New partnership accelerates energy retrofits in Alberta MURBs

Alberta Ecotrust Foundation and Efficiency Capital have joined forces to deliver deep energy retrofits in multi-unit residential buildings across the province of Alberta. The goal of the partnership is to align with both Calgary and Edmonton’s climate plans by accelerating building retrofits, a key action for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

“This model works great because Efficiency Capital manages the process, provides access to the capital and provides assurances with its partners that the cost savings and emissions reductions will be achieved,” said Philipp Binder, Director of Operations on the first project currently underway in Edmonton.

“Through this partnership we can better help building owners implement deep emissions reductions while also creating more local jobs in the retrofit industry,” added Mike Mellross, Alberta Ecotrust Program Director. “Alberta Ecotrust will be a source of capital as well as serve as a connector between Efficiency Capital and building owners by providing some coaching assistance at the outset of the project.”

According to Efficiency Capital’s CEO, Chandra Ramadurai, the company’s business model aims to help building owners achieve better building performance, reduce emissions, and save money on energy bills without needing upfront capital.

“We are excited to partner with Alberta Ecotrust, bridging private and public sector funding to break down barriers to low-carbon solutions and improve energy efficiency in the residential multi-unit building sector,” she said.

Between Efficiency Capital’s impact funding platform and Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s Climate Innovation Fund, over $140 million in capital can be mobilized into project investments. Interested building owners and trade allies can find more information at [email protected].

New obligations loom for airport authorities

Airport authorities would have to establish noise management committees, develop climate action plans and report annually on the diversity of their executive ranks and board of directors under proposed new federal legislation. Bill C-52, introduced just before the House of Commons recessed for the summer, sets out the framework for a new Air Transportation Accountability Act and introduces amendments to the Transportation Act to require federally regulated transportation providers to report on barriers to accessibility.

Approximately 90 per cent of Canadian air travel is channelled through the 26 facilities in the National Airports System, most of which are operated by not-for-profit airport authorities holding long-term leases with the federal government. It’s proposed that airports surpassing the threshold of 60,000 flights per year for three consecutive years would be required to have a noise management committee.

Such committees would deal with questions and complaints from the public, lead public consultations related to any alterations in flight paths and would be required to hold public meetings at least four times per year. Membership, at minimum, is to include a representative from the airport operator, NAV Canada, the airport’s host municipality and an air carrier operating from the airport.

Climate action plans would be a specific requirement for airport authorities, and would entail two documents. An adaptation plan would assess current and projected impacts of climate change on airport operations and assets and identify required response measures. As well, the adaptation plan would consider potential commercial opportunities that climate change could present. A complementary mitigation plan would include a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target and a description of the actions that will taken to achieve the target. Both documents would have to be updated at five-year intervals.

Details for reporting on diversity are to be established in future regulations. However, the proposed Act prescribes a published annual report and concurrent submission to the Minister of Transportation. Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Transportation Act would give the government authority to require regulated transportation providers to provide data related to accessibility within their facilities and operations, which could then be made publicly available.

Ensuring front-line workers are safe and engaged

A thriving facility starts with prioritizing staff, cleanliness, and safety. However, overworking employees and relying on them to maintain their own workplace has been shown to lead to negative outcomes such as burnout or safety hazards. Outsourcing properly trained professionals has many benefits, including peace of mind by hiring front-line workers that specialize in cleaning and maintaining facilities. Finding a team who meets your facility’s cleaning standards can be daunting, but with a few simple tips, you can get the right team for your needs. Here are key initiatives to look for when outsourcing cleaning and maintenance professionals for your business.

Safety first

Cleaning and maintenance professions consist of physically demanding tasks that, after years of work, can take a great toll on someone’s body. Along with the labour demands, if maintenance professionals are not trained properly, the misuse of cleaning chemicals and equipment can quickly lead to significant injuries.

Before outsourcing a cleaning team, make sure that the staff members have received prior training on how to use cleaning equipment properly, know which cleaning chemicals can be mixed, and how to maintain different building environments thoroughly, so they can provide the service you need. While the team you hire should come with their own set of skills, take the time to ensure your cleaning expectations are clear and that the building layout is understood. Every facility requires a unique cleaning and maintenance routine and schedule, making the onboarding process for cleaning crews crucial.

Employee engagement

Hiring a team of employees who show consistent engagement displays a strong work ethic and dedication to providing exceptional service. Employee engagement has also been linked to employee retention rates, and in today’s economy, that’s critical. A study found that 63.3 per cent of companies find retaining employees harder than hiring them, so simplify your life with a great team and lower turnover. When employees don’t feel engaged in their job, productivity levels and interest in their work drop, which costs you money.

Particularly in the cleaning industry, the retention rate has significantly decreased in recent years. When outsourcing cleaning and maintenance professionals, look for companies that prioritize employee engagement and invest in keeping long-term team members who can confidently maintain your facility.

Leadership efforts

Employees who take the initiative to continuously learn and possess a growth mindset offer a strong contribution to a business. These employees often strive for leadership roles that further their responsibilities and involvement. Employees are more likely to increase productivity and engagement when leadership opportunities are available to them. In fact, studies show that for every year a company delays leadership development, it costs 7 per cent of its total annual sales. Outsourcing commercial cleaning services that offer continuous training and leadership opportunities to their employees helps guarantee that you are hiring from a company that cares about bettering its team and is committed to forward-thinking and moving ahead.

Guarantee the best for your facility

Finding front-line workers that meet your facility’s cleaning standards and can relieve the stress of maintaining your building may seem overwhelming. However, looking for key attributes such as safety, engagement, and leadership is a good place to start. Prioritize services that provide sustainable and high-quality cleaning services while providing development resources for their team members. When you hire a service that cares about its workers, it reflects positively on their work, and that’s good for your business.

Lisa Cleaver is the director of human resources at GSF USA, a leading provider of cleaning services. For more information, visit www.gsf-usa.com or contact Cleaver at [email protected].

Ta’talu Elementary starts construction in Surrey

Construction has started on the new Ta’talu Elementary school in Surrey. The new three-storey school will have space for 655 students, in addition to child care space. The school is expected to open in January 2025.

“As more families choose to make this community their home, we will continue to make progress in delivering new and expanded schools for Surrey students,” said Rachna Singh, minister of Education and Child Care. “Ta’talu Elementary will be a safe, supportive learning space for local kids and families for years to come.”

The name Ta’talu was gifted to the school district by Semiahmoo First Nation Chief Harley Chappell. Derived from the SENĆOŦEN language, it translates to “little arms,” paying homage to the school’s location near Campbell River and its tributaries, which are often referred to as the little arms of the river. SENĆOŦEN is the ancestral language spoken by the Semiahmoo peoples, encapsulating the rich cultural heritage of the area.

“The opening of this school and the naming using the traditional language of the lands is great for the relationship building between Semiahmoo and the school district, students, staff and local residents,” said Chief Harley Chappell, Semiahmoo First Nation. “We’re excited to be acknowledged and share our culture with our neighbours and all the people that now call Surrey home.”

Funding was also announced for expansions at Guildford Park and Tamanawis Secondary schools. Guildford Park will be getting 18 additional classrooms with the provincial government’s investment of $59.5 million and Tamanawis will be getting 23 more classrooms with a $52 million investment.

Since September 2017, the Government of B.C. has approved $520 million for school upgrades, land purchases, school expansions, and new school construction in Surrey. These investments have resulted in more than 10,000 new student seats in the district, helping address enrolment growth in Surrey.

Mould prevention is a priority in healthcare

In a healthcare setting, the importance of preventing the growth and proliferation of mould takes on new dimensions.

“The moment you see mould in a hospital or healthcare facility is the second you want to do something about it,” says Brendan Murphy with First Onsite Property Restoration. “Mould can cause a wide range of health issues, which can pose severe risks to patients already dealing with immune deficiencies or respiratory issues.”

For some patients, exposure to mould spores can result in coughing, congestion, fevers, or headaches. For others, it can lead to severe respiratory conditions that can be fatal if left unaddressed, particularly in older or more vulnerable demographics. The challenge in preventing these risks within healthcare settings, however, is that mould can enter a hospital or medical facility through a number of means and remain undetected for long periods.

“There are plenty of ways mould starts growing within a hospital, and after it takes root, mould only needs 24 to 48 hours to grow and 1 to 12 days to start colonizing,” Murphy adds.

A latent risk

Healthcare environments can be an ideal home for mould. Consider that mould feeds on wet cellulose materials and thrives in humid environments. This can include hospital laundry rooms, kitchens, patient showers, bathrooms, and areas where water has been left to collect, such as behind walls, under flooring, or within the ductwork. Even something as simple as a patient forgetting to turn off a tap in their room or water seepage into wall of floors cracks during cleaning is all it takes to establish the conditions in which mould begins to form.

Mould is also a common concern after an emergency (e.g., leak, flood, extreme storm) or construction project (e.g., renovation, expansion, etc.) where water can slip through deficiencies in the building envelope and/or ventilation systems fail.

Even the best HVAC equipment and hospital facility designs can fail to keep mould from forming. The sooner these issues are spotted, the better, which is why all healthcare facility stakeholders are encouraged to keep an eye out for “tell-tale” signs of mould, which include (but are not limited to) black spots or other forms of mildew on walls, swollen floorboards/walls, musty smells, water stains, and persistent health impacts (e.g., coughing, fever, etc.).

Raising the defences

There are solutions to help prevent mould in a healthcare environment. Beyond addressing areas with high humidity and poor ventilation, other proactive measures can be taken. Mould identification and remediation plans should kick in once a leak or water-related incident is discovered. Using leak detection technology to get immediate alerts can ensure proper safeguards are in place to manage the risks.

Removing mould is more complex than simply wiping it from view. There are specific guidelines for mould removal in a healthcare environment pertaining to how the potential health risks are evaluated, where patients should be moved, and what constitutes successful remediation. For example, air quality testing must occur before, during, and after removal to verify the problem has been properly remediated.

“With mould issues, the facility can choose to handle the issue internally, but it is best to seek out a restoration partner like ourselves who can tackle the problem using everything in our toolkit,” says Murphy. “Either way, it’s important to have an emergency response plan that you can follow to remove that risk for hospital staff, patients, and guests.”

Mould is a priority risk in healthcare environments. With diligence, planning, and the right partners, it can be kept at bay.

Brendan Murphy is Vice President, National Accounts at First Onsite Property Restoration.

Hyperscale expectations for data storage demand

Investment partners, Brookfield Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, express hyperscale expectations for their latest joint acquisition. The two are set to become co-controlling shareholders in Compass Datacenters LLC, which currently boasts a portfolio of 13 hyperscale campuses, providing facilities for some of the world’s largest digital services enterprises and cloud providers.

Compass’ management team will remain in place, continuing to apply its expertise in data centre design and construction. The company’s current roster of facilities includes sites in Toronto and Montreal, nine campuses in the United States, and locations in Italy and Israel.

“The need for data storage continues to grow at an exponential rate across the globe, and Compass complements our existing platforms in South America, Europe and Asia Pacific,” observes Sam Pollock, chief executive officer of Brookfield Infrastructure.

“With the acceleration of technology adoption and advent of emerging technologies such as generative AI, we expect that demand for world-class and sustainable data centres will continue to grow in the coming years,” concurs Ashvin Malkani, an Ontario Teachers’ senior managing director. “We are pleased to welcome our longstanding partner Brookfield Infrastructure as a co-controlling shareholder in Compass.”

Compass chief executive officer, Chris Crosby, affirms he expects “strategic expertise and deep financial resources” from Brookfield and Ontario Teachers’ will propel the company’s future growth.

CITIZIA rental development breaks ground in Montreal

Group HD Immobilier, Omnia Technologies and Fiera Real Estate have begun construction on the CITIZIA, a 10-storey rental development located at 2600 Cavendish Boulevard in Montreal. Plans for the property include 350 rental units and will adhere to numerous sustainability measures, including adding EV charging stations and “smart landscaping”.

From left to right: Thomas Dufour, co-president of Groupe HD, Jean-Philippe Hébert, co-president of Groupe HD, Richard Jutras, vice president, construction & estate development at Omnia Technologies, Jean-François Beaulieu, president of Omnia Technologie, Jean-Philippe Brault, vice president, development at Fiera Real Estate, Hugo Durand-Leblanc, senior director, development at Fiera Real Estate and Mathieu Friedman, development manager at Fiera Real Estate. (CNW Group/Groupe HD Immobilier)

“The CITIZIA project aligns perfectly with the partners’ sustainable development objectives,” said Jean-Philippe Brault, Vice-President, Development, Fiera Real Estate. “Fulfilling an urgent need for quality housing in NDG, a mature district that has not seen new rental construction in years, CITIZIA will offer a variety of units aimed at a diverse clientele. In addition, the site is exceptionally well located, promoting the use of active transportation and reducing reliance on automobiles.”

Situated close to the Vendôme métro station, the well-located building will mitigate the heat island effect by transforming a former parking area into a lot with 50 per cent greenery. An urban forest, designed according to the “Miyawaki method” to promote biodiversity renewal, will be planted on site. There will also be a walking trail winding its way through the property and all parking spaces will eventually offer electric charging.

“I’m proud that my firm will be providing new rental housing units on the Montreal market to meet citizens’ current needs,” said Jean-François Beaulieu, President, Omnia Technologies. “This large-scale project is a great collaboration between our teams, the partners and the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.”

8 Elm at Yonge and Dundas begins ascent

Reserve Properties and Capital Developments officially started construction on 8 Elm at Yonge and Elm Streets near Yonge and Dundas Square. Launched at the end of September 2022, the 69-storey mixed-use condo has sold more than 600 units so far.

Arcadis – the Amsterdam-based global firm that acquired IBI Group last year—designed the tower, with Cecconi Simone overseeing interiors that blend residential living and hospitality.

8 Elm features nearly 26,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity programming, including a wrap-around terrace, a co-working space, a fitness centre, a games room, a children’s playroom, and a pet spa. On the fifty-sixth floor, residents have access to an exclusive Sky Club that overlooks the Toronto skyline.

“This is a project that extends its impact beyond design,” said Sheldon Fenton, president and CEO of Reserve Properties. “Not only will it feature new community spaces, retail at grade, and gorgeous architectural design, but it will also allow us to give back to the community.”

Other plans include close to 5,000 square feet of public community space and multi-level retail spaces at grade along Yonge Street.

Celebrities have been creatively collaborating on a few condo projects across the city. Canadian actor Simu Liu is involved with the creative vision behind 8 Elm and requested that developers also give thousands of dollars to Covenant House as a way of giving back to the community.

“Collaborating with Reserve and Capital on 8 Elm was not only an opportunity to play a part in shaping the city I lived in for many years, but more importantly an opportunity to contribute to an organization that serves at-risk youth in Toronto, Covenant House,” said Liu. “Real estate developers build our cities and must take a role in building up the people that live within them. I am truly honoured to have worked with two developers that put this thinking at the forefront.”

Altman Companies launches affordable housing division

U.S. real estate developer The Altman Companies announced it has launched a new division, Altman Living, focused on creating affordable and workforce housing in communities south of the border. The launch of the division marks a return to the company’s roots, having been established in Michigan in 1968 as a developer of affordable housing. Through the creation of Altman Living, the company says it will once again focus on this important area of the housing market, offering properties that are accessible and affordable to individuals and families across the economic spectrum.

The division will aim to work with various state, local, and federal housing programs to produce workforce, affordable and mixed-income housing options, from the Southeast up to the Mid-Atlantic Region. David Schultz, formerly the vice president of development at Community Housing Partners (CHP) and founder of Triad Housing Partners, a multifamily development and construction company, has been selected to head-up the new division.

“We are thrilled to welcome David Schultz to lead our new affordable housing division, Altman Living,” said Seth Wise, CEO of The Altman Companies. “His extensive background and reputation in the affordable space will move our new division forward with success and help address the critical need for affordable housing in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic Regions.”

“I am honoured to join The Altman Companies and lead the Altman Living division in its mission to provide affordable housing solutions,” Schultz said. “I look forward to contributing to The Altman Companies’ commitment to creating much-needed affordable exceptional living experiences.”

For more information on Altman Living, visit www.AltmanCos.com.

Using AI to improve your cleaning business

Technology is constantly providing tools to make cleaners’ jobs easier, increase efficiency, and simplify operations. The idea of AI may still seem futuristic, but these tools can help you create content, improve your correspondence, create systems, and more.

Once you become familiar with how they can help your business, adopting these innovations can improve your business, allow you more time to focus on building customer relations, and help you to better manage your labour.

ISSA’s recent Straight Talk! episode with Dean Mercado, CEO of Online Marketing Muscle, covers three of the ways that you can leverage AI to help your cleaning business get ahead.

Content creation

There are a number of tools that can help you create copy, boost SEO, design marketing campaigns, and more. Any content you need for marketing will soon be available at your fingertips – from blogs to social media to website content – freeing up your time to manage your business. According to Dean, here’s where humans need to become more strategic, using tools like this to get the message out there to their audiences. The key is to get familiar with these tools and be able to provide them with the best information you can to receive the output that works for your business needs. Pro tips: fact-check all the content you receive from AI and check for plagiarism to protect yourself and ensure that you are putting out original, high-level content.

Correspondence

AI can also help you with correspondence. For example, if you need to create a collection letter, you can tell the tool the history of your relationship, dictate the tone of the letter, and create something that will address your needs. It also works well for emails, responding to online reviews, or any other type of correspondence you may need a little help creating.

Another way this tool can be used is for translation. If you have clients or staff whom you need to communicate with in another language, you can input your content, and AI will give it back to you in the language you need. The same applies to employee manuals or any content you need to be available in multiple languages.

Systems

AI isn’t just about marketing and sales, it can help your cleaning company with operations, too. For example, if you typed “create a system for a commercial cleaning company staff to clean restrooms,” into ChatGPT, it would give you a system for your staff. Next, ask it to simplify the process and put the system into a checklist. The tool uses data from the internet to gather information and create the document you’ve requested, so it is providing you with an educated estimate of what you are looking for.

Now this may not be exactly what you need at first crack, but it gets you started, saving you valuable time and money.

Adopting technology and adapting your business to use AI to your advantage will ensure that you aren’t left behind by your competition in the coming years.

New groundskeeping specifications for fed lands

Groundskeeping specifications for federal properties are set to change under a new policy disallowing pesticide application for cosmetic purposes. The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat has announced its intent, which will be enshrined in the greening government strategy, to align with a package of measures addressing pesticide management and protection of biodiversity.

That also includes the launch of a 60-day public consultation on proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations and affirmation of Canada’s commitment to the Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As a signatory to the international agreement, Canada is expected to develop a comprehensive national biodiversity strategy and action plan and to work toward the Framework’s goals, including a significant (at least 50 per cent) reduction in the risk from pesticides by 2030.

“Our commitment to leading by example through the greening government strategy is not just about the fight against climate change, but also about protecting biodiversity and greenspaces,” says Mona Fortier, president of the Treasury Board of Canada. “This amendment will put these goals into action and further expand our efforts.”

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is coordinating efforts to integrate biodiversity commitments into the core mandates of multiple federal departments.

“By increasing monitoring and research on this issue, and eliminating the unnecessary use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on federal lands, the government of Canada is taking important first steps to support its commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” says Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Canadian projects win CTBUH awards

Three Canadian projects were honoured by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) at its 2023 Award of Excellence.

A record breaking number of winning projects from across the globe were recognized in more than 20 categories and subcategories, including Best Tall Building, Best Tall Non-building, Innovation, Urban Habitat, Repositioning and Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.

Fifteen Fifteen by Ole Scheeren in collaboration with Francl Architecture of Vancouver earned a Future Project Award. The 42-storey tower will be constructed at 1515 Alberni Street in the downtown core with completion scheduled for 2027.

The tower’s design expands the traditional tower shape into a three-dimensional sculpture, projecting living spaces outwards into the surrounding context. This is Büro Ole Scheeren’s first residential building in North America, and the first in the world where the firm designed both the interiors and the exterior.

Another Future Project Award went to BDP Quadrangle’s 307 Lake Shore Boulevard East in Quayside.

Plans for the Toronto Waterfront condo entail meeting Passive House and Zero Carbon standards and setting new benchmarks in sustainability through airtight enclosures, high-performance windows, and efficient mechanical systems. Construction is set to begin in 2026.

BDP Quadrangle also took home a Repositioning Award for 99 Gerrard, Toronto. The design team took an outdated building, with a mash-up of parking, retail, and an anonymous office tower, and created an aesthetically beautiful, modern, and functional space that is the most sought-after rental address in downtown Toronto.

“All of this year’s Award of Excellence winners demonstrate that it is possible to consider state-of-the-art technical solutions, transportation, public and cultural institutions, green spaces, commercial enterprises and other crucial infrastructure holistically and adapt them broadly and equitably for positive, sustainable outcomes,” said CTBUH CEO Javier Quintana de Uña.

Award of Excellence winners will now present at the CTBUH 2023 International Conference, October 16-21, in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, where they will compete for “best in category” distinctions.

Protect your parking garage with the right sealant

No matter how much traffic your parking garage sees, keeping it in good shape will extend its life, save you money and help you avoid costly surprises down the road. Your parking garage is exposed to so many potential sources of damage, like weather, traffic, water, salt, chemicals, and more, that taking a proactive approach with sealants can help you avoid damage before it even happens.

Ongoing maintenance for your parking garage means that you will slow down or reduce progressive damage like corrosion, which can become unsightly and over longer periods of time, can compromise the integrity of the structure.

Factors to consider

There are several types of sealants but start by determining the age and condition of your parking garage to decide which best suits your needs. Other factors like how much traffic you have, the amount of salt you use, exposure to sunlight, and how long your garage can be out of commission during the application all also need to be factored into your sealant choice. Once you’ve assessed your needs, you can choose the best sealant for the job.

Types of sealants

While the damage occurs most frequently on the underside of the deck, it is a result of moisture originating from the top of the deck. That’s why it makes sense to seal your concrete to try and avoid that moisture altogether.

Choose a sealant that addresses the condition of your concrete deck, your budget, and your approach going forward. Here are the four types of sealants and why they may best suit your needs:

Surface: This is often liquid-applied, epoxy or polyurethane-based, easily installed on your own, and is generally cost-effective. While it does protect against moisture, it is not designed to withstand much abrasion, so is best suited for places with mostly foot traffic, rather than parking garages with high vehicle traffic.
Penetrating: Also easy to apply, this sealant is more costly than the surface style, but offers more protection with a barrier that repels water as it penetrates the concrete. Applying this over an undamaged surface typically provides three to five years of protection.
Thin bond overlays: This sealant is thicker, providing a hard surface over the concrete that repels water before it reaches the deck. This application is more expensive but also offers the benefit of filling in pores in the concrete, however, it needs to be applied over a prepared surface and will require you to repaint all your markings after it dries.
Traffic-bearing membranes: The thickest of the sealants, this type often has a base coat and top layer, creating a strong, tear-resistant surface above the concrete. This sealant also requires a prepared surface but can fill in cracks, holes, and other surface damage.

Regular maintenance

Keeping your parking garage looking and performing at its best is not a ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ situation. Checking the sealants, cleaning the surface, re-applying the sealant, and documenting progressive conditions are all part of the multi-step approach to manage your budget and keep your parking garage lasting as possible.

BC road builders get $3.9M skills training grant

The British Columbia Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association (BCRB&HCA) is receiving a $3.9 million grant from the B.C. provincial government for skills training.

The three-year grant will provide funding for BCRB&HCA’s talent attraction program, which will utilize innovative training technologies to showcase key jobs within the industry. With a focus on hiring, training, and retaining new employees for the highway maintenance and road building industry, the program seeks to address a critical shortage of skilled road builders for highway maintenance positions.

“Helping employers remove barriers to the workplace means more people can work and participate in their communities,” said Sheila Malcolmson, minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Our government is funding this skills training so that more people can get good in-demand jobs in the highway maintenance and road building industry.”

Highway maintenance contractors in B.C. are facing a shortage of plow truck drivers, heavy equipment operators and mechanics. As part of the program’s outreach to groups that are currently underrepresented in the industry, it will establish pathways for sustained employment and aim to engage women, Indigenous Peoples, veterans, new immigrants, and individuals under 40 years of age via training and partnership opportunities.

Using innovative simulator technologies that place prospective jobseekers in the driver’s seat of snow plows and other types of heavy equipment, the program will travel across the province and provide hands-on opportunities for participants.

“Investments like these are vital for the strength of communities in B.C.,” said Matt Pitcairn, vice president, BCRB&HCA. “We look forward to how this program will raise the profile of these jobs, and how they can be an important catalyst for the economic health of the province.”

Implementation of the talent attraction program is slated to begin in spring 2024 and reach completion in spring 2026.

Conestoga Mall to pad Primaris REIT portfolio

Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) has inked a $270-million deal for Conestoga Mall, a 585,000-square-foot enclosed shopping centre in Waterloo, Ontario. Vendor, Ivanhoé Cambridge, is to receive $165 million in cash, $25 million in Primaris series A units and $80 million in exchangeable preferred units for a newly formed subsidiary limited partnership through the transaction, which is expected to close in July 2023.

Primaris will secure a regional mall on nearly 50 acres of land with convenient access to Kitchener-Waterloo’s light rail transit (LRT) system and in a growing urban area with a population of more than 500,000. The 45-year-old mall is currently 94 per cent occupied with HBC, Galaxy Cinema, Sport Chek, Indigo and H&M as large-format tenants. The mall’s 31 per cent site coverage also provides room for future infill development.

“Conestoga Mall is amongst the top 15 most productive malls in Canada and will be highly accretive to Primaris’ overall portfolio quality,” says Primaris REIT’s president and chief operating officer, Patrick Sullivan. “Our team is very excited to add Conestoga Mall to our property portfolio, with significant income growth potential consistent with the growth we see ahead for our existing assets.”

Primaris currently holds 10.9 million square feet of retail space valued at approximately $3.1 billion, and is unique among Canadian REITs for its sole focus on enclosed shopping centres. It’s now Canada’s third-largest mall owner-operator with stated intentions to expand its portfolio with additional “market leading” shopping centres.

“We are very pleased to have executed this transaction with Primaris REIT, given their commitment to continue to unlock the full potential of this established shopping mall in the Kitchener-Waterloo area,” says Annie Houle, Canadian head of Ivanhoé Cambridge.

Setting carbon metrics to achieve climate goals

For decades, metrics have focused on reductions to energy consumption and energy cost, but it is becoming clear that those metrics are insufficient to fully address carbon reductions.

“Our understanding of carbon is continuing to evolve and the metrics around that have to change,” said Mark Hutchinson, VP green building programs and innovation, Canada Green Building Council. “If carbon reductions are what we want to get at, we need to come up with new ways of benchmarking our progress against that.”

Building codes and standards have to establish the right metrics to better capture the true impact of carbon from buildings and what that means for projects. The topic was discussed at the Canada Green Building Council’s Building Lasting Change conference in Vancouver.

Iain MacDonald, senior research officer with the National Research Council (NRC), said the new National Building Code set to be released in 2025 will address operational carbon with embodied carbon updates to follow in 2030.

Two major changes coming to the code in 2025 is the introduction of technical requirements for existing buildings and the inclusion of GHG emissions.

He said the inclusion of GHGs is a significant change. “Not only does this involve developing the technical requirements that every single new building will have to meet but there’s also policy changes associated with that.”

While some jurisdictions already have technical requirements for existing buildings, MacDonald noted this will be the first policy nationally to address efficiency. Before any regulation changes, NRC is making sure all supply chains are robust and that testing standards are in place to evaluate products.

He also discussed how NRC is supporting the development and deployment of low carbon construction solutions through the new Platform to Decarbonize the Construction Sector at Scale.

The NRC is looking to decarbonize Canadian construction “at-scale” and MacDonald said the challenge is how to achieve change at scale and not just one-off projects.

“We have a massive challenge. It’s so large that there’s more than enough work to go around and collaboration is key to achieving significant steps forward,” he said, encouraging everyone to get involved in the code process during the public review this fall and early winter.

Decarbonization efforts south of the border are also underway with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) focusing on the next iteration of LEED standards. The draft of LEED v5 is expected to be ready late this year.

“Our top priority is scale for greatest impact – what can we do to mobilize greater adoption of building practices and actions towards decarbonization, on resilience, wellbeing, human health,” said Peter Templeton, USGBC’s president and CEO.

In terms of construction and renovations, GHG emissions reduction priorities will focus on areas such as energy and water efficiency, transit-oriented development, low-carbon construction materials and practices, refrigerant management and vehicle/fleet electrification.

“I want to make sure folks understand the scope – that we are looking at everything from construction practices to construction equipment all the way through to material selection,” said Templeton.

“There has also been momentum on refrigerant management and vehicle/fleet electrification. But existing buildings sector is critical for us to achieve our decarbonization goals.”

“We have to make sure we’re digging in deep to find ways to improve performance over time…and to continue pushing for higher performance,” he said.

Cheryl Mah is managing editor of Construction Business.

Quayside condo honoured with CTBUH’s Future Project Award

BDP Quadrangle’s design of 307 Lake Shore Boulevard East in Quayside was presented with the Future Project Award by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Renderings of the 49-storey-tower showcase a lattice of offset triangular balconies spread across a flatiron shape. This design is more than aesthetic, though, with a structural component that embeds progressive sustainable design characteristics into the building. As the surrounding area develops, the shape and open-air feel of the balconies are designed to reduce building congestion, and protect sky views and access to sunlight.The balconies also feature solar screening to lower the building’s heat gain and reduce energy loads.

The upcoming project, breaking ground in 2026, will stand at the foot of Parliament Street. Photo by BDP Quadrangle.

While sustainability is undeniably a key component of the project, Plaza Partners is also focusing on affordable housing options, cultural and community spaces, design excellence and public realm enhancement.

“Since the project began, we’ve understood the responsibility we have to develop such a significant waterfront site in a manner that is both socially and environmentally responsible,” said Ornella Richichi, chief development Ooficer at Plaza Partners, To be the only development in Toronto recognized with this award is a welcomed affirmation of those plans and ambitions.”

Construction is set to begin in 2026, with plans for 430 units, more than 1,800 square metres of amenity space and about 700 square metres of community space that connects to the existing Martin Goodman Trail. A pedestrian promenade will extend along the north side of the building. Cultural spaces will welcome community-based programs and initiatives, in partnership with Waterfront Toronto, the City of Toronto, and the Stratagem group.

“This project will create a sustainable mixed-use urban community that meets local needs,” said Stefanie Siu Chong, BDP Quadrangle principal, in a statement. “Its location in the Quayside area and proximity to downtown Toronto presents an opportunity for the project to serve as a model for future developments in Toronto.”

The CTBUH’s Future Project Award recognizes design proposals and visions that shape cities, skylines, and push existing technical and structural limits.

Photo by BDP Quadrangle.

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