Category: Projects

Key Takeaways:

• The community is the first in North America to adopt the standard into its bylaws.
• The standard includes designs that can be easily adapted to different resident needs, especially those related to aging and mobility.
• Officials believe the adaptability will also save money in the long run with fewer renovation and healthcare costs.

The Whole Story:

Officials in B.C. are looking to rebuild the village of Lytton in a way that is accessible and healthy for all stages of life. 

The village passed bylaws that make it the the first community in North America to require SAFERhome Universal Design Standards. 

The village was almost completely wiped out by a wildfire in 2021. Two people were killed in the blaze.

Officials stated that the new bylaws will ensure all new homes are built to the universal standard of design and build homes that easily support a much broader range of people with different abilities to fully use and fully enjoy their homes.

SAFERhome Standards provides the only building standard and certification program in Canada that features the application of universal design where anyone can age-in-place and live healthier lives in an ergonomically safer and electronically pre-prepared home. SAFERhome’s 15-point building standard ensures homes include simple and practical design features like:

• Wider doorframes with little to no thresholds that improve ease of use and lessen tripping hazards.
• Wider hallways and stairs, with wall reinforcement improve flow and ease of use, and the addition of stairlifts in future if needed. 
• Easy to reach bath and shower controls.
• Accessible electrical outlets.
• Sinks with adjustable height.
• Technology-ready to connect automation and control systems such as automated door openers. 

Officials believe the adoption of the SAFERhome Standards as compared to current housing units presents significant potential cost savings to the village and its residents in the following areas:

• Fewer future renovation costs.
• Less costs for direct home support services. 
• Fewer home accidents. 
• Less personal occupant costs and opportunities associated with negative social labeling.
• reduction in the number of ambulance call-outs related to falls and other mobility-related in-home accidents.
• Healthcare cost savings related to shortening patient hospital stays as SAFERhomes are ready to accept walkers, scooters and other mobility devices and easily adapt to changing needs such as adding safety bars, safety gates or stair lifts.
• Cost reduction for developers to provide units for social-based housing within their main market developments as issues around accessibility are automatically eliminated as a by-product of good design. 
• Negative social labelling is also eliminated as a by-product of good design.

The initiative is sponsored by the not-for-profit SAFERhome Standards Society, which since 2004 has spearheaded the adoption of Universal Design principles.

“With over 1,800 homes built to the SAFERhome Standards, our partners like BC Housing are building more universally designed housing than any other housing developer in the world, influencing the residential construction industry and future-proofing all BC Housing-funded projects by including the SAFERhome Standards in their 2019 Design Guidelines and Construction Standards,” said the society.

It’s that time of year again in Vancouver. The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) hosted its annual Awards of Excellence, which saw a total of 140 nominations from 84 separate projects. The projects exceeded $2.8 billion in construction value. See all the big winners below:

Gold Award winners

General Contractors – Tenant Improvement – Up to $15 Million
Scott Special Projects Ltd. – Heritage Hall Roof Replacement and Partial Seismic Upgrade

General Contractors – Tenant Improvement – Over $15 Million
EllisDon Corporation – Penticton Regional Hospital – Phase 2

General Contractors – Up to $20 Million
Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. – Centerm Container Operations Facility (COF) Building

General Contractors – $20 Million to $50 Million
NAC Constructors Ltd – Sapperton Pump Station Replacement

General Contractors – Over $50 Million
Graham Infrastructure LP in Joint Venture with Aecon Water Infrastructure Inc. – Annacis Island WWTP Stage V, Phase 1 Expansion Project

Trade Contractors – Up to $1 Million
Donald Flooring Contract Sales Ltd. – Northeastern University

Trade Contractors – $1 Million to $2 Million
Grist Slate & Tile Roofing Inc. – Heritage Hall Roof Replacement and Partial Seismic Upgrade

Trade Contractors – $2 Million to $4 Million
Flynn Canada Ltd. – 825 Nicola (1502 Robson)

Trade Contractors – $4 Million to $10 Million
Solid Rock Steel Fabrication Co. Ltd. – King George Phase B & C (The Hub)

Trade Contractors – Over $10 Million
Whitemud Ironworks Limited – The Post

Mechanical Contractors – Up to $3 Million
Canstar Mechanical LTD. – Sortation Centre Buildout – YVR7 Rover

Mechanical Contractors – $3 Million to $9 Million
All-Pro Services Ltd. – Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility 12 MW Hot Water Expansion

Mechanical Contractors – Over $9 Million
Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems 2001 Ltd. – Royal Inland Hospital Patient Care Tower – Phase 1

Electrical Contractors – Up to $2 Million
Mott Electric General Partnership – Westland Towers

Electrical Contractors – $2 Million to $8 Million
Bridge Electric Corp. – FC2021

Electrical Contractors – Over $8 Million
Western Pacific Enterprises Ltd. – Edmonton Valley Line LRT

Manufacturers and Suppliers
View Inc. – Pyrrha Headquarters

Environmental and Sustainability Award
Evergreen Demolition Ltd. – Sortation Centre Buildout – YVR7 Rover
Graham Construction and Engineering LP – Sortation Centre Buildout – YVR7 Rover
Ledcor Construction Limited – 825 Pacific Passive House

Heritage Award
Grist Slate & Tile Roofing Inc. – Heritage Hall Roof Replacement and Partial Seismic Upgrade
Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. – Centerm Container Operations Facility (COF) Building
Ledcor Construction Limited – 155 Water Street
Scorpio Masonry BC Inc. – 155 Water Street
Scott Special Projects Ltd. – Heritage Hall Roof Replacement and Partial Seismic Upgrade
Unitech Construction Management Ltd. – Schou Administrative Building
Vintage Woodworks Inc. – 155 Water Street

Special award winners

In addition to the Gold Awards for project specific excellence, awards were also presented to member companies and individuals for outstanding accomplishments and to recognize innovation and commitment to safety.

Life Member inductees
Bob Proctor & Jim Bromley

Lifetime Achievement
Peter Hrdlitschka

Construction Workplace Health & Safety Innovation
Ledcor Construction Limited – Excavation Extraction Rescue System (EERS)

Safety: Superior Safety Record
• Canadian Turner Construction Company Ltd. (General Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Cape Construction (2001) Ltd. (General Contractor 100,000 – 199,999 person hours)
• EllisDon Corporation (General Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Gisborne Industrial Construction Ltd. (Trade Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Modern Niagara Vancouver Inc. (Trade Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Peter Kiewit Sons ULC (General Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Western Pacific Enterprises Ltd. (Trade Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)

Safety: Zero Frequency Injury Rate
• Graham Construction and Engineering Inc. (General Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Mott Electric General Partnership (Trade Contractor 200,000 or more person hours)
• Scott Construction Group (General Contractor 100,000 – 199,999 person hours)

Education Leadership
Ritu Ahuja – Kinetic Construction Ltd. 

Outstanding Woman in Construction
Kristine Szeto – EllisDon Corporation

YCL Excellence in Construction
Zack Ross – Cape Construction (2001) Ltd. 

Zero Emissions Building Leadership Award
Christian Cianfrone – EllisDon Corporation

Member of the Year Award
Smith Bros. & Wilson – General Contractor Division
Bridge Electric Corp – Trade Contractor Division
Victaulic – Manufacturer & Supplier Division
MNP – Professional Services Division

Fluor Corporation has been awarded a contract to help design one of the largest renewable diesel production facilities in the country. 

The company won a reimbursable front-end engineering and detailed design, engineering and procurement services contract for Imperial as the company advances plans to develop a renewable diesel complex at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton.

The new complex is expected to be the largest renewable diesel production facility in Canada and aims to produce approximately 20,000 barrels of renewable diesel per day from locally sourced feedstocks.

Fluor will design and integrate a new renewable diesel unit into the existing Strathcona refinery. The integration will include a series of utility tie-ins, electrical and control systems integration as well as commodity storage, loading and unloading capabilities.

Fluor booked the undisclosed contract value in the third quarter of 2022.

“Our involvement in this project underscores our ongoing commitment to helping clients deliver sustainable and lower carbon energy,” said Jim Breuer, group president, energy solutions, Fluor Corporation. “By combining Fluor’s global renewables engineering and construction expertise with the company’s extensive local knowledge, Fluor will provide a robust modular execution approach for this project.”

According to Imperial, the Strathcona refinery has been in operation for more than 70 years. It processes 200,000 barrels of crude oil each day.

From sightings of spectral figures to the sounds of phantom footsteps, be sure to keep the lights on during this read on the strange haunted happenings at these storied Canadian structures.

1. Fairmont Empress Hotel (Victoria, B.C.) 

This hotel is a favourite B.C. spot for fancy brunch dates and luxurious vacations. However, some say it is occupied by more than just mortal guests. Staff have reported seeing a slender man with a mustache holding a cane walking on the staircase to the lower lobby and down hallways. They believe it resembles the iconic hotel’s architect, Francis Rattenbury. It’s said he remains at the building so he can continue to hear visitors praise his design. Staff have also reported seeing a ghostly maid continuing to clean up, a young girl, and an elderly woman in pyjamas trying to find her room. 

2. Toronto Hockey Hall of Fame (Toronto, Ont.)

The chill of an ice rink has nothing on this. According to the Toronto Star, the building was used as a Bank of Montreal branch for a century before it was home to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Residents and visitors have reported seeing a young woman that some believe resembles a former bank teller. 

3. West Point Lighthouse (O’Leary, P.E.I)

Does a lighthouse keeper’s shift ever end? Some believe that long gone keepers have been sticking around in P.E.I. There have been reports of flickering lights and images of bearded men roaming the rooms. While the building now serves as an inn and museum, could long lost souls still be trying to help ships find their way? 

4. Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff, Alta.)

At 129 years old, this building has seen a lot of history. There have been reports of a spectral bride who lurks the hotel’s halls. Legend has it she had a fatal accident on the marble steps on the day of her wedding and has never left. Staff have also reported seeing the ghostly image of a helpful bellman. 

5. Waterfront Station (Vancouver, B.C.)

Eternity is a long time to wait for a train to arrive. Located right in the heart of downtown Vancouver, this historic station has seen millions pass through its doors. Passengers have reported seeing three women waiting for a train to arrive and a jazz-era flapper dancing the night away. 

6. Kingston Penitentiary (Kingston, Ont.)

Is there something longer than a life sentence? This facility housed inmates for 170 years before it closed in 2013 due to aging infrastructure. Visitors and staff report hearing the jingling of keys or seeing angry inmates roam the halls. Some say they have seen the ghostly image of William Wentworth, a former prison staff member. While there are no more inmates, the facility is open to the public for tours. 

7. Bytown Museum (Ottawa, Ont.)

Some say this Ottawa structure is haunted by the ghost of Rideau Canal construction-era supply manager Duncan McNab. A former museum volunteer told reporters he saw a door begin vibrating and heard the sound of heavy footsteps. Other incidents include reports of crying dolls. Yikes!

Key Takeaways:

• The projects include work at Hospital of Chicoutimi, Sept-Îles Hospital and the Charles Le Moyne Hospital.
• The work includes providing design and engineering, site surveillance, building information modelling management and value engineering services during the next five years.
• Officials say the work will increase capacity and improve patient care.

The Whole Story:

SNC-Lavalin has been awarded a series of three contracts with the Société Québécoise des infrastructures (Quebec Infrastructure Corporation), to strengthen hospital infrastructure at sites across Quebec. 

Major expansion and redevelopment work will take place at the Hospital of Chicoutimi, Sept-Îles Hospital, and the Charles Le Moyne Hospital. A central focus of the projects will be expansions and redevelopments of operating rooms and specialized care units at the facilities.

“SNC-Lavalin has a long history of working on projects that have a unique and long-lasting impact on the cities and communities it serves in Canada and around the world,” said Ian L. Edwards, president and CEO of SNC-Lavalin. “We know that governments are investing heavily in infrastructure, including public investment in healthcare, and we’re well positioned to capture a healthy portion of that spend as we have the regional and global expertise of our Engineering Services business across healthcare and life sciences.”

SNC-Lavalin’s Engineering Services group, and its consortium partners, will support Société Québécoise des infrastructures by providing design and engineering, site surveillance, building information modelling management, and value engineering services during the next five years. SNC-Lavalin will also be supporting efforts to achieve LEED building environmental certifications, in recognition of portfolio decarbonization at the three sites. The cross-functional project teams, based out of the Company’s hubs in Montreal and Quebec City, will be composed of structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers with significant hospital project experience.

“Expansion and modernization work at these three hospitals will measurably increase capacity and improve patient care in the province,” said Ben Almond, CEO, engineering services, Canada, SNC-Lavalin. “Our track record executing projects such as these in Quebec is well known as we have delivered much of the province’s healthcare infrastructure. And as hospital emergency room capacity remains strained across Canada, we are ready to support other public sector partners with expansion and optimization projects.”

Key Takeaways:

• Calgary and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation are looking to start fresh after previous plans fell apart.
• Moving forward, the city will be represented by CAA ICON which will get support from Altus Group’s local office.
• Officials believe a new arena could help revitalize the city’s downtown.

The Whole Story:

Calgary is looking for a fresh start on plans to build a new event centre. 

City officials and the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (CSEC) announced that they have agreed to begin formal discussions with a fresh start towards a new event centre.

“We’re at the beginning of an important stage,” said Councillor Sonya Sharp, chair of the Event Centre Committee. “A new event centre for our city will attract investment and international events. It will have enormous benefits for visitors and for Calgarians. We look forward to working with CSEC for our mutual benefit and for a result that works for everyone.”

Moving forward, the city will now be represented by CAA ICON, who officials say are experts in structuring deals for major sports and entertainment venues in North America and Europe. CAA ICON will have local support from Altus Group’s Calgary office.

Officials noted that CAA ICON has experience representing municipalities, as well as sports teams, in structuring deals and developing financing plans for event centres, stadiums and other public assembly facilities.

“This new team has the right expertise to get the best outcome possible for Calgary,” said Sharp. “Our environment has changed quite a bit over the past couple years. With everything we have learned, I am confident that CAA ICON representing The City is our best path forward and reflects how important this project is.”

The city and CSEC stated that they believe time is of the essence to reach a formal agreement on a new event centre, while ensuring they take the time necessary to reach an agreement that will meet Calgary’s and CSEC’s needs.

“I must emphasize this point,” said Stuart Dalgleish, general manager of planning and development services for the city. “We must do this right, which means we will need space and we will need time to work on a successful agreement. We will be keeping our discussions confidential and reporting to the Event Centre Committee when the time is right.”

The new facility will be a year-round community destination the city believes could  attract people, events, investment and development. Home to the Calgary Flames and other professional sport teams, the new event centre will host global and local art and entertainment events.

Work on an events centre was set to start earlier this year, but the deal was terminated over budget disputes.

Key Takeaways:

• Manitoba will skip 2015 codes to give industry more time to adapt to 2020 standards.
• The province currently is using 2010 codes.
• The switch to 2020 codes will happen six months sooner than required.

The Whole Story:

Manitoba is looking to get ahead of the pack when it comes to national building requirements.

The province announced it will adopt the 2020 editions of the national model building, plumbing, fire and energy codes, published by the National Research Council, earlier than required by legislation and “as soon as practically possible.” 

Officials explained they are doing this in response to industry feedback on proposed changes to the regulations.

“Following feedback from industry and other stakeholders, our government has chosen to adopt the 2020 national standards, thereby bypassing the 2015 editions, to give those professionals sufficient time to gain familiarity with the 2020 codes,” said Reg Helwer, consumer protection and government services minister. “The adoption of the 2020 editions will benefit industry in Manitoba through reduced costs and improved competitiveness, which will help strengthen our province’s economy.”

The province explained that its approach will update Manitoba’s construction and fire codes to the 2020 editions approximately six months earlier than required under Canadian Free Trade Agreement commitments for harmonized and timely adoption of national model codes. Officials believe this will avoid duplication of learning and overhead investment that adoption of the 2015 editions would have presented. 

The Manitoba Building Code, Manitoba Plumbing Code and Manitoba Fire Code regulations currently adopt the 2010 editions of the national model codes. The Manitoba Energy Code for Buildings regulation currently adopts the 2011 edition of the National Energy Code for Buildings.

An engagement with industry was conducted between June 29 and Aug. 17, with the results indicating an accelerated adoption of the 2020 standards is preferred rather than a two-step adoption of the 2015 editions followed shortly afterwards by the adoption of the 2020 editions.

The province stated that engagement will continue with key industry stakeholders on adoption of the 2020 national standards. Hewler noted that adding the publishing of regulation changes with ample notice will allow industry sufficient time to adjust to the updated codes.

Key Takeaways:

• The project has also seen huge donations from the Audain Foundation, the Chan Foundation and the federal government.
• It would be the first passive house art gallery in North America and incorporate mass timber materials into the design.
• The province anticipates work will generate 3,000 construction jobs.

The Whole Story:

B.C. is a big patron of the arts.

Officials announced an additional $50 million in funding to help build a new home for the Vancouver Art Gallery.

This is the second investment by the province toward the new gallery. In 2008, the B.C. government provided $50 million for a total investment of $100 million This project has received more than $190 million in private donations, including $100 million from the Audain Foundation in 2021 and $40 million from the Chan Foundation in 2019.

“The Vancouver Art Gallery is a flagship cultural institution in B.C., and we are proud to provide this additional investment to make this new building a reality,” said Lisa Beare, minister of tourism, arts, culture and sport. “The new gallery will be a social, artistic and commercial hub and will enrich tourism and cultural experiences in the region for residents and visitors alike. I’m especially pleased with the collaborative partnership with four local Indigenous artists to design the building exterior. Once built, it is sure to draw global attention as the largest building to reflect Coast Salish culture in the world.”

The building façade was designed through collaboration with Coast Salish artists Debra Sparrow, Skwetsimeltxw Willard (Buddy) Joseph, Hereditary Chief Chepximiya Siyam’ Janice George and Angela George, and Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, with Vancouver architects Perkins & Will. 

The exterior of the building is informed by a Coast Salish world view through consultation with Indigenous artists from the host Nation.

According to the province, mass timber will be featured as part of the construction to reduce the building’s carbon footprint. The new gallery will be the first Passive House art gallery in North America and will be the most environmentally sustainable art museum in Canada.

The new Vancouver Art Gallery will be a multifaceted facility featuring a theatre, library and research centre, artist studios, child care, restaurants and retail space. There will be an Indigenous community space, along with five dedicated classrooms for specialized school programs and art instruction to serve more than 90,000 students annually. The project is expected to generate an estimated 3,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs in the tourism sector.

The new Vancouver Art Gallery’s Chan Centre for the Visual Arts will also optimize capacity for safe and efficient storage of works of art in the gallery’s permanent collection, including Canada’s most important collection of works by renowned Canadian artist Emily Carr. The new gallery will be located at Larwill Park on Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver.

“The new Vancouver Art Gallery will truly be a community space for the growth of B.C.’s arts and cultural sector, the enjoyment of the public and the prosperity of the region,” said Anthony Kiendl, CEO and director of the Vancouver Art Gallery. “Combined with the support of generous donors, members and stakeholders, we are closer to realizing our vision of a new gallery that better reflects everyone in B.C. Together, we are contributing to a rich cultural environment in Vancouver, through the voices of Indigenous communities and the people from many lands who have decided to make Vancouver and British Columbia their home. The gallery will create strong links between local culture and international art and audiences.”

Federal officials have stated that they are looking to have the new gallery open in 2027. 

There’s very little fat on this one.

15 Toronto Street is a redevelopment of an existing office building. The project team is looking to breathe new life into the 1960s modernist office tower by transforming it into a thin 53-storey mixed-use building featuring a minimalist design.

The team has proposed indoor and outdoor amenity areas at the top of the tower, as well as a restaurant and patio wrapping around the 11th floor space.

Origine Building – Quebec City, Que.

While there are much taller mass timber buildings in Canada and the world, a case study by the Canadian Wood Council, Origine is the tallest building with a structure made entirely in wood.  The project was developed by NEB group, a consortium made up of Nordic Structures, EBC, and Synchro Immobilier, with architecture by Yvan Blouin Architecte. The builders wanted to showcase Quebec products and expertise. Wood is used from the first floor all the way up to the thirteenth. Load-bearing walls, shear walls, floors, and the roof are all made from cross-laminated timber, with glue-laminated (glulam) timber posts and beams rounding out the structural system. All the products were manufactured from FSC-certified black spruce at the Chantiers Chibougamau plant in Northern Quebec.

Landing Building – Vancouver, B.C.

While it’s currently a multi-tenant commercial building, this structure was originally a supply warehouse for gold rush miners. It is Canada’s tallest heavy timber building at 30 metres. It was restored and renovated in 1987. But it’s famous far beyond the world of mass timber. According to the book “Ghosts of Vancouver” security guards have reported seen the ghost of a lady dressed in white. She passes through an elevator door in the lobby and walks toward the arched window. There, she stops and looks out to the harbour, then vanishes. Spooky. 

Wood Innovation and Design Centre – Prince George, B.C.

Not only does this project showcase wood technology, the people inside are working to advance the wood construction industry. The Prince George building is home to University of Northern B.C.’s Master of Engineering in Integrated Wood Design program. With the exception of a mechanical penthouse, there is no concrete used in the building above the ground floor slab, . The design incorporates systems-integrated CLT floor panels, glulam columns and beams and mass timber walls. 

“This simplicity translates into repeatability of the system,” wrote the project’s architect, MGA. “Instead of focusing solely on a showpiece structure, we created a building that can be easily replicated.” 

Audain Art Museum – Whistler, B.C.

Easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Canada. The Audain Art Museum is a 56,000-square-foot private museum located in Whistler, B.C. It is home to the private art collection of Michael Audain. It was designed by Patkau Architects. According to Naturally Wood, extreme weather meant the project team needed to seal the building quickly. The architects used computer software to design a steel frame to support prefabricated wall and floor panels. Prefabricated engineered panels, 2.4-metres wide and up to 16.5-metres long, were trucked in for the roof. Roof sheathing was built from laminated strand lumber and the rafters from parallel strand lumber.

Capilano Branch Library – Edmonton, Alta.

The prairies have bonafide wood credentials too. To work with a narrow and challenging building footprint, builders in Edmonton came up with a jagged roof of three peaks running along the length of the building, giving the appearance of different roofs collapsing against each other. The peaked shaped allowed for the installation of additional diffused glazing and the concealment of mechanical and electrical services. According to architect Fast + Epp , a repetitive series of welded steel frames were created that were each a cross-section of the entire building form over which a roof of Douglas-Fir timber panels could be installed. The steel frames were pre-fabricated and delivered on site in two pieces, and the mass timber panels, which connect the jagged steel frames, were installed in just a few days.

Ecole Gravelbourg School – Gravelbourg, Sask.

According to Natural Resource Canada’s “State of Mass Timber” report, the design of the school is intended to harmonize with the nearby 19th century heritage buildings, which is a designated National Historic Site – an important feature in the small, multicultural town with fewer than 1,000 homes. The wood makeover was devised when the school underwent renovations and an addition to the high school to accommodate the inclusion of the elementary school. The project vision was developed with students, staff and the community using a collaborative design process. The major update added classroom space, a new library and media centre, multipurpose areas, and offices.

UQAC Arena – Saguenay, Que.  

You’d be hard pressed to find a more beautiful space to play hockey. The hybrid structure employed wood for approximately 70 percent of the construction materials. The arena was designed for the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), which serves more than

6,000 students each year. The facility includes an ice rink, changing rooms, indoor stands

and outdoor. Composite girders using glulam with steel tensioners are topped by a wooden roof deck, with large structural spans of 35 metres. The angular beams create extra height above the public space, allowing for the addition of a press gallery and related rooms upstairs.

Green Gables Visitors Centre – Cavendish, P.E.I

Straw hats and braids are most welcome here. The 19th-century farm property gained notoriety  from the popular Anne of Green Gables series as the heroine’s childhood home. Today it has become one of the most visited federal parks in the country. To keep up with the crowds, a renovation and expansion was planned. In the second phase, the Green Gables Visitors Centre was built, along with the addition of a commercial kitchen and cafe. Mass timber was used to blend with the traditional timber framing used for the original barn.

Brock Commons Tall Wood House – Vancouver, B.C.

When this student housing project opened at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2017 it was the tallest mass timber structure in the world. While it no longer holds the title, it remains an iconic structure for the history of Canadian mass timber. The tower’s frame consists of pre-fabricated engineered timber manufactured by Structurlam. The roof is steel-framed, composed of pre-fabricated steel beams supporting a metal deck. Brock Commons clearly demonstrated that tall mass timber structures are possible. 

Canada’s Earth Tower – Vancouver, B.C.

Ok. So this hasn’t been built. Yet. But B.C. is looking to take back the global title of tallest mass timber building in dramatic fashion. Architect Perkins+Will writes that at 40 stories, the mixed-use development will become the world’s tallest hybrid wood tower, dramatically reducing the project’s greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration. 

“Beyond timber, the project will be a zero-emissions building; it will not consume fossil fuels, such as natural gas, in operation,” the architect noted. “Equally important, the project will support community and dramatically improve livability in tall, urban residential buildings.” So far, the building is still in the planning stages. 

13. Taza Mixed Use Developement ($4.5 billion) – Alberta 

The Taza mixed-use development will consist of 1,200 acres of development on the Tsuut’ina Nation near Calgary, which will include 17 million square feet of real estate. This makes it one of the largest First Nations developments in all of North America. There will be three distinct areas of the development known as Taza Park, Taza Crossing, and Taza Exchange. Costco was announced as the anchor tenant in 2019. 

12. Hurontario Light Rail Transit ($5.6 billion) – Ontario

Once in service, the 18-kilometre Hazel McCallion Line will bring a new method of transportation to a rapidly growing region. The new transit system will feature 19 stops, travel through two urban growth centres and connect to major transit systems including GO Transit (Milton and Lakeshore West lines), the Mississauga Transitway, Brampton Transit, ZUM and MiWay. The Hazel McCallion Line will operate in its own dedicated lane.

11. Gordie Howe International Bridge ($5.7 billion) – Ontario

This project aims to forge a stronger connection with our southern neighbours. The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a six-lane crossing of the Detroit River connecting the city of Detroit with Windsor, Ont. Once completed, the 1.5-mile crossing will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, with a main span of .53 miles. The bridge will also feature a nearly 12-feet-wide pedestrian/cycling path. The project also includes building new ports of entry that will connect to both the American and Canadian bridge termini, as well as onward connections to I-75 in southwest Detroit. In October 2019, Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario officially announced Mobilinx is the winning bidder for the project.

10. Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project ($6.2 billion) – B.C.

This pipeline will serve the top project on this list. Work involves building a 650 km natural gas pipeline from the Dawson Creek area to the Canada LNG facility. TransCanada Corp has been selected to design, build, own and operate the project. The pipeline has received all pipeline and facility permits and certification under the Environmental Assessment Act in Oct 2014, and in May 2018 for alternate route application. The construction timeline will coordinate with LNG Canada project advancement.

9. The Réseau express métropolitain ($6.9 billion) – Quebec

Currently under construction, the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) project is being led by CDPQ Infra, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. It will considerably transform the service offer in the Montreal metropolitan area by adding a 67 km long public transit network, served by an automated and electric light rail. The first trains are expected to start running in 2022 from the South Shore to Bonaventure-Central Station. Then, the West Island, North Shore and Centre of Montréal branches will be put into service at the end of 2024.

8. Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades ($10.4 billion) – B.C.

The design concept for the upgrade includes tertiary treatment and a range of ecological restoration projects. Upgrades will include secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment expansion, and groundworks improvements. The facility operations will be completed by 2034 and additional digestors will be constructed by 2041. Crews are currently conducting in-water geological investigations.

7. Eglinton Crosstown LRT ($12.26 billion) – Ontario

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is part of Metrolinx’s regional transportation plan, The Big Move, and is one of the first large-scale transit projects for the Toronto area. The LRT will provide fast, reliable and comfortable transit along Eglinton Avenue and will help to reduce congestion, offer reliable transit to Toronto residents and integrate transit services.

6. Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment ($12.8 billion) – Ontario

In 2016, after years of detailed planning and preparation, Ontario Power Generation’s team shut down the first of four Darlington reactors scheduled for refurbishment over the next 10 years. Officials say the project continues to progress on time and on budget. The refurbishment and the subsequent 30 more years of station operation, are expected to generate a total of $89.9 billion in economic benefits for Ontario, create 14,200 jobs per year, and boost personal income by an average of $1.6 billion on an annual basis.

5. Bruce Power Refurbishment ($13 billion) – Ontario

Ontario is going nuclear. This project will overhaul all eight of the units of the 6.2GW Bruce nuclear generating station, the largest plant of its kind in the country. It was originally constructed by Ontario Hydro between 1970 and 1987. Early project work began in 2016 and the refurbishment of unit 6 is expected to wrap in 2024.

4. GO Expansion – On-Corridor Works ($15.7 billion) – Ontario

The On Corridor Works project is the largest capital infrastructure project in the Province’s historic GO Rail Expansion program. On Corridor work includes all works that facilitate train service, such as track, civil infrastructure, signalling, electrification infrastructure and electric vehicles, as well as the operations and maintenance of the GO rail network. System-wide infrastructure upgrades will include: adding tracks, expanding stations, electrification of the rail network, new locomotives and train control systems to enable more frequent service.

3. Site C Project ($16 billion) – B.C.

Easily one of the most talked about project’s on this list, Site C involves building a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River approximately seven kilometres southwest of Fort St. John. It will be capable of producing approximately 5,100 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and 1,100 megawatts of capacity. Site C will provide clean, renewable and cost-effective power in B.C. for more than 100 years. While the project is currently underway, it has stirred up some controversy as its costs have escalated. It was originally approved with a budget of $8.7 billion. The latest employment report showed an army of 4,578 workers were on the site in August.

2. Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion ($21 billion) – B.C./Alberta

With cost increases, ownership changes and safety concerns, this is easily one of the most storied projects on this list. The original Trans Mountain Pipeline was built in 1953 and continues to operate safely today. The expansion is essentially a twinning of this existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline between Strathcona County, Alta. and Burnaby, BC. It will create a pipeline system with the nominal capacity of the system going from approximately 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day. The original cost of the project was estimated to be $7.4 billion. The most recent cost increase have been attributed to the pandemic and catastrophic flooding in B.C.

1. LNG Canada ($36 billion) – B.C.

This behemoth LNG terminal facility is being built on the former Methanex facility site. It will include a gas liquefaction plant, storage tanks, a marine terminal and a rail yard. Water treatment facility and flare stacks will also be constructed on the site. JGC Corp and Flour Corp have been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract. An agreement is in place to connect to the BC Hydro power grid. The project has been approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, and by the National Energy Board (NEB) for a 40-yr export license to replace the current 25-year license. A final investment decision was approved in October 2018 to go ahead with the project. The 5-year process to complete a potential of four trains is expected to have the first train in production by Late 2023.

Key Takeaways:

• A professional LEGO builder recreated The Post, a project by developer QuadReal.
• From planning to the final brick took roughly 130 hours.
• The model is also populated by dozens of tiny LEGO people.

The Whole Story:

QuadReal’s heritage building makeover project in Vancouver, The Post, has been completed – well, the LEGO version at least. 

Graeme Dymond, one of only a handful of people worldwide who hold the title of LEGO certified professional, used his skills to craft a LEGO replica of the Vancouver project. Planning and building time included, it took Dymond roughly 130 hours to complete the project. QuadReal’s actual The Post project is expected to open in 2023 with Amazon as the anchor tenant. 

“When looking at the history of this building, it looked like this giant concrete bunker,” said Dymond. “When they showed me what they wanted to do I was impressed because they were totally opening up this forbidden slab of concrete and transforming it into this spacious facility.”

The Post occupies a full city block and was once the main regional processing facility for Canada Post—a historical landmark and an important example of Vancouver’s mid-century architecture.

The design leverages the building’s existing central podium and welded-steel frame, creating large floorplates that can accommodate open-concept floorplans, ideal for tech companies. Set atop this structure, two new office towers, rising to 21 and 22 storeys, modernize the property and offer flexibility for a variety of businesses.

The team engaged heritage conservators to retain and restore many of the building’s distinctive elements. These include the blue and terracotta tile façade, the relief sculpture of a postal worker and coats of arms, as well as original artwork and etched windows.

On track to achieve LEED Gold Certification, The Post’s building systems will leverage waste heat recovery, passive solar shading, light shelves that reflect daylight into the interior and an energy-efficient building envelope. The adaptive reuse of the structure results in a savings of approximately 25,000 tonnes of carbon and diverts significant construction waste from local landfills.

The Toronto-based LEGO builder used renderings and images of the project to approximate his plans, ordered his materials and then flew to Vancouver to begin the process. He was able to meet with the project team and even walk through the construction site to get a better idea of the space and scale. 

“I actually got to go into the building with PPE, walk through the halls and really get every possible angle because the rendering only shows so much,” said Dymond. “You don’t really get a good feel for how it will look in three dimensions.”

The process also take a creative eye that can translate a structure into the language of LEGO bricks and make changes on the fly. 

“There’s a lot of transformation that happens when you are building,” said Dymond. “A LEGO model is a caricature of a building and not just a one-to-one replica. You want it to feel more playful and whimsical but still decode as the actual building itself.”

It was also important for the piece to tell a story and feel alive, so Dymond populated the structure with dozens of LEGO people.

“Emphasizing the ears where those people are living and playing was crucial for it to feel right and ring true,” said Dymond. 

The hardest part of the project and of many projects was laying down the foundation which sets the footprint for the rest of the build. 

“Anything you do after that has to fit that size and scale,” he said. 

Dymond first began honing his skills as a kid using DUPLOs, which are larger LEGO bricks. He never stopped playing even after many of his friends moved on to other things during high school. 

“I just didn’t see a need to stop,” said Dymond. “It’s something I enjoy so I was going to stick with it.”

He went on to become Canada’s first LEGO master builder for LEGOLAND. While many can become technically proficient and LEGO building, Dymond believes it was his eye storytelling techniques that truly set him apart from the others. 

“Just like The Post has this narrative of becoming a community hub, incorporating sustainability and preserving heritage, thinking about the narrative of each project has always been a trademark of my success as a LEGO builder,” said Dymond.

The city of Surrey has revealed more details of its plans to develop the new Nicomekl Riverfront Park.

The city released an update on the development of the concept design of phase one of the park in preparation for a public engagement campaign planned in early 2023.

The report provides residents with information on what has been completed to date, what is happening next, the site’s history and significance and the principles and rationale being used to plan and design the park. A more detailed update, including drawings and renderings, will be released closer to the date of the public engagement.

“We are pleased with the progress being made on the design of the first phase of the Nicomekl Riverfront Park,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Designing and constructing an 80-acre park, along one of Surrey’s major river systems, is complex and innovative work and will take time to do it right. When complete, the park will provide residents with increased recreational amenities like trails, kayak and canoe launches, a playground and viewpoints. It will also protect the environment, support wildlife habitat and help Surrey adapt to climate change and sea level rise.”

The city plans to develop the project in three phases. The team is currently working on the detailed designs for phase one, the largest area (24 acres) of the project, known as the Hadden Mill and Oxbow zones, which are located on either side of King George Boulevard. Once complete, the design concept plan and drawings will be presented to the community for input.

The city plans to combine ecology, culture and recreation into the design. The park will stretch from Elgin Road to 40 Avenue. 

“Comprised sensitive ecosystems, the area is historically and culturally significant and it will be designed to accommodate sea level rise and flooding,” said officials. “When complete, Nicomekl Riverfront Park will be 14 times larger than Crescent Beach Park in Surrey.”

14. Galore Creek Gold/Silver/Copper Mine

This proposed project is located 145 km northwest of Stewart, B.C. The mine would have a processing rate of 65,000 TPD. Concentrate would be shipped out through the port of Stewart and power would be supplied via the BC hydro grid. The Galore Creek Mining Corporation (GCMC) is currently undertaking a
comprehensive Pre-feasibility Study to advance the Galore Creek Project (the Project) and are anticipating a major regulatory process to assess Project updates and modernize and amend existing authorizations.

13. Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Project ($5 billion)

The fate of this project has been up in the air since the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal project, which this pipeline was intended to connect to, was scrapped in 2017. The project would build a 900 km natural gas pipeline from Fort St. John to Port Edward, near Prince Rupert. The project has been certified under the Environmental Assessment Act and 11 permits for pipeline and compressor stations have been issued by the BC Oil and Gas Commission. The team also has project agreements with 13 First Nations in place. Project options are currently in review.

12. West Coast Olefins Ethylene Plant ($5.2 billion)

This team believes there is massive opportunity in the natural gas value-add industry in B.C. West Coast Olefins is developing a project to recover propane, butane and natural gas condensate – collectively known as natural gas liquids, or NGLs – from the Enbridge Westcoast Energy Pipeline that runs just east of Prince George, B.C.  Recovered propane, butane and condensates will be sold to local and Asian buyers.The expected production rate would be 1 million tonnes/year for 25 years.

11. Kerr – Sulphurets – Mitchell (KSM) Gold/Copper ($5.3 billion)

As the world shifts to green technologies like solar panels and batteries, the demand for minding will increase. This open pit mine project, located approximately 65 km northwest of Stewart. Ore production of 80,000 to 120,000 mtpd over 25 years is expected, with 90,000 mtpd for the remainder of a 52-year mine life. Project has been certified under the BC Environmental Assessment Act and received federal environmental assessment approval. Exploration drilling has confirmed resources and permits for early sitework are in place.

10. Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project ($6 billion)

This proposed project is looking to build a multi-pipeline natural gas corridor from the Cypress area in northeast B.C. to serve proposed West Coast LNG exports in the Prince Rupert area. Work would involve constructing approximately 850-kilometres of 48-inch pipelines with a design capacity of up to 8.4 billion cubic feet per day. An Environmental Assessment Certificate has been issued. The project team says they are actively developing the project.

9. Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project (6.2 billion)

This pipeline will serve the top project on this list. Work involves building a 650 km natural gas pipeline from the Dawson Creek area to the Canada LNG facility. TransCanada Corp has been selected to design, build, own and operate the project. The pipeline has received all pipeline and facility permits and certification under the Environmental Assessment Act in Oct 2014, and in May 2018 for alternate route application. The construction timeline is expected to coordinate with LNG Canada project advancement.

8. Lougheed Town Centre Redevelopment ($7 billion) 

Phased redevelopment of the Lougheed mall into a regional town centre to include 23 residential towers, located on Lougheed Hwy and Austin Ave. The commercial buildings and tower podiums will include commercial space. Rezoning is required. This project comes from Shape Properties, the same developer that redeveloped Brentwood Town Centre.

7. Pacific Future Energy Refinery ($10 billion)

Pacific Future Energy Corporation is proposing the construction, operation and decommissioning of an oil refinery located on Dubose Flats, 32 kilometres north of Kitimat, in northwest British Columbia. The Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project would be capable of refining 31,795 m3 per day (200,000 barrels per day) of NEATBITTM (nearly solid bitumen) over a project life of at least 60 years. The project would include a new railway yard with 7 tracks and a total track length of 20.9 kilometres. A project description has been submitted to the federal and provincial environmental assessment agencies.

6. Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades ($10.4 billion)

The design concept for the upgrade includes tertiary treatment and a range of ecological restoration projects.. Upgrades will include secondary and tertiary wastewater treatment expansion, and groundworks improvements. The facility operations will be completed by 2034 and additional digestors will be constructed by 2041. Crews are currently conducting in-water geological investigations.

5. Site C Project ($16 billion)

Easily one of the most talked about project’s on this list, Site C involves building a third dam and hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River approximately seven kilometres southwest of Fort St. John. It will be capable of producing approximately 5,100 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and 1,100 megawatts of capacity. Site C will provide clean, renewable and cost-effective power in B.C. for more than 100 years. While the project is currently underway, it has stirred up some controversy as its costs have escalated. It was originally approved with a budget of $8.7 billion.

4. ESE Synthetic Crude Pipeline ($18 billion)

This Indigenous-own proposed pipeline would transport synthetic crude from Alberta to a port at Lax Kw’alaams, north of Prince Rupert. The project is in planning stages and will include a refinery to be located in either Alberta or Fort St. John.

3. Kitimat Clean Oil Refinery ($22 billion)

This team wants to keep it clean. According to the project team, the refinery will feature state-of-the-art design, specifically for processing Alberta oil sands heavy crude oil, and be engineered to be the cleanest upgrading and refining site in the world. The proposed refinery located 13 km north of Kitimat will process an estimated 400,000 barrels/day of Alberta oil sands bitumen refined to produce diesel, gasoline, and aviation fuel. The refined products will be stored and delivered via 23 km of 18″ fuel delivery pipeline to a proposed marine terminal on the Douglas Channel, 12 km south of Kitimat. The project has entered into the pre-application stage of the Environmental Assessment process.

2. Kitsault LNG Facility ($34 billion)

Project officials say an export terminal at Kitsault for LNG operation would have the shortest natural gas pipeline for the projects currently proposed in that region, saving 100 to 300 kilometers of pipeline. The team also believes that the infrastructure in place in and around Kitsault will also allow for an accelerated start to the creation of an LNG plant and energy export facility. The facility would be a combination floating and land-based export plant located north of Alice Arm. The project’s application to export 20 million tonnes a year of natural gas was approved by the National Energy Board in May 2016.

1. LNG Canada ($36 billion)

This isn’t just one of the largest projects in B.C. It’s one of the largest projects in Canada. The LNG terminal facility is being built on the former Methanex facility site. It will include a gas liquefaction plant, storage tanks, a marine terminal and a rail yard. Water treatment facility and flare stacks will also be constructed on the site. JGC Corp and Flour Corp have been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract. An agreement is in place to connect to the BC Hydro power grid. The project has been approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, and by the National Energy Board (NEB) for a 40-yr export license to replace the current 25-year license. A final investment decision was approved in October 2018 to go ahead with the project. The 5-year process to complete a potential of four trains is expected to have the first train in production by Late 2023.

Camosun College is looking to build a film studio on its interurban campus.

To kick things off, the B.C. school has posted a request for pre-qualification for the project on BC Bid.

“Camosun is hoping to turn its vision of a commercial film studio combined with educational components into a reality with the release of a Request for Pre-Qualification,” said Geoff Wilmshurst, Camosun’s vice president of partnerships. “The process is intended to result in an innovative proposal that benefits the college, students and the local economy.”

The school is looking for proponents to become pre-qualified to design, build and fund a film and digital media education centre in exchange for a 99-year lease. 

Officials explained that responses will determine a shortlist of respondents who will then be invited to the second stage through a request for proposals from which a preferred proponent will be identified and enter into an agreement with Camosun.

The school stated that next steps include an all-proponent meeting later this month with a submission deadline of Sept. 30. Exact dimensions, size, layout, timelines and costs will be finalized with the input of the preferred proponent.

A copy of the request for pre-qualification is available at bcbid.gov.bc.ca.

In spring 2021, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training provided $150,000 to assist Camosun in the exploration of educational opportunities for students in the B.C. film industry and the potential development of an on-campus film studio.

The film industry in B.C. generates approximately $3.4 billion of revenue annually with most of the work in Vancouver.

Key Takeaways:

• The design was created by KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture.
• The museum explained that the new facility will allow them to do more educational programs.
• Crews are expected to break ground in late 2023.

Digging In:

The Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM) has unveiled the design of its new downtown building. 

Designed by KPMB Architects + Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture, the facility is set to open in 2025. The team was chosen through an international architectural competition.

The museum stated that the design was based on the pillars of memory, education, and community. The facility will feature multiple exhibition spaces, classrooms, an auditorium, a memorial garden, and a dedicated survivor testimony room. Construction on the new Museum will begin in the fall of 2023.

The MHM explained that it is moving from its current Cote-des-Neiges location in response to growing demand for its educational programs about the Holocaust, genocide, and human rights. The group said that in light of rising racism, antisemitism, and discrimination, the new MHM will have a broader impact in galvanizing communities throughout Quebec and Canada to fight all forms of hatred and persecution.

The Museum’s Give Voice fundraising campaign has raised $85 million of the $90 million project with contributions from Heritage Canada ($20 million), the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec ($20 million), the city of Montreal ($1.5 million), the Azrieli Foundation ($15 million) and numerous private donors. 

“We are delighted to share the designs of our new Museum which will be an important space of learning, action, and coming together,” said Daniel Amar, executive director of the MHM. “The brilliant design succeeded in creating a space of powerful architecture that remains respectful and sensitive to the difficult history of the Holocaust and its human rights legacy that will be transmitted within its walls. While we eagerly await our opening on Blvd. St-Laurent, we invite everyone to get involved today and Give Voice to help support their new Montreal Holocaust Museum.”

With 6,000 units of housing and 4 million square feet of property, the Sen̓áḵw development aims to be largest net zero carbon residential project in Canada. While it recently broke ground, the project’s roots go back decades into the history of the Squamish First Nation, the project’s developer. 

“The development of Sen̓áḵw has the potential to begin to right the historic injustice against the Squamish People, create a legacy for future generations of Squamish People, and contribute to achieving their goal of economic independence,” said the Nation.  

How we got here

1791: European settlers arrive in the Vancouver area. Prior to this, Squamish ancestors had a village at Senákw. Every year, families from upper Squamish villages would visit Sen̓áḵw to fish, hunt and harvest. Nation says there was an abundance of elk, beaver, deer, salmon, duck and cedar. The ancestors built longhouses and brought neighbouring tribes together for potlatches. 

1886: The areas around Sen̓áḵw are getting developed and portions of the reserve lands are expropriated, including over 3.5 acres for railways. Another 7 acres are expropriated for railways in 1901. That Nation explained that there was a great deal of industrial expansion in False Creek in the years that followed, with mounting pressure for the residents of Senákw to vacate their land.  

1913: The pressure reaches its limit. The B.C. government forces Squamish Nation people to surrender the Sen̓áḵw lands. All the residents, along with some of their personal belongings, are loaded up on a barge and towed across the inlet to other Squamish reserves.

1977: After years of preparation, the Squamish Chiefs and Council begin the Omnibus Trust Action against the federal government. The action was deliberately filed just before significant changes to the Limitations Act were made that would have barred the claims thereafter.

2003: Following decades in the courts, which also heard counter claims by the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations to interests in the reserve, the Federal Court of Canada gives the Nation back control over a misshapen portion of the earlier, larger reserve. According to the Nation, of the original 80 acres, just 10.48 acres exist today as reserve land.

April, 2019: The Squamish First Nation announces plans for a large-scale apartment development near the south end of the Burrard Bridge that could include 3,000 housing units.

November, 2019: The Squamish Nation releases more details, announcing that they plan to construct 11 housing towers and have increased housing units to 6,000 on 11 acres of property at the south end of the Burrard Street Bridge. Because the development is situated on federal reserve land, the nation does not need permission from the city to proceed.

May, 2022: Squamish Nation Council Chairperson Khelsilem and city of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart sign a services agreement for the project. The services agreement creates a framework to guide the government-to-government relationship between the Nation and the city of Vancouver and ensures access to municipal services, amenities, and infrastructure for the Sen̓áḵw neighbourhood over time.

July, 2022: Pre-construction activities begin. This includes installing fences and signage. Crews also began mobilizing site trailers and hooking up temporary power.

August, 2022: the Squamish Nation held a Blessing Ceremony on the site. The ceremony was held to honour their ancestors who lived on the site and to honour the land and trees before altering the land.

September, 2022: Squamish Nation Council Chairperson Khelsilem joins Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau for the announcement that the federal government will provide $1.4 billion to support the development. It is the largest loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) in Canadian history. The project team breaks ground.

The city of Surrey has broken ground on a new outdoor athletics centre at Bear Creek Park in Newton. Once complete, the B.C. venue will provide the community with increased access to high-quality outdoor amenities, accommodate some special events and a variety of high-level football, soccer and track and field sporting activities.  

“I am really pleased that construction has begun on the new Bear Creek Athletics Centre,” said Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum. “This project will not only serve as a premier destination sports facility for the region, but it will provide Surrey families with increased opportunities to access world-class amenities that support a healthy active lifestyle.”

The Bear Creek Athletics Centre will include a new partially covered grandstand with permanent seating for 2,200 people and the possible expansion of temporary seating for another 1,000 people. It will also include the construction of new changerooms and public washrooms and upgrades to the track, the concession and ticketing spaces.  

The Bear Creek Athletics Centre will be located at Bear Creek Park at 13750 88 Avenue, Surrey.

Canadian Parliament building

A devastating fire couldn’t crush the spirit of early Canadians. After a fire swept through the Centre Block’s House of Commons reading room, only the building’s exterior walls and the Library of Parliament Survived. Architects John A. Pearson and Jean-Omer Marchand were soon chosen to lead the redesign. The Centre Block was reimagined with much of its original look but with modern materials and an improved layout.  The original plan was to start again on the original Centre Block site, but more space was needed so the remains of the original walls and the rubble foundation were demolished and rebuilt with load-bearing concrete walls and a steel frame.

CN Tower

Long before Drake sat atop Toronto’s iconic tower for his album “Views” the tower was built by more than 1,500 workers over 40 months. It was envisioned by Canadian National, a crown corporation responsible for the nation’s largest railway network. According to the Canada Lands Company, the crown corporation that currently owns the tower, Canada National wanted to demonstrate the aspirations of Canadian innovation and industry. To achieve the tower’s tapered contour, construction crews poured concrete into a massive mold known as a slipform. As the concrete hardened, the slipform, supported by a ring of climbing jacks powered by hydraulic pressure, moved upwards, gradually decreasing in size to create the structure’s curve. The tower was topped off in 1975 at 553 metres. 

Calgary Tower

Reaching 191 metres above Calgary’s downtown core, the Calgary Tower gives visitors one of the best views in Alberta. The Husky Tower, the tower’s original name, was built as a joint venture between Marathon Realty and Husky Oil to honour Canada’s centennial and promote the downtown core as a part of a Calgary urban renewal program. The concrete and steel tower was designed by architect W.G. Milne and built by Poole Construction Co., which is known today as PCL Construction. The techniques used were innovative for the time. Crews conducted a continual pour of concrete using a relatively new slip-forming construction technique. Pouring began May 15, 1967 and was completed 24 days later. The record pour in one 24-hour period was 39 feet. It was also the first structure in the Western provinces designed to withstand earthquakes. 

Lions Gate Bridge

This iconic structure connects the north shore to downtown Vancouver opened in 1938. In this shot, three workers operate a compressed-air-driven rotary machine to wrap cables during the last month of construction. According to the Museum of North Vancouver, workers were not issued any special clothing, footwear or safety equipment. The bridge was financed by the Guinness brewing family to create access to its British Properties lands in West Vancouver. Ownership was transferred to the province in 1955. Tolls were removed in 1963 and the bridge underwent a major restoration in 1998.

Trans-Canada Highway

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Canadian who hasn’t driven along some stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway – Canada’s longest national road. The route extends east-west across Canada between Victoria, B.C. and St. John’s, Nfld. It cuts through all ten Canadian provinces and links the country’s major cities. The highway’s completion was officially celebrated in 1962 when the final stretch was completed through Rogers Pass in B.C. According to Parks Canada, A.D. Booth, a truck driver from Salmon Arm B.C., was one of the first to drive the section when he transported 264 crates of sun-sweet strawberries to Calgary fruit buyers. Before the highway was complete, goods like strawberries took three days to travel by rail. Crews blasted, bridged and paved 7,821 km of highway to build this iconic piece of infrastructure.

Habitat 67

This iconic Quebec structure is located in the Cité-du-Havre, a century-old artificial peninsula enlarged for Expo 67. According to Safdie Archtiects, the project’s designer, the housing project showcased early pre-fabrication techniques. Crews built 365 construction modules that connected to form 158 residences. The units are connected to each other by post-tensioning, high-tension rods, cables, and welding, all of which combine to form a continuous suspension system. The interior components were produced, assembled and installed into each box unit in the factory, with single-unit bathrooms of gel-coated fibreglass, kitchens manufactured by Frigidaire, and window frames made of Geon plastic.