Property managers downplay cybersecurity threats

Building systems are becoming increasingly connected to the Internet through new technologies that help property managers better serve and protect their tenants. But at the same time, despite creating more functional assets, smarter components, from HVAC and lighting control systems to fire alarm and automated building management systems, also increase the chance of harming tenants. More connected buildings and shared networks create easier access for cyberattacks and privacy invasion, as unauthorized users, anywhere in the world at any time, could find gaps and abuse the Internet of Things (IoT)—physical objects connected to the Internet.

The era of IoT is well underway. Cisco estimates that there will be around 50 billion connected devices worldwide by 2020. Such innovation, specifically within building operations, cannot truly enhance customer service if it doesn’t also prioritize the security of both occupants and real estate providers.

Luciano Cedrone, vice-president of national security at Brookfield Properties, recently mediated the Property Management VIP Roundtable: Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities of Today’s Buildings, which took place at The Buildings Show, in December 2016. He said property management companies can no longer take chances and hope for the best.

“Unfortunately, cybersecurity has been downplayed, undervalued, even kept at arms-length; the perception has always been that it costs a lot of money, slows down services and puts obstacles in your way,” he added. “Only in recent years, has a real understanding started to come into the industry in terms of the real cost of not properly protecting your systems.”

Speakers on the panel helped elaborate on these ramifications, from liability and financial damage to marring the reputation of a brand. The discussion also orbited around lesser known areas related to cybersecurity and free strategies to mitigate cyber intrusions.

Cybersecurity risks

A new Accenture security survey, “Building Confidence: Facing the Cybersecurity Conundrum,” indicates that overconfidence may be putting organizations at higher risk for attacks. Two-thirds of Canadians surveyed were confident in their ability to protect their enterprises, but findings show that in the past twelve months the average Canadian company has experienced three effective attacks per month.

While the financial services industry has been an early-adopter of cybersecurity due diligence, the issue is still not taken as seriously within property management. Kevvie Fowler, partner and national cyber response leader at KPMG, has spent many years overseeing the execution of security strategies, assessments and compliance activities for finance sector organizations. He said sensitive information, such as financial data and customer information, like personal health data, are all at risk.

This personal information can be duplicated and stolen, leading to issues like health fraud. In a country with universal health care, this type of fraud has been tagged as a high threat and could cause liability if the breach is traced back to a property management company. Fowler said there are certain sources related to cybersecurity that are not considered enough.

“The number one source for criminals looking to extort money from organizations is emails,” he said. “Cyber criminals are breaking into organizations and stealing gigs and gigs of email messages and running data analytics on it, identifying instances of sexism, discrimination, comments about senior staff or executives within the organization and sending messages with their findings, asking for a ransom.”

Secondly, physical security must also be in place. A primary way individuals are breaking through security is via drones, where cell phones with blue tooth technology can be attached to drones and flown to a top floor of an organization. Property managers might want to consider an anti-drone policy, something Fowler says should stipulate what tenants can and cannot do, and how an organization will respond to flying drones. The future of property management could see security extending to air waves, with cameras facing upwards to monitor drones, as opposed to just downwards to monitor a lobby or entrance.

Mobile applications are another problematic area. Such apps that review invoices and contracts and make payments must be checked and vetted. Such sensitive information associated with these apps must be identified and protected with a predatory legislative contract in place, in case of an intrusion.

Jim Trak, Vice President and Regional General Manager for Brookfield Property Partners, responsible for Brookfield Place and Bay Adelaide Centre, reports Brookfield is now looking to separate building automated systems so that each building would have its own network to prevent the scenario of a hacker getting access to multiple properties. He also flags parking garages controlled by a third party manager as vulnerable because they collect a lot of data from credit cards to bank records.

Organizations can and have been dragged through the court system just because people were inconvenienced, even if there was no identity theft.

Three Free Strategies to Mitigate Cyber Intrusions

For better protection against cyberattacks, there are many common sense strategies that organizations can implement without having to purchase products, said Joseph Lau, a manager in the Cyber Security Partnerships Branch at the Communications Security Establishment, the Canadian equivalent to the National Security Agency in the United States.

These include application whitelisting, which allows an organization to identify what programs should be running on its computers and helps prevent malicious software and unapproved programs from running. Another strategy is patching applications and operating system vulnerabilities. An organization should get its IT staff to roll out new patches and software updates. Unfortunately, Lau notices very old and effective vulnerabilities being used and, in some cases, five years after the information about the vulnerabilities has been made public.

The third strategy includes restricting administrative privileges on operating systems and applications to those who really need the access. IT staff should look into critical systems that are not internet accessible and allow connectivity to certain users. Building a defendable environment is key and could include redesigning a network to make it more secure from the ground up.

In conclusion, Lau said strong cybersecurity requires a process of continuous improvement and should have three elements: strong IT security, strong operational technology security and strong physical security.

Compliance and Implications of Failure

Discussion naturally turned to compliance on the part of property management and ramifications of failure to protect due diligence. Brian Rosenbaum, national director of Legal & Research Practice at AON Risk Solutions, said the legal and regulatory community, along with governance, is just beginning to try and sort out what laws apply to the IoT. In what Rosenbaum calls “this borderless situation,” sensors, users and providers could be different jurisdictions with different consumer protection, privacy and competition laws, and, as it stands, the country is moving at a “snail’s pace” in terms of what the law can offer with liability.

“As far as I’m aware, and I’ve looked into this very comprehensively, there is no overarching Internet of things law in any country in the world,” he said. “So, you’re going to be looking at fragmented laws in different jurisdictions all over the place.”

If a building operating system is hacked into and functions are disabled, there is no telling where liability rests. In theory, he added, an IoT security breach could include a landlord or owner in Canada, the hacked device manufacturer in China, the sensor designer in Japan, the software programmer in Germany and the company that hosts the user data in the U.S., with a local Canadian service provider.

“Any and all of these parties could be directly or indirectly liable for that breach.”

Contracts

There is pressure on governments to regulate cybersecurity issues, but without any specific IoT law, it is difficult to determine where vulnerability lies and who is responsible. Rosenbaum noted that contracts currently determine much of that liability.

“In speaking with IT lawyers, in a lot of cases, companies haven’t properly addressed these exposures in their contracts with each other,” he said, adding that this poses a challenge for property managers who are often end users of these products and may not know how liability is allocated between these parties.

With respect to building automation systems, there could be a number of parties within the IoT supply chain that need to be vetted into the actual contract. Some may not be apparent due to being invisible in the whole process. Tenants should also understand what a property management company is responsible for versus what they are responsible for and how compliance would occur in the wake of an incident.

Property managers should insist suppliers of IoT keep in touch about security issues, updates and patches. As a best practice, carefully review contracts in the supply chain to determine where each party stands. End users should be asked if they have reviewed the contracts of the person who precedes them. Rosenbaum encourages managers to try and “unravel the contractual web.” If there is a liability issue, responsibility will be easier to determine, as a lawsuit could become very expensive with many parties involved.

Insurance

With regards to insurance, Brookfield’s Trak investigated what is available for cyberattacks and found that organizations don’t seem to be covered for anything. Claims could be made about business interruption, but there is no pre-set plan of what insurance looks like with respect to an attack.

“The insurance community is desperately trying to figure out how to cover this stuff,” noted Rosenbaum. “I can tell you, there are gaps in many of your commercial general liability and property policies. Even if you buy cyber policies, there are issues there. If you haven’t had a talk with insurance companies about specific coverage enhancements to deal with this stuff, you are likely not covered for any of it.”

Best Practices

Educate yourself on potential security implications and consider conducting security risk assessments or threat impact assessments on a regular basis.

Be proactive in reducing and mitigating risks by isolating building automated system devices from systems containing highly confidential or sensitive information. Move them off a public network.

Vet developers and distributors to ensure they have building security in the design of their products.

Get a commitment from developers and suppliers that you’ll be advised of security patches and updates that will be regularly available.

Carefully review contracts in the supply chain to determine where each party stands. End users should be asked if they have reviewed the contracts of the person who precedes them.

Ensure you have auditing and analytical tools to monitor for breaches and to know that vulnerabilities are patched in a timely manner.

Conduct a privacy impact assessment and review products, policies and procedures to determine if updates are appropriate.

B.C.’s job growth set to continue into 2017

B.C. set the pace for job growth in Canada in 2016 and that will continue in 2017. Thanks to a Canada-leading job-growth rate of 3.0 per cent, more than 69,000 jobs were created in B.C. during the first 11 months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015. With more than 2.3 million people working in the province, B.C. also boasts the country’s lowest unemployment rate.

Financial institutes such as RBC Economics, BMO Capital Markets, Desjardins, Scotiabank along with the Conference Board of Canada are projecting that job growth in B.C., while moderate, will once again outpace Canada as a whole and will either be leading all other provinces or be right near the top. In addition, these forecasters expect B.C.’s unemployment rate to continue its downward trajectory next year, to sit between 6.1 per cent and a low of 5.7 per cent.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business’s (CFIB) released its Job Vacancy Report in December. The voice of over 109,000 small businesses from across the country says B.C.’s private sector job vacancy rate is the highest among provinces at 3.5 per cent and the highest it has been in the province since 2008 – prior to the global recession.

B.C. has gone from having Canada’s fourth-lowest unemployment rate in 2011 to having the lowest in Canada at 6.1 per cent in November 2016. This marks six consecutive months B.C. has had the lowest unemployment rate in the country.

These positive reports build on the most recent Labour Market Outlook which forecasts nearly one million job openings in B.C. by 2025.

Over the next decade, $3 billion of training investment is being directed to focus on skills and programs for future in-demand jobs. Job openings in the next 10 years are expected in major occupational groups including: sales and service; health; trades, transport and equipment operators; manufacturing and utilities; and natural resources and agriculture.

“2016 has been an amazing year for job creation in B.C. It is because of the hard work of our small businesses, entrepreneurs, employers and the skilled workforce in our province that has helped to strengthen B.C.’s diversified economy, allowing our province to lead the nation in job creation and economic growth. This is something that all British Columbians should be proud of as their hard work has made this achievement possible,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

IFMA launches collaborative Internet of Things portal

The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has launched a collaborative portal where facility management (FM) professionals can pool knowledge and best practices and engage with other individuals and organizations relating to the Internet of Things (IoT). IFMA has formed a dedicated IoT task force to uncover the best way for FM professionals to take advantage of the vast potential of billions of interconnected physical objects (things), all using data connectivity to understand and interact with the built and natural environments.

“The Internet of Things will soon completely change how people interact with their environment and with buildings,” said Eric Teicholz, IFMA Fellow and co-chair of the Internet of Things initiative, in a press release. “Making sense of the vast amount of information produced by the IoT and then turning that into useful action is the challenge we face. That’s why this task force was created and it’s the purpose of the IoT portal.”

By 2025, industry experts estimate that there may be as many as one trillion building sensors in place, or about 120 per every living person. Once they are being effectively used, the insights offered by the IoT promise to allow huge strides towards making buildings more efficient and sustainable, while also making them more responsive to the needs of the people who live and work in them.

Changing expectations for the built environment have made the role of the FM more strategically important than ever. Currently, smart buildings around the globe are suffering from a performance gap between expected and actual results. In a publication by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, it is noted that in the design stage, there is evidence that buildings are not performing as well as anticipated. Post-occupancy evaluations showed that actual energy consumption in buildings was often twice as much as predicted. A primary cause of this result is a failure to account for the FM professionals who need to analyze and interpret the data generated by smart buildings. These buildings require knowledgeable people to run them, according to the report, in order to achieve the optimal operational potential.

CITT reaches decision on gypsum board duties

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT) has announced that the imposition of anti-dumping duties on gypsum board imported into Western Canada from the United States causes significant harm to Western Canadian businesses and consumers.

The decision was applauded by the Western Canada Alliance of Wall and Ceiling Contractors, who has argued that the duties are causing significant harm to the construction industry and should be removed.

“We thank the Tribunal for their extensive study into the impact of anti-dumping duties on the construction sector across Western Canada and on the Canadian economy,” said Neal Pollock, of TDL Drywall Inc., Calgary and a member of the Alliance who, along with other members, participated in Tribunal proceedings.

The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) in September 2016 imposed a controversial anti-dumping tariff of up to 276 per cent on U.S. gypsum board, or drywall, imported for use in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, following a complaint from CertainTeed Gypsum Canada Inc.

The CITT findings reflect Alliance testimony before the Tribunal late last year demonstrating the adverse impact of the sharp and unexpected price hikes caused by the imposition of preliminary anti-dumping duties (“PDs”) on contracts, letters of intent (LOIs) and bids based on pre-PD pricing.

The recommendations presented by the Tribunal go a significant way to alleviating the harm found by the Tribunal. The Alliance is supportive of the Tribunal’s recommendation for a refund mechanism to reimburse purchasers for the higher cost of gypsum board incurred during the provisional period. The recommendation that final duties be temporary eliminated for six months is helpful, but not long enough to allow contractors to perform their fixed price contracts in place prior to the imposition of preliminary duties on September 6, 2016. The Alliance will be seeking a longer period of temporary elimination without a volume cap. The Alliance welcomes the introduction of a reduced rate of final duties which is absolutely necessary to maintain competition in the Western Canadian market.

“We look forward to reviewing the Tribunal’s reasons and we strongly encourage the government to immediately implement the recommendations,” said Pollock. “To maintain our industry’s economic viability, Western Canada’s construction industry must be predictable and stable. We cannot be hit by significant overnight product cost increases that will put our livelihoods at risk.”

Virtual conversations

There’s always uncertainty in how a client will interpret an imagined space and that is why virtual reality is becoming an increasingly important tool to convey design details. Traditionally, designers used drawing and renders to bring their ideas to life. While great tools, traditional 2D representations have limited ability to convey perspective, scale, or out-of-the ordinary design constraints. In this day and age, renders and sketches simply aren’t good enough. The applications that are becoming a part of the common practice or already are part of the current practice, enable designers with more powerful ways of communicating their design to others.

Fast forward to the future
A financial service client recently came to Dialog’s Toronto studio with two problematic projects. The client had a “branch standard” which included ceilings with a 14 foot height, however the two existing branches in question were quite unique and needed significant redesign. Communicating the feeling of space was essential to make informed decisions about the proposed design. The design team used 3D modeling and virtual reality (VR) to invite the client into the imagination of the designer to better communicate with them. The process enabled by the technology also reduced the time to make design decisions, and helped with better management of time.

One space, located in a heritage building, was confined and had no lighting, ductwork, or sprinklers and had a finished ceiling height estimated to be eight feet’. The design challenge meant reducing the standard 14 foot ceiling height down to eight feet, all while keeping the branch design pleasing.

The second branch had glass walls and 21 foot high ceilings. We needed to make numerous decisions based on a grand sense of scale. Traditional or 2D drawings would have been inadequate to convey this challenge, so 3D Revit project models were leveraged instead.

Our design team used a Revizto platform to run their Revit based project models while the actual design was visualized through VR headsets. Revizto lets you export a Revit model into a video game engine. The VR headsets allowed the client to “see” and understand the design as if they were in it. They could actually walk around the model using an Xbox controller. Headsets were especially useful to examine areas with challenging scales. While the VR headset provided a more realistic experience of the space, the digital representation of the design was also made available to the other individuals within the meeting space. We also leveraged a Google cardboard headset to provide a surprisingly impressive and immersive VR experience. While the level of fidelity was not at the same level as with the VR headset, it was also not as easy to move around the model using the cardboard headset. However this was a significantly more accessible setting for reviewing model information, without the requirement of a laptop to support applications.

The feeling of a space as users walk around in it has significant impact on the way people relate to that space. It is one thing to imagine what a 21 foot ceiling looks and feels like, it’s another thing entirely to be able to look up and see 15 feet of space above you, and actually experience the vastness.

Using virtual reality is not only an incredibly cool way to start the conversation between person and space; it’s also a great way that designers can quickly convey design challenges and offer possibilities where the feeling of space is essential for decision making. The result of using VR drastically reduces the time a client needs to make decisions – they have all of the information they need at their fingertips. Meanwhile as the use of building information models for design and production become more common, we are able to leverage these project models for other uses such as creating building and construction simulations, running building performance analyses, or for model based quantity takeoff.

In the case of the financial service client, virtual reality enabled them to experience their space and be in conversation with it, albeit electronically. They also had a lot of fun!

Hasan Burak Cavka is BIM manager / design technology specialist in the Dialog Vancouver Studio.
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Good acoustics, design no longer mutually exclusive

Acoustic panels and interior design are finally making friends of each other. For too long, project design decisions, whether in new builds or renos, neglected to consider the impact on the ear. Acousticians and product providers report the vast majority of their work is retrofits, with frequent calls from occupants to “Fix our acoustics!” Yet this is the worst time to try to meet noise reduction goals. Options will be more limited and solutions likely more costly than if acoustics are considered during the design and build.

The good news is that the building community is becoming more aware of the importance of acoustics at the same time that the industry is giving designers more options to address them.

Acoustic panels used to be thought of primarily for large commercial spaces such as auditoriums and theatres, swimming pools and sports complexes, airports and schools. And given these applications, the large square or rectangular shapes that were mostly available were fine — not gorgeous, but fine.

But now, much is changing in the realm of interior acoustics, including three key trends:

1. Interiors are noisier

Design trends over the past few years have caused noise levels to increase in the everyday places where people work, socialize and live. Open offices have removed wall barriers that formerly served to contain noise. Restaurants have largely replaced soft, noise-absorbent materials such as carpet and cloth with reflective hardwood, concrete, glass and metal. Even in modern home design, there is more noise-reflective surface, with expanses of drywall and glass.

2. Awareness of the harmful impacts of unwanted sound is growing

Understanding of the impacts of the acoustic environment is growing. The International Well Building Standard introduced in September 2015 notes that bad acoustics negatively affect not only human comfort but also people’s bodies, across cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and nervous systems! At work, organizations are recognizing the costs of lowered productivity and well-being that result from noise. In social situations, noise hampers conversation and comfort.

3. Acoustics product options are more plentiful and attractive

Designers have historically been frustrated by the trade-offs they had to make between good-sounding and beautiful-looking interiors. In all the smaller spaces where acoustic treatments are now needed, the visual impact of panels becomes even more important. This need for compromise is changing too, with the introduction of new products and the creativity of designers themselves in developing acoustic installations.

Acoustic panels mounted on walls and/or ceilings can make the difference between an unbearable room and a functional, beautiful space.

There are several ways to make an acoustic panels treatment look great and stay consistent with the design vision. Product options, placement considerations and designers’ own creative approaches can all enhance design while meeting noise reduction goals.

Product options

Conventional, two-inch-thick, fabric-wrapped acoustic panels are still widely recommended and used in most interiors. However, the market is exploding with alternatives and now designers’ options for acoustic treatments have expanded well beyond the conventional flat surfaces and right angles of those rigid panels.

As is so often the case in design, Scandinavia seems to be ahead of the curve. Many exciting lines are now coming out of Sweden and Finland and innovation has spread to other countries including Belgium, Italy and more.

Acoustic panels are available in more materials, such as felt, foam and melamine, and in a variety of shapes, from flat to curved, cylindrical and even nature-inspired outlines. Every big interior design show seems to introduce more beautiful alternative acoustic products, for wall, ceiling and free-standing applications.

There are even acoustically absorbent lighting fixtures! A quick online search for “decorative acoustic panels” — via Google, Pinterest or Instagram — shows how much the sector is evolving.

Placement considerations

An acoustician or product supplier can advise on the most effective areas of the room to treat for acoustical impact. Ceiling treatments can be suspended and colourful for visual interest or inconspicuously flush-mounted and colour-neutral. Wall-mounting position is usually similar to art, with lower edge just about eye level, about five feet above the floor.

Then, design considerations can take over. Conventional panels can be cut to almost any size and many shapes within a four-by-eight-feet grid, then arranged or grouped to create a configuration.
Some of the decorative panels now on offer have unique mounting configurations that allow for easy rearranging on a wall, to refresh an installation by changing up the colour combinations or even the overall shape and placement.

Design possibilities

Within the conventional panel offerings, a vast number of fabric choices support any colour scheme. Fabric textures range from fine weaves to burlap. Literally! One coffee shop wrapped panels with the bags used to ship their beans!

Today’s high quality digital fabric-printing processes mean acoustic panel surfaces can become a “canvas” on the wall for a stunning photograph, an art reproduction or a meaningful message. A restaurant can display some mouth-watering photos of the attractive menu items in a restaurant, to whet their diners’ appetites.

One of the newest products uses the basic rectangular acoustic panel shape and sculpts a three-dimensional image onto the surface — numbers and letters for a playschool, a corporate logo for an office or an abstract flourish for a home entertainment room.

Increasing awareness of the need for a good acoustic environment, along with a wider range of solutions, plus design creativity, are leading to more spaces that are wonderful both visually and acoustically. Consult with acoustics professionals during the design stage to help ensure projects are delightful in every way.

Janine Gliener is principal of Acoustics With Design, a Canadian distributor specializing in decorative acoustic products for corporate and hospitality spaces. She can be reached at 416-818-6569 or [email protected].

Pictured: Toronto designer Peter Brooks combined panels with paint to create full wall grid patterns in an Internet marketing company’s meeting/teleconference rooms.

Quadrangle’s Susan Ruptash elected to RAIC Board of Directors

Quadrangle’s Managing Principal, Susan Ruptash, has been elected to the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC)’s Board of Directors, representing Ontario Southwest.

In this role, some of Susan’s responsibilities will include communicating the concerns of constituents to the Board, recruiting, community involvement including educational outreach, and advocacy work supporting the Institute’s mission.

During her time in the architectural profession, Susan has served on the OAA Council and helped to revamp the Internship in Architecture Program. Susan has also long been a fierce champion of accessible design. Her appointment to RAIC’s Board of Directors comes after her recent return from Nagoya, Japan, where she accepted an IAUD Award on behalf of Quadrangle’s recent work on 100 Broadview.

At Quadrangle, Susan’s work incorporates her passion for inclusivity and universal design. These projects, as well as her persistent focus on improving standards and increasing advocacy, help to strengthen Quadrangle’s approach to accessibility and lead the conversation in Canada.

ASHRAE posts 2016 versions of refrigerant standards

The 2016 editions of ASHRAE’s major refrigerants-related standards have been published as a package with 30 new refrigerants and refrigerant blends added.

ANSI/ASHRAE 15, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems, and its sister standard, ANSI/ASHRAE 34, Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, constitute a complete set of requirements for the safe design, construction and application of refrigeration systems used in a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial applications.

For both of the standards, the updates come from a continuing stream of changes made based on new science and research, experience, and proposals from designers, manufacturers and users.

The 2016 edition of Standard 15

The 2016 edition of Standard 15 incorporates addenda a, b, c, e and g to Standard 15-2013, which feature the following changes:

Incorporated changes to ensure improvement in the safe design, construction, installation and operation of refrigeration systems.
Updated requirements for safety relief systems, including revisions to relief vent pipe discharge locations and design provisions for headered relief vent systems.
Updated design pressure requirements applicable to systems using carbon dioxide.
Modified overpressure protection for heat exchangers and pressure limiting devices for positive displacement compressors.

The 2016 edition of Standard 34

The 2016 edition of Standard 34 incorporates 35 addenda to the 2013 edition. Among the key changes to the 2016 edition are the following:

Added three new refrigerants and 27 new refrigerant blends.
Changed the source of the WEEL (Workplace Environmental Exposure Levels) values from AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association) to TERA OARS-WEEL (Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment/Occupational Alliance for Risk Science).
Changed requirements for the refrigerant application process.
Changed the requirement for submission of standard test result data to validate the method used to determine burning velocity.
Changed units required for refrigerant designation to require the submission of dual units.
Revised R-744 toxicity data for the RCL, LC ₅₀, cardiac sensitization NOEL, anesthesia NOEL, ATEL, RCL and ATEL source.

Workers’ hands risk severe skin dryness in winter

Harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on employees’ hands. Prolonged spells of cold weather reduce the moisture in the air, which leads to a drying effect on the skin. Frequent hand-washing can worsen the issue since washing with soap and water removes lipids and natural oils from the hands as well as germs, soils and greases. Workers in cold and freezing environments are at high risk of experiencing severe skin dryness, which is a serious issue often overlooked and can result in more advanced, painful and costly problems such as dermatitis.

Although the number of cases of irritant contact dermatitis in Canada is not known at this time, in Ontario, 1,000 compensation claims are reported for contact dermatitis each year. Meanwhile, U.S. statistics estimate that up to 40 per cent of workers will suffer from occupational dermatitis at some point in their working lives. Dermatitis can become a financial burden to the employee, as well as the employer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 50 per cent of all working time lost to industrial illness is due to dermatitis. Just one case of occupational dermatitis can cost an employer approximately $3,500 in workers’ compensation claims and an average disability of 23.9 days, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

When skin is exposed to potentially harmful substances and environments, the implementation of safe working practices and appropriate protective equipment should be used. However, when skin exposure cannot be avoided, using an appropriate skin protection cream can reduce the risk of occupational skin disorder and keep skin healthy.

Educate Your Workers

In order to prevent skin damage, workers must be educated about the importance of maintaining healthy skin, especially as temperatures drop, and how doing so can prevent doctor visits and lost work time. Employees often think that having cracked or dry skin is simply part of the job, not realizing cracked skin can lead to more severe problems because it allows harmful substances to more easily penetrate the skin’s outer layer. Education on how to safely and effectively remove those substances from their hands during the workday and once their workday is complete is critical.

A three-step program can help prevent skin irritation. It should be specific to the substances being handled and include:

A pre-work protection cream
A cleaner
An after-work restore cream

Before the Workday Begins

A pre-work cream can be used to help maintain the integrity of the outer skin layer. Proper selection of the pre-work cream is important; it should be matched to the specific work environment. Protective pre-work creams can be used under gloves or without gloves to help prevent skin irritation and maintain healthy skin for easier skin cleansing.

Encouraging employees to apply a cream prior to work can be a challenge. However, without proper protection, the everyday use of common workplace chemicals, degreasers, solvents and just plain abrasions will take its toll on the outer skin layer, called the stratum corneum.

Educating employees will help them recognize potential skin irritants and sensitizers, and understand the precautions to take. Once identified, the appropriate pre-work creams should be dispensed from a location easily accessible to employees. Small, portable sample sizes tend to get misplaced. A wall-mounted dispenser near the wash-up area or locker room is preferable.

Training on proper use and application of pre-work creams is also very important. The back of the hand is often missed when applying creams, but that skin is thinner than the skin of the palm, making it that much more important to cover well. Also, instruct employees to apply cream between the fingers, in the nail beds, and on the wrists and forearms.

In addition, training posters, pamphlets and instructional videos help support the education of employees on the use of proper pre-work skin creams.

Choosing the Right Cleaner

The type of hand cleaner selected is vitally important to skin health. A common misconception is that a hand cleanser’s performance is measured by its ability to clean hands aggressively. Whereas, in actuality, most cleansers far surpass the user’s actual requirements.

Many industrial cleansers also contain dangerous ingredients like petroleum distillates. Derivatives of crude oil, these solvents not only irritate hands but are absorbed through the skin and, over time, can lead to harmful levels of toxins in the body. Low-solvent and solvent-free cleansers are a safer option. It’s important to select a product that takes into consideration the impact on the hands, yet is still powerful and effective for the job.

When antimicrobial hygiene is required, workers should use alcohol sanitizer as often as possible in preference to washing with cleanser and water. Contrary to perceptions, a well-formulated sanitizer will not dry the hands as much as washing with water. This is because the lipids and oils are not removed by rinsing.

Heal Your Hands After the Workday is Done

Frequent skin contact with hazardous substances and cold conditions requires an effective after-work cream in order to help the skin heal and regenerate. Most people are familiar with the benefits of using a good skin moisturizer to replace lost moisture and oil, especially during the winter months when the lower humidity often results in additional moisture loss. In addition, the use of a harsh hand cleaners can aggravate the condition. Even the most skin-friendly hand cleanser can leave the skin dry after frequent use.

Restore creams improve skin strength by moisturizing, nourishing and conditioning the skin, preventing it from becoming dry or damaged, which can eventually lead to occupational skin disease. Restore cream should be applied after working, either at the end of a shift or before a long break from working, such as a lunch break. Workers should apply restore cream at least once daily.

A lot to Cover

The skin is the largest organ of the body, comprising 3,000 square inches. Therefore, proper skin care is crucial to an individual’s health and safety, especially during the winter months. The skin is often exposed to chemicals, physical irritants, mechanical stress and environmental factors. Workers should avoid dry conditions when possible and reduce their exposure to harsh environments. By using skin-compatible products in the correct manner, workers who suffer from skin irritation problems can see immediate results. An effective skin care program goes a long way in reducing your company’s risk, as well as improving safety and health for your workers this winter.

Andreas Klotz is technical product manager at Deb Group, the world’s largest leading away-from-home skin-care company. He holds extensive experience in professional skin care products to prevent work-related occupational skin diseases. For more information on making hands matter in the workplace, visit www.debgroup.com.

Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre reaches construction milestone

On Dec. 31, 2016, Integrated Team Solutions (ITS) and the City of Saskatoon announced the Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre (COC) successfully reached substantial completion. The new facility relocates the Saskatoon’s Transit Operations and houses the city’s first permanent Snow Management Facility. The hub was completed two weeks ahead of schedule and on budget, officially opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 13.

Saskatoon COC is LEED-certified and designed to be comprised of several buildings and facilities. The 450,000 square foot transit facility is a full-service shop, providing convenient vehicle maintenance service using the transmission shop, inspection pits, body shops and fuelling stations. In addition, the facility will be able to accommodate 224 buses so they will never be stored outside.

ITS, a consortium led by Fengate Real Asset Investments and EllisDon Capital, was presented the contract by Saskatoon City Council to design, build, finance and maintain the facilities of the Saskatoon Civic Operations Centre under a 25-year contract. The ITS team includes EllisDon Design Build Inc. as design builder and Engie Services Inc. as facility manager.

“EllisDon is pleased to have partnered with ITS and the City of Saskatoon to bring the design and construction of this project to a successful conclusion,” said Michael Kazda, VP and area manager of EllisDon, in a press release. “Safely delivering a quality project, ahead of time and on budget, requires a tremendous team effort that everyone associated with the new Civic Operations Centre project should be proud of.”

The Snow Management Facility, operated by the City’s Roadways and Operations Division, includes a 14-acre pad that will be able to store up to one million cubic metres of snow. The facility also includes a storm water and meltwater management pond with inlet sand, oil and grit separators to protect groundwater from contamination.

“The Civic Operations Centre is a tremendous step forward for our Transit Operations and for snow and ice management in our city,” said Mayor Charlie Clark, City of Saskatoon. “Our Transit Operations outgrew the old bus barns long ago, and our staff has been making do in cramped facilities for many years. This LEED-certified facility, built ahead of schedule and on budget, has perfect timing as we prepare to modernize transit in Saskatoon.”

Both facilities are expected to be fully operational in January 2017.

Demand grows for detached homes in Ontario: study

According to new research from the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), half of Ontarians looking to buy a home within the next two years say they are looking for a detached house, up 13 per cent from last year. In Toronto, where supply of detached homes is at an all-time low, demand for detached homes has climbed 21 points year-over-year to 50 per cent of buyers, says OREA’s Ontario Home Ownership Index, the semi-annual consumer study conducted by Ipsos Reid.

“With limited supply of this housing hype, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet the demand,” said Tim Hudak, OREA CEO, in a press release. “Young families looking for more space, a backyard to play with their kids in, simply don’t have enough options to choose from. Increasing the supply of single-family detached houses, as well as semis and townhouses, will give buyers more choice at affordable levels.”

The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recently revealed that housing supply has declined considerably over the past decade. The lack of housing supply is a key factor for the growing prices of new single-family detached homes and high-rise condos in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

“Demand for detached houses is up while supply is critically low – no wonder prices are rising so quickly,” added Hudak. “We need more homes on the market; government should give careful consideration to policies that will increase supply. Home ownership is not a fad – it is the Canadian dream.”

Ontarians are now less likely to want a condominium apartment, as the survey found that only 19 per cent of home buyers are likely to buy a condo in the next two years, which is a seven per cent decline from one year ago. Meanwhile, Torontonians are more likely to buy a condominium apartment in the next two years (22 per cent), but this figure is a 17 per cent drop compared to one year ago.

According to OREA’s Ontario Home Ownership Index, 79 per cent of Ontario residents consistently say that home ownership is important to them; 82 per cent say that real estate is a good investment; and 81 per cent say it makes more sense to own a home rather than rent. As for Ontarians’ top reason for buying a home, 34 per cent say it is because of long-term investment value.

GTA home prices continue to climb as supply trends lower: BILD

Due to a lack of new housing supply, the average prices for both new single-family detached houses and high-rise condominium units in the GTA reached unprecedented levels in November, says the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD).

The number of new homes on sale in the GTA remains around all-time lows. At the end of November, there were 15,184 new homes in builders’ inventories, only 84 more than in August, which reported the lowest level on record. Housing supply has plunged over the past decade. In November 2006, there were 31,150 new homes available for sale, according to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new home market intelligence.

At the end of November, low-rise homes only accounted for 13 per cent of available inventory with only 2,036 units, 789 of which were detached single-family houses. Available high-rise supply was also lower in November, dropping to 13, 148 units.

“The low inventory story is not only about low-rise – high-rise inventories have been on a downward path over the past three years,” said Patricia Arsenault, executive vice president of research consulting services at Altus Data Solutions, in a press release. “Total available inventory in November was the lowest November level we have seen since we first started to track this data in 2000.”

Low levels of inventory resulted in record-setting prices for both detached homes and condominium units in November. The average price of new condos in the GTA reached $493,137, a 10 per cent increase year-over-year. Condo unit size continued to increase with the average in November at 820 square feet.

Meanwhile, the average price of new detached homes in the GTA reached $1,230,961 in November, which is 27 per cent higher than the same period one year before. Since the beginning of 2016, new detached single-family homes in the GTA saw prices climb more than $258,000.

Overall, average prices for new low-rise homes, which include detached and semi-detached houses and townhomes, increased 20 per cent over a one-year period. In November, the average price of a low-rise home climbed to $977,890.

“The industry is building to government policy and building far fewer low-rise homes, especially detached single-family homes, but demand has not dropped with the supply so prices continue to increase,” explained Michelle Noble, vice president of communications, marketing and media relations at BILD.

By the end of November 2016, there were 8,843 detached homes sold in the GTA, which is 16 per cent less than one year before. During the same period 10 years ago, 12,273 detached homes were sold in the region.

Overall there were 43,651 new homes sold in 2016, of which 60 per cent, or 26,299 homes were high-rise, while low-rise totalled 17,352 homes.

Sensors poised to transform property management

It’s an exciting time to be involved in residential property management. Technology is developing rapidly and permanently altering the residential landscape for managers, staff, and residents. Several companies are invested in developing the next generation of innovative tools for residential property management. Sensor technologies in particular are bound to make huge waves in the future.

One of these solutions is currently in beta testing in the fitness centres of high-end residential buildings in New York City. Over the next few months, there are plans to expand the solution to several other cities, including Toronto.

These fitness centres use a network of smart sensors to determine which exercise machines are currently occupied while monitoring the temperature and humidity in various parts of the facility. Residents can view availability of exercise equipment — down to a specific treadmill, elliptical machine, or stationary bike. By tracking usage statistics property managers are equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions on upcoming equipment purchases, which equipment is being underutilized and which require service. Management and residents can easily access these and other usage details via a dashboard or mobile apps.

Other sensor solutions in development could help revolutionize residential living and operations in other areas as well: noise complaints, leak detection, parking space availability, mail arrival, and elevator operations.

Nearly every building has to deal with noise complaint quarrels between its residents. Imagine a network of sensors that can detect where loud noises are coming from and that can also measure their decibel levels.

Leaks are another persistent and seemingly unavoidable issue in residential buildings. Sensor technology could help discover leaks early, minimizing severe damage and costly clean-ups. Sensors can not only detect water dripping down a wall, but even detect atmospheric moisture levels, helping to determine if a leak is imminent. Imagine sensors placed in common problem areas, such as under kitchen sinks and in bathrooms, that could detect a pinhole leak before it becomes a major flood. Sensors could also measure water flow in pipes to determine irregularities and notify management of these issues. The potential cost savings to corporations, owners and insurance companies is huge.

For the most part, parking lot sensors have been limited to high-end retail centres, but will soon be available in residential buildings. Consider the convenience and customer service improvements in residential environments if sensors could easily detect parking space availability. Sensors would save residents and their guests the hassle and frustration of physically checking availability in the parking garage only to find out that no spaces are available. Imagine the improvement to customer service if the concierge staff were provided with a dashboard that could provide both the availability and exact location of the parking spot?

Today many buildings are now using software to manage packages and automate the notification process, but what about mail delivery? It can be pain for residents to keep checking to see if that important envelope has arrived. An easier way? Use sensors to keep residents posted in real time. A sensor at the back of the mailbox that pings when mail has arrived could be posted to an app and/or trigger a text notification, providing real-time updates and eliminating needless trips to the mailroom.

Sensors could also help clear up murky areas such as elevator operations. Imagine placing a group of sensors at the bottom of an elevator shaft. They could easily measure the distance from the shaft to the elevator’s current location, making it possible to determine which floor the elevator is on, for how long, and at what times. Residents could decide whether to wait or take the stairs, while managers could easily view usage trends.

As technology improves and new ideas emerge, expect to see more sensor solutions in residential building management. Sensor technology is poised to become a massively influential tool in improving residential building operations in the near future.

Nicholas Gill is director of sales and marketing at BuildingLink Canada. He can be reached at [email protected] or 416-570-4570.

Condo manager licensing reg released for comment

The Ontario government’s plans to license condominium managers inched closer to reality with the release last week of a general regulation for public comment. The first set of draft rules under the Condominium Management Services Act has mapped out what the transition to licensing could look like, along with possible application and education requirements, conditions and exemptions.

The proposed transition to licensing would give condominium managers who are active when the new legislation rolls out around five months (150 days) to apply for a license. In the interim, they would be considered to hold a particular class of license based on their education and experience.

Managers with less than two years of experience would be eligible to apply for an entry-level limited license, which would come with conditions and restrictions. Managers with more than two years of experience would be eligible to apply for a transitional general license, which would give them time to complete education requirements that have yet to be specified.

The registrar would have the authority to recognize previous education and experience, such as courses, internships and training programs, as having met the education requirements for a limited or general license. During the transition, managers with more than two years of experience who have also successfully completed the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario’s (ACMO) four courses would be eligible to apply for a general license. A summary of the draft rules notes that ACMO’s four courses and exams are under consideration as the educational prerequisite to applying for a general license.

The regulation proposes to exempt from licensing requirements many of the other professionals who provide services to condominium corporations, including accountants, engineers and lawyers. The regulation also proposes to exempt board directors from licensing requirements, unless a board director is being compensated for providing condominium management services.

Whatever their form, be it corporation, partnership or sole proprietor, providers of condominium management services will have to be licensed, too. The application process would involve naming a general license holder as their principal condominium manager, among other things.

In addition, the proposed regulation lays out what information licenses could contain, a possible obligation to produce licenses on request on the job, and timeframes for retaining business records and transferring client records. Further, the draft rules touch on requirements for disclosing conflicts of interest and whether a manager possesses insurance as well as complaints procedures and what information could be made publicly available about license holders.

Members of the public and stakeholders will have until Feb. 6, 2017 to comment on the proposed regulation, which the government is aiming to finalize for roll out on July 1, 2017. At least one industry association is planning to submit feedback.

“ACMO is pleased with the draft regulations released last week,” said Amanda Curtis, executive director of ACMO, via email. “They clearly reflect our association’s efforts and we will be working with members to provide detailed comment to the government early in the New Year.”

Further proposals for regulation under the Condominium Management Service Act are slated to be released for public comment in early 2017 and projected to roll out before the end of the year. They are expected to outline a code of ethics as well as processes for discipline and appeals committees.

National average home price expected to dip in 2017

Canadian housing market trends have evolved mostly as predicted in the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA)’s last housing market forecast, published in September. Sales activity in British Columbia is showing signs it will return to more normal levels, and sales in Ontario continue to set new records despite a shortage of supply in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the surrounding region.

Mortgage regulations tightened further after CREA’s previous forecast. It is expected that soon, tightened regulations are expected to reduce the number of first-time buyers that qualify for mortgage financing, especially in more expensive markets where there is a severe shortage of lower-priced homes for sale. Tightened mortgage regulations and lending guidelines are also expected to increase capital costs for lenders, causing modest increases in mortgage interest rates in 2017. The CREA did not include these factors when making its last forecast, and they have resulted in downward revisions to sales and average price predictions for 2017.

Nationally, sales activity is expected to climb 6.2 per cent to 536,700 units by the end of 2016, which is slightly higher than the CREA previously forecasted. Projected annual sales for 2016 would represent a new annual record for national activity, increasing 3.3 per cent from the previous record set in 2007. However, when adjusting for population growth, sales remain below 2007 levels.

British Columbia is expected to post a 10 per cent increase in activity, the largest surge in activity expected among the country’s most populous provinces, due to unprecedented sales strength early in 2016. Ontario’s annual increase is projected to reach nine per cent.

Overall, Prince Edward Island is anticipated to post a 22.4 per cent increase in sales for 2016, the largest annual percentage increase this year. P.E.I. joined the ranks of British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario as the only four provinces to set new annual sales records in 2016.

Alberta is expected to show an 8.1 per cent decline in sales for 2016, while Saskatchewan’s housing activity is expected to fall by 4.6 per cent. Activity in Newfoundland and Labrador should remain relatively unchanged from 2015 levels.

Meanwhile, sales are forecast to rise in Manitoba (four per cent), Quebec (5.8 per cent), New Brunswick (6.1 per cent) and Nova Scotia (4.9 per cent). In Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, sales activity has been slowly gaining momentum, allowing 2016 to mark a multi-year high for annual sales.

Year-over-year average price gains have continued to climb in Ontario due to strong demand and an unprecedented supply shortage. At the same time, average prices in British Columbia have fallen due to a sharp decline in multi-million-dollar single-detached home sales in the Lower Mainland. Because of this, the projected annual average price for Ontario in 2016 has been upwardly revised following the last CREA forecast, while the projected annual average price for British Columbia has been revised downward.

Average prices appear to be stabilizing in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but remain lower than year-ago levels in Newfoundland and Labrador. Average prices in other provinces are either rising slowly or remain level, reflecting a well-balanced supply and demand for housing stock.

The national average price for a home in 2016 is now expected to rise by 10.5 per cent to $489,500, but in British Columbia, the average price is predicted to climb 8.1 per cent, which will be offset by Ontario’s gains of 15.1 per cent. Manitoba, Quebec and New Brunswick are expected to see modest gains under 2.5 per cent, while Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, prices are projected to remain relatively stable. In Prince Edward Island, the average price of a home is set to climb 11.6 per cent due to a very strong price gain recorded in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the CREA believes that in Newfoundland and Labrador, the average price of a home will fall 6.7 per cent.

The CREA predicts that in 2017, there will be 518,900 home sales nationally, a 3.3 per cent decline compared to projected activity this year. Transactions in B.C. and Ontario should remain strong but drop compared to 2016 levels due to falling affordability, an ongoing shortage of affordably-priced listings for single-family homes and tightened mortgage regulations. British Columbia home sales are expected to decline by 12.2 per cent, while Ontario is expected to see a 2.7 per cent drop in sales.

Sales are also predicted to slow in 2017 in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Home sales are expected to climb in Alberta (3.5 per cent), Quebec (1.2 per cent), Manitoba (0.8 per cent) and New Brunswick (1.6 per cent). In Alberta, the moderate increase mostly reflects slow sales activity in the first quarter of 2016, which is not expected to reoccur in 2017.

Notably, the national average price is expected to fall 2.8 per cent to $475,900 next year, with slight gains near or below inflation in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, along with small declines in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Although the average sale price of a home in B.C. is expected to fall by 7.8 per cent in 2017, this is mostly due to an anticipated decline in single family home sales activity at the higher end of the market, particularly in the Lower Mainland.

Meanwhile, a large supply of listings relative to demand is expected to keep price gains in check in other provinces, although sales have begun to deplete inventories in provinces where supply had been higher in recent years.

Survey finds link between office design, innovation

In the early 20th century, much like today, city planners were preoccupied with how they were going to accommodate an influx of people in urban centres, said Annie Bergeron, design director, Gensler. However, unlike today, the planners were thinking about how they would deal with all the horses that would surely accompany the new arrivals to power the popular mode of transportation of the time: the buggy. That is, until the T-model Ford arrived.

“We hear a lot about the driverless car and the impact that’s going to have,” said Bergeron. “Whenever I hear that, I think back on those guys that were trying to plan for manure removal and big barns … this is the technology we know today, and that’s our current perception, so it might not be.”

Bergeron was speaking in the IIDEX seminar Today vs. Tomorrow: How Future Trends are Disrupting Business-As-Usual in the Workplace. The presentation brought together findings from Gensler’s U.S. Workplace Survey 2016 and Design Forecast 2016, which looks ahead 10 years.

Innovation in the workplace today

The 2016 Workplace Survey confirmed with hard numbers that office design influences innovation. Specifically, the survey showed a positive correlation between high marks on questions designed to measure workplace effectiveness and functionality and high marks on questions designed to evaluate creativity, innovation and leadership. The anonymous survey reached 4,000 U.S. office workers representing 11 industries and spanning all generations and organizational levels.

Gensler broke down the data further to understand what differentiated the top 25 per cent of respondents who ranked highest on innovation and the bottom 25 per cent of respondents who ranked lowest on innovation. One finding was that the top innovators, who are three times more likely to use sit-to-stand workstations, leave their desks to engage with their co-workers, said Kevin Katigbak, senior workplace strategist, Gensler.

“Rather than collaborating in the open plan or in their office, they’re going to a lounge or a meeting room to have these conversations; they’re getting up and moving away from the space,” said Katigbak. “The subtext here is that they have some choice to do that.”

In fact, he said, top innovators are five times more likely to report that their workplace equally emphasizes spaces for individual and group tasks and are 2.2 times more likely to be empowered to select their work environment. To socialize, top innovators are 2.5 times less likely to use individual spaces and 1.8 times more likely to use conference rooms, according to the survey. Top innovators are also two times more likely to have access to amenities and 2.5 times more likely to benefit from on-site specialty coffee.

In a report summarizing the survey, Gensler highlighted three key interconnected takeaways: invest in individuals, diversify group spaces and empower the community. In essence, the message was to provide employees at all levels of an organization with a range of functional spaces from which to choose to work. Practically speaking, that could include ensuring collaborative spaces are conveniently located and outfitting offices with Wi-Fi to facilitate smooth transitions between spaces, as Katigbak noted.

Trends with disruptive potential tomorrow

Gensler’s Design Forecast 2016 contemplated what the live, work and play of people residing in cities might look like by the year 2025. The report envisions a future defined by digital integration, experiences, just-in-time connections, maker cultures, in which resilience has supplanted sustainability and transit-connected, walkable hubs have transformed suburbs.

In the workplace, there is a growing buzz around health and wellness. It’s no wonder, given that, as Bergeron noted, innovators are 10 times more likely to be physically active. She credited tech companies, who trade in creativity, with first recognizing the provision of amenities as a way to promote happy, engaged employees, with their ping-pong and pool tables.

Another trend, the sharing economy, has likewise already made an impact on the workplace. With space at a premium in all types of real estate, millennials are more likely to rent certain things than to own them, such as party dresses, observed Bergeron. In the office, that has corresponded to the concept of hoteling stations and unassigned desks.

And it’s not just the way that people work that’s expected to change, but also the very nature of their work. In professional services firms, artificial intelligence is expected to take over lower-value work, which means real people will be tasked with higher-value work, Bergeron explained.

Relatedly, the uncertainty around future curricula has prompted educational institutions to design flexible environments, she said. The design forecast states that in some sectors certifications have overtaken degrees, and predicts that this trend will intensify. As new schools modeled on maker cultures offer career-targeted programs, traditional institutions following suit will require different types of educational facilities, it adds.

The digital revolution has made waves in so many areas, including in educational institutions and workplaces, but there is one notable challenge that technology has yet to overcome, Bergeron remarked. That’s the drudgery of long commutes and personal travel, which goes back to the arrival of the T-model Ford as well as modern flight. Consequently, she said, as digital natives lose their patience for wasted time, transportation nodes will need to offer an experience.

“Since people are so hooked on ultra-convenience, if they’re going to be in an airport for a few hours, there needs to be a lot of the amenities that you expect elsewhere, so that your time spent there can be something that is useful,” she illuminated.

Michelle Ervin is the editor of Canadian Facility Management & Design.

PCL Construction donates $6.6 million to United Way

The PCL family of companies has made a $6,611,570 million donation to United Ways across North America from its overall 2016 campaign. Twenty-eight PCL districts held fundraising campaigns to support their local United Way agencies.

“In all of our operating locations across North America, PCL employees continue to do what it takes to make their communities better places to live and work. Partnering with United Way allows us to make an important impact by helping those who need it most,” said Dave Filipchuk, PCL president and CEO.

The $6.6 million in fundraising will help United Way agencies and the individuals who draw on their services. These funds will go towards various partnerships, programs, and services in three main sectors that United Way supports. Education, income, and wellness are areas that address the overall well-being of children through to adults, from schooling and hot-lunch programs to employment services and health care.

“The generosity and steadfast support of PCL and its employees is seen right across North America,” explains Anne Smith, president and CEO, United Way of the Alberta Capital Region. “By encouraging its employees to give locally, they are able to see the impact of their donations and how they are changing lives, right in their own communities. On behalf of all United Ways and the communities supported by PCL, we express sincere gratitude for being leaders in building strong, healthy communities and making such a difference in the lives of individuals and families who need it most.”

United Way also created a thank you video for PCL, recognizing its years of continued support.

PCL’s efforts during the campaign included everything from a donation challenge for collecting coats for kids and families, to holding raffles and various office contests such as an executive dunk tank.