Diamond Schmitt and RWDI receive CaGBC award

Diamond Schmitt Architects and RWDI were presented with the Green Building Pioneer Award from the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) of Greater Toronto for their innovative database, ecoMetrics.

“ecoMetrics was developed in response to the belief that improving energy literacy and setting an energy reduction target is a powerful incentive to achieve better green building results,” said Mike Szabo, principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, in a press release.

The live interactive database analyzes building energy simulation models for a growing portfolio of over 70 Diamond Schmitt projects across a variety of building types. A dataset of over 10,000 points is captured in user-friendly graphics in a series of customized templates for energy use, carbon emissions, code and benchmarking systems.

“ecoMetrics creates a common language backed by a data-driven understanding of energy performance that allows for confident communication with clients and consultants and points the way to achieving low-energy building design,” said Birgit Siber, principal, Diamond Schmitt.

The Green Building Pioneer Award is presented to initiatives and individuals that demonstrate an innovative approach to the advancement of green building technology, products, design and performance.

“As a result, their unique passion pushes the industry, their competitors, customers and employees towards continuous improvement, ultimately helping the CaGBC achieve its ultimate goal of every building greener,” remarked the CaGBC in a statement.

Earlier this year, Diamond Schmitt also won the CaGBC Sustainable Design Award in the Institutional category for the University of Toronto Scarborough’s Environmental Sciences and Chemistry Building.

Photo (from left to right): Mike Szabo and Birgit Siber of Diamond Schmitt Architects; Mike Williams of RWDI.

Canada’s luxury condo market thrives as house sales falter

Sales of single-detached homes priced from $1-2 million have fallen 35 per cent year-over-year in Toronto and Vancouver, according to the 2018 RE/MAX Spotlight on Luxury Report. In contrast, sales of condominium apartments in the $1-2 million range continue to thrive in larger urban centres. Luxury condo sales climbed two per cent in Toronto, six per cent in Vancouver and 19 per cent in Victoria, a trend that is largely driven by baby boomers and millennials.

“Many Canadian baby boomers saw the strength of the real estate market over the past two years as an opportunity to cash in, downsize and upgrade into the luxury market for retirement,” said Christopher Alexander, executive vice president and regional director, RE/MAX INTEGRA Ontario-Atlantic Canada Region, in a press release. “We’re also seeing an emerging trend of millennials entering the lower end of the luxury condo market, as they tap into their inheritance to invest in this popular property segment.”

While luxury condo sales continue to climb, single-detached home sales in Toronto and Vancouver continue to be impacted by the foreign buyer’s tax. Single-detached sales in the $1-3 million range fell 37 per cent year-over-year in Toronto and 31 per cent in Vancouver.

“The foreign buyers tax has impacted overseas activity, opening more opportunities for local buyers to enter the luxury market,” said Elton Ash, executive vice president, RE/MAX of Western Canada. “As a result, local buyers are driving demand for luxury condos going into 2019, which is welcome news for developers in major city centres looking to build more properties.”

Canada’s main high-rise markets, Toronto and Vancouver, saw annual increases in most expensive condo units on the market. In Toronto, the most expensive condo sold for $11.5 million in 2018, up from $8 million in 2017 (an increase of 44 per cent). In Vancouver, the most expensive condo sold for $11.7 million, up from $8.7 million one year ago (an increase of 34 per cent). Meanwhile, annual declines in the highest selling price of a condo were seen in Calgary (a decline of 53 per cent), Victoria (a decline of 47 per cent) and Oakville (a decline of 18 per cent).

For single-detached homes and condominium apartments in the $3 million+ range, Vancouver saw sales decrease by 45 per cent and 13 per cent year-over-year, respectively. Meanwhile in Toronto, single-detached homes in the $3 million+ range fell 44 per cent annually, while condo sales remain unchanged.

In Oakville, both luxury home and condo sales in the $1-2 million range fell by 30 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively, due in part to lower inventory levels.

In Victoria, condominium apartments ranging from $1-2 million saw sales climb 19 per cent year-over-year, while condos in the $2-3 million range saw sales jump 67 per cent annually. However, condos priced over $3 million saw sales fall 40 per cent.

Construction trades of the future

For centuries, construction processes and models have remained relatively the same, with few changes made to techniques and technologies used. The industry has relied on skilled manual labour, basic machinery, and simple materials to get the job done for industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) projects and residential projects alike. As a result, construction has been deemed stagnant compared to other industries, criticized for its lack of innovation and its inefficiencies, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The good news is that the construction industry is changing.

Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D printing, autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment, wireless and virtual reality (VR) technologies, prefabrication, and modular are making their way into the construction world, and it’s hitting all at once. We now have designs that showcase innovative materials and complex geometries, with new methodologies to meet production and building efficiencies — and the trend is only expanding. With the automation of many production processes, we see this applied to the construction sector where entire buildings can be built under controlled conditions in an offsite facility, shipped to site, and erected or installed in literally hours.

Technology and processes are evolving in all industries, and with each advancement a new set of skills is needed to meet the growing demands. As we transition into a more innovative industry, people working in construction must continue to embrace new technology to do their jobs, be it on site or from the office. From scheduling apps that tell a worker what he or she is working on during any given day and virtual reality software that allows tradespeople to “construct” a project before a shovel even hits a ground to GPS-based equipment that allows excavators to work within millimeters of a desired design, we are seeing industry advancements that impact the job from conception to completion.

So, what does this all mean? Why is this important to our new workforce?

At a time when our industry is challenged with doing more with less, we are seeing added complexity in projects, new regulatory requirements, and a myriad of other social influences. As our industry develops and adapts, we must ensure our workforce does as well. A tradesperson’s knowledge and experience, coupled with an aptitude for innovation, are fundamental in seeing these bigger and more complicated projects through to fruition.

The people we bring into the construction sector today not only need to have strong trade skills, they must also be adaptable to modern technology — now, and in the future. They must have an aptitude to learn and expand their knowledge base, so they can effectively deploy these emerging technologies in the real world, whether that’s from a desk or on the jobsite. They need to be creative in developing new processes to solve problems and deliver innovation that they never had to in the past. Fortunately, the generation that will be our future workforce is, at the very least, more inclined to be technologically savvy.

For any new person looking to pursue a career as a skilled tradesperson, they are required to undergo a rigorous training regime to meet the high standards that our industry demands. For instance, in many skilled trades programs with participants working towards Red Seal Certification or “skilled status”, individuals can spend up to four years in practical work experience as an apprentice on top of technical training requirements typically provided by community colleges. One might argue that trades programs are as challenging, if not more challenging, than many postsecondary degrees or diplomas in our colleges and universities today. Much like their counterparts at said postsecondary institutions, participants must have the dedication, intellect, and drive to successfully complete these certifications and be successful in their trade.

As we look to fill 15,000 new construction jobs in British Columbia by 2025 — on top of the nearly 58,000 jobs to be replaced, largely due to retirement — it must be acknowledged that the construction industry has changed significantly over the past couple of decades and will continue to change as we look to the future. Although many principles and techniques remain the same, there have been drastic improvements when it comes to how technology is employed in the construction sector.

The learning of new skills, techniques, and technologies never stops, particularly in the age of information, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT) that we are in today. Once in the workforce, new tradespeople will not only spend years “learning the ropes” but they will also need to adapt their skills and knowledge in the years that follow as they continue to embrace innovation in construction. We are in an era of transformation for our industry that we haven’t experienced before, and our skilled labour force will continue to adapt as needed.

Rory Kulmala is CEO of Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA), serving the institutional, commercial, industrial, civil, and multi-family residential construction sectors on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and other coastal areas of B.C. VICA’s 430 plus members come from all areas of the industry from owners, architects, and engineers to consultants, manufacturers, and contractors. www.vicabc.ca

Avison Young acquires Veritas Management

Avison Young has acquired Edmonton, AB-based Veritas Management Services Inc. Founded in 2009 by Tarek Merhej, Veritas is a commercial real estate management company specializing in property management, acquisition due diligence and consulting.

Effective immediately, Veritas is rebranded as Avison Young and nine new members join the firm. Merhej becomes a principal of Avison Young and will play a leading role in managing the company’s day-to-day property management operations in Edmonton and expanding the company’s property management services throughout Northern Alberta. He will also collaborate with the firm’s other property management leaders on projects across the province.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Merhej brings 11 years of commercial property management experience to Avison Young.

The purchase further expands Avison Young’s property management business-line coverage in Alberta. As a result of the acquisition, Avison Young adds 65 office, retail, industrial and multi-family properties totaling more than 2 million square feet (msf) under management. The addition of Veritas’ property management portfolio brings Avison Young’s total square footage under management to more than 4.5 msf in Alberta and to more than 18 msf in Canada. Avison Young has more than 110 msf of retail, industrial and office properties under management in North America.

“We are very pleased that Tarek and his highly respected team of property management specialists are joining Avison Young in Edmonton,” comments Mark E. Rose, chair and CEO of Avison Young. “Veritas is one of Edmonton’s premier independent property management firms, and Tarek’s and his team’s market knowledge and collaborative approach to every property management assignment will be of tremendous benefit to our company and our clients.”

Also joining Avison Young from Veritas are: Nova Rocha, general manager; Louise Leclerc, property accountant; Katarina Bednarcuk, property accountant; Tyler Rudyk, property accountant; Larson Smith, business analyst; Linda Fordham, executive assistant; Gannat Rakha, service co-ordinator; and Mark Royer, building operations manager.

AIBC recognizes outstanding dedication

Outstanding dedication to the architectural professional and community will be celebrated at AIBC’s 2018 Recognition Ceremony.

Eva Matsuzaki, Honorary Member of the AIBC, will receive the prestigious AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award for an outstanding career-long body of work. The ceremony will also recognize AIBC volunteers who have demonstrated significant service and dedication to the Institute, with Architects AIBC John J. McCormack and Russell Hollingsworth receiving awards for their volunteer efforts. In addition, five AIBC Council Members will be honoured for their contributions.

Professional Service Award

AIBC Lifetime Achievement Award | Eva Matsuzaki Honorary Member of the AIBC
Eva graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1966 – one of only two women in the class of forty. She began her architectural career working at Eero Saarinen’s office in Connecticut, where she contributed to the design of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eva also met her future husband – Kiyoshi Matsuzaki – at the firm.

Eva and Kiyoshi moved to Vancouver in 1972 where they would work closely together for the entirety of their architectural careers. Eva worked at many notable firms, including McCarter Nairne from 1972–74, and Arthur Erickson Architects from 1974-84. Eva and Kiyoshi then founded their own firms – Matsuzaki Wright Architects with Jim Wright, and Matsuzaki Architects Inc.

During her more than 40 years of professional practice, Eva was at the helm of many influential projects, including leading the transformation of the old Vancouver Court House into the current Vancouver Art Gallery, to designing the iconic C.K. Choi Building at the University of British Columbia.

She was a founding member of Women in Architecture, and the first female president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, leading the organization from 1998–99. In addition, she has been a member of AIBC Council, the AIBC Examining Board, Canadian Architectural Certification Board, City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel, and Canada Line Board.

Volunteer Service Awards

AIBC Award for Lifetime Volunteer Achievement | John J. McCormack Architect AIBC
John has been an exceptionally active member of AIBC. As of 2018, he has volunteered with the AIBC for more than 45 years. He first served on the Advisory Service Committee, where he was tasked with starting the Architects’ Advisory Service – a public outreach program which ran for 25 years.

From there, John continued to contribute to the Institute, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to policy, program, and committee work. Highlights include helping create the Internship in Architecture Program, acting as chair and committee member of the Examining Board and the Professional Conduct Board, being an Oral Examiner and mentor for intern architects, AIBC representative to the Canadian Architectural Certification Board, and member of several other committees.

AIBC CEO Award for Exceptional Volunteer Service | Russell Hollingsworth Architect AIBC
Since registration, Russell has been actively involved with the AIBC. He contributed to the creation of the architectural competency matrix, which formed the basis of an outcomes-based assessment and was adopted at the national level. He has served as a dedicated member of the Registration Board since June 2004, and the Qualifications Committee since 2006. In addition, Russell has been a panelist for Oral Reviews and reinstatement interviews, sat as a member of AIBC Council, and mentored many alternative qualification candidates. He has also volunteered as a consultant to Rhodes House Trust, Oxford University; Board Member for the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability, UBC; and several other planning commissions, design panels and charity boards.

Certificates of Recognition
David Dove Architect AIBC, Sylvie Gagnon Architect AIBC, Karl Gustavson Architect AIBC, Selwyn Dodd Retired Architect AIBC, and Aaron Urion Intern Architect AIBC will be honoured with Certificates of Recognitions for their contribution as AIBC Council Members or Liaisons.

Heather Kirk joins Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust

Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust (Cominar) has appointed Heather Kirk as executive vice-president and chief financial officer effective Dec. 31, 2018.

She brings 20 years of experience in real estate, capital markets, investment banking, and equity research. In her most recent position, Kirk was the managing director equity research at BMO Capital Markets leading the Canadian Real Estate Equity Research team. She also served as a Trustee of Cominar since May 2018 and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Minto Apartments Real Estate Investment Trust. Kirk will be resigning as a trustee of the REIT upon her commencement date.

“I am delighted to welcome Heather Kirk to the Cominar executive management team,” said Sylvain Cossette, Cominar’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Heather’s extensive Canadian real estate capital markets expertise, strategic thought and insight, and deep understanding of our institutional unitholder base further strengthens our leadership team as we continue to pursue our strategy.”

Kirk has a bachelor of commerce from Concordia University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Great Gulf breaks ground on 8 Cumberland

Great Gulf and its partners Phantom Developments Ltd., The Kadima Group and MM Realty Ventures Inc. recently broke ground on 8 Cumberland, a modern 51-storey high-rise condominium located at the north-west corner of Cumberland Avenue and Yonge Street in Toronto’s Yorkville neighbourhood.

Conveniently located near two subway intersections, the most exclusive shopping district in Canada and a variety of cultural and art hotspots, the development’s masterplan will introduce parks and open spaces with pedestrian mews that will connect Yorkville Avenue to Cumberland Street, and eventually to Bloor Street.

“8 Cumberland will create a new gateway to the Yorkville District. Our commitment to the neighbourhood’s revitalization includes a 36-storey condo tower at 18 Yorkville, the iconic 76-storey condo tower at One Bloor east and this 51-storey condo development, all within a block radius,” said Niall Collins, Great Gulf’s president of residential, in a press release. “I would like to thank our partners Phantom Developments, The Kadima Group and MM Realty Ventures Inc. for sharing our vision in developing this project.”

Designed in sculptural steel and glass by Architects Alliance with interior designs by Thomas Pearce and landscape architecture by NAK Design, the development will feature retail on the ground and second floors within the heritage brick podium, which dates back to the late 19^th century. The condominium will house 371 open-concept suites ranging from 468 to 1,845 square feet, along with state-of-the-art amenities.

Photo (from left to right): Ronnie Strasser, Sam Strasser, Alex Strasser, Stanton Strasser, Jay Strasser, Alan Vihant, Niall Collins, Mike McGrath, Hunter Milborne, Boris Shteiman, Josh Shteiman.

Modern Niagara volunteers for local charities

Employees of Vancouver’s Modern Niagara, recently renamed from Keith Plumbing and Heating, lent their expertise to several local charities as part of Modern’s first-ever Community Day. The Vancouver crew joined 400 of their colleagues across Canada to put aside work on October 19 for volunteer activities.

“As one of the country’s largest trades contractor, Modern Niagara truly values the role we have in building and contributing to communities,” said executive vice-president Chris Hill. “Community Day is about giving back to the communities where we all live and work.”

Employees rolled up their sleeves to install new flooring, replace plumbing and paint for Harvest Project and HeroWork. Another team collected, sorted and delivered warm winter clothing for Covenant House’s youth shelter. And, some especially lucky volunteers helped make candy pizzas, which will help Loving Spoonful’s efforts for people living with HIV/AIDS. Many of the day’s charities were nominated by the employees themselves. Outreach then began to determine which charities could participate and how Modern Niagara could best help.

“It was great to give back to my community and help others,” said Karen Bayliss, a project coordinator with Modern Niagara Vancouver, who volunteered with HeroWork. “It was especially rewarding that our team could put our specialized contractor skills to good use for a deserving charity.”

The inaugural Community Day involved more than 25 projects across six cities: Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto. Projects included sorting food bank and clothing donations, cleaning community gardens, and lending their expertise in carpentry, plumbing and painting.

National housing market remains vulnerable: CMHC

While Canada’s housing market remains highly vulnerable, conditions of overvaluation are slowing overall, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s most recent Housing Market Assessment (HMA).

Although overvaluation is still detected in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto and Hamilton, home prices are moving closer to levels supported by housing market fundamentals, including income, mortgage rates and population. However, these markets continue to display a high degree of vulnerability.

CMHC releases HMAs on a quarterly basis to provide Canadians with both expert and impartial insight and analysis, based on the best data available in the country. CMHC defines vulnerability as imbalances in the housing market, which occur when overbuilding, overvaluation, overheating and price acceleration – or any combination thereof – depart significantly from historical averages.

Results are based on data as of the end of June 2018 and market intelligence as of the end of September 2018. This national report assesses the housing market at the national level and provides summary assessment results for 15 Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs).

Nationally, the moderate rating of overvaluation is maintained as a longer period of improved alignment between home prices and fundamentals is necessary for overvaluation to be revised to low.
Evidence of overbuilding remains high in Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon and Regina, so they continue to receive a moderate degree of vulnerability in the overall assessment.
Ottawa, Quebec City, Moncton, Halifax and St. John’s all sustained a low degree of overall vulnerability, as home prices continue to follow the path of fundamentals.
Montreal’s resale market is close to overheating, reports CMHC. This creates significant upward pressure on home prices as a result of a sharp tightening between supply and demand.
In Winnipeg, evidence of overbuilding as well as overall vulnerability grew from low to moderate, reflecting increases in the inventory of newly completed units that remain unsold.

“For the ninth consecutive quarter, there continues to be a high degree of overall vulnerability at the national level, however, we are seeing conditions of overvaluation easing for Canada as a whole,” said Bob Dugan, CMHC’s chief economist, in a press release. “Tighter mortgage rules, rising interest rates and weaker growth in inflation-adjusted personal disposable income – likely lead to reduced demand for housing, resulting in the decline of house prices.”

Balancing Condo Community and Autonomy

Within every condo is a community that thrives on sharing and collaboration. There are also individuals who ensure residents’ concerns and the daily affairs of the building are dealt with in a timely and satisfactory manner. For this reason, each condominium community elects a board of directors to enact and enforce rules and regulations (bylaws) and oversee the organization’s finances, including how much each owner must pay in maintenance fees.

In collaboration with condo managers and the corporation itself, these individuals have laws to follow and enforce; employees and contractors to manage; public property to maintain; and the health and safety of the population to protect – not to mention budgets, schedules, and service partners, to oversee. They seek stability, peace, and order for the collective group, and yet their needs can sometimes conflict with residents’ desires for autonomy, choice, and respect.

So how does one find a balance? By implementing efficient practices and programs that will make life easier for the property management team, the condo board and especially the residents.

Here are some examples:

On-demand service. Implementing an online condo page or public website can make communication between you and your residents easy and accessible. It can also provide a forum through which individual concerns can be logged, monitored, and addressed in a convenient and efficient way.

Access for all. Accessibility is one of the core components of property management in 2018. It’s about making information easier for you and your residents to share and upholding their need for autonomy. One example is installing digital screens in the elevators and common areas to ensure all residents are reading important announcements. Another option is to add keyless doors with biometric fingerprint technology for both added convenience and added security. This negates the need to hand out copied keys to workers, visitors, family, or friends, as keyless locks let residents add and delete users themselves. Property managers are also saved the hassle of being called at late hours to help residents who have lost their keys.

Eye see you. Some condominiums are opting for enhanced digital security; this includes cameras that monitor who comes through the door, in turn, allowing residents to react in real-time by viewing their guests before they let them in.

Bright(er) ideas. Consider installing motion sensor LED domes in the parking garage and hallways. New retrofit lighting systems reduce your carbon footprint, increase security and save money on the electricity bill.

Suite metering. With a suite metering program in place, property management no longer has to spend hours of time and energy on utility billing, and usage calculations. A monthly snapshot of common area electricity usage is provided. Furthermore, an in-house customer service team will provide managers and condo boards with peace of mind knowing that all residents are receiving first class treatment. Take the first steps by contacting a sales expert at Priority Submetering Solutions to discuss suite metering solutions for your building and experience top notch customer service firsthand. This practice puts positive responsibility and decision making in the hands of the resident. It also appeals to the eco-friendly community living environment that more residents are expecting.

Combining the technology above with a suite metering program into your condominium will ensure you have accurate measurements of how much money and energy you are saving. This, in turn, can provide the level of ownership, fairness, and autonomy residents require while protecting the health of everyone’s investment.

Hannah Tough is with Priority Submetering Solutions, a licensed, full-service utility Suite Metering and billing company serving multi-unit buildings across North America. For more, visit www.prioritymeter.com.

ISSA Innovation Award winners announced

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, recognized the cleaning industry’s most innovative products and services at the ISSA Show North America 2018 in Dallas.

Innovation of the Year Award

As voted by cleaning-industry distributors, building service contractors, in-house service providers, and residential cleaners, the 2018 ISSA Innovation of the Year Award winner is EvoClean, a “venturi-based, water-powered laundry chemical dispenser for on-premise laundry applications” by Hydro Systems Co.

Honorable Mentions

KIRA B50 Intelligent Cleaning Robot by Kärcher North America
KOLO Smart Monitoring System by GP PRO
Scotch-Brite™ Clean & Shine Pad by 3M Commercial Solutions Division
Tork PeakServe Continuous™ Towel Refill and System by Essity Professional Hygiene North America LLC.

ISSA Innovation Category Awards
Awarded to one innovative company from the following categories – cleaning agents, dispensers, equipment, services, and technology, and supplies and accessories:

Cleaning Agents: Enviro-Solutions® Terrazzo and Concrete Floor Care Program by Charlotte Products Ltd.
Dispensers: The Complete Menstrual Care System for Your Facility by HOSPECO
Equipment: KIRA B50 Intelligent Cleaning Robot by Kärcher North America
Services and Technology: KOLO Smart Monitoring System by GP PRO
Supplies and Accessories: Unger Excella™ by Unger Enterprises.

“Cheers to Hydro Systems for taking the top spot amidst so many great entries,” said ISSA executive director John Barrett in a press release. “All of us at ISSA are proud to recognize Hydro Systems, as well as this year’s Honorable Mention and Category Award winners.

L’Oréal Canada celebrates 60 years with new HQ

L’Oréal is celebrating its 60^th anniversary in Canada this fall by inaugurating its newly redesigned and renovated 117,000 square foot head office, located in the heart of downtown Montreal.

In the fall of 1958, the L’Oréal Group decided to open a subsidiary in Canada promoting L’Oréal Coiffure, its only division at the time. “We built the notoriety of our products during the 60s, slowly but surely, one hair stylist at a time,” recounted L’Oréal Canada’s founder, Philippe Dalle, in a press release.

Now, 60 years later, L’Oréal Canada has four divisions and 39 brands, with sales of $1.192 billion last year, and over 1,300 employees at its head office in downtown Montreal and a distribution centre and manufacturing plant in Ville Saint-Laurent.

During the past year, L’Oréal Canada completely redesigned its head office, where over 500 employees (60 per cent of whom are millennials) currently work. The 117,000-square-foot building, located in the former Eaton’s building, has undergone extensive renovations. The new office features plenty of natural light due to the building’s plentiful large windows, and is LEED certified.

“The objective of the renovations was to provide L’Oréal Canada with a modern work environment that is adapted to our needs and that is as closely related as possible to the spirit and behaviour of our employees. The work environment is the sounding board for behaviours and ways of working,” said Frank Kollmar, president and CEO of L’Oréal Canada. “We are growing and our teams are growing rapidly, which is why it is important to ensure that the space provided is of the most flexible, and to offer a sustainable solution.”

The new head office features 656 open-plan workstations, spread across two floors. The open plan provides space for unique additions to the office, including a Hairdressing Academy, a technical centre where hair colour products are tested, a Content Factory, an employee’s cosmetic boutique, training facilities for point-of-sale employees, a sprout garden in the cafeteria, a coffee bar, a library and yoga studio, and an in-house graphics studio.

“We needed a new work environment that supports and promotes more modern, agile, efficient, stimulating and collaborative ways of working,” added Kollmar. “In addition, we wanted to stay in the heart of downtown Montreal where we are fortunate to be located in a historic building, the former Eaton’s store, which has a lot of charm and character.”

Calgary’s new Central Library opens its doors

The new Central Library is now open to the public in Calgary. The 240,000-square foot building is located in the East Village of the city.

According to a press release, the $245 million library features 30 community meeting areas, a performance hall, a 75,000-square foot outdoor plaza and greenery, exterior and interior artwork, a 12,000-square foot Children’s Library, dedicated spaces for teens, recording studios, and over 450,000 collection items.

Bill Ptacek, CEO for the Calgary Public Library said when patrons visit “they’ll find a building that is so much more than a place to borrow books.”

While the building is spectacular, it’s what’s inside the walls – the programming, services and cultural experiences – that will attract Calgarians and visitors alike,” he said in the press release.

The architectural team that designed Canada’s newest central library was led by the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation and included firms, Snøhetta and Dialog.

Opening celebrations kicked off today and will continue over the weekend until November 4.

“This is an important day in Calgary’s history. We are opening the doors to a community hub which will serve multiple generations to come,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi at the grand opening ceremony. “Starting today, the new Central Library will instantly become a critical, vibrant and accessible space welcoming all Calgarians.

GTA new home market rebounds in September

The GTA new home market saw improvements in September compared to the previous month, both in terms of new project openings and new home sales, particularly sales of condominium apartments, reports the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).

There were 1,747 new homes sold in September, a considerable increase compared to August’s 974 new home sales, according to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new-home market intelligence.

Condominium apartments in low, medium and high-rise buildings, stacked townhouses and loft units accounted for 1,494 of those new home sales, a 20 per cent decline year-over-year and down 20 per cent compared to the 10-year average. Single-family home sales, comprised of detached, linked and semi-detached houses and townhouses (excluding stacked) accounted for the remaining 253 home sales, a decrease of 28 per cent compared to September 2017 and down 77 per cent from the 10-year average.

September saw 10 condominium apartment projects and seven single-family home projects opening, causing remaining inventory to increase to 13,952 units, comprised of 8,820 condominium units and 5,132 single-family units. Remaining inventory includes units in preconstruction projects, projects currently under construction, and in completed developments.

According to Altus Group, the increase in new apartment sales and number of units in new projects launched was stronger than September sales typically suggest, indicating more buyers and builders are starting to become active.

David Wilkes, BILD’s president and CEO, said that while that is welcome news, consumers still lack a range of options in the new home market, due to a lack of supply. The condo apartment units in inventory represent about five months’ worth of inventory, based on the pace of sales over the past year. A healthy new home market should have between nine and 12 months’ worth of inventory.

This shortfall in the supply of condo units partly accounts for the closing gap between prices of condos and single-family homes in the GTA. In September, the benchmark price for condominium apartments climbed 19.4 per cent year-over-year to $789,643, while the benchmark price for single-family homes dropped 7.1 per cent year-over-year to $1,119,533.

“We look forward to working with our municipal partners to address the barriers that stand in the way of building the housing our region needs to accommodate growth,” said Wilkes, in a press release. “Some straightforward steps include making sure that government charges on new homes are fair, funding and building critical infrastructure, cutting red tape and speeding up building permits and inspections.”

Construction of $22 million college campus in Toronto begins

Construction of Collège Boréal’s $22-million future campus in Toronto’s Distillery District is underway. Development of the project kicked off on Oct. 29, 2018.

The Ontario government is providing almost three-quarters of the funding for the campus, totaling $15 million. The college is paying the remaining $6.7 million. The provincial government’s decision to fund the new campus comes after a decision earlier this month to cut funding to three post-secondary projects.

The new campus known as the “Ribbon Building” is 100,000 square feet spread over four floors, doubling its existing floor space. This is the first time the French-language post-secondary institution will be in a permanent location since it was established in 1995. The college has to move from its current location because the lease is expiring.

“Moving Collège Boréal Toronto headquarters to a new and innovative campus in the heart of Toronto’s famed Distillery District is a major turning point in the history of our Francophone institution,” said Daniel Giroux, president Collège Boréal.

“This campus will ensure the ongoing provision of French language professional training in Toronto, contribute greatly to the community’s Francophone continuum and energize the Francophone presence in a dynamic and inspiring urban space.”

The official opening of the new campus is expected to take place in 2020 or early 2021.

VICA elects 2018-2019 board of directors

The Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) announced the election of six industry members to its 2018-19 board of directors at its Annual General Meeting on October 24th.

Barclay Ellis, Trades Labour Corp. Victoria; Paul Gray, Farmer Construction; and Dave Lewis, Alpine Insulation, have been newly elected to the board. Roger Yager, Knappett Projects; Keith Parsonage, Houle Electric; and Marnie Pringle, Starline Windows, were re-elected by the VICA membership. Through succession, Roger Yager will become Chair, Keith Parsonage will be Vice-Chair, and Dave Flint, Flynn Canada, will transition to Past Chair.

“VICA is as strong as it has been in years and it will continue to thrive under the guidance of the board’s new chair Roger Yager,” said Dave Flint. “New leadership, combined with a strong vision put forward by the 2017-2018 board, will allow the construction association to further enhance its member services and continue to advocate for the industry at large.”

Outgoing directors Anthony Minnitti, Yosef Suna, Keith Tatton, and Gerrit Vink were thanked for their time served on the board, especially in today’s busy market where time, more than ever, is a precious commodity.

The 2018-2019 board of directors welcomes some young leaders in the industry, offering a new perspective to VICA’s member services. This fresh face, so to speak, combined with the experience from the existing board and VICA’s new strategic plan, sets the construction association up for further growth and development.

“As we embark on another year, with new directors on our board, we will continue to focus on member engagement and enhanced services,” said VICA CEO Rory Kulmala. “We have a well-balanced leadership team in terms of experience and business types, a strong industry, and a dedicated and diligent staff at VICA, setting us up for another year of growth.”

The Annual General Meeting reached quorum through day-of voting from VICA industry members in good standing at its offices in Victoria and Nanaimo.

ISSA Hygieia Network announces award winners and new program

On Oct. 30, 2018, the ISSA Hygieia Network announced the winners of its annual awards and a new mentoring program during the ISSA Hygieia Network Award Ceremony.

The nonprofit organization is dedicated to the advancement and retention of women in the cleaning industry and recognizes individuals and companies across the world who champion gender diversity in the industry. Here are this year’s award winners within the four categories:

The Hygieia Member of the Year Award – Meredith Reuben
The award recognizes an industry professional who has made a significant contribution to the cleaning industry. Reuben, CEO, EBP Supply Solutions, won for her outstanding leadership and dedication to mentoring women within the industry.

The Rising Star of the Year Award – Gabriele Strano
Strano, R&D global technical service, Diversey Brazil, was presented the award for her remarkable technical and leadership skills and commitment to inspiring women.

The Man of the Year Award – Paul Bedborough
Bedborough, chief executive, C&W Services, was presented the award for promoting, supporting, and celebrating diversity in the workplace.

The Employer of the Year Award – Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional was recognized as the company that promotes women within the organization.

A Special Honors Award was given to honour the late Chris Klopper, founder and former CEO, Mulberry Marketing Communications, for his role in helping develop the ISSA Hygieia Network and his dedication to supporting women within the industry and beyond.

A new mentoring program

During the same event, the organization launched the ISSA Hygieia Network Mentoring Program.

“Over the last year, the ISSA Hygieia Network has worked tirelessly to create a unique, inspiring, and successful mentoring program to help women within the global cleaning industry succeed,” said Dr. Ilham Kadri, ISSA Hygieia Network chair. “Mentors have been instrumental to my career success — without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. We encourage every person within the industry to sign up to become a mentor, mentee, or both to drive change and transform lives.”

Mentors and mentees will be provided with training guides, online support, and effective mentoring tips and activities throughout the six-month mentorship. To sign up, visit www.mentoring.hygieianetwork.org.

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