Clean capitalism delivers added client value

Leaders of BentallGreenOak’s sustainability team have been named to the Canada Clean50 for 2020. The honour recognizes outstanding contributions to clean capitalism and sustainable development, chosen from a sweep of influential players from the private sector, government, academia and non-governmental organizations who have delivered and inspired progressive actions and outcomes over the past two years.

Anna Murray, vice president, sustainability; Ailey Roberts, manager, sustainable investing; and Puninda Thind, sustainability manager, are commended in the Building: Design, Development and Management category. Together, they account for 6 per cent of the newly named slate of influencers.

“Our people dedicate themselves to the development and execution of strategies that take an unrelenting aim at our environmental footprint, and discover ways that we can deliver new value to the clients we serve while reducing our carbon footprint and overall impact on the environment,” observes Keith Major, managing partner, with BentallGreenOak’s Canadian office and industrial services. “On behalf of BentallGreenOak, we are honoured to see members of our team receiving well-deserved recognition from Canada’s Clean50.”

Hariri Pontarini Architects wins RAIC $100K Prize

Toronto-based Hariri Pontarini Architects has been named the winner of the 2019 RAIC International Prize for the Baha’i Temple of South America in Santiago, Chile.

The winner was revealed on October 25, 2019, during an awards ceremony and gala at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, attended by more than 260 members of the Canadian and international architecture community.

The Baha’i Temple of South America is designed to be a place of welcome and meaning for everyone. Its design aspires to commonality within diversity, and it has attracted over 1.4 million visitors since opening in 2016.

The jury said: “The result is timeless and inspiring, a building that uses a language of space and light, form and materials, to express an interpretation of Baha’i philosophy and teaching that becomes universally accessible as a shared spiritual and emotional experience.”

The prize consists of a monetary award of CAD $100,000 and a sculpture designed by Canadian designer Wei Yew. It celebrates a single work of architecture that is judged to be transformative within its societal context and expressive of the humanistic values of justice, respect, equality, and inclusiveness.

The Baha’i Temple of South America was selected by the six-member jury following site visits to each of the three shortlisted projects.

“The architects resolve a challenging and prescriptive program for a new Baha’i Temple near Santiago with a powerful form that creates a new landmark — a jewel — in a dramatic natural setting,” said the jury. “During the day, the striking form is animated by the variations of light and shade on the building’s softly turning surfaces. At night, it stands like a lantern, softly lit from within.”

The temple’s nine gracefully torqued wings, bound to an oculus at the top, are made of an outer layer of cast-glass panels and an interior layer of translucent marble from Portugal. The invention of this new material – cast-glass cladding – took four years of experimentation and collaboration with a Canadian glass artisan. The interior spaces of the temple are designed to invite people to come together and sit in quiet contemplation. An alcoved mezzanine offers a space to seek solitude while remaining connected with the community below.

The building holds an important place in the Chilean community, hosting community clubs, youth outreach programs, and children’s activities in partnership with public schools.

“At the heart of this building there is a belief and an aspiration: that even now, in the fractured 21st- century, we can respond to a human yearning to come together, to connect to one another, and to something that moves the spirit,” Hariri Pontarini Architects wrote in their submission.

“The arced lines of the supple wooden benches invite people to come together, not as part of a congregation, but to congregate; to sit next to one another in quiet contemplation, sharing in the communal act of being,” they wrote.

In addition to the main CAD $100,000 prize, three scholarships of CAD $5,000 were also awarded to students of Canadian schools of architecture on the basis of a written essay on the topic of ‘the moment when they decided to become an architect.’ The winners are Laure Nolte, Dalhousie University, Lucie Palombi, University of Montreal, and Odudu Umoessien, University of Manitoba.

Gen Z wellbeing suffering in Canadian offices

Eye-catching office perks like pet-friendly policies and on-site fitness centres are often used to attract and retain talent, but on their own, they don’t necessarily support the overall wellbeing of young employees.

A new joint-survey on workplace wellness, conducted by technology company View Inc. and Future Workplace, looked at Canadian workers in the corporate office sector aged 18 to 74. The findings reveal that their employers are overlooking several elements contributing to physical discomfort, such as air, light, temperature and acoustics, all of which factored into the respondents’ primary wellness needs.

Better air quality was the most requested feature across generations at 46 per cent, while 79 per cent have an issue with their acoustic environment at work; performance seems to lag for many when it comes to co-worker conversations and background office noise like telephones. Only 34 per cent of respondents awarded their company a score of 75 per cent for supporting wellness demands.

One belief for this employer oversight is that companies are now playing catch-up to modern workplace dynamics. Dr. Brandon Tinianov, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Advisory Council and vice-president of industry strategy at View, points out how workplace styles are changing from a traditional office to a flexible, neighbourhood-driven version of open-plan space, creating new environmental challenges.

“We have moved from a society where companies were valued for their assets like heavy goods or railroads into a knowledge-based workplace where companies are valued for their intellectual property or the talent they can acquire,” he adds. “People are the value of the company and the number one expense. Making them comfortable is the most business-positive thing you can do for your organization.”

Productivity is failing as a result of uncomfortable workspaces. Overall, 75 per cent of employees are losing out on work time. Poor ergonomics and physical discomfort are causing losses by 31 per cent and 23 per cent of employees, respectively.

But more than any other age-group, Generation Z is losing the most time, with 32 per cent losing one to two hours a day, and 80 per cent losing at least 15 minutes.

Perhaps, as Tinianov suggests, this cohort’s expectations are high when it comes to space demands because they are coming from an environment much more adaptive to their comfort level.

“Universities are now dynamic and flexible and that’s where students are learning; they have good flexibility and ample natural light and visual intrigue,” he says. “When you put them in a traditional office building it’s a shock to their system.”

Another finding shows that access to outdoor views is more important than unlimited vacation time or off-site events for 45 per cent of Gen Z respondents. Better air quality was also essential, with 39 per cent saying it would improve their wellbeing.

Also on this young group’s wish list is the ability to customize and personalize their workspace.

While most Canadians said they would like to be able to adjust their work environment using their mobile devices, 41 per cent of Gen Z-ers want to optimize access to natural light from an app and 48 per cent would like to adjust workspace temperature. Among boomers, the ability to adjust workspace temperature, control air quality and mask noise and soundscaping ranked the highest.

Personalizing a workspace for both emotional and physical purposes is one action employers can take to enhance comfort and wellness. The study also suggests adapting an employee-centric view of workplace wellness and a shared strategy between real estate and human resources. Focusing more on areas that affect all employees, access to natural light, for instance, and less on perks that workers need to make time for would also help. Adapting a continuous improvement mindset is also key.

Investments tailored to the personal interests of employees could also benefit the building itself. Tinianov argues that progressive design could perhaps enable efficiency, impacting facility managers over a 10 to 20 year period.

“The data shows people are dissatisfied with their level of environmental comfort in offices,” he says. “If the facility design could allow them a level of personal control that would really optimize the maintenance load in the facility over the lifetime of the building.”

The benefits of ergonomic LED task lighting

As the workplace continues to evolve, employers are placing an increased focus on employee health and well-being. They are looking for ways to make their teams feel good and to create the most optimal work environment so that employees can put in their best performance.

Task lighting offers a simple and cost-effective solution.

Today’s workplace also calls for flexible lighting systems that can support the fluid nature of the modern office. Lighting design continues to move toward greater energy efficiency, while providing workers the freedom to position their light sources most comfortably. Recent research into the use of task lighting has provided evidence that incorporating positionable light sources in individual workspaces provides valuable benefits.

HEALTH MATTERS

Lighting needs during the workday can vary by task. Many people find that backlit screens, such as cell phones, computer monitors, laptops and tablets, are in constant demand of their visual attention. Yet, there is still the requirement to read documents or printed materials. These two tasks require significantly different levels of light.

Task lights, when used as a supplement to natural or overhead lighting, enables people to customize light at their workstations to best meet their individual needs. It allows them to add quality light into daily life, which, in turn, helps to improve vision and comfort at work. Task lighting also helps to reduce workplace fatigue.

With individual lighting needs also varying based on age – most people in their 60s require 250 per cent more contrast to view the same documents than those in their 20s – task lighting allows for the adjustment of light to meet maturity levels, too.

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE

With improved health and comfort comes increased productivity. Two of the most frequent complaints from desk-based workers are eye strain and poor lighting. With task lighting, these complaints can be reduced and at times even nullified. Task lights allow for employees to customize their individual workstation with the right quality light for each task performed.

WEIGHING THE OPTIONS

Not all task lights are created equal. When choosing an energy-efficient task light, there are a few key features that require priority attention: light quality, light footprint and adjustability.

Look for a LED task light with a colour rendering index (CRI) of 90 or more. This will help render objects in their true colours.

If designed correctly, an LED light will minimize glare, create a uniform footprint of light and cast a single shadow. Many task lights create multiple shadows on the work surface, adding visual complexities that can lead to ocular fatigue. A task light that casts only a single shadow will significantly enhance eye comfort.

A premium LED task light will also include optical films that control how light is dispersed and help increase the throw of light over the work surface, significantly improving the user experience.

Adjustability of the light’s reach is crucial, too, as it allows the user to position the light where it is needed most. Task lights that offer a wide range of light output also enable employees to select the best brightness level for their task and then adjust as work requirements change.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Task lights not only help to boost employee comfort and productivity but they also promote energy and cost savings.

Because they are closer to the work surface, task lights are a considerably more effective means of lighting a desktop than overhead fixtures. A work environment can maintain lower levels of overhead lighting by illuminating desktops with energy-efficient task lights.

Task lights equipped with sensors that automatically shut-off when employees leave their desk also help to improve energy savings.

High quality LED task lights have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, which translates into a significant cost savings for the employer. In addition, maintenance and bulb replacement costs are less frequent. Research suggests that energy-efficient lighting technologies can reduce overall electrical use (for lighting) by half, a move that would significantly lower the amount spent on lighting by more than $20 billion annually and decrease power plant emissions by millions of tonnes.

Sergio Silva is a senior product designer at Humanscale, a leader in ergonomic tools for the workforce.

Buckingham Sports acquires Pierrefonds Sportplex

Buckingham Sports Properties Company has acquired Pierrefonds Sportplex, 130,000 square-foot, four ice-pad arena complex in Montreal.

The arena contains modern amenities, including restaurant, lounge, pro-shop and training facilities.

“We are pleased to be expanding into Montreal and this acquisition provides Buckingham with one of the most modern four pad arenas in the region. We have a long and successful track record of operating and improving arenas throughout Ontario and look forward to building upon our success,” said John Cook, vice-president of Buckingham Sports in the company’s press release.

Buckingham Sports is one of the largest operators of arenas in Canada. The company owns and operates three arenas in Toronto (Scotiabank Pond, Westwood Arena and Chesswood Arena) as well as arenas in Cambridge and London, Ontario.

Image courtesy of Pierrefonds Sportplex Facebook.

Alberta won’t rescue energy efficiency programs

It’s hard to miss Energy Efficiency Alberta’s message in the wake of last week’s cancellation of provincially funded energy efficiency programs. The move concludes the process begun five months ago when the newly elected United Conservative Party (UCP) government repealed the carbon tax and eliminated the funding source for the incentives, but the provincial agency stressed a critical qualifier as it delivered the news.

“Rebate programs now closed; Energy-saving opportunities still available,” proclaims the announcement, released after the Alberta budget was tabled on October 24.

For some landlords and facility managers with projects in progress, the dictum comes with tighter deadlines for finishing the work or, for those who have hired an on-site energy manager, a diminished subsidy that will cover only one year of his or her salary. Meanwhile, energy efficiency advocates remain hopeful that the savings realized since incentives for residential households, businesses and not-for-profit organizations became available in mid-2017 will help sustain burgeoning momentum in a province that was one of the last jurisdictions in North America to introduce such programs.

“Our continued focus will be to deliver excellent service to Albertans with approved applications and work toward the designing of new programming,” Energy Efficiency Alberta states. “We’re excited about the province’s energy efficiency potential.”

That said, the agency’s response to presumed Frequently Asked Questions arising from the shutdown, notes: “New energy efficiency programs for the commercial and industrial sectors have not been confirmed.”

Focus switches to carbon capture technologies

The Alberta budget reiterates the government’s previously announced intention to focus greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction spending on carbon capture and technologies that can be directly applied in the production of fossil fuels. Research and development initiatives will be supported via the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund, drawn from levies charged to large industrial emitters with an output of more than 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) annually.

“Between 2000 and 2017, the emission intensity of oil sands operations has dropped by 28 per cent. This is the result of made-in-Alberta technologies and is a real outcome in the effort to reduce global emissions,” Alberta Minister of Finance Travis Toews stated, as he introduced the budget. “TIER builds on this success and keeps the focus on large industrial emitters responsible for half (estimated elsewhere in the budget at 48 per cent) of the emissions in Alberta.”

While also offering incentives aimed at curbing the energy intensity of industrial and resource extraction processes, Energy Efficiency Alberta’s distinct but compatible mandate targeted the other 52 per cent. The agency’s 2018-19 annual report, released earlier this year, estimates programs have thus far generated $692 million in energy savings, stimulated $850 million worth of economic growth and resulted in avoidance of 5.7 million tonnes of GHG emissions.

Landlords, facility managers and condominium corporations have made most use of the Business Energy Savings program, which provides up to $25,000 per building annually for the installation of designated energy-efficient products, including lighting, lighting controls, HVAC and domestic hot water equipment and load-sensing plug strips.

“When the incentives were first rolled out, there was such pent-up demand in the market, even for something as simple as light bulb retrofits, because Alberta had really lagged on this front,” says Graham Halsall, Calgary-based manager for the smart building analytics firm, Energy Profiles Limited. “I think the appetite was even better than was initially anticipated.”

Deadlines for in-progress projects

Now the final slate of proponents, pre-approved in late April, must submit proof the work has been completed no later than October 31 in order to claim the rebate. That aligns with the six-month timeline that has always been in the program’s rules.

“This deadline had previously been communicated with all Business Energy Savings participants and represents the natural end of their pre-approval. It was posted on the website as a reminder,” affirms Ameera Shivji, manager of media and public relations with Energy Efficiency Alberta.

A smaller number of commercial and multifamily building owners/managers along with facility managers in the health care and education sectors are navigating the shutdown of the Custom Energy Solutions program, which was introduced later in 2018. Some members of that group now face a November 23 cut-off for completing engineering studies, scoping audits and re/retro-commissioning (RCx) investigations required as a first step for pre-approval. Those already at the next step will have one year from their pre-approval date to submit proof of project completion in order to claim the incentive.

Although more complicated to undertake, custom programs came with a cash injection powerful enough to influence capital spending decisions. Commercial real estate operators, typically falling into the category of emitters producing less than 10,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually, could secure up to $250,000 per year for upgrades in a single building or up to $500,000 for upgrades in multiple buildings, based on a dollars per resulting tonne of GHG avoidance formula. Larger emitters (10,000+ tonnes CO₂e annually) could obtain up to $1 million for a single facility or up to $2 million for multiple facilities.

Energy management specialists commend the program’s intent — suggesting that it’s in sync with the evolution of strategies elsewhere, which typically begin with measures to capture relatively easy energy savings and then must become more sophisticated and capital-intensive in pursuit of more intractable consumption and emissions. Now, with the program halted at its embryonic stages, it’s difficult to gauge its traction in the market.

“When the rebate programs were announced, that was a no-brainer. You could do the math and figure out that your payback would go from two-to-three years down to one year. From the more conceptual side of things, like incentives tied to emissions reductions, you don’t yet see that metric on a utility bill,” Halsall reflects.

For the proponents who may now be scrambling to make the new deadlines for claiming incentives, Energy Efficiency Alberta suggests they should also consider inherent returns on the investment.

“Scoping audits, engineering studies and RCx investigations provide valuable data to companies to support energy efficiency decision-making,” it advises. “We hope that participants see a value for the benefits of the study outside the program and continue to complete the work.”

Continued advocacy and guidance

The Alberta budget is largely silent about energy efficiency goals, but Schedule 21 in the fiscal tables chapter indicates that 34 staff positions at Energy Efficiency Alberta will be retained for 2019-20. In addition to administering in-progress projects, the agency will continue to promote green loan funds and financing schemes.

That includes urging municipalities to adopt PACE (property assessed clean energy) financing strategies that provide low-cost loans for energy upgrades that are repaid, incrementally, via a surcharge on property tax bills. It will also continue to offer incentives for technical training and guidance for developing skills and strategies that support energy savings.

For now, Albertans who have been thinking about purchasing smart thermostats, energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators or furnaces still have a few days to qualify for a rebate. Purchases occurring by November 7 will be honoured if receipts for the designated eligible products are submitted by December 24, 2019.

Barbara Carss is editor-in-chief of Canadian Property Management.

Occupational health and safety advocates invited to apply for scholarship

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is now accepting applications for the 2020 Dick Martin Scholarship Award.

The CCOHS Council of Governors established this scholarship fund in 2002 in the memory of Dick Martin, a tireless health and safety advocate and a pioneer of workplace health and safety in Canada.

Awarded annually, this $3,000 national scholarship is available to any student enrolled, either full-time or part-time, in occupational health and safety-related course or program leading to an occupational health and safety certificate, diploma or degree at an accredited college or university in Canada.

“Every year, we look forward to supporting and generating interest in the occupational health and safety field by offering these scholarships to passionate and deserving students across Canada,” said Anne Tennier, president and chief executive officer at CCOHS. “We are excited to see what the future holds for this next generation of health and safety advocates and I offer the best of luck to all who apply.”

Applications are open until 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2020

Global industrial cleaning market on the upswing

The global industrial cleaning market size is projected to reach USD 58.2 billion by 2024 from USD 46.8 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 4.5 per cent. The growth in the manufacturing and healthcare industries, coupled with the awareness regarding hygiene and cleanliness at the workplace, is the major factor.

Cleaning plays a very important role in the growth and performance in industries such as healthcare, hospitality, and retail. All these industries are projected to grow at a positive rate, which is also expected to drive the demand for industrial cleaning chemicals in these applications.

Drivers of the market growth include:

Workplace hygiene initiatives
The healthcare expenditure growth rate has also been positive over the last five years, and it accounted for 10 per cent of the global GDP in 2018.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, the global tourism industry recorded a growth rate of 3.9 per cent in 2018, which is driving the market for industrial cleaning in the hospitality industry.
Domestic and foreign investments in key sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and construction

Highlights in the industrial cleaning market report include:

General cleaners – include cleaning chemicals used for floor care, hard surface care, and carpet care – are estimated to be the largest product type of the industrial cleaning market during the forecast period;
Surfactants – surface-active agents – accounted for the largest share of the global industrial cleaning market in 2018;
Manufacturing and commercial offices are estimated to be the largest application of the industrial cleaning market during the forecast period;
India, Australia, the U.K., the U.S., and Brazil offer lucrative growth opportunities.

The key industrial cleaning market players profiled in the report include Diversey Inc. (US), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), The Dow Chemical Company (US), BASF SE (Germany), Clariant (Switzerland), Stepan Company (US), Ecolab (US), Solvay (Belgium), Spartan Chemical Company (US), and Croda International Plc. (U.K.).

A Snapshot of Canada’s commercial property sector

Trends in the commercial property industry can be hard to track. Nonetheless, keeping tabs on market conditions and headwinds can help asset stakeholders make the most of their investments.

Here with his thoughts on the current industry and outlooks for commercial mortgage financing is Jeremy Wedgbury, Senior Vice President, Commercial Mortgages at First National Financial.

Now that we’re nearing the end of 2019, how would you characterize the year?

Incredibly productive. At First National, we’re experiencing record volumes; in our second quarter, commercial segment originations of $2.6 billion were 50 per cent higher than a year ago, reflecting strong market demand. As well, commercial renewals of $664 million were about 2.2 times higher from a year ago on the same fundamentals.
Is there a demand trend between insured and conventional origination volumes?
Interestingly, we see a 50-50 split between the two. Honestly, I didn’t think we’d ever get to an even balance like this, and it’s been accomplished even as demand for both insured and conventional has continued to rise.

What’s driven that mix change?

We’ve expanded our lending platform and brought even greater focus to the needs of the market. Compared to the past, we’re getting far more inbound calls from institutional investors who want to partner with First National on conventional deals. That’s a testament to the strength of the commercial property market.

What markets are hot in Canada right now?

As an overall asset class, commercial real estate is hot, while apartment properties pretty well anywhere in Canada are also hot. As for specific jurisdictions, Montreal is very strong, and I think it will be for the next three to five years and beyond. In terms of challenging sectors, retail is difficult because of changing industry dynamics, and we see a continuation of economic challenges in some regions in the West.

You mentioned that multi-family apartments are a popular asset class. What’s driving its popularity, and is it sustainable?

There is a tremendous undersupply of new apartment stock in Canada at a time when there is significant demand coming from those who cannot afford to buy a home and those who previously owned a home and wish to cash in their equity to fund their retirement lifestyles. I think this dynamic is going to continue playing out likely for the next ten years, not necessarily in every Canadian city, but certainly in many communities.

What cities are moving toward a balance between apartment demand and supply?

We’ve seen a considerable amount of apartment construction in Victoria, Halifax, and Edmonton. In the case of Victoria, a lot of people are moving there, so I think the demand will continue to take up the supply, but it’s becoming more balanced. In the East, apartments were being built in Halifax 10 years ago when comparatively little was constructed elsewhere in Canada, so it’s reaching a more balanced level. Edmonton has quite a bit of product coming on stream, and there is concern about the level of demand because of the state of the provincial economy and unemployment. What may happen there is a new product attracts renters who are currently in older units. If this happens, it could have a detrimental effect on occupancy rates in older stock, but we’ll need to see how it plays out. All of that said, we are very comfortable with all three of these markets at present.

A couple of years ago, you mentioned seeing some condo developers move into apartment construction. Has that move continued?

It has depended on the region. In Alberta, we’ve seen a move to rental construction because demand in the condominium market is depressed. In Toronto, the demand drivers are different. Here we see developers choosing to build rental rather than condos because, in many cases, they want to hold on to the property for the long term rather than selling it off. Many second and third generation developers in Toronto tell me they’ve built lots of great condos but lament the fact that they no longer own them. It’s a pretty attractive proposition to build an apartment, collect the cash flow for the long run, and in the end, still own a property that will appreciate in value if it’s well located in the city.

Speaking of inflation, one of the attractive features of owning an apartment is the increase we’ve seen in rental rates. Is that trend continuing?

Yes, although I think in some markets we are pushing the upper limits of how much renters can afford to pay. One of the interesting things we see in large cities is new rental units shrinking in size, which allows the monthly rental rate to be more affordable. At the same time, developers are investing more in common spaces like party rooms, games rooms, exercise areas, and so forth, which add more value to tenants with smaller units. It’s a creative solution.

Thinking about the commercial financing market generally, have you seen any changes?

Not really. There’s lots of capital available, lots of liquidity and a good level of competition for high-quality assets.

Interest rates have changed pretty dramatically over the past year. How is that playing out with borrowers?

Correct, we’ve seen more than a 100-basis point drop off in Canada Mortgage Bonds and Government of Canada bonds since September 2018, and it’s really changed the conversation we have with borrowers. It’s given rise to healthy discussions about the merits of taking much longer-term loans, and it’s created exceptional demand for 10-year CMHC money in such quantities that we believe demand is outpacing supply industry-wide. As a reaction to that demand and to balance availability, on a limited basis, First National has started to offer 15 year and 20-year insured financing. With these additional options, we’re able to offer terms from 1 to 20 years, plus insured construction financing. I would say that this is the point in the cycle where it really pays to be proactive about rates and to strategize with one of our First National advisors who are empowered to structure the best deals for our clients.

Finally, is now a good time to be a commercial property owner and a lender?

There’s never been a better time generally. Still, I will also qualify that by saying it’s important to look carefully at the asset class, the location, and the deal fundamentals before jumping in. We make it our business to do that, and we’re always happy to help borrowers size up opportunities in advance to ensure they secure the very best financing structure available and avoid unnecessary risk.

Jeremy Wedgbury is Senior Vice President, Commercial Mortgages, with First National. For more information, visit https://www.firstnational.ca/home.

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SFU building wins big at 2019 VRCA Awards

The SFU Sustainable Energy Engineering Building received an impressive four Gold Awards at the 2019 Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) Awards.

Bird Construction won in the general contractor over $50 million category for the SFU project. In total the project received seven awards – three of them silver.

The annual VRCA Awards of Excellence celebrate the finest in B.C.’s construction industry. This year’s competition attracted 123 nominations, representing more than $840 million in construction value. A total of 25 awards were presented, including 15 Gold Awards and 10 Outstanding Achievement Awards.

“VRCA’s Awards of Excellence showcases our industry’s finest companies, projects and individuals,” said VRCA president Fiona Famulak. “Specifically, the annual competition allows VRCA to recognize its members for the dedication and professionalism they bring to the construction of the complex, state‐of‐the‐art buildings and infrastructure that we use every day.”

Other projects that won multiple awards include the Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre, which earned Gold for Graham Design Builders LP and Canstar Mechanical Ltd.; and the Vancouver Central Library – Level 8 & 9 Construction, which earned a Gold for Smith Bros. & Wilson (B.C.) Ltd.

Western Pacific Enterprises Ltd. won two silver and one Gold Award and also received a Safety Award for achieving a Zero Frequency Injury Rate. Ron Fettback from Western Pacific Enterprises was announced as the 2019 Life Member inductee and, along with his brothers Dave and Wayne, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

For the full list of winners, visit VRCA. All winners will be showcased in the Nov/Dec issue of Construction Business.

Calgary announces Urban Design Award winners

The City of Calgary celebrated the 2019 Mayor’s Urban Design Award (MUDA) winners at a gala celebration held at the Calgary Central Library. Every two years, the city acknowledges the important contributions of designers, architects and artists that help improve the quality of life in Calgary through art and design.

“Recognizing the people behind our vibrant buildings and spaces in our city is important,” said David Down, city’s chief urban designer. “Well-designed space make people feel welcome, improves safety and accessibility and creates a memorable sense of place.”

Ninety-eight submissions were judged in 12 categories that showcase some of the most innovative buildings and public spaces in Calgary.

The 2019 MUDA winners include:

Conceptual/Theoretical Urban Design Projects
WINNER: 5th Street Underpass Enhancement
Owner: The City of Calgary Architect: Dialog & Jill Anholt Studio

Urban Design Plans
WINNER: 9^th Avenue SE Master Plan
Owner: The City of Calgary Architect: Dialog

Urban Architecture
WINNER: YW Calgary Hub Facility
Owner: YW Calgary Architect: Kasian Architecture Interior Design Landscape Architects: Scatliff+Miller+Murray

Civic Design Projects
WINNER: West Eau Claire Park
Owner: The City of Calgary Architect: O2 Planning + Design

Urban Fragments
WINNER: Delta Garden + The City Unseen
Artists: Caitland r.c. Brown & Wayne Garett
Landscape Architects: O2 Planning + Design

Community Initiatives Award
WINNER: Beltline Urban Murals Project (BUMP)
Owner: Beltline Neighbourhoods Association
Project Designers: Peter Schryvers & Peter Oliver

The Mawson Urban Design Award
WINNER: New Central Library
Owner: The City of Calgary Designers: Snøhetta & Dialog

City Edge Development
WINNER: West District Master Plan
Owner: Truman Development Corporation Planner: CivicWorks
Architects: S2 Architecture
Landscape Architects: Navagrah Landscape Architecture + Urban Design, HDR

Great City, Great Design
WINNER: The Sunalta Community Hub
Owner: The City of Calgary and Sunalta Community Association
Architects: the marc boutin architectural collaborative

Green City
WINNER: Mackimmie Complex And Professional Facilities Building Redevelopment Project
Owner: University of Calgary Architect: Dialog

The full list of winners and honourable mentions can be found at the City of Calgary.

IICRC appoints Kevin Pearson as chairman

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) has announced the election of Kevin Pearson as chairman of the board of directors.

The 2020 Board of Directors Executive Committee includes:
• Carey Vermeulen: chair-elect
• David Hodge: First vice-president
• Joe Dobbins: Second vice-president
• Scott Mitseff: Treasurer
• Robert Pettyjohn: Secretary
• Pete Duncanson: Immediate past-chairman

“This is going to be a great year for the IICRC,” said Kevin Pearson, IICRC Chairman. “We’ve got a strong Board with expert leaders representing all of the industries we serve. I look forward to leading the Institute into the next decade and am excited to see what the future brings.”

The IICRC Executive Committee helps run the day-to-day operations of the organization, and together with the Board, represents the interests of all IICRC registrants. Each major decision made within the organization is brought before both the executive committee and the Board of Directors.

Additional members of the 2020 Board of Directors include:
• Mark Drozdov
• Craig Kersemeier
• Tony Macaluso
• Dan Mesenburg
• Steve Moran
• Leslie Morrow
• Paul Pleshek
• Ryan Tasovac
• James Tole

During the Institute’s Annual Instructors Meeting held on September 28, two notable awards were handed out to IICRC Instructors Barry Costa and Craig Jasper. Costa won the IICRC ‘Full House Award’ for teaching the most students (1,183) over the past year, and Craig won the IICRC ‘Globetrotter Award’ for teaching the most classes (55) over the past year.

The following IICRC Instructors were also awarded service pins in recognition of their years of service:

Thirty Years: Tony Macaluso
Twenty years: Steve Andrews
Fifteen years: Jeff Cross, Bruce DeLoatch, Kevin Fisher, Claudia Lezell
Ten years: Rick Alston, Mark Ayers, Duncan Bennett, Mark Cornelius, Robert Fairbanks and Michael Forget
Five years: Kenji Eguchi, Kazunori Imamura, Ken Rodgers, Brian Seale and Brady Wilson.

Ace Hotel announces Canadian debut

Canada’s first Ace Hotel is coming to Toronto.

Designed by international award-winning Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, the 124 room, full-service hotel will include a 140-seat restaurant, 70-seat lobby area, unique rooftop bar and meeting facilities.

Atelier Ace, the agency and operator behind the Ace Hotel, said the project is slated to open in fall 2020, right in the heart of Toronto’s Fashion District at 51 Camden Street.

“Toronto is an expansive amalgam of cultures, languages, history, and future-forward ideas, and we couldn’t be more excited to call it home,” Kelly Sawdon, partner and chief brand officer, said in a press release. “Working with the deftly accomplished and visionary team at Shim-Sutcliffe to build a central gathering place for the city is an honor.”

The hotel will be developed in partnership between Zinc Developments and Alterra Group.

“Our partnership with The Ace Hotel, as announced by the hotel company, further demonstrates our uncanny ability to identify best in class operators,” said Ken Zuckerman, the founder of Zinc in the company’s press release. “Our foresight and professionalism have enabled us to execute the successful introduction of the hotel to the Toronto market and its first location in Canada.”

Situated in a mainly warehouse-dominated neighbourhood, Ace Hotel Toronto’s red brick and exposed board-formed concrete will be left unadorned as a celebration of process. With views overlooking a public park, the lobby will be an animated cultural hub, or what Shim-Sutcliffe noted as “the hotel’s truly civic lobby.”

The public spaces feature North American materials valued for their intrinsic strength and integrity, and tied to Toronto’s layered history and natural resources including, doug fir, red Toronto brick and steel. Architectural elements like exposed joints, knuckles and brick are a point of focus, reflecting a deep respect for form and material and the ways they can compose unlikely juxtapositions that layer mood and style to shape authentic experiences endemic to Toronto’s multicultural nuance.

“We share core elemental values with Atelier Ace and worked together to build a civic space that feels warm and welcoming, said Shim-Sutcliffe Architects in a statement. “A local place to gather, Ace Hotel Toronto is a contribution to the neighborhood and city itself, elevating Toronto’s rich history through form and materials, energized by its inhabitants and visitors.”

Photo courtesy of Shim-Sutcliffe

U of Guelph breaks ground on performing arts facilities

The University of Guelph broke ground on the renewal and expansion of its performing arts facilities. Diamond Schmitt Architects designed the 45,000-square-foot project, which reimagines the north wing of the MacKinnon Building. It houses the College of Arts and the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI).

According to Diamond Schmitt’s press release, a new theatre known as the ImprovLab will be built in the courtyard. Funded in part by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, it will be a publicly accessible, multi-use research environment to present, record and analyze improvised performance. The 160-seat black box theatre will have office and research space and be flexible for a range of audience seating and research participation.

Renovations will also involve the building of a new main entrance, creation of student spaces, reconfiguring and returning the Luscombe Theatre to a black-box performance space, new practice rooms for music as well as upgrades to address both accessibility and acoustical issues.

“This modernization enhances both the aesthetics and performance capabilities of the MacKinnon Building to engage students and support their creative drive,” said Michael Treacy, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects in a press release. “Acoustically attenuated rooms for practice and performance are complemented by an abundance of light-filled space that opens and connects the building with the campus.”

The $5-million project is expected to be completed in Spring 2021.

PCL tops off Kingsett’s 700 Bay St. rental tower

On October 24, 2019 representatives from KingSett Capital and PCL Construction gathered to celebrate the completion of 700 Bay’s concrete structure with the workforce that are making the residential addition and renovation a reality.

“KingSett, on behalf of our core strategy income fund is delighted to celebrate this important milestone with our construction partners,” said Jon Love, KingSett Capital CEO. “Once completed in June 2020, this work will greatly improve the existing resident experience at 700 Bay and add a further 275 rental suites with the top two floors dedicated to leading amenities including an infinity pool, fitness centre, library, lounge areas, an outdoor patio including a dog park, garden, pavilion, outdoor movie theatre, and green roof.”

The multifaceted renovation and expansion project involves a new 32-storey residential apartment tower adjacent to an existing office, retail and residential building, the addition of six new floors above the existing structure, including the two dedicated amenity floors, a new mechanical penthouse, as well as structural upgrades throughout the existing building. The completed project will offer a total of 495 apartment residents premium rental living.

“Construction of 700 Bay at Gerrard has required precise methodology to expertly tie renovations into a new tower, while minimizing impact to tenants and properties along Toronto’s hospital row,” said Kelly Wallace, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto) vice president and district manager. “PCL is honoured to share this milestone with our partners, subcontractors, suppliers and over 400 workers who have all played a role in bringing KingSett’s vision for this project to life.”

Interesting highlights that have enabled construction to progress to this point include:

Demolition of two stories above-grade, and five levels of a below-grade parking structure to create a foundation for the new residential tower;
Demolition of the level 26 pool roof to allow for reshoring and structural reinforcement to accommodate a crane on the roof of the occupied building, and the six-floor overbuild;
Extension of two residential elevator cars to service new floors in the overbuild.

For this project, KingSett and PCL partnered with indus.ai, an innovative construction intelligence platform to enhance construction efficiency. The platform utilizes video streams and time-lapse images, leveraging the data collected with AI technology to create actionable insights empowering construction professionals to more effectively manage site activity and mitigate costs and schedule risks.

With sustainability top of mind, the project is being built to Toronto Green Standard Tier II and is targeting LEED® Platinum certification. The building is tying into the EnWave District Steam Heating and Chilled Water-Cooling system, providing leading-edge energy efficiency.

The ground floor retail spaces and original structure are set to be re-clad, and the property will feature new hard and soft landscaping. Occupancy is expected for summer 2020, with the leasing launch coming this spring.

PCL tops off KingSett’s 700 Bay at Gerrard

PCL Construction has completed 700 Bay’s concrete structure. The multifaceted renovation and expansion project of 700 Bay at Gerrard involves a new 32-storey residential apartment tower adjacent to an existing office, retail and residential building.

There is an addition of six new floors above the existing structure, including the two dedicated amenity floors, a new mechanical penthouse, as well as structural upgrades throughout the existing building. The project by KingSett Capital will offer a total of 495 apartment residents premium rental living.

Interesting highlights that have enabled construction to progress to this point include:

Demolition of two stories above-grade, and five levels of a below-grade parking structure to creat a foundation for the new residential tower;
Demolition of the level 26 pool roof to allow for reshoring and structural reinforcement to accommodate a crane on the roof of the occupied building and the six-floor overbuild;
Extension of two residential elevator cars to service new floors in the overbuild.

For this project, KingSett and PCL partnered with Indus.ai, an innovative construction intelligence platform to enhance construction efficiency. The platform utilizes video streams and time-lapse images, leveraging the data collected with AI technology to create actionable insights empowering construction professionals to more effectively manage site activity and mitigate costs and schedule risks.

With sustainability top of mind, the project is being built to Toronto Green Standard Tier II and is targeting LEED Platinum certification. The building is tying into the EnWave District Steam Heating and Chilled Water-Cooling system, providing leading-edge energy efficiency.

B+H Architects signs lease for new office space

B+H Architects (B+H) has signed a lease with Menkes Developments and TD Greystone Asset Management for 23,008 square feet of office space at 320 Bay Street, also known as The Permanent. The heritage building is prominently situated on the southwest corner of Bay and Adelaide streets. The firm is the building’s first tenant.

The 300,000-square-foot building is currently undergoing a major restoration which will improve the quality and service of the space. Expected occupancy is set for spring 2020.

As project design architect, B+H, will be providing design direction for key public spaces, preserving the building’s historical architectural elements while balancing them with new, modern amenities for future tenants. The revitalization also includes an updated lobby façade entrance which will link the 320 Bay and 304 entryways into one public lobby, in addition to significant electrical and mechanical upgrades.

“Playing a significant role in the preservation and transformation of this landmark example of heritage architecture located on ‘centre ice’ in Toronto’s financial corridor is a great honour,” said Patrick Fejer, senior design principal, B+H.

In addition to its unique amenities, the building is perfectly positioned in the core, connecting its occupants and visitors directly into Toronto’s underground PATH network (which leads to First Canadian Place).

“We are incredibly excited to call The Permanent the future home of B+H’s Toronto studio,” said Bill Nankivell, CEO, B+H. “The new location will be a launchpad for the firm’s continued global growth and a space that will reflect our guiding vision of creating bold and inspiring spaces across new sectors and typologies, creating unprecedented opportunities for our people.”