Building Systems
CondoBusiness
Three red flags of risky procurement practices
Federal scrutiny of condo procurement should be sufficient reason for diligent condo boards to examine their procurement practices.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Campus high-rise brings health to new heights
Dingy is a word that conjures thoughts of old institutional spaces. Academic buildings with dimly-lit hallways and windowless classrooms punctured with fluorescent glare. Rarely are
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Pandemic intensifies evolving role of FM
Facility managers are no longer viewed as a back-office function, but rather “a strategic instrument to attract and retain talent and create a great experience,”
CondoBusiness
Ontario advances elevator repair legislation
Ontario is kicking the dust off of elevator repair legislation, which was passed under the Liberal government in May 2018 but never proclaimed into law.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
What toxic chemicals are lurking in our buildings?
In the age of COVID, it's also important to consider how chemical exposures influence our ability to fight disease.
CondoBusiness
Digging into the coming geothermal boom
While the relevance of geothermal has been percolating for years, the buzz is that more developers are starting to pay attention.
CondoBusiness
What the new Construction Act means for condos
Construction is a billion-dollar industry in Canada. While most large projects at condominiums proceed relatively smoothly, there is always risk of friction for contractors and
Canadian Apartment Magazine
New fee model for Ontario elevator licenses
The flat license rate will penalize mid-rise and high-rise owners with extra costs if an elevator passes the periodic inspection and does not require a follow-up. It will be a bargain if just one follow-up inspection is required.
CondoBusiness
Gaps flagged in new CDM programs
After 2022, companies must use their own funds to reimburse embedded energy managers, but will be offered “an enhanced level of technical support and resources.” It's a move some see as more short-sighted.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Why FMs can’t sell ideas to senior management
Facility managers require resources to accomplish tasks, but other departments within the organization need the same and limited resources.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Rethinking the demands of facility operations
Facility owners and managers must rethink the demands of existing operations and systems to deal with rapidly fluctuating capacity.
CondoBusiness
Canada’s condo insurance crisis
Impacts of the hard insurance market are trickling into condominium corporations across Canada, challenging boards and managers in their wake.
CondoBusiness
Why benchmarking small buildings still matters
While building codes and standards help regulate efficiency in new buildings, existing buildings have been operating with little oversight and, in fact, no insight at all into how energy and water was being used in our cities.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Circadian lighting improves seniors’ daily routines
Circadian lighting plays a special role in facilities management as long-term care homes and schools increasingly look to enhance wellbeing among seniors and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
CondoBusiness
Budgeting the unknown amid a pandemic
Condo corporations are facing new budgeting challenges in 2020. Planning for unexpected and increasing expenses is difficult to anticipate.
Canadian Apartment Magazine
Air ventilation in multi-residential buildings
Achieving a healthy indoor environment begins with proper air ventilation, especially as buildings become more airtight. Kevin Smith explains the various systems available today.
Canadian Facility Management & Design
Blazing a trail for zero carbon in Nova Scotia
The zero carbon project marks an evolution in warehouses and, more broadly, the potential for a lower-emitting industrial sector.