Russell Hixson is an award-winning investigative journalist who spent the early parts of his career doing crime and courts reporting in the U.S. before stumbling into covering Canada’s construction sector. He spent eight years writing for the Journal of Commerce where he became well versed on the industry and its issues. He’s covered the federal budget from Ottawa and documented the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic while locked down in his bedroom.
Hixson has developed a passion for the construction industry and seeks to convert others by sharing its stories through SiteNews. When he’s not writing stories, the East Vancouver resident enjoys kayaking, skateboarding and avoiding the neighbourhood skunks.
hyperTunnel conducted a large-scale demonstration of their swarm robot technique.
The technology is being investigated for use repairing old rail infrastructure.
The startup has received investment from VINCI and the European Innovation Council.
The Whole Story:
A tech startup wants to put robot swarms to work digging the tunnels of tomorrow.
UK company hyperTunnel revealed this fall the world’s first underground structure built entirely by robots
The Peak XV tunnel was entirely robot-constructed at a research and development facility in the North Hampshire Downs.
hyperTunnel stated that its automated construction method is designed to build tunnels more than 10 times faster and at half the cost of conventional methods. Their team added that approach is significantly friendlier to the environment and will use sustainable materials such as low-carbon concrete. It also limits the potential for injuries to humans.
Using swarm construction methods according to a digital twin of the tunnel, a fleet of hyperBot robots enter the ground via an arch of HDPE pipes. Once inside, the robots 3D-print the tunnel shell by deploying construction material directly into the ground.
The 6 metre-long, 2 metre-high and 2 metre-wide Peak XV pedestrian-scale tunnel has been delivered as part of a project for Network Rail and revealed at the British Tunnelling Society Conference & Exhibition in London.
The Network Rail project has been demonstrating the hyperTunnel process, investigating the technologies that are key to low-disruption tunnel repairs for the UK’s regional railway infrastructure, which includes approximately 650 Victorian age tunnels.
“Our large portfolio of Victorian tunnels requires increasing levels of work to meet the needs of the railway network,” said David Castlo, Network Rail’s network technical head. ”However, we want to reduce the level of disruption to our passengers so we are constantly searching for new approaches to enlarging or repairing tunnels that reduce the length of time a tunnel will be closed to trains. Peak XV moves us a step closer to that goal and, crucially, with a method that reduces workforce safety risk.”
Steve Jordan, co-CEO and co-Founder of hyperTunnel, said the large scale demonstration tunnel is a big step, not only for hyperTunnel, but for the tunnelling and construction industries. “While using robots exclusively to build underground structures is dramatically different, the contributing technologies, such as digital twins, robotics, 3D printing and digital underground surveying, supported by AI and VR, are all well-proven in other industries,” said Jordan. “In fact, the hyperTunnel in-situ method is all about de-risking construction projects.”
Earlier this year, hyperTunnel received funding of 1.88 million Euros from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator scheme, Europe’s flagship innovation program. The company also received a financial investment from VINCI, a global leader in concessions, energy and construction businesses.
Video: See how the tunnelling process works
https://youtu.be/a4WL4eLPkic
EllisDon has appointed Michael Casey to the position of senior vice president and general counsel.
“We are very excited about Michael taking on this new role,” says Kieran Hawe, COO and executive vice president at EllisDon. “Michael and the Legal Services team will continue to be an integral part of the EllisDon family as the company continues to grow.”
Casey began his legal career at a private legal firm in Toronto as a member of the Financial Services Group focused on business restructuring and corporate finance. In 2011, Casey joined EllisDon Legal Services as legal counsel before being promoted to senior counsel in 2014, managing director in 2015, vice president and deputy general counsel in 2019, privacy officer in 2020, and currently, senior vice president and general counsel.
In the new role Casey will oversee EllisDon’s Legal Services department and all its functions, including all litigation, Public-Private-Partnerships (P3), corporate, labour relations, international, and insurance claims.
“I am very excited to lead a team of dynamic, intelligent, and like-minded people who do some of the best work in our industry,” said Casey.
Throughout his tenure at EllisDon, Casey has been involved in most aspects of the business, including construction contract negotiations, subcontractor-consultant contractual issues, corporate acquisitions and real estate transactions, corporate secretarial matters, litigation management and claims strategies, enterprise intelligence, and digital services.
As vice president and deputy general counsel, Michael was responsible for leading Legal Services’ litigation and claims functions, in addition to his involvement in various aspects of the legal services group. He was head legal counsel on some of Canada’s largest and most complex construction and infrastructure projects.
Casey will retain the position of corporate privacy officer and remain active on several internal EllisDon committees.
In 2020, Casey was the recipient of On-Site Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 award for the Canadian Construction industry. He is also a frequent guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Ontario’s property inventory continued to grow in 2022, with more than $37.8 billion in new assessments, which includes new construction and improvements to existing properties. According to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), residential homes made up over $28.6 billion of the increase, while commercial and industrial properties comprised $4.6 billion.
The assessed value of Ontario’s 5.5 million properties is now estimated to be more than $3.08 trillion. MPAC summarizes these changes in the annual assessment rolls that they delivered to Ontario’s municipalities.
Condos slow down
Over the course of the year, Ontario added more than 48,000 residential homes. While the number of new detached homes increased 10.5 per cent year over year (25,727, up from 23,279), the number of new residential condominiums dropped by 37.4 per cent (7,097, down from 11,331). There was also a small increase in new townhouses, coming in at approximately 1.3 per cent (10,484, up from 10,350).
“The slowdown we see in new residential condominiums is attributed to construction delays arising from changing economic considerations and supply issues,” said Nicole McNeill, MPAC’s president and CEO. “Despite this slowdown in new residential condominiums, we did see year-over-year growth in other property types.”
10 municipalities key to growth
Across Ontario, more than 55 per cent of new property value was located in 10 municipalities. Toronto led the way for another year at $8.7 billion (down from $10.7 billion in 2021) followed by Ottawa at $4.4 billion (up from $3 billion), then Mississauga at $1.2 billion (down from $1.6 billion), Vaughan at $1.1 billion (down from $2 billion), and Oakville at $1.1 billion (holding steady) for another year.
When looking at the growth rates for small municipalities (under 15,000 population), Blue Mountains had the largest overall growth this year ($140.2 million) despite a drop in new seasonal properties from the previous year (down to $29.3 million from $32.7 million). Muskoka Lakes followed with $120.3 million, then Middlesex Centre with $103.7 million, North Perth with $90.9 million and Carleton Place with $89.9 million.
An arctic chill has settled over much of Canada, prompting many to install their snow tires, layer up and begrudgingly shovel the driveway.
But we can take comfort in one thing: it could be worse. A lot worse.
Let’s explore Yakutsk, the coldest city in the world. It sits near the Lena River, in East Siberia. The biggest economic driver in the region is mining as it is rich in coal, gold and diamonds. As such, many mining companies have set up their headquarters nearby.
But housing people and transporting goods isn’t easy when your average monthly temperatures range from 19.9 C in July to −37.0 C in December. The lowest temperature ever recorded there was −64.4 C. Want to drive your car? You better keep it in a heated garage or leave it running outside.
Permanently frozen
The city of Yakutsk has a mixture of modern tall buildings, Soviet time blocks of apartments and old wooden houses. Many of them are brightly coloured in an effort to combat depression and provide landmarks in low-visibility conditions.
According to the North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, the warm air coming from homes and buildings also causes “habitation fog” because the air is so cold that it cannot rise.
Yakutsk is the largest city in the world built completely on top of permafrost, a layer of frozen soil hundreds of meters deep which never melts. This requires most structures to be built on top of stilts or piles so that their heat from the buildings does not melt the layers below and cause instability.
Experts at Siberia Federal University explained that there are many kinds of piles, like bored piles developed by the specialists from the city of Krasnoyarsk. Thanks to this technology, the special auguring drill cuts through the permafrost before reinforced cage is put inside and then filled with concrete.
Now the industry also uses modern concrete compounds, which do not get frosted during the pours. Previously the ground had to be thawed by steaming for months for the piles to be inserted. They noted that pile-supported buildings were first constructed by Michael Kim, a former labour camp prisoner who studied permafrost and was awarded the Lenin Prize, one of the most prestigious honours in Soviet Russia, for his innovations.
Colourful buildings line the streets of Yakutsk, the coldest city in the world. – Creative Commons License
Rethinking design
Solving the issues that the region’s extreme weather present for buildings was a passion for Siberian architect A. D. Kryachkov. When he designed and built structures in the 1910s-1930s, he wanted to use science to prevent damage and durability issues. He studied the behaviour of structural materials and structural elements in the cold climate conditions and incorporated the results into the design process. As a result his buildings have preserved their original image for many decades.
His research identified important laws of joint work of building structures and components in Siberian conditions. He also demonstrated it is the mid-season with sharp negative and positive temperature changes rather than winter that present a the biggest danger to structures. Since watering in such conditions leads to structure freezing, he argued that architects should consider protection of a building from accumulation of precipitants on its structures and elements.
Some of his techniques included using a special, semi-flattened plastic with dominating vertical structural elements for building faces. Balconies had a minimal overhang. Flat pilasters and belt courses, horizontal and vertical structural elements, shaped as dumb window sills and frames of windows and pillars, served as the main means of plastic expressiveness for the designer. The buildings had inclined roofing, ventilated attics to prevent rot and were devoid of blind ramparts.
Yakutsk’s utilities have to be built above ground due to permafrost. – Creative Commons License
Bridging the Lena
The extreme weather doesn’t stop major infrastructure projects from moving forward. In 2020, a concession agreement was signed for the design, construction and operation of a bridge across the river Lena in Yakutia between the government and OOO Eighth Concession Company, owned by the VIS Group. The project is structured as a private concession initiative.
The river slices through the Yakutia region cutting off more than 80 per cent of the region’s residents from travel for roughly 6 months each year.
In June, VIS Group announced early work on the project is well underway. This includes land preparation, and removal and reconstruction of utilities. Crews must now move a high-pressure gas pipeline that spans over 900 meters. They are also dismantling and moving high-voltage power lines. Design and construction is expected to take six years and the bridge’s lifespan will be around 19 years.
A rendering of the Lena River bridge project. – VIS Group
The past few years haven’t exactly been a golden age for in-person events. COVID-19 threw all major gatherings up in the air for years. However, we have gradually seen many major events make their return after delays and cancellations. Here are some major ones that are already planned for the coming year.
Canadian Construction Association Annual Conference
The annual event is organized by the Canadian Construction Association and it features speakers, webinars and networking events. One of this year’s keynotes will be done by Peace by Chocolate CEO and founder Tareq Hadhad who will tell his story of coming to Canada as a Syrian refugee. Session topics include procurement, workforce retention, trade-enabling infrastructure, green public procurement and more.
When: March 7-10
Where: The Hilton El Conquistador in Tucson, Arizona
It’s the largest trade show in North America and it only happens every three years. This year it’s set to break records with 1,800 exhibitors and 150 education sessions during its run. There will be more than 2.8 million square feet of exhibits to check out. Organizers say this year’s focus will be on the next level of sustainability in the construction sector.
When: March 14-18
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
This is a big one for all things concrete and it’s coming up quick. The event features original equipment manufacturers from around the world and exclusive U.S. distributors of equipment, tools, products and services for the commercial construction, concrete and masonry industries. The event attracts approximately 1,500 exhibiting companies and occupies more than 700,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space.
When: Jan, 17-19
Where: Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
After concrete aficionados are done in Las Vegas, they can zip over to Toronto to check out this event. This coming year will feature mixed martial arts fighter and actor Georges St-Pierre, a full scale 3D construction printing demo and discussions around the path to net-zero.
When: Feb. 16-17
Where: The International Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
What: This even brings together U.S. and Canadian industry experts and government officials. More than 550 legislators, business leaders, academics and policymakers will come together to discuss issues that impact the region.
Organized by Good Roads, a municipal association concerned with the quality and design of roads in Ontario. The annual conference is three days of speakers and exhibits all centered around the cutting edge of roads.
Western Canada Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association Conference
Pack your snorkel for the Hawaiian beaches if you plan on attending. Gary Mar, president & CEO of the Canada West Foundation will kick this event off by talking about the Role Western Canada should play in global trade. Other speakers include CCA president Mary Van Buren, former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall and Perrin Beatty, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
When: Feb. 5-9
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Waikiki, Hawaii
It’s all about the built environment at Buildex. The series of shows features panels, seminars, workships, innovation showcases and more. The upcoming conference includes a greenbuild pavilion, the climate resiliency and retrofit learning lab and showcases of construction software.
When: Feb. 15-16
Where: Vancouver Convention Centre West, Vancouver, B.C.
Who could forget B.C.’s neighbour to the east? Buildex is Alberta’s largest B2B construction event. It covers construction, architecture, engineering, design and property management professions with live demos, activations and installations. It will have more than 100 speakers and more than 1,400 participants.
When: Oct. 18-19
Where: Calgary Telus Convention Centre in Calgary, Alta.
Organizers state that the conference serves as a catalyst for women to expand their presence, influence and career success in an ever shifting industry. They added that It also has grown into the leading talent development and networking event for construction industry professionals. The 2023 event will be kicked off by Nancy Bray, an industrial engineer and 33-year NASA veteran.
When: May 11-12
Where: Hilton San Francisco Union Square in San Francisco, California
This conference promises education, professional development, networking, entertainment and fun. Topics include design considerations for current construction trends, smart buildings, mentorship, material transparency and more.
This massive show has been around for more than 30 years. It features industry experts sharing their knowledge about the built environment. Speakers and sessions are geared towards design, architecture, construction, renovation and property management professionals, experts and suppliers.
When: Nov. 29 to Dec. 1
Where: Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ont.
Eastern Canada’s largest heavy equipment industry trade show includes major industry OEMs and dealers, and tons of big iron. Attendees can check out educational seminars, plus the all-new Demo Zone to watch equipment live in action.
When: April 21-23
Where: Espace Saint-Hyacinthe in St-Hyacinthe, Que.
Roofing experts, this one is just for you. ROOFtech is dedicated to Canada’s roofing industry. It includes a trade show and educational sessions. The show features more than 150 exhibitors and live demonstrations. It is produced by the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Informa Connect, and the Ontario Industrial Roofing Contractors Association
Organized by the Construction Safety Association of Manitoba, the event aims to provide participants with education and practical hands-on training. Each year the conference issues 2500 training certificates and sees more than 1,500 registrants. Organizers say it is the largest construction safety conference in North America.
Someone is going on Santa’s naughty list for this one.
The North Vancouver RCMP are asking for the public’s help in locating an excavator stolen from a construction site located in 600 block of E 6th St. in North Vancouver, BC.
On Dec. 15th the owner of a 2018 John Deere 50G excavator called police to report his equipment was stolen from the construction site.
According to police, witnesses observed the excavator being loaded onto a flatbed and the thieves traveling eastbound in the laneway the night before at approximately 10:30 p.m.
The excavator is worth $50,000 and it is the third stolen excavator for the property owner in four years.
“The North Vancouver RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in providing any information relating to this theft, specifically any CCTV, dash cam from the area or witnesses that may have observed the incident,” said officer Mansoor Sahak. “Someone may have observed this incident, not realizing that a theft was occurring.
Police urged the public to contact the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and quote file #22-30678. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Key Takeaways:
The plant will cease producing general use cement in favour of OneCem, a reduced carbon portland limestone cement.
It’s Lafarge’s third plant conversion this year.
Lafarge says OneCem creates 10 per cent less C02 emissions while maintaining performance and durability.
The Whole Story:
Lafarge Canada is continuing its march towards greener cement production.
The company announced it has fully transformed its Brookfield Cement Plant’s cement production in Nova Scotia to a greener portfolio. From now on, the site’s production of general use cement (GU) ends and will shift to reduced carbon portland limestone cement – branded as OneCem – the company’s eco-efficient alternative.
Brookfield is Lafarge’s third cement plant to be converted in 2022 and the first Atlantic Market plant to convert – the others being the Bath Cement Plant (Ontario) in June and the Richmond Cement Plant (B.C.) earlier this year.
OneCem is a sustainable product that presents up to 10 per cent lower CO2 emissions while providing the same performance and durability.
“We have been steadily moving the needle forward when it comes to cement decarbonization and we will continue to honour our commitment in progressing our greener portfolio in Eastern Canada over the coming years,” said Andrew Stewart, vice president of cement for Lafarge Canada (East). “For us at Lafarge Canada, sustainability and profitability go together – our main goal is to keep partnering with our customers to advance sustainable construction and, at the same time, provide innovative world-class products.”
According to Robert Cumming, Head of Sustainability & Public Affairs, Lafarge Canada (East), the company has avoided more than 140,000 tonnes of CO2 in the past four years by converting GU cement to OneCem in its plants across Canada.
“We are excited to take our plant to the next level of decarbonization. Our teams on the ground have been successfully showcasing our company’s values of passion, collaboration, and grit, and we couldn’t be prouder. This is a very important milestone in our Net-Zero journey in Nova Scotia and in Canada as a whole,” said Travis Smith, Brookfield’s plant manager.
Larfage officials explained that OneCem contributes to lowering the industry’s carbon footprint not only during the manufacturing process – while cement may be as little as 11 per cent of a concrete mix, it can account for more than 80 per cent of all energy required to produce concrete. Across Canada, Lafarge has produced over 6 million metric tonnes of OneCem since 2011.
Key Takeaways:
The Quintette coal mine in northeastern B.C. has been sold to Conuma by Teck for $120M.
The mine has been on care and maintenance since 2000.
The coal produced by the mine is used to create steel.
The Whole Story:
A dormant B.C. mine site is getting a new lease on life.
Teck Resources Limited announced that it has agreed to sell the Quintette steelmaking coal mine in northeastern British Columbia to a subsidiary of Conuma Resources Limited. Conuma will pay Teck $120 million in cash in staged payments over the next 36 months, and an ongoing 25 per cent net profits interest royalty, first payable after Conuma recovers its investment in Quintette.
Closing of the transaction, expected to occur in the first quarter of 2023, is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
The steelmaking coal mine, which produced a semi-hard coking coal product, operated for nearly 18 years up until 2000 and has been on care and maintenance since then. Steelmaking coal is a vital ingredient in the production of steel, which is essential for low-carbon infrastructure such as rapid transit, transmission systems and wind turbines.
Founded in mid-2016, Conuma Resources is a steelmaking coal producer based in Northeast B.C. Conuma’s surface mine operations at Brule, Wolverine and Willow Creek have a rated capacity to produce more than 5 million tonnes of steelmaking coal annually, and provide more than 900 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs in the Peace River Regional District.
A rainbow arcs over a Conuma Resources truck in B.C. – Conuma Resources
Camosun College just received a massive funding boost to help aspiring B.C. tradeswomen.
The college announced they have received a $1.285 million gift to help open the doors to more women pursuing a career in a range of Red Seal trades programs.
The donation comes from the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation. It is the second time the foundation has supported the Empowering Women in the Trades program and is a five-year commitment. It represents the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college outside of estate gifts.
“The Empowering Woman in the Trades program has changed my life in such an incredible way, words can’t express the gratitude I have,” says Sarah Cooper, who completed the Women in Trades sampler in 2021 and who will soon be returning to the college for her next level apprenticeship. “I don’t know where my family and I would be there today without the ongoing mentorship and financial support that I’ve been given throughout my time at Camosun.”
In 2017, the Foundation made a $1,000,000 pledge to create program. Camosun officials said the second pledge will ensure the program will continue to grow and support women over the next five years.
“We saw the tremendous impact the first gift had on the lives of women over the last five year and how it encouraged more women to enter trades so it made sense to do it again,” says Gwynn Morgan. “It is important to ensure the Empowering Women in the Trades program can continue to raise the quality of life for tradespeople and their families, as well as ensure employers and industries have a workforce to draw upon.”
Trades students at Camosun College receive instruction for working with metal. – Camosun College
School officials explained that government programs often assist with tuition costs but Empowering Women in Trades breaks down additional financial barriers facing women in the trades and assists with areas such as transportation, child care, living expenses and the cost of protection equipment and tools. The goal is to allow more women complete their Red Seal certification. While financial assistance is one barrier, Empowering Women in Trades also offers one on one support, networking, and mentoring opportunities as well as employment support.
“Given the opportunity, a career in the trades can be life-altering for women, who unfortunately have historically faced obstacles,” says Patricia Trottier. “At a time when Canada is facing a skilled trades shortage impacting almost every industry and employer it is critical that women are given the chance to help close the skills gap and achieve their own personal and professional goals.”
As a result of the women-specific programs at Camosun, over 1,000 women have gone on to pursue a career in high-demand areas such as automotive, carpentry, professional cooking, sheet metal and welding. Some alumni have even come full circle by returning to Camosun to instruct the next generation of skilled trades people.
“Camosun is very proud of its work to improve access for students, particularly among underrepresented groups, and giving them the skills to thrive,” says Lane Trotter, president of Camosun. “The generous support of donors like the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation is making a life changing difference to women seeking to complete Red Seal apprenticeships. Thank you.”
Camosun offers apprenticeship training in 20 distinct trades, including 12 trades with the Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement.
A drone shows the route of a major transit project in Metro Vancouver. – Broadway Subway Project
Take a good look at this 5.7 km route in Vancouver. It’s about to completely transform.
A drone flew the The Broadway Subway Project alignment, offering a sweeping overview of what’s to come.
The Broadway Subway Project, led by joint venture between ACCIONA and Ghella, will extend the Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to the future Broadway and Arbutus station, providing SkyTrain service along the Broadway corridor, home to B.C.’s second-largest jobs centre, world-class health-care services, an emerging innovation and research hub, and growing residential communities.
The project team recently launched the second of two state-of-the-art Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) November 29. Named Phyllis, after B.C. mountaineer Phyllis Munday, she will join Elsie, the first TBM, which was launched on Oct. 7 and is now well on her way to her first breakthrough at Mount Pleasant Station.
Each TBM will take about one year to carve out two five-kilometre-long tunnels before being dismantled and removed at Cypress Street near the future Arbutus Station. After tunneling is complete, work can begin on building tracks within the tunnels and finishing the six new stations along the route. Once in service, the Broadway Subway Project will create a seamless extension of the existing Millennium Line from VCC-Clark to Arbutus Street.
Planned construction activities for the next three months include:
About three quarters of the 21 columns on the elevated guideway between VCC-Clark Station and the future Great Northern Way-Emily Carr station are complete. Construction continuing on remaining columns.
Both TBMs, Phyllis and Elsie have been launched. Continuing to remove excavated material from both tunnels and installing remaining trailing gear on Phyllis at Great Northern Way-Emily Carr Station.
Completing the concrete base slab for the future Mount Pleasant Station.
Excavating the Broadway-City Hall, Oak-VGH, South Granville and Arbutus stations.
Completing the traffic decks for the Broadway-City Hall and Arbutus stations.
Finishing the relocation of major utilities at the Broadway-City Hall and Arbutus work sites.
Key Takeaways:
The Cat MineStart Command for Hauling system will be implemented on 77G trucks at the Bull Run Plant in Virginia.
It is Caterpillar’s first deployment of the technology in the aggregate sector.
The company said data collected from the site will help it better tune its technology for future aggregate applications.
The Whole Story:
Caterpillar Inc. is looking to push vehicle automation forward with a new collaboration in the aggregate sector.
The heavy equipment supplier is working with Luck Stone, America’s largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel, to deploy its autonomous solution to the Bull Run Plant in Chantilly, Virginia. It will be Caterpillar’s first autonomous deployment in the aggregates industry and will expand the company’s autonomous truck fleet to include the 100-ton-class (90-tonne-class) Cat 777 .
Looking to accelerate autonomous solutions beyond mining, Caterpillar will implement its existing Cat MineStar Command for Hauling system at the Bull Run quarry, on a fleet of 777G trucks. Caterpillar officials say this will help it gain greater insights on quarry operations in order to tailor the next generation of autonomous solutions specific to quarry and aggregate applications.
The company added that the project will support the acceleration of autonomous technology for operations with fewer mobile assets, making projects safer and more productive.
The Bull Run Plant sits in Chantilly, Virginia. It mines a type of rock known as Traprock or diabase. – Caterpillar
“Luck Stone and Caterpillar’s partnership has been grounded in shared values for many years,” said Charlie Luck, president and CEO of Luck Companies. “Together we believe that safety, innovation and a commitment to people are critical, not only to propelling important projects like this, but to ensuring our focus on the future and all of the exciting possibilities technology affords our industry. Our collaboration will provide opportunities for associates to learn and grow, improve safety and result in production efficiencies. We are thrilled to partner with Caterpillar to achieve this ‘first’ for our industry.”
The current autonomy solutions will be implemented in 2024. Caterpillar currently boasts the world’s largest fleet of autonomous haul trucks, now numbering more than 560 trucks. These trucks have traveled more than 187 million kilometers and autonomously moved more than 5.1 billion tonnes without a single zero lost-time injury.
“Caterpillar has a long-standing relationship with Luck Stone, and we look forward to working together to bring the demonstrated benefits of increased safety and productivity to the quarry industry. We’re excited to get in the dirt and work alongside Luck Stone’s innovative team, so we can learn how to scale our already proven mining solution for another industry,” said Denise Johnson, Caterpillar Group president of resource Industries.
ACCIONA Canada took to the skies to celebrate 20 years of sustainable infrastructure construction in Canada.
The company partnered with reforestation startup Flash Forest to plant 20,000 trees in B.C. using drones.
Planting from above
By leveraging drone, AI, GIS, and plant science technology, Flash Forest planted Douglas-fir, Hybrid Spruce, Western Larch and Lodgepole Pine in natural disaster-affected areas of the province.
“Having a direct positive impact on the environment we are building within is part and parcel with our Sustainability Master Plan 2025 (SMP 2025),” said Caroline Miwa, director of quality, health and safety, environmental and sustainability for ACCIONA North America. “ACCIONA is building some of B.C.’s largest transportation and clean energy projects, and so the project with Flash Forest in B.C. was intentional and meaningful.”
ACCIONA has published a five-year SMP since 2010, and it continues its roadmap for every business action worldwide.
“Our sustainability strategy has evolved and strengthened with each edition of the SMP,” said Miwa. “The 2015 edition was focused on measuring key performance Indicators, 2020 aimed to integrate and engage all stakeholders to align our sustainability approach, and 2025 goes a step further to not only minimize our footprint, but to make a positive impact.”
Miwa noted that “Planet Positive” is one of the four pillars underpinning SMP 2025 and supporting the regeneration of impacted forests in B.C. contributes to its global organizational goal of planting and monitoring the growth of one million trees within five years.
She also reflected on the ACCIONA’S long history of infrastructure.
Flash Forest
20 years building Canadian infrastructure
“ACCIONA Infrastructure entered the Canadian market 20 years ago with one of the country’s most iconic hydraulic projects to-date, the Deep Lake Water Cooling System in Toronto,” she said. “The system draws cold water from the bed of Lake Ontario and uses it to cool downtown Toronto office towers – a sustainable alternative to conventional air cooling. The system is still in use today.”
Miwa said that since the start of the 2000s, ACCIONA has continued to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that have a positive impact on the community and environment, from the Saint John Safe Clean Drinking Water Project in New Brunswick which supplies 75 million liters of safe drinking water to the community every day, to the award-winning Royal Jubilee Hospital Patient Care Centre in Victoria, B.C., to the Broadway Subway Project currently under construction in Vancouver that will take cars off the road and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
More than building projects
She added that ACCIONA’s sustainability efforts aren’t just limited to projects.
“It is important to remember that sustainability also encompasses community engagement,” said Miwa. “The ACCIONA joint venture delivering the Site C Clean Energy Project in Fort St. John, B.C. founded a Community Investment Program in 2016 that has since donated $375,000 to the North Peace Community Foundation in support of local charities. What’s more, 100 per cent of the donation was generated by our onsite recycling program.”
Miwa added that for ACCIONA, sustainability also means diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I).
“‘People Centric’ is another pillar of our SMP 2025, under which ACCIONA aims to increase the percentage of women in middle and senior management positions every year – across all business lines globally,” she said. “In Canada, we are continuously improving the percentage of women in these positions and are proud that women make up almost 30 per cent of the North America leadership team.”
She added that safe, clean water has also been a major focus of ACCIONA’s efforts.
On one of its major transportation projects in B.C., tunnel water treatment plants are operated onsite to treat water resulting from tunnelling activities. Treated water is then discharged into sanitary sewage according to the specifications of the city of Vancouver.
Assisted by technology
Advances in technology are helping ACCIONA’s work on the “People Centric” pillar of the SMP 2025 by creating safer job sites and decreasing harmful emissions. They are using drones on site to assist with survey works, which eliminates hazards that our team might otherwise be exposed to. The company is working to electrify its fleet and is even investigating the use of hydro-treated vegetable oil bio-fuel across its operations.
Miwa explained that sustainability should be a concern for everyone in the industry.
“It is well known that the construction industry is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions,” she said. “As contractors, we are in a unique position to educate and influence sustainable decision-making both upstream to clients and peak bodies, and downstream to the supply chain. The industry – at every level – needs to move faster to execute infrastructure that will help restore social and environmental balance and regenerate the planet.”
Key Takeaways:
CDPQ is investing $150 million in Pomerleau on top of $50 million it invested in 2018.
The firm’s investments helped Pomerleau acquire residential builder ITC Construction Group earlier this year.
Pomerleau says it plans to use the acquisition and investments to expand its residential offerings across Canada.
The Whole Story:
Pomerleau is getting a massive new investment from one of its strategic partners as it looks to expand.
CDPQ announced it will invest an additional $150 million in Pomerleau to accelerates its growth in Canada. The global investment group’s support played a significant role in Pomerleau’s acquisition of Vancouver-based residential builder ITC Construction Group earlier this year.
“We are proud that the CDPQ is extending its commitment to our 4,000 people, our values and our growth strategy,” said Pierre Pomerleau, Pomerleau president and CEO. “CDPQ is an outstanding partner and shareholder, and we are delighted that this renewed confidence can support the deployment of our strategic plan.”
CDPQ officials noted that so far their investment strategy has paid off big. The firm invested $50 million into Pomerleau in 2018. Since then, the construction company has more than doubled its revenues from $1.8 billion to $4 billion, and more than tripled its order backlog from $3.5 billion to $11 billion. Founded 60 years ago in the Beauce region of Québec, Pomerleau’s Canadian projects outside of Quebec now account for almost 50 per cent of its revenues.
“CDPQ is proud to have been at the company’s side during this expansion and looks forward to continuing our commitment to support the execution of the company’s strategic development plan,” said Kim Thomassin, executive vice-president and head of Québec at CDPQ. “In addition to fostering the organization’s expansion across Canada with the ITC Construction Group acquisition, this investment is aligned with our desire to develop more sustainable living environments, and Pomerleau continues to play a major role in that regard.”
The acquisition of ITC was the largest in Pomerleau’s history. The company says it plans to use it to provide sustainable and innovative housing solutions across the country. ITC has 200 residential projects worth more than 5 billion dollars under its belt in B.C. and Alberta, and 18 major residential projects underway.
“Over time, Pomerleau has become more than a construction company,” said Pomerleau. “Today, it structures alternative and collaborative models of delivery and financing. This allows us to tackle a wide range of increasingly complex projects – from hospitals to industrial facilities, wind farms and light-rail transit. We are also proud to offer much-needed solutions to Canadians, including low-carbon buildings as well as public transit and renewable energy infrastructure that help tackle climate change and improve the quality of life.”
Key Takeaways:
Last year more than 2,800 people died in Ontario from opioid-related causes.
30 per cent of these deaths were construction workers.
The province will require naloxone kits for at-risk workplaces starting June 1, 2023.
The Whole Story:
Ontario wants to reduce drug overdose deaths by requiring naloxone kits at “high risk” workplaces.
The new government program will encourage compliance by first making naloxone kits and training available for free at workplaces where there is a risk of staff witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose.
In 2021, 2,819 people died from opioid-related causes in Ontario – the highest number on record and up from 366 in 2003. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, restore breathing within two to five minutes, and allow time for medical help to arrive.
Of the workers who died from opioid-related causes last year, 30 per cent were employed in construction – by far the most impacted industry. Bars and nightclubs have also seen increased opioid usage and accidental overdoses, often because of recreational drugs laced with deadly opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil.
“Ontario, like the rest of Canada, is in the middle of an opioid epidemic made worse by a toxic supply of recreational street drugs,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “That’s why our government is the first in North America to require naloxone kits be accessible in at-risk workplaces by June 1, 2023, to raise awareness for those struggling with addition, reduce stigma and save lives.”
For up to two years, Ontario will provide free nasal spray naloxone kits to businesses at risk of opioid overdoses through the Workplace Naloxone Program and free training needed to equip staff with the tools to respond to an opioid overdose.
Businesses can determine if they are eligible for the program and find additional information on accessing naloxone kits and training at Ontario.ca/workplacenaloxone. Once the requirement is in effect, government inspectors plan to take an education-first approach to enforcement.
According to Health Canada, these are some common symptoms of someone who is having an overdose:
Difficulty walking, talking, staying awake.
Blue or grey lips or nails.
Cold and clammy skin.
Dizziness and confusion.
Extreme drowsiness.
Choking, gurgling or snoring sounds.
Slow, weak or non-existent breathing.
Inability to wake up, despite being shaken or shouted at.
The future of technology and energy requires critical minerals and Canada has released its plan to secure them.
This month, the federal government released the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, a plan to establish and maintain resilient critical minerals value chains that adhere to the high ESG standards.
“There is no energy transition without critical minerals: no batteries, no electric cars, no wind turbines and no solar panels,” wrote Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of natural resources. “The sun provides raw energy, but electricity flows through copper. Wind turbines need manganese, platinum and rare earth magnets. Nuclear power requires uranium. Electric vehicles require batteries made with lithium, cobalt and nickel and magnets. Indium and tellurium are integral to solar panel manufacturing.”
Canada is also in a unique global position. It is home to almost half of the world’s publicly listed mining and mineral exploration companies, with a presence in more than 100 countries and a combined market capitalization of $520 billion.
The strategy, backed by nearly $4 billion in Budget 2022, envisions Canada as a global supplier of choice for critical minerals.
But what does the strategy mean for builders? Here are five major takeaways:
1. We have to get better at finding minerals
Locating critical minerals in Canada’s vast landmass is a complex endeavor. It requires advanced geoscience capabilities, including geological mapping, geophysical surveying, and scientific assessments and data.
Ottawa plans to spend $79.2 million for public geoscience and exploration to better identify and assess mineral deposits. They also want to offer a 30 per cent Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit for targeted critical minerals. $47.7 million will be spent on targeted upstream critical mineral R&D through Canada’s research labs and $144.4 million will go towards critical mineral research and development, and the deployment of technologies and materials to support critical mineral development for upstream and midstream segments of the value chain.
2. Projects need to speed up
It takes anywhere from 5 to 25 years for a mining project to become operational, with no revenue until production starts. The federal government says that’s not good enough so they are looking to accelerate the development of strategic projects.
Ottawa is pouring $1.5 billion into the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), one of the most significant direct funding mechanisms in the entire strategy. Officials say the SIF will help build world-class critical mineral value chains in which prefabrication and manufacturing activities are done domestically by default. It will support projects that decrease or remove reliance on foreign critical mineral inputs across a range of priority industrial sectors or technologies. SIF investments will favour critical mineral development opportunities that aim to reduce GHG emissions in critical mineral and manufacturing sectors.
Officials also plan to spend $21.5 million to support the Critical Minerals Centre of Excellence (CMCE) to develop federal policies and programs on critical minerals and to assist project developers in navigating regulatory processes and federal support measures.
A map shows areas of potential mineral project development. – Government of Canada
3. Sites need to be accessible and supported
Critical mineral deposits are often located in remote areas with challenging terrain and limited access to enabling infrastructure such as roads or grid connectivity. Officials say the cost implications of this infrastructure deficit discourage investment and hinder the socio-economic development of local communities that welcome mineral development. It also increases the risks associated with economic and logistical feasibility, particularly with rising inflationary pressures and challenges in global supply chains.
Ottawa is proposing $1.5 billion for infrastructure development for critical mineral supply chains, with a focus on priority deposits. They also want to make strategic infrastructure investments in green energy and transportation to unlock critical mineral regions, while also improving environmental performance and driving emissions reductions in existing operations through electrification.
4. A lot more workers are needed
Mining experts anticipate that up to 113,000 new workers will be needed by 2030 to meet new demand and replace those workers anticipated to exit the mining workforce. Sound familiar?
Officials are also looking for partnership opportunities with provinces and territories, Indigenous-led organizations, and several stakeholders, including universities, colleges, and specialized training institutions, to create greater awareness and understanding of the minerals and metals sector, sometimes referred to as mineral literacy. These partnerships would encourage enrolment in mining curriculum, skilled trades, and by socializing the role critical minerals play in the green energy transition and showcasing the diversity of careers available in the sector.
A diagram show all the minerals Canada has identified as “critical”. – Government of Canada
5. Indigenous people must be included
Indigenous peoples are the stewards, rights holders, and in many cases, title holders to the land upon which mineral resources are located. Historically, Indigenous peoples have not always benefited from natural resource development on their traditional territories, and some developments have caused adverse environmental and social impacts on communities.
But federal officials say that in the past few decades, Indigenous participation in the mining sector has grown significantly.
Ottawa is allocating $103.4 million to advance economic reconciliation through enhanced readiness to meaningfully participate in the natural resource sector, including at least $25 million to support Indigenous participation and early engagement in the strategy. Funding is available through the Indigenous Natural Resource Partnerships Program, which funds activities that help increase the economic participation of Indigenous peoples in natural resource projects. The Program is accessible to Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations.
John Phillip wanted to work.
He was living in transitional housing and working construction through a temp agency. But his safety gear situation was precarious. Not only was the agency charging him a steel-toe boot rental fee, many pairs had holes in them.
For B.C. charity Working Gear, that wasn’t good enough.
They got him outfitted with free boots, pants, a vest and a rain jacket. He eventually was able to secure permanent, full time employment with the company and now volunteers helping others who are looking for construction careers.
He isn’t the only one who’s needed gear help. According to the charity’s latest annual report, it assisted more than 1,100 marginalized and low-income people as they re-entered the workforce during the past fiscal year.
Growing need for construction gear
Working Gear believes that clothing and equipment costs shouldn’t be a barrier to getting on a job site. And over the years their team has had to pivot its services as construction jobs have grown in popularity.
“We learned fast that the needs of our clients weren’t necessarily for the office,” said Sarah Beley, Working Gear executive director. “It was actually lots of people getting back to construction.”
Working Gear provides industry appropriate clothing free of charge to help individuals enter the workforce in the Lower Mainland – whether it’s a suit for an interview or construction clothing and steel-toed boots for a job in the trades. All its clients are sourced from a list of 71 referral agencies that serve Indigenous people, refugees, those struggling with mental health issues, those struggling with homelessness and more.
Located in Vancouver’s downtown eastside, Working Gear also runs a barbershop and provides hair services onsite for clients to assist them in their job searches.
Focusing on low income and marginalized people
The charity originally was focused on regular work clothes but found there was a major need for construction gear. They also found that that many women were looking to transition into construction roles.
“For women getting into construction it tends not to be their first career,” said Beley. “They have done hospitality or customer service but it wasn’t giving them stability. That’s more of the trend.”
Donations of water-resistant jackets sit on the racks at Working Gear in downtown Vancouver. – Working Gear
She noted that this was especially true during the pandemic, when many hospitality and service jobs were severely impacted.
“With men, it’s everything from newcomers, those with substance use challenges, those with mental health challenges, people who have been through the criminal justice system, people who have aged out of foster care and don’t have the supports that others have,” said Beley.
These men are often older and the 55+ demographic of clients has been growing, she added.
Creating community
Beley herself knows about some of the challenges life can throw at you. Her father died when she was nine, her mother suffered from mental illness and her uncle disappeared in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Beley says her experiences have given her a unique lens into the trauma, pain and helplessness of marginalized people in society, and the negative impact this has on their mental health and economic prospects.
“I did not have the best childhood,” said Beley. “I was in foster care. I know the feeling of being helpless. People often just don’t know how to help. This is a simple solution. Once people see it for themselves, it is easy to understand.”
Beley noted that the charity has created a community where clients can feel safe to ask for help..
“It’s a safe space to be vulnerable,” she said. “The majority of clients are guys and we find they have a hard time asking for help. When they come in it’s embarrassing for them but after a bit they open up and are at ease.”
How to help
For construction, the charity accepts donations of steel-toed work boots, high-visibility vests, work overalls, rain gear, work gloves, tool belts, hard hats and goggles. But Beley stressed that boots and hardhats are the most in-demand items and they must be new as they are critical safety gear.
The charity also needs volunteers with construction experience who can give their clients advice on the gear. The charity is at 475 Main Street in Vancouver. They can be reached by email at info@workinggear.ca
The B.C. group is offering the reward for information about an attack on a Coastal GasLink LNG worksite in February. The ICBA has partnered with Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, which will administer the reward and accept anonymous tips from anyone with information that will lead to arrests and charges.
Houston, B.C. RCMP say video footage shows approximately 20 masked individuals attacked nine security guards and construction workers, heavy equipment, and outbuildings in a premediated and coordinated nighttime assault by attackers with axes. In one case, a worker trapped inside a truck had his window smashed out by an axe.
Fires were set and heavy equipment was hijacked to batter other onsite equipment and shred trailers. Lights and video surveillance at the site had been disabled, a school bus was parked to block access in or out of the site and the Morice River Service Road was blocked by felled trees, fires and spikes.
No one was seriously injured but the attack caused millions of dollars in damaged equipment.
“The people working on this pipeline are highly trained and skilled and are building an incredible national legacy of which we can all be proud,” said Chris Gardner, ICBA president. “Their expertise and hard work should be upheld as an example of Canadian ingenuity and exceptionalism. They deserve no less than a full investigation and the assurance that the perpetrators of this attack will be held accountable and brought to justice. ICBA is proud to stand up for construction and energy workers and offer this reward.”
Crime Stoppers officials stressed that someone with knowledge of such a crime might fear retribution if they share information, but a tipster’s personal information is never collected.
“In the decades we’ve been in operation, we have never identified any of our tipsters,” said Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers. “They are never contacted again by us or the police or have to testify in court. We encourage anyone to contact us about any crime, whether it’s relatively small in scope, or as costly and dangerous as this case.”
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or visit www.solvecrime.ca.
“This is a very troubling escalation in violent criminal activity that could have resulted in serious injury or death. This was a calculated and organized violent attack that left its victims shaken and a multimillion dollar path of destruction,” said Warren Brown, chief superintendent for Houston RCMP. “While we respect everyone’s right to peacefully protest in Canada, we cannot tolerate this type of extreme violence and intimidation. Our investigators will work tirelessly to identify the culprits and hold them accountable for their actions.”
Video: Vandals launch assault on Coastal GasLink LNG site
Increasing female participation in construction has long been an industry goal. According to BuildForce Canada, only 11.6 per cent of the entire Canadian construction workforce are women. Site Partners and On-Site Magazine recently highlighted some of the industry’s best and brightest stars as part of the Top 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction. Here are all the women who made the list:
Cheyanne Hammell – Special projects manager for PCL Construction
Cheyanne Hammell, PCL Construction
Hammell first came to PCL years ago as a student but after climbing the ranks, she was recently promoted to special projects manager. She has worked on some of the company’s iconic projects, including renovating the CN Tower.
“Extremely honoured to be part of this amazing group of leaders and grateful for the opportunities and challenges PCL Construction has provided me throughout my career to get me where I am today.”
-Hammell
Katie Dempster – Vice president of industrial relations and development at Graham
Katie Dempster, Graham
Dempster’s focus at Graham is new business acquisition, customer retention and organic growth opportunities. Her efforts are working. she has helped her division build a backlog of business of over $2 billion while achieving $1.2 billion in annual revenues. Outside the office, Dempster is involved in the Construction Owners Association of Alberta (COAA), Canadian Heavy Oil Association (CHOA) and Calgary Women in Energy (CWIE).
Janice Chuang – Vice president of infrastructure investments at Ledcor
Janice Chuang, Ledcor
Chuang is a financial whiz. She first joined Ledcor as its treasury manager. Her financial strategies helped deliver a series of projects in anticipation of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. By 2021 she was promoted to her current role where she guides the company’s financial strategy for infrastructure.
“What an honour and privilege this is!”
-Chuang
Alexis Barr-Gusa – Partner at Dentons Canada LLP
Barr-Gusa, Dentons Canada LLP
Barr-Gusa helps negotiate and draft project agreements, including complex multi- phased engineering, procurement and construction contracts and P3 transactions worth billions. Beyond her regular work, she is a coach and mentor, and a member of her firm’s WomenLEAD as well as its Indigenous Inclusion Working Group.
“I am so humbled to be included in this amazing group of people. Thank you On-Site Magazine & Site Partners for this recognition.”
-Barr-Gusa
Anya Barkan – Sustainability Manager at Multiplex Construction Canada Ltd.
Anya Barkan, Multiplex Construction Canada Ltd.
Barkan was instrumental in helping Multiplex achieve this year’s Green Building Pioneer Award. She joined Multiplex this January after eight years as a construction manager with Toronto Community Housing.
“It is an honour to be recognized among this inspiring group of Top 40 under 40 in Canadian Construction. Congratulations to all the winners! Thank you SitePartners and On-Site Magazine for the recognition. And special thank you to the Multiplex team for all the support in getting me here.
-Barkan
Agnes Wietrzynski – President and CEO of QM Environmental
Agnes Wietrzynski, QM Environmental
Wietrzynski first arrived in Canada as a refugee and immigrant. After more than a decade in the environmental sector, her sharp leadership abilities caught the attention of Wes Hall from CBC’s “Dragons’ Den”. Hall put her in charge of QM Environmental, an environmental and industrial services company with more than 600 employees. She also finds time to serve as a board member of the Ontario Environment Industry Association (ONEIA).
Briar Beers – Vice president at Cutting Edge Consulting Inc.
Briar Beers, Cutting Edge Consulting Inc.
Beers joined Cutting Edge after working as a senior project manager. She developed its safety program and helped it achieve COR certification. She also helped create the company’s project management and estimating programs and fostered its growth over a five-year period from a single employee to a company with more than 60.
“What an honour this has been for me. Thank you SitePartners and On-Site Magazine for this opportunity. Congratulations also to a partner/client of ours Rick Morrison from Quattro Constructors for also being selected.”
-Beers
Cayley Van Hemmen – Interiors and special projects division manager at Canadian Turner Construction Company
Cayley Van Hemmen, Canadian Turner Construction Company
Van Hemmen began her Turner career as a business unit intern in 2013 and worked her way up to being in charge of a whole division which she helped restructure. She also serves as the co-chair of the mentorship committee at the Urban Land Institute.
“I feel very honored to have been selected for the Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction award this year. It’s been an incredible ten years working for Canadian Turner Construction Company and seeing this company grow from 7 people in Vancouver to the 145+ strong force we are today. Can’t wait to see what the next ten years looks like!”
-Van Hemmen
Mi Kim – Senior Commercial Manager at Jacob Bros Construction
Mi Kim, Jacob Bros Construction
Kim, who is also a professional engineer, is experienced in project controls including contract management, schedule analysis and cost control. Kim is passionate about mentoring young female engineers and is active with Women in Engineering at the University of British Columbia.
“Truly humbled and honoured to have been selected as part of this group of talented individuals in Canadian construction by On-Site Magazine and SitePartners. Congratulations to the Class of 2022 Top 40 Under 40. A big thank you to all of those who have guided and supported me along the way and let us all continue to strive for excellence in this beautiful industry.”
-Kim
Key Takeaways:
Researchers in Toronto will test the viability of various methods of trapping CO2 in concrete.
It is a collaboration between University of Toronto and the Canada Green Building Council.
Officials say the collaboration will make it easier for research findings to get translated into industry, as well as into new policies and regulations.
The Whole Story:
Where do you put carbon once you capture it?
Researchers in Toronto are investigating the potential of burying it into one of the world’s most common products: concrete.
The work is a collaboration between a team of researchers led by Daman Panesar, a professor in the University of Toronto’s department of civil and mineral engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, and the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC). The team will identify the potential and implications of low-carbon approaches and technologies and how they might capture large amounts of CO2 and trap it in concrete.
The project is funded by a $1.7 million contribution by the Government of Canada.
“Currently, several low-carbon concrete framework documents have been produced worldwide and most of these roadmaps have set 2050 carbon reduction targets related to several levers, such as clinker-cement ratio, alternative fuel use and carbon capture, storage and sequestration,” said Panesar.
The researchers noted that while there has been preliminary work on several carbon utilization approaches, few have been implemented on a large scale. Panesar and her team will examine the challenges associated with scale-up of these strategies and explore new technologies that can effectively turn built infrastructure into a carbon sink.
“Natural carbonation of concrete occurs by a chemical reaction between the constituents of concrete, particularly cement, and atmospheric carbon dioxide – and it has the potential to occur throughout the life of the concrete,” said Panesar. “However, accelerated or enforced carbonation approaches are relatively new technologies, which can also be referred to as carbon capture and utilization technologies, and can be introduced at different life stages such as during manufacture or at end-of-life.”
Some examples of processes that will be explored and assessed include:
CO2 injection
Elevated CO2 exposure
Mineral carbonation using recycled or waste CO2
Industry by-products used to replace cement and subsequent CO2 curing
Synthetic treated aggregates
“All of these techniques need further understanding of the implications and potential for negative emission technologies such as carbon capture utilization approaches,” Panesar says.
The researchers explained that another challenge for both new and existing structures is ensuring that any change to the formulations of concrete – for example, using lower-carbon components or absorbing more CO2 during curing – doesn’t come at the expense of its required structural and material design properties, including strength and durability.
“For example, considering natural carbonation processes, the mechanism related to the potential for increased vulnerability of reinforced concrete elements to steel corrosion, concrete degradation and shortened service lives is fairly well understood.” said Panesar.
“For existing infrastructure, the situation becomes more complex because there is a need to account for and interpret the role of age-related cracking on the CO2 uptake of concrete, as well as in conjunction with other predominant degradation issues in Canada, such as freeze-thaw cycles.”
Finally, researchers stressed that there is a need to develop benchmarks and other standardized tools to accurately account for the carbon uptake in building materials.
“Currently, there is no harmonized measure of concrete carbonation and the differences in measurements and reporting add an extra dimension of complexity when trying to compare between different concrete formulations and/or CO2 uptake technologies,” said Panesar.
“Carbon accounting is critical to enable us to determine the relative environmental impacts of the various approaches and to be able to estimate or forecast the impacts of deploying these new technologies in the coming decades.”
Officials noted that one major benefit of the research collaboration is that it provides a built-in pathway for new research findings to get translated into industry, as well as into new policies and regulations.
“As the national organization representing members and stakeholders across the green building spectrum, CAGBC can access industry expertise to help advance research and mobilize the sector to implement market solutions,” says Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council.
Diamond Schmitt is expanding its leadership team across all of its offices.
The architecture firm has appointed one new principal, five new senior associates, eight new associates and one new director. The firm also named its chief financial officer.
Here are the personnel changes:
Cecily Eckhardt, OAA, CPHD, LEED Green Associate (Toronto) has been promoted to principal.
Cynthia Carbonneau, OAA, LEED AP (Toronto), Jessica Cheung, OAA, LEED AP (Toronto), Sarah Low, LEED AP (Toronto), Dale McDowell, OAA (Toronto), and Matthew Tsui, OAA, LEED AP (Toronto) have advanced to the position of senior associate.
Emily Baxter (Toronto), Martin Gauthier, CPHD (Toronto), Catherine Lin, OAA (Toronto), Louis Louw, AIBC (Vancouver), Jeff Mitchell, OAA, CPHD (Toronto), Tara Plett, CIQS, OACETT (Ottawa), Mike Taylor, OAA, CPHD (Toronto), and Elcin Unal, OAA, MRAIC (Toronto) have been elevated to associate.
Paul de Voe, AIA (New York) has been named technical director.
Narjis Shirazee (Toronto) has been designated chief financial officer.
“At Diamond Schmitt, we have long recognized that diversity fuels innovation and fosters creativity. The make-up of our teams brings together individuals with different areas of expertise, skill sets and experiences in a studio environment that encourages the free expression of opinions and the sharing of ideas,’ said Don Schmitt, principal and co-founder of the firm. “These appointments reflect Diamond Schmitt’s continued commitment to creating a workplace that is diverse, equitable and inclusive – not only supporting the evolution of our architectural ambitions, but acknowledging the growth of the individuals behind the buildings we design.”
One major project the firm is currently involved in is Therme Canada | Ontario Place, a planned expansion of public park space that will create a year-round landmark waterfront destination on Lake Ontario.
The firm stated that the design weaves together three themes, expressed through architecture: the scale and spirit of exhibition pavilions; the restorative qualities of natural forms; and the transparency of greenhouse architecture.
