Category: Technology

Key Takeaways:

• Linesight’s latest Construction Market Insight report revealed a number of themes, including a sharp rise in data centre construction.
• Experts say much of this increase is due to the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence technology.
• These data centres are also getting larger, denser and more complex to build, requiring specialized contractors.

The Whole Story:

Artificial intelligence is poised to transform society in an unknown amount of ways at a pace that is blistering. This transformation is creating a massive new demand for construction.

Data centre facilities, which are utilized by AI and cloud service providers, are exploding in the U.S. and beginning to pick up steam in Canada. 

Global construction consultant Linesight, which works with some of the top hyperscale data centre providers in the world,  expects growth is likely to remain strong due to the increasing demand for cloud services and data-intensive applications. This was one of main takeaways from the groups recently released Construction Market Insights report for North America. 

AI is creating more demand

Padraig Leahy, vice president of Linesight in the Americas and Jonathan Scully-Lane, Linesight’s associate director in Canada spoke about the dramatic rise in demand for these centres and why the are far more complex to build than they appear. 

Leahy explained that while data centres aren’t new, the recent explosion of artificial intelligence has been creating much of the new work.

“The introduction of various AI tools has been a turbo boost for data centre requirements. Before that, it was extremely busy. And then it just took a hockey stick trajectory up,” he said. 

He noted that the density and complexity of these facilities is also growing. Clients are wanting to fit more racks into smaller spaces and draw larger amounts of power. There is also lots of overlap because AI is impacting so many parts of the economy, including life sciences operations. 

“The link between AI and life sciences is becoming more important because life sciences operate on drug development,” said Leahy. “So AI is helping with the scaling up of drug development. So they can do a lot more checking and calculations and clinical stuff in the background quicker now because of AI.”

Scully-Lane explained that there hasn’t been the same explosion in demand for AI data centres in Canada yet, but hyperscalers—large cloud service providers—are expanding, particularly out east. He is currently working on seven hyperscale facilities on the east coast with plans for many more. 

“Our schedules are tight, the work is concurrent,” he said. “It’s getting to the point where we are having to protect our general contractors a bit and ask them if they are going to be able to bid on four to six different projects. Canada has a limited number of tier one contractors with data centre experience.”

And even those that do have experience have often only have only worked on smaller, low wattage projects.

Data centre work requires skilled builders

Why is so much experience to build what is essentially a warehouse? Scully-Lane explained that the warehouse shape of the building is easy. The real challenges are the immense mechanical and electrical system requirements to power and cool what goes inside. 

The facilities require robust climate control and builders have large commissioning requirements due to the high extreme reliability needed by clients.

“You have to make sure all the equipment is interconnected and up and running. There can be no overheating,” said Scully-Lane. “Commissioning is probably one of the most onerous activities you can do within a data centre. It’s frequently underestimated.” 

He noted that data centre’s run so long without interruption that downtime is often less than one second each year. They systems must have multiple redundancies built in to ensure nothing stops even if there is an issue. Each hall is a standalone cell that can function independently if others go down. 

“It’s a multitude of huge amounts of mechanical cooling and electrical systems for such a  relatively small building,” he said. “And they’re often completed in a phase development where you have a live section operating and then the contractor is operating fitting out the other sections. You need experience in that how to do it. There’s safety, there’s massive power going in to make sure everything is safe and nobody, God forbid, has an accident.”

There is no room for error while working in a live data centre. Crews must be well versed in the sequencing, safety and design of data centre buildings making it specialized work. 

Equipment supplies are strained

The data centre boom and its equipment requirements could have an impact on supply chains. Scully-Lane and Leahy said lead time for some equipment pieces are already more than a year long and vendors are having difficulty keeping up. This includes air handling units, power distribution units and generators. 

“If you’re thinking about building a data center in two years’ time, you’ll want to start ordering your equipment for it now,” said Leahy.

Many clients have begun buying up equipment years in advance to try and mitigate these lead times, but this has its own risks. 

“Technology is moving so fast that equipment could become redundant before you know it/ YOu cannot have something sitting there for three years because three years could mean it’s redundant and there is something much more efficient.” 

The pair added that this large demand will impact other parts of the construction sector that want labour and equipment. 

Linesight’s report also touched on other key trends happening in construction: 

Macroeconomic overview: The U.S. and Canada demonstrated resilience in 2023, with the US maintaining a strong job market and Canada enjoying growth from job creation and population increase. Both countries look towards 2024 with cautious optimism, hoping for economic growth facilitated by potential interest rate adjustments in response to easing inflation. 

Inflation and interest rates: After peaking in 2022, inflation is moderating, with stable yet elevated interest rates. The construction industry anticipates possible rate reductions later in 2024, aligning with easing inflationary pressures. 

Construction sector overview: Despite challenges from high interest rates and labor shortages, certain sectors like data centers, infrastructure and high-tech industrial remain robust, driven by significant investments. Supply chain and labor issues continue to be pivotal, with the industry focusing on strategic solutions to mitigate these challenges. 

Commodities market adjustment: 2023 saw a general easing in commodities prices, offering relief to the construction industry. This adjustment is particularly beneficial for materials with high energy requirements, providing a positive outlook for future projects.

Key Takeaways:

• Technology adoption in construction will hinge on trust. The best way to boost this is having executives educate themselves on AI, robotics and more.
• Young people want to be part of companies that are on construction’s cutting edge and are technologically sophisticated. However, older workers still have a wealth of experience that they can share before retirement.
• When it comes to sustainability, we are getting better at tracking embodied carbon, reducing waste and being more efficient.
• A crucial part of any company’s tech strategy must be to not get distracted by trendy solutions. Only adopt tools that solve your business’s specific problems.

The Whole Story:

What are construction tech experts thinking about for construction’s near future?

We spoke with Kris Lengieza, Procore’s first global technology evangelist, about the different trends catching his attention as we get deeper into 2024. We reached him while he was attending the BIM World conference in Paris. 

Lengieza spent the last twenty years in construction, with ten years focused on how he could use technology to make construction work easier. To maximize his influence, he made the leap from working for a general contractor in Florida to working for Procore.

“I spent five years focused on improving operational excellence through optimizing tech stacks with more than just Procore,” he said. “Now I’m focusing more on the evolution happening in construction technology, educating the industry and being a guide to our customers on how to do things effectively or efficiently.” 

Technological progress hinges on trust

Lengieza noted that three technology trends have accelerated in 2024. The first being artificial intelligence.

“There are lots of risks and confusion around it and it has a tremendous amount of momentum,” he said. “It’s a global thing. Everyone is wondering how it will impact the industry. There are some great examples of wins now, but also lots of promises that are a lot further away.” 

The second is data. The Internet of Things, reality capture and more is changing how builders collect data and use it on sites. 

“This is incredibly important,” said Lengieza. “The more data we have, the more informed we can be. Our study last year showed that customers believe that if they could gain insight to get to a faster decision from their data, they could save 13% on a project.” 

The third is robotics, which Lengieza was previously not bullish on. 

“I was a naysayer on robotics and thought it was further out, but some of the more simple use cases—layout, some hanger installations, the Hilti Jaibot,” he said. “They are making humans superhuman. They are not going to replace a person on the job.”

He explained that when he first dealt with layout it was robotic total stations speeding things up, but now when they do layout, it’s still one person but they can layout much more and do it better.

“We are starting to get over pricing hurdles and how one can integrate these things into the jobsite. That is really exciting as we have such a labour shortage,” he said. “This will help with a significant portion of that. It’s more efficient.”

What is the key to increasing the adopting of these emerging technologies? Lengieza said it comes down to trust. 

“It’s the biggest barrier,” he explained. “The reason we don’t trust is we don’t understand how it works.” 

Lengieza has spoken to many construction CEOs who say they don’t understand how something like ChatGPT works, what it’s good for or what it is capable of. He believes that the first step one can take is simply educating yourself on new technology. 

Labour requires attraction and retention

Another major theme Procore is tracking is the shortage of workers in construction. Lengieza explained that Canada is not alone. It is a global problem. It’s among the top three things he hears from executives. 

“We need to make construction cool again. We must be advocates for industry in high school programs and university programs. We need to show them that it’s not the industry from 40 or 50 years ago,” he said. “It’s a new, modern industry.” 

He is also hearing about college recruits asking builders about their tech stack and how they are innovating. 

“The new generations coming to the industry want to make a difference, they want to be part of the change,” he said, adding that the outgoing generation’s wealth of experience and the incoming generation’s tech savvy creates a great opportunity to exchange knowledge.

Sustainability tracking has become more sophisticated

A major trend Procore has seen in sustainability is the ability to identify and track carbon emissions in the industry. There are systems like the Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) that allows benchmarking, assessment and reductions in embodied carbon, focused on the upfront supply chain emissions of construction materials.

“We can understand the embodied carbon in a building, we can estimate what an unbuilt building’s embodied carbon will be. This allows us to iterate on the design and suggest alternative materials to control the impact,” said Lengieza. 

Another trend is around waste and tracking it. He explained that the better we can track waste and rework, the more we can minimize mistakes and use less sacrificial materials. 

“Tech plays a big role in this because we have a lot more 3D models to more easily understand what’s in a building from a carbon perspective and we have tools to collect data out in the field. This can help mitigate rework and prevent miscommunications,” he said.  

Lengieza’s big overall takeaway and what he has been telling executives is that technology is a piece of the puzzle. Technology just for technology’s sake isn’t necessarily useful. 

“It requires people and process with it, and you need to find technology that’s solving key business problems and that’s really important,” he said. “If you look at AI, robots etc. the question to ask is if it is solving a key problem at your business. Don’t try to implement something because it is cutting edge. Do it because it is solving a real problem, that’s pretty critical.”

Key Takeaways:

• The changes allow mass timber buildings to go to 18 storeys and be utilized in new building types, including schools, libraries, retail, industrial, care facilities and more.
• The BC Building Code changes for mass timber were developed by a national joint task group co-chaired by B.C. and Quebec.
• The changes come just days after Ontario announced their own plans to allow 18-storey mass timber buildings.

The Whole Story:

It’s official. B.C. is going tall with mass timber.

The province has adopted building code changes to permit the use of mass timber in buildings, such as schools, shopping centres and housing. The changes were proposed last December.

“These changes will help reduce carbon pollution, support the forestry sector, create jobs, build more homes and lead to more vibrant communities,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing. “We know mass timber looks great, and now we can use it in larger buildings and more types of buildings.”

The mass-timber updates to the BC Building Code, now in effect, will:

• enable taller encapsulated mass-timber construction (EMTC) buildings with as many as 18 storeys for residential and office buildings, an increase from the previous 12-storey limit;
• expand EMTC to new building types, such as schools, libraries, retail, light- and medium-industrial occupancies, and care facilities; and
• allow for more exposed mass timber in buildings, based on a building’s height and use, such as residential buildings with as many as eight storeys.

“This is another step forward for British Columbia’s world-class mass-timber sector as we continue to accelerate the adoption of this strong, clean building technology,” said Jagrup Brar, minister of state for trade, and chair of the Mass Timber Advisory Council. “Through our Mass Timber Action Plan, we are diversifying both our forestry and construction industries to build a strong, clean and sustainable economy that works for people.”

The BC Building Code changes for mass timber were developed by a national joint task group co-chaired by B.C. and Quebec. The code changes were reviewed by an expert technical advisory group that included representatives from multiple provinces, the fire services community, fire safety engineers, technical building code experts, regulators and industry.

Other provinces are expected to follow B.C.’s lead and adopt these changes into their building codes. The code changes will be submitted into the national code system for future consideration for the national building codes.

This month Ontario announced its own plans to expand the use of advanced wood construction like mass timber to new heights. Currently, Ontario’s Building Code allows Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction buildings to be up to 12-storeys tall. Officials said they intend to amend the Ontario Building Code in the coming months to permit encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys.

Advancing mass-timber technology is part of B.C.’s Homes for People action plan, to address the housing crisis through a variety of innovative approaches, including in the construction sector. This means embracing new technologies like digital design, mass timber and prefabrication to cut down on construction times and on-site labour needs to build more housing faster.

The province has also focused on increased density in urban areas through small-scale multi-unit housing and transit-oriented development, creating more mass-timber opportunities to build homes more quickly with a lower carbon footprint.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wants to turbocharge construction technology. Last week he announced a $600 million package to encourage construction innovation as part of the upcoming federal budget.

“We’re changing the way we build homes in Canada,” said Trudeau. “In Budget 2024, we’re supporting a new approach to construction, with a focus on innovation and technology. This will make it easier and more cost-effective to build more homes, faster. You should be able to live in the community you love, at a price you can afford.”

These measures include:

• Launching a new $50 million Homebuilding Technology and Innovation Fund that will seek to leverage an additional $150 million from the private sector and other orders of government to support the scale-up, commercialization, and adoption of innovative housing technologies and materials, including for modular and prefabricated homes. The Fund will be led by Next Generation Manufacturing Canada, one of Canada’s Global Innovation Clusters.
• Delivering $50 million to modernize and expedite home building through the regional development agencies. This builds on the success of dozens of existing innovative projects already funded and underway in communities across the country, including those modernizing building practices through modular housing, mass timber construction, robotics, 3D printing, and automation.
• Delivering $500 million to support rental housing. With low-cost financing through the Apartment Construction Loan Program, this will support new rental housing projects using innovative construction techniques from prefabricated and modular housing manufacturers as well as other homebuilders.
• Launching a modernized Housing Design Catalogue to standardize up to 50 efficient, cost-effective, and liveable home blueprints. With $11.6 million in Budget 2024, this will include frames for modular homes, row housing, and fourplexes – that housing manufacturers, provinces, territories, and municipalities will be able to use to simplify and accelerate their housing approvals and construction timelines.

This is the kind of innovation that’s going to help solve the housing crisis. pic.twitter.com/LZ5lZi0I4O

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 6, 2024

Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and minister of finance, noted that the design catalogue idea is something Canada implemented decades ago with great success.

“After the Second World War, Canada built new homes at a pace and scale never seen before,” said Freeland. “This happened with the help of a housing design catalogue which included cost-effective, simple-to-build designs that meant people could quickly move into a new home. Our new Housing Design Catalogue will make it possible to build more homes faster, and our new support for innovative construction methods means we can even further accelerate timelines so more Canadians can move into new homes even faster.”

Kelowna, B.C.

Kelowna isn’t just breaking new ground in Canada, they are breaking new ground globally. The city has partnered with Microsoft to be one of the first cities in the world to use artificial intelligence to speed up its project development process. The project includes two areas of focus. The first is an information bot and the other is AI assistance for applications. The information bot can receive inquiries and, based on what is written, give answers comparable to what a human would. Rather than having to pore over bylaw documents, users can simply ask the bot. The AI assistance tool shadows applicants as they fill out their forms and tells them in real time if they are compliant or not.

Burlington, Ont.

Following the lead of Kelowna, the City of Burlington became the second municipality to integrate artificial intelligence into its building permit process. They ran a pilot program to accelerate the permitting process for industrial-commercial buildings. But they are the first city in Canada to use the technology specifically for development on employment lands. The AI the platform used in the pilot digitizes the rules in Burlington’s zoning bylaws, relating to industrial-commercial buildings. Once applicants have submitted a proposed design, the platform automatically evaluates the design’s compliance against the relevant rules. The solution checks to ensure requirements are met for things

Edmonton, Alta.

Thanks to a city council vote late last year, property owners in Edmonton will be able to build three-storey apartment buildings, townhouses, rowhouses or duplexes with up to eight units in any residential area citywide. It’s just the latest move that cements Edmonton’s reputation for people wanting to build. They ranked first in a benchmarking list of major Canadian cities for their permitting times and costs. The city’s online portal services have advanced functionality, including the ability to apply for pre-application meetings for rezoning, subdivision and development permits. There are also online services for submitting various actual planning applications, in addition to building permits. They were also the first jurisdiction in Canada to cut minimum parking requirements.

Montreal

Montreal is using technology and data to identify the sore spots in the city and come up with solutions to improve them. Several neighbourhoods have been selected for improvement following an assessment of the area by the Living Environment Equity Index, which is available online for residents to consult in order to determine whether their neighborhood is considered vulnerable or high priority. This includes determine what infrastructure is need most and where. Officials say they want to use the tool to help the city grow and change in ways that benefit residents.

Calgary

Calgary not only ranked third among major cities for their ability to get building permits approved fast and affordably, they have undertaken a plethora of other innovative projects themselves and supported others. Most recently they lent their support to the Emissions-Neutral Building Information Exchange (ENBIX) which brings industry together to advance emissions-neutral buildings in Alberta. And rather than lament their high downtown office vacancy rates, the city rolled up its sleeves to use digital tools that helped identify opportunities for converting those towers into housing.

Key Takeaways:

• The province intends to amend the Building Code in the coming months to permit encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys.
• Officials say mass timber provides an opportunity to shift housing construction offsite and into factories, supporting more efficient and rapid construction.
• As part of its review, Ontario participated in a national consultation on proposed changes to Ontario’s Building Code that would allow for expanded use of mass timber in the province. The feedback will be analyzed by a multi-province Joint Task Group that will share a report of these findings that will be used to implement this change.

The Whole Story:

Ontario wants to go big with mass timber.

This month the province announced plans to expand the use of advanced wood construction like mass timber to new heights. Currently, Ontario’s Building Code allows Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction buildings to be up to 12-storeys tall. The province intends to amend the Building Code in the coming months to permit encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys.

“The use of mass timber can help the sector build more homes faster, keep the cost of construction down and boost our northern economy,” said Paul Calandra, minister of municipal affairs and housing. “As we work to cut red tape in order to increase housing supply, we’re taking an innovative approach to help our partners get shovels in the ground.”

Officials argued that Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction offers an environmental solution for quieter and faster construction with the same fire and structural protection as other building methods. They added that provincial initiatives that support advanced wood construction, such as Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy, offer a significant opportunity to shift housing construction offsite and into factories, supporting more efficient and rapid construction from renewable forestry resources.

“Our abundant natural resources and highly-skilled forestry sector are helping to meet the demand for housing across the province,” said Graydon Smith, minister of natural resources and forestry. “Advanced wood construction will help bring long-term investments to northern communities that will create new, good-paying jobs while increasing housing supply and supporting Ontario’s largest renewable natural resource sector.”

As part of its review, Ontario participated in a national consultation on proposed changes to Ontario’s Building Code that would allow for expanded use of mass timber in the province. The feedback will be analyzed by a multi-province Joint Task Group that will share a report of these findings that will be used to implement the change.

The announcement comes after similar efforts on the west coast. Late last year, the province of B.C. is proposed code changes that expand what builders can do with mass timber, including constructing structures up to 18 storeys. The changes in B.C. would also allow for more exposed mass timber or fewer layers of encapsulation in buildings, depending on a building’s height. These changes could be adopted sometime this spring.

Key Takeaways:

• Frenter users will be able to see real-time estimates of their equipment value, informing critical business decisions around utilization and fleet optimizations. 
• Boom & Bucket customers who purchase Frenter-enabled assets can access a detailed history of maintenance and usage data.
• The companies said the partnership will support the shortened average lifecycle of new equipment and set a new standard for the use of equipment data in the purchase and resale of heavy equipment.

The Whole Story:

Halifax-based Frenter — a  provider of GPS, maintenance and analytic solutions for heavy equipment —  has announced a strategic partnership with Boom & Bucket, a digital marketplace for heavy equipment.

The companies say the partnership will allow heavy equipment owners to leverage data to get the most out of their assets from daily operations to resale.

They added that the partnership combines Boom & Bucket’s expertise in used heavy equipment resale with Frenter’s detailed data collection and system of record. Frenter users can see real-time estimates of their equipment value, informing critical business decisions around utilization and fleet optimizations. 

If the decision is to sell, users can list equipment directly on Boom & Bucket in a few clicks on the Frenter platform. Boom & Bucket customers who purchase Frenter-enabled assets can access a detailed history of maintenance and usage data.

“We have a vision of connecting the full ecosystem of heavy equipment,” said Zach Laberge, Frenter CEO & founder. “We’re very excited for what Boom & Bucket brings strategically as well as their shared vision for the future of equipment technology and what we can build together. This partnership will allow our customers to realize higher returns on their assets, unlocked through the tracking and improvements that come with Frenter. Giving them the opportunity to reinvest in their fleet, creating a flywheel effect for their business.”

Both Frenter and Boom & Bucket stated that they are excited to collaborate in the space and leverage their joint expertise to support heavy equipment owners throughout the lifecycle of their assets. They said the partnership will support the shortened average lifecycle of new equipment and set a new standard for the use of equipment data in the purchase and resale of heavy equipment.

“At Boom & Bucket, we recognize the indispensable value that comes from understanding the life story of heavy equipment,” said Adam Lawrence, CEO and cofounder of Boom & Bucket. “Our strategic partnership with Frenter marks a new era where data meets the marketplace, enhancing transparency and trust. This collaboration is set to revolutionize the industry by enabling owners to maximize their equipment’s value throughout its lifecycle, ensuring a smarter, more informed equipment economy. We are thrilled to join forces with Frenter, as we both aim to empower owners with knowledge and foresight, turning every decision into an opportunity for growth and efficiency.”

Key Takeaways:

• The company’s acquisition of Cervus Equipment in 2021 included material handling operations from Alberta through Manitoba.
• The company now wants to expand its material handling business nationwide, creating a new and separate division. 
• It will focus on delivering premium forklift brands. 

The Whole Story:

The Brandt Group of Companies has announced a major expansion to its material handling equipment dealer network in a move that is expected to generate $500 million in new revenue and up to 300 new jobs over the next three years.

The company’s acquisition of Cervus Equipment in 2021 included material handling operations from Alberta through Manitoba. Brandt has now announced its intentions to deepen and expand its commitment to the material handling industry in Canada. The company will expand its material handling business nationwide, creating a new and separate division. 

“We believe that the material handling sector is primed for growth and in need of a nationwide alternative to the existing patchwork of small dealer groups,” said Shaun Semple, CEO of Brandt. “That is why we’re using the lessons we have learned from growing the agriculture, construction & forestry, and transportation pillars of our business to create a fourth pillar to serve the material handling industry.”

Brandt officials explained that Canada depends on its material handling operations across the country—from ports and transportation hubs to warehouses and distribution centres. Lift trucks and other material handling equipment and related infrastructure are essential to support the flow of goods to Canadians and support the country’s ongoing national growth.

Brandt officials added that they recognize that an opportunity exists to provide tailored solutions and to build deeper, stronger relationships with companies that operate lift trucks across the country. Brandt is uniquely suited to leverage their customer-focused brand promise to ensure customers have access to the equipment, specialists, parts, and service required to run thriving businesses.

As part of this expansion, Brandt says it plans to grow its network of material handling focused stores into new territories focused on delivering premium forklift brands backed by a dedicated rental fleet, parts network and dedicated service network focused on repair work and preventative maintenance.

Key Takeaways:

• PCL says the agreement will allow it to train and empower its project teams to de-risk its projects around contract compliance.
•  Officials state that after exploring at least five various solutions, Document Crunch demonstrated the ability to leverage PCL’s current internal processes and improve and automate them.
• Document Crunch was founded in 2019 by Josh Levy, Adam Handfinger and Adam Nadler—two lawyers and a serial businessman.

The Whole Story:

Document Crunch, an AI contract intelligence platform, and PCL Construction, Canada’s largest contractor, have announced a major partnership.

PCL will use Document Crunch’s AI platform to train and empower its project teams to de-risk its projects around contract compliance.

PCL stated that since launching in 2019, Document Crunch has quickly become the industry leader in construction contract risk review and mitigation through its proprietary AI solutions that simplify contracts, standardize contract review by identifying critical risks, and transfer contract knowledge from the back office to the field, allowing for better contract compliance by project teams.

“Our bigger vision has always been around project teams being better enabled at contract compliance,” said Josh Levy, co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch. “We made a significant investment into building an enterprise-grade product ready to be adopted by project teams across the board. This includes meeting the highest data security and privacy standards, having just completed our SOC 2 Type II compliance audit. PCL was an early adopter and an excellent partner who helped us get over the threshold from good early solution to enterprise ready. This partnership is a strong signal that our vision is real, and that our product is ready to be operationalized every day across projects within construction operations.”

PCL explained that they recognized the need to ensure consistency in managing contracts throughout the project lifecycle, as well as the need to create a standardized workflow for the complete transfer of ownership and direction from one responsible party to another at every stage of a project.

“After exploring at least five various solutions, Document Crunch gave us the ability to leverage our current internal processes and improve and automate them,” said Mark Bryant, chief information officer at PCL. “Consistent behavior and approach produce consistent results. This means our customers can be assured we manage project expectations with the same lens regardless of the team.”

According to PCL, the partnership validates Document Crunch’s impact and mission to empower everyone in construction—from the back office to project teams—to understand what’s in their contracts. The contractor added that It also sets new standards for risk review, contract compliance and project management workflows, ultimately leading to a less risky and more profitable industry. .

“The only thing for certain is that change will occur,” said Bryant. “We prefer to be shaping it to the best of our abilities, not trying to catch up.”

Key Takeaways:

• Mercer Mass Timber is launching its own construction services division that will integrate engineering, manufacturing, and construction teams under one roof.
• The new division will offer a wide range of services, including full mass timber structure erection, logistics planning, lift/bracing engineering, site supervision/consultation and more.
• Officials stated that the expansion will allow developers and owners to unlock the full potential of mass timber.

The Whole Story:

Mercer Mass Timber is expanding beyond materials production with the launch of its own construction service division. 

The Vancouver-based manufacturer of timber building materials announced Mercer Mass Timber Construction Services will offer both comprehensive on-site installation for fully integrated construction and project consultancy for clients seeking expert guidance and strategic support. 

Mercer stated that this expansion marks a significant step forward for Mercer Mass Timber, enabling customers to achieve greater project efficiency and faster completion times.

By offering comprehensive planning, scheduling, on-site installation, and quality control from one vendor, we’re empowering developers and owners to unlock the full potential of mass timber.

Brian Merwin, senior vice president at Mercer Mass Timber

Mercer officials explained that historically, the construction industry has faced challenges with fragmented processes and siloed communication between a wide range of stakeholders. These operational silos are further impacted by lagging technological advancement and digitization, an aging workforce, and a lack of skilled workers, which widens issues like poor information sharing, uncoordinated efforts, and ultimately, project inefficiencies and failures.

Mercer Mass Timber believes its new division bridges this gap by integrating engineering, manufacturing, and construction teams under one roof for unparalleled control over the entire construction process. This holistic approach fosters collaboration, ensuring safe, rapid, and risk-managed installation for mass timber projects.

Mercer Mass Timber’s Construction Services plans to take a vertically integrated approach, minimizing project complexities by taking control at every stage. This means meticulously detailed production plans, combined with in-house engineering expertise and precise logistics work together to deliver faster completion times and reduced costs.

The company explained that controlling the entire process allows its team to optimize communication and resource allocation, leading to less waste, minimized risks, and streamlined construction schedules. 

“In order to be competitive in today’s market, our customers need the assurance that their projects will be completed on-time, on-budget, and with exceptional aesthetics and quality,” said Brian Merwin, senior vice president at Mercer Mass Timber. “Now, with the launch of Construction Services, we’re extending our mass timber production capabilities to support the entire project lifecycle with a value engineering led approach. By offering comprehensive planning, scheduling, on-site installation, and quality control from one vendor, we’re empowering developers and owners to unlock the full potential of mass timber. At Mercer Mass Timber, we’re not just building structures; we’re revolutionizing the way construction works.”

Construction Services key offerings include:

• Full mass timber structure erection: Utilizing proprietary mass timber-specific tools, Mercer Mass Timber handles the complete timber installation process, including layout, crane management, mass timber rigging, temporary structure bracing, and hardware installation.
• Logistics planning & installation sequencing: Meticulous planning ensures efficient material delivery and on-site management.
• Lift/bracing engineering: In-house engineering expertise ensures safe and efficient lifting and bracing solutions.
• Site supervision/consultation: Dedicated superintendents and construction managers provide on-site oversight and support throughout the installation process.
• Construction scheduling: Advanced scheduling tools optimize resource allocation and minimize delays.
• Modelling & technology: Project models that simulate construction activities and BIM technology ensure seamless communication and coordination.
• Project management: Detailed plans and close collaboration with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers ensure smooth project execution.
• Labor management: Vertical integration with engineering and manufacturing teams optimizes workflow and resource allocation.
• Quality control: Unwavering commitment to quality ensures projects meet the highest standards.
• Water mitigation implementation: Working knowledge and expertise of mass timber water mitigation strategies to best meet client goals.

Key Takeaways:

• France-based Technip Energies’ solution will be Powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system.
• The plant will eventually capture and store an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
• Heidelberg Materials anticipates carbon capture will begin in late 2026.

The Whole Story:

France-based Technip Energies has been awarded a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the carbon capture technology for Heidelberg Materials’ Edmonton carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) project. 

The project is expected to be the first full-scale application of CCUS in the cement sector.

Powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system, the Technip Energies solution which will be the basis of the FEED study, is based on regenerable amine technology.

“We are excited to take this latest step in our journey to produce the world’s first net-zero cement,” said Joerg Nixdorf, vice president cement operations, Northwest Region for Heidelberg Materials North America. “With each milestone we come closer to realizing our vision of leading the decarbonization of the cement industry.”

Heidelberg Materials North America says it will be commissioning the world’s first net-zero cement plant at its Edmonton location by adding CCUS technology to the facility. The plant will eventually capture and store an estimated 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, which is the equivalent of taking 300,000 cars off the road annually. Subject to finalization of federal and provincial funding agreements, the company anticipates carbon capture to begin in late 2026.

“We are pleased to have been selected by Heidelberg Materials North America to provide the FEED of this groundbreaking project in Canada,” said Christophe Malaurie, SVP decarbonization solutions for Technip Energies. “Leveraging our carbon capture solution powered by the Shell CANSOLV CO2 capture system, we are committed to supporting the decarbonization of the cement industry and Heidelberg towards the production of net-zero cement.”

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

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

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

Cooper Equipment Rentals

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

Finning Cat

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

Ault Industries

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

SMS Equipment

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

Equipment Sales & Service

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

Brandt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s a summary of the five test scenarios: 

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

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

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite B 

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

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

Test Type: Completed residential suite: Exposed mass timber

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite A 

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

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

Test Type: Construction site: Garbage bin fire source 

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite B 

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

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

Test Type: Construction site: Exposed mass timber 

Location: 2nd storey residential Suite C 

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

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

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

Location: Full 1st storey 

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

Common findings in all five tests 

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

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

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

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

What do these results mean for mass timber construction?  

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

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

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

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

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

What do these results mean for building codes and insurers?  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To view and download the full technical report click here. 

Key Takeaways:

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

The Whole Story:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Statement from Conifex

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last summer, Conifex signed an agreement with 

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

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

Key Takeaways:

• The decision comes after direction from Ontario’s minister of energy to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), outlining next steps related to the project including a cost recovery agreement.
• Using water and gravity, pumped storage acts like a giant battery. It stores excess electricity when demand is low and makes it available when it is high.
• If built, the facility would provide 1,000 MW of flexible energy to Ontario’s electricity system.
• It is expected that construction for the project would begin in the latter part of this decade with in-service in the early 2030s.

The Whole Story:

TC Energy Corporation announced this month that it will continue to advance the Ontario Pumped Storage Project with its prospective partner Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and begin work with the Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), to establish a potential long-term revenue framework. Further, TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation will assist with the ministry’s evaluation of the Project’s broader societal and economic benefits.

The decision comes after direction from Ontario’s minister of energy to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), outlining next steps related to the project including a cost recovery agreement. Subject to an agreement with the IESO, this direction from the minister will facilitate the continued development of the project, that if constructed, will support Ontario’s long-term plans to grow the economy and build a sustainable, reliable and clean electricity system.

TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation stated that they look forward to continuing work with the Ministry, the IESO and the OEB to advance the project, which they say will play an important role in accelerating the province’s ambitious plans for clean economic growth.

Using water and gravity, pumped storage acts like a giant battery. It stores excess electricity when demand is low and makes it available when it is high.

The Ontario Pumped Storage Project will be designed, engineered, and built by a domestic supply chain. During construction, the project will create 1,000 unionized jobs and over 75% of the total materials and supplies will be provided by Ontario-based companies.

Based on feedback from stakeholders and Indigenous groups, the project team opted to completely re-designed the project to enhance protections for Georgian Bay & near-shore environments.

The project remains subject to the approval of TC Energy’s board of directors and Saugeen Ojibway Nation. It is expected that construction for the project would begin in the latter part of this decade with in-service in the early 2030s, subject to receipt of regulatory and corporate approvals. Further, any future capital allocation decisions will align with TC Energy’s net capital expenditure limit of $6-7 billion post-2024.

 The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) estimates that Ontario needs 5,000 to 15,000 megawatts (MW) of new electricity production by 2035. When operational, the OPSP will provide 1,000 MW of flexible, clean energy to Ontario’s electricity system — enough to power a million homes for up to 11 hours.

Key Takeaways:

• The acquisition is expected to close on February 4. 
• The two companies will have a combined 1,000-person team that can leverage shared tools, processes, and resources.
• Post acquisition, Dynamysk will continue to operate independently out of its Calgary and Sherwood Park offices, with a transition to Allnorth planned for later in the year. 

The Whole Story:

Allnorth Consultants Limited has announced its plans to acquire Dynamysk Automation Ltd., a provider of instrumentation, controls (automation), and electrical (ICE) solutions.

Allnorth stated that since its inception in 2006, Dynamysk has excelled by the integration of engineering, inspections, commissioning and installation, to offer full-service solutions over the entire project lifecycle to their clients. 

The company noted that it has worked with the Dynamysk team to confirm strong alignment in core values. Both Allnorth and Dynamysk said they prioritize a focus on the well-being of their teams, strong client relationships, and profitability. They added this strong alignment in core values will promote a cultural fit between the two companies, which can facilitate a smooth integration process.Leadership teams from both companies have identified synergies that can accelerate growth initiatives, enhance service offerings, and improve profitability. 

The two companies will have a combined 1,000-person team that can leverage shared tools, processes, and resources. The companies noted that the acquisition also lays the foundation for further organic expansion, supported by Dynamysk’s innovative quality and completions software solutions, like RFO Central (Ready for Operations).

“The acquisition of Dynamysk Automation is a significant milestone in our journey to provide opportunities for our team to provide comprehensive solutions to our valued clients. We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as we embark on this journey together,” said Darby Kreitz, CEO of Allnorth.

The integration of Dynamysk’s instrumentation, controls (automation), and electrical team significantly enhances Allnorth’s service offerings. Dynamysk’s clients will benefit from Allnorth’s expertise in civil, structural and mechanical engineering as well as geomatic, materials testing, environmental, and project delivery services. This unique service bundling can be extended to various sectors, including energy and renewables, metals and minerals, fiber and chemicals, and infrastructure.

“Dynamysk continues to look for opportunities to grow value as it relates to our customers, our shareholders and most importantly our people,” said John Lisoway, president of Dynamysk. “When the Allnorth opportunity presented itself, we examined our synergies and realized that together, it checked off all the boxes.  Dynamysk wanted a partner who would complement what each had to offer, creating greater opportunity and value for our customers’ business (the one-stop-shop approach),  a partner that created opportunities for its people to grow, prosper and feel valued (built by people), a partner that shared common core social and fiscal values, and finally a partner who was in, and who understood, the services business.  The integration of Dynamysk with Allnorth is something I am very excited about and look forward to what the future brings.”    

Post acquisition, Dynamysk will continue to operate independently out of its Calgary and Sherwood Park offices, with a transition to Allnorth planned for later in the year. 

Allnorth is a privately held, multi-disciplinary engineering, project delivery and construction services company established in 1995. They service clients primarily in the metals and minerals, energy and renewables, fiber and chemicals and infrastructure sectors. They have offices across Canada, in the U.S. and Mexico.

Dynamysk is a privately owned Canadian company specializing in delivering fully integrated lifecycle solutions in the industrial Instrumentation, Controls (automation), Electrical (ICE) disciplines. This includes all phases of a project from engineering through fabrication, installation, inspections, commissioning and maintenance. Founded in 2006 and with office locations in Calgary, Alta. and Sherwood Park, Alta, Dynamysk has completed projects for clients in Canada, the U.S. and overseas.

Key Takeaways:

• Capital Power Corporation and Ontario Power Generation have signed an agreement to assess the development and deployment of grid-scale small modular reactors (SMRs) in Alberta. 
• Capital Power and OPG will complete the feasibility assessment within two years.
• The governments of Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick jointly released a Strategic Plan in 2022 for the deployment of SMRs.

The Whole Story:

Nuclear power could be coming to the prairies. 

Capital Power Corporation and Ontario Power Generation have entered into an agreement to jointly assess the development and deployment of grid-scale small modular reactors (SMRs) to provide clean, reliable nuclear energy for Alberta.

Through the agreement, the two companies will examine the feasibility of developing SMRs in Alberta, including possible ownership and operating structures. SMRs are being pursued by jurisdictions in Canada and around the world to power the growing demand for clean electricity and energy security.

Capital Power and OPG will complete the feasibility assessment within two years, while continuing to work on the next stages of SMR development.

OPG is currently building North America’s first fleet of SMRs at its Darlington New Nuclear site in Ontario. The construction of the first of four SMRs is scheduled for completion at the end of 2028, and the unit is expected to be online by the end of 2029. Once assembled from modular pieces, the reactor would be roughly the size of a football field. It could provide power to 5,000 people for 20 years.

The governments of Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick jointly released a Strategic Plan in 2022 for the deployment of SMRs. The Commitment Agreement announced advances the plan, placing the provinces at the forefront of nuclear innovation, clean energy, and emerging markets for SMRs across Canada and around the world.

This agreement offers Capital Power a tremendous opportunity to elevate the company and Alberta on the world stage and marks a key milestone in its evolution to build a decarbonized power system and create real net-zero power solutions for customers.

“Ontario looks forward to leveraging our world-class nuclear expertise to advance the next generation of SMR technology in other jurisdictions across Canada and around the world,” said Todd Smith, Ontario’s minister of energy. “SMRs will help secure new investments that will create good-paying jobs and safely and reliably power communities to meet their growing needs.”

Record-breaking cold temperatures this month highlighted the province’s need for reliable energy. Energy demand began to outstrip supply, prompting officials to issue an emergency alert broadcast asking Albertans to shut off lights, unplug cars and avoid using appliances.

Elsewhere in Canada, some of its largest and most important nuclear facilities are currently undergoing enormous upgrades while still generating power: 

• Ontario’s Bruce Power, the world’s largest operating nuclear facility is in the midst of a $13- dollar upgrade project. It provides 30% of Ontario’s power. The work will extend the facility’s life by decades.
• Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Clarington, which supplies 20% of Ontario’s power is also in the midst of a massive $12-billion refurbishment.
• Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is currently asking the federal government to allow it to continue operations and to conduct refurbishments of its own.
• Officials in New Brunswick are currently negotiating a potential partnership with Ontario Power Generation aimed at improving operations at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station, a plant NB Power has owned and operated for 40 years.

As the world’s construction sector is in the midst of battling high costs, labour shortages, unprecedented demand and more, many are looking to the tech sector to see if there is a better way to build.

According to a recent report by Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, contech investment in 2022 was $5.38 billion. Nearly 50% of this investment took place in North America, 30% in Europe. The most active countries were U.S., U.K. and Canada. The most investment went into products that enhance productivity, at 53%.

In addition, Cemex released its annual list of the Top 50 Contech Startups. We went through the whole list and picked out 10 that caught our eye.

Automatic Construction 

You can’t just inflate a home like a balloon, can you? The idea of inflatable concrete buildings sounds crazy. But it could be another tool to rapidly build structures. Here’s how Automatic Construction does it: Plastic fabrics with reinforcement and internal structures are delivered to a site and then pumped full of air. The inflated structure is then filled with whatever pumpable concrete you want. The forms stay put, providing built-in waterproofing and an airtight barrier. Mechanical systems are installed in built-in chases.   

Mix Interesting 

Mix Interesting is a digital mixing master that uses artificial intelligence to help to develop greener concrete 10 times faster than traditional methods. The company combines mathematical optimization, physical models and AI in a software tool that is able to propose new and promising concrete mix designs with a single click . The company says that this makes innovation cycles shorter, cheaper and reduces the number of laboratory experiments significantly.

Waste Robotics

Based out of Quebec, Waste Robotics is making the dream of robots doing the dirty work a reality. Waste Robotics  integrates advanced waste handling processes, computer vision, deep learning algorithms and state-of-the-art robotic technologies to enable smaller, more precise, safer and more profitable waste recycling facilities. This is particularly useful for construction, which generates nearly 1.3 billion tons of waste each year. And let’s be honest, it’s oddly satisfying to watch robots methodically sort things. 

2050 Materials

2050 Materials is a digital information and research platform and API for the AEC industry to explore, compare and source building materials. Their goal is to take the global data on building products, which can often be complex and hard to access, and present it all in a singular format that can be used by anyone. The company also developed the Embodied Carbon Optimizer, a visual tool that provides a simplified LCA for early design phases to quickly compare the climate impacts of building systems, like facades and roofs, by customizing standard assemblies per component.

Advanced Construction Robots

Advanced Construction Robotics’ name pretty much says it all. They make advanced construction robots for the construction sector. They also use artificial intelligence to automate processes. Currently, the company has TyBOT, which performs rebar tying duties, a painful and relative task when done by humans.  TyBOT self-locates, self-positions and self-ties more than 1,200 intersections per hour. The company also offers IronBOT, which lifts, carries and self-places horizontal and longitudinal rebar. 

oculai

Oculai isn’t a generic AI like ChatGPT. It knows construction inside and out and can recognize building processes. Using jobsite camera data, oculai records the work carried out for each day and automatically enters it into a ready-made daily construction report. This inlcudes photos, working hours and even weather data.

Aren

Aren’s patented technology brings together civil engineering, computer vision, deep learning, and artificial intelligence to monitor infrastructure assets, minimize the risk of failure, prioritize repairs, and optimize global infrastructure spending. After a digital twin of an asset is created and monitored, Aren’s artificial intelligence tool automatically detects and quantifies the severity of any damage, tracks changes over time, assesses how the damage is evolving and calculates the rate of deterioration of the asset to predict future structural changes.

BuildWitt

Founded in 2018 by self-described “chief dirt nerd” Aaron Witt, BuildWitt started off using photography and video to document some of the most incredible heavy construction sites on the planet. They have grown to offer specialized marketing services and training software for the construction sector. But most importantly, Witt and his team make construction look unbelievably cool and fun. And that is a huge part of what the industry needs to recruit more works. Witt’s YouTube channel alone has more than 250,000 subscribers.

Conox

Rather than toss out concrete waste, Conox has developed a process to melt it down to make traditional glass and other glass products. Conox says its propriety methods add a high value use of recycled concrete and provides the glass industry with a new, low greenhouse gas raw materials. Waste concrete is generated at a rate of nearly 2.2 billion tons a year. Conox gets it out of landfills and back into the economy.

Faber

It’s no secret that finding workers is one of the biggest if not the biggest challenge the industry faces today. Based in Vancouver, B.C., Faber has created an online marketplace that allows for contractors or construction companies to sign up and connect to a large database of skilled labour resources in their local city. Additionally, the platform allows contractors the flexibility to add or remove workers based on project demands.

EllisDon has formed a strategic partnership with jobsite analytics company Timescapes as part of its efforts to accelerate construction technology.  

EllisDon says Timescapes’ mix of high-resolution timelapse visuals with AI-powered analytics has been proven out on five active pilot projects and the contractor plans to roll the technology out across the business.

EllisDon’s Data & Digital Engineering team, who recently hosted their inaugural ConTech Accelerator, have been seeking out and developing strategic partnerships with tech solutions that can deliver in the field. EllisDon teamed up with Impulse Partners to create the ConTech Accelerator program – an open innovation initiative dedicated to the future of construction. The program aims to accelerate startups and their technology deployment on construction jobsite.

As EllisDon’s self-perform division for IT Support, software development, SaaS services, and VDC/BIM operations, the Data & Digital Engineering team stated that it is proud to add Timescapes to the growing list of solutions available to project teams.

Timescapes provides construction cameras that capture high-quality visual data from job sites and AI analytics that are automatically extracted from the images so project teams can easily action the insights. 

EllisDon found that Timescapes’ analytics and complete visual record of construction progress allowed for quicker and easier dispute resolution, data-driven decision-making, live insights that deterred unnecessary site walks, and streamlined communication and collaboration with contractors and consultants in the field. All of which amounted to improvements on the projects’ schedules and budget.

“Using Timescapes on our sites has given us the ability to not only generate beautiful project visuals and timelapses but also access advanced analytics for activity on site, “said Hammad Chaudhry, VP innovation & construction technology, EllisDon. “These insights allow our construction and project teams to review construction progress remotely while also being able to make more informed decisions about the project.”

Chester Boyes, Timescapes’ CEO and founder, views the partnership with EllisDon as another strong step forward for the company in the Canadian construction industry. 

“Our mission is to empower construction teams with the critical information they need to build better, faster, and safer in a much more collaborative way,” said Boyes. “We see visual data as the key component to achieving this goal. The strategic partnership with EllisDon, a leader in Canadian construction, will give us deeper insights into how companies can leverage visual data and analytics at both the project and overall organization level so we can continue to build on our market-leading solution.”