Building Systems

procurement

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.
campus

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
FM

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,”
elevator repair

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.
toxic chemicals

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.
SAIT partnership

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.
mentorship

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
New flat rates for Ontario elevators licenses

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.
hydro

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.
managers

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.
energy

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.
insurance

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.
benchmarking

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.
circadian lighting

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.
budget

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.
ventilation

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.
zero carbon

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.