Author: Russell Hixson

Key Takeaways:

• $13.8 million will be distributed to the towns of Banff, Sylvan Lake, Bow Island, Westlock, Smoky Lake and the Village of Duchess.
• The plan is to fast track a combined total of over 400 homes over the next three years. 
• Officials expect the work will help spur the construction of more than 3,100 homes over the next decade.

The Whole Story:

The Government of Canada and the Towns of Banff, Sylvan Lake, Bow Island, Westlock, Smoky Lake and the Village of Duchess announced that they reached agreements to fast track a combined total of over 400 homes over the next three years. 

Officials expect the work will help spur the construction of more than 3,100 homes over the next decade.

These agreements under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), will provide a combined total of over $13.8 million to eliminate barriers to building homes. 

Banff will receive more than $4.6 million to support its Action Plan which commits to five local initiatives that enable a variety of housing forms and densities.

The funding will enable the reduction of parking requirements, as well as updates to the density intensification policy. Banff’s Action Plan aims to encourage the development of accessory dwelling units by providing financial support and streamlined processing and will incentivize more housing development by creating a suite of financial tools such as tax strategies and fee waivers. Additionally, Banff will unlock efficiencies in the town’s permitting process.

HAF asks for innovative action plans from local governments, and once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure the timely building of new homes, as well as additional funds upon delivering results. Local governments are encouraged to think big and be bold in their approaches, which could include accelerating project timelines, allowing increased housing density, and encouraging affordable housing units.

“Today’s announcement will help fast-track a combined total of over 400 homes in Banff, Sylvan Lake, Bow Island, Westlock, Duchess and Smoky Lake over the next three years and over 3,100 homes over the next decade,” said Sean Fraser, minister of housing, infrastructure and communities. “By working with cities, towns, municipalities, mayors, and all levels of government, we are helping to get more homes built for Canadians at prices they can afford.”

Key Takeaways:

• Freed Developments plans to build an $800-million tower in Toronto.
• The building will include hotel and residential units as well as a restaurant.
• The Freed Hotel and Residences is scheduled to begin sales in March 2024 and will be located at 240 Adelaide Street West.

The Whole Story:

Peter Freed of Freed Developments has announced plans to build the Freed Hotel and Residences tower in Toronto.

The developer says the $800-million skyscraper is being designed by Chicago-based tall building experts Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG), known for the next world’s tallest and skyscraper Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, as well as Central Park Tower in New York.

The project will feature 100 five star luxury hotel rooms and 400 luxury condominiums with a skybar/restaurant on the 63rd floor, boutique spa, and a 10,000 sq ft Katsuya Restaurant on the 2nd floor.

“As the largest owner and operator of the Ontario hotel and resorts portfolio, this project is a testament to my profound love for Toronto. Freed Hotel and Residences represents a groundbreaking moment for Freed Developments with the opportunity to merge art, culture, and sophistication through hotel-style living,” said Peter Freed, founder and CEO, Freed Developments. “Building on Freed’s 30 year legacy of best-in-class projects, Freed Hotel and Residences will proudly display a captivating piece of artwork by Takashi Murakami, adding a unique cultural dimension to this venture, while also bringing forward the first-ever Katsuya Restaurant to Canada which will further enhance the city’s culinary landscape, and best-in-class hotel experiences for both residences and guests.”

Sam Nazarian’s sbe, a lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates restaurants, lounges and nightclubs, announced the project will also include the very first Katsuya restaurant in Canada on the second floor of the Freed Hotel and Residences, expected to launch in Fall 2028.

“Freed Hotel and Residences will bring an unprecedented sophistication and luxury that is a signature of Freed Developments in Toronto. Located at the corner of Adelaide and Duncan Streets, the tower will offer residents and visitors spectacular views of the city and Lake Ontario. The tower shines against the city’s already impressive skyline, becoming an instant icon.” said AS+GG Partner Gordon Gill, FAIA. “The formal geometry of the tower is defined by both its arrival and skyline expressions. Diamond shaped facets create a distinctive arrival and retail experience at street level, while the complimentary faceted silhouette of the tower’s top creates an iconic identity within the Toronto skyline. The tower boasts luxurious hotel and residential functions with abundant amenities including terraced, outdoor garden spaces.”

Toronto’s DesignAgency will lead the interior design of Freed Hotel and Residences.

“Freed Hotel and Residences is already an iconic project. By assembling a world-class creative team, Peter Freed has set the stage for innovation and imagination on a grand scale. Together with these exceptional collaborators, DesignAgency is excited to explore new realms of possibility to create immersive interiors that exude great wonder and style,” says Anwar Mekhayech, Founding Partner, DesignAgency.

Key features of the Freed Hotel and Residences project include:

• Freed Hotel Debut: Freed Hotel and Residences marks the introduction of the first-ever Freed hotel in Canada.
• Multi-Functional Tower: The project will feature 100 hotel rooms and 400 condominiums with a Skybar/restaurant on the 63rd floor.
• Katsuya, Contemporary Japanese Restaurant: The hotel will house the Katsuya Japanese restaurant by Sam Nazarian’s Disruptive Group by sbe on the second floor.
• Takashi Murakami Art Integration: Takashi Murakami’s “Together with the flower parent and child” artwork will be featured inside the lobby of the first-ever Freed Hotel and Residences.
• Amenities include: 62nd floor Sky Lobby with grand staircase leading to 63rd floor restaurant and bar featuring 70 ft tall space below a sloping skylight, boutique spa, terrace and outdoor garden, private spaces for entertaining and dining, fitness and yoga studio, private theater room, valet parking and full-service concierge, and more.

Over the past 30 years, Freed Developments has completed $10 billion of developed projects in Toronto. Its portfolio includes luxurious modern condominium projects, F&B ventures, resort communities, and commercial spaces, led by the Founder and CEO Peter Freed. Some notable projects are the Art Shoppe Lofts and Condos in collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld, Seventy5 Portland with globally renowned designer Philippe Starck, Fashion House on King Street West, and the Thompson Hotel.

In addition, Freed Hotel & Resorts is now the largest owner and operator of hotel and resort communities in Canada, which includes properties at Muskoka Bay Resort, Deerhurst Resort, Horseshoe Resort, and Blue Mountain Resort.

The Freed Hotel and Residences is scheduled to begin sales in March 2024 and will be located at 240 Adelaide Street West.

Is there anything more iconic to the construction sector that a big excavator moving some dirt?

Behind all that heavy machinery are the suppliers that make sure those machines get where they need to be and stay running. Canada is no slouch when it comes to the heavy equipment sector. In fact, it’s home to some of the largest equipment dealers in the world.

The following list includes just a few major heavy equipment players that call Canada home.

Cooper Equipment Rentals

Established in 1972, Cooper Equipment Rentals Limited is a full-service construction equipment rental company, servicing contractors across Canada. With more than 70 branches in six provinces, Cooper specializes in the rental of compact, aerial, heavy construction, pump and power, climate control and trench safety equipment. They also have their sights set on future technology, recently announcing an exclusive partnership with risk-mitigation technology platform Brickeye, a leading construction technology company focused on risk mitigation applications. Cooper is now the sole rental provider of LumiNode and LumiSense systems for ambient monitoring applications across the country. These advanced remote monitoring devices track ambient temperature and humidity on sites.

Finning Cat

B.C.-based Finning‘s history goes way back. Just last year, the company celebrated its 90th anniversary. Started by Earl B. Finning in a shed near Vancouver’s Canadian National railway station, the company has gone on to become the world’s largest Caterpillar dealer with operations in Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. It also employs more than 13,000 people worldwide. Locally, they are working to train the next generation of heavy equipment operators. They recently announced a partnership with a First Nations Group to provide mobile simulators with operator training programs.

Ault Industries

When Jackson Ault saw that that parts of Quebec were not getting their equipment needs met, he did what any good entrepreneur would do. He learned to speak french and moved to the region, founding Ault. The company is an exclusive distributor of McCloskey International, Lippmann, Superior, Ecoverse and McCloskey Washing Systems. They have grown into McCloskey International’s and Lippmann’s largest dealer in the world. And this past November, Ault was acquired by Alta Equipment Group Inc. for $36 million as part of the group’s expansion into Canada.

SMS Equipment

SMS Equipment was formed in 2008 by the consolidation of three Canadian Heavy Equipment companies (Federal Equipment, Coneco Equipment and Transwest Mining Systems). Their team strategy has paid off. 15 years later, they are one of top heavy equipment dealers in the country and the largest independent Komatsu dealer globally. Today, SMS has 2,600 employees at 42 locations from Anchorage, Alaska, to Paradise, Nfld. the Komatsu PC8000-11 is the largest surface mining excavator on the market.

Equipment Sales & Service

Another elder on this list, Equipment Sales & Service Limited (ESS) was founded in an Ontario automotive garage in 1946 by Bill Willis. 75 years later they have kept it in the family. The company is now in its third generation as a private family-owned business.  Today it operates 12 branches across Canada, representing multiple OEM lines supporting the construction, mining, forestry, foundation and drilling industries. The company is the longest distributor of Link-Belt equipment in the world, one of the largest aftermarket suppliers of construction parts in Canada, the largest Berco dealer in Canada and the largest Esco wear parts dealer in North America.

Brandt

The Brandt Group of Companies — headquartered in Regina, Sask. – is a privately owned manufacturing and distribution company that serves a growing international audience in industries such as agriculture, construction, forestry, rail, mining, steel, transportation, material handling, and energy. The company boasts more than 6000 employees and more than 180 locations in Canada, the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. More than just a major player in the heavy equipment world, Brandt is one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies. Just this winter, Brandt celebrated the grand opening of three state-of-the-art facilities in Moncton, Fredericton, and Edmundston in New Brunswick.

Key Takeaways:

• The collapse investigation has concluded and a report has been submitted to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) for charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death.
• The 2021 collapse killed five people, including four workers at the construction site and one office worker in a nearby building.
• The Kelowna RCMP added that it is unable to provide additional details with respect to the investigation or findings.

The Whole Story:

The Kelowna RCMP has wrapped its investigation into a deadly 2021 crane collapse, recommending criminal charges.

Kelowna RCMP announced that its Serious Crime Unit has completed its comprehensive investigation into the collapse and a report has been submitted to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) for charge assessment for criminal negligence causing death.

They did not indicate who the charges could be for.

On the morning of July 12, 2021, a crane collapsed in the downtown core of Kelowna, resulting in the deaths of four people on site and one office worker in a nearby building. The crane was being dismantled at the Brooklyn tower portion of the Bernard Block development. 

The RCMP stated that the extremely complex investigation needed to be done methodically and thoroughly in order to protect its integrity. They added that they will be working closely with the BCPS to ensure prosecutors are best equipped on the facts of the case to make an informed decision on charges.

“This investigation included dozens of police officers and countless hours of evidence gathering and analysis,” said Kelowna Superintendent Kara Triance. “The gravity of this incident and the associated work to understand what happened has been tremendous. We will work to support our partners and our community through the next steps.”

The Kelowna RCMP added that it is unable to provide additional details with respect to the investigation or findings.

It isn’t the only legal trouble to stem from the incident. The spouse of a man killed by a crane collapse in Kelowna has filed a lawsuit alleging negligence caused her husband’s death. 

According to a notice of claim filed in the Supreme Court of B.C., Helen Furuya is suing Stemmer Construction and other unnamed companies and individuals for the death of her husband, Brad Zawislak. The senior technologist was working in a Kelowna office building when a catastrophic failure caused the construction crane to fall.

Key Takeaways:

• Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said earlier this week he was against government support for new road infrastructure.
• He said this was because more roads encourages more car use, something Ottawa is looking to move away from.
• This week he sought to clarify those comments, saying he was against federal support for “large” road projects.
• The comments drew strong criticism from provincial leaders as well as the construction sector.

The Whole Story:

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault has clarified controversial comments about road infrastructure investment after drawing heavy criticism from political leaders and the construction sector. 

On Monday, Guilbeault said the federal government will stop investing in new road infrastructure. However he has since clarified his comments, stressing that he meant to say Ottawa will not be funding “large” road projects. 

“Of course we’re funding roads. We have programs to fund roads,” he told reporters, adding that the federal government can be counted on to support provinces paying for maintenance. 

However, he noted that Ottawa has decided that existing road infrastructure “is perfectly adequate to respond to the needs we have.”

Guilbeault explained that the federal government’s goal is to get people out of their cars and into public transportation.

He told reporters that Quebec City’s long-proposed third link is an example of a project that will not receive funding from Ottawa.

“What we have said, and maybe I should have been more specific, is that we don’t have funds for large projects like the ‘3eme lien’ that the CAQ has been trying to do for many years,” he said of Quebec’s provincial government.

Criticism from industry

The Canadian Construction Association noted that a report by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) estimates that it will require $107,000 in public investments per new housing unit. This amounts to a total of $620 billion in public funding needed – an additional $375 billion beyond the current planned budget.

“These new communities need new roads. People need to be connected to their jobs, their schools, and their hospitals,” said Mary Van Buren, CCA president. “A growing population has growing demands. We not only need the road networks to support their movement; we also need to shore up our trade infrastructure, which includes roads, bridges and highways.”

The CCA added that Canada has been under-investing in its trade-enabling infrastructure for 15 years and builders need the federal government to partner with industry and work with municipal and provincial governments to build a strong foundation for a stronger Canada.

In response to the minister’s initial comments, the Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) stated that he did not understand the importance of Canadian infrastructure. 

“While the Minister’s previous actions – including an attempt to encroach on provincial jurisdiction over infrastructure development recently deemed unconstitutional – demonstrate a bias against development, it is shocking to see the Minister make these comments on behalf of the government, suggesting a naive understanding of Canada’s infrastructure needs at a time of record immigration and a push towards removing barriers to trade and economic growth,” said the group, adding that his comments were “elitist” and “out of touch” with the reality of everyday life in suburban and rural communities. 

They noted that the road building industry employs more than 56,000 workers in Ontario alone and earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s spoke at ORBA’s 97th Annual Convention, emphasizing the importance of road and highway infrastructure for Canadian prosperity.

“We call on Minister Guilbeault to stop playing politics and join us and provincial governments across Canada to get shovels in the ground on much needed projects in Ontario and across the country,” said the group. 

LiUNA International Vice President and Canadian Director Joseph Mancinelli called the minister’s comments “beyond disappointing”. 

“Growing regions require resilient infrastructure, including our roads,” he said in a statement on social media. “This has a direct impact on our economy, jobs, connectivity and the strength and function of our communities. Enough delays and political games. It’s time to get shovels in the ground.” 

Provincial leaders weigh in

Various political leaders took to social media to give their response to the comments.

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a post on X that Mr. Guilbeault “won’t be happy until we’re living back in mud huts.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe also posted on social media, saying this: “Guilbeault wants us all to walk everywhere. The Trudeau government gets more out of touch with reality every day.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith suggested the minister is out of touch with the transportation needs of Canadians.

“Does this minister understand that most Canadians don’t live in downtown Montreal? Most of us can’t just head out the door in the snow and rain and just walk 10km to work each day,” said Smith.

Developers and other project owners in pursuit of low-carbon construction methods are increasingly choosing mass timber for their projects. But to do so in larger and taller buildings, they must reassure civic leaders, fire and rescue services and insurance underwriters—along with the public—that these projects are fire safe.

New research, supported by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Canadian Wood Council and federal and provincial governments, is doing just that. A recent series of tests, dubbed the Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program, show, even in worst-case fire scenarios, mass timber buildings perform similarly to noncombustible construction. 

Sparking Questions: Are bigger and taller mass timber buildings fire safe? 

The calls to construct more buildings with mass timber to help tackle climate change are growing. This is true here in B.C., across the country and around the world, demonstrated by the growing announcements of ever-taller wood buildings. 

It’s not just the building industry touting mass timber’s benefits. In a recent report, Canada’s biggest bank points out that constructing taller wood buildings and swapping concrete and steel with mass timber represents a potential 12% to 25% drop in carbon emissions. 

So far, Canada has successfully completed more than 660 mass timber projects, with B.C. and Quebec accounting for 257 and 184 projects, respectively. Ontario has at least 90 mass timber projects. 

“In B.C., we do have a precedent of building taller wood buildings in several jurisdictions through an alternate solution process. Taller, more dense mass timber buildings can help play a greater role in addressing both climate and affordable housing challenges,” says Shawn Keyes, executive director of WoodWorks BC and professional engineer.  

“But to open this market further, we need to support ongoing fire research, like this [Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program] to reassure stakeholders and further document mass timber’s fire safety. This can help support the evolution of the building code at the national and provincial levels to allow for even taller mass timber buildings.”  

Keyes points out this recent series of mass timber fire tests adds to a growing body of research proving that low-carbon, engineered wood products are fire safe. In the event of a fire, previous testing has shown mass timber products char on the outside, forming a protective layer for the unburned wood below the char layer, which retains structural strength.  

For example, in a previous fire resistance test, when a mass timber panel (five-ply, cross-laminated timber) wall was subjected to extremely high temperatures in a standard fire scenario, its structural capacity withstood the exposure for over three hours—longer than building codes require. This was the case even when it was not encapsulated with a fire-resistive layer.  

B.C. is a leader in mass timber, with legislation that incentivizes the use of wood in publicly funded buildings. The provincial building code permits the construction of six-storey wood-frame and mass timber residential buildings and some municipalities have adopted the 2020 National Building Code which permits the construction of 12-storey mass timber buildings. 

These tests are worst-case fire scenarios designed to demonstrate how mass timber responds to severe fire conditions. Even in the extremely rare condition where sprinklers have failed and fire fighters are unable to reach the fire, the mass timber structure begins to put itself out once the building contents have burned away. 

Marc Alam, Senior Manager, Codes and Standards for the Canadian Wood Council

Wood engineering and fire experts believe this latest round of fire tests provides strong evidence that the code can further evolve to allow for more exposed wood and taller mass timber buildings. 

“This new series of fire testing shows that taller wood buildings, including those with exposed timber, do achieve fire safety standards and provide good fire performance, comparable to other building materials. They provide strong evidence to evolve the National Building Code,” explains Marc Alam, Senior Manager, Codes and Standards for the Canadian Wood Council. 

Five fire tests: understanding the scenarios and the bottom-line results 

The Mass Timber Demonstration Fire Test Program—using a two-storey, 334 square-metre (3,600 square-foot) mass timber structure—is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive mass timber fire test series to date. The bottom-line results, complemented by expert analysis, show that mass timber is safe, even in rare instances of serious, unattended fires. 

“These tests are worst-case fire scenarios designed to demonstrate how mass timber responds to severe fire conditions. Even in the extremely rare condition where sprinklers have failed and fire fighters are unable to reach the fire, the mass timber structure begins to put itself out once the building contents have burned away,” says Alam. 

“The bottom-line results and what these extreme tests show is, even under those rare conditions, the mass timber fire decays and begins to put itself out after ignition,” Alam adds. 

Held in Ottawa in the summer of 2022, more than 150 experts from across Canada, including fire officials, building regulators, insurance industry representatives, engineers and architects, as well as wood industry and NRC fire research experts, witnessed the fire testing firsthand. Several national consulting firms provided expert analysis, while suppliers from across Canada provided the mass timber materials for the test structure.  

“These tests are giving municipalities, code officials, fire service professionals and insurers a lot of good information—and it was really helpful that many of these folks were able to see the tests as they were conducted. It is becoming clearer through this research that mass timber buildings perform well and these buildings aren’t going to be any more difficult to put out a fire than a steel or a concrete building when built to best practice standards,” says Steven Craft, a fire engineering expert and founding principal at CHM Fire Consultants Ltd., one of the firms contributing to the fire test analysis and final report. 

Here’s a summary of the five test scenarios: 

Test # and Date: Test 1 (July 7, 2022)

Test Type: Completed residential suite: A code-prescribed solution for noncombustible construction 

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite B 

Description: The first test involved a fire in a fully furnished residential suite as a baseline scenario representing a National Building Code prescribed solution for noncombustible construction permitted for a tall building. The test provides a baseline scenario for comparison purposes, representing an acceptable solution of the National Building Code (e.g., a code-prescribed solution) permitted for a high building of noncombustible construction. Three of the four interior walls were finished with plywood. The ceiling was finished with fire-retardant-treated plywood. The floor and all structural elements are protected and did not contribute to the fire. 

Test # and Date: Test 2 (July 14, 2022) 

Test Type: Completed residential suite: Exposed mass timber

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite A 

Description: The second test shows the performance of exposed mass timber in a realistic occupied residential scenario for direct comparison with Test 1, the code-prescribed solution for noncombustible construction. The side-by-side comparison of an identical space with identical fuel load and ventilation conditions in Test 1 gives a performance comparison between a fire compartment in a building of non-combustible construction and one with exposed mass timber construction. 

Test # and Date: Test 3 (Sept. 29, 2022) 

Test Type: Construction site: Garbage bin fire source 

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite B 

Description: The third test shows the performance of exposed mass timber during a construction site fire (severe garbage can fire). In this scenario the floor, ceiling and one wall are exposed mass timber. Other compartment walls are protected with gypsum. 

Test # and Date: Test 4 (Sept. 15, 2022) 

Test Type: Construction site: Exposed mass timber 

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite C 

Description: The fourth test shows the performance of exposed mass timber in a realistic but severe construction site scenario. The fuel load included wood cribs in addition to light wood framing installed in a typical residential suite configuration that had not yet been protected by gypsum board.

Test # and Date: Test 5 (June 22, 2022) 

Test Type: Completed building: Open plan office floor with exposed mass timber 

Location: Full 1st storey 

Description: The fifth test shows fire performance and dynamics in a typical occupied open-office space in a mass timber building. The space is much larger than previous tests with a larger footprint as well as a higher floor to ceiling height. 

Common findings in all five tests 

Craft points to some common and promising findings across all five fire scenarios, which are further elaborated on in the technical report.    

In all five tests, the test mass timber structure remained stable and solid enduring the cumulative effects of five severe fire tests with a total fire exposure of 19 hours, and the stair shaft was not adversely affected in any test. 

While some exposed CLT ceilings showed some delamination in the cooling period, this did not cause any re-ignition or fire regrowth. 

The average char depths in the exposed mass timber members were well within the two-hour fire-resistance rating in all the tests. 

What do these results mean for mass timber construction?  

Although there isn’t a quick and simple solution when it comes to fire testing and safety, these test results are giving us additional and valuable data points. According to Craft, these data sets complement previous testing that has shown mass timber buildings can be built to provide good fire safety.  

“Through all the [mass timber] fire research that we’ve done to date, and over the last 15 years, I believe the building industry and fire experts have gained a really good appreciation for how we can design mass timber buildings to be safe and fire resistant. These tests are showing how we can go taller and expose more wood in these buildings while staying fire safe,” adds Craft. 

These latest tests go further to specifically show how open plan workplaces with exposed mass timber—an increasingly popular trend in office design—are fire safe.   

“In the open office floor plan scenario, the test shows the fire quickly died down on its own. Once all the fuel load was used up—basically the furnishings—the fire decays. As follow-ups to past tests with smaller compartments, this new research shows we get as good or better performance in an open office scenario,” Craft points out.  

Similar to past mass timber fire tests, Craft adds, these tests reinforce how mass timber performs differently than light-frame wood construction. Mass timber’s inherent natural resistance to fire, paired with good fire design, makes the fire performance of mass timber buildings comparable to noncombustible steel and concrete buildings.  

What do these results mean for building codes and insurers?  

To build taller than 12 storeys with mass timber—outside of an alternative solution process—requires a change in the building code at the national and provincial levels. These recent fire test results open the possibility to both. 

“These robust mass timber fire tests give developers and design teams good, solid justification to go above what the code requires and use these test results as part of their alternative means submission,” explains Alam. 

Eventually, Craft, Alam, and Keyes see these tests helping to evolve the national, and subsequent provincial codes, beyond the current height and encapsulation restrictions.  

The results can also offer more reassurances to underwriters, and help them better understand mass timber’s fire performance properties to potentially lower the cost associated with insuring mass timber buildings.  

Insurance underwriting has emerged as the most difficult challenge for both mass timber building construction and occupancy insurance, according to the recent Royal Bank report. For the most part, mass timber buildings require a customized policy, which adds to a project’s final cost, and is ultimately passed down to the owner or end buyer. 

“I believe there is an increasing body of insurers who are becoming more accepting and understanding of the differences in mass timber fire behaviour, particularly how it differs from light-frame wood construction. Our hope is that this type of testing can begin to answer their questions and eventually help standardize premiums and bring down insurance costs,” says Keyes. 

In many respects, B.C. is leading when it comes to mass timber construction. After bringing to market Brock Commons, the first 18-storey timber hybrid building in the world, the province has seen rapid growth in the number of taller mass timber buildings constructed, he points out. 

“I anticipate the Province, and the broader industry, will benefit from this comprehensive fire testing as the results are used to streamline building codes, expanding the use of wood to help tackle climate change and boost the construction of more sustainable, affordable housing.” 

To view and download the full technical report click here. 

Key Takeaways:

• BC Builds works in partnership with non-profits, local governments, First Nations and the development sector to identify available underused land.
• BC Builds uses lower government borrowing rates to offer lower-cost financing and grants to bring down construction costs.
• The program aims to move projects from concept to construction within 12 to 18 months by streamlining municipal development processes and by working with landowners, municipalities and residential builders to remove barriers.
• All BC Builds units have a target of middle-income households spending no more than approximately 30% of their income on rent.

The Whole Story:

The Province of B.C. has launched BC Builds, a new initiative that leverages government, community and non-profit owned and underused land to build affordable housing projects.

The program is supported by $2 billion in low-cost financing and a commitment of $950 million for the overall program.

“Anyone looking for a place to live knows how hard it is – even if you make a decent salary there are not enough rental homes people can afford,” said Premier David Eby. “The private sector alone has not been able to deliver the homes middle-class people in B.C. need. That’s why we’re taking action through BC Builds to deliver lower-cost middle-income homes, faster, so the people who keep our communities working – like teachers, nurses, and construction workers – can find homes they can afford in the communities they love.”  

Officials noted that Inflation, high interest rates, and the cost of land and construction have driven up costs and rent in B.C. and across the country, and not enough middle-income housing is being built as a result. Too many homes are out of reach for middle-income earners and people are spending more than half of their household income on housing, pushing people out of communities, and making labour shortages worse.

Supported by grant funding and financing from the B.C. government, through BC Housing, BC Builds is designed to deliver through challenging market conditions to bring down building costs, get more projects started, and build more homes that fit into middle-income budgets. The program will focus on rental housing first with rents reflecting local conditions and determined on a community-by-community basis. The goal is to create more below-market rent and have options so households can spend less than 30% of their income on rent.

“Too many middle-class families are struggling to find a place to live that they can afford, and that’s holding people and our economy back,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “BC Builds is designed to meet this moment, overcome challenging market conditions, and deliver lower-cost rental homes for the people who deliver the services we rely on, and drive our economy forward – so they can build good lives here and thrive.”

BC Builds works in partnership with non-profits, local governments, First Nations and the development sector to identify available underused land, provide financing and funding, and deliver projects that create more homes and help bring costs more in line with what middle-income households earn.

BC Builds details include:

• At least 20% of all BC Builds homes will have rents that are at least 20% below market rate for projects in partnership with non-profits and First Nations.
• All BC Builds units have a target of middle-income households spending no more than approximately 30% of their income on rent.
• The rents for BC Builds will not exceed market rent for that community, and will in many cases be below.  
• All households living in BC Builds homes are income tested at move-in.
• The income levels vary by community, so homes are within reach for that community’s middle-income households.
• BC Builds projects aim to deliver more two-, three- and four-bedroom homes, as many as possible with below-market rents.
• Projects owned and operated by non-profit providers mean rents will remain low over time, – creating more affordability.

BC Builds uses lower government borrowing rates to offer lower-cost financing and grants to bring down construction costs. The program also works with municipalities, landowners, residential builders and housing operators to move projects from concept to construction within 12 to 18 months, compared to the current of average of three to five years. This will be accomplished by streamlining municipal development processes and by working with landowners, municipalities and residential builders to remove barriers.

BC Builds is designed to grow. In addition to the sites detailed below, thousands of BC Builds homes will continue to move at an expedited pace as projects are approved over the next three years, with some estimated to be under construction as early as summer 2024. More than 20 initial BC Builds sites have been identified on government, First Nations, non-profit and community-owned land. BC Builds is seeking new partners and landowners who want to build housing on underused land or above new community buildings.

Here are three examples of BC Builds projects:

A site owned by the City of North Vancouver, located at 225 East Second St., being developed by non-profit Catalyst, has development approvals for the following:

• An 18-storey mass timber building that will include 180 units affordable for middle-income households in North Vancouver.

• A minimum of 20% of units must rent at 20% below market, with a goal of delivering even more units at below-market rates.

• The building will be located with the North Shore Neighbourhood House, which provides an extensive range of community services, including 37 child care spaces, child-development support programming for 250 children experiencing development delays, food programs, wellness and recreation activities, and youth and seniors’ programs.
• The project is located beside a new BC Housing project that will deliver 89 affordable homes, set to open in late 2025.

A site owned by Cowichan Tribes, located at 222 Cowichan Way in Duncan on reserve land is being developed by Khowutzun Development LLP. It has development approvals for the following:

• A four-to-six-storey wood-frame building, which will include 199 units for middle-income people and families living in the Cowichan Valley.

• A minimum of 20% of units must rent at 20% below market, with a goal of delivering even more units at below-market rates.

• New governance headquarters for the Cowichan Tribes.

• Space for Indigenous businesses.

A site owned by the Town of Gibsons, located at 571 Shaw Rd., is being developed by non-profit New Commons and will be operated by the Sunshine Coast Affordable Housing Society. It has development approvals for the following:

• A four-storey wood-frame building, which will contain 33 homes ranging from studios to three-bedroom homes.
• A minimum of 20% of units must rent at 20% below market, with a goal of delivering more units at below-market rates.
• The building will also include an early child care centre with 24 child care spaces, encompassing a pre-school daycare and before-and-after school care for eight children.

Key Takeaways:

• In 2023, a record high 15,393 homes were delivered in Calgary, an 11% increase over 2022.
• Last year the city issued 16,505 residential building permits, the highest amount in 10 years.
• Despite these gains, officials say the demand is outpacing the supply. Approximately 65 people move to the city each day.

The Whole Story:

Calgary’s development industry delivered a record high of 15,393 homes in 2023, an increase of 11% over 2022. Similarly, multi-residential homes increased by 49% and secondary suites increased by 43%. 

Officials stated that this increase in the number of homes is the result of 16,505 residential building permits being issued by the City of Calgary in 2023, the highest number issued in the past 10 years. It also led to the highest residential construction value of $4.31 billion for issued building permits over the same time period.

In September 2023, Calgary City Council approved Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy. 

“Calgary needs more homes. We expect to welcome another 110,000 new Calgarians over the next four years and already one in five households can’t afford their housing,” said Tim Ward, manager of housing solutions, Calgary. “The numbers from 2023 show how much work the development industry is doing in Calgary to get homes built and we look forward to taking action in 2024 to continue that momentum.”

Last year the city accepted applications for 414 land use amendments and outline plans, 7,601 development permits and 21,317 building permits. This activity provided Calgary’s economy with $5.96 billion in residential and non-residential construction value in 2023, a year-over-year increase of 4%. 

“Overall, 2023 was a strong year for construction in Calgary, and we anticipate that 2024 will be another record-breaking year,” said Debra Hamilton, acting general manager with planning and development services. “It is great to see investor confidence in Calgary. However, the demand is outpacing the supply, as we expect to continue welcoming approximately 65 people per day to our city.”

Here are the five largest completed in Calgary last year, demonstrating a $391.2 million investment in housing: 

• Arris Towers, a 42-storey, multi-residential building providing 500 units in East Village, valued at $131.1M. 

• Oliver Tower, a 32-storey residential complex featuring 403 housing units, located in the community of Beltline, valued at $95.6M. 

• Dalhousie Mixed Use Residential, a 15-storey building featuring 269 units in Dalhousie, valued at $78.8M.

• Minto Era Condominiums, a 13-storey, multi-residential building providing 186 units in the community of Crescent Heights, valued at $43 million.

• Riverwalk Senior Living, a 12-storey, 141-unit residential building in Cliff Bungalow, valued at $42.7 million. 

Key Takeaways:

• The Clinical Support and Research Centre will be approximately 34,400 square metres (370,000 square feet) in size and connected with a sky-bridge to the new St. Paul’s Hospital
• The provincial government approved the $638-million research and clinical support centre in 2023. Building design and pre-construction activities are now underway.
• The facility will be approximately 34,400 square metres (370,000 square feet) in size and connected with a sky-bridge to the new St. Paul’s Hospital.

The Whole Story:

Providence Health Care has selected PCL Construction as the construction manager to oversee the Clinical Support and Research Centre (CSRC) project at the new St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. 

Diamond Schmitt Architects and Kirsten Reite Architecture will be the prime consultant team to lead the design.

“Our government made a commitment to people in B.C. to establish a cutting-edge research centre in the heart of the new St. Paul’s Hospital campus,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Establishing these dynamic, experienced design and construction teams marks an important milestone and moves us closer to the construction of a facility that will enhance patient care through integrating scientific discovery and research into day-to-day clinical practice.”

To select the teams, Providence health issued competitive requests-for-proposals, and carried out extensive evaluations of shortlisted teams.

Gateway to the new St. Paul’s health care campus

“The design approach to St. Paul’s Hospital’s new Clinical Support and Research Centre creates a gateway to the health care campus. Designed as an innovation hub focused on providing flexible clinical spaces and lab spaces to support advancements in life sciences research and cross-disciplinary collaborations, the centre is also envisioned as a community hub and crossroads,” said Don Schmitt, principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects. “A new civic plaza, large outdoor terraces on upper floors and interconnected spaces will enhance accessibility and establish a truly integrated health care facility – a vibrant place of science and social activity in downtown Vancouver.”

The CSRC will be approximately 34,400 square metres (370,000 square feet) in size and connected with a sky-bridge to the new St. Paul’s Hospital, which is under construction. The facility will house key research centres, programs and disciplines. It will also be home to specialty physician practices to complement care provided in the hospital, corporate services space and a 49-space childcare centre.

Building design and pre-construction work underway

“With the donor community’s help, we can realize the full vision of the new St. Paul’s Hospital,” said Dick Vollet, president and CEO, St. Paul’s Foundation. “More than just bricks and mortar, the CSRC will be where life-changing treatments are found as leaders in medicine, life sciences, and technology work together to advance discoveries from the lab to the hospital to communities across B.C. and beyond. Join us today at HelpStPauls.com.”

The provincial government approved the $638-million research and clinical support centre in 2023. The major funding sources include contributions from the provincial government, Providence, St. Paul’s Foundation and ChildCare BC New Spaces Program. Building design and pre-construction activities are now underway.

“PCL is excited to work with Providence Health Care (PHC) as their construction partner on the Clinical Support and Research Centre,” says Jeff Murphy, vice president and district manager, PCL. “We are proud to be a part of this project that provides space for research and health care in the community as we continue our partnership with PHC in the development of the New St. Paul’s Hospital and Health Campus.”

Key Takeaways:

• For almost 100 years the site was home to one of Canada’s largest gravel suppliers and one of the region’s largest industrial sites.
• The development is expected to include about 2,800 homes along with a mixture of commercial buildings and retail spaces.
• Two multifamily buildings are expected to be complete by summer 2026, followed by a waterfront plaza with pubs, wine bars, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors offices, fitness facilities and more.

The Whole Story:

Seacliff Properties and Reliance Properties have broken ground on a $1.2-billion seaside community on Vancouver Island. 

The Beachlands construction will start with a presentation centre, including a coffee shop overlooking the ocean. The building will serve as an architectural gateway, welcoming residents and visitors to a new seaside village in Colwood.

“After seven years of planning, public consultation and various approvals, we are thrilled to put our $1.2 billion investment in motion and start construction of The Beachlands, a world-class seaside community that will contribute much-needed housing, jobs and spending in Colwood and the region,” said Georgia Desjardins, director of development at Seacliff Properties.

A milestone 25 years in the making

According to the city, officials envisioned big things for the property back in 1998 as the industrial gravel operation it was known for began to wind down.

The Beachlands property has a significant history in Colwood. The gravel operation on the site was the area’s largest employer for almost a century. For almost 100 years – from 1910 to 2007 – Producer’s Pit was one of Canada’s largest gravel suppliers and one of the region’s largest industrial sites.

Officials say residents who lived in Colwood before the operation closed may remember the sound of the gravel rumbling along the conveyor belts down to the shoreline to be barged out.

Colwood Council and staff have worked with the development team to advance the community’s vision to make The Beachlands a vibrant seaside community as envisioned in the community-led Colwood Official Community plan.

City officials say Seacliff and Reliance properties $1.2B investment in Colwood aims to boost housing, jobs and the local economy, creating an estimated 10,500 jobs throughout and beyond the build out. Two multifamily buildings are expected to be complete by summer 2026, followed by a waterfront plaza with pubs, wine bars, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors offices, fitness facilities and more.

47 acres of parks and public spaces

The city’s recent Household Prosperity Survey shows that 75% of residents currently actively engage in nature trails and parks weekly.

Based on that data, there have been many discussions about ensuring the parks, trails and public spaces maximize opportunities for people to enjoy this incredible seaside location.   

The Beachlands encompasses 134-acres of oceanfront land and a shoreline that stretches 1.4 kilometres and beyond to the Lagoon Beach.

Colwood staff worked to ensure that more than 47 acres of the property will be dedicated to public parks and green space, including a covered public square, nature trails, and an amphitheatre.

“This is a place where residents and visitors can enjoy the health and wellness benefits of incredible connections to nature, new parks and trails, places to enjoy arts, culture, and social connections, and opportunities to work, live, and play, here in Colwood,” said the city. 

Increasing housing and employment opportunities 

The development is expected to include about 2,800 homes along with a mixture of commercial buildings and retail spaces.

The city’s Household Prosperity survey also revealed that 52% of Colwood residents have embraced hybrid or fully remote work. The Beachlands, along with rapidly growing commercial areas in Royal Bay, Allandale District and Colwood Corners, will provide opportunities to work, live and play in Colwood, immersed in nature and recreation, offering work-life balance and quality of life.

Key Takeaways:

• Groundbreaking is expected in May 2024, with the new patient and surgical tower expected to be operational in 2028.
• Ontario’s total investment in the project is $794 million.
• The 15-storey tower will include 82 patient beds, and 20 operating rooms. It is expected to increase the the University Health Network’s number of completed surgeries by 20%

The Whole Story:

The Ontario government is investing $794 million to the University Health Network’s (UHN) new state-of-the-art patient tower at Toronto Western Hospital (TWH).

“This new tower will help provide modern and high-quality care to the more than 450,000 people who visit Toronto Western Hospital each year,” said Premier Doug Ford. “In Toronto and right across the province, our government is making historic investments for a stronger health care system, with more doctors and nurses, more beds and shorter wait times. We’re bringing convenient care closer to home for more people.”

Once complete in 2028, the new 15-storey tower, located on the current hospital campus on Bathurst Street in downtown Toronto, will add:

• 82 patient beds, including new critical care beds;
• 20 state-of-the-art operating rooms, including three new image-guided operating rooms for complex neurosurgical and spinal procedures; and
• New single patient rooms that are also strategically designed to enhance the hospital’s infection control abilities to easily respond to future public health outbreaks.

With the new funding, UHN will be able to increase the number of surgeries completed by more than 20% over the next 10 years. The tower also includes modern digital infrastructure and a more comfortable space for family members and other visitors.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford our government is making record investments in hospital infrastructure, expanding hospital capacity across the province with shovels in the ground for over 50 new projects to connect people to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health. “The new University Health Network patient and surgical tower at Toronto Western Hospital is just one part of our plan to ensure patients can access world class, convenient care, for years to come.”

DIALOG is the prime consultant providing integrated design services for architecture, clinical planning, interior design, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and mechanical and electrical design in partnership with HH Angus.

DIALOG officials explained that despite a constrained site, the project encompasses around 380,000 gross square feet across 11 clinical program floors, housing 20 operating rooms, including three hybrid ORs with cutting-edge imaging capabilities.

This technology enhances TWH’s capacity for complex surgical procedures, particularly in spine and brain surgery. The surgical services care platform, extending from a new pre-operative care unit (POCU), a medical device reprocessing department (MDRD), to a post-anesthetic care unit (PACU), is the result of intensive collaboration between DIALOG and UHN clinical and support services teams.

While integrating into the existing hospital care fabric, the new tower also serves as TWH’s main entrance and campus gateway. DIALOG says visitors will encounter a thoughtful, calming, and intuitive interior design, with soft, organic forms and natural materials promoting biophilia throughout the project, from the ground floor lobby to inpatient rooms.

“The surgical teams have been diligent in providing input on the design of the new operating rooms,” says Dr. Tom Forbes, UHN’s surgeon-in-chief. “But they have also provided valuable insights for the design of family waiting areas. They see first-hand the impacts of limited quiet space for waiting family members.”

The New Surgical and Patient Tower will look to become net zero, utilizing UHN’s new wastewater energy transfer system for heating, cooling, and hot water. Targeting a 32% energy reduction, initiatives include a high-performing building envelope, LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and efficient air-side energy recovery ventilation units.

The project, located on the southeast corner of Bathurst St. and Nassau St., replacing a surface parking lot, was given a planning grant by the Ontario Government in April 2022. Groundbreaking is expected in May 2024, with the new patient and surgical tower expected to be operational in 2028.

• Project Manager, Municipal Projects – North Vancouver, B.C. – Maven Consulting
• Senior Project Manager – Toronto, Ont. – Morrison Hershfield
• Project Manager – Richmond, B.C. – Flatiron Construction 
• Construction Manager – Ottawa, Ont. – Ameresco 
• Site Director, Transit Electronics – London, Ont. – Wabtec Corp.
• Senior Project Manager – Fort McMurray, Alta. – FLINT Corp. 
• Project Manager – Calgary, Alta. – Kent
• Director, Automation, Integration & System Protection – Burlington, Ont. – Ulteig
• Project Manager – Calgary, Alta. – Clark Builders
• Director, Low Carbon Transportation – Surrey, B.C. – FortisBC

Key Takeaways:

• B.C. has approved the business plan for a $359 million cancer centre at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). 
• The procurement process is underway. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and complete in 2028.
• The five-storey facility will be built on the Westlands site on the RIH campus. 

The Whole Story:

Officials have approved the business plan for the new BC Cancer centre at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops.

“Approval of the business plan is a critical milestone for this crucial project,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This state-of-the-art cancer centre will benefit patients in Kamloops and the surrounding area by offering the confidence from knowing that we’re building treatment capacity for now and the future.”

The five-storey facility will be built on the Westlands site on the RIH campus. There will be space for radiation treatment, radiation-therapy planning, including a CT Simulator, an outpatient ambulatory-care unit, including 10 exam rooms, and two consultation rooms for radiation-therapy services, an additional MRI suite, and patient arrival and check-in areas. 

The centre will have three linear accelerator vaults. These heavy, concrete structures contain radiation equipment used for cancer-patient treatment. In collaboration with Indigenous partners, there will also be a sacred space for patients, caregivers and staff, with features to support traditional ceremonies.

“This is an exciting step forward in our work to bring new treatment options to this region,” said Dr. Kim Chi, executive vice-president and chief medical officer, BC Cancer. “The new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops will increase our capacity to deliver radiation treatment closer to home for the people of Kamloops and surrounding communities for generations to come.”

A new 470-stall parkade will also be constructed as a part of the centre.

In addition, upgrades to RIH to expand cancer care have also been approved, which includes updating and expanding the pharmacy, and relocation and expansion of the Community Oncology Network clinic from the eighth floor to the main floor with more space and improved access. 

Cancer care delivered through the clinic includes oral and intravenous cancer treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. The clinic also provides initial consultation and treatment planning with a medical oncologist, supportive care, followup care and patient education.

The procurement process is underway. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and complete in 2028. 

The project budget is approximately $359 million, shared between the provincial government, Interior Health and Thompson Regional Hospital District.

Projects are getting bigger, more complex and more expensive, require more and more sophisticated engineering feats.

And with so much infrastructure at stake, this work has never been more important. These projects transport Canadians from one place to another, clean our water, generate our power and ensure that the economy can keep moving forward.

This list includes engineering firms that are lending their brainpower to bring Canada’s mega projects to life.

Klohn Crippen Berger 

Klohn Crippen Berger (KCB) is an engineering, geoscience, and environmental consulting firm with offices in Canada, U.S., U.K., Peru, Brazil, and Australia. They are currently working on one of the largest, most complex projects in the nation, Site C Dam. KCB has been involved in the design, construction support, regulatory, environmental, and procurement support portions of the $16 billion project providing multi-disciplinary engineering services for the main civil works, the generating station and spillways, and the balance of plant contracts. Their work on the site spans decades. From 1989 to 1991, KCB was involved with the preliminary and final design activities. Since 2007, KCB has provided preliminary, optimization, tender and final design engineering services, technical reviews, support services through the environmental assessment process into construction with resident engineering services.

AtkinsRealis

AtkinsRealis, formerly SNC Lavalin, is no stranger to large, complex projects. Started in 1911 by Quebec engineer Arthur Surveyer, they rode the first wave of the electrification revolution. Today, they work on some of the nation’s biggest energy and transportation projects. They’ve worked on the $8 billion Réseau express métropolitain (REM) in Montreal, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, Darlington Refurbishment, Bruce Power Refurbishment, the Ontario Line and more, representing tens of billions in project value. 

Stantec 

Starting as a one-person firm in Edmonton, Stantec has grown to a company of 28,000 employees. And the growth is continuing. Some of its notable projects in Canada include the 100 MW De l’Érable Wind Farm in Quebec, the 152 Shanley Street Redevelopment in Ontario, and the 201 Portage Concourse in Winnipeg. Additionally, Stantec has been engaged in engineering Canada’s largest lithium-ion battery cell plant in B.C. The company also recently announced plans to acquire engineering firm Morrison Hershfield, which will increase its Canadian workforce by approximately 10%.

WSP

WSP, which originally stood for Williams Sale Partnership, was established in 1969 in England by engineer Chris Cole and three other partners. After years of acquisitions and mergers, the company now has its global headquarters in Montreal and works on major Canadian projects. These include the Centre Block Rehabilitation, Eglinton Crosstown LRT, GO Rail Expansion, Calgary’s Green Line and more. Their commitment to the communities they work in have turned heads. Last year they ranked 6th in Corporate Knights’ Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada.

AECOM

When it comes to getting Canadians from one place to another, AECOM is one of the best. They have been involved in the Ontario Line, Gordie Howe International Bridge, Réseau express métropolitain (REM), Edmonton Valley Line, Ottawa LRT and many more. AECOM says it launched when a handful of employees from design and engineering companies shared a dream of creating an industry-leading firm dedicated to delivering a better world. It became an independent company formed by the merger of five entities in the 1990s. While it has offices all over the globe, it’s main headquarters sits in Dallas, Texas.

COWI

COWI, a leading international consulting group, has been involved in many significant projects in Canada. Some of its biggest projects include design for an eight-lane immersed tunnel in Vancouver, the Ontario Line and a major bridge replacement over Alberta’s Chin Coulee Reservoir. While it has a major footprint in North America, COWI was created by 29-year-old engineer Christen Ostenfeld in the 1930s in Copenhagen, Denmark. His firm went on to design some of Denmark’s most iconic buildings of that decade. Today, at any given time, COWI is involved in approximately 9,000 projects across the globe.

Fluor

While this engineering giant’s headquarters is in Texas, it boasts 40,000 employees around the world and it’s contributions to Canada have been substantial. Perhaps its crowning Canadian achievement, Fluor was selected to be part of the engineering, procurement and construction team for LNG Canada, one of the largest projects in the history of the nation. They also have been involved in the Gordie Howe International Bridge, Hamilton LRT, the Jansen Potash Project and many other projects. The company began in 1912 with John Fluor.

Key Takeaways:

• The program is a partnership between the Vancouver Regional Construction Association, the Burnaby Board of Trade, the Burnaby School District and the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
• Through the Bring Trades to Schools program, students can engage in practical workshops and immersive experiences led by industry experts and educators.
• Organizers believe the initiative will help to encourage more youth to consider a career path in construction trades. 

The Whole Story:

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) has announced a new partnership with the Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT), British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), and Burnaby School District.  

 The initiative, titled “Bring Trades to Schools”, seeks to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world applications in the construction industry. Organizers say that bringing trades directly into educational environments will give students invaluable hands-on experience and exposure to various trades, including mechanical, welding, carpentry and electrical, empowering them to explore potential career paths and develop essential skills for future success.

 “This marks a significant milestone for the VRCA team as we inaugurate this innovative initiative! Originating from VRCA’s Education Committee, with valued contributions from our esteemed program partners, the concept has flourished. By bringing trades directly into schools, we aim to inspire and empower the next generation of skilled professionals while working to increase B.C.’s skilled workforce,” said VRCA President Jeannine Martin.

 Through the Bring Trades to Schools program, students can engage in practical workshops and immersive experiences led by industry experts and educators.

 Ryan Leonhard, director of workforce initiatives, Burnaby Board of Trade (BBOT) explained that skilled trades are and will continue to be in high demand, so providing students with the opportunity to explore different skilled trades through hands-on, practical experience is a win for everyone. 

“Students connect with well-paying career options, and Burnaby gains more tradespeople to continue building and growing our local community and economy,” he said. 

 Marita Luk, business development manager, BCIT School of Construction and the Environment believes the BTS initiative will help to encourage more youth to consider a career path in construction trades. 

“BCIT is proud to partner with VRCA, BBOT and the Burnaby School District on the Bring Trades to School (BTS) initiative,” said Luk. “As the largest provider of trades training programs in Western Canada, BCIT is a key driver of strategic workforce development and will leverage its unique expertise and resources to support economic recovery, growth, and resilience in BC.” 

Key Takeaways:

• B.C. courts have upheld the government’s decision to pause power service to crypto-mining projects.
• Forestry products company Conifex sought to compel BC Hydro to provide power to several of its high-performance computing data centres it planned to use for mining.
• BC Hydro argued that the order should stand and Conifex’s mining centres would collectively use approximately 2,500,000 megawatt-hours of electrical energy per year.

The Whole Story:

A B.C. forestry company has been blocked by the courts in its quest to power a new cryptocurrency mining operation. 

Conifex Timber Inc. sought to compel BC Hydro to provide the massive amounts of electricity required for mining. The B.C. Supreme Court (BCSC) sided with BC Hydro, upholding the province’s ability to halt power for new crypto mining operations.  

“Conifex is disappointed by, and disagrees with, the BCSC’s decision,” said the company in a statement. “Conifex continues to believe that the provincial government is missing out on several opportunities available to it to improve energy affordability, accelerate technological innovation, strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the power distribution grid in British Columbia, and achieve more inclusive economic growth.” 

The company stated that it is considering its position in relation to the judgment, including potentially appealing the ruling, along with other legal avenues which it may pursue.

Crypto mining is the process of validating transactions on a blockchain network and adding them to the public ledger, known as the blockchain. The miners use powerful computers to solve complex mathematical problems that confirm and secure transactions. In proof-of-work-based cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, the first miner to solve the problem gets the right to add the next block to the blockchain and is rewarded with newly minted cryptocurrency and transaction fees. This process requires significant computational power and energy consumption, making it a competitive and resource-intensive activity.

At issue in the case was the validity of a 2022 order in council issued by the lieutenant governor which directed the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to issue orders relieving the BC Hydro of its obligation to supply service to cryptocurrency mining projects for a period of 18 months.

Conifex continues to believe that the provincial government is missing out on several opportunities available to it to improve energy affordability, accelerate technological innovation, strengthen the reliability and resiliency of the power distribution grid in British Columbia, and achieve more inclusive economic growth.

Statement from Conifex

As a result of that decision, two of the Conifex’s data centre projects were removed from BC Hydro’s interconnection queue. At the time of the decision, those two projects were at the front of the queue.

Conifex argued that the order was an unreasonable exercise of the lieutenant governor’s authority and contravened the intent and purposes of the Utilities Commissions Act. Conifex also argued that the order is invalid because it does not comply with the government’s obligations under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act to consult with Indigenous peoples, in this case the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, with whom Conifex intended to collaborate with on its cryptocurrency mining projects.

Northern B.C.-based Conifex is a forestry company that had plans to diversify its operations by developing high-performance computing data centres for cryptocurrency mining. The first required step to secure sufficient electrical power for a mining operation is completing BC Hydro’s interconnection process. In early November 2021, Conifex’s first proposed centre completed that process, and is now moving forward. At the time the  order was issued, two of the Conifex’s other mining facilities were in the interconnection queue with BC Hydro, and were at the front of that queue.

The interconnection process requires the new customer to pay for any new system infrastructure requirements that are for that customer’s sole benefit, and to contribute to the cost of any system reinforcements or upgrades necessary to serve that customer.

BC Hydro made several comparisons to put the electricity usage of Conifex’s facilities in context, notably that projects would use almost half of the output of the Site C Project.

Christopher O’Riley, the CEO of BC Hydro, argued that Conifex’s mining centres would collectively use approximately 2,500,000 megawatt-hours of electrical energy per year. In fiscal year 2022, BC Hydro’s nine largest customer sites each required delivery of more than 500,000 megawatt-hours of electrical power, but none of the nine sites required more than 1,000,000 megawatt-hours.

BC Hydro noted that cryptocurrency mining is a comparatively new phenomenon. It has grown rapidly in the province over the past several years, and the interconnection requests for cryptocurrency miners have far exceeded projections forecast by BC Hydro in December 2020.

Justice Michael Tammen says in a ruling issued Friday that the government’s move in December 2022 to pause new connections for cryptocurrency mining for 18 months was “reasonable” and not “unduly discriminatory.”

Last summer, Conifex signed an agreement with 

The verdict comes less than a year after Greenidge, a cryptocurrency datacenter and power generation company, announced that it has executed a new hosting agreement with Conifex. Greenidge added that Tsay Keh Dene Nation, a First Nation with a traditional territory in north central B.C., would be collaborating with Conifex in supplying hosting services to Greenidge. Under the initial agreement, Conifex would host 750 miners on behalf of Greenidge with capacity of approximately 80 PH/s. 

The agreement included consideration for a potential expansion of 25MW of mining capacity using renewable energy. 

Key Takeaways: 

• The corporation said 2024 will be filled with construction milestones. 
• Major projects include the BMO Centre expansion, 17 Ave Extension & Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild project and the Calgary Event Centre. 
• CMLC plans to issue a Progressive Design Build RFP in the coming weeks the design and construction of Calgary’s new event centre. 

The Whole Story:

Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is on track to advance more than $1 billion in major project completions and initiations this year. 

With the BMO Centre expansion and 17 Ave Extension & Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild projects nearing completion, the late-2024 Arts Commons Transformation project construction groundbreaking approaching, and procurement underway for the new 6 St S.E. underpass, CMLC is preparing for a 2024 full of city-building milestones.

“As Calgary’s go-to city-building placemakers, CMLC has a proven track record of designing and delivering some of Calgary’s most transformational projects on behalf of our partners,” said Kate Thompson, CMLC’s president and CEO. “2024 will be a huge year for project completions and groundbreakings, and for continued progress and development for downtown Calgary’s east end. Our team is poised and ready to advance more than $1 billion in major city-shaping vertical and infrastructure builds this year, and to steward further development and placemaking in East Village.”

In 2024, CMLC will continue to oversee the development of several mixed-use residential projects in East Village, which includes projects like BOSA Development’s Arris Residences, which began leasing on 337 units in late 2023, and Alston Properties’ EV606, where construction is underway on 44 residential units and 9,000 SF of main floor retail space. 

CMLC says it is seeing sustained development interest in the community, recently signing Letters of Intent for three development parcels.

In the downtown core, CMLC is leading the Arts Commons Transformation and Olympic Plaza Transformation projects on behalf of Arts Commons and the City of Calgary, and are preparing to reveal the design for the Arts Commons Transformation expansion – a new building with a 1,000-seat theatre and 200-seat studio theatre – this spring and anticipate breaking ground on the expansion later this year. 

The Olympic Plaza Transformation project, which will support Arts Commons’ vision for an expanded, integrated Arts Commons campus, is also advancing through the design phase in 2024.

In The Culture + Entertainment District (The C+E), CMLC is preparing to bring more than $600 million of major city-building projects over the finish line in 2024 in partnership with the Calgary Stampede and the city. The BMO Centre expansion is expected to open for Stampede 2024 and the Victoria Park/Stampede Station Rebuild and 17 Ave S.E. Extension projects will are also on track for completion this summer.

In CMLC’s capacity as district construction coordinator, the team will continue to support the coordination of the many developments in The C+E, including the new Calgary Event Centre and the Green Line LRT’s 4 St S.E. station, to ensure access is maintained at all times for the many Calgarians and visitors who visit the BMO Centre and the Scotiabank Saddledome for events every year.

And as some of CMLC’s major builds in The C+E approach completion, the team is preparing to initiate another major related project: the new 6 St S.E. Underpass. As steward of the Rivers District Master Plan, CMLC will lead the delivery of the district infrastructure projects in support of the Calgary Event Centre. The 6 St S.E. Underpass is the first of those projects to get underway.

“The underpass was envisioned in the Rivers District Master Plan in 2019 as a critical infrastructure connection to support future development in the area, including a new Event Centre, the expanded BMO Centre and more than 4M square feet of future mixed-use development,” said Thompson. “CMLC has proven experience building infrastructure of this kind. In 2011, early in our stewardship of East Village, we delivered the 4 St S.E. Underpass, which has completely transformed the way people travel through downtown Calgary’s east end.”

In 2023, CMLC began the early scoping work required to support the future underpass. Now, with the Event Centre’s definitive agreements and funding in place, CMLC says it is ready to move the project into the next stage of development. 

CMLC will issue a Progressive Design Build RFP in the coming weeks to identify a project team that can support the design and construction. Early works on the project are anticipated to begin in 2024, and the overall construction schedule will be refined in due course.

“CMLC is proud to serve as steward of the Rivers District, and as development manager for some of our city’s most-anticipated capital builds,” said Kate. “Together, alongside the City of Calgary’s downtown revitalization work, these investments will put Calgary on the map as a Tier 1 tourism and hospitality destination, attracting international meetings and conventions audiences, dramatically transforming Calgary’s creative future, and fundamentally re-shaping the way that Calgarians experience downtown Calgary.”

Key Takeaways:

• Started in 2021 with two people, the SPO unit has grown to more than 20
• Officials say the “business within a business” requires an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to adapt to the local market needs.
• The unit does carpentry, demolition, concrete, equipment rentals and more.

The Whole Story:

After seven years of growth in Canada, Turner’s business unit in Vancouver decided it wanted to look at creating its own self-performing operations (SPO) unit like other large general contractors.

Essentially, this entailed developing a business within a business led by someone with a passion for entrepreneurship. When they put out a call to current employees, Yasir Ali leapt at the opportunity. 

Starting small

“The reason I put my name in the hat to start SPO was because it was the perfect blend of entrepreneurship, creativity and being able to build a business from the ground up that has allowed me to positively impact the Vancouver construction community,” said Ali. 

In 2021, Ali partnered with Preston Boomars, a veteran superintendent at Turner, to shape what the new SPO department would look like. 

“Part of this is looking at it from an intrapreneurial lens in terms of how we set it up with processes and systems and policies, and how we set something up that is not just profitable one year, but sustainable year after year with that trajectory in mind,” said Ali.  

They decided to start by focusing on rough carpentry and site protection. Ali says this work got the business up and running, generated data and allowed the team to go into 2022 with a refined strategy. 

“2021 was a very good formative year. It kind of also changed the change culture,” said Ali. “When you’re starting something new, you are having to train up both internally and externally.” 

Based on their experiences in 2021 and feedback, in 2022 the SPO took off running. Rough carpentry got more established, the team got a truck, warehouse space was leased, Turner assets were used to start an equipment rental business and more staff were added.

Workforce development

These staff included an experienced Red Seal carpenter which triggered a whole new opportunity: workforce development. 

“We realized if we have this experienced carpenter, we should also tap into high schools and look at what carpentry apprenticeship looks like,” said Ali. 

Working with Turner’s Vancouver Business Unit, they connected with several schools and have now created two active partnerships with schools. Every quarter, there are week-long job shadow opportunities for students to get basic construction training and experience on a variety of job sites. 

“If it is something they are interested in, we will bring them on board and then we support their entire journey through their technical acumen as well as setting them up in the industry to eventually be a carpenter Journeyman,” said Ali. 

Adding new kinds of work

In 2022 another opportunity arose. One of Turner’s trade partners was no longer interested in performing demolition work. Turner brought on some of their key folks and added demolition to its SPO services. 

“We kick started last year going out doing demolition, purely clean demolition, anything that doesn’t contain hazardous materials,” said Ali. “One of the other things we started doing on the back end of both 2022 and 2023 was we started tapping into external projects. These were key strategic projects that made sense for us, either they were too small for a special projects division or they were opportunities for us to Maybe do 50% of the work in-house by self-performing. So it just made more sense for us to tackle and that also created a benefit on the back end where we had a more Streamlined course of events.” 

The SPO aslo looked at partnering with Turner’s virtual design and construction department. A robotic total station allowed them to tap into laser scanning and registration. This meant they could get in on an early construction capacity and help clients figure out what the existing conditions look like to avoid change order.

Towards the tail end of 2023 the SPO realized their team was doing a great deal of rock carpentry and decided to expand into drywal. They kick started their very first small drywall project and are looking at adding that as part of their regular services. 

What started out as a two-person department had grown into 22 employees. Amit Patel, vice president & general manager at Turner Construction’s Vancouver business unit, explained that this growth has been directed to the Lower Mainland business’s specific needs. 

“Trade partners are our lifeblood so we don’t want to undercut our trade partners at all,” he said. “We want to work with them. We’re trying to do scopes that trades don’t generally want to pick up or the size and scope is generally not available to them, so that we can still do that for our clients.”

Sustainable growth

As for the future growth of Turner’s SPO department, Ali said the team is trying to be very targeted and mindful about how they grow. One thing they are looking into is cross-training so SPO workers can do multiple kinds of jobs. 

When it comes to starting business inside a business, Patel stressed that it takes a great deal of passion to develop it. 

“It’s about that entrepreneurial Spirit,” said Patel. “To start a business, it’s not just being operational minded. There’s a lot of thankless hours and a lot of long hours. You gotta want to do it for just the love of growing a business and Yasir had that so he was perfect for it.”

Key Takeaways:

• Canada is seeing rapid reductions (potentially up to 5%) in both high and low-rise residential construction costs, with much larger reductions anticipated in Toronto, followed by Montreal and Vancouver.
• Interest rates are expected to begin their decline in 2024, at which point condominium sales will likely recover. By this time, we should also see increased momentum in purpose-built rental development, with credit to government-led incentives and an increase in infrastructure spending.
• Mid-term (2025-2026) success will hinge on timing the market and beating the rush, taking a deal, and hitting the ground running.
• In the long term, we are likely to find ourselves losing the demand versus supply fight, and costs may continue to escalate while the housing crisis intensifies. 

The Whole Story:

Builders could be seeing some relief from high construction costs, however in the long term, the industry will continue to face significant challenges . 

The latest construction costs forecast from Altus group shows that Canada is seeing rapid reductions (potentially up to 5%) in both high and low-rise residential construction costs, with much larger reductions anticipated in Toronto, followed by Montreal and Vancouver.

Marlon Bray, Altus Group’s senior director of cost consulting & project management, wrote that as the industry heads into 2024, development demand is ripe (particularly in the case of residential development), but investors, builders, and developers are wary in this high-interest rate environment. 

“While escalation projections are, in essence, a well-educated guess – especially in the current, more volatile landscape – it remains important to highlight the anticipated impact of cost escalation over the short term, midterm, and longer term,” said Bray.

Across Canada, Altus is seeing rapid reductions (potentially up to 5%) in both high and low-rise residential construction costs, with much larger reductions expected for Toronto, followed by Montreal and Vancouver. However, in the Atlantic (Halifax, in particular) and the Prairies (Calgary, in particular), cost reductions are not expected. Bray noted that instead, these regions could see a continued upward trajectory.

“This cost correction can largely be attributed to interest rate hikes, which have impacted the condominium and low-rise markets in the most expensive cities, by the largest degree,” said Bray. “In the current environment, sales have plummeted, and construction starts are slowing (if not coming to a near halt). The ongoing housing crisis is expected to worsen as a result, with regions like the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) expected to be hit the hardest.”

According to Build Force Canada, employment in the residential sector is forecasted to decline by more than 11,000 workers – or approximately 5% of the 2021 workforce – as demand for new home construction recedes. The non-residential sector helps to offset this; however, the skills need to be transferable, and location plays a key role. Quebec and B.C. will also see large drops in workforce, with a significant decline in Quebec non-residential expected as well.

Even in the best-case scenario, housing needs, infrastructure challenges, and the lack of skilled labour in the market are on a collision course to create a massive construction cost headache – or hangover.

Marlon Bray, senior director of cost consulting & project management, Altus Group

Labour costs are not expected to decrease; union agreements in addition to the increased cost of living mean there is little wiggle room. Material costs have stabilized (albeit higher than pre-pandemic) with some reductions, but nothing significant on an overall project scale.

Bray said the industry will likely see a reduction of overhead and profit as companies adopt lean operational models. To insulate profit margins, some construction trades will reduce their labour force and focus on recreating productivity for the inevitable resurgence in residential construction.

Housing development is expected to slow outside of Calgary and Halifax in 2024. However, the infrastructure/institutional market (including transit and social investments) will remain robust for the foreseeable future in Ontario, Atlantic, and Alberta regions – and to a lesser degree in B.C.

Mid-term: 2025-2026

Interest rates are expected to begin their decline in 2024, at which point condominium sales will likely recover. By this time, we should also see increased momentum in purpose-built rental development, with credit to government-led incentives and an increase in infrastructure spending.

As sales increase, the construction market could become flooded with development projects, especially in regions like Toronto. There are potentially 90,000 condominiums on deck, ready to go out for sale over the next few years in the GTA, along with 30,000 rentals that should be approved and ready to go (with even more moving through the system). 

“In simpler terms, we may see the construction industry shift from 2nd gear to 8th gear in the span of 6 to 9 months,” said Bray.

He explained that success in this mid-term period will hinge on timing the market and beating the rush, taking a deal, and hitting the ground running. This kind of environment is all about relationships, rather than competitive tendering. 

“The lowest bid is not always the best choice; rather, it’s about selecting the right person who can get the project finished,” said Bray. “This sentiment applies to trades as well – pick the right owner, because getting paid should be the priority in a high-interest environment.”

He added that when considering private sector construction costs, it’s also important to recognize that time is an exceedingly important factor in the overall cost of any project. Slow construction timelines (and delays) translate to higher trade, interest, and overhead costs, as well as the loss of opportunity. Within a construction site, “too many white hats” is often a bad sign for coordination and efficiency. 

Bray says the most efficient construction sites are typically those that have leaders and decision-makers in more limited quantities. The presence of too many “cooks in the kitchen”, so to speak, can become more of a productivity bottleneck than an asset. 

“In the world of development, the speed at which decisions are made is a key determinator of profit potential, and if you have the right people, they know how to get things done,” said Bray.

Altus expects the mid-term to endure some serious turbulence. Labour demand is likely going to exceed available supply in 2026; most acutely in Ontario, B.C., and Nova Scotia.

The long-term outlook

In the worst-case scenario, the “wheels may come off the hypothetical development freight train” and we could see double-digit escalation over the long-term, predicted Bray. 

“Even in the best-case scenario, housing needs, infrastructure challenges, and the lack of skilled labour in the market are on a collision course to create a massive construction cost headache – or hangover,” he said. 

When it comes to the housing crisis, Bray said the biggest challenge won’t be policy, it’s the shortage of skilled labour. 

He explained that in the long term, we are likely to find ourselves losing the demand versus supply fight, and costs may continue to escalate while the housing crisis intensifies. 

“The fix? It’s a complicated issue, but the development of a national housing plan that is focused on tangible outcomes and the continued removal of red tape and bureaucracy would be a step in the right direction,” he said. 

Bray believes that if we don’t make major changes to the market now, it’s going to become expensive to build anything, anywhere. He noted that innovation is required; modulization, building information modelling (BIM), and artificial intelligence (AI) need to be applied across the industry. Moreover, we need to find a way to better attract and retain skilled labour. 

“Trade workers build homes that house families and foster communities – this is critical and honourable work that should not be minimized, but celebrated and propped up, now more than ever,” said Bray.