Surrey opens Newton Park artificial turf field

Surrey has opened a new artificial turf field and rubberized walking loop at Newton Athletic Park, a 22-hectare sport and recreation destination with amenities including artificial turf and grass sports fields, cricket pitches, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts, and a spray park.

The new artificial turf field is the city’s 17^th full-sized FIFA regulation artificial turf field. It includes covered and well-sheltered player, official and spectator seating. The spectator seating has 72 seats and two wheelchair spots. The field also includes tournament level LED field lighting and lines and markings for soccer, mini soccer, and lacrosse. The irrigation also makes it safer and more comfortable play during heat waves.

“I am very pleased to open the new amenities at Newton Athletic Park as part of our commitment to invest in parks, recreation and cultural projects to support our growing population,” said Mayor Doug McCallum. “Council recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for casual active recreation and competitive play. That’s why we have invested $428 million through the ‘Surrey Invests’ Capital Program to build high quality recreational facilities and amenities in Surrey. The latest upgrade at Newton Athletic is one of more than 20 ‘Surrey Invests’ capital projects that will ensure our residents have increased access to civic amenities that benefit their health and well-being.”

The new signal blue coloured walking track is a three-lane loop that has been built to track and field quality and standards. It is 630 metres long and 3.7 meters wide. Connected with the existing rubberized walking track, it brings the total rubber walking loop size for the park to more than 900 metres. The surface is a sandwich system of two layers of rubber on top of an asphalt base with a concrete border. The rubberized surface minimizes the impact on the body.

This is the sixth artificial turf field and second rubber walking track for the park, that will be complemented with a new fieldhouse containing washrooms and changerooms in 2023.

Art-infused creative hub comes to Scarborough

A community hub offering a modern work experience for creatives and entrepreneurs is launching in the growing Scarborough community of Cliffside Village.

Merge Spaces will bring together communal areas, private offices, a presentation and events space, collaborative workstations and dedicated desks, sound-proof phone booths, a games/lounge room, and a fully stocked café—all under one roof.

This marks LCH Developments’ latest foray into Scarborough and will rise adjacent to the company’s Merge Condos, with interiors by RAW Design.

“Our world has changed and the concept of a static office for the workforce doesn’t make sense anymore,” says Michal Wywrot Co-Founder and President of LCH Developments. “This will be a dynamic environment where freelancers, creatives, entrepreneurs, and all kinds of professionals can connect, build relationships, and bring their best selves to work.”

A series of bright and vibrant murals incorporating Scarborough motifs are found across the two floors. Programming and animating the space with regular and recurring events and gatherings is an integral component, with plans to offer bi-weekly networking events, informational fireside chats, fitness experiences like yoga, and various DJ’s performing Workflow music at no cost to members.

The Treehouse presentation space is designed in open concept style with amphitheatre seating, a large television and a podium with capacity of up to 150 people. A two-storey live moss wall provides an uplifting connection to nature and enhances the acoustics of the area.

The Treehouse gathering space where events programming caters to members.

A white granite reception desk is set against another live moss wall. A bright magenta motif throughout the two-storey space is carefully accented by pops of colour through the upholstery, with natural and muted undertones throughout the finishes.

A bright magenta colour infuses Merge Spaces.

A variety of flexible office types and meeting rooms are available for a range of needs, from individuals to small companies. Each one is designed as its own “house”, to pay homage to different housing typologies.

Whether in the “Castle”, “Victorian”, or “Loft”, each office features transparent glass doors and windows to let in natural light while maintaining privacy. Custom wood tables of varying sizes accommodate a range of teams. Harvest tables in communal working spaces are designed to facilitate less formal seating arrangements and give everyone the option to choose the level of interaction that best suits their working style.

Communal harvest tables, and shared desks encourage spontaneous interactions and brainstorming.

“Throughout our work on Merge Spaces, our focus was on making this a comfortable, welcoming and inspiring space,” says Heather Woolvett, RAW Design. “Scarborough and the Cliffside neighbourhood are changing rapidly, becoming more vibrant and walkable, and Merge Spaces is the next phase of this evolution.

“While the space was being built, we saw right away how many eyes were attracted to the bright magenta colour scheme, striking curiosity about the action inside the space. This is positive progress for an already charming neighbourhood and this flexible working environment will help draw more people back into the community.”

On the upper floor, individual desks look out at views of Kingston Road and the restaurants, cafes and businesses that line the surrounding commercial strip. Each workstation is outfitted with a monitor and filing cabinet to ensure a seamless work experience. The second level also provides larger meeting rooms and office spaces to suit growing businesses.

Directly behind the Treehouse presentation area lies the games room, which is open to all members, and includes a pool table, a ping pong table, various video game systems, and more. A staircase leads up to the second floor where bigger light-filled offices and dedicated desks are available.

Twelve murals by Toronto artist Mel Coleman and Colombian-born Cesar Rodriguez explore uniquely Scarborough motifs with glow-in-the-dark elements incorporated to add more visual interest during evening events.

Waterloo employs robot mower to reduce carbon emissions

In a quest to reduce its carbon footprint, Waterloo, Ont. is going automatic by employing an emissions-free, robot mower to keep its lawns pristine.

The City of Waterloo says it is the first municipality in Canada to utilize such a machine, which can cut up to six acres of grass on one charge. Unlike traditional mowers, the robot doesn’t produce any emissions and can work day and night, rain or shine.

Following a successful pilot period, the city added the Echo Turf Mower 2000 to its fleet of equipment, and the robot mower is currently in use at the Laurel Creek Conservation Area cricket field.

The machine can be entirely operated from a phone or desktop app, set to a schedule for any time of the day, and report back real-time updates around mowing patterns and locations. It is entirely electrical, only needs to be cleaned once a week, and is equipped with many safety features including an emergency stop button.

“We’re always looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move the city towards a cleaner and greener future. The automatic mower reduces our carbon footprint while allowing us to reallocate staff time more efficiently. The way it mows even helps to keep the grass thicker and healthier,” said Tim Wolfe, the City’s Manager of Parks Operations, Forestry, and Horticulture.

“As we got the grass down to the height we were looking for, it started to fly around the field and we were actually really impressed with how easy it was to adjust and easy it is to clean and how much of a timesaver it was for our staff and the people that were cutting it before,” Terry Henderson, the City’s supervisor of sports turf and parks, told CTV News.

As well as introducing the robot mower to its operations, Waterloo’s Fleet and Procurement division is also beginning to use alternative fuel vehicles, rightsizing vehicles, and continuously investigating new technologies that reduce GHGs while meeting the operational needs of the community, says the City.

Industrial assets deliver outsized Q1 returns

Canada stands out in newly released global investment performance data for outsized returns on industrial assets during the first quarter of 2022. MSCI pegs the annualized total return at 35.7 per cent — a surge from the two-year annualized total return of 22 per cent recorded in the fourth quarter of 2021. Only the United Kingdom and the United States saw higher Q1 returns on industrial property, at 40.5 and 50 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, Canada’s all-property annualized total return was 12.3 per cent for the quarter. That’s well back of the UK (19.3 per cent) and US (22.9 per cent) benchmarks, but a significant improvement from the previous quarter’s two-year annualized return of 5.6 per cent. Notably, Canadian retail assets delivered a 7 per cent annualized total return for Q1, up from the negative 3.3 per cent two-year annualized total return as of Q4 2021.

That’s the same general pattern seen across the MSCI global quarterly property index, which tracks property-level performance of more than 20,000 quarterly valued assets in 26 countries. The index all-property total return was 4.4 per cent for Q1 2022, down from 5 per cent in the previous quarter, but surpassing the 4.1 per cent return of Q3 2021.

Sectoral returns ranged from 7.7 per cent for industrial to 1.75 per cent for office. Residential was the second strongest performer, delivering a 4.4 per cent return, followed by alternative real estate asset classes grouped in the “other” category, which recorded a 3.5 per cent return. Hotels are the only sector to follow a consistent upward trajectory over the five quarters since the beginning of 2021, climbing from a 0.65 per cent return in Q1 2021 to 2.35 per cent in Q1 2022.

Other accompanying MSCI data highlights the increasing weight of industrial assets and diminishing status of retail holdings within the index. That follows five consecutive quarters in which industrial has outperformed all other property sectors, while retail now has the lowest weighting — representing 15.3 of the capital value of the index — of the four major property sectors.

As of Q1 2022, the industrial sector accounted for 31.5 per cent of the capital weight of the index, up from 21.6 per cent in Q1 2020, and marking the first time industrial captured the largest share of capital value among the four major sectors. Office slipped to second with 28.3 per cent of the capital value, down from 33.8 per cent in Q1 2020.

Retail last topped the capital weighting hierarchy in Q3 2013 when it represented 33.5 per cent of index value — slightly edging office at 33.2 per cent — and its peak weight of 37.5 per cent was attained in Q4 2010. However, it was solidly lodged in the second ranking, behind office, for 24 quarters until it was first surpassed by industrial in Q1 2020.

Residential initially eclipsed retail in Q1 2021. As of Q1 2022, residential accounted for 20.4 per cent of the capital weight of the index — up from 12.1 per cent at Q1 2012 and 16.3 per cent at Q1 2017.

Looking at the complement of assets within the index, office properties continue dominate the makeup of participants’ portfolios. In 2021, office accounted for 37.3 per cent of the index, down from 40 per cent in 2019. Residential and industrial have an essentially equal presence, equating to 19.4 and 19.3 per cent of the index as of 2021 and both have gained prominence since 2019. Retail has shrunk as a proportion of the index, down to 16.6 per cent in 2021 from 21.2 per cent in 2019.

A co-working facility first in Truro, Nova Scotia

Flexible workplace provider IWG announced it will be opening Canada’s first HQ workspace in Truro, Nova Scotia, in partnership with Truro-based Queens Realty Limited.

The move brings more choice to a growing hybrid workforce in a community of 14,000 people and marks IWG’s foray into smaller markets, which it plans to do more of over the next two years. Truro now stands as the smallest community to open any brand from IWG , which currently operates 10 globally.

“The HQ brand was chosen for Truro because it provides efficient, functional space with all the essentials businesses need, from private offices to meeting rooms, all set up and ready-to-go,” says Wayne Berger, CEO Americas. “IWG HQ caters to businesses of all shapes and sizes, from large corporates to individual freelancers, and offers everything hybrid workers need at a price they can afford.”

As the only co-working facility in the Truro area, the HQ workspace will be housed in The Common Works complex, a portion of which is an award-winning heritage building. The location will occupy the majority of the third floor, offering 7,500 square feet of workspace, ample parking, reliable high-speed internet, flexible on-demand leases, 109 workstations including hot desks, dedicated desks and small private offices, bookable meeting rooms, an open lounge and kitchen, an HQ app to manage membership, and access to other co-working brands in the IWG family, including Regus and Spaces.

The workspace is set to open in December 2022.

“When I first came across IWG and heard that they were looking to partner with local landlords to bring flexible workspaces to smaller markets, I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” says James Bagnell, CEO, Queens Realty Limited. “Whether people are relocating from Halifax, or staying put in their small town and skipping the commute to the city, living in smaller and more affordable places like Truro is suddenly becoming very appealing.

“But what’s missing from small towns are flexible workspaces with reliable services. That’s why we decided to bring an HQ to Truro. Now people can live and work remotely from Truro, but they’re not limited to working from home.”

Photo: The Common Works building in Truro.

Hatch to construct hyperloop project in Alberta

Hatch has signed an agreement with TransPod to support the next phase of their hyperloop test track – design and construction of their state-of-the-art, ultra-high-speed transportation project – and subsequent full-line project between Calgary and Edmonton.

TransPod, a Canadian start-up based in Toronto, is developing a transportation system to carry vehicles at speeds greater than 1000 km/h, enabling users to travel between the cities in under an hour.

In 2020, TransPod signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Alberta to support the development of a line between Calgary and Edmonton. Following the 2021 pre-feasibility study for the line, Stage 1 of this project will include a 5-10 km test track between downtown Edmonton to the Edmonton Airport.

In March of 2022, TransPod announced the next phase of this infrastructure project, which is estimated at nearly $22 billion when fully completed.

With the goal of developing an appropriate regulatory framework, TransPod is collaborating with four European companies, two American companies, and regulators to establish if the evacuated tube transport falls under railway or aerospace regulations.

As part of the recently signed agreement, Hatch’s specialty engineers will participate in the design and construction of the track. The initial work on the Test Track Environmental Impact Assessment Study has already begun, and the work on selected FEL3 engineering scope and related cost estimates will follow shortly.

Construction, high-speed tests, and certification of the Alberta test track is expected to start next year and finish in 2027. It will be immediately followed by the inter-city line construction and completion of the line from downtown Edmonton to downtown Calgary.

The next phases of the Alberta TransPod project are:

Short-term: Research and development; construction permit; environmental assessment; land acquisition (present-2024)
Medium-term: Test track construction, high-speed tests, and certification (2023-2027)
Long-term: Construction of a full inter-city line between Edmonton and Calgary (to begin in 2027).

HCMA appoints new creative director Jer Crowle

Interdisciplinary design firm HCMA has announced the appointment of Jer Crowle as creative director of the communication design team, effective immediately. Based out of the Vancouver office, Crowle will work with the partners to expand the firm’s award-winning communication design team and continue HCMA’s mission to create measurable social impact through design.

A classically trained fine artist, Crowle makes use of various mediums, including traditional and conceptual art, to inform his interdisciplinary design approach. With past senior creative roles at sustainable product company Green Theory and design agency Burnkit, as well as a stint on the Advisory Council for the Vancouver Biennale, Crowle has been part of the Vancouver design world for 20 years, alongside other projects in Europe.

“The team at HCMA has demonstrated the crucial role communication design can play in positive social change by creating brands and campaigns that reflect the values of the organizations and communities they represent. I’m looking forward to working with the talented team that’s already in place to build our capabilities and deliver hcma’s distinctive communication design offer to a wider audience,” said Crowle.

Established in 2016, the communication design practice rapidly established expertise in branding community engagement to guide redevelopment projects for Vancouver’s West End Community Centre, the City of Surrey’s Clayton Community Centre, and Ganges Village for the Islands Trust.

Other projects include a new brand vision and identity developed in collaboration with Squamish Nation, naming and brand identity for Passive House Canada, and inclusive wayfinding for Clayton Community Centre and Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat Student Housing at Coast Mountain College.

“We’ve long recognized the need for architecture to look beyond itself for answers, and since its creation the communication design team within hcma has helped us to connect people and create change within both architectural and stand-alone projects. Jer brings a rich interdisciplinary background that will help us to deliver positive impact to a wider range of partners, who we might never otherwise reach through architecture,” said Darryl Condon, managing principal at HCMA.

Hybrid Timber Floor Project receives funding

The Hybrid Timber Floor System (HTFS) Project led by EllisDon and Dialog has received more than $550,000 in combined funding from the Green Construction through Wood (GCWood) Program and the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT).

EllisDon and Dialog’s patent-pending system is an innovative approach to the existing concept of hybridizing structural materials. The Hybrid Timber Floor System, a mixture of different materials such as concrete and steel combined with mass timber, offers a reduction in carbon and an increase in building design possibilities.

As a composite of post-tensioned concrete, CLT and a structurally engaged topping, it also allows mass timber–based floor systems to be used in non-residential long-span construction that had previously been limited to traditional building materials.

According to EllisDon and Dialog’s study, the HTFS means mass timber can be used to meet the clear spans often desired in the commercial and institutional sectors while delivering exposed finishes. This ability means greener construction options, meaningful use of local natural resources and benefits to the bioeconomy.

“HTFS is a game changer over traditional hybrid wood construction. It allows for the possibility of using CLT in buildings of any type, height and size at a competitive cost,” said Craig Applegath, Dialog partner.

The EllisDon and Dialog study is currently underway at EllisDon’s modular fabrication facility, located in Stoney Creek, Ontario; the facility is an industrial building of more than 27,000 square meters that is fully fit for prefabricated volumetric modules and panelized building components. The project will be completed later this year, with ongoing full-scale and long-term testing planned post-study.

“The hybrid panel presents a unique value proposition allowing for carbon sustainability, the ability for offsite prefabrication and long-span exposed ceilings desired by many commercial tenants. Thanks to the support of the Government of Canada, we are making exceptional progress to move toward a net[1]zero future by implementing sustainable construction materials in new and exciting applications,” said Mark Gaglione director, building and material sciences, EllisDon.

Vancouver approves historic land-use strategy

After almost three years of extensive public engagement, Vancouver City Council approved the first city-wide land-use strategy to make way for more housing options across all neighbourhoods and build connected communities near transit, shops and public spaces.

The region is expected to grow by about one million people over the next 30 years. The plan contains the first comprehensive ecological framework that will see restored ecosystems and protection for green spaces and tree canopies for a more climate resilient city.

This coincides with Vancouver’s future transit network and works toward the climate target of having 90 per cent of people living within an easy walk or roll of their jobs and daily activities.

In addition to the land-use strategy, the plan also contains an array of supporting policies, which provide guidance on topics such as transportation, community amenities, childcare, public spaces, food systems and more.

“For the first time in Vancouver’s history, we have a comprehensive direction for the future growth of the city that is coordinated with other levels of government,” Theresa O’Donnell, general manger of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability, said in a statement.

“By 2050, Vancouver will add approximately 260,000 more people and up to 210,000 jobs. The Vancouver Plan allows us to plan for our future and locate jobs and households to ensure more equitable growth. The Plan also protects industrial lands and supports businesses of all sizes, creating more opportunities for shops, services and home-based businesses throughout the city.”

Council-approved motions directing staff to consider how renter protections and developer contributions will be implemented into the plan as next steps.

The data-driven plan, launched in 2019, involved extensive public engagement, technical analysis, and stakeholder input. It responded to public input for more housing, support for the local economy and climate protection.

Staff engaged First Nations, residents, businesses, and more than 250 organizations through a wide-ranging process with more than 50,000 engagement touch points and 25,000 survey responses.

Equity-denied communities were involved, as well as the organizations serving them. The idea is for the Vancouver Plan to keep advancing reconciliation, equity and resilience initiatives through future land use planning during the implementation phase.

Ontario brokerages join Luxury Portfolio International

Toronto-based Bosley Real Estate and TrilliumWest in Guelph, Ontario, have recently joined Luxury Portfolio International (LPI) network, along with ten other residential real estate brokerages around the globe.

Bosley Real Estate services Toronto and other regions like Niagara, Port Hope and Waterloo. TrilliumWest oversees properties across the Guelph area, Puslinch, Centre Wellington, Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and others.

More than 200 premier independent home brokerages are currently part of the LPI enterprise. New markets joining include Singapore and the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda .

“Being invited to join Luxury Portfolio International not only gives these brokerages a competitive edge in their respective marketplaces, but elevates their global prominence,” said LPI President Mickey Alam Khan. “They are now working alongside the most respected entities in the world, sharing best practices and strategies and building business in the affluent market.

“We are honored to welcome these new members to the LPI family, whose qualities and commitments to excellence mirror our own, and we look forward to bringing new buyers from around the world to their unique markets.

“These new brokers reinforce our global approach to luxury real estate, and we can’t wait to share more information about additional international members we will be bringing aboard soon.”

Other members now include

Amelia Island Real Estate (Amelia Island, Fla.).
Arcadia Consulting (Singapore).
Caribbean Luxury Villas (Antigua and Barbuda).
Homes in Paradise by Grace Bay Realty (Turks & Caicos).
M.E. Estates & Resorts International Consulting (Marbella and Sotogrande, Spain).
Pilkerton Realtors (Brentwood, Tenn.).
Resources Real Estate (Monmouth County, N.J.).
Village Real Estate Services (Nashville, Tenn.).
Wareck D’Ostilio Real Estate, LLC d/b/a/ Houlihan Lawrence (Milford, Conn.).
Where in Rio (Brazil)

Equiton acquires Brampton residential property

Equiton Residential Income Fund Trust announced it has acquired a multifamily residential property located in Brampton, Ontario, for $63.25 million. Once known as Braemar Place, the 15-storey building located opposite the Bramalea City Centre shopping centre has 153 spacious, renovated units and 198 combined indoor and outdoor parking spots. Other amenities include storage lockers, bicycle storage, a playground and an outdoor swimming pool.

After 74 consecutive months of positive returns since its inception, Equiton now has 29 properties in 15 communities across Southern Ontario for a total unit count of 2,117. The company says adding these additional units to its growing portfolio will further enhance operational efficiencies and management synergies.

“We are truly excited to be expanding our presence in the GTA with this acquisition,” said Jason Roque, Equiton Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “With its large suites, sought-after amenities, and ideal location close to transit, shopping and dining, this property will appeal to a diverse renter base. Furthermore, the significant capital investments made recently to improve the building and renovate the suites, makes this a strong addition to our Apartment Fund, which will benefit our investors.”

The Equiton Apartment Fund is a private real estate investment trust. The strategy of the Fund is to acquire existing apartment buildings and apply its expertise and comprehensive management approach to create significant value for its investors.

Visit equitonliving.com for more information.

Fire safety researchers examine energy storage

Fire safety researchers are building a global database of installed lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. Facilities managers worldwide are invited to share some basic details about their system specifications and configurations via on online survey sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Responses will be anonymously consolidated to inform risk analysis and the development of hazard mitigation measures and practices.

The survey, which is open until July 31, is part of an in-progress research project to develop a fuller picture of where and how battery energy storage systems (BESS) are being deployed, to track any emerging safety considerations and to identify and prioritize where further interventions might be needed. The survey findings will allow researchers to categorize equipment-related and location-related (i.e. indoors, outdoors, separation from combustibles etc.) characteristics of existing battery storage systems.

“While the fire protection and emergency response communities are working with ESS providers and others to ensure acceptably safe installations, there are still gaps in the fundamental understanding of the hazard of li-ion ESS and serious safety questions remain unanswered,” the project overview states. “It is imperative for the full landscape of battery ESS hazards and mitigation strategies to be thoroughly defined, reviewed and communicated to the energy storage and fire safety communities to support safe proliferation of these units.”

In addition to NFPA, the research is supported by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI); the Energy Safety Response Group (ESRG); the insurer, FM Global; the gas and electricity utility conglomerate, Southern Company; and the manufacturer, Honeywell.

North Vancouver’s Lower Lynn Highway project completed

Construction has been completed by Lafarge Canada on all four phases of the Lower Lynn Improvements Project in North Vancouver.

The $198 million project provides improved traffic flow and better active transportation options for more than 120,000 daily commuters.

The series of roadwork improvements improve safety, reduce congestion and provide better connectivity for local people, commercial drivers and active-transportation commuters.

Official stated the work delivers upgrades for several roadway components that shorten commute times in the Lower Lynn area by at least nine minutes in the eastbound direction and four minutes in the westbound direction.

New road configurations are estimated to reduce greenhouse gasses by 1,900 tonnes over the next 25 years, supporting CleanBC and federal pollution reduction goals.

The project included $15 million in active transportation improvements, such as new and enhanced bike paths, sidewalks, trails, and multi-use pathways that separate pedestrians and cyclists from vehicles.

“The completion of this project marks a milestone for transportation on the North Shore. The infrastructure improvements in this area have created safer, more efficient connections to enable those who drive, walk and bike to get to where they need to go. Improving highway access safety and the routes to and from Keith Road and Mount Seymour Parkway, while upgrading active transportation routes for cyclists and pedestrians, are just some of the benefits we’ve seen so far. Though we still have work to do to address our traffic and congestion issues, this project is a step in the right direction,” said Mike Little, mayor, District of North Vancouver.

Key features of the project include:

a new five-lane Mountain Highway and Keith Road underpasses;
a new Main Street overpass;
new Highway 1 South and North Lynn Creek bridges;
realignment of Mountain Highway and Keith Road;
reconstructed interchanges at Mountain Highway, Keith Road/Mount Seymour Parkway and Main Street/Dollarton Highway;
new two-lane westbound connector lanes linking Mount Seymour Parkway and Mountain Highway.

BCIT names new trades and technology centre

The new trades and technology centre at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) will be called the Concert Properties Centre for Trades & Technology. The centre to be developed at its Burnaby campus will bear the name of Vancouver-based real-estate developer Concert Properties in recognition of the company’s long-standing commitment to supporting trades training at the post-secondary institution.

Once completed, the centre will provide a space for innovation in skilled trades and engineering, applied learning, research and industry collaboration, and build capacity for 700 additional students which will alleviate trades training waitlists and help to build up a healthy talent pool in B.C. The centre will also anchor the new and renewed nine-building Trades and Technology Complex (TTC), under development at BCIT, featuring a covered works yard, simulation-based learning areas, maker spaces, and power, welding and construction areas.

Concert donated $7.5 million as the lead donor for the centre, which represents a key phase of BCIT’s INSPIRE Campaign that brought together government, industry partners, donors and alumni to usher in a new era of applied education at BCIT. It will also serve to bolster BCIT’s reputation as a future-forward learning community positioned at the intersection of innovation, technology and industry partnership.

“We’re extremely humbled and honoured to see our longstanding commitment to trades training programs and BCIT recognized in this way,” says David Podmore, OBC, Concert co-founder and CEO. “This centre and these programs are key to equipping diverse, hardworking Canadians with the skills to secure well-paying jobs in construction, and we remain committed to working with our industry partners to find practical solutions to challenges that affect us all.”

In the mid 1990s, Podmore first brought together industry leaders to address a shortage of skilled trades labour and subsequently founded Concert’s Corporate Annual Charity Golf Tournament to raise funds for trades-training programs.

Since then, the annual event, and other initiatives led by Concert, have contributed more than $2.4 million to the Trades Discovery Program. With the $7.5 million donation towards the new centre, Concert’s total financial commitment to BCIT over the past quarter-century has reached nearly $10 million.

Canada’s top rents rank moderately in the U.S.

Canada’s two priciest rental housing markets rank moderately when mixed in with the largest urban centres in the United States. Newly released data for the second quarter of 2022 from Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services pegs average market rent in Vancouver at USD $1,145 (CAD $1,468) and in Toronto at USD $1,113 (CAD $1,427), well below the U.S. index average of USD $1,640 (CAD $2,115).

Vancouver and Toronto recorded the lowest vacancy and cap rates among 33 surveyed markets, of which 31 are located in the U.S.. In fact, the Canada-wide vacancy rate, cited at 1.9 per cent, is 10 basis points (bps) lower than the tightest U.S. market, Santa Barbara, California, while the Canadian average multifamily cap rate of 3.6 per cent is just a notch higher the U.S. low of 3.5 per cent in San Francisco. Yet, market dynamics appear similar on both sides of the border.

“The steadily rising cost of home buying has been keeping people in the rental market longer. Mortgage rates are up, and existing home prices reached a record median $407,600 (CAD $526,000) in May. Due to supply-chain disruptions and lengthening construction timelines, deliveries of new apartments have been flat,” the Lee & Associates report states. “With rent growth surging, investment capital has been pouring into the multifamily sector. Multifamily sales activity topped the four major real estate categories, and investors see rent growth remaining above the long-term average and the shortage of available housing not changing in the short term.”

Lee & Associates analysts report 9.2 per cent rent growth across the U.S. during the first half of this year — a pace that has nevertheless slackened from the 11.2 per cent growth of 2021. San Francisco, with a vacancy rate of 7.4 per cent, commands the highest average market rent at USD $3,092 (CAD $3,989). New York City, Boston, Orange County, California and East Bay, California round out the top five with average market rents ranging from USD $2,980 (CAD $3,844) in New York to USD $2,426 (CAD $3,130) in East Bay.

Rents are roughly comparable to or lower than in Toronto and Vancouver in six of the surveyed U.S. cities: Spartanburg, South Carolina; Indianapolis, Indiana; Saint Louis, Missouri; Cincinnati, Ohio; Omaha, Nebraska; and Cleveland, Ohio, which bottoms out the rankings with average market rent of USD $1,066 (CAD $1,375).

Per-unit sales values soar in California

San Francisco also boasts the highest average sales price per unit for Q2 at USD $669,238 (CAD $863,317). That compares to Vancouver’s average price per unit of USD $322,027 (CAD $412,856) at a cap rate of a 2.4 per cent, and Toronto’s USD $207,575 (CAD $266,122) unit average at a cap rate of 3.5 per cent.

Four of the five markets recording the highest average per unit sales values are located in California — including Orange County, San Diego and East Bay along with San Francisco. Boston is the exception, with an average per unit sales value of $492,525 (CAD $635,357) at a 4.2 per cent cap rate.

Ventura, California, New York and Seattle also surpass the USD $400,000 (CAD $516,000) mark for average per unit sales value. Vancouver is ranked 14th, sandwiched between Miami, with average an per unit sales value of USD $345,245 (CAD $445,366), and Naples, Florida, which posted an average per unit sales value of USD $313,245 (CAD $404,086). Vancouver surpasses and Toronto lags the U.S. index average of USD $257,272 (CAD $331,880).

At the bargain end of the scale, the lowest average per unit sales values were found in Cleveland, Vineland, New Jersey, Detroit, Omaha and Cincinnati. Cleveland offered up the best bargain with an average per unit sales value of USD $82,695 (CAD $106,676) at a 7.5 per cent cap rate.

Atlanta saw the most sales volume in a 12-month period with nearly USD $20.9 billion (CAD $26.9 billion) in deals. The next four markets are Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.. Collectively, the top five markets account for USD $78.5 billion (CAD $101 billion) in multifamily sales since the second quarter of 2021, representing slightly more than 26 per cent of the cited U.S. index sales — USD $298.5 billion (CAD $385 billion) — for the 12 month period.

Expanding purpose-built rental housing inventories

Currently, there are nearly 853,000 units of purpose-built rental housing under construction across the U.S.. With approximately 47,700 purpose-built units underway, Canada is adding the equivalent of 5.6 per cent of that new inventory in a country with a population roughly 11.6 per cent of the size of the U.S.

However, Toronto ranks seventh among the 33 surveyed markets with 25,185 units of purpose-built rental units under construction. New York tops the list with nearly 57,000 units under construction, followed by Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Phoenix, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Together, Toronto and Vancouver account for 75 per cent of current Canadian construction. New construction in Vancouver is largely on par with activity in Chicago, at 10,606 and 10,815 units respectively. However, Vancouver’s in-progress complement is equivalent to 7.7 per cent of its existing inventory of purpose-built rental housing, while Chicago’s represents a more modest 2 per cent of existing stock. When viewed in relation to the status quo, Vancouver is also expanding at a greater pace than Toronto, where new construction amounts to 6.6 per cent of existing inventory.

Nashville, Miami and Orlando stand out as rapidly expanding U.S. markets with the equivalent of 12 to 14 per cent of their current purpose-built rental inventories now under construction. In sheer numbers that ranges from 20,348 units in Nashville (14 per cent of existing inventory) to 23,803 units in Orlando (12.4 per cent of existing inventory).

New products added to GBAC STAR Registered Technology list

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, has announced that two additional organizations, Tork and Soapy Care, have achieved the GBAC STAR Registered Technology & Programs designation.

These two organizations’ offerings were assessed by the GBAC Advisory Council Scientific Board for scientific validity, usability, practicality, safety, and efficacy.

Tork, an Essity brand, registered its Tork Vision Cleaning, a technology that harnesses the power of real-time data to identify when and where there are service needs in a facility, helping to meet guest expectations while securing the expected hygiene standard.

Also joining the list is Soapy Care Ltd.’s Clean Machine Pro, a touchless interface which monitors and educates on proper handwashing with video tutorials and real-time feedback. Powered by computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI) for personal and business hand hygiene compliance, the machine preheats the water to the right temperature for comfort and hygiene, dispenses an exact amount of soap, and can check guests’ temperature if needed.

“With the new BA.5 variant recently driving up COVID-19 cases, GBAC is ecstatic to welcome two more products to our list of registered technologies and programs,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Facilities can incorporate these innovations knowing they are verified for real-world use and effectiveness.”

To achieve GBAC STAR Registered Technology status, organizations must demonstrate that their product or service addresses real problems effectively and provide evidence that the offering will contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19 or any other diseases. Companies also must show that their offerings improve efficacy, cost, health, and safety over existing offerings on the market.

“Even as we enter a post-pandemic climate, the public is still highly concerned with the effectiveness of cleaning technologies and programs,” added Olinger. “Accreditation like the GBAC STAR Registered Technologies & Registered Programs bring facilities who install these technologies one step closer to GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation, creating a level of trust with their employees and visitors.”

Find accredited technologies and those pursuing accreditation via the GBAC STAR Facility Directory at gbac.org/directory.

Growing number of small landlords switching to Airbnb

A growing number of small, independent Canadian landlords are taking their properties off the rental market, according to new research from property-tech firm SingleKey. Driven by problematic tenants, defaults on payments, and a slow, protracted eviction process, dissatisfied rental housing providers are leaving the rental market in favour of alternative property income solutions like Airbnb.

“We’re already seeing pressure on the market with rental fees skyrocketing across the country, and now we’re increasingly seeing landlords shy away from long-term rentals rather than absorb the risks associated with a bad tenant,” said Viler Lika, CEO and founder of SingleKey. “Additionally, with interest rates rising rapidly to combat inflation, many would-be buyers are being priced out of the market, forcing them to rent rather than buy, meaning demand for rental units is only going to escalate at the same time that inventory is waning.”

SingleKey surveyed 200 Canadian landlords in the first week of July and found that 29 per cent have opted to leave their units vacant rather than risk being stuck with a bad tenant. Twenty seven per cent indicated they’d had experience with tenants defaulting on their rent. Meanwhile, two thirds (66 per cent) said they would rather list their units on Airbnb despite the additional work involved if it meant “not being saddled with a delinquent tenant.”

“The issue is that the eviction process in many jurisdictions is extremely protracted and complex, causing significant delays for landlords with valid justification for evicting a tenant,” said Lika. “There are mandatory waiting periods before the process can even start, months of income lost while navigating the legal process, plus additional court and sheriff fees. Ultimately it costs between $6,000 and $8,000 on average to evict a tenant, and in Ontario that cost can be double.”

The upside is that bad tenants are not the majority. According to the survey, 63 per cent of landlords are very happy with their tenants. For the remaining 37 per cent, SingleKey offers a free eviction calculator to help landlords determine what to expect in case of an eviction, as well as background checks and rent collection services.

Per-unit sales values soar in California

Expanding purpose-built rental housing inventories

IDS Vancouver

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