www.cadcr.com VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1, WINTER 2018 AEC Marketing Communication in the New World: Low cost strategies that really work n li e n O r e w! t i g s No Re Canada’s National Show for the HVACR and Plumbing Industries METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE March 21 - 23, 2018 cmpxshow.ca Editor's viewpoint Winter 2018 By Mark Buckshon Table of Contents Some stories are simple in their complexity. For exam- ple, the decision by Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) to change its strategic alliance for marketing the Canadian National Master Specification seems straight- forward enough. The association issued a news release announcing the new alignment and all is well . . . But I know from 20 years of membership in the na- tional association (and a couple of years as chair of its Ottawa chapter), that there was more than met the eye at first sight here. The decision to end a 15-year market- ing alliance doesn’t come without consequences, espe- cially since the NMS in fact is owned by the federal government, through the National Research Council (NRC). I tried to find the reason for the change and assess its consequence. One thing is certain: There will be more competition in making the NMS available to architects, engineers and contractors throughout Canada because the former alliance partner arranged its own licencing agreement with the NRC to stay in the marketplace; and so now there are three distribution channels for this im- portant resource, which is at the core of most of the country’s construction contract documentation. You can also read several other stories, including a re- port on Ontario’s new Construction Act, updates on top B.C. architects, and my own explanation about how to effectively develop a marketing strategy, requiring little money for entirely effective results. We’re getting ready for the next issue and as usual I welcome your comments and suggestions. You can best reach me by email at buckshon@cadcr.com Ontario’s New Construction Act to reform industry dispute resolution, payment practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 AEC Marketing Communication in the New World: Low cost strategies that really work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 CCA publishes a Corporate Social Responsibility guide for Canadian construction companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 National Master Specification competitive landscape shifts with new CSC strategic alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 CCPPA introduces new Environmental Product Declaration . . . 14 SPECIAL FEATURES: TOP 10 CONCRETE FLOOR CONTRACTORS Apollo Concrete Contracting, industry experts for 25 years . . . 15 BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS Now available: PDF  Page-FliPPiNg techNology just like the DocumeNt you are reaDiNg Now... Diversity, leadership, initiative and focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 DA Architects + Planners, designers of more than just buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Ciccozzi Architecture focuses on collaborative, co-operative and interactive design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Lubor Trubka Associates Architects recognized internationally as a leader and innovator in wood design . . . . 22 TOP 10 CANADIAN TRUSS MANUFACTURERS Phoenix Building Components continues to expand its products and capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Magazine and Newsletter Design Online or Print – Big or Small It can always be simple www.memoproductions.ca 819-827-3802 info@memoproductions.com TOP 20 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Fillmore Construction: Meeting tight deadlines on challenging projects for more than 25 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 News Briefs across Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 3 About The Canadian Design and Construction Report is published bi-monthly by Mekomedia Enterprises Inc., a member of the Construction News and Report Group of Companies. The magazine is distributed to thousands of design and construc- tion industry leaders across Canada. It is also available for review and downloading at the Canadian Design and Construction Report website (www.cadcr.com) or you can sign up for the electronic edition newsletter by emailing buckshon@cadcr.com. You can receive the online magazine free. If you wish printed copies, you can request a single issue for $15.99 or an annual subscription for $90.00, which also provides you a free basic directory listing. Here’s how we can provide positive publicity for your business or organization: • You can become a Canadian Design and Construction Report sponsor. Sponsorship packages start at $345 per issue. Spon- sorships can provide you promotional recognition with targeted advertising messages, a free one-page business profile and op- tions to provide industry expert/guest columns. 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Publisher and interim editor Mark Buckshon, buckshon@cadcr.com Writer: Heather Kirk, hkirk@cnrgp.com Business development and marketing: Chase, chase@cadcr.com 905-228-1151 Paul Scissons, pscissons@cadcr.com (888) 627-8717 ext 225 Production: Raymond Leveille, memoproductions.ca Subscription and print copy requests: Katherine Jeffrey, kjeffrey@cnrgp.com Phone 888-627-8717 ext 114 Mailing address 1554 Carling Avenue, Suite 57, Ottawa, Ontario K1Z 7M4 Copyright, 2018, Mekomedia Enterprises Inc. For permission to reprint, please contact Mark Buckshon at buckshon@cadcr.com the Construction News and Report Group of Companies . . . 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Titles include: Ottawa Construction News http://www.linkedin.com/groupInvitation?gid=926 The 787 GTA Construction Report Northern Ontario Construction News Ontario Construction Report North Carolina Construction News South Carolina Construction News Chicago Construction News Florida Construction News New York Construction News National publications The Canadian Design and Construction Report and The Design and Construction Report (U.S.) are maga- zines serving a cross section of the architectural, engineering and construction industry in both the U.S. and Canada. Distribution of the online edition is free to qualified readers, with video and embedded web links enhancing the reading experience. You can purchase a subscription to the printed edition by emailing buckshon@cadcr.com. Association Publications and Directories CNRGP serves as contract publisher for associations wish- ing to produce high quality newsletters and directories. For more details, contact Chase at Chase@cadcr.com. Book publishing Asset Beam Publishing Ltd., a division of the Construction News and Report Group, publishes in print and electronic format, high quality books for distribution to the AEC com- munity and beyond. Using print-on-demand technologies, specialized markets can be served with low production costs and appealing revenue sharing options for authors, accepted for publication. For more information, contact Mark Buckshon at buckshon@cadcr.com. The Construction Marketing Ideas blog and website Constructionmarketingideas.com is the first independent website/blog dedicated to news and developments for mar- keting in the architectural, engineering and construction communities. Updated daily, it provides links to dozens of resources and services related to AEC marketing. Ontario’s New Construction Act to reform industry dispute resolution, payment practices Law expected to set the new standard for the industry in other provinces Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer Following Royal Assent just before Christmas, Ontario’s new Construction Act will radically reform industry practices, including payment terms and dispute resolution. The new law, enacted after years of lobbying by trade contractors concerned about slow payment and expensive dispute resolution processes, could establish the framework for similar industry legislative reform in other provinces. Prompt Payment Ontario (PPO), an alliance of contractor associations, unions, suppliers and general contractors who advocate for prompt payment legislation, has applauded the bill. “This legislation could not have been introduced at a better time, as higher interest rates will make delayed payment unbearable,” said PPO director Ron Johnson. “We hope that this groundbreaking piece of legislation will set the stage for change across the country.” But for the first few months this year, it will be business as usual because most of the key legislative provisions still need regulatory implementation and proclamation, and there are many details yet to be resolved. The legislation also includes grandfathering provisions, meaning that existing projects and lien rights will continue as before for existing and recently completed projects. Bill 142, the Construction Lien Amendment Act, 2017 (Ontario), came into force after years of lobbying by trade contractors seeking prompt payment legislation. After push-back three years ago when public agencies and owners stalled a private members’ bill, the provincial government contracted with lawyers Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel to conduct a comprehensive legislative review. Reynolds says almost all of his proposed changes were incorporated in the revised bill, including its new name, The Construction Act. Key changes include: • Providing more time for contractors and subcontractors to resolve their disputes outside of court by extending timelines to file liens and start court actions from 90 days to 150 days; • Ensuring contractors and subcontractors know when to expect full payment by requiring holdback funds to be paid as soon as the deadline to file liens passes; • Protecting subcontractors and workers if the general contractor files for bankruptcy by requiring surety bonding on public sector projects above a certain amount; • Allowing condominium unit owners to remove liens from their unit in relation to common elements (e.g., corridors, lobbies, etc.); and • Referring construction lien claims under $25,000 to small claims court. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 5 Edward Betts, a partner with Gowling WLG, says in a commentary that the key legislative provisions yet to be proclaimed include “prompt payment, adjudication, changes in the lien preservation and perfection periods, mandatory payment of holdback, trust accounting rules and so on.” He writes that it is likely that the balance of the act provisions “will be proclaimed fairly early into 2018.” “For prompt payment and adjudication these will be in force when proclaimed after finalizing the related regulations and multiple prescribed forms,” Betts writes. “In addition, the adjudication nominating authority needs to be set up and then adjudicators certified before the prompt payment and adjudication can work, so we may see these provisions proclaimed but then delayed further until all that administration is taken care of.” “Various groups have asked for a long transition and education period,” he writes. “So we really do not know the timing yet unfortunately. The Attorney General’s Office has stated that it will make a clarifying announcement on timing in January 2018.” Betts writes that the Construction Act includes: • Long overdue updates to 35 year old legislation that includes payment protection throughout the construction pyramid; • Contractors and sub-contracts now have security and assurance regarding timelines for payment; • Mandatory performance and payment bonds on publicly funded projects over a threshold contract price (similar to the Miller Act in the United States); • The adjudication process will now provide an opportunity for resolution of construction disputes without disruption of project schedules and will assist in avoiding costly legal battles; • No-exceptions rule to hold-back release deadlines means a no-exceptions rule to when contractors and sub-contractors get paid; and • Mandatory prompt payment for sub-trades. However, there are many challenges to be resolved in the regulations and scheduling, including ensuring there are an adequate supply of qualified adjudicators. As well, the legislation provides “contracting out” opportunities for some key provisions, which may weaken the effectiveness of the Prompt Payment requirements, but which will protect general contractors from being caught between a rock and a hard place in situations where they truly haven’t been paid by the owners. (Conversely, however, sub-trades will be able to walk off the job if they don’t receive their payments on schedule.) As an example of the issues yet to be resolved, the previous Construction Lien Act includes wording that requires Certificates of Substantial Performance to be published in a “Construction Trade Newspaper”, further defined to be a daily publication – which effectively requires these notices to be published only in the Daily Commercial News (DCN), effectively granting that publication a legislative monopoly. “References in the Act to publication in a construction trade newspaper are replaced with requirements to publish in the manner set out in the regulations,” the Construction Act’s legislative synopsis says. But we still need to wait for the new regulations to see how things will change, if at all. www.threadsoflife.ca 6 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report AEC Marketing Communication in the New World: Low cost strategies that really work By Mark Buckshon What are the best techniques and methods to find new business in the current era of rapidly developing technologies and intensified competition? The answer to this question combines some new approaches with long-standing traditional and effective marketing strategies. You need to build on your brand - and that is primarily based on your actual client experiences and their genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment in working with you. Then you apply technological innovations to accelerate and enhance your positive reputation, with effective client- focused editorial and visual marketing content, a solid website, and some easy to manage social media strategies. Finally, if you wish, you can package these qualities, combining current technologies with future- looking concepts including Building Information Modelling, virtual/augmented reality, and – looking forward – the powerful potential of machine learning and artificial intelligence. At root, the basics of effective AEC marketing haven’t changed in decades. People (and business-to-business clients are of course individuals working for companies) like doing business with organizations where they feel good about their experience. Clearly, your actual work/service/product must be competent, but if your clients’ overall experience isn’t at least satisfactory, you will have a one-time relationship. However, your goal should be to make their experience super great, by anticipating needs, communicating frequently, and where you can, providing value added extras that don’t cost much money but make the process more enjoyable. Why is the client experience so important? Consider the fundamental data that I’ve gathered over the past decade through an ongoing poll on my constructionmarketingideas.com blog. At least 71 per cent of the contractors, architects and engineers who have responded over the years say that repeat and referral business is their most important source of revenue. (It breaks down to 41 per cent from word-of- mouth/recommendations and 30 per cent from repeat clients.) Advertising (at 13 per cent) and leads services/open RFPs and public tenders (at 11 per cent) are significant business builders but don’t really move the needle as much. Irritating and intrusive techniques such as telemarketing and door-to-door canvassing work for only a few contractors (at five per cent). The point in these numbers is that anything you can do to improve your repeat and referral business will have disproportionate impact on your bottom line. So you need to do everything you can to connect with and deliver value to your clients. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 7 Your goal: Win sincere testimonials and recommendations – so you can make it easier for other clients to say “yes” - and of course, to develop additional repeat or recurring business. Please note: While it is essential to provide great client service, you must never assert that your marketing/business strength is providing “great customer service”. This is ineffective. If anyone asserts this fact (assuming it is true), it should be your customers themselves, through their actual experience and testimonial statements, either written (or even better) in video format. That said, there are some things you can do beyond delivering an incredible client experience. These include: • Developing an expertise and reputation building content creation strategy (blog, white papers, videos); • building a truly effective website; and • adapting your website and content to responsive social media relationships and concepts. None of these strategies requires much money, though they all require some effort and co-ordination. I’ll outline some approaches to succeeding in these three focuses. Content creation The goal here is to make it easy for current and previous clients to say good things about you, and to learn valuable information to build on your quality/expertise reputation. Your blog provides a good starting point – because by regularly writing/videoing your insights, observations, and stories, you add to your reference points and knowledge. 8 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Your blog messages can easily be posted to your website (see below) and then auto-posted to social media. Videos don’t need to be slick or fancy. In fact, testimonial videos that are grainy and rough are in my opinion more credible and effective than slickly narrated commercially produced efforts. However, I think your writing should be solid and well- edited. If you don’t have someone who writes well on your staff, you may need to contract with a freelancer to generate or edit your material. This will cost you some money, but will be far less expensive than conventional paid advertising. Developing your social media relationships Company profile pages for Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be created without fee, and you can easily connect them to your website so that every time you add a relevant post, it will auto feed to the relevant social media sites, leveraging your marketing presence, without costing you any additional money. You’ll want to develop tools to monitor and manage your social media image, inducing positive testimonials and comments while avoiding negative comments and reviews. There are some third party services that help this process. They invite your clients to provide a “satisfaction” report, and if it is excellent, they will encourage customers to post their positive comments directly on the social media sites. If they are negative, they will encourage your clients to communicate with you privately so you can resolve the issue and avoid negative reviews. How much will all of this cost? Your greatest expense will likely be the review/enhancement of your internal processes and existing client service/relationships. You may need an outside consultant to look more closely at your operations and suggest improvements, but if you can see the issues that need to be resolved and make things more friendly and satisfactory for your clients, you’ll be well on your way. Full-scale website development services vary in price, but generally you can get a specialist to complete a solid project for you for about $5,000 or so. If you are ready to do it yourself or contract directly with website developers, you can reduce this cost by one or two orders of magnitude. (Yes, that would mean $500 or even $50.) Writing services can be free (outside of your time) if you are competent and literate or have an in-house staff person who can write well. Expect to spend upwards of a few hundred dollars per significant piece if you need to pay a freelancer or outside marketing consultant for these services. Forward thinking options If you are ready to step into the future and embrace new technologies, you can achieve a significant marketing advantage by building on your uniqueness and forward thinking vision. I think the best starting point for most AEC professionals will be to embrace Building Information Modelling. Costs for BIM resources have been declining, and there are increasing opportunities to learn how to use these tools. With BIM skills and resources, you can have fun with automated/virtual reality (and really showcase your presentations/projects in an interactive way). If you want to go even further into the future (but we are talking years, not decades), recent developments with machine learning and artificial intelligence offer exciting if somewhat scary automation options – because the machines can learn from their environment and ultimately the science fiction concept of computers being smarter than humans could become a reality. Conclusion: You don’t need to spend much to achieve a lot Even if you go full-bore and contract out all the services described above, I can’t see it necessary for you to spend more than $10,000 a year on a truly effective marketing strategy. This is a drop in the bucket compared to even the cheapest forms of paid media advertising. If you elect to spend money on other forms of marketing/advertising, including trade show exhibits, print and paid online advertising, the client relationship, website and social media models will provide you with a powerful backbone and will boost the effectiveness of your more expensive marketing approaches. Go for it. You can truly achieve great marketing communications results for very little money. Additional resources I’ll provide you with a list of service providers (and some observations/recommendations about them) without charge if you email me at buckshon@constructionmarketingideas.com. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 9 CCA publishes a Corporate Social Responsibility guide for Canadian construction companies Canadian Design and Construction Report The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has announced the publication of a new resource for its members: Corporate Social Responsibility in the Construction Sector: A Practical Guide to CSR. Tailored for the construction industry, the guide explains the importance of CSR and offers practical advice on how to prepare or enhance a CSR strategy. The guide was created through a collaborative process and is available as a free download from the CCA website. Tool to help members articulate environmental and social impact encouraging companies to voluntarily undertake initiatives that enable them to operate in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.” “Although CSR is recognized as important in business, there is often uncertainty associated with how to implement it,” said Stephen Coote, chair of the CCA business and market development committee. Practical resource for learning more and to get started CSR includes voluntary initiatives or actions that a company chooses to undertake to improve its social and environmental performance in relation to stakeholders. It means going beyond the codes and standards that construction companies are required to adhere to by law. “We see CSR as a business strategy,” said Stephen. “Although many construction companies may be practicing some aspect of CSR, we hope that with this easy-to-use guide, small, medium and large construction firms will be more encouraged to continue to develop, enhance or implement a CSR strategy.” Public owners and the public increasingly want to see Canadian construction companies articulate the environmental and social impacts of what they do and how these impacts are addressed. The convergence of issues ranging from triple-bottom line procurement (e.g. balancing commercial and sustainability considerations aka “people, planet, profit”) to carbon neutral regulations as well as zero waste 2030 initiatives is unprecedented. “Our current strategic plan identified promotion of ethical business practices within the industry as an objective,” said CCA chair Chris McNally. “In October 2015, CCA adopted a policy statement related to CSR WE INSURED OVER $1,000,000,000 WORTH OF PROJECTS FOR OUR CLIENTS IN THE PAST YEAR. 10 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Corporate Social Responsibility in the Canadian Construction Sector: A Practical Guide to CSR 600 - 1000 Centre St. N Calgary, AB Main 403.296.2400 Toll Free 1.800.565.8132 rogersinsurance.ca All we make are superior exteriors. Our highly curb-appealing, effortlessly low-maintenance siding, decking and trim match exteriors to the distinct personalities of their owners. Plus, they build up the reputations of the pros who make those exteriors happen. You’re welcome. royalbuildingproducts.com | expressionofwow.com | 866-620-9745 The Royal Canadian Design Products and Construction Report Company — Winter 2018 – 11 © 2018 Building | A Westlake National Master Specification competitive landscape shifts with new CSC strategic alliance Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer The competitive landscape for distribution of Canada’s National Master Construction Specification (NMS) has shifted with the decision by Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) to end a 15-year marketing alliance with Digicon Information Inc. and enter into a new agreement with Building Systems Design (BSD). Digicon responded by setting up its own master licensing agreement with the federal government’s National Research Council (NRC), which authors the NMS. A third business, Innovative Technology Inc., based in Ottawa, also has a license to distribute the NMS, along with a marketing alliance with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC). NMS provides a standardized foundation for Canadian construction contract documentation and components from it are embedded in virtually every significant construction project in the country. CSC executive director Nick Franjic declined to explain the reason for the change in the strategic alliance, saying he wishes to focus on the future and BSD’s new service offerings. A CSC news release says the association and BSD have joined forces to “expand access to premier software, educational resources, and master specification content, including the NMS, the most comprehensive master guide for Canadian projects.” CSC says it will continue to offer CSC NMS products and service not only to its spex.ca clients but all NMS users at www.SpecMarket.com. 12 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report The new alliance, which started on Jan. 1, replaces the alliance with Digicon, which had been delivering the NMS through the SPEX.ca website. However, SPEX.ca continues under Digicon’s control, and Digicon president David Watson says the NMS will continue to be available through that site. CSC says BSD “is a leading provider of specification content, software and advanced specification and interoperability solutions to architects, engineers, specifiers and building owners in the construction industry. With BSD being focused on bringing technology to market that drives collaboration, simplifies design and increases efficiency for all stakeholders in the design and construction process, CSC sees this North American alliance with BSD as a perfect fit with CSC’s mission.” CSC says it has been a provider of the NMS for more 40 years and will continue to deliver it to the North American construction industry. “WWW.SpecMarket.com broadens access to high- quality content for firms working in the United States or Canada,” CSC says. “With BSD’s SpecLink Cloud platform, customers will have access to the right content for the job, whether public or private, and SpecLink Cloud will become the first database solution to enable access to robust Canadian and U.S. content within the same platform.” “CSC and BSD share a vision for delivering innovation and advancements that not only enhance the quality of design and construction, but also drive efficiency throughout the process,” CSC says in its announcement. Digicon’s Watson said in an email: “I’m not in a position to comment on it (the end of the strategic alliance) except to say that I’m quite disappointed.” A few days later, Digicon issued a news release confirming it has entered into a direct license with the NRC to deliver the NMS. Until the split, anyone wishing to purchase a license for the NMS could choose between the CSC/Digicon or RAIC/Innovative Technology offerings. “Innovative Technology (www.SPECedit.com) and the RAIC (www.raic.org) remain the only Canadian distributors of the NMS in English and French for Word and the popular BIM-connected SPECedit specification editing software,” said Innovative Technology president Michael Thornber. “We continue to be strong players in the NMS market as we expand our technology to include new features in the NMS as they become available.” In a note to members, CSC’s Nick Franjic wrote that the decision to end the alliance with Digicon “was not taken lightly and CSC is ready to work with Digicon Information Inc. to ensure Spex.ca customers are aware of the change, know their options and are treated respectfully.” The NMS is the most comprehensive public works master specification in Canada and is designed to assist firms with a robust specification-writing guide. BSD also owns and maintains a master specification guide for private construction projects, available within SpecLink, which the company says is “the industry’s most comprehensive, database driven specification software for efficient and accurate specification writing and production.” “CSC has shown a clear commitment to industry advancement and professional education, and has been an NMS provider for over 40 years,” BSD chair Chris Anderson said in a news release. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with CSC to broaden access to high-quality content for firms working in the United States and Canada. With BSD’s SpecLink Cloud platform, customers will have access to the right content for the job, whether public or private, and SpecLink Cloud will become the first database solution to enable access to robust Canadian and U.S. content within the same platform.” “BSD’s vision for advancing construction specifications aligns nicely with our mission to provide progressive education and opportunities for the design and construction community,” said Franjic. “We are excited to work together in bringing CSC members and the Canadian construction industry a trusted source for comprehensive content and innovative software to make their day-to-day jobs easier and more efficient.” In a statement, Digicon says, “With this direct relationship with NRC, owners of the NMS, Digicon is now able to accelerate its innovation plans and will continue to lead in providing quality NMS support services.” “We have an exciting future ahead here at Digicon and will be sharing news on coming developments very soon,” Digicon’s Watson said. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our loyal customers for their continued support.” CDCR HOTEL DIRECTORY Reach key decision makers in the CDCR HOTEL DIRECTORY to attract construction crews, executives and extended stay guests with your hotel listing! Basic listings start at $195 and comprehensive listings are $495 which gives you at least 6 issues a year. Register your properties by January 31st and get a bonus online banner ad for one month! For more details on directory listings or general advertising contact Chase 905-228-1151 or email chase@cnrgp.com The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 13 CCPPA introduces new Environmental Product Declaration CDCR staff writer The Canadian Concrete Pipe & Precast Association (CCPPA) has developed a new Environmental Product Dec- laration (EPD). “Committing to sustainable development and environ- mental transparency, the CCPPA and its members devel- oped, published, and third-party verified, this declaration that reveals the potential environmental impact of its con- crete-based infrastructure products,” the association said in a news release. “Transparency is key,” says CCPPA chair Andy Dutfield. “It really is a type of nutrition label for our customers and the general public who need to know the environmental im- pact of concrete pipe and related products made and avail- able in Canada. It’s our goal as an association to further develop environmentally compatible and sustainable con- struction products for now and for future generations.” The association presented, at its fall membership meet- ing in Kitchener in October, its Canadian industry-average business-to-business Type III EPD covering three product categories: Concrete pipe; concrete box structures; and manholes/catch basins. The EPD takes a “cradle-to-gate” approach, covering the potential environmental impact of standardized life cycle processes from raw material supply, methods of trans- portation for all materials in each stage of production, and the manufacturing process to the point the product leaves the “gate”. merk@merx.com 14 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report CCPPA says the declaration also supports transparency for sustainable construction certification programs, such as LEEDv4, Envision, and other green purchasing programs that are currently under development. CCPPA represents 14 member companies operating 23 precast manufacturing facilities in British Columbia, Al- berta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Data was based on 14 surveys of member facilities and took regional production, plant size and product type into consideration. The association worked with Andrea Boddy Consulting and the team at Athena Institute to complete and verify the dec- laration. For specific information on the CCPPA EPD, please visit https://www.astm.org/CERTIFICATION/DOCS/ 370.EPD_for_CCPPA_EPD_2017-08-15.pdf. www.merx.com www.merx.com/events TOP 10 CONCRETE FLOOR CONTRACTORS Apollo Concrete Contracting, industry experts for 25 years The CDCR Special Feature Apollo Concrete Contracting has been serving the needs of the greater Hamilton area (GHA)for 25 years now, while providing its expertise in green- house and specialty flooring to cus- tomers across North America. President Jim Woods says the company works on a diversity of GHA industrial, commercial and institu- tional (ICI) projects enhanced by spe- cialized knowledge of greenhouses. This niche expertise is based on knowledge learned in Holland. “Our greenhouse work has become a niche specialty that has taken us all across Canada and the U.S.,” he said. “We’ve installed more than five million sq. ft. of green- house flooring, and are currently working on 2 million sq. ft. of greenhouse including one million sq. ft. intended to support the growth of legal marijuana.” He says greenhouse work can be challenging, both for technical and site requirements and because of working conditions. In the summer, for instance, he says tempera- tures can reach upwards of 45 degrees. That can mean working in the early morning hours before the heat gets too bad, or working at night so the sun isn’t compounding the problem. Apollo works closely with Tradewind Construction. which specializes in greenhouses, but also applies its own expertise and know how to help guide other greenhouse projects. The company co-ordinates other ICI work including manufacturing and condominium projects, freezer build- ings and self-storage facilities. “We worked on Casino Ni- agara and have done condos for New Horizon in Burlington and Stony Creek. Our industrial projects have included Do- fasco and General Motors. Our team is experienced with slab on development, iSpan systems, and super flat floor- ing among other capabilities.” The company’s team of 25 includes family members and multiple generations of families in some cases. Woods says the company typically hires two or three new people annually, then trains them internally. The strategy seems to work as most stay on, he says. “We’ve also brought in staff from other companies. We look for people who want to work, who are reliable, and who are open to working the hours and shifts that are sometimes required.” Apollo employs LiUNA Local 837 members and belongs to the Concrete Floor Contractors Associ- ation. Woods says this member- ship helps the business stay up to date on the latest news, trends, technologies and safety require- ments. The combination of experience, knowledgeable staff, and the abil- ity to be current to industry stan- dards means Apollo has a solid base of customers, Woods says. Though he tries to keep his crews within an hour or so of Hamilton, he says sometimes proj- ects or specific clients will take his team much further. “It’s our clients, our team, and our reputation that have gotten us through the last 25 years. We look forward to the next 25.” APOLLO CONCRETE CONTRACTING 183 Grace Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario L8H 3X1 Tel: (905) 548-0576 Fax: (905) 548-9622 The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 15 BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS Diversity, leadership, initiative and focus 16 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature This listing of the top 10 architects in British Columbia reflects an amalgam of our experience, relationships, and perceptions. While this isn’t a scientific group – there are many other companies worthy of recognition – it provides a clue about some of the diversity, initiative and focus within the community. We’ve included some nationally, even internationally, recognized firms, and others who have primarily taken a leadership role in their local commu- nities. This list includes forward thinking businesses which have embraced community engagement, high standards of service and delivery, and innovation to support the de- sign and construction industry. Quoted descriptions and remarks are generally from the company’s own websites or communications, unless oth- erwise noted. You can read more from Ciccozzi Architec- ture, DA Architects and Lubor Trubka Associates Architects later in this feature. The other companies rounding out the top 10 have been listed alphabetically, so their order should not be seen as related to their actual ranking. Cannon Design Architecture CannonDesign is an “integrated global design firm that unites a dynamic team of architects, engineers, industry experts and builders driven by a singular goal — to help solve clients’ and society’s greatest challenges.” “The firm is purposely built to foster this high-level of multidisciplinary thinking, allowing teams to assess situa- tions from all angles and identify opportunities to improve rather than conform. This synergistic method allows the team to identify and connect the best ideas across indus- tries and geographies.” Chris Dikeakos Architects Inc. (CDA) Specializing in a broad range of building and project types, CDA has transformed skylines across the West Coast of North America with projects such as the tallest residential hi-rise in San Diego (The Electra), the tallest pure residential hi-rises in Los Angeles (1027 Wilshire) and with its current projects now under construc- tion: Solo District and Station Square, both located in Burn- aby, British Columbia. CDA’s relationship with the Great Canadian Gaming Cor- poration has resulted in expertise in the design of Resort Casino Entertainment complexes including theatre, hotel, food and beverage, retail, convention and gaming compo- nents. HOK HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm with offices in 23 locations on three conti- nents. The firm’s design solutions “result from a collaborative process that encourages multidisciplinary professional teams to research alternatives, share knowledge and imag- ine new ways to solve the challenges of the built environ- ment. IBI Group IBI Group is an Ontario-based income trust. But about two-thirds of its 2,700 employees focus on architecture and planning, which is co-ordinated largely from its Van- couver office. The global organization operates out of about 70 offices worldwide, with some 135 staff in Van- couver at one of the firm’s largest locations, where senior management and IT resources are concentrated. Stantec Stantec is a global design and delivery firm, originally based in Edmonton. Its design focus combines a combi- nation of clarity (a clear idea); purpose (a thoughtful ap- proach); discovery (challenging preconceptions through curiosity); performance (measure objectives); and craft (material legibility). Chamberlain Working across North America and globally for more than three decades, Chamberlain has been dedicated to improving means, methods and processes for successful realization of great environments. The firm’s projects are supported by a team who are pi- oneers in the use of Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Lead- ers in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Building Information Modelling (BIM), and utilize the latest technology and processes available to create cutting edge, sustainable and relevant solutions. DIALOG BC DIALOG is a team of “passionate designers who believe in the power of built form to meaningfully improve the wellbeing of communities.” The firm’s services include architecture; electrical, mechanical and structural engineering; interior design; landscape architecture; planning and urban design; and sustainability. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 17 BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS DA Architects + Planners, designers of more than just buildings The CDCR Special Feature From its founding in 1969, DA Architects + Planners has grown from a residential practice to one whose work has included schools, hotels, large mixed-use facilities and urban communities. All are based on the company’s orig- inal vision that they are designing ‘more than just a build- ing.’ Randy Knill, partner, says the firm originally opened as Downs/Archambault & Partners, but underwent a renewal process in 2008 and was re-branded as DA Architects + Planners in response to the retirement of the founding partners and to express the breadth of the practice. “Originally the firm started with mostly residential pro- jects reflecting the contemporary aesthetics of mid-cen- tury regional modernism and then grew as the design approach and philosophy matured.” As it demonstrated design sensitivity and expertise, community centres and schools led to larger residential and more complex projects. DA also collaborated, says Knill, with other firms forming an Urban Design Planning Team for the Post – Expo False Creek Lands which led to the firm working along the north side of False Creek and an opportunity to illustrate its ‘more than just a building’ approach. 18 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report “The architecturally defined public and private realm open spaces contributed to a more varied and engaging pedestrian experience, as we developed the design ap- proach that emphasized that the space between the build- ings was as important as the buildings themselves. From the early projects where enhanced landscape gardens fea- tured local natural materials, to large, complex urban spaces today, DA’s vision consistently carries through.” He says architecture that engages environmental and social sustainability issues has also always been at the heart of DA’s design approach since its early days. Among its successes in this area is a collaboration on the original Canada Place and subsequent Vancouver Convention Cen- tre West, which has been recognized with several awards and achieved a LEED Platinum rating. Other notable projects include Library Square and the Ford Theatre – now the Westside Church (collaborations with Moshe Safdie), Seylynn Village, River Rock Casino Re- sort, Coast Coal Harbour Hotel, Cielo, and Pearson College of the Pacific. Recent projects illustrate even more diversity and in- clude the Lingyen Mountain Temple, various lifestyle/ mixed use retail centres, and several Urban Design Studies for new sustainable communities throughout BC. While the architectural form of these projects vary greatly, Knill says there are commonalities among them all. “All of our projects are the result of a carefully scrutinized functional program provided by our clients that is then pro- jected onto the site with a sensitivity to the unique site-spe- cific characteristics.” This, he says, can be a response to the climate, views, or surrounding urban design elements. “It can respond to urban elements that do not yet exist, like the early Yaletown high-rises on the empty Expo site, or the current Seylynn projects which are providing a new opportunity for city re- generation and densification.” The firm now includes twenty-five staff members com- prising three partners, two associates, eighteen technolo- gists and intern architects, and two administrative person- nel. “Through almost five decades, DA Architects + Plan- ners has earned the reputation of delivering well designed projects and ensuring its clients are well served. This means partners stay involved and project teams are men- tored every step of the way. The love of craft carries through in a highly personal commitment to the products, and the client.” Knill says the team is proud of both the projects they have had a hand in, and the way each evolved. “We are a collaborative and interactive design firm. We listen carefully to our clients and many stakeholders and then respond to their concerns and needs.” That approach, he says, has resulted in DA being se- lected for the “tough” projects; those where extensive pub- lic consultation is required. “Kitsilano Secondary School, and the Lingyen Mountain Temple are examples of these. There were others in which difficult urban design issues had to be resolved, such as the Vancouver Convention Cen- tre – both the original Expo Canada Place and the new West Expansion, or where a compelling urban design image must be created to illustrate the project’s fit, as was the case with Seylynn Village.” The firm’s project awards are too numerous to mention but include recognition for its efforts on the Vancouver Con- vention Centre West, Seylynn Village, Queen Mary Elemen- tary School and Ridgeway Elementary School. For more information, visit www.da-architects.ca. DA Architects + Planners is inspired by our stunning West Coast environment and history. We create buildings and public spaces that enrich people’s lives and enhance our spectacular locale. Interesting and inspiring places are the central goal of our placemaking efforts. 200-1014 Homer St Vancouver, BC Canada, V6B 2W9 T604 685 6312 F604 685 0988 Eoffice@da-architects.ca Our design vocabulary uses West Coast contemporary architectural elements. The resulting projects blend energy-efficient engineering with this regional aesthetic that then expresses our sustainability values. This celebrates the social and environmental values of our clients, the building users, and our changing society. The goal is that our architectural efforts embody well - crafted details using sensible materials to successfully accommodate the demanding lifestyles and expectations in our evolving environment. da-architects.ca The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 19 BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS Ciccozzi Architecture focuses on collaborative, co-operative and interactive design Canadian Design and Constuction Report special feature Vancouver based Ciccozzi Architecture fo- cuses on a collaborative, co-operative and in- teractive design process to provide a balance of design and economy to its creative solu- tions. Robert Ciccozzi founded the company, which was rebranded in 2015, in 1999 after several years of industry experience. Today, the firm has grown to a team of 33 that takes on between 30 and 40 projects annually. The majority of the firm’s clients are devel- opers “who are looking to us for our design expertise and our ability to take a project through city approvals and construction,” says Ciccozzi. 20 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report The firm also works with private clients on custom homes. These clients, he says, are drawn by the firm’s process, which is more personal, as well as by its design expertise and attention to detail. Getting involved in each project’s design, Ciccozzi will typically initiate the design and then review it as it moves through design development, and in some cases, through construction. “We provide a balance of detailed design and technical expertise because we believe architecture is where art and technology intersect.” Among the firm’s successes are the Westwood Mixed- use Tower “because it was a successful project with re- spect to the design; Hyde Park Townhouses because of the high level of design and the challenge of working around the high percentage of retained trees.” Ciccozzi says he considers all of the firm’s high end cus- tom residences as among its great successes for the level of design and detail each requires. “Our main achievement, though, is building strong and successful working relationships with our long term major clients.” The firm was recently recognized with a “2017 New City Design Award” from the City of Surrey for the Hyde Park Townhomes project and is continuing to grow and establish itself as a top multi-residential design firm within the province. For more information, visit www.ciccozziarchitecture.com. “When I design homes, I think about the experience. I want people to feel and discover all the subtle es and sublimity of the home.” –Robert Ciccozzi The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 21 BC TOP 10 ARCHITECTS Lubor Trubka Associates Architects recognized internationally as a leader and innovator in wood design Tsleil-Waututh Administration and Health Centre North Vancouver, BC. Completion Spring 2018 The CDCR Special Feature From its start in 1975, Lubor Trubka Associates Archi- tects (LTA Production Ltd.), has grown into an expert and internationally recognized leader and innovator in engi- neered wood design and architecture. The firm has designed projects for all levels of govern- ment, private corporations, institutions and First Nations communities. It has been responsible for the design and master planning of sites across North America, as well as in India, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Russia and the Czech Re- public. 22 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Lubor Trubka, principal, says from the beginning of his career he recognized the need to understand and embrace local construction technology. “I understood early on that there were no clay deposits to make bricks, nor steel mills in the province, so wood had to be the material of choice for all designs I did.” Also an engineer by training, his designs from the start began with that engineer’s perspective of the structure in- fluencing the architecture. Though this led to quick growth and success, and recognition for his unconventional wood structures, by the 80s he had scaled back his team and now maintains no more than eight chairs in the office. South Surrey Ice Arena - Surrey, B.C. “When we got too large, I found I was spending more of my time running the company than I was being an archi- tect.” Among the company’s early successes, and real demon- strations for the capabilities of engineered wood construc- tion, were the South Surrey Ice Arena where the team achieved a 50m clear span over an Olympic size rink, and a similar structure completed for the municipality of Abbots- ford that covered 60m by 90m. Trubka’s affinity for and understanding of the capabilities of wood have led to a great deal of First Nations’ work. The company is currently pioneering two new large span wood projects. One will be a 35,000 sq. ft. health and administra- tive building, for the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation in North Van- couver and the other, a community centre for the Lower Nicola Indian Band near Merritt, BC. Both will be con- structed almost completely of wood and engineered wood. Part of his success with First Nations’ projects may also be a reflection of his approach. Understanding that his team is designing buildings intended to serve communities well into the future, community engagement is a big part of the design process. “We get the community involved in contributing ideas and integrate their input. When, at the opening ceremony, a community member comes in and compliments us for incorporating their ideas or sugges- tions, that is very meaningful to us.” That community connection is evident in other ways. Trubka recalls the Acwsalcta School project that was con- structed at a remote wooded location in Bella Coola, B.C. “We harvested the trees directly from the site, milled the wood there, and used local band labour to do the construc- tion so most of the funding for the project stayed in the community. It was a fully sustainable project.” The firm has been recognized with numerous awards over the years including the Prestigious World Architecture News Award in 2010 for the Tseshaht Tribal Multiplex & Health Centre in Port Alberni, BC; a gold medal as Project of the Year for a 69-acre master plan and design of the Liberec Sport and Recreation Complex in the Czech Repub- lic; and multiple other local and international awards. For more information, visit https://www.lubortrubka.com. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 23 TOP 10 CANADA TRUSS Phoenix Building Components continues to expand its products and capacity CADCR special feature Phoenix Building Components is a design/engineer and manufacturer of wood based structural products in- cluding roof trusses, wall panels, floor trusses, timber trusses and engi- neered wood beams and columns. Since its opening in 2005, the com- pany has grown its reach and scope and now provides products across On- tario and Quebec and into New York, Ohio and New England. The company expanded its capabil- ities and ability to achieve greater lev- els of service and quality when it opened a new 50,000 sq. ft. facility in Essa Township near Barrie in 2016, 24 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report doubling its manufacturing space to 45,000 sq. ft., tripling yard space for product storage, and almost doubling its workforce. Grant Gibbons, Phoenix president and CEO, said the new location also al- lowed the company to increase its sales into non-traditional areas, and al- lowed it to manufacture new product lines. In 2017, the company purchased the operations of Ex-Kent trusses, lo- cated in Sundridge, ON, just south of North Bay. The two locations ran dou- ble shifts throughout 2017 in order to maintain supply to meet the demand for its product, says Gibbons. “We have become the largest Ontario based exporter of building compo- nents to the U.S.” From its roots designing and man- ufacturing roof trusses, the company has expanded over its more than 10- year history to include wall and floor panels and floor trusses. It is also a wholesaler of engineered wood prod- ucts including Rimboard, triforce joists, structurally insulated panels, glulam, connectors and hangers, and timber structures. Gibbons says his company’s prod- ucts are used in residential, commer- cial and agricultural construction, and that the precision work allows it to be used for mid-rise projects as well. “All of our roof trusses are lasered and all cutting operations use robotic CNC saws.” The company now employs a staff of 170 and includes 35 designers and engineers and 15 transport drivers. “We’ve seen a 20 per cent growth per annum and have future plans to ex- pand both of our plants to increase our manufacturing capabilities.” He says there are also plans for the construction of a new sales and de- sign office building in Sundridge and the introduction of further automation to the company’s processes. Gibbons attributes the company’s success and growth over time to the quality of product, but also to ten core values that are at the heart of Phoenix’s focus on customer service. “Those core values include commonly sought after goals of exceptional cus- tomer service and honesty, but also focus on embracing and driving change, pursuing growth and learning and maintaining passion for what we do.” For more information, visit www.phoenixbuilding.ca. Phoenix Building Components is one of Ontario's largest and fastest growing manufacturers and wholesale distributors of engineered wood building products. We employ one of the most experienced technical support teams in the industry that know and understand the business. Our team of dedicated professionals support and deliver a complete line of Engi- neered Wood Products at competitive prices. Our products are sold through Retail Building Supply partners throughout Ontario and the Northeast US. These products include: – Roof Trusses – Wall Panels and Floor Panels – Wood I-Joists – Triforce Open Web Joists – LVL Beams and Columns – PSL Beams and Columns – LSL Beams and Columns – Floor Trusses – Rim Board – Structural Insulated Panels – Specialty Products (Glulam Beams & Heavy Timber Trusses) 5650 30th Side Road, Utopia, ON L0M 1T0 (705) 733-3843 local (888) 262-2524 toll free (705) 733-3718 fax email: sales@phoenixbuilding.ca web: www.phoenixbuilding.ca The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 25 TOP 20 GENERAL CONTRACTOR Fillmore Construction Meeting tight deadlines on challenging projects for more than 25 years The CDCR Special Feature Edmonton based Fillmore Construc- tion began more than 25 years ago as a one-man operation. Today, the com- pany works in a variety of sectors, de- livers its expertise to large national chains, and has developed a reputation for being able to deliver on tight dead- lines for even the most challenging projects. Chris Fillmore, president, says the company his father Brent founded grew by leaps and bounds over the lst decade, both in its scope and size. The company’s projects range from con- struction of grocery stores and car dealerships to apartments, schools and seniors’ facilities. Its services in- clude new construction, building ex- pansion, facility maintenance, and tenant improvement. The company’s staff numbers more than 100 and in- cludes 10 project managers, 25 office staff and 30 site supervisors. 26 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report While the company has grown, it has maintained its core value of ‘doing it right’ that Brent founded the company on. “Part of our success in meeting the tight deadlines we work under comes from identifying poten- tial issues before they happen, fixing things before there is a problem if you will. This advance work means that things in the field happen the way we want them to and helps us deliver faster.” Fillmore Construction works for sev- eral national companies including Loblaw, Shoppers Drug Mart, CIBC, RBC, TD, Sobey’s, Liquor Depot, Mc- Donald’s, and Sherritt. One example of the company’s ability to meet dead- lines he says, is a 90,000 sq. ft. Loblaw the team took from a dirt field to grand opening day in seven months plus four days from being awarded the contract. “We understand that these clients are held to strict schedule require- ments, that the owner's project man- ager is under pressure to open on time, so we focus on achieving what they need.” He says the company has also de- veloped an ability to beat others in its key market sectors due to the shear number of projects completed for the same clients over the past decade or more. From its office in Edmonton, Fillmore Construction regularly com- pletes projects throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan and B.C., except Van- couver. It has also completed numer- ous projects in the territories at client’s requests. Fillmore says another aspect of the company’s success is its people. “A solid 20 per cent of our staff have been with the company for more than 10 years and there are many others who have been with us almost that long.” With Brent now largely involved with Legacy Equipment, Fillmore Con- struction’s equipment rental business, Chris and his brother Jeff have taken the helm. “We run the company much the way our father always has, with an open door policy and a focus on main- taining tight relationships with every- one here.” He says during quieter times, there is a focus on building systems, people and programs, so when big projects come or demands are high, the team is ready to work together to respond. That same team comes together to support the local community as well. Together, they have worked on proj- ects for Habitat for Humanity, Pedal Power for the Edmonton Food Bank and have raised just shy of $1,000,000 for the MS Bike Tour in the last eight years. Fillmore Construction has been named one of Canada’s Best Man- aged Companies and is among the 70 Best Employers in Alberta. For more information, visit fillmoreconstruc- tion.com. Food Plants Grocery Stores Automotive Commercial Retail Multi-family / Seniors COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, INSTITUTIONAL The Fillmore Construction team has a Passion for Excellence. We are attuned to our client’s needs and always take great ef- forts to ensure every client thinks first of Fillmore Construction for their future construction projects. Our team is built to fa- cilitate our clients for every size, scale and complexity of projects. Our team regularly completes projects ranging in value from $20,000 to $30,000,000 across Alberta and all of Western Canada. We use innovation and passion to breed our success. Fillmore Construction hosts an industry leading in house Field Management Application and a fully customized tendering database system to ensure our trades are well managed and our pricing is as competitive as possible. 9114 34A Avenue, Edmonton AB T6E 5P4 P: 780.430.0005 F: 780.437.3998 www.fillmoreconstruction.com The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 27 Canada’s Top 10 construction unions: Contributing to members’ interests and the community-at-large Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer It can be a challenge to select Canada’s “Top 10” construction unions and labour organizations – es- pecially since the unions represent different trades and perspectives. This list is based partly on the organi- zations’ size and influence, but the references here are alphabetical, rather than in a ranking order as it is unfair to set one union against an- other in some sort of hierarchy. In terms of size, the Labourers In- ternational Union of North America (LiUNA) is the nation’s largest. The union’s Toronto-area Local 183 wins hands down as the largest in the North America – with more than 55,000 members. We also appreciate that CLAC (The Christian Labour Association of Canada) is regarded as an outlier by the rest of the unions described below, but include it in this list be- cause the organization indeed bar- gains on behalf of its members and represents thousands of workers in the Canadian construction industry. CLAC is especially strong in areas of Ontario and Alberta. United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (Carpenters Union) This union, with locals across the country, co-ordinates extensive train- ing programs for both new and expe- rienced carpenters, increasing the 28 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report trade’s relevance and importance within the industry. In Ontario, the Carpenters Union has been a key force in the formation of the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT). CLAC – Christian Labour Association of Canada CLAC advocates for workers dif- ferently than other trade unions; speaking for an interdisciplinary ap- proach, where members can take on different trades and tasks once they have achieved the required qualifica- tions (and can do the work safely and reliably). International Brotherhood of Boilermakers The Boilermakers Union’s locals are among the most substantial sup- porters of the Helmets to Hardhats program, creating career paths for former soldiers in the heavy con- struction environment. This is not work for the meek and mild – the union represents individuals capable of hard, heavy-duty work. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) IBEW’s locals, representing skilled electricians, have been strong propo- nents for the trade, and the union has advocated for working environ- ment/rules to improve worksite safety. International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers This union supports significant training programs and initiatives, and in Ontario has been one of the lead- ing proponents of both the OCOT and the new Construction Act (Bill 142). International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) The union represents thousands of crane and heavy equipment opera- tors across the country. It operates training institutes to ensure that oper- ators can handle the equipment safely and efficiently. International Union of Painters and Allied Trades The painters union represents more than painters – it advocates for highly skilled workers applying spe- cialized coatings in industrial and in- stitutional environments, where specialized training and strong safety knowledge must be combined to complete the work reliably. International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) The former Sheet Metals Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) merged with the United Transporta- tion Union (UTU) in 2014, to form the new, larger organization. The union has more than 15,000 sheet metal and roofing members in Canada. PROUD TO BE ONE OF CANADA’S TOP 10 CONSTRUCTION UNIONS clac.ca CLAC A Unique Approach to Labour Relations Special to Canadian Design and Construction Report By Wayne Prins CLAC is a different kind of union. And it’s always been that way. In the early 1950s, the Cana- dian labour scene was chaotic and often violent. Most unions were grounded in the ideology of class warfare. One group of workers knew there was a better way. In 1952, they founded CLAC as a union guided by the principles of re- spect, dignity, and fairness for all workers. CLAC works to bring justice to workplaces and protect and improve the lives of workers it represents. It negotiates collective agreements that provide fair wages, excellent working conditions, and comprehensive benefits. It does so through an approach to labour rela- tions based on partnership, not con- frontation. CLAC knows that the work com- munity is a better place when every- one works together for the benefit of all. It’s this view that has led others in the labour movement to criticize CLAC for not being militant enough. But what other unions don’t like about CLAC is exactly what has led CLAC to be successful while other unions have struggled to remain relevant. CLAC signatories have completed public and private construction proj- ects across Canada at a combined value of well over $100 billion, while supporting labour inclusiveness and career advancement for tens of thou- sands of workers in the skilled trades. Multitrade support, fair and open 30 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report tendering practices, managed open sites for major projects—these are features of CLAC’s progressive model. They ensure that construction work, a huge piece of the Canadian economy, remains accessible to all Canadian workers while maximizing the full potential of Canada’s skilled workforce. At its heart, CLAC wants to keep people working. It offers skills courses and training programs that are open to both members and non- members in its well-equipped training facilities. It also does not limit who workers can work for, where they can work, which trades they can work in, or even their union affiliation. CLAC strongly supports the right of workers to choose the type of union representation they want—free of intimidation from either employers or unions. That’s why it opposes so- called right-to-work legislation, which severely undermines worker rights. That’s why it remains independent of larger labour bodies, which pre- vent raiding between affiliated unions thus restricting worker choice. CLAC believes that competi- tion holds unions accountable to their members. Not surprisingly, the main- stream labour movement has tried to destroy CLAC since day one. In the beginning, CLAC sur- vived thanks to the support and courage of workers who paid dues to the union out of princi- ple—including workers who took out membership even though CLAC did not represent them at their place of employment. Their early sacrifices have paid off. Today, CLAC represents more than 60,000 workers across Canada in many different sectors in- cluding construction, healthcare, service, retail, and transportation, to name a few. CLAC members have ac- cess to cost-effective benefits plans, secure retirement programs, profes- sional representation, and a full range of services—all while paying some of the lowest dues in the country. CLAC celebrates workers and their achievements every day. It believes that we all achieve a measure of greatness as we go about our daily tasks of building our country and helping each other succeed. It applies the principles of respect, dignity, and fairness to everyone in the work com- munity, because the best workplace is one in which everyone works to- gether. These are the unique hallmarks of CLAC—and they always will be. Wayne Prins is CLAC’s executive director. For more information see www.clac.ca. LOOKING SOUTH Capture insights and opportunities from the United States Would you like to expand your market or understand your competition? You can learn about several regional US architectural, engineering and construction markets through the Construction News and Report Group’s network of US publications including: North Carolina Construction News – www.ncconstructionnews.com Florida Construction News – www.floridaconstructionnews.com New York Construction Report – www.newyorkconstructionreport.com Indiana Construction News – www.indianaconstructionnews.com Chicago Construction News - www.chicagoconstructions.com and coming soon: California Construction News – www.californiaconstructionnews.com The Design and Construction Report (US Edition) – www.dcnreport.com Each publication has content relevant for the region and a weekly eletter, available on request, to keep you informed about new developments. If you are interested in reaching the relevant US markets, we can co-ordinate advertising packages including website and magazine advertisements, native (editorialized) advertising with relevant social media links, and publicity in the online eletters. For more information, visit the relevant publications’ websites or email chase@cnrgp.com or Tim Lawlor at tlawlor@cnrgp.com. You can also call (888) 627-8717 ext 114. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 31 NEWS BRIEFS BRITISH COLUMBIA Opioid addiction problem plagues BC Construction Industry Demand for a construction industry program that offers services and men- tal health treatment has more than doubled in the past year, mainly driven by the fentanyl overdose epidemic and the organization’s efforts to reach more workers, The Vancouver Sun has reported. “It is frightening what is happening in our industry,” said Vicky Waldron, executive director of the Construction Industry Rehabilitation Plan (CRIP). “One of the reasons we are seeing so many people coming in is because they are scared. Fentanyl has a huge amount to do with it … And it’s just not showing any signs of slowing down.” The published report says the exact number of construction trades work- ers affected by opioid addiction isn’t known, though it is a small portion of the overall population working in the industry. Still, the challenges are ex- ceptional. The Fraser Health Authority has said a “disproportionate number” of those overdosing in the region are working- age men employed in the trades. In just over a year, CIRP has helped 200 clients, Waldron said. She said it isn’t easy to explain why the construc- tion industry has been hit so hard, be- cause the reasons behind addictions are often complex. One reason could be the fact that the mostly male members of the in- dustry are reluctant to discuss their health or other concerns, the newspa- per reported. Other factors assessed include co-curing mental health is- sues, early childhood trauma, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). “I can really see what is going on in the construction industry isn’t dissimi- lar to what is happening in (Vancou- ver’s) Downtown Eastside,” Waldron was quoted as saying. “These are peo- ple who are really struggling and trying to cope.” CIRP is funded by the Construction 32 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA Labour Relations Association, repre- senting employers and contractors, and the Building Trades Council, an umbrella organization representing 17 construction unions with 35,000 mem- bers. Lantern-inspired condo building to rise in Vancouver’s Chinatown To contribute to Chinatown’s neigh- bourhood identity, the designers of a mixed-use development set to rise at 239 Keefer in Vancouver have de- signed a structure that resembles a Chinese lantern. Based on the development applica- tion submitted to the city by Mallen Gowing Berzins Architecture, the building will feature eight levels. The ground floor and mezzanine will house retail spaces, while the second and third will house office spaces. The re- maining levels have been designed for residential use, delivering a total of 25 condo units. According to the architect, it recog- nizes that “the challenges of develop- ment in Chinatown have been increasingly evident.” Therefore, its team came up with a “design lan- guage” that “looks to the existing ar- chitectural stock and fabric of Chinatown, incorporating precedents of materiality and existing design lan- guage without being merely deriva- tive.” In a design rationale included in the development application, the architect wrote that “community sensitivities to- wards development formed the pri- mary driver to the approach of this site renewal project.” ALBERTA TransAlta and Tidewater announce plans to construct 120-kilometre natural gas pipeline Clean electricity provider TransAlta Corporation and natural gas company Tidewater Midstream and Infrastruc- ture Ltd. have announced they have entered into a Letter of Intent (LOI) for Tidewater to build a natural gas pipeline extending for 120 kilometres from its Brazeau River Complex to TransAlta’s generators at Sundance and Keephills. This pipeline is a part of TransAlta’s strategy to use natural gas instead of coal to power its units at Sundance and Keephills. This conversion will ex- tend operating life, cut operating costs and reduce emissions. The pipeline’s initial capacity is ex- pected to be at 130 MMcf/d by 2020, with an expansion capability of 340 MMcf/d. The latter figure represents about 50 per cent of TransAlta’s gas demands when running at full capac- ity. In the LOI, the company has the op- tion to invest up to 50 per cent in the pipeline. “Construction of the natural gas pipeline supports our strategy of being a low-cost provider of firm, clean and reliable energy,” said TransAlta CEO and president Dawn Farrell. “In addition, having greater access to natural gas allows TransAlta to blend natural gas with the coal, prior to fully converting the units, allowing us to take advantage of low natural gas prices and to reduce our carbon costs,” Farrell said. “Tidewater is excited to enter into a long-term arrangement with TransAlta which is supported by a 15-year take or pay agreement that provides oil and gas producers throughout Western Canada with direct connectivity to a new large demand source,” said Tide- water CEO and president Joel MacLeod. New Calgary library on Architectural Digest’s list of the 12 most anticipated buildings of 2018 The $245-million Central Library in Calgary’s East Village has received in- ternational recognition by Architectural Digest as one of the 12 most antici- pated buildings of 2018. The building is the only Canadian project in the list, which includes landmarks from sev- eral other nations. The structure due to be completed later this year includes 30 free meeting rooms, a 350-seat performance hall, an Early Learning Centre for children and a space just for teens with video, music and gaming stations, CBC re- ports. part of the dispute resolution process within the New West Partnership agreement designed to ensure free in- terprovincial trade in the four western provinces. The Herald reports that Alberta and Saskatchewan have been sniping at each other for a couple of years. “Alberta poked Saskatchewan’s craft beer industry in the eye by pro- viding grants to local brewers — sub- sidies that weren’t available to other competitors in Canada,” the Herald re- ported. “But the tit-for-tat tactics turned into a full-scale feud.” “Saskatchewan Infrastructure Min- ister David Marit banned Alberta li- cence plates on government-funded project work sites, citing feedback from provincial contractors who felt their vehicles weren’t welcome on Al- berta job sites and they were blocked from bidding on Alberta contracts,” the newspaper reported. However, the Herald also reported that no one could offer any tangible examples or proof of discriminatory tactics. MANITOBA Winnipeg budget 2018: Larger funding for road renewals, tighter for overall infrastructure development International architecture firm Snøhetta and DIALOG have jointly designed the building. ALBERTA-SASKATCHEWAN Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has unveiled a $1.08 billion city budget that increases spending on road re- newals, while slashing overall funding for infrastructure development. Interprovincial license plate trade war breaks out An interprovincial trade war has bro- ken out over contractor’s license plates, as the Saskatchewan govern- ment decided to ban vehicles with Al- berta plates from working on public job sites there. The two sides indicated in mid-De- cember they would meet in Lloydmin- ster, a city which straddles the two provinces, sometime in January 2018 to discuss their differences, the Cal- gary Herald has reported. Alberta says if it doesn’t get a reso- lution by Jan. 22, the matter will be headed to a binding arbitration panel, The city plans to spend a record $116 million on rebuilding roads on a single project, the rehabilitation of Em- press St. between St. Matthews Ave. and Portage Ave. The proposed amount reflects an $11-million increase from 2017’s spending. It will be sourced from a property tax hike proposed for 2018. Additionally, the reduced allocation for overall infrastructure spending also al- lows the city to rein in spending for road renewals. The tax-supported portion of the city’s budget, which is used to pay for new roads and bridges, major repairs and equipment purchases, will drop by $74 million. In 2018, Winnipeg plans to spend only $246 million. Moreover, the amount of actual cash the city plans to appropriate to overall infrastructure spending is down from 2017’s budget of $31 million, to $23 million. This is the second consecutive year the city has reduced its proposed in- frastructure funding, which has been down by about a third since 2016. This dramatic dip is taking place when bor- rowing costs are low, and according to city finance officials, it presents a fu- ture risk as borrowing costs are ex- pected to increase. The new city budget elicited mixed reactions from different sectors. Ac- cording to CBC News, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard commended the city for reining in spending, while Mani- toba Heavy Construction Association president Chris Lorenc said he ap- proves of the spending for road reha- bilitation. Manitoba Throne Speech highlights infrastructure investments and implementation of Made-in-Manitoba plan In the Throne Speech presented Nov. 30, the Manitoba provincial gov- ernment reiterated its commitment to invest in “strategic” infrastructure de- velopments, and its intention to study public-private partnerships (P3s) as op- tions for construction of school pro- jects. “Our ongoing commitment to mak- ing strategic infrastructure invest- ments on the basis of real value for money, as we continue to make progress on inherited fiscal chal- lenges, will continue,” stated Premier Brian Pallister in the speech delivered by Lt. Gov. Janice Filmon. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 33 NEWS BRIEFS “It includes making maximum use of available federal funding under Phase 1 of the Investing in Canada Fund and committing our full provin- cial allocation under the established Building Canada. And it enables our ability to effectively leverage funding support for shared provincial and mu- nicipal priorities and for the protection and development of vital provincial as- sets,” Pallister said. The speech has also reaffirmed the province’s promise to support munici- pal governments through the Fair Say initiative. It highlighted that Manitoba’s partnership with communities have re- sulted in “historic infrastructure pro- jects” such as Bus Rapid Transit in Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. Pallister also announced that an “ex- pert advisory commission of Manito- bans” will be established to create laws strengthening water conserva- tion efforts, as well as establishing a new licensing authority for water man- agement. The commission will also work with private landowners to con- serve wetlands and natural habitats. ONTARIO Toronto to see first purpose-built affordable homes after more than 10 years After more than 10 years of not hav- ing any purpose-built residential devel- opment, Toronto will finally see 22 affordable housing units, which are to be developed by St. Clare’s Multifaith Housing Society for Kensington’s homeless population. The charitable foundation an- nounced on Dec. 6 that an excavator has already broken ground on the site beside St. Clare’s existing property on Leonard Ave., east of Bathurst St. Construction of the three-storey building is slated to commence in the spring of 2018. It is supported by neighbours and funded by govern- ment and corporate donors. Companies who have pitched in to finance the affordable homes are: Aspen Ridge, Brown Group, Great Gulf Homes, Greenpark Homes, Heavy 34 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA Construction Association of Toronto, Laurier Homes, Liberty Development, Lindvest, LiUNA Local 183, LiUNA On- tario Provincial District Council, Mat- tamy Homes, Menkes, Ontario Formwork Association, Silvercore, Tridel and Yorkwood. Together, these companies and other construction partners have raised $1 million. “We chose to support this project because we believe the construction industry should give back,” said RESCON chairman emeritus Phil Rubi- noff. The project will also receive finan- cial assistance from the city through its Open Door Program. On top of waived municipal fees and develop- ment charges, the developer will be given $500,000. “I applaud the hard work and vision of St. Clare’s to make this innovative project a reality. St. Clare’s is a model that works. Their partnership-based approach has created new opportuni- ties for those seeking a safe, clean, af- fordable place to call home,” said Ana Bailao, Toronto deputy mayor and chair of the affordable housing com- mittee. Developers propose 42- storey addition for 415 Yonge office building A rezoning application has been submitted to the City of Toronto for 415 Yonge St. proposing a 42-storey residential addition above the existing 19-storey office building, Urban- toronto.ca reports. The site includes 409 through to 415 Yonge St,, as well as 9 and 17 McGill St. Winnipeg-based Marwest Group of Companies owns the site and the pro- ject has been designed by Kirkor Archi- tects & Planners, the website reports. If approved, the addition would rise to a final height of 239.35 metres, in- creasing residential density along the Yonge subway line. The architects have designed the addition from the 20th floor to a final height of 61 storeys, with a “pinch” de- sign around mid height. “To create vi- sual interest, translucent bands across the north and south massing cut through the glass facade and an angu- lar vertical design is seen rising up the east elevation,” Urbantoronto reports. Two interstitial floors between the ex- isting tower and addition would be in- cluded for structural and mechanical support. “High-rise additions to existing of- fice towers is not common, but it is not a new concept for the Toronto de- velopment scene, with construction continuing at 488 University Ave. right now,” the site says. “The 1968-built 18- storey office tower has been com- pletely refaced with an energy-efficient curtainwall cladding system over a new support structure, while the con- struction of 37 new residential floors, reaching a height of 55-storeys, is un- derway above.” Trades start working on $2.7 million renovation for new OCA headquarters Tradespeople have started work on the $2.7 million renovation at the Ot- tawa Construction Association’s (OCA) new headquarters. Ron Eastern Construction Ltd. (RECL) is overseeing the project as construction manager, says OCA pres- ident John DeVries. RECL “has as- sisted us through the process of architect and engineer selection under a CM (Construction Management) con- tract.” McRobie Architects has de- signed the renovated structure. “The renovations have started this past week (in early January), with the second phase of the interior demoli- tion,” DeVries says. “Contracts with all the sub-trades are being concluded this week following trade tender pro- cess in November.” The OCA says it will have 3,790 sq. ft. of tenant space available for lease when the building opens on July 1. QUEBEC The Hewitt Group completes the sale of its business to Toromont Industries The Hewitt Group based in Pointe Claire says that it has completed the sale of its business to Toromont Indus- tries. “Over the last 65 years in the case of Hewitt Equipment and 90 years in the case of Atlantic, successive gener- ations of dedicated team members have made huge contributions as our customers have shaped and built our infrastructures and economies across Québec and Eastern Canada,” said Jim Hewitt, chairman and CEO of Hewitt Equipment. The announcement says the organi- zation will become part of an extensive Canadian network covering Central and Eastern Canada and Nunavut. Company employees will continue to support customers through the enter- prise’s combined branch facilities with high quality products, talented work- forces, as well as the expertise of both companies, Hewitt says in its news re- lease. TV station apologizes for false mosque construction worker discrimination report A TV station has apologized for and retracted its story that a mosque asked for female construction workers to be excluded from a worksite. TVA had originally reported that the Ahl-Ill-Bait mosque in Cote des Neiges had asked for women to be removed from a construction site near their place of worship — however there never was any such request, CTV news says. As soon as the report was issued, the leaders of the mosque said that no- body had ever made such a request, and said the only thing it had asked for was that people be able to park near the mosque on Fridays. Mosque representatives said that they would never ask for women to be banned from a worksite. TVA stood by its story about the banning of women for several days, even saying that this clause was writ- ten in the contract, but was never able to prove any such clause existed – nor that any women were actually re- moved from the worksite. Diane Lemieux, president of Que- bec’s construction commission, said investigators had examined the con- tracts and talked to the mosque, as well as the construction workers at the site, and found no evidence for any- thing that TVA had claimed. “There is no indication, no sign, ab- solutely no sign that would lead us to believe that anyone from the mosques asked for this,” CTV quoted Lemieux as saying. “There is no such clause in the contract indicating that women should be removed.” Since the story aired, the mosque said it’s been flooded with hateful comments and threats. “It’s baseless accusations that happened, and we have women, we have children who go to this place, we have never had any problem,” said Boshra Garawi. “This escalates more the hate and the opin- ion against Muslims.” The story prompted a white nation- alist group to schedule a protest out- side the mosque – a protest which the group later cancelled, with members saying they felt they had been deliber- ately deceived. TVA eventually issued a retraction, indicating that the situation had “evolved,” and the next day issued a second retraction, stating that it “re- grets the situation and wishes to apol- ogize to the various parties and viewers who have been affected by this report.” NEW BRUNSWICK Moncton approves 120-room Hyatt Hotel development plan Moncton council has approved the $3 million sale of a piece of prime downtown real estate to the Corey Craig Group to be developed as a 120- room Hyatt Hotel, costing about $17 million. Craig O’Neill, president and CEO of Corey Craig Group, told the CBC that the purchase has been in the works for about two years. “Construction is going to start in the spring of 2018, with an 18-month window so we should be able to turn that around by early 2020.” O’Neill owns 37 Tim Hortons restau- rants across southeastern New Brunswick. His company also owns Wendy’s outlets and the Holiday Inn Express, near Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport. Rice Contracting Ltd. of Moncton will build the structure and Architects Four Limited are providing the planning and design work. The downtown cen- tre is scheduled to be finished in September. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Winter 2018 – 35 NEWS BRIEFS NOVA SCOTIA Work starts on second phase of Halifax Ferry Terminal infrastructure upgrades Halifax and the federal government have announced the start of phase two for infrastructure upgrades to the Halifax Ferry Terminal. The upgrades include the renovation of the wash- room facilities and the installation of a modern ceiling acoustic panel system that will dampen unwanted noise and create a more welcoming area for pas- sengers, a news release says. The fed- eral government is contributing $500,000 for the project. Halifax reviews construction noise bylaw Halifax councillors plan to take a closer look at construction noise in residential neighbourhoods, CBC re- ports. The city’s current noise bylaw was last updated in 1999. It states that con- struction on weekdays is permitted between 7 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., on Sat- urdays between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. and on Sundays and holidays between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. A south-end residents advocacy group has been pushing to get those hours reduced. “All they have to do is come and live in one of these places, a residential neighbourhood that has a mainstream development going on, and if you have to listen to a pile driver 12 hours a day, seven days a week, it can get pretty te- dious,” said Chris Annand, the vice- chair of Park to Park Community Association. 36 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA The committee agreed to ask for a staff report outlining options for changes to the noise bylaw. “It is very far out of sync with what other major cities are doing,” said committee chair Wayne Mason. He said the type of con- struction in the city has changed since the bylaw was updated 18 years ago. NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Companies respond to RFP call to make use of idle Bull Arm fabrication site in post-Hebron era PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Province in search of engineer for Victoria seawall upgrades The Village of Victoria is looking for engineering companies that are inter- ested in working on major upgrades to the community, including replacing the seawall, CBC reports. The province recently put out a re- quest for proposals, calling on engi- neering companies to submit applications and designs for the pro- ject, with the hopes of having con- struction of the wall completed by spring. The 90-metre-long seawall is part of major upgrades to the area, including a new pedestrian pathway to connect the waterfront with green space and business areas, a recreational area and upgrading the historic Victoria school- house. “We’re hoping to get a big re- sponse,” said Kent Bruyneel, executive director of Central Development Cor- poration, the company overseeing the project. Victoria received funding through ACOA in 2016 and is using its gas tax to help pay for the projects. The com- bined cost of all three projects is ex- pected to be about $1.2 million. Bruyneel said some engineering companies have expressed interest in the project. Candidates will undergo a scoring process by his company and Victoria’s administration, with a selec- tion made in February. Four companies have answered a request for proposals from Nalcor to use the idle Bull Arm fabrication site in Trinity Bay in the post-Hebron era, CBC reports. They include G.J. Cahill & Company Limited, DFB Driver, Pennecon Heavy Civil Limited, and Canadian Supply Base Company, all with St. John’s ad- dresses. A spokesperson for Nalcor Energy, which owns the site, said the propos- als are being evaluated “with the goal of securing a tenant that will maximize site utilization and attract sustainable business opportunities.” Once the assessments are com- plete, Nalcor hopes to begin negotia- tions with one or more of the companies, and potentially sign leases by the end of March. Nalcor describes the 6,300-acre property as Atlantic Canada’s largest industrial fabrication site. It has been quiet since the massive Hebron oil production facility was completed and towed out to sea last June. Nalcor is marketing Bull Arm as an ideal site for activities like steel fabri- cation, concrete construction, deep water commissioning, platform com- missioning, supply servicing, rig- retrofitting and more. 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