Canada's largest group of profession- als in laboratory and on-site testing, quality control and technical know- how dedicated exclusively to the build- ing-science field, will now be known as C.L.E.B. (Conseil et laboratoire en enveloppe du bâtiment, or building en- velope consulting and laboratory). This new brand image marks the strategic repositioning of two sister companies – Patenaude Trempe Van Dalen (PTVD) and Air-Ins – to create a new group synergy. And to mark the occasion, C.L.E.B. inaugurated in Oc- tober a new head office in Varennes, near Montreal, and the expansion of its testing laboratory, an investment of more than $3 million. “For more than 30 years, Air Ins and PTVD have grown individually while providing complementary services in their field of application," says C.L.E.B. president Mario Gonçalves. "Rooted in the values instilled by their respective founders, these two companies have grown to maturity and are recognized as North American leaders in their field. The expertise of our staff and our laboratory facilities, among the biggest in Canada, enable us to provide one- stop service for major projects across Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. Creating C.L.E.B. shows our desire to emphasize the synergy that has always existed be- tween our two companies with the aim of serving our clients better." The head office, which has grown to more than 41,000 sq. ft. from 23,000, has been designed by the Éric Labbé architecture firm. The new brand image was developed by the Minimal Médias team. NEW BRUNSWICK Housing to decline through 2016 – CMHC Canada Mortgage and Housing Cor- poration's (CMHC's) fall housing mar- ket report for Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton indicates that residential construction in New Brunswick's large urban centres is expected to decline until 2016. “Rising out-migration will negatively impact demand for new single-de- tached homes while persistently high vacancy rates in the province's large urban centres will slow multi-residen- tial construction activity, resulting in an overall decline in total housing starts in 2015 and 2016,” said Claude Gautreau, CMHC's senior market ana- lyst for New Brunswick. Rapid expan- sion of the rental universe in some markets combined with out-migration has exerted upward pressure on the vacancy rate. Moncton hopes new Liberal government will commit to sports and entertainment centre Moncton’s city manager says he wants Premier Brian Gallant’s new Lib- eral government to commit to a similar financial package for a new downtown sports and entertainment centre as was promised by the former Tory government, CBC has reported. “We need to reconfirm the provin- cial funding to the project given there was a change in government,” Jaques Dube said. Just before the campaign that led to the former Tory government's defeat in the Sept. 22 provincial election, for- mer economic development minister Bruce Fitch appeared with Moncton mayor George LeBlanc at a news con- ference where the provincial govern- ment promised $23.85 million for the proposed centre. NOVA SCOTIA Halifax police investigate $40,000 construction drill theft Someone stole a $40,000 hammer drill in downtown Halifax, near the new Nova Centre construction site, police say. Halifax Regional Police Const. Holly Tooke told the CBC that moving the giant piece of equipment would have required a lot of effort. "So it's rather large and heavy,” she was quoted as saying. “It would be used for breaking concrete and rock so it would take significant effort to re- move it from the site so you have to have someone helping you and have the appropriate transportation to be able to remove it.” Tooke asks anyone who saw any- thing relating to the theft to contact police at (902) 490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Nova Scotia awards contract to research ultra-deepwater oil potential Petrofac has been awarded a con- tract to work with the government of Nova Scotia to help identify the best way forward to exploit its ultra-deep- water oil potential. Under the contract's terms, Petro- fac has been asked to deliver a devel- opment study for a prospective oil reservoir 3,000 m. beneath the seabed, in water depth of 2,000 m. This is a multi-discipline, integrated project, being led by Petrofac’s spe- cialist subsea engineering business, K W Subsea, a news release reports. Additionally, teams from within Petrofac’s Engineering & Consulting Services (ECS) business and the wider group capability will provide support to the project, ranging from process de- sign, naval architecture, subsea engi- neering, cost estimating as well as a specific drilling scope. The project is expected to be completed in early 2015. “The potential outcomes of this study are of strategic importance for the Nova Scotia government and a great step forward for Petrofac in the ultra-deepwater market,” said Craig Muir, managing director for Petrofac’s ECS business. “The wider capability set of the Petrofac Group really helped us offer a value proposition. We now look forward to delivering that propo- The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Fall 2014 – 15