Vancouver Convention Centre LEED recertified

The Vancouver Convention Centre announced the recertification of its West Building as LEED Platinum for Building Operations and Maintenance – maintaining its double LEED Platinum status.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do,” says Craig Lehto, general manager of the Vancouver Convention Centre. “We take pride in the high standards we’ve set for ourselves to not only maintain our sustainable building features but to also incorporate environmental best practices in our day-to-day operations for the benefit of our community.”

The Vancouver Convention Centre’s West Building was the first convention centre in the world to achieve double LEED Platinum – the first in 2009 for Building Design and Construction and the second in 2017 for Building Operations and Maintenance.

The Vancouver Convention Centre has robust water conservation, energy efficiency and waste management system. Highlights from these key areas include:

Reducing Green House Gas emissions by around 150 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year by installing a heat recovery system that recovers heat from the building to preheat domestic hot water for the facility.

Reducing freshwater use by approximately 70 per cent through increasing the capacity of the onsite Blackwater treatment facility, which cleans and recycles water for non-potable uses, such as irrigation for the living roof.

Diverting more than 85 per cent of waste from landfills.

Installing two onsite bio-composters that reduce the mass of organic waste by approximately 70-80 per cent.

“The Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building has been a leadership project from day one by meeting LEED Platinum certification as the highest level of environmental performance,” says Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of the Canada Green Building Council, which delivers the LEED program in Canada. “Recertification demonstrates a strong commitment to verifying and improving performance on an ongoing basis. The Vancouver Convention Centre is a landmark green building and a beacon of sustainability for conference centres across the world.”

Since the opening of the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building in 2009, it has been committed to helping protect the environment.

Montreal Holocaust Museum reveals design

Following an international competition, the Montreal Holocaust Museum (MHM) selected architecture offices KPMB Architects and Daoust Lestage Lizotte Stecker Architecture to design the new downtown museum building.

Located on Blvd. St-Laurent, the museum is scheduled for opening in 2025. The new building will contain multiple exhibition spaces, classrooms, an auditorium, a memorial garden, and a dedicated survivor testimony room. Construction on the new Museum will begin in the fall of 2023.

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

“We are delighted to share the designs of our new Museum which will be an important space of learning, action, and coming together,” stated Daniel Amar, executive director of the MHM. “The brilliant design succeeded in creating a space of powerful architecture that remains respectful and sensitive to the difficult history of the Holocaust and its human rights legacy that will be transmitted within its walls.”

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

The role of technology in school hygiene

Technology can play an important role in strengthening hygiene in schools with mechanisms like filtration to help capture bacteria and other particles to reduce the spread of germs

Air quality is a big driver of school hygiene, but while many buildings have built-in ventilation systems, it can be difficult to know how effective these systems are at removing pollution from the air. Pollutants can include particles ranging in size and gases such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or formaldehyde. Increasing ventilation by opening windows may cause poor outdoor air to come inside if the area is polluted, and presents temperature challenges which can impact comfort, particularly during the cold winter months and humid summer days.

In a global washroom and air quality survey conducted for Dyson in July 2021, 83 per cent of 15,100 people across 20 countries believe air purification is important in indoor working environments (1). Among the Canadian respondents, the top three benefits include being less likely to transmit or contract illness from microbes in the air, reducing the intake of harmful particles for long-term health, and supporting a fresher feeling environment.

If schools are thinking about adding portable purifiers to classrooms and common areas to aid in better indoor air quality, they should consider purifiers that are scientifically tested to capture particles as small as allergens and viruses, and include:

High-quality filtration and powerful projection to complement existing HVAC systems and provide cleaner, purified air throughout public spaces such as schools;
A fully sealed HEPA 13 standard filtration2 — not only ensuring that no air bypasses the filter but blocking any potential leak points through which dirty air might enter the airflow. Filter systems should capture 99.97 per cent of particles as small as 0.3 microns including allergens, pollutants, bacteria, pollen, mould spores and gases;
Strong air circulation to ensure that purified air reaches every corner of the room;
Quiet operation to reduce unwanted disruption in educational spaces.

Shared washrooms also have a significant impact on hygiene in schools. The survey found that 65 per cent of respondents were more concerned about visiting public washrooms than they were the previous year, indicating empty paper towel dispensers among their top five frustrations along with a lack of toilet paper, unclean toilets, no soap, and blocked toilets. The survey also found that 24 per cent of Canadians were worried about drying their hands with dirty air from dryers. This is another area where HEPA filters could be beneficial—purifying the air used to dry hands

Canadians said that if a washroom did not have any working hand dryers or paper towels, 32 per cent would let their hands dry naturally while 19 per cent would wipe them on their clothes. Both options present risks of undoing the work of cleaning hands in the first place. A landmark 1997 study found that damp hands can transfer up to 1,000 times more bacteria than dry hands. With the right technology and a regular cleaning schedule, education facilities can alleviate many of these concerns, ensuring washrooms are more hygienic and ready for visitors.

Armed with the right information and data, schools can make informed choices about how to keep their students and staff safe, while prioritizing hygiene and protecting those most vulnerable.

1. Global survey conducted for Dyson in July 2021 across 20 countries worldwide (UK, DE, ES, FR, IT, NL, US, CA, MX, CN, JP, MY, SG, AU, TW, HK, IN, TR, AE, BE) with 15,100 respondents in total (500 in Canada), aged 18 years-old or above. Individual percentages vary per country.

Giles Morgan is a senior design engineer with Dyson. He joined the organization from university and within his 4.5 years has been part of the new product development engineering team.

Multi-res cost-effective for EV charger access

Multi-residential buildings are seen as a cost-effective option to expand EV charger access and reduce required investment in pricier public infrastructure. A new federally commissioned study from the research firm, Dunsky, projects Canada will potentially need upwards of 1.3 million Level 2 charging ports in multifamily buildings by 2030 to stay on track with the target for electric vehicles to comprise 100 per cent of new sales and 40 per cent of the total national fleet by 2035.

That’s based on the premise of a complementary balance of at least 195,000 publicly located chargers, with a mix of Level 2 and DC fast charging (DCFC) capabilities, to attain a nationwide ratio of three EVs per charging port. Alternatively, the researchers sketch out a lower reliance on home charging options, which would involve about 152,000 charging ports in multi-residential buildings along with more than 200,000 public chargers, for a higher ratio of 14 EVs per charging port.

Both scenarios are still highly theoretical since there are currently only about 16,640 publicly available chargers on fewer than 7,000 sites across Canada. Nearly 35,000 more EV chargers are pending, and slated to be installed within the next 15 months, with support from the federal zero-emission vehicle infrastructure program (ZEVIP), while a new allocation in the 2022 budget is expected to underwrite another 50,000 by 2027.

However, much is riding on other players getting involved. The Dunsky report estimates a $20 billion investment in charging infrastructure will be needed between now and 2050 when 90 per cent of the national vehicle fleet, or upwards of 31 million vehicles, is projected to be electrically powered. That’s based on current costs of approximately $8,000 per Level 2 port, which takes four hours to deliver a charge adequate for 120 kilometres of travel, and about $150,000 per fast-charger port, which accomplishes the same outcome in about 30 minutes.

“It is crucial to have adequate charging infrastructure to meet this increasing demand,” observes François-Philippe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “This report highlights important opportunities for the private sector to leverage the foundation we’ve already built to further increase the number of chargers available.”

The significantly higher cost of fast chargers underpins the case for focusing on improving at-home access to Level 2 chargers. Dunsky researchers calculate that an approach that favours denser multi-residential saturation could ultimately save billions of dollars if it reduces requirements for public charging hubs. Bolstering the argument, more than 40 per cent of Canada’s population is expected to live in multi-residentials building by 2050.

“Charging at home overnight is the most convenient option for EV owners and can also be the most cost-effective option when charging infrastructure is deployed at scale and incorporated into new buildings during construction,” the report states. “Ongoing efforts by the federal government to retrofit existing buildings and to ensure that new buildings are designed with EV charging in mind will lead to significant cost savings through reduced needs for public charging, while also making EV ownership more convenient for a broader range of Canadian households.”

More than 1 million EVs are projected to be on Canada’s roads by 2025, while a much steeper increase is foreseen over the next 10 years to push the tally up to 4.6 million by 2030 and 12.3 million by 2035. Dunsky researchers calculate the installation of 1 million EV chargers in existing buildings coupled with building code requirements for EV charging capabilities in all new construction as of 2025 would result in about 34 per cent of multi-residential buildings providing access to charging by 2030. However, a slower rollout of just 100,000 installations and a five-year delay in mandating EV-readiness in new construction would mean that just 4 per cent of buildings could offer residents access to EV charging by 2030.

Multi-residential dwellers who do not have on-site access to EV chargers are identified as a prominent user group for public charging sites, particularly creating demand for community-based services (as opposed to those geared to highways). That might also be an initial pull for private investment.”

“While the business case for public charging infrastructure can be challenging due to the prevalence of residential charging, increased utilization over time thanks to a growing EV population should improve charging infrastructure economics in the coming years. Analysis of the potential profitability of different types of charging infrastructure in different contexts could help the federal government and other stakeholders to focus their efforts to encourage private investment as much as possible, while filling gaps in areas that are likely to be underserved by private investments,” the report recommends.

HCMA wins Innovation by Design Award

Interdisciplinary design firm HCMA has been recognized in multiple categories at Fast Company’s 2022 Innovation by Design Awards for its work on Clayton Community Centre in Surrey, British Columbia.

Clayton Community Centre is the winner in Spaces and Places, a finalist in the General Excellence category and received an honourable mention in three other categories: Accessible Design, Experience Design and Sustainability.

The Innovation by Design Awards honour the designers and businesses solving the most crucial problems of today and anticipate the pressing issues of tomorrow. The competition, now in its 11th year, features a range of blue-chip companies, emerging startups, and hungry young talents. It is one of the most sought-after design awards in the industry.

“From the earliest stages of the process, we wanted Clayton Community Centre to seamlessly integrate arts, library and recreation activities, to achieve very high environmental performance and to be an inclusive, safe, and equitable place for everyone. So, it’s an honour to be recognized at Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards, not only for the design of the space but also for its experience, sustainability and accessibility,” says Melissa Higgs, HCMA principal.

Combining world-leading environmental standards with equally ambitious social inclusivity goals, Clayton Community Centre unites recreation, library, arts and outdoor spaces into a truly integrated facility. Alongside this recognition, Clayton Community Centre (76,000 sqft / 7,060 sqm) achieved International Passive House certification for ultra-low energy use in December 2021, making it the first of its kind to be certified in North America and the largest non-residential project to be certified in North America.

“Over the last few years, at HCMA we have challenged ourselves and our clients to design spaces that really are for everyone and that create positive social impact. Recognition at Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards is a welcome validation of our approach and fuel to our fire,” said Darryl Condon, HCMA managing principal.

National average rent eclipses September 2019 peak

The national average rent in Canada reached $1,959 in August, topping the September 2019 peak by a few dollars according to the Rentals.ca and Bullpen Research & Consulting latest National Rent Report.

“On a national level, average rents in August topped the pre-pandemic record high from the fall of 2019, with prospective tenants looking at properties that are $200 more expensive on average than a year earlier,” said Ben Myers, president of Bullpen Research & Consulting. “With several economists calling for an extended ownership housing market correction, demand has shifted dramatically to the rental market, which is significantly undersupplied in many major Canadian municipalities. Rentals.ca pageview data suggests rental demand is up by nearly 40 per cent from last August nationwide, and 70 per cent from the locked-down August 2020 marketplace.”

In addition to interest rate hikes from the Bank of Canada dissuading Canadians from buying houses, the rental market has been further crowded by booming immigration, students returning to university, and workers moving back to city centres.

Since last August, the national average rent has increased by 11 per cent overall, while rents have gone up by more than 20 per cent in the following five cities: London, up 26.5 per cent to $1,979; Calgary, up 24.7 per cent to $1,751; Vancouver, up 24.4 per cent to $3,184; Toronto, up 24.2 per cent to $2,694 and Hamilton, up 21 per cent to $1,961.

Toronto finished second on the list of 35 cities for average monthly rent in August for a one-bedroom at $2,329 and second for average monthly rent for a two-bedroom at $3,266. Year over year, average monthly rent in August for a one-bedroom in Toronto was up 17.1 per cent and up 24.3 per cent for a two-bedroom.

At the provincial level, British Columbia had the highest average rents for all property types at $2,578 per month in August, an annual increase of almost 24 per cent.

Nova Scotia had the second highest average rents at $2,380 in August with a year-over-year increase of over 43 per cent. Ontario was close behind with August average rents at $2,367, an annual increase of almost 16 per cent.

Quebec average rents were $1,732 in August, up 6.3 annually, while Alberta average rents rose almost 12 per cent year over year in August to $1,349. Saskatchewan average annual rents also rose almost 12 per cent in August to $1,01.

Manitoba average rents were virtually unchanged in August, up 0.8 per cent to $1,396.

Other key takeaways:

The total number of listings on Rentals.ca is higher than one year ago, with the average listing getting 38 per cent more pageviews, suggesting there is significantly more demand.
The average rent for condo rentals increased dramatically this August in Vancouver, up $1,319 a month to $3,651 and up from $2,332 in August 2021
In Toronto condo rents have gone up $892 a month to $2,945 from $2,053.
The national average rent for single-family homes in August was $3,061 per month, up 13 per cent over August 2021.
Rents for the largest units in the market continue to see higher annual appreciation than smaller suites. It is possible more upper-middle class renters are in the market than in previous years because so many Canadians have been shut out of home ownership with higher interest rates.
Ontario experienced strong rent growth in 2019, but during the pandemic, rents in the province plummeted, Rents for two-bedroom apartments in Ontario declined by 8 per cent from August 2019 to August 2020. Fast forward to this August, two-bedroom apartments in Ontario have increased by 13 per cent annually, while one-bedroom apartments have increased by 8 per cent. One-bedroom rental apartments have a lower rent in Ontario in August ($1,956 per month), in comparison to three year earlier ($2,052 per month).

For the full rent report, click here: Rentals.ca September 2022 Rent Report

Condos kick-start Cloverdale Mall redevelopment

A condo development will kick-start QuadReal’s Cloverdale Mall reboot. Mattamy Homes plans to build on a standalone 2.3-acre site at 2 and 10 The East Mall Crescent. A 32-storey tower and an 8-storey mid-rise will total 500-plus condos and 2,400 square feet of retail.

Cloverdale Mall was built in 1956 as an open plaza in Etobicoke. In the 1980s, it was converted into an enclosed mall, undertaking major renovations in 2006. Soon, it will take on a different life as a 32-acre shopping centre, with a vibrant, sustainable, and innovative mixed-use urban community.

Mattamy will acquire a partial interest in the site and will be the execution partner for development, construction, and sales and marketing for the condo project. QuadReal will maintain long-term ownership of the retail and purpose-built rental components.

David Stewart, president of Mattamy Homes GTA Urban Division, said QuadReal is a key partner in his company’s plan to deliver 13,000 condo sales within the next five years.

New Abbotsford water system to ensure resiliency

The B.C. government is providing $62 million to the City of Abbotsford to build a new well and water-treatment system to ensure a reliable, resilient water service for more than 165,000 people in response to growing climate-related threats.

“We’re creating a new, resilient water supply that will help ensure a safe water source during extreme weather events,” said Nathan Cullen, minister of municipal affairs. “This project will create climate resilience by helping protect people, sustain public health services and keep businesses operating during these ever-increasing climate disasters.”

Upgrades and additions to the Abbotsford drinking water system will mean water reliability and safety for Abbotsford, Mission and the Matsqui First Nation, as well as homes, a regional cancer facility, senior care homes, farms and agricultural processing.

“A more reliable and resilient water source is one of our community’s most critical infrastructure needs, and we are thankful to be receiving support for this vital project,” said Henry Braun, mayor of Abbotsford.

The current water source is vulnerable to climate-related events, such as floods or wildfires, and was compromised during the November 2021 floods, which caused 85 per cent of Abbotsford’s water supply to be offline.

The project includes the installation of approximately 12 new wells, the construction of a water-treatment plant and a pump station to tie into the existing regional system to bring the new water source to the community.

The Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission operates the drinking water system, which serves the cities of Abbotsford and Mission, the Matsqui First Nation and the Stave-Cedar connection in the Fraser Valley Regional District.

The budget for the Abbotsford Drinking Water Resilience Project is $84.4 million. The remainder of funding will come from the Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission.

Wrongs to legacy tenant inflate renovation tab

Flouting requirements to re-house a legacy tenant has added more than $40,000 to a Windsor landlord’s apartment renovation tab. An Ontario Court conviction earlier this week yields a $18,750 penalty on top of the $22,000 in compensation the Landlord and Tenant Board had already awarded to the wronged tenant.

The landlord, 2793530 Ontario Inc., was found in violation of the Residential Tenancies Act for failing to extend the first right of occupancy to a tenant who had been displaced to make way for major renovations. Under the Act, tenants can resume residency at the same rent after work is complete if they give the landlord written notice of their intention to do so prior to moving out.

In this case, the tenant gave notice before moving out in early 2021, but the unit was rented to a new tenant in October 2021 at more than double the previous rent. The property manager has also been charged with failing to provide the legacy tenant with the right of first refusal.

The Court penalty includes a $15,000 fine and a 25 per cent victim surcharge of $3,750.

EllisDon selected for Calgary’s Arts Common project

EllisDon has been selected by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) as the construction manager for the Arts Commons Transformation (ACT)—a major city-building initiative that will expand and modernize Western Canada’s largest performing arts centre in Calgary’s downtown core .

EllisDon will work closely alongside ACT’s prime design team (KPMB, Hindle Architects, Tawaw Architecture Collective and SLA) in constructing a new building on the Arts Commons campus and renovating the existing facility.

“We’re excited and humbled to be part of the Arts Commons Transformation project,” says Travis Perry, director of business development at EllisDon. “We look forward to building on the momentum of our recent theatre experience and leveraging the entire team’s expertise as we help realize the vision for the re-imagined and dramatically expanded Arts Commons. The EllisDon team is inspired by the opportunities this project presents for the arts community and for the residents of Calgary.”

The Arts Commons Transformation will be undertaken in two phases, expanding capacity in an adjoining new building and renewing the existing facility.

Currently in the concept design phase, ACT is expected to progress into more detailed schematic design this fall. CMLC will reveal the project design in early 2023 and then, following permitting and approvals, construction of the Arts Commons expansion will get underway in 2024.

“Having EllisDon join ACT as construction manager at this stage is a huge benefit to the project,” says Kate Thompson, president and CEO of CMLC. “In collaborating with the prime design team through the concept and schematic design phases, EllisDon will advise on the constructability and delivery of the project while it is being designed, streamlining the transition from design to development when the time comes to break ground.”

BOMA Canada honours CRE industry stars of 2022

The Canadian commercial real estate industry gathered in Charlottetown, PEI, on September 15^th, 2022, marking the first time since 2019 the Building Owners and Managers Association of Canada (BOMA Canada) was able to present the national awards in person. Hosted by local stand-up comic and musician Patrick Ledwell, the live event took place on the traditional and unceded territory of the Abegweit Mi’kmaq First Nation at the Prince Edward Island Convention Centre.

The evening’s top honours—TOBY Awards for Outstanding Building of the Year—were issued to eleven recipients. Judging criteria for the coveted award includes building standards, tenant relations, energy conservation, personnel training, emergency preparedness, and more.

In the office category, 85 Hanna Avenue in Toronto, owned by First Capital (King Liberty-Retail/Office) Corporation and managed by FCR Management Services LP, took home the TOBY for properties under 100,000 square feet. 130 Bloor Street in Toronto, owned by 130 Bloor CREIF Inc. and managed by BentallGreenOak, won for buildings in the 100,000 to 249,999 square feet category.

Taking the top prize for buildings between 250,000 and 499.999 square feet was HSBC Place in Edmonton, owned by Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo) and managed by Epic Investment Services. In buildings over 500,000 square feet, 33 Yonge Street in Toronto, owned by The Canada Life Assurance Company & 1213763 Ontario Inc., managed by GWL Realty Advisors Inc., emerged as the winner.

In the corporate facility category, the award went to Crown Realty for North York Square in Toronto, 45-47 Sheppard Avenue East, owned by Crown Realty III Limited Partnership and managed by Crown Property Management Inc., while 250 University Avenue, managed by Northam Realty Advisors Limited, owned by 250 University Holdings Limited, won in the historical building category. Kennedy Matheson Industrial Complex 550 & 570 Matheson Boulevard East; 5655 Kennedy Road in Mississauga, managed by Menkes Property Management Services, owned by 3883281 Canada Inc., came out on top as the industrial building of the year.

In the renovated building category, the TOBY Award went to RioCan’s Yonge Sheppard Centre at 2 Sheppard Avenue East, 4881 Yonge Street and 4841 Yonge Street, owned by RC Sheppard Centre LP (RioCan REIT), managed by RioCan Management Inc. in North York for extensive upgrades recently completed. On the retail front, Crombie REIT’s Avalon Mall at 48 Kenmount Road in St. John’s NFLD won the enclosed mall category, while First Capital’s Brooklin Town Centre at 5969 Baldwin Street South, owned by First Capital (Brooklin) Corporation and managed by First Capital Management Services LP in Whitby received the prize for best open air/strip mall.

Last but not least, Fengate Asset Management accepted the TOBY Award for 2265-2275 Upper Middle Road East in Oakville for best suburban office park owned by 2265 Upper Middle Nominee Inc. and 2275 Upper Middle Nominee Inc.

EARTH & PINNACLE AWARDS

Through its Earth Awards, BOMA Canada recognizes excellence in resource preservation and environmentally sound commercial building management. This year, Menkes was awarded the Earth Award for outstanding efforts undertaken at 25 York Street Toronto, owned by Menkes Union Tower Inc. and managed by Menkes Property Management Services Ltd.

The Pinnacle Awards recognize role model CRE companies that demonstrate standards of excellence in innovation, teamwork, and customer service. This year’s above & beyond category went to Colliers International’s Ashley Penny for extraordinary action taken at the Railyard Mall in Merritt, BC, in the aftermath of a flood.

In the innovation category, Pinchin Ltd. in Dartmouth, NS, was recognized for its innovation-driven culture and leadership, while Triovest Realty Advisors took home the prize for its unparalleled customer service at 700 University Avenue in Toronto.

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

In the individual categories, past BOMA Canada Chair Award recipient Cheryl Grey announced that Nisha Agrawal, Director Sustainability at QuadReal Property Group, won the Elaina Tattersdale Sustainability Champion Award for her tireless efforts in pursuing and championing sustainable practices.

Earning the title of 2022 Emerging Leader of the Year was Edmonton-based Jed Groenenboom of Boreal Fire Protection Inc., while the award for Member of the Year went to Elizabeth Han of Warrington PCI Management in Vancouver, BC.

Anne Marie Guèvremont of Aeroterm in Dorval, Quebec, was the proud recipient of this year’s Chair’s Award, bestowed for her longstanding leadership and commitment to the success of BOMA in Canada, and the commercial real estate sector at large.

RICK HANSEN FOUNDATION ACCESSIBILITY CHALLENGE AWARD

As part of its commitment to creating a world without barriers through meaningful accessibility in the built environment, BOMA Canada launched the Rick Hanson Foundation Accessibility Challenge Award in 2019. Kristen Habermehl, Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Professional and Principal of Atlantic Accessibility Consulting, proudly presented this year’s award to 980 Howe in Vancouver, managed by Manulife Investment Management.

ACCREDITED VENDOR CERTIFICATES

In addition to celebrating the evening’s award winners, BOMA Canada announced the first BOMA Plus Accredited Vendor certificates, which were subsequently presented to the following janitorial service companies: Bee-Clean Building Maintenance, GDI Integrant Facility Services, Hallmark Housekeeping Services Inc. and Servantage Services Inc.

“Congratulations, and thank you, BOMA Plus Accredited Vendors,” said Adrien Deveau, President of Metergy Solutions Inc. and Chair of BOMA Canada. “We value your participation in the program and thank you for your commitment to service excellence!”

For the complete list of winners, click here: bomacanada_awards_2022

Cleaning floors for health, instead of for appearance

Indoor air quality is a hot topic these days, with most of the conversation centered around air purification and pollutants, but what about floors and carpets? Rather than cleaning for appearance, science is emerging about prioritizing the largest horizontal surface of the building to clean for health.

ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross recently interviewed Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, senior director at GBAC, and Doug Hoffman, executive director of NORMI (National Organization of Remediators and Mould Inspectors), on this topic for Cleanfax Insider.

What do we know and not know about contaminants on floors?

Because floors make up such a large surface, there is a risk of microbial contamination and mould spore growth in all the cracks and crevices. These risks are increased in high-traffic areas as well as in spaces exposed to water, like bathrooms and laundry rooms.

It’s not just the dirt we see, it’s also germs that contaminate building floors, warn Macgregor-Skinner and Hoffman. When someone coughs or sneezes, droplets land on the floor or on their shoes, allowing that person to carry those germs into all the places they visit.

A study conducted in Cleveland hospitals revealed that 57 per cent of contaminated objects in contact with the floor transferred bacteria to hands. So even though we don’t touch the floor directly, most of us don’t consider what may be transferred through shoes or socks.

What is the correlation between surfaces, such as floors, and indoor air quality? What type of testing can prove what you believe?

Most of the surface contaminants are originally airborne and have settled onto surfaces like floors. Hoffman recommends swab sampling, bulk sampling, swipe, and carpet sample collections for accurate diagnostic testing.

What do you recommend we do about these contaminants and cleaning processes for floors? How can we really make a difference for building occupants?

Post-pandemic, it’s important that we prioritize cleaning for infection prevention, stress the two experts. Companies need to be consistent with standard operating procedures for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting floors. Staying on top of the condition of flooring is also important. Germs can live in cracks in wood and vinyl flooring, settle into carpeting, and be absorbed into tile grout.

Surface testing, paying special attention to those areas, and cleaning and disinfecting regularly will help reduce the settling of contaminants and their subsequent spreading.

Why are not more resources spent on removing contaminants and cleaning for health? What surprises you the most?

“It seems like the idea of cleaning for appearance instead of cleaning for health has become a way of life,” says Hoffman. In some cases, budget may be an issue, with companies placing the most importance on visible cleanliness, but the most dangerous contaminants are the ones too small for us to see.

How do we convince those we clean for and who oversee cleaning budgets to increase frequency and quality of cleaning?

The term “clean” needs to be defined and measured to target germs from all angles, asserts Macgregor-Skinner. Knowing the best use for each product allows for a proactive approach. For example, scrubbing with soap and water and detergents removes dirt, grease, and germs. Disinfectants with chemical or physical interventions requiring dwell time or contact time will kill bacteria and inactivate viruses.

Regularly targeting high-traffic areas like floors with the correct procedures and frequency will reduce the number of germs and their spreading.

COVID-19 brought a heightened awareness, but with time passing, companies seem to be relaxing their standards. Hoffman fears companies are becoming distracted, with laxer protocols. Contaminants are a constant threat. “If we realized how we could reduce illness and increase the quality of our health by simple, regular, and thorough cleaning of all surfaces, we would be encouraged to do better,” he says.

Find the complete version of the Q&A here.

ISSA awarded OSHA grant for workplace safety & disease training

ISSA is one of 14 nonprofits to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety and health training on infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

ISSA has been awarded US$158,957 to be used to provide infection-prevention training to frontline workers in the cleaning industry. This includes cleaners, environmental service workers, custodians, restorers, remediators, and limited-English-proficiency workers who are linked to ISSA-member companies.

“Frontline cleaners play a critical role in protecting human health by preventing transmission of an ever-growing array of harmful, and in some cases, deadly infectious diseases,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “We are honoured to be able to enhance and expand, through this grant, ISSA’s expert infection-prevention training to more frontline workers in the cleaning industry.”

The association plans to use guidance and materials developed by OSHA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and ISSA, including a facilitator guidebook, student handbook, and workshop presentation. Training will be conducted in English, Spanish, Polish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and Haitian Creole.

“This training will help ensure small businesses and vulnerable workers in high-hazard industries are as prepared as possible in today’s ever-changing health landscape,” said Global Biorisk Advisory Council™ (GBAC) Senior Director Dr. Gavin Macgregor-Skinner, who will serve as project director and master trainer for the OSHA grant. “This grant helps bring critical cleaning for health skills to frontline workers across the U.S., one of GBAC’s and ISSA’s most important ambitions.”

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the OSHA grants derive from the Susan Harwood Workplace Safety and Health Training program. The program’s namesake was a former director of OSHA’s Office of Risk Assessment. In her 17 years with OSHA, the late Dr. Harwood helped develop federal standards to protect workers from bloodborne pathogens, cotton dust, benzene, formaldehyde, asbestos, and lead in construction.

Operational resilience a performance priority

Five interconnected elements of operational resilience underpin recently released technical guidance for assessing and responding to building-level risk. The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada will outline the basic concepts through upcoming cross-Canada workshops, underscoring that operations teams carry key responsibility to safeguard building occupants, facilitate business continuity and protect asset value.

“Members of the commercial real estate community have a significant role in learning how to be resilient — through awareness, education and industry transformation,” Susan Allen, president and chief executive officer of BOMA Toronto, and Benjamin Shinewald, president and chief executive officer of BOMA Canada, affirm in their joint forward to the new guidance material.

It’s a follow-up to an earlier BOMA Toronto effort, which focused on the corporate rationale for resilience and portfolio-level policies related to development and investment management. Seven subsequent years of climatic evidence and lived experience are now factored into a refined set of considerations for property managers and operators entitled, Resilience in the Commercial Real Estate Industry, Protecting Value for an Uncertain Future.

Operational resilience is defined as the ability to withstand shocks and stresses and return to normal capacity as quickly and efficiently as possible. As stated in its preface, the guidance document is intended to provide operations managers with “simple guidance in recognizing and understanding operational risks, treating them and communicating this up the chain in a way that the corporation can interpret and use”. It delves into five identified elements or “drivers” of resilience and references supporting resources and technologies for applying resilience processes and measures in buildings.

Five elements underpin a comprehensive plan

For operations managers, resilience planning begins with an assessment of risks tied to a building’s physical location. That could be vulnerabilities directly on the site, such as the propensity for flooding or a tenancy that could attract potentially volatile demonstrators, or risks to offsite infrastructure and services on which the building relies. The process of identifying “reasonably foreseeable consequences” can then inform budgeting and bigger picture decisions about asset retention or disposition.

The next element or “driver” considers occupants’ priority needs and how they could be met if normal building functions are disrupted. This is tapped as a particularly pertinent issue for multifamily buildings hit with power outages, but it is insight that could sway commercial leasing decisions, which tenants are expected to increasingly demand.

“For tenants, conducting the dependency mapping exercise can be extremely valuable on its own. It will assist in business resilience planning and provide insights that can drive the better use of existing space or the search for new space,” the guidance document notes.

Tenants are also at the heart of the third element of operational resilience planning, dubbed “incident sequencing”, which begins with the assumption of normal system failure and then strategizes how to recover and resume operating capacity in the way that best serves priority needs and business continuity. This will require an understanding of what is most essential for tenants’ continued operations to identify what contingencies might be put in place prior to an unexpected disruption, and to create a ranking and schedule for restoring systems.

The fourth element considers security requirements. “These functions are essential during normal operations and they remain essential during and following an incident, even as the operating context changes,” the guidance document reiterates.

Finally, the guidance emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to resilience planning, highlighting the interconnected nature of systems and system failures. Operations managers are also encouraged to consider the life cycle costs of resilience and view it as an aspect of building performance.

Workshops to walk through the concepts

These five drivers line up with recommended resilience planning steps for development and asset management, but typically with more variables in play for operations managers. However, increasingly sophisticated data collection and analytics should ease the task.

“The challenge that operations managers face is that each operation, property, location and tenant is different. So, while we can template much of the corporate resilience practice, we can’t do the same for operational resilience,” the guidance document acknowledges. “We already collect much of what we need to understand our risk exposures, providing an auditable trail of evidence for routine filings and declarations of how the property portfolio is affected by climate change and other contextual trends.”

Key contributors to the technical guidance will further unpack recommended approaches during BOMA Canada’s half-day workshops, set for Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and Halifax in late September and early October. That includes: Alexander Hay, an engineer, consultant and adjunct professor with University of Toronto’s Centre for the Resilience of Critical Infrastructure; Chris Snider, head of sales and distribution with Zurich Insurance Group’s risk services in Canada; Steve Horwood, vice president, business development with the mechanical/electrical services firm, Ainsworth; and Howard Lu, head of sales and distribution at Ainsworth.

As a starting point to the discussion, the guidance document suggests that most operational resiliency measures are either cost-neutral or aligned with budgeting that may already be in place for sustainability objectives. While clarifying that resiliency and sustainability are distinct characteristics, it submits that they are symbiotic and with positive ripple effects beyond any one building.

“We can regard them as two faces of the same coin. Neither gives rise to the other, but cannot exist without the other,” the guidance document declares. “When an operation, or business, is resilient, it actively contributes to, and influences, the resilience of its neighbours and the surrounding community.”

B.C. invests in Pacific high speed rail study

The Government of British Columbia is investing $300,000 in a feasibility study focused on high speed rail service connecting Seattle, Portland and Vancouver.

The next phase of the Ultra High Ground Transportation Project, led by the Washington State Department of Transportation in partnership with B.C., Oregon and other regional and local agencies, is intended to address roles, responsibilities and future funding requirements for the project and development of a regional public outreach and engagement strategy.

The study will also explore opportunities to integrate high-speed rail into regional transportation and land-use planning and develop plans for future environmental review process, engineering and design requirements.

“Improving transportation connectivity throughout the Pacific Northwest is an important part of our work to build a stronger, more sustainable future for people on both sides of our border,” said B.C. Premier John Horgan. “This proposal has the potential to significantly cut transportation time between Seattle and Vancouver – presenting new opportunities for clean economic growth, job creation and tourism throughout the region.”

Previous phases of the study indicated benefits to high-speed rail include stronger trade ties between B.C., Oregon and Washington State, economic activity equaling as much as $355 billion within the region and a reduction of as much as six million tonnes of greenhouse gas in the first 40 years of operations, the release stated, along with $42 billion in estimated construction costs with revenue expected to cover project costs by 2055.

In November 2021, a new MOU between B.C., Washington and Oregon was executed that committed the parties to continue advancing activities that support the program.

Washington state has approved US$4 million in funding to advance the next phase of the study.

Net zero RCMP building in B.C. receives funding

Natural Resources Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced an $11.5-million investment through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for the construction of a net-zero energy ready (NZER) RCMP detachment facility in the municipality of North Cowichan. This includes a $10 million low interest loan and a $1.5 million grant.

“Our government is pleased to support sustainable infrastructure in communities across Canada. Today’s investment is an important step in the development of a net-zero RCMP detachment facility to serve the residents of Cowichan, Duncan, Cowichan tribes and the surrounding areas. This is a great example of community-driven innovation and climate action,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, minister of natural resources.

The integrated hub will better serve a growing urban population of about 50,000 residents across North Cowichan, Duncan, Cowichan Tribes and the surrounding rural areas. The new, 50,000-square-foot building will bring together the North Cowichan/Duncan Detachment, Forensic Identification Services, South Island Traffic Services and Indigenous Policing.

“Municipalities are on the front lines of climate change and climate action, and communities of all sizes are showing climate leadership at a time when we need it most. The Green Municipal Fund empowers them to get results on the ground. We deliver results with our federal partners — supporting municipalities like North Cowichan build greener, more sustainable communities. Together, we are on the path to net zero.” said FCM president Taneen Rudyk.

GMF previously supported the construction of a NZER RCMP detachment in Fort St. John in northern B.C. The current project is modeled on that design but has been optimized for North Cowichan’s unique climate and usage needs. It will also incorporate energy efficiency in every aspect of the building design.

Optimized features of the building include structure and site orientation improvements; high-efficiency equipment; rooftop solar photovoltaic panels; solar shading to reduce cooling demand by 45 per cent; and daylight sensors to reduce annual lighting operations by 25 per cent.

How to set your janitors up for success

Janitors are often the behind-the-scenes heroes of facility maintenance, keeping everything clean, stocked, and sanitized. They support health and safety and hygiene and they’re often responsible for visitors’ first impression of your building.

In a study conducted between 2021 and 2022, 49 per cent of facility managers confirmed that their janitorial team is in-house, rather than outsourced. Showing your team they are valued and supported is crucial to employee satisfaction and productivity. Happier and more engaged workers can lead to 23 per cent higher profits. It’s not just about pay raises, either. Keep your janitorial team happy and supported, so they know the crucial role they play in your building’s maintenance.

Here are some of the ways you can take care of these important staff members by setting them up for success.

Prepare for emergencies

Emergencies happen, and you need to be equipped to handle them swiftly and efficiently. Be sure that your staff has clear instructions for when the unexpected arises, including access to first aid kits, defibrillators, and clean-up supplies for accidents or spills. While this may fall outside your janitorial team’s job description, they are often the first call when the unexpected arises, so get them prepared for whatever happens.

Stock up on supplies

Prioritize your supply inventory. Mitigate your slip and fall risk by being fully stocked on items like wet floor signs. Stay on top of sanitization needs with hand sanitizers, disposable gloves in a range of sizes, and anti-bacterial cleaning products. And don’t forget staff safety, too. Are they exposed to flammable or dangerous chemicals? Get your staff outfitted and equipped with everything they need to do their jobs safely.

Make the job easier

Make it easy for your team to get the job done. If multiple closets are needed, if cleaning carts make sense, if a blower fan would help dry wet floors faster, make those adjustments. Not sure what they need? Ask them! With their input, your janitorial staff will know they’re valued, and you’ll be able to increase efficiency and productivity.

When your janitorial staff succeeds in maintaining your building to the best of their ability, your whole business wins.

Five elements underpin a comprehensive plan

Workshops to walk through the concepts

IDS Vancouver

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