appointed Toronto-based firm ADR Chambers to serve as the Authorized Nominating Authority (ANA) to administer adjudicators as part of the province’s new prompt payment and adjudication system..............Read Article

July 29, 2019

Canadian steel association ‘discouraged’ with move to increase use of U.S. steel in federal projects

U.S. president Donald Trump has signed an executive order, part of which requires 95 per cent of steel and iron used in any federal infrastructure contract to be sourced from American firms and the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) says it’s a step in the wrong direction.......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

Smart Building Security: Creating Your Digital Fortress

A growing number of commercial and private buildings are incorporating smart technology in their design and daily operations. Smart buildings bring a wide range of conveniences to property managers, but the Internet of Things (IoT) technology that allows buildings and devices to communicate also presents a variety of security issues.........................Read Article

July 29, 2019

The future of AI in the construction industry

As blogged on techradar.com, according to McKinsey, the construction industry is under-digitized, with companies failing to realise the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a driver of growth and efficiency. Implementing AI means significant investment for construction companies, but the rewards can far outweigh the initial outlay....................Read Article

July 29, 2019

Nova Scotia couple building sustainable home out of tires

As reported on CBC News, Pippa Creery and Bob Kloske’s retirement involves a lot of dirt. The couple are building an earth berm tire house, which they hope will be a little piece of paradise in Ship Harbour, on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore.......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

PAU reinvents the center of a complex post-industrial waterfront

The conversion of a 137-year-old sugar factory into a contemporary office complex requires a delicate touch when the building is landmarked—and even more so when it’s the heart of a complex, 11-acre riverfront master plan.......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

Three reasons Canada outpaces U.S. in office construction boom

As reported in the Vancouver Sun, Canada is punching well above its weight in terms of the country’s overall intensity of new office construction when compared to developers in the United States. Developers in Canada are currently building about 20.7 million square feet (MSF) of new office space across the country, with just over 89 per cent of that in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver......................Read Article

July 29, 2019

The internet is up in arms over tank-like Edmonton Public Library

As the redesigned Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton, Canada creeps closer to its 2020 completion date, residents of the city have begun to express concerns that the project won’t end up as advertised. The building, which sits downtown and serves as the central branch of the Edmonton Public Library system, has prompted an online backlash after photos of the construction site began circulating in the last few days, with many on Twitter comparing the library to a tank or cruise ship.....................Read Article

July 29, 2019

BUC battles BACU over tile, terrazzo certification

Details remain sketchy but it has emerged the Building Union of Canada (BUC) is battling with the Brick and Allied Craft Union of Canada (BACU) to represent some unionized marble, tile and terrazzo trade workers in the ICI sector in Ontario...................Read Article

July 22, 2019

More than half century after construction, Montreal’s Habitat 67 still captivates

MONTREAL — Surrounded by river and silhouetted against a blue sky, the futuristic stacked concrete cubes of Montreal’s Habitat 67 jut out of the landscape like a child’s building-block project brought to life.....................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Playing the long game: Machine control developers cautiously build to full autonomy

Driverless machines won’t be moving dirt on job sites anytime soon. Before an armoury of fully autonomous equipment can work alongside crews, machine control developers at the helm admit there will be a few hurdles to jump. Though it may be tempting to take the leap, the unpredictability of autonomous equipment on high-risk construction sites has prompted key players in the space to take pause....................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Revealing the two architects named to the Order of Canada

Architects Raymond J. Cole and Donald R M. Schmitt have been named to the Order of Canada this year. Toronto-based Schmitt, principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects, receives this award for his rehabilitation of iconic heritage buildings and sustainable architectural designs. Vancouver-based Cole, professor emeritus, the University of British Columbia School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), is honoured for his skillful pairing of architecture and environmental sustainability and leadership in the field............................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Getting ready to take off: New rules to consider when using drones on construction sites

Drones can be valuable, cost-effective tools on construction sites. Typically used to conduct aerial surveys or collect data, they can also carry bitumen printers and transport payloads across long distances. As of June 1, 2019, however, drones will be subject to new Transport Canada regulations.....................Read Article

July 22, 2019

New hotel and homesharing hybrid creates investment vehicle for Airbnb

As blogged on Curbed.com, a pair of new developments in downtown Austin and Miami hopes to create a new hybrid hotel and condo model that allows owners to buy into a large property specifically designed for renting out on Airbnb.........................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Toronto remains unrivalled in North American construction crane count

TORONTO—From the massive excavation site that once housed The Globe and Mail building on Front Street, to the trio of cranes stretched over the former home of Honest Ed’s on Bloor Street, construction activity in Toronto shows few signs of slowing........................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Despite opposition, Ottawa city council approves Château Laurier addition

Ottawa’s city council has voted to refuse to reopen the debate on the controversial addition of the historic Château Laurier hotel. A special council meeting was held last week for council to reconsider its 14-9 decision to refuse to revoke the heritage permit for the historic hotel expansion........................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Esquimalt’s ‘inflatable home’ the first in Canada

As reported on vicnews.com, Victoria’s – and Canada’s – first ever ‘inflatable home’ or ‘Binishell’ is going up in an Esquimalt neighbourhood. And while it might look like a large tent is being installed, the Binishell is actually used as a building system that cuts down on costs........................Read Article

July 22, 2019

Proper fitting work wear for women a safety must

As if anyone hasn’t noticed, women’s bodies are generally differently shaped than those of men. Not only do women tend to be smaller, their feet are narrower both in width and at the ankle and their hands are smaller, according to various work attire experts. And if there’s one thing most women hate — on or off the construction site — it’s clothes that don’t fit properly and are uncomfortable to move around in while working........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

Condo owners face challenges for EV charging

Live in a condo or townhouse? Want to switch to an electric vehicle (EV)? It might not be as simple as just trading in your gas-powered car. Older condo complexes will find it difficult to accommodate electric vehicle charging stations without an expensive electric upgrade.........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

Glass skyscrapers have turned entire cities into energy vampires

As blogged on Vice.com, on April 22, Earth Day, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio sent a ripple of fear through the city’s construction and real estate industry when he announced he would “introduce legislation to ban glass and steel skyscrapers that have contributed so much to global warming. They have no place in our city or on our Earth anymore”..........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

The first phase of DS+R's linear London park is now open to the public

The first phase of The Tide, London’s version of the High Line, officially opened to the public on Friday. Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) in collaboration with local firm Neiheiser Argyros, the inaugural section of the linear park marks one-fifth of the overall three-mile-long landscape coming to the banks of the River Thames........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

The U.S. Green Building Council advances the future of LEED

Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced a call for proposals to solicit feedback and concepts for the next version of LEED. USGBC created the LEED green building program 20 years ago to measure and define green building and to provide a roadmap for developing sustainable buildings. LEED is updated through a continuous improvement process and with each new version USGBC is evolving LEED’s approach and challenging the building sector to be more resource efficient and sustainable........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

Existing ICI buildings slowly becoming more energy efficient, finds BOMA

While most new buildings are being constructed to higher standards of sustainability, more of Canada’s existing commercial, light industrial, retail and institutional buildings are also becoming more efficient.........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

New CCA mentorship program connects innovators with contractors looking to test novel solutions

TORONTO—Without the direct input of end users, innovations are often little more than solutions in search of problems. A new mentorship program organized by Canadian Construction Innovations (CCI) is taking aim at this long-standing challenge by connecting construction innovators directly with contractors capable of testing new solutions.........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

$1.2B multi-use community for north Montreal

BOISBRIAND, QUE. — A small Quebec-based family developer has announced plans for a $1.2-billion multi-use development in the North Shore community of Boisbriand, north of Montreal that will cover 53 hectares at the intersection of Highways 13 and 640......................Read Article

July 15, 2019

B.C. Energy Step Code challenges old paradigms

Collaboration is key for an innovative building energy-efficiency standard that’s made British Columbia the first North American jurisdiction to create a regulated pathway to net-zero energy-ready buildings...........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

Electrical code changes property managers should know

On May 16, Ontario’s new Electrical Safety Code took effect and there are some changes that building owners and managers should know. The Ontario code adopts, by reference, the Canadian Electrical Code, and adds on top of that Ontario-specific amendments......................Read Article

July 15, 2019

Construction jobs dry up in June as industry posts another decline in employment

OTTAWA—Aside from a big April gain, there’s been little to brag about in the Canadian construction industry’s labour market this year. And the negative news shows few signs of abating..........................Read Article

July 15, 2019

New York's public housing is in crisis. Can architects design the way out?

The Regional Plan Association (RPA) has selected architects Miriam Peterson and Nathan Rich of Peterson Rich Office (PRO) to dream up housing and maintenance strategies for New York City’s deteriorating public housing for the nonprofit planning think tank’s newly-funded chair of urban design. The joint appointment will give the pair the opportunity to build on past work that reimagined the New York City Housing Authority’s (NYCHA) developments.......................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Prominent Ottawa architect urges Trudeau to intervene over Château Laurier addition

As reported in The ChronicleHerald, Ottawa architect and heritage consultant Barry Padolsky has written an open letter to Justin Trudeau, asking the prime minister to step in to convince hotel owner Larco Investment to go back to the drawing board for a rethinking of a controversial addition to the historic Château Laurier.....................Read Article

July 8, 2019

22 Saskatchewan construction electricians sanctioned for academic misconduct

As reported on Global News, twenty-two construction electricians have been sanctioned for academic misconduct while attending apprenticeship technical training at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus in Moose Jaw....................Read Article

July 8, 2019

China's Buildings Are Watching How People Shop, Cook and Steal

Fintech is changing the way people borrow, invest and pay for things. But there’s another type of technology -- most noticeably in China-- that’s altering the way urban dwellers interact with their living and shopping environments......................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Toronto-area firm fined $200,000 after worker killed by concrete panel on downtown construction site in 2017

TORONTO—J.N.D. Erectors Ltd. has been ordered to pay a $200,000 fine for a health and safety violation that resulted in the death of a worker on a Toronto construction site. The fatal incident happened in March 2017 at a new development at 130 Queens Quay East on the city’s eastern waterfront...........Read Article

July 8, 2019

Outpost Office explores the state of architectural education in post-revolution Ukraine

Architecture has faced many challenges in modern Ukraine: shifting narratives around cultural heritage and the legacy of Soviet architecture, predatory developers who willfully ignore planning regulations, a struggling economy, and widespread corruption to name a few. Ukraine’s state institutions of higher education often grapple with badly needed reforms, bloated by outdated bureaucracy and limited resources...........................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Toronto update – expect higher house prices and a slowdown in office construction

Based on its latest job numbers, Toronto’s economy is definitely in overdrive. Year-to-date (January to May) total employment in the Toronto Census Metro Area (CMA) is up by 72,000. Moreover, the +72,000 figure was the largest gain during the first five months of the year in more than 18 years, and resulted from a 77,000-rise in full time hiring that more than offset a 5,100 decline in part-time employment......................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Canadians on BOMA International centre stage

Canadian real estate had a winning presence again this year at the annual Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International conference and expo. Three owner-management teams and one industry executive are now carrying accolades home from Salt Lake City, Utah, after the three-day event wrapped up last night...................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Hollywood North to expand into Hamilton

A colossal production hub for film, television and digital media is staged for to be built in Hamilton. Toronto-based Aeon Studio Group have announced a plan to build 500,000 square feet of stage space on the now, city-owned, Barton-Tiffany lands — aiming for the first 150,000 square feet to be operational within a year............................Read Article

July 8, 2019

Turk Rework

Bushwick, Brooklyn is home to many transplants, but its latest arrival isn’t a hipster with blunt-cut bangs: It’s The Turk’s Inn, a very 1970s full-service restaurant, rooftop bar, kebab stand, and nightclub transported from its longtime Wisconsin home and resurrected less than a block away from the L train at Jefferson.........................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Historic $3.5 billion development coming to downtown Toronto

As blogged on DailyHive.com, Big changes are coming to Toronto’s iconic skyline. Oxford Properties has revealed the initial designs for its development of Union Park, a historic, $3.5 billion mixed-use project that includes sprawling office space, nearly 1,000 residential rental units, and the opportunity for three acres of public space including an urban park built over Union rail corridor...........................Read Article

July 2, 2019

This house was built using 600,000 recycled plastic bottles

Joel German says when he and David Saulnier told people their plan to build homes with plastic bottles, "they looked at us like we were crazy." Most houses use wood, nails, shingles and insulation — but not theirs. This week, the team from JD Composites unveiled its first home in Meteghan River on Nova Scotia's southwest shore. It has walls made with 15-centimetre thick plastic slabs. More than 600,000 recycled plastic bottles were shredded, melted and formed into custom moulds for the walls......................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Construction industry staffers most vulnerable to phishing scams

As reported on scmagazine.com, a new study on a worker’s susceptibility to being successfully phished found those working in the construction industry the most likely to fall for an attack, however, with the proper training this weakness can be almost entirely weeded out....................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Winning ecological project a model for future cities, Plante says

A municipal works yard squeezed in-between the Bonaventure Expressway and the Lachine Canal will be transformed into an example of what an ecological city of the future would be like. On Tuesday, Mayor Valérie Plante announced the winner of a competition sponsored by Reinventing Cities, a global initiative to encourage sustainable real-estate developments on underused sites in 14 cities from Auckland, New Zealand to Oslo, Norway....................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Montreal real estate: Digital concierge Walter links condo tenants, managers

Montreal condo projects are getting bigger. The new crop of tall towers offer impressive views and, often, more amenities for residents. But the scale of these buildings also poses new challenges for apartment managers to co-ordinate bookings for party rooms and guest suites, deal with maintenance requests and communicate important information to residents.........................Read Article

July 2, 2019

How to Appreciate All the Architecture in Bermuda

Bermuda may take the prize for prettiest pink-sand beaches and lushest landscapes, but beyond its scenic charms, the island offers some major architectural eye candy. Dating back to 1609, the picturesque retreat is ripe with historic gems, from period homes and cathedrals to hotels with both old-world and modernist charm.....................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Unfilled construction jobs reach record level

Vacancy rates for construction jobs are reaching record levels, new data shows. According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Canada’s private sector job vacancy rate advanced again in the first quarter of the year, reaching 3.3 per cent, up 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter..................Read Article

July 2, 2019

New Zero Energy Office Buildings Design Guide

A new publication, the Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings: Achieving Zero Energy, provides direction for designing and constructing zero energy office buildings in all climate zones.........................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Landlords pivot to capitalize on changing demands of Ottawa-area tenants

A growing population, rapidly rising home prices and shifting demographics are radically reshaping the rental market in Ottawa and eastern Ontario – opening up new opportunities for property owners who can cater to this new cohort of tenants................................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Province looks to wood as heat source for public buildings

The provincial government has identified about 100 public buildings that could be heated by wood in the future. Exploring the use of district heating, or heat networks, fuelled by low-grade wood was one of the recommendations in University of King's College president Bill Lahey's review on forestry practices...........Read Article

July 2, 2019

Sheet metal strike impacting Ontario projects

The strike by unionized sheet metal workers in Ontario’s ICI sector is now its eighth week and it’s become clear the work stoppage is having a significant impact on projects across the province. “It is starting to have a major effect on worksites,” said Construction Employers Coordinating Council of Ontario executive director Wayne Peterson on June 25.....................Read Article

July 2, 2019

Sidewalk Labs unveils full Toronto waterfront master plan that's a timber-topia

The smart city is the king of go-to solutions for the problems that bedevil urban areas. At the moment, the concept—tech innovates those problems away!—is trending hard in Toronto thanks to the work of Sidewalk Labs, the Alphabet-owned company that dove face first into urban design a few years ago with a plan for a lakefront district in Ontario’s capital. Now, that plan is a completed master plan, the foreground to any large development......................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Smart buildings are getting smarter, but can building managers keep up?

With trillions of dollars in commercial real estate assets, building and facility managers are searching for innovative ways to maintain structures in a state of good repair while reducing operating costs by cutting waste and energy consumption.....................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Architecture Spotlight: France's senate cancels international competition for Notre Dame

Canadian architects who may have looked forward to entering an international contest to redesign the burned out portion of France’s Notre Dame Cathedral have been pre-empted by the country’s senate which voted to rebuild the original structure.....................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Quebec issues moratorium forbidding construction in high-risk flood zones

As reported on Global News, those looking to rebuild after this year’s devastating spring floods may be out of luck. The Quebec government announced Monday it was forbidding new constructions in high-risk flood plains and would not allow homeowners whose properties were flooded to rebuild if damage exceeded 50 per cent of the total value.....................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Could buildings be evolved instead of designed?

What if we could “breed” buildings to be more efficient? That’s the provocation by artist, designer, and programmer Joel Simon, who was inspired by the potentials of 3D printing and other emergent digital manufacturing technologies, as well as his background in computer science and biology, to test a system of automated planning..................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Government of Canada supports program to help construction workers quit smoking

OTTAWA, June 19, 2019 /CNW/ – Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. One Canadian dies from a smoking related illness every 12 minutes, which represents about 45,000 Canadians per year. The smoking rate among construction workers in Canada is 34%—more than double the national average..................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Vancouver office building managers’ response to homeless people has shifted

There remains a lot of ground to cover in the two years left of Vancouver’s strategic plan to end street homelessness by 2021. Last year, the City of Vancouver counted 659 residents living on the city’s streets – 30 per cent of its homeless population.................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Toronto college first retrofit to earn zero-carbon certification

The Building NX retrofit at Humber College, Toronto, has been awarded the Zero Carbon Building—Design certification by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC). It is the first retrofit in the country to achieve this certification....................Read Article

June 25, 2019

RAIC celebrates excellence in architecture

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has announced the 2019 recipients of the Young Architect, Architectural Firm, and Emerging Architectural Practice awards which recognize excellence in architecture, service to clients, and contributions to the profession, education, and community...............Read Article

June 25, 2019

Ontario updates apprentice support and governance model for skilled trades

Last week, Ontario’s government passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, which updates the province’s skilled trades governance model and support for apprentices...................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Controversial expansion of landmark Ottawa hotel approved by city committee

Ottawa’s planning committee has approved a controversial site plan proposal for a new addition at the rear of the historic Château Laurier hotel in the city’s downtown...................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Construction industry faced highest number of unfilled jobs in Q1, surpassing national average: CFIB

The number of unfilled jobs in Canada’s construction sector outpaced all other industries and the national average in the first four quarter of 2019, according to a recent report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses....................Read Article

June 25, 2019

Hemp houses could be greener, fire-resistant and built like Lego

As reported on CBC News, all in all, Terry Radford’s new product — with apologies to Pink Floyd — looks to be anything but another brick in a wall. That’s because the president of Just BioFiber, based in Airdrie, Alta., believes it has come up with a hempcrete-based brick that is more than the equal of the usual homebuilding materials..................Read Article

June 19, 2019

Ultrathin rental building could be coming to Toronto’s Entertainment District

Toronto’s Entertainment District might be getting an ultrathin addition. The city has received an application to build a narrow 10-storey residential rental building at 86 John St. on a property wedged between Festival Tower and the Pinnacle. The lot is roughly 6.5 metres wide and just under 43 metres long........................Read Article

June 19, 2019

BC limits union raids to three years

B.C. has passed an amendment to the province’s Labour Code, limiting construction union raiding to every three years. The change went against B.C.’s NDP, which appointed an expert panel to review the Labour Relations Code last year........................Read Article

June 19, 2019

A look inside America’s oldest African-American-owned, female-run construction management firm

As reported in the Birmingham Times, the construction business is nobed of roses — cutthroat competition makes it hard to stay on top. But one construction and design firm has been making its mark on some of our biggest landmarks. Cheryl McKissack Daniel now sits atop the oldest African-American-owned and female-run construction company in the nation — a business her family truly built from the ground up.....................Read Article

June 19, 2019

Oil woes have Calgary landlords turning empty offices into apartments

As reported on Bloomberg.com, when the lease on an Alberta Health Services office in Calgary came due for renegotiation two years ago, the rental market was so bad that trying to keep the tenants wasn’t worth it. Instead, landlord Strategic Group took the unconventional step of letting the government agency leave and spent C$24.5 million ($18 million) to convert the seven-story building into an apartment complex.......................... Read Article

June 19, 2019

Wood manufacturers already busy ahead of 2020 NBCC code changes

There could soon be a rise – literally – in wooden residential buildings across British Columbia as a result of a decision by Premier John Horgan’s government to tweak regulations in the provincial building code to allow taller mass timber towers of up to 12 storeys.........................Read Article

June 19, 2019

Crane collapse in Dallas caused by severe weather

As reported by CBS News, one person was killed after a crane collapsed onto a downtown Dallas apartment building Sunday afternoon as severe weather hit the metropolitan area. The National Weather Service reported the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area and surrounding cities were under a severe thunderstorm watch on Sunday with high winds and large hail descending upon certain parts......................Read Article

June 19, 2019

A thriving architecture scene rises in Toronto

Toronto, in the words of urban designer Ken Greenberg, is ‘evolving into an entirely different kind of city’. Projections show the city adding a million people in the next generation...................Read Article

June 19, 2019

On-Site reveals Canada’s 2019 Top Contractors

There’s no two ways about it, 2018 was a good year for Canadian construction. Despite some steep challenges in the form of tariffs on steel and aluminum, continued weakness in the energy sector and softening investment in institutional building, Canada’s Top Contractors dug in and delivered, with many posting record years and forecasting more of the same for 2019.....................Read Article

June 19, 2019

B.C. reviewing WCB system

VICTORIA, B.C. – The province of B.C. is asking the public to give their input on its workers’ compensation system and how to shift the system to become more worker-centred. The province will also ask residents how it can increase worker and employer confidence...................Read Article

June 11, 2019

30 years of labour harmony lost because of hardline approach: pipe trade officials

ICI sector plumbers and steamfitters are on strike after 96 per cent of members voted to reject the latest contract offer from the Mechanical Contractors Association of Ontario (MCAO). “Because of management’s demands, as of midnight tonight (May 31) Ontario’s unionized pipe trade workers will be on strike, said Ross Tius, chairman of the Ontario Pipe Trades Council (OPTC) bargaining committee said in a May 31 release...................Read Article

June 11, 2019

This twisting tower is made from timber that bends itself into shape

As blogged on New Atlas, moisture is usually bad news for timber, at least if you plan to use it for building purposes. This is largely because it can cause the material to crack and warp as it dries out, features hardly conducive to the idea of structural integrity. But one group of researchers in Germany is investigating how this process can actually be harnessed for more efficient construction, manifesting in a magnificent tower made up of timber pieces that twisted themselves into shape......................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Gaudí's Sagrada Família wins a building permit – 137 years after work began

Property owners have a new yardstick for measuring their frustration over building permit requests that are lost in the labyrinth of local government bureaucracy. Barcelona city hall has finally issued a work permit for the unfinished church designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí, 137 years after construction started on the Sagrada Família basilica.......................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Architects propose snowflake-shaped terminal for China airport

MAD Architects’ design for Terminal 3 of Harbin Taiping International Airport in Harbin, China, looks like a snowflake that has gently fallen onto the earth. The proposed architecture settles into its locale, while also expressing itself as a surreal, interstellar space of future air travel.....................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Ontario’s construction safety performance sees improvement according to WSIB index

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) recently released the 2019 Health and Safety Index which indicates Ontario’s workplaces are 1.9 per cent safer than last year, including construction which had the second highest score and was the only sector that saw a year-over-year increase two years in a row......................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Celebrating 'an engineering marvel': Toronto's iconic SkyDome opened 30 years ago

It had taken approximately two years and was nearly four times over budget, and when it was finally time for Toronto's SkyDome to open to the public 30 years ago, there was another problem: rain was in the forecast. But after all of their efforts, there was no way organizers were going to let the moment pass without showing off the building's signature retractable roof..........................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Soaring Toronto construction costs will adjust: experts

Over the past 3.5 years construction costs have soared in Toronto, with the leading sector — highrise residential — jumping by as much as 30 to 35 per cent. It has made it increasingly difficult for developers to control costs — especially on projects with a two-year time lag..................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Heavy hitters of U.K. architecture declare a “climate emergency”

A group of 17 architecture firms from across the United Kingdom, including Foster + Partners, Zaha Hadid Architects, David Chipperfield Architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, released an open letteraffirming their commitment to heading off climate change and building a more equitable future for their profession. The planet is in “twin crises,” the letter declares, under the heading “UK Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency.”..............Read Article

June 11, 2019

Vancouver Island construction activity shows signs of leveling

TThe Vancouver Island Construction Association’s (VICA) latest building permit stats, while strong, may be showing the crest of a wave, officials say. “We have been riding a high wave,” said Rory Kulmala, VICA CEO. “I don’t see it going up significantly anymore. I think the tempo is still high but flattening out.”........................Read Article

June 11, 2019

Feds invest in George Brown College’s ‘The Arbour’ project

The Government of Canada has committed to invest $4.1 million to construct The Arbour, the 10-storey, $134-million, mass-timber building project at George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus in Toronto....................Read Article

June 11, 2019

2020 NBCC code brings new era for Canadian wood construction

The new 2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBCC) will include the use of mass timber construction for 12-storey structures (42 metres in height), but the move is more than a simple doubling of the six-storey wood structures now within the Canadian NBCC and integrated into provincial and local building codes. Instead, it opens a new door on Canadian wood construction.....................Read Article

June 3, 2019

B.C. Liberals introduce legislation to set payment deadlines for contractors

As reported on Global News, the BC Liberals have introduced legislation that would require companies to pay contractors within 28 days of receiving an invoice, and contractors to pay subcontractors seven days thereafter. Ontario passed similar legislation in 2017, while Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are currently examining this issue.......................Read Article

June 3, 2019

Tiny-house village, complete with solar panels and gardens, approved for Okotoks

As reported in the Calgary Herald, the mayor of Okotoks says a tiny-house village approved for the town will go a long way towards providing affordable housing while reducing the community’s environmental footprint...................Read Article

June 3, 2019

Calgary police looking to return $70,000 of stolen construction tools after man charged

As reported in the Calgary Sun, one man is facing charges after Calgary police recovered more than $70,000 of stolen construction tools from a northeast home. Police say one of the thefts happened Oct. 6, 2018, when unknown offenders broke into a contracting business located in the 4400 block of 58th Avenue S.E. by forced entry and stole approximately $8,500 worth of construction tools......................Read Article

June 3, 2019

Beedie bumps Bentall Kennedy off its top spot

Bentall Kennedy LP has been knocked off its perch after at least six years at No. 1 on Business in Vancouver’s list of the biggest commercial property managers in B.C......................... Read Article

June 3, 2019

New energy efficient buildings aren't enough, experts say — we have to retrofit the old ones, too

The Canada Green Building Conference is taking place in Vancouver this week, and a major portion of the program will be pushing the need to retrofit older buildings to reduce their carbon footprint......................Read Article

June 3, 2019

Fabrics could be the next big thing in facades

Humans have been using fabric to create shelter for thousands of years. If a set of groundbreaking researchers and designers have their way, however, applications of textile-based architectural elements have the potential to play an important role in shaping the future of enclosures as well................Read Article

June 3, 2019

Province supporting Brockville VR project

BROCKVILLE, ONT. — The Ontario government is committing more than $1.4 million over one year to help create a cutting-edge career exploration tool for jobs in the steel and aluminum industries called CareerLabsVR.........................Read Article

June 3, 2019

French Senate declares Notre Dame must be rebuilt as it was before, quashing competition

The French Senate has seemingly dealt a blow to French president Emmanuel Macron, approving a bill that requires the damaged Notre Dame Cathedral be rebuilt as it was before and from the same materials, wherever possible..................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Halifax group wants one-fifth of construction jobs reserved for African Nova Scotians

As reported on CTV News, a grassroots group in Halifax is demanding that 20 per cent of construction jobs and contracts related to a major redevelopment project be set aside for African Nova Scotians. Halifax is planning to redevelop the Cogswell Interchange area into a mixed-use community with parks, bike lanes, shops and a transit hub. Initial estimates put the cost of the project at $65 million....................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Property Management firm places focus on tenant experience

The days of Mr. Roper may soon be a thing of the past. At least, that’s if UNLIMITED Residential Living has anything to do with it. Why? Because founder and owner Adam Kitchener believes there’s a better way to do property management.........................Read Article

May 27, 2019

IoT can make construction less of a headache

Developers and general contractors hope that by adopting Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to cut costs, build faster, and use a limited labor pool more efficiently, they can turn the messy, fragmented world of building construction into something more closely resembling what it actually is—a manufacturing process.........................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Starchitects still coming with big designs to change Vancouver skyline

Rumours about the death of Vancouver’s high-end real estate market may be exaggerated. Several new highrise developments are in the works for downtown. And many are high-end projects being designed by internationally renowned “starchitects.”...................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Toronto enters into busiest ever construction season with over $1 billion in planned work

The City of Toronto has officially launched its busiest construction season ever with more than $1 billion in work planned for roads, bridges, expressways, sewers, and watermains — the largest investment into a City of Toronto construction season to date, indicated Toronto Mayor John Tory in a May 13 release..................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Five important criteria when choosing a digital multimeter

Working with electricity can always be dangerous. When you’re choosing a handheld digital multimeter (DMM) for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes, you’ll want to be sure to use a device that has been properly tested to withstand hazardous working environments—but it can be difficult to sort through all of the relevant specifications to determine the best tool for the job(s).......................Read Article

May 27, 2019

The Eiffel Tower’s landscape will be redesigned before the 2024 Olympics

The city of Paris has selected the London-based landscape architecture studio Gustafson Porter + Bowman (GP+B) to redevelop the square-mile “grand site” surrounding the Eiffel Tower. GP+B’s plan, OnE, will reorganize the site into a more linear experience, complete with new parks, reflecting pools, kiosks, and an amphitheater—turning the strip into Paris’s largest park......................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Exploring the balancing act of glass in construction

Glass has the capacity to be part of beautifully designed buildings, to make a statement, and to allow for dramatic views of the outside from within. It can be specified to add a sense of lightness to a structure as well as to convey a modern, impressive, and eye-catching look. At the same time, it must meet the project’s performance requirement because of today’s focus on sustainability and energy efficiency........................Read Article

May 27, 2019

Top Trump administration cabinet member says the end of punishing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and Mexico is close at hand.

OTTAWA – A top Trump administration cabinet member says the end of punishing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada and Mexico is close at hand. “I think we are close to an understanding with Mexico and Canada,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday.....................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Industry Perspectives: New Study Proves the Financial Case for Zero Carbon Buildings

It’s a fact: Zero Carbon Buildings are not only good for the planet, but a good financial investment too. The Canada Green Building Council in February issued a report that proves Zero Carbon Buildings offer meaningful greenhouse gas reductions and positive financial returns.......................Read Article

May 21, 2019

I.M. Pei passes away at 102

Legendary architect, founder of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners (originally I.M. Pei & Associates), and 1983 Pritzker Prize winner I.M. Pei reportedly passed away on May 15, 2019 at age 102......................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Higher carbon prices could be a ‘windfall’ for construction: Report

Canada’s construction industry could be in for a windfall from proposed higher carbon prices, according to a report prepared by a University of Ottawa policy think-tank for Canada’s Building Trades Unions...................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Dunlevy: Montreal architect Phyllis Lambert still dreams of a better city

“I think the more you dream, and really want that dream, it happens,” said Phyllis Lambert. She would know. Montreal’s architecture maven is one of four subjects — alongside Denise Scott Brown, in Philadelphia; Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, in Vancouver; and Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, in Toronto — of Joseph Hillel’s stimulating documentary City Dreamers.....................Read Article

May 21, 2019

B.C. scientist invents 3D concrete printer

Building a house could soon be as easy as pushing a button. B.C. scientist Paul Tinari has invented a cheap, light and fast 3D printing system that he says can form the outer shell of a four-bedroom concrete home in 24 hours at only 10 per cent of the cost of traditional construction.....................Read Article

May 21, 2019

The We Company launching $2.9B investment fund with backing from Ivanhoe Cambridge

The We Company’s latest play has been revealed: become its own landlord. The $47 billion flexible-office space startup has launched a private real estate investment arm, ARK, which will buy property and fill it with WeWork services for its enterprise clients, the company said Wednesday..................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Regina's residential construction industry in 'deep recession,' says home builders' association

Regina’s residential construction industry is experiencing a heavy downturn, with this year’s housing starts on track to be the lowest in 11 years. A new report from the Regina and Region Home Builders’ Association has put most of the blame on mortgage stress testing rules, which it said is raising the barrier to home ownership.......................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Fernando Mastrangelo creates a tiny house with cast recycled plastic walls

Brooklyn-based concrete artist Fernando Mastrangelo is no stranger to casting delicately colored, intricately-layered furniture and panels in experimental materials. During the 2019 New York Design Week, Fernando Mastrangelo Studio (FM/S) has cast TINY HOUSE, and will exhibit the micro-space in Times Square until May 22.....................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Nearly 80 new skyscrapers set to rise in Toronto

Toronto’s already crowded skyline could see even more new skyscrapers being constructed in the next few years, which could more than double the number of tall buildings in the city, according to a report by Point2 Homes, as explained in the National Post....................Read Article

May 21, 2019

When Neon owned the Night

Before evolution hit a snag, and we reverted to slouching and staring at our phones, human beings walked with their eyes up, looking at things. In the countryside, people contemplated church steeples, maple trees, clouds. In cities, they gaped at neon — and it was everything...................Read Article

May 21, 2019

Prompt payment arrives in Nova Scotia

Recent amendments to Nova Scotia’s Builders’ Lien Act that include prompt payment legislation will cut the number of bankruptcies in an industry where late payment woes have become “endemic.” “We estimate between 15 and 20 companies a year end up in bankruptcy protection because of payment issues,” said Duncan Williams, president of the Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS)......................Read Article

May 21, 2019

World’s first 3D-printed community to be built in Latin America

The world’s first 3D-printed village could soon be produced in Latin America. Yves Béhar and industrial design firm Fuseproject aims to build it in just 24 hours. The homes will be built for families living on less than $200 per month and provide access to safe housing and shelter from both environmental and physical dangers.................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Kicking our addiction to A/C

As much as we Canadians look forward to summer, increased heat and humidity impacts living comfort inside the home. Air conditioning has been the go-to solution for decades, with installations estimated in over 80 per cent of North American households, not to mention most restaurants, stores, museums, and office buildings.....................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Construction management software means increased efficiency and profits

When one thinks of construction management technology, one typically thinks of large scale construction companies with sizeable projects on-the-go as the primary users. However, there’s a strong argument that construction technology can benefit companies of all sizes..................Read Article

May 13, 2019

The Tenants Fighting Back Against Facial Recognition Technology

Last year, residents of Atlantic Plaza Towers, a rent-stabilized apartment building in Brooklyn, found out that their landlord was planning to replace the key fob entry system with facial recognition technology. The goal, ostensibly, was to modernize the building’s security system...................Read Article

May 13, 2019

The origins and perils of development in the urban tech landscape

In most major cities of the world, an urban tech landscape has emerged. One day, we were working on our laptops at Starbucks, and the next, we were renting desks at WeWork. We embedded our small architectural and design firms in low-rent spaces in old factories and warehouses, and then we emerged as “TAMI” (technology, advertising, media, and information) tenants, heating up the commercial real estate market...................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Canadian housing starts surge 23 per cent in April

Who saw this coming? After a slow start to the year, Canadian housing starts surged ahead 23 per cent in April, compared to the same month a year previous......................Read Article

May 13, 2019

City committee set to review new 'market based' approach to parking

Businesses in Edmonton could soon determine their own parking needs as city council’s urban planning committee mulls over a review of parking regulations in the city..........................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Vancouver tops Canada in construction costs

While its coastal views and international flavours may be a delight, Vancouver’s construction costs are not as serene and appetizing. According to a recent international survey of construction markets, Vancouver is the most expensive place to build in Canada – and the 14th priciest location globally..................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Architects DCA Blog: Climate change is everywhere

Climate change is everywhere, and architecture has a big part to play in making change. Awareness of the built environment, and its role in effecting change is crucial: how we create sustainable suburban communities and halt the ravage of unchecked #sprawl; how we invest in existing, and plan new, buildings to meet not only aggressive energy targets but also be able to futureproof and adapt to change; architecture is everywhere and affects all of us.................Read Article

May 13, 2019

How to Avoid Blisters and Pin Holes in Decorative Concrete Overlays

The issue of blisters and pin holes occurring on the surface of cast-in-place concrete and resin-based coatings and sealers is well documented, but surprisingly very little is published regarding the same issues in decorative overlays.........................Read Article

May 13, 2019

Should Canadian cities follow NYC and consider banning new ‘inefficient’ glass skyscrapers?

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio plans to introduce a bill to ban new construction of glassskyscrapers as part of his endeavour to reduce citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 per cent........................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Crackdown could come for owners of uninspected rooming houses in Winnipeg

As reported on CTV News, the City of Winnipeg could be cracking down on rooming house owners ignoring safety inspectors.........................Read Article

May 6, 2019

MOCA moves into an ugly-beautiful building that changed a Toronto neighbourhood

In modelling, the term for someone who possesses unconventional, rough, or odd features is “ugly beautiful.” If there were some sort of organization for ugly-beautiful buildings, 158 Sterling Rd., built by the Northern Aluminum Company in 1919-20, would surely be a star...................Read Article

May 6, 2019

What if air conditioners could help save the planet instead of destroying it?

As blogged on Wired.com, earth’s climate is full of terrifying feedback loops: Decreased rainfall raises the risk of wildfires, which release yet more carbon dioxide. A warming Arctic could trigger the release of long-frozen methane, which would heat the planet even faster than carbon. A lesser-known climate feedback loop, though, is likely mere feet from where you’re sitting: the air conditioner.................... Read Article

May 6, 2019

Montreal's new Maison de Radio-Canada is smaller but better, execs say

The first thing you notice visiting the site of the new Maison de Radio-Canada is that it is significantly smaller than the current home of the public broadcaster, just west of the new building......................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Regent Park revitalization a ballet of construction,demolition

Dump trucks rumble in and out of the demolition site while a block away, cement trucks rumble onto an adjoining site along with more trucks loaded with construction materials. This isn’t business as usual on a Toronto job site where demolition and construction are proceeding side-by-side and have been for 13 years..................... Read Article

May 6, 2019

Canada’s first net-zero vertical farm proposed for Toronto

The University of Toronto (U of T) Scarborough and Centennial College, Ont., have teamed up to establish the EaRTH (Environmental and Related Technologies Hub) District in Toronto, an initiative aimed at advancing the clean tech sector through research, academic programming, and commercialization..........................Read Article

May 6, 2019

How Airbnb's biggest players invaded Montreal's hottest neighbourhoods

Despite a provincial law intended to limit and control online short-term housing rentals, Airbnb is thriving in Quebec. Of the 10 neighbourhoods with the highest concentration of Airbnb listings in Canada, five are in Montreal.................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Seattle crane collapse draws scrutiny in Vancouver

As reported on CTV News, a deadly crane collapse in Seattle over the weekend is highlighting the risk hundreds of cranes dotted around the Lower Mainland pose. Four people died Saturday after a crane working on a building in Seattle’s downtown core toppled. Authorities are working to determine if strong winds played a role in the collapse or if there was an issue with the crane itself..........................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Bird-friendly windows reduce collision deaths at UBC

Every once in a while Penny Martyn thumps a tennis ball or a small toy mouse against the glass window in her office. This isn’t stress relief or idle play. Martyn is using the toys to re-create the impact of a bird striking the window..................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Government of Canada launches call for proposals for investments in training equipment to support careers in the skilled trades

GATINEAU, QC, April 30, 2019 /CNW/ – Supporting the next generation of apprentices and tradespeople—particularly women and Indigenous people—depends on high-quality apprenticeship training systems, like union-based training centres............................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Bluesky builds Vancouver’s first smart windows office tower

A new Vancouver office building is the first in Canada to feature a full smart windows system to reduce glare and external heat without blinds, the developers say. BlueSky Properties, a Bosa family company, recently opened the nine-storey office building at 988 West Broadway...........................Read Article

May 6, 2019

Ontario changes rules to speed building of new housing, critics say plan unfairly favours large developers

Ontario’s PC government says it will ease the housing crunch with a sweeping package of measures aimed at getting more houses built more quickly, but critics say the plan’s move to increase the powers of the province’s land-use tribunal unfairly favours large developers......................... Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

The Cursed Architecture Twitter feed showcases the best of the worst

What drives the internet’s (perhaps morbid) obsession with bad design? Strange angles, melting paint, oddly-placed and vaguely threatening toilets, signage that hinders rather than helps, stairs to nowhere, and misplaced windows have all caused digital rubbernecking.............................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

Vancouver developer proposes world’s tallest wood tower

As reported on GlobalNews.ca, a Vancouver developer is proposing a new 35 to 40 storey tower for the Broadway corridor, but the plan isn’t for a typical high rise. Bruce Langereis, president of Delta Land Corporation, is working with architect Peter Busby from Perkins + Will to design a mass timber building that could revolutionize the way developers build...................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

The Gaia House is a 3D-printed prototype made of biodegradable materials

WASP, a 3D printing studio based out of Italy, recently produced a full-scale residential prototype out of soil, rice products, and hydraulic lime. Measuring approximately 320-square-feet in plan, the project was completed in 10 days and was built in the town of Massa Lombarda in the region of Emilia-Romagna................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

Toronto compromises on changes to noise bylaw that threatened construction

TORONTO—Continuous concrete pours and heavy crane work will continue to be permitted overnight throughout Toronto, but will be subject to new restrictions following a vote at city hall April 17. The change represents a compromise between councillors pushing for a blanket ban on construction work after 7 p.m. and the industry aiming to maintain the status quo................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

Weston bread factory rises to become Wonder Condos

Graywood Developments and joint venture partner Alterra are poised to begin construction this summer on a condominium development that involves the adaptive reuse of a former Weston bread factory...............................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

Industry Perspectives Op-Ed: The ABCs of selling the skilled trades to generations Y and Z

The alarm bells have been sounding for a long time. We’ve all heard the warnings about Ontario’s skilled trades shortage. However, it’s one thing to acknowledge the threat to our companies and economy and quite another to know what to do about it...............................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

How Automation Technology Is Changing Property Management

Back in 2007, the sharing economy was a term that didn’t exist. Seven years later, it became a $15 billion industry with a projection for $300-plus billion by 2025. With the introduction of several online and mobile platforms, workers such as Uber drivers and Airbnb (a platform integrated into Guesty's system) hosts have become the norm, very much built into travelers’ narratives...................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

U.K.’s Tulip-shaped skyscraper gets green light

The Tulip tower by J. Safra Group and Foster + Partners has been given the go-ahead by the City of London, United Kingdom. When completed, this cultural attraction could become the tallest building in London and second tallest in Western Europe...................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

‘Pay when paid’ clauses • Legal Desk, April 2019

April 12, 2019 - Given recent changes to Ontario’s Construction Act and a series of decisions across Canada involving ‘pay when paid’ clauses, this column will try to provide a dashboard of how such clauses are being interpreted in various jurisdictions........................................Read Article

Apr 29, 2019

Construction costs highest in Vancouver: Report

According to a newly released international construction market survey by Turner & Townsend, Vancouver is the most expensive place to build in Canada, and the 14th priciest location globally, with an average construction cost of US$2,720.8 per m2.......................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Notre-Dame fire: International call for architects to design new spire

France is to invite architects from around the world to submit their designs for a new spire to sit atop a renovated Notre-Dame cathedral. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told reporters they hoped for "a new spire that is adapted to the techniques and the challenges of our era"......................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Canadian construction costs balloon as steel and aluminum tariffs exact a heavy price

TORONTO—The North American showdown over steel and aluminum tariffs was expected to be brief — little more than a shove from the U.S. to push NAFTA renegotiations over the finish line. But nearly a year later, despite a new trade accord, the American duties and their retaliatory Canadian counterparts remain firmly entrenched.....................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Improving envelope and mechanical design key for super-efficiency

Addressing the critical issue of climate change requires taking action on a number of different fronts including full-scale adoption of technologies which don’t provide an immediate payback, says the principal and founder of an architectural firm which specializes in low-carbon design....................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

City of Calgary introduces a new service for construction developments throughout the city

As reported in the Calgary Sun, residential construction, whether it’s in a new community in the suburbs or an apartment tower in the core, is always of interest to people living where the new construction takes place...................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Nova Scotia renters to get landlord database

HALIFAX—An organization representing investment property owners in Nova Scotia is creating a new registry and certification program to educate its members on provincial tenancy legislation and help tenants find reputable landlords..................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

NAIT research partnership aims for a construction future that’s waste-free

As reported in the Financial Post, imagine a construction project that doesn’t contribute to Canadian landfills. It may sound far-fetched, but to the individual advancing innovation for one of Canada’s largest construction firms, waste-free construction will one day be a reality.................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Canadian architect living in China hailed as ‘guiding light’ in the pursuit of healthier buildings

When Raefer Wallis graduated from university nearly two decades ago, Quebec was hardly the best place on Earth for a new architect. In the grip of a recession, things were slow. Mr. Wallis began to scout for the busiest place he could find................................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Toronto office market: Landlords can ‘name their price’

More than two million square feet of leasing deals completed in the first quarter of 2019 continued the unrelenting pressure on Toronto’s office sector, according to the latest Avison Young market report...............................Read Article

Apr 23, 2019

Notre Dame fire was a warning bell. But will Europe listen?

PARIS - It's a thin line where the patina of age on Europe's countless monuments gives way to the onset of neglect. Like with so many loved ones, all is assumed to be fine, until suddenly it's not..............................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Five Calgary homebuilders named Canada’s Best Managed Companies

Jayman Homes, Morrison Homes, Trico Homes, Logel Homes and Hopewell Group have been named to the prestigious list of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies".............................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Councillors 'blown away' by lax oversight of city leases

There has been shockingly lax oversight of leases at city-owned properties, the auditor general has discovered. Auditor general Ken Hughes and his team tabled eight audits on Monday, with an audit of the city’s leases being the most damning, uncovering mismanagement of a program that brings in millions of dollars in revenue annually...................................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Halifax's Centre Plan could allow 27-storey buildings in urban core

Buildings as high as 27 storeys will be allowed in parts of downtown Halifax and Dartmouth if the latest version of the Centre Plan is approved. Planners have been working on new development rules for the urban core of the municipality since 2015. In an earlier version of the proposed plan, the maximum height limit was 20 storeys...................................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

$5B Lakeview Village names Sasaki lead architect

There’s still a long way to go before Lakeview Village will start to resemble the vision behind it. However, the next step has been taken with the announcement of Sasaki as lead master-plan architect for the $5-billion Mississauga development, which will create a community for upwards of 17,000 people along the Lake Ontario shoreline...........................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Wood construction renaissance may not be quite all it’s built up to be, report says

WINNIPEG—Sustainability has taken on an increasingly important role in Canadian construction in recent years. The energy-intensive processes required to manufacture concrete and steel have, at least in part, propelled another age-old building material back to the fore..............................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Toronto noise bylaw amendment puts 7,000 jobs, high-rise development at risk, construction groups warn

TORONTO—A proposed amendment to Toronto’s noise bylaw that would restrict builders from pouring concrete or conducting heavy crane work after 7 p.m. puts thousands of jobs at risk and threatens to slow high-rise development across the city to a crawl, several construction groups warn...........................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

ACI Foundation Announces New Leadership for Concrete Research Council

The ACI Foundation is pleased to announce the election of Dr. Aleksandra Radlinska as Chair of the Foundation’s Concrete Research Council, and Scott Anderson, PE, as the Chair of the Scholarship Council. These appointments were effective at the close of the American Concrete Institute’s spring convention on March 28, 2019....................................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Nova Scotia needs to catch ‘bad actors’ with more enforcement

Recent amendments to Nova Scotia’s Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act aimed at strengthening the system and increasing apprentice safety will meet that objective only if the province puts enough enforcement officers on the streets to catch “bad actors” in the industry.....................................Read Article

Apr 15, 2019

Contractors Should Have a Resource Network in Place

The air temperature is 97 degrees F, the concrete arrives late and it turns out it’s a hot load. A set retarder is added, which only makes matters worse. The concrete now sits for eight hours before you can do anything with it. The second load arrives on time, and you are forced to stamp that in 30 minutes. You get the job finished, but because of the curve ball you were handed, through no fault of your own, the final color is wrong and the client is not happy. Now what?....................................Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Ten Construction Cost Estimating Tips Contractors Need

Getting an accurate project estimate can be extremely challenging and is crucial to your business. If your estimate is too high, then the bid may go to another competitor and all of the time and resources used to submit the bid will have been wasted. If it's too low, you'll win the bid but will wish it went to someone else. The following tips should help you get the accurate estimates you need to win more jobs................. Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Top 10 major upcoming Hotel/Motel and Shopping Centre construction projects - Canada - March 2019

The accompanying table shows 20 of the largest upcoming Hotel/Motel and Shopping Centre construction projects in Canada. They are all in the planning stage and are mainly new projects, but may also involve additions and/or alterations. Shopping centers, hotels, office buildings, medical buildings, educational buildings, government buildings, industrial projects, oil and gas projects, and electric power and telecommunications projects will all be covered on a rotating basis..................................... Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Snøhetta completes Europe’s first underwater restaurant

International architecture firm Snøhetta opened the doors to Europe’s first underwater restaurant named ‘Under’ in Lindesnes, Norway.In Norwegian, ‘under’ has the dual meaning of ‘below’ and ‘wonder’. Half-sunken into the sea, the building’s 34-m (112-ft) long monolithic form breaks the surface of the water to rest directly on the seabed 5 m (14 ft) below................................... Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

How subcontractors can mitigate risk in their contracts

At a risk management seminar in Ottawa in late February, Dan Leduc, a partner at the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright LLP outlined several different ways in which trade contractors might simply use the contracts imposed on them as potential “push backs” or claims for change orders as provided for by the CCA 1 2008 form of subcontract.................................. Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

House of Literature creates a dialogue between new and Old Québec

Designed by Chevalier Morales Architects, the Maison de la littérature or House of Literature has become a vibrant home to Québec literature and a popular touristic destination in Old Québec.The House of Literature is situated in the former Wesley Temple, in the heart of Old Québec. It underwent an interior transformation and a modern, luminous extension was added................................. Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

New Red River College centre shaping up to be a skilled trades hub

The Skilled Trades and Technology Centre (STTC) at Red River College (RRC) in Winnipeg is part of the Manitoba government’s strategy to add 75,000 new skilled trade workers to the provincial economy by 2020. The 100,000-square-foot building contains programming areas for carpentry, sheet metal, refrigeration, machining/robotics and electrical trades, plus classrooms and laboratories................................ Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Namerind Housing Corporation explores extermination enterprise

A Regina-based property management company has found itself in the pest control business.According to Namerind Housing Corporation's property manager Mannie Amyotte, the company made the move out of necessity................................ Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Regulation changes for pressure welders take industry by surprise

The Mechanical Contractors Association of B.C. (MCABC) would like to see more consultation between government regulatory bodies such as Technical Safety BC (TSBC) as a result of ministerial order changes which have taken the industry by surprise. One such change introduces a new licensed pressure welder contractor’s licence............................... Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Architecture Spotlight: Winnipeg heritage pump house redevelopment wins national award

By making an old building new again, the successful redevelopment of the venerable James Avenue Pumping Station in Winnipeg has won the boutique architectural firm 5468976 Architecture the 2018 Canadian Architect Award of Merit.............................. Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

Ontario’s controversial Bill 66 to become law, big impact expected for construction markets in several cities

TORONTO—A far-reaching piece of Ontario legislation passed its third and final reading at Queen’s Park April 2, with major ramifications expected for construction, among other industries............................. Read Article

Apr 8, 2019

When students party too hard, should London landlords pay?

London continues to wrangle with its street party problem, but is it fair to ask landlords of student rental properties to help cover a share of the costs? It's an issue that came before the city's community and protective services committee Monday as London looks for ways to better deal with unsanctioned student street parties like the one that flooded Broughdale Avenue near Western University with 20,000 revellers in September............................ Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Five iconic architects named as 2019 Honorary Fellows of RAIC

Five architects have been named as Honorary Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada(RAIC). These men and women exemplify the role architects play in public life around the world and the evolving diversity of the profession............................ Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

WeWork takes aim at office market skepticism

There is no doubt WeWork has become a disruptive force in the global office leasing market, but it remains unclear whether the co-working giant can maintain its rapid ascent in the market while remaining a friend to landlords.WeWork, valued at an estimated $42 billion, has been attempting to spread the message that its business model can boost profits for landlords and the brokerage business as long as building owners get on board with the shared workspace model........................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

John Bockstael elected Canadian Construction Association's chair

BERMUDA, March 28, 2019 — The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has appointed John Bockstael as 2019 chair of its board of directors at its annual general meeting. John takes over the position from Zey Emir, president of Revay and Associates Limited. John Bockstael is president & chief executive officer of Bockstael Construction Limited, a fourth-generation company and one of Manitoba’s largest regional general contractors. He is a professional engineer, Gold Seal Certified and holds an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.......................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Davpart plans 55-storey The United Building at historic Toronto site

Toronto’s Davpart Inc. unveiled plans Tuesday for a 55-storey, mixed-use tower called The United Building which would become the tallest architectural heritage retention development in North America when complete.“Our development will revitalize this significant intersection with a new and yet historically respectful energy,” said Davpart president and chief executive officer David Hofstedter at an event to announce the project at the former Maclean-Hunter Publishing site at 481 University Ave., at the corner of Dundas Street West in the downtown.......................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Report urges change of tune on recruitment and retention

A new report on how to improve recruitment and retention of youth in the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) shows there is a high level of job satisfaction among workers, but significant challenges still remain. "We need to leverage the industry’s massive network for recruitment,” said Dr. Jon Callegher, author of the report, adding this is one of the recommendations......................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

3Leafs continues to grow shipping container building in Alberta

Shipping container construction is starting to sprout in Alberta thanks to 3Leafs, a young company eager innovate the industry.Som Sourachit, the lead designer and co-founder of 3Leafs, had already been working in the homebuilding industry for more than a decade when she got the idea about four years ago to build with the thousands of shipping containers globally that sit unused........................ Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Virtual reality puts crane operators in the air without actually being there

In Alberta, aspiring crane operators are being taught how to operate their machinery with the help of virtual reality (VR) simulators that owe a lot to video game software. Serious Labs, an Edmonton-based software company, has partnered with Industrial Training International Inc. (ITI), a U.S. company that conducts training and instructional design, to produce VR-based simulators that teach crane operators how to use the equipment without actually having to strap themselves into the machinery itself....................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

A New View Of Property And Asset Management

The scope and value of residential rental and commercial real estate are enormous. The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) estimates the total value of U.S. multifamily rental properties at nearly $3.7 trillion, and the roughly 15 million single-family homes are valued at an additional $3 trillion, based on Zillow's median home value. According to S&P, the value of U.S. commercial real estate tops $5 trillion. Property management and asset management both play critical, albeit different, roles in real estate success...................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Home renovator Mike Holmes oversees reno for paralyzed Humboldt Broncos player

AIRDRIE, ALTA. — One of Canada’s most recognizable home renovators has acted as a fly on the wall during renovations to the family home of an injured Humboldt Broncos player. Mike Holmes is known for his TV shows in which he rescues property owners from house makeovers gone wrong. He has been overseeing remodelling at the home of Ryan Straschnitzki in Airdrie, Alta., just north of Calgary, where Holmes met the family and did a tour of the work recently....................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

New University of Toronto building spurred on by $100M donation

The largest donation in the University of Toronto’s history has coincided with an update on the institution’s a new 750,000 sq. ft. innovation centre that will begin construction later this fall...................... Read Article

Apr 1, 2019

Top 10 largest construction project starts in Canada and Trend Graph - February 2019

The accompanying table records the 10 largest construction project starts in Canada in February 2019. Also included is the latest trend graph on starts. This looks at 12-month moving totals of the civil and non-residential building categories in Canada..................... Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Guesty, a tech platform for property managers on Airbnb and other rental sites, raises $35M

The growth of Airbnb — and likewise other platforms like Booking.com, VRBO and HomeAway for listing and renting short-term accommodation in private homes — has spawned an ecosystem of other businesses and services, from those who make money renting their homes, to cleaning companies that make properties “Airbnb-ready,” to those who help design listings that will get more clicks..................... Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Report – New home construction to decline for next two years

As reported on CBC News, the construction of new homes in Canada will continue to decline for the next two years as the economy slows and higher interest rates weigh on consumers, according to a new report from Altus Group................... Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Beaux-arts train station in Ottawa becomes temporary home for Canada's Senate

Canadian firms Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects have completed the transformation of a historic 20th-century train station in Ottawa into the temporary home for Canada's upper house of parliament. The Senate of Canada Building will provide an interim meeting place for the country's senators, while its nearby home in the capital city, Centre Block on Parliament Hill, undergoes restoration.................. Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Ontario contractors predict busy 2019 construction season despite labour, political challenges

TORONTO—With an grueling construction season in the rearview, contractors across the province expect to grind out even more work this year, according the Ontario Construction Secretariat’s 2019 Contractor Survey. Just over 30 per cent of non-residential contractors forecast a busier 2019 compared to last year, underpinned by population gains, reduced trade uncertainty and infrastructure spending, OCS says................ Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Hamilton architects propose futuristic green tower

DPAI architects have proposed a futuristic project for Hamilton. According to the architects, the Fibroblast Tower is a prosthetic intervention designed to begin the healing process of the Niagara Escarpment, a natural ecosystem............... Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Two new office towers that will reshape downtown Toronto and Vancouver

In Vancouver and Toronto, the centre is getting stronger. A pair of development companies are planning office towers that will reshape the downtowns of those two cities – and, with architecture by Bjarke Ingels Group, mixes up office space with infrastructure that runs the 21st-century city.............. Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Advances in infrared tools for thermal imaging

February 13, 2019 - The world of infrared (IR) test and measurement has seen a steep curve of design advancement in recent years, with heavy investments in research and development (R&D) leading to the creation of tools that are lighter, faster and easier to deploy than their predecessors, in an everyday industrial environment............. Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Canada enters 2020 Venice Biennale with Imposter Cities

The Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) has selected Imposter Cities as Canada’s official entry to the prestigious 2020 Venice Biennale in Architecture. Impostor Cities explores how the country’s architecture is film-famous because Canadian cities often double as other places onscreen. Toronto stands in for Tokyo, for example, while Vancouver and Montréal masquerade as Moscow, Paris, and New York............ Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

2018 Residential Construction Market Highlights − U.S. and Canada

Issuance of year-end data on U.S. new homebuilding activity was delayed due to the partial government shutdown which kept Census Bureau workers away from their desks. Over the past month, however, there have been diligent catch-up efforts and December's preliminary residential 'starts' and 'permits' numbers are now available........... Read Article

Mar 25, 2019

Ontario construction software firm Bridgit raises $6.2-million

The company now known as Bridgit Inc. began with what founders Mallorie Brodie and Lauren Lake call “crane hunting” – scouring London, Ont., for construction sites, looking for problems to solve. They found a few. And they’ve raised another $6.2-million to keep solving them........... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

The potential of artificial intelligence (AI)- Electrical Safety 360, February 2019

Not long ago, artificial intelligence (AI) was far too technically unconventional for most of us to foresee how it could influence the world in practical and pragmatic ways. Now, however, the future of AI has truly arrived.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

After school program gives kids a taste of the trades

A rural municiplaity in southwestern Ontario has taken an unusual step to deal with the growing shortage of skilled trades. Strathroy-Caradoc is running an eight-week after school program in carpentry (and other trades) for elementary school students aged ine to 13.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

New B.C. program aims to improve worksite conduct and diversity

A comprehensive program has been launched to address British Colombia's skilled labour shortage by reducing harassment, bullying, and hazing on construction worksites. The Builders Code defines an acceptable worksite and provides employers with tools, training and resources to improve and promote safe and productive behaviour.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Canada flag flap is actually about the pole, property manager says

The company pushing a memeber of the military to take down a Canadian flag said it's the pole that's the problem, not the maple leaf. Maj. Michael Mitchell has been told the flag he put up on his Ottawa home last year has to come down because his condominium board does not allow anything to be attached to the front of their homes.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Under lock and key: Guarding job sites from thieves and thrill-seekers saves contractors down the line

Sprawling construction sites, swarming with workers during the day, but abundant in valuable tools and unguarded equipment once crews clock out, are ripe for pilfering. Unlike picking a lock or breaking a window, prowling a vacant construction site after-hours hoping to swipe a chop saw or achieve 15 minutes of fame atop a crane are crimes that, while brazen, can require considerably less forethought.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Celebrating the best wood projects

The temple of Light in Kootenay Bay, B.C., by Patkau Architects, has won the 2019 Wood Innovation Award by WoodWorks British Colombia. This award recognizes creative and innovative approaches in the use of wood in building design, product design, and/or processes.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

City of Vancouver takes action against 820 rogue short-term operators in 6 months

The City of Vancouver says it has taken enforcement against 820 suspected illegal short-term rentals (STR) in the last six months. Vancouver's new short-term rental regulations took full effect on Sept. 1, 2018, and the city says it has opened more than 2,000 case files since then.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Nova Scotia set to regualte coastal contruction as sea levels rise

HALIFAX- Nova Scotia is proposing legislation that would set rules for coastal construction and protect features such as salt marshes and dunes as sea levels rise in the future. Environment Minister Margaret Miller says the new Coastal Protection Act will ensure clear provincewide rules for what can and cannot be done along the province's vulnerable coastlines.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Vancouver approves 'cellular' timber building that resembles a honeycomb

VANCOUVER- The City of Vancouver has approved a 10-storey global headquarters project for Nature's Path Foods. The mass timber building with a cellular design will be built in East Vancouver on Clark Drive near the VCC-Clark SkyTrain station.......... Read Article

Mar 18, 2019

Landlord 'disturbed' by problem tenants

After a seven-month ordeal, a local landlord wants to bring attention to the difficulties of dealing with tenants behaving badly. Jason Roblin, CEO of Brandon's largest rental and property management group, Vionell Holdings Partnership, has never encountered tenants like a group occupying two rental units he faced recently.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

P.E.I. construction industry launches Phase 2 of recruitment campaign

As reported on CBC News, P.E.I.'s construction industry is rolling out Phase 2 of a multimedia campaign to try to address a shortage of workers while levels of construction activity continue to rise. Phase 2 of the Island Builder campaign will consist of promotional videos, a continued radio campaign and promotions focusing on high school students.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

Coming this weekend: the dangers of daylight savings!

Be ready to move your clocks forward one hour this weekend. However, although it doesn't take long for our bodies to adapt to this semi-annual change to daylight savings time, there are job site health and safety considerations during the first few days immediately after the change that need consideration.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

Empire Communities innovates with 'Forward Thinking' homes in Breslau, Ontario

VAUGHAN, ON, March 6, 2019 /CNW/ - Empire Communities, one of North America's largest homebuilders, has just reached another milestone in their homebuilding history as they trailblaze the path for sustainable construction and energy efficiency.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

Metrolinx boosts standards to make sites safer

Metrolinx is looking to become a leader in construction safety and is making some big changes to get there. That was the message delivered by George Bell, vice-president of safety and security at Metrolinx.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

Trial needed for $125M Bondfield libel suit against the Globe and Mail, court says

TORONTO-- A construction company's $125-million defamation lawsuit against The Globe and Mail newspaper should be decided at trial in a case that highlights the importance of solid journalism even when an expose potentially causes damage to the subject, Ontario's top court has ruled.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

Is Ontario's construction competitiveness really being restored?

Ontario's construction industry "is open for business but on far more restricted terms" than it should be, states the co-founder of public policy think-tank Cardus.......... Read Article

Mar 12, 2019

A look at NOCTUA- a mixed reality construction safety helmet

As blogged on Yanko Design, when you are in the construction business, some of the insights that could help the contractor build better include: the possibility of making quality control more efficient and precise, use of a device that could instruct workers to build in a more intuitive way or what if the designer could see what they have rendered in a more realistic way?.......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

New Requirements for Intrinsically Safe Circuits in Hazardous Locations

February 11, 2019 - One of the important changes introduced by the 2018 CE Code, with regard to the treatment of designated hazardous locations, is how the code addresses the use of ‘intrinsically safe’ (IS) field wiring circuits, which are designed to limit electrical energy levels to prevent ignition of the explosive atmosphere—i.e. gas or dust—surrounding the equipment.......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Bird’s Eye View: The Consequences of Falls from Heights Demand a Culture Shift

It may be time to rethink working at heights from the ground up.Though some provinces have welcomed a marginal decline in accidents, falls remain a leading cause of injury for tradespeople of all stripes across the country......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Top 10 Largest Construction Project Starts in Canada and Trend Graph - January 2019

The accompanying table records the 10 largest construction project starts in Canada in January 2019. Also included is the latest trend graph on starts. This looks at 12-month moving totals of the civil and non-residential building categories in Canada......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Olympian Meidl Inspires with ORCGA Safety Talk

Former construction worker and Olympian Cliff Meidl, survivor of a horrific workplace injury, delivered a powerful message of inspiration to delegates attending the Ontario Regional Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) Damage Prevention Symposium in Niagara Falls, Ont. recently.......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Insurance Experts Caution Construction Companies to Follow the Protocols

As reported on Insurance Business Canada, experts and industry leaders are asking heavy equipment owners and operators to be more careful with their machinery – or risk theft........ Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Opioid Abuse in the Construction Industry

As reported in the Ottawa Citizen, Logan Carroll started drinking at 12, smoking weed at 13 and was doing cocaine in high school.His love of oxycodone began when he got his wisdom teeth out at age 16 and tried Percocet for the first time.......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

Canada Ordered to Pay U.S. Concrete Company $7M in NAFTA Case

As reported on CBC News, Canada has been ordered to pay $7 million in damages, plus interest, to a U.S. concrete company that used the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to successfully argue it was wrongly denied permission to build a quarry in Nova Scotia......... Read Article

Mar 5, 2019

China’s ‘Horizontal Skyscraper’ Attraction Nears Completion

As blogged on CNN, dubbed an engineering marvel, the highly anticipated Raffles City Chongqing project in China is nearly complete......... Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

Canadian Public and Our Planet Need Effective Climate Action and Housing Affordability

In a January 4, 2019 National Post column, “How the Liberal carbon tax is not unlike a $2,000 cat door,” popular commentator Rex Murphy summed up the political posturing in many of today’s climate change initiatives. ......... Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

Ontario Overhauls its Provincial Home Warranty Program

The Ontario government has announced a major overhaul to the province’s Tarion Warranty Corporation, declaring the current home warranty program broken. “There are many families across the province who have faced difficulties over the years when seeking a solution from Tarion,” said Bill Walker.......... Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

Canada Green Building Council Study Proves Zero Carbon Buildings Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Emissions While Reducing Operating Costs and Achieving Positive Returns

OTTAWA, Feb. 20, 2019 /CNW/ – The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has issued a new report – the first of its kind in Canada – that proves Zero Carbon Buildings offer meaningful greenhouse gas reductions and positive financial returns........... Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

How ICON Is Building the $4,000 3D-Printed Homes of the Future

ICON wants to tackle global homelessness by changing the face of construction and home design. In 2017, ICON co-founders Jason Ballard, Evan Loomis, and Alex Le Roux met Brett Hagler, co-founder of the non-profit New Story, and realized that they had a united mission......... Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

Politicians, Business Experts Call for Sidewalk Labs Project to be Scrapped

TORONTO -- Plans for a high tech Toronto community led by an Alphabet Inc.-backed entity should be scrapped, say politicians and prominent Canadian business and technology leaders........... Read Article

Feb 27, 2018

Designing Homes with Passive Solar Design in Mind

Over the years we’re seen an increasing number of homeowners designing or renovating their home with energy conservation in mind. Energy efficiency is important for protecting the environment from the effects of global warming, and it can save consumers considerably on their energy bills............ Read Article

Feb 27, 2019

Is it Time to Rethink Green Building (and Other) Standards?

Ever since I first got an Apple computer ten years ago, I have been at the mercy of their idea of standards. Most of these shown here are just to connect to external video. Because Apple pretty much lives in its own world, I do not have a lot of choice if I want to keep using their machines............ Read Article

Dec 19, 2018

Course Looks to Train the Next Generation of Mass Timber Builders

As architects and engineers get up to speed on designing buildings in the fledgling mass timber industry in Ontario, many contractors remain on the sidelines hesitant about the new building type they are hearing more about........... Read Article

Nov 20, 2018

World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion at The Buildings Show

The Buildings Show 30th anniversary will feature products, services, educational programming and professional networking. Attendees are from the design, architecture, construction and real estate sectors........... Read Article

Nov 20, 2018

The Buildings Show Comes to Toronto Next Week

The Buildings Show, one of North America’s largest expositions for the design/construction industry, is coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centrefrom November 28 to 30 .......... Read Article

Oct 26, 2018

Canada’s First Net-Zero Supermarket Receives $1.4M in Federal Funding

A project to construct Canada’s first net-zero supermarket is underway in Stouffville, ON.The federal government provided $1.44 million to build the 40,000 square foot Longos Brothers Fruit Markets Inc. store, which aims to produce 65 per cent of its own energy through renewable technologies........... Read Article

Oct 26, 2018

Building Successful Indoor Cannabis Cultivation Facilities

Indoor controlled cannabis production is a rapidly growing business segment, with many industry specific aspects to facility design. Although many design elements can draw upon parameters from similar industries, some operational aspects remain unique to cannabis production facilities........... Read Article

Oct 26, 2018

The Lawyer : Modernization of the Construction Act

As one of its final acts of 2017, the provincial legislature passed Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017. Bill 142, and the resulting amendments, represent a significant overhaul of the laws governing construction in Ontario. These amendments not only change the name of the act by dropping the word “Lien” from its title – the act is now known simply as the Construction Act – they represent an effort to modernize Ontario’s construction laws and ensure that contractors and subcontractors receive payment in an expeditious manner........... Read Article

Oct 26, 2018

This Prototype Low-Cost House is 3D-Printed Using Mud

We’ve been following the work of Italian 3D-printing firm WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project) for some time and have previously reported on its Big Delta and clay and straw shelter projects. Its latest creation is its most fascinating to date though, and consists of a 3D-printed hut that’s built using a mud mixture and was produced for just €900 (roughly US$1,000)........... Read Article

Oct 11, 2018

Concrete Decor LIVE! Debuts in Canada

Come Nov. 28-30, 2018 Concrete Decor LIVE! will makes its debut in Canada at The Buildings Show in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Ontario to showcase the durability and innovations of decorative and architectural concrete. A combination of five shows in one, The Buildings Show is North America’s largest annual exposition, networking and educational event for design, architecture, construction and real estate.......... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

ASHRAE and Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Split Up Operations

IAQA became an affiliate of ASHRAE in 2015. In that relationship, IAQA’s operations became integrated within ASHRAE’s headquarters operations in Atlanta......... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

Coated Glass Helps Toronto Tower Rise Out of Historic Setting

High-performance bent and flat glass helped Hariri Pontarini Architects create an undulating modern glass tower in Toronto, while still meeting the building team’s performance requirements........... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

Wooden Roof at Montréal Clubhouse Enhances Golfing Experience

The clubhouse for Golf Exécutif Montréal, located in Québec, is a green oasis in the St. Lawrence River facing downtown Montréal. Designed by Architecture49, the wood-framed building includes sheltered driving-range tees, a bar in the centre of a spacious lounge, a full restaurant kitchen, state-of-the-art golf simulators, a pro shop, offices, and mechanical spaces........... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

Realogy Selects 10 Tech Startups to Compete for $25K Prize

A group of 10 real estate tech startups will duke it out for $25,000 at Realogy’s sixth annual FWD Innovation Summit at its Madison, New Jersey headquarters on November 14.......... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

Further Dips in Unemployment Rates Recorded in U.S. and Canadian September Jobs Reports

The U.S. jobless figure fell to 3.7% from 3.9% in August, according to the latest Employment Situation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 3.7% is the lowest level for the U.S. out-of-work rate this century........... Read Article

Oct 10, 2018

Prefabricated Steel Addition to British Columbia Distillery

Spirits are flowing thanks to a Kelowna-based steel building company that has helped a local craft distillery expand its storage facilities. Metal Structure Concepts (MSC) designed, supplied, and erected a pre-engineered steel building for Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, one of the oldest distilleries in Western Canada......... Read Article

Oct 9, 2018

Winning Designs Announced for Waterfront Parks Design Competition

Waterfront Toronto, in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, today announced the winning design submissions for the York Street Park and Rees Street Park design competition.......... Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

New Book Released: Canadian Energy Efficiency Outlook

The book aims to outline the different environments that support energy efficiency development across our diverse provinces and territories, as well as at the national level......... Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

B.C. Local Governments Recognized for Leadership in Wood Design

Leadership in structural and architectural wood use by local governments was recognized at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in Whistler, British Columbia. Five local governments were presented with 2018 Community Recognition Awards for use of wood in their community projects by Wood WORKS! BC........ Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

Concrete Tech Firm CarbonCure Earns Backing of High-Profile Investment Fund that Includes Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos

HALIFAX—An East Coast cleantech firm that has carved out a niche for itself in the highly competitive concrete industry has secured the backing of some of the world’s biggest business moguls......... Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

Traditional Real Estate Knows PropTech Will be Big, Just not What to do About It

The vast majority of real estate executives know that digital innovation and PropTech are big opportunities for their business. But most still have no clue what to do about it.......... Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

Ratio Restrictions Prevent Hiring of Apprentices, Says OEL Survey

In a recent Ontario Electrical League (OEL) survey of employers in the industry, 73 per cent of respondents indicated they would hire more apprentices if ratio restrictions were eased. ......... Read Article

Oct 1, 2018

Amazon Invests in Prefab Startup Focused on Smart Home Tech

Amazon has made its first foray in prefab construction, investing in a company known for sustainable construction and smart home technology.
.Today’s announcement of Amazon’s investment in Plant Prefab, a startup based in Rialto, California, comes on the heels of the company’s announcement of a new line of Alexa-enabled smart home devices, suggesting a potential new avenue of smart home development, experimentation, and expansion..................Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Montréal’s Green Neighbourhood Project Obtains LEED Platinum

The development plan for the Technopôle Angus has just obtained a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v4 Platinum certification for sustainable neighbourhood design......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Toronto Architects Join Microsoft IoT Lab

Toronto-based WZMH Architects has been accepted into Microsoft’s global Internet of Things (IoT) Insider Labs, a program designed to assist businesses in transforming the way people, devices, and data interact.......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Infographic: Construction Is Costing More

Due to its complexity, much of the subject matter concerning the economy requires detailed editorial commentary, often supported by relevant tables and graphs. This construction infographic looks at U.S. and Canadian construction material costs......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Construction Crews Near Finish Line on Two-Tower Project That will Be Toronto’s Tallest Outside Downtown Core

TORONTO—Jutting up abruptly from the rocky shoreline of Lake Ontario, the several dozen towers lining the Humber Bay Shores neighbourhood on the west end of Toronto exemplify the building boom that has swept the city over the past decade......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Call for Entries: Ontario Consulting Engineering Awards

Consulting Engineers of Ontario (CEO) is inviting member firms to submit entries to their 17th annual Ontario Consulting Engineering Awards (OCEA) program.There is no fee to submit an entry, and member firms may submit a maximum of five entries per year......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Why Aren’t More Builders Getting into Prefab Housing?

With the next generation of Canadian homeowners – in major urban centres – threatened by the unaffordable prices of land-based homes, prefabricated, lower-cost structures have never been more newsworthy.......... Read Article

Sept 24, 2018

Act Now: 2018 Canadian Construction Association’s Awards Program submission deadline is November 16

Canadian Construction Association’s Awards recognize the important contributions of individuals, organizations and projects that promote and enhance the Canadian construction industry, whether through innovation, projects, or dedication to the industry.......... Read Article

Sept 13, 2018

Has the Property Management Industry Prepared the Next Generation for Succession?

IREM and other organizations are making efforts to spread the good news of a career in property management. Much has been written—even in this space—about the dire nature of succession in the real estate community and the aging of practitioners in virtually all disciplines related to the built environment......... Read Article

Sept 13, 2018

E-book Covers Drainage and Ventilation for Adhered Masonry Walls

In masonry cavity walls, the cavity provides a path for drainage and ventilation and acts as a capillary break. However, adhered masonry veneers, like stucco, have been installed for hundreds of years without drainage or ventilation......... Read Article

Sept 13, 2018

Simple, Striking Northern Cemetery Wins Landscape Award

The Iqaluit Municipal Cemetery in Nunavut is the recipient of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) 2018 Professional Awards under the general design category.......... Read Article

Sept 13, 2018

How Process Automation Can Reduce Real Estate Portfolio Management Expenses

The internet has enabled the next generation of penny pinchers to share their strategies on saving money. Websites like nerdwallet.com and nextadvisor.com share which credit cards have the best rates and return the most points. ......... Read Article

Sept 13, 2018

Toronto Remains Confident About Landing Amazon’s Coveted HQ2

TORONTO—Canada’s most populous city remains confident it has what it takes to snag Amazon’s second North American headquarters a year after the online retail giant launched its search for a new home base.......... Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

Fire and Sound Control Solutions for Tall Wood Buildings

It is no secret multi-unit wood buildings are growing in popularity. A March 2018 article by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) explains wood structures are easier to assemble, less noisy during the construction process, and produce less waste than other building materials......... Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

Building With Masonry

Construction Canada’s series of sponsored e-books continues with a detailed look at the technical aspects of designing masonry wall assemblies........ Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

Dawn of the Bitcoin Age Has Apartment Landlords Wondering Whether To Accept It For Rent

The rise of cryptocurrency in the real estate world began with a house here and a condo there.Now the largest affordable housing developer in Florida is considering accepting bitcoin and other virtual currencies for rent payments in what may be the next frontier for commercial real estate......... Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

BDC Study: Canadian Businesses Struggling With Labour Shortages

Over 39% of SMEs are struggling to find new employees and the problem will not improve for at least a decade, according to a new study released today from the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)......... Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

It’s Hard to Build Big Projects in Canada Now and Wait Till You See the Liberals’ New Bill

A fight over the federal government’s bill to overhaul the National Energy Board has been playing out away from the public eye but is expected to take centre stage in the Senate in September........ Read Article

Sept 10, 2018

Why Postmodern Architecture is Making a Comeback

Postmodernism is back. We see it in the slew of books and articles about the movement, in the campaigns to save some of its greatest landmarks such as Philip Johnson’s AT&T building in New York, in the listings in the UK of notable buildings such as James Stirling’s No. 1 Poultry, and John Outram’s Isle of Dogs pumping station....... Read Article

Sept 5, 2018

Three Canadian Cities Commit to Net-Zero Buildings

Three Canadian mayors, alongside 16 mayors from around the world, representing 130 million urban citizens, have committed to significantly cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from their cities by ensuring new buildings operate at net-zero carbon by 2030...... Read Article

Sept 5, 2018

Stantec Acquiring Ontario’s True Grit Engineering

The 55-person Northern Ontario firm has strong environmental services and infrastructure experience. Continuing to grow through acquisition, Stantec has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire True Grit Engineering, an infrastructure engineering, project management and planning, and environmental services firm that’s based in Thunder Bay, Ont., with regional offices in Sioux Lookout and Welland...... Read Article

Sept 5, 2018

Equipment Rental Industry: Trends & Predictions

The equipment rental market has witnessed outstanding growth in the past years. In 2014, a survey showed that even if leasing was still a leading strategy for construction managers, heavy equipment rentals have increased 75% in 2013 to 2014 – with specialized equipment types showing even higher spikes in rental frequency...... Read Article

Sept 5, 2018

Dubai Plans for One Quarter Of Buildings to be 3D Printed by 2025

Dubai has launched 3D Printing Strategy, a global initiative to make the city the world's leader in 3D printing. The initiative is designed to promote the status of the UAE and Dubai as a leading hub of 3D printing technology....... Read Article

Aug 31, 2018

Investors Downgrade Valuations Of Buildings Reliant On WeWork

The Real Deal has reported that a new study by Cushman & Wakefield shows that investors have been discounting the cap rates of properties with a large portion of their space dedicated to WeWork. .... Read Article

Aug 31, 2018

Report: The Rate Of Skyscraper Development To More Than Quadruple In Coming Decades

The world's cities, which are already defined by their skyscrapers, are going to see the development of a lot more of these tall towers in the coming decades. That will occur as further urbanization occurs globally and if the current rate of development persists..... Read Article

Aug 31, 2018

Property Management Trends That You Can’t Ignore in 2018

Not all industries move at the same pace, and not all of them are taken to the top like drifting logs on a strong river. Trends will always be a part of progress and as advancements in each industry are made, they tend to affect other industries...... Read Article

Aug 27, 2018

Millennials Are So Last Year: Commercial Real Estate Developers Build With Gen Z In Mind

Multifamily and coworking locations will be earth-friendly. Increased food delivery demands will require larger commercial kitchens. Retail spots will become a place to do something rather than buy something..... Read Article

Aug 21, 2018

Phase One of Ontario’s New Construction Lien Act is in Effect

Ontario Construction Lien Act has a new name. It’s now called the Construction Act. Phase One took effect on July 1, 2018. Phase Two, the more controversial part, takes effect in October 2019..... Read Article

Aug 21, 2018

Tall Timber Structures and “Building Raincoats” Proposed for Toronto’s Smart Neighbourhood

Sidewalk Labs has unveiled its design plan and vision for the public realms of the Quayside project in Toronto, such as parks, plazas, ground-floor shops, and sidewalks..... Read Article

Aug 21, 2018

DULUX Paints by PPG Unveils Two Deep, Luxurious Greens as 2019 Colours of the Year

TORONTO, August 17, 2018 – Homeowners craving a contemporary version of old-school elegance and sophistication can look to DULUX® Paints by PPG for trending paint colour inspiration...... Read Article

Aug 15, 2018

CREA: Canadian Home Sales Activity Strengthens in July

Statistics released today by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show national home sales were up from June to July 2018..... Read Article

Aug 14, 2018

RAIC Launches New Insurance Program for Architects

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has created a new insurance program that is designed for architects and will provide comprehensive professional liability coverage and other insurance products at highly competitive rates....... Read Article

Aug 13, 2018

Liberals Showcase Benefits of Billions Spent on Infrastructure Projects

OTTAWA—Little more than a year before the next federal election, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals are hoping to remind Canadians about the benefits derived from one of their signature promises from the last election: investing billions in infrastructure....... Read Article

Aug 9, 2018

Canada Infrastructure Bank Aims to Take P3s ‘a Step Further’

Much of the federal cash up for grabs in Canada’s $180 billion infrastructure plan will reach construction firms through tried and true methods, such as provincial and municipal contracts or public private partnerships (P3s)...... Read Article

Aug 9, 2018

Prefabricated Steel Structure Proposed for University of Toronto

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), Ont., will add another building, a two-storey glass-and-steel structure, along the campus’ “pedestrian spine” in spring 2019...... Read Article

Aug 8, 2018

WeWork Launches Another New Business, This Time Aimed at the Missing Middle

WeWork is the dominant figure in the coworking space, pioneering creative spaces for freelancers and giant companies alike, built on the power of community as a draw for 21st-century workers...... Read Article

Aug 8, 2018

UNB: Onsite Timber Used in New Building

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) has opened a new kinesiology building at its Fredericton campus. This 5574-m2 (60,000-sf), $36-million building will create a research cluster focused on health, wellness, physical fitness, and health promotion....... Read Article

Aug 8, 2018

7 Major Trends That Will Impact the Construction Industry

The construction industry is always changing and evolving. Every year new trends appear within the industry, from technological advancements to a stronger focus on sustainability...... Read Article

Aug 7, 2018

City of Québec Plans to Develop its Shoreline

The City of Québec has launched a call for tenders to professional services in landscape architecture, urban design, and environmental services for the development of an enhancement plan for the four major rivers within its municipal boundaries, specifically the Cap Rouge, Saint-Charles, Beauport, and Montmorency rivers....... Read Article

Aug 3, 2018

Property Management Uses Tech to Help Landlords, Tenants

When a tenant moved out of the College Park home Ruth Zimmermann grew up in, the Los Angeles woman decided it was time to hire a property manager....... Read Article

Aug 3, 2018

Innovation Centre at Red River College Breaks Ground

Targeting net-zero energy consumption, the skin of the new high-performance building consists of photovoltaic glass panels that create energy and also change colour depending on the angle of view and weather conditions....... Read Article

July 31, 2018

AI Seeks Out Imperfections in Metals

Researchers at the University of Waterloo, Ont., have found a better way to identify atomic structures, an essential step in improving materials selection in the aviation, construction, and automotive industries....... Read Article

Jul 25, 2018

IoT Help Wanted: Solving the Smart Building Problem

Dear Silicon Valley, I work in the facility management industry and could use your help. We have been debating solutions to the same problem for the last 40 years and no one has solved it....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

VC Investment in ConTech Startups Passes $1bn in H1 2018 – JLL

Construction technology startup companies received $1.05bn in investment from venture capitalists (VCs) in the first half of 2018, a record high according to a new report by JLL...... Read Article

July 18, 2018

As Sea Level Rises, Architects And Developers Adapt And Innovate

While the San Francisco Bay Area’s best features may be the seemingly endless views of the waterfront, the view comes with a price. Sea levels are expected to rise as much as 4 feet by the end of the century, according to a report from the National Climate Assessment....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

World’s Biggest Digital Map Company Just Released a Product for Mapping Inside Buildings

If you are not in the business of building a map into a product, then you probably have not heard of Esri....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

Understanding Continuous Air Barrier Systems

As codes across the country begin to mandate higher levels of energy efficiency, the direct implication are building envelopes that must become tighter in terms of air changes per hour (ACH)....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

A Look at Hamilton’s First Shipping Container Home

Put together an offbeat do-it-yourselfer and a rogue architect, and the result is the Lego-esque creation rising like a cubist phoenix on an empty lot at 5 Arkledun Ave. in Hamilton....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

Penticton Becoming Hub for Modular Construction Industry

The modular housing industry is on the rise in Penticton, with new businesses coming to town to set up plants........ Read Article

July 18, 2018

This Robot Can 3-D Print a Steel Bridge in Mid-air

Dutch designer Joris Laarman will wheel a robot to the brink of a canal in Amsterdam. He’ll hit an “on” button. He’ll walk away. And when he comes back two months later, the Netherlands will have a new, one-of-a-kind bridge, 3-D printed in a steel arc over the waters....... Read Article

July 18, 2018

Electric Car Charging Operators Offering To Install Chargers In Buildings For Free

The companies that own and install the electric vehicle charging stations are making it easier than ever for properties to host the chargers on-site, even at no cost. They want their networks blanketing the country, partly for the convenience of the drivers, but also because they make their money on the markup of electricity....... Read Article

July 13, 2018

RAIC Presents Case Studies on Designing with Indigenous Communities

The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) has produced a free, public document that describes best practices in working with Indigenous communities on architectural projects....... Read Article

July 13, 2018

Developers Decry Pullback on Property Tax Grant

New rules and other funding commitments place Toronto office projects in limbo...... Read Article

July 11, 2018

New Technologies: How will They Redefine the Architectural, Engineering and Construction Community?

Is the Canadian design and construction industry about to experience a radical, transformative and critical technological revolution?...... Read Article

July 11, 2018

Coalition Worried Further Steel Tariffs Would Limit Supply

Following the implementation of surtaxes on certain steel and aluminum products from the U.S. as countermeasures to U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, the Canadian Coalition for Construction Steel is urging the government to be cautious about taking further action related to steel imports from other countries...... Read Article

July 9, 2018

City of Prince George, B.C., Installs Section of “Solar Road”

The photovoltaic panels are fixed directly onto pavement with no need to destroy and rebuild existing roadworks........ Read Article

July 9, 2018

Trump in No Rush on Trade as Canada-U.S. Tariff Spat Drags On

The federal Liberal government is determined to rekindle intensive talks on a new continental trade pact this summer—even though President Donald Trump says he won’t sign a renegotiated NAFTA until after the U.S. midterm elections this fall........ Read Article

July 5, 2018

Siemens Acquires 3 Smart Building Startups In 2 Months

Siemens Building Technologies Division has inked a deal to acquire Building Robotics Inc., an Oakland-based company whose app Comfy gives office workers greater control of their personal environment, especially temperature and lighting....... Read Article

July 5, 2018

KPMB Architect to Direct Design of Hamilton’s Waterfront Development

The City of Hamilton Council has selected Waterfront Shores Corporation as the preferred proponent for the Pier 8 waterfront development....... Read Article

July 3, 2018

Vaughan, Mississauga and Toronto Sign Housing Pledge

TBILD sets out its four-point plan on how municipalities can help make housing more affordable and increase supply........ Read Article

July 3, 2018

Next Generation Of CRE Data Companies Cautiously Emerges To Challenge CoStar

The commercial real estate data sector is rapidly and fundamentally changing before our eyes. Startups like VTS, Reonomy and CompStak are launching new services, charting nationwide expansions, landing venture capital investments and securing institutional partnerships....... Read Article

July 3, 2018

Ottawa Building Proves its Zero Carbon Performance

The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has awarded a Class A, commercial office building in Ottawa the country’s first Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) – Performance certification....... Read Article

June 28, 2018

Amazon Touts Hub Lockers As Way For Multifamily To Deal With Deliveries

After launching the locker system it calls Hub by Amazon in select premier properties last summer, retail giant Amazon opened the service to apartment owners nationally Tuesday, characterizing the system in a statement as one that "brings conveniences and consistency to the delivery experience." ...... Read Article

June 28, 2018

20 Major Upcoming Recreational and Retail, Wholesale, Warehouse Construction Projects – Canada

The accompanying table shows 20 of the largest upcoming Recreational and Retail, Wholesale, Warehouse construction projects in Canada...... Read Article

June 28, 2018

Feds invest $167M to bolster infrastructure in and around Port of Vancouver

Work on a series of road and rail projects at Canada’s largest port is moving ahead with the backing of the federal government...... Read Article

June 28, 2018

Liberals set hiring, procurement stipulations for federally funded projects

Cities, provinces and territories building new roads, bridges, water and transit systems funded with federal dollars will have to let Indigenous Peoples, veterans and recent immigrants have a hand in those projects under new rules being unveiled....... Read Article

June 22, 2018

Job sites in Quebec sit idle as crane operators protest new training rules

Crane operators disrupted work sites across Quebec June 18 with an illegal strike, according to the provincial agency that enforces construction labour rules....... Read Article

June 22, 2018

Vancouver International Airport breaks ground on $9.1B expansion

Vancouver International Airport broke ground on its $9.1 billion multi-year expansion that will see the airport complete 75 major projects over the next two decades...... Read Article

June 19, 2018

PEI offering up to $5,000 to build energy-efficient homes

The government of Prince Edward Island recently announced the New Home Construction Program will offer financial incentives of up to $5,000 to build energy-efficient homes....... Read Article

June 8, 2018

Researchers study impacts of climate change on wind energy potential

With power purchase agreements of wind farms set to expire between now and the end of the next decade, the wind industry is poised to potentially undergo large-scale repowering of its wind farms......... Read Article

June 8, 2018

Construction industry hits second monthly decline with 13K job losses

Construction employment has dipped for the second consecutive month, with a loss of 13,000 jobs in May. Statistics Canada reported the decline in its latest monthly Labour Force Survey......... Read Article

June 8, 2018

PCs sweep to power in Ontario: What Doug Ford means for construction across the province

Among his list of promises were bringing back dollar beer, scrapping the Green Energy Act and reducing the small business tax rate........ Read Article

July 21, 2017

PLACEMAKING: HOW TO DESIGN FOR BETTER URBAN LIVING

Craig Applegath is a founding principal of DIALOG and a passionate designer who believes in the power of built form to meaningfully improve the wellbeing of our communities and the environments we all share. What is placemaking? Photo Credit: Student A... View Here

Architecture, Construction, Design, Engineering, Property

March 15, 2017

IPD APPROACH SHOWCASED ON OAKVILLE ARENA PROJECT

Article Written by: Angela Gismondi, Published by: <Construct Connect> The Town of Oakville, Ont. is the first municipality in Canada to use a full Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) approach coupled with lean principles for its Oakville A... View Here

Construction

March 15, 2017

OPTIONS TO CONSIDER BEHIND THE CURTAIN WALL

“The fortunes of the construction industry in Canada are directly affected by domestic and global economic factors, shifting demographic patterns, and changing public-sector policies and priorities.” This report gives an overview of the current state o... View Here

Architecture, Construction, Design

February 14, 2017

STATE OF THE MARKET REPORT: PROGRESSION IN CANADIAN CONSTRUCTION

Construction

January 24, 2017

REYNOLDS, VOGEL WARN HARD WORK REMAINS ON LIEN ACT REFORM

Article written by Angela Gismondi and published by <Construct Connect> It’s been a few months since the report Striking the Balance: Expert Review of Ontario’s Construction Lien Act was released and while its authors Bruce Reynolds and S... View Here

Architecture, Construction, Design

January 24, 2017

RESILIENT PROJECTS EXPLORED AT ARCHITECTURAL ROUNDTABLE

Article written by Angela Gismondi and published by <Construct Connect> Architects and landscape designers discussed how to design buildings for the realities of climate change at the International Architectural Roundtable held Nov. 30 as... View Here

July 18, 2016

HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR SUBMETERING SOLUTIONS

Scott Beneteau, VP, Sales at Enercare and Omar Salihbegovic, Associate Designer, Buildings – Electrical at MMM Group joined us at The Buildings Show in 2015 to talk to developers, contractors, and builders about the growing trend of mixed-used developm... View Here

Property

March 29, 2016

ACCESSIBILITY AMENDMENTS TO THE ONTARIO BUILDING CODE FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS

Samantha Proulx, Project Consultant (Accessibility & Building Code) at Jensen Hughes Consulting Canada Ltd, was interviewed on the accessibility amendments to the 2012 Ontario Building Code (effective January 1, 2015) that every property manager sh... View Here

Property

March 29, 2016

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT MARKETING CHECKLIST: HOW TO REACH A NEW GENERATION OF RENTER

Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Property

November 24, 2014

CANADA’S ECONOMY: COUNTING ON A WEAK CURRENCY AND NEW CUSTOMERS TO FUEL GROWTH

There’s another aspect of residential real estate that will be equally important. Home prices must not cave. To a fair degree, consumer confidence and personal consumption expenditures depend on a feeling of prosperity that is provided by rock-solid or... View Here

December 6, 2017

INFORMA TRANSFORMS WITH THE UNVEILING OF REVITALIZED EXHIBITION PLATFORMS

Informa Canada’s Global Exhibitions division announces the launch of IDS CONTRACT and expansion of THE BUILDINGS SHOW. Toronto, Canada... View Here

May 8, 2017

ROOFTECH 2017 SEES RECORD TURNOUT IN THE SHOW’S HISTORY

Programming excellence brings record numbers to the 13th biennial event. Toronto, ON, May 8, 2017 – ROOFTech 2017 organizers saw... View Here

April 26, 2017

BOUTIQUE DESIGN PAVILION IS COMING TO IIDEXCANADA 2017

Toronto, ON, Apr. 20, 2017 — In response to the evolving hospitality sector, IIDEXCanada, part of The Buildings Show, is... View Here

Industry News

April 20, 2017

EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON TILE AND STONE GAME CHANGERS, INFLUENCERS, TRENDS AND MARKET UPDATES AT STONEX CANADA

Toronto, ON, April 20, 2017 – STONEX Canada, with the support of the Terrazzo Tile & Marble Association of Canada... View Here

Industry News

April 13, 2017

APPOINTMENT NOTICE – NANCY MILANI

November 17, 2014

SEVEN STAND ALONE SHOWS UNITE TO BUILD BIGGER, BETTER EVENT

Having previously operated as seven superior, stand-alone shows to wow and educate the design, architecture, construction and real estate professionals,... View Here

Contact Us

[email protected]

1200-20 Eglinton Ave W,
PO Box 2055
Toronto, ON, M4R 1K8