Archives: 25 Innovators In Construction

Orion Construction is a design-build contractor based out of the lower mainland with a focus on western Canada. Their unique approach has garnered them skyrocketing growth in just a few short years.

What makes them innovative:

• Orion Construction has standardized the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) — the first design-build industrial contractor to do so — which has streamlined their workflow, minimized rework, and reduced costly setbacks.
• The company was ranked number 1 in Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies in 2022 by the Globe and Mail.
• The company has implemented various sustainable practices like energy-efficient lighting, advanced HVAC systems, green concrete and renewable energy sources in their projects.

Our exceptional performance, dynamic growth, and ability to navigate the industry with agility and innovation have set us apart from our peers. By adapting to market demands, implementing innovative strategies, and constantly challenging boundaries, we have worked hard to establish ourselves as a true industry leader and innovator.

– Highlight from the nomination

PCL almost needs no introduction. They are the largest general contractor in the country tackling some of Canada’s largest, most complex projects.

• The company is at the forefront of construction innovation, offering award-winning digital dashboards, BIM turnover models, and a smart construction platform called Job Site Insights. They focus on creativity, opportunity, and execution.
• PCL is 100% employee-owned and prioritizes equity, inclusion, and diversity in its workforce development strategy.
• PCL has a strong focus on sustainability, working with clients to incorporate renewable energy and passive systems. They have constructed nearly 250 LEED-certified buildings and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers.

“Innovation requires creativity, opportunity, courage and execution. It also requires collaboration and a future-focused vision of construction. We embrace these aspects of innovation to build better products, enhance client value and drive new opportunities.”

Highlight from the nomination

PLAEX was Founded by Dustin Bowers after the birth of his child inspired him to improve the planet. The company manufactures a sustainable building material and innovative interlocking system designed to address the numerous construction and sustainability challenges.

What makes them innovative:

• PLAEX’s modular building system is made from over 90% recycled waste materials, outperforming traditional concrete in water absorption and compressive strength.
• For every 100 bricks produced, PLAEX offsets one tonne of CO2. Their products have a predicted 100-year lifespan and can be recycled.
• PLAEX has formed significant partnerships for material testing and youth employment, among other initiatives.

PLAEX was developed from the dream to create a solution to the massive amounts of construction waste that is present at virtually every job site around the world. Through many iterations, the PLAEX-Crete material was born but the problem was only half solved. Modular building with interlocking systems ensures even less waste. PLAEX will continue to innovate with ever evolving applications, designs as well as the use of automation for production.

– Highlight from the nomination

PolarBlock is green building manufacturer focused on providing strong, highly insulated building envelopes to address the world’s increasing carbon footprint. Their goal is to speed construction timelines and decrease complications on the road to high performance residential and commercial construction. 

​What makes them innovative:

• PolarBlock has developed energy-efficient concrete forms with an R31 solution, allowing easy integration into existing construction processes.
• They are the first to offer a material that is 3.5 times stronger than typical EPS forms, removing installation challenges and speeding up construction.
• Their products are 50% more energy-efficient than typical forms and remove any thermal bridging within the structure.
• They have completed extensive product testing with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology’s Green Building Technology group and have partnerships with Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association and Alberta Innovates.

We’re an Alberta company dedicated to providing high quality and sustainable solutions to industry; our goal is to make energy efficient construction accessible to the wider construction industry and easily adopted outside niche markets.

– Highlight from the nomination

With more than 22 years in Canada under its belt, Acciona is a leader in developing regenerative infrastructure that contributes to a better planet. Their services cover the whole value chain, from design and construction to operation and maintenance.

What makes them an innovator:

• Acciona uses in-house and third-party solutions like earthworks equipment tracking systems and drones to make data-driven decisions and streamline operations in projects like the Site C Dam project.
• The Acciona team collaborates with various stakeholders, including its non-profit foundation Acciona.org, to develop sustainable water and energy solutions for marginalized communities.
• In an effort to accelerate the digitalization of its business, Acciona has launched an internal search of digitalization initiatives across its different divisions.

Acciona made a commitment in 1997 to focus its efforts on building sustainable infrastructure. In 2016, Acciona became one of the first infrastructure company to be Carbon Neutral. Now, using it’s Sustainability Masterplan 2025, Acciona has set its eyes on becoming Climate Positive by developing infrastructure projects that are regenerative.

– Highlight from the nomination

Carbon Upcycling is a waste and carbon utilization company unlocking a new frontier of circular materials. Applying our novel technology platform, they enable hard-to-decarbonize industry to transform local industrial byproducts and natural materials into superior additives.

What makes them an innovator:

• Carbon Upcycling has set their sights on using technology to decarbonize the cement industry.
• They are the first company to use carbon emissions to enhance industrial byproducts into supplementary cementitious materials at a commercial scale.
• Since 2021, the company has reclaimed over 2,100 tonnes of landfilled fly ash and abated ~882 tCO2, contributing to sustainable construction.
• They are partnered with some of the largest cement producers globally, like CRH, CEMEX, and Holcim, to deploy large-scale commercial projects.

The integration of large-scale carbon capture technology is hampered by expensive R&D and accessibility, resulting in a solution that is years away. Our technology bridges the gap between now and the future, providing industry with a proven decarbonization solution that works today.

– Highlight from the application

505-Junk is a full-service junk removal and recycling business serving the entire Metro Vancouver area. They service residential, construction, and commercial clients. However, they are radically different than other junk removal services in how they do pricing and their commitment to sustainability.

What makes them an innovator:

• They developed a custom truck equipped with onboard weighing systems, enabling them to do on-site billing by exact weight. This increases overall transparency in the waste management sector, with construction and real estate clients benefiting the most.
• The company has hauled over 50 million pounds of waste and has numerous measures in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• 505-Junk is the first of its kind to build an onboard weighing system on trucks and has national expansion plans, focusing on corporate growth rather than franchise expansion.

We are constantly innovating, whether it’s testing new technology, or inventing our own. 505-Junk is widely recognized as a leader in the construction industry for entrepreneurial leadership and environmentally-friendly measures, and innovation should be the third piece to this triangle.

– Highlight from nomination

Quik-Therm insulation’s approach is all about solid building science. Its Winnipeg-based team designs and develops physics-based, multi-functional weatherization insulation technologies that are affordable, high performing and easy to install.

What makes them an innovator:

• Quik-Therm has developed the patented Matrix System, a multi-layer continuous exterior insulated wall, floor, or roof assembly that significantly reduces thermal loss.
• The Matrix System is particularly useful in Northern Canada, where thick insulated walls are essential, offering an easy-to-install solution that reduces material and labor costs.
• Quik-Therm collaborated with Red River Polytechnic’s Building Efficiency Technology Access Centre for comprehensive laboratory testing, expanding further opportunities for educational experiences.

Quik-Therm’s business model, industry involvement, and collaboration solidify their position as an innovative and forward- thinking company in the construction industry.

– Highlight from the nomination

Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems is an industry-leading mechanical contractor based in B.C. They specialize in Industrialized Construction — including 3D modeling and off-site manufacturing — to take on large, complex projects.

What makes them an innovator:

• The company has embraced technology, including BIM, robotics, prefabrication and more.
• PMP has an employer-paid apprenticeship program in partnership with Pacific Vocational College, complete with incremental wage increases and educational opportunities.
• They provide a 100% employer-paid apprenticeship program, complete with a built-in classroom at their facility.
• They recently organized their first ever “Future of Work” event which sought to showcase cutting edge construction technology for students and bring the industry together.

Pitt Meadows Plumbing and Mechanical Systems has been on a path for over a decade to transform its own techniques and processes using BIM, robotics, prefabrication and more. PMP has stayed up to date on the cutting edge by attending international fabrication and manufacturing conferences where we are able to learn about modelling, offsite construction, automation and robotics.

-Highlight from their nomination