PROVEN. RELIABLE. FOR OVER 65 YEARS, THE LEDCOR GROUP HAS BEEN BUILDING WITH INTEGRITY.
WWW.LEDCOR.COM
Overhead Door Co. of Edmonton
PROUD TO BE DOING BUSINESS IN ALBERTA FOR THE PAST
55 YEARS and
PROUD TO CELEBRATE A 50 YEAR MILESTONE FOR Henry Nimilowich
overheaddoor.ca
• Earthworks • Underground • Industrial 3815A - 47 Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 4S4 Phone 780.679.7825 | Fax 780.682.8523
www.nuedgeconstruction.com
• Land Development • HDD Services • FPVC Fusion Services
Award of Excellence Restoration At the 2015 Masonry Design Awards Legislature Building Major & Minor Dome Roof Replacement Engineer: Building Science Engineering | General Contractor: BRXTON Construction LP Masonry Contractor: BRXTON Construction LP Dr. Mark Hagel, PhD, P. Eng. 403-991-4353, markhagel@albertamasonrycouncil.ca
albertamasonrycouncil.ca
EDMONTON’S
FLEET VEHICLE SPECIALISTS 2016 Nissan Frontier
2016 Nissan Titan
We’ll deliver on all of your fleet and commercial needs. • North, Central, and South locations, with Edmonton’s largest Nissan inventory • Fast, efficient servicing of your vehicles. • Fully stocked parts and accessory departments.
Talk to our Fleet Specialist
1.855.995.9055
NORTH
Go Nissan North 14755 – 137 Avenue
CALL CHARLIE TODAY! Charlie Campbell charlie@gonissan.ca
1.855.995.9055
CENTRAL
Ericksen Nissan 10982 – 101 Street
SOUTH
Go Nissan South 1275 – 101 Street
HYDRO-VAC
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
PIPELINE & INDUSTRIAL WORK SHALLOW UNDERGROUND UTILITIES, INCLUDING: • GAS • POWER • FIBRE OPTICS •
WE OFFER OUR SERVICES THROUGHOUT WESTERN CANADA!
780-999-9333
Ph: jduphay@bigborehydrovac.com 4311 92 AVENUE, EDMONTON, AB T6B 3M7
Visit us at
www.CrownPaint.ca
High Quality Architectural & Commercial Grade Coating We have a complete range of leading coatings systems available for major protective commercial, light industrial projects. Our technologically advanced products include those used for major steel structures, delicate wood surfaces and walls.
Legacy 1840 Semi-Gloss Interior / Exterior • 100% Acrylic Enamel A premium plus 100% acrylic enamel for interior and exterior surfaces. This top-of-the-line enamel provides block resistance with excellent scrubbability and durability and is formulated with outstanding exterior weathering characteristics. Excellent choice for use in food and beverage areas, restrooms, doors, trim and exterior substrates where a superior semigloss ďŹ nish is desired. Legacy 1840 Semi-gloss can be used in areas where oil based products were previously required.
Phone: (403) 910-2222 Store Location: 1611 32 Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7A3
141,153,163,311
BREAKING GROUND TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summer 2016
16 Executive Director’s Message
18 Committee Chair’s Message Plus tips on how to network
20 Contributors
23 Industry News Helping Fort Mac rebuild
26 Tech and Innovation Data visualization helps local construction company increase productivity
30 Around the World Dubai landmark will tower above the rest – for now
33 Meet & Greet The Architects & Engineers edition
37
ON THE COVER
46
No ‘I’ in arena
40
So Long, Silos
59
A New Chapter for Mill Woods
YBG Ed Talks brings 170 members to Hotel Macdonald
67 Professional Opinion Avoiding ‘Pay When Paid’ Pain
71 Lunch Pail Café LEVA is Scott Benoit’s happy place
12
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Rogers Place project a triumph of teamwork
Bringing all players – from designers to contractors – around the planning table
54
Not an EightHour Guy
The remarkable staying power of Henry Nimilowich
Dub Architects and HCMA Architecture + Design go big with new library
Control your group benefit plan costs… without compromising choice or flexibility. As Alberta’s largest benefit provider, Alberta Blue Cross delivers industry-leading plan management and cost containment to meet the needs of Alberta employers through challenging economic times. If your employer group plan isn’t with Alberta Blue Cross yet, now is the right time to consider switching. Call us today for a confidential no-obligation quote, or talk to your plan advisor.
Edmonton
780-498-8500
Calgary
403-294-4004
Grand Prairie 780-532-3507
Lethbridge
403-328-6081
Toll free 1-866-513-2555
Medicine Hat 403-529-5550
Red Deer
403-347-7999
www.ab.bluecross.ca
Prescription Drugs • Dental • Extended Health • Travel Coverage • Life and Disability • Vision Spending Accounts • Critical Illness • Employee and Family Assistance Program
®* The Blue Cross symbol and name are registered marks of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans, an association of independent Blue Cross plans. Licensed to ABC Benefits Corporation for use in operating the Alberta Blue Cross Plan. ® † Blue Shield is a registered trade-mark of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ABC 83420 2016/05
Odvod Publishing Inc 10221 123 Street Edmonton, AB, Canada T5N 1N3 T 780.451.1379 F 780.482.5417 www.odvodpublishing.com | info@odvodpublishing.com Publisher Orville Chubb
Art Director Corey Brewis
Associate Publisher Trudy Callaghan
Associate Art Director Breanne Lozinski
Editor Eliza Barlow
Production Art Odvod Media
Contributors Scott Benoit, Cary Castagna, Curtis Comeau, Ben Freeland, Fraser Gallop, Sander Sarioglu, Paul V. Stocco, Alexandra Zabjek Key Account and Marketing Manager Chelsey Swankhuizen Accounting Lana Luchianova Sales and Traffic Assistant Adrienne Vanderheyden
10214 - 176 Street Edmonton, AB T5S 1M1 Alberta, Canada Phone: (780) 483-1130 Fax: (780) 484-0299 Email: Contact@edmca.com Website: www.edmca.com 2016 ECA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dave Bentley President Alan Kuysters Vice-President Don Barr Treasurer
Advertising Consultants Elsa Amorim, Erin Slobodian
John McNicoll Executive Director
Printing Transcontinental Inc.
Chris Ambrozic Chairman 2016 ECA DIRECTORS
Submissions Breaking Ground accepts queries via email for editorial submissions. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts. Published 4 times/year by Odvod Publishing Inc. Copyright (2016) by Odvod Publishing Inc. Odvod Publishing Inc. is a partnership between Odvod Media Corp. and RedPoint Media Group Inc.
Chris Ambrozic Shaun Arnault Lisa Amour Jayson Barclay Don Barr Dave Bentley Jason Collins Trevor Doucette Rob Grant Alan Kuysters Jillene Lakevold Jason Mercier Trevor Panas Sean Rayner Tom Redl Andrew Ross
No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. The views and opinions herein do not necessarily represent those of Odvod Publishing, the publisher, Orville Chubb or the editor, Eliza Barlow. Canadian Publications Mail Product Agreement No. 40934510. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
WWW.EDMCA.COM
Edmonton Construction Association 10214 - 176 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada T5S 1M1 www.edmca.com | Contact@edmca.com
COVER PHOTO BY CURTIS COMEAU PHOTOGRAPHY
“Celebrating 35 years in Alberta”
Craft your story with insightful and thought-provoking content directed to your audience.
Magazines | Annuals | Programs | Guides
780.451.1379 odvodpublishing.com
Kehoe Equipment Ltd. (KEL) is the agent / contact for the following product lines: RME EDMONTON 17720 - 105 AVE. 780.486.2273
TACO Canada Ltd. (Pumps, Heat Exchangers, Hydronic Specialties & iWorx Control Systems)
Modine MFG Company (Gas Fired, Steam & Hydronic Heating Equipment)
Peerless Boilers (Water / Steam Boilers)
IEC International Environmental (Fan Coils)
DriSteem Corporation (Humidification Systems & Water Treatment)
Spirax Sarco Canada Ltd. (Steam Specialties)
Senior Flexonics (HVAC Piping Products)
The Nova Flex Group- Flexmaster (HVAC Venting Systems)
Alladin-Air MFG Ltd. (Humidification Systems)
HVAC Solution (Windows-Based HVAC Design Tool)
Hamilton Engineering (Boilers, Water Heaters)
Daikin Applied Canada Inc. (Indoor/Outdoor Air Handling Units, Applied Rooftop Air Systems, Coils, Air & Water Cooled Chillers, Water Source Heat Pumps, VRV, Split Systems Condensing Units, Fan Coils, PTAC)
ClimateCraft (Custom Air Handling Technology)
RME SUMMER SALES INCENTIVE PROGRAM. RECEIVE A $500 IN-STORE CREDIT* *Any customer of RME Edmonton will receive a $500 in-store credit with the purchase of a new CE unit over $50,000. Unit must be 2015 or newer. PROMO CODE: ECADISCOUNT
RECEIVE A $250 REFERRAL BONUS* *Any customer of RME Edmonton will receive a $250 in-store credit with the
referral of a new CE customer that purchases $10,000 or more with us. PROMO CODE: ECAREFERRALBONUS
CUSTOMER CREDITS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY AT RME EDMONTON. OFFER ENDS SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2016. SEE IN STORE FOR DETAILS.
ClimaCool Corporation (Modular Chillers, DOAS Air Systems)
Howden/American Fan Company (Axial and Centrifugal Fans)
Blender Products Inc. (Air Blender)
Acutherm (VAV Diffusers)
Aermec Air Conditioning (Integrated Free Cooling Chillers & Heat Pumps, Fan Coils)
7605-50 Street NW Edmonton, AB T6B 2W9 Tel (780) 420.0040
ROCKYMTN.COM
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
15
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
John McNicoll, Executive Director Edmonton Construction Association
Your ECA community is growing! Engagement grows every day – not only in company memberships, but the number of people per company that are becoming involved with the ECA. ECA Education is booming as we focus on constant improvement with ECA Education Director Jay Summach’s capable leadership. As I write today, Construction 101 is full… again, and we celebrate the capacity building and equipping that energizes people and their companies with the enthusiasm of employee development, learning, personal growth and new friendships. The Kananaskis FMI Canadian Leadership Institute has 32 members registered for four days of the highest level of construction executive development available in North America. This segment of upper leadership is no longer neglected in our equipping efforts. Most of the registrants are receiving subsidy from the Canada Alberta Job Grant (CAJC) – we thank our government for this continued expression of support for our industry. As you likely know, in our collaboration with Alberta Infrastructure, they have given invaluable industry modernization leadership by utilizing the online bidding systems in COOLNet. This will bring increased productivity for government, municipalities, private buyers and industry
16
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
with automation of many critical tasks (bid summaries, communication and bidder management). Provincially, the ACA and the Government of Alberta have made good progress on payment issues and new practices with: GC payment confirmations, publication of prime GC payment notifications, segregation and payment of nondisputed funds, and payment releases for portions of work completed. Thank you to all the ACA Board and staff for their work and, particular recognition of our ECA reps, ACA Chairman and past ECA President Paul Verhesen, Past ECA President Chris Ambrozic, current President, Dave Bentley, and past ECA Director Mark Lindquist for all their work to lead ACA to a common good for the province, construction owners and all Albertans engaged in construction. In early June, I completed a four-day program on Small and Medium Enterprise Corporate Governance at the University of Alberta’s School of Business. This intense program was impressive with a who’s who of Alberta’s business leaders. I recommend it as a foundation for board literacy. I am the tenth graduate of the program on our current, very engaged board. After a year of discussion and planning, our ECA Board is proposing improvements to our governance, which will be presented to all membership in the coming months. The suggested improvements will be voted on at our 2017 AGM. Our board’s goal is to increase its focus on strategic leadership and maximize its power and abilities to create clear direction for the ECA. I am thankful for progress and anticipate great benefits in our future. In 1980, we moved to the west end from our southside location and, after 36 years, we recently decided it had come time to update our building. The work will be completed by the time you read this. After 12 weeks of “camping” on our lower floor, we will move upstairs to a refreshed boardroom and work spaces for our 13 staff. Please feel free to drop in for a tour – we’d be happy to see you and show you around. Thank you for continuing to support our association with your participation and friendship. On behalf of our board and staff, I ask you to let us know how we can help you, and your business, to thrive and succeed in these challenging times. We wish you the best of success. Keep your stick on the ice!
John
IMPOSSIBLE TIMELINES. COMPLEX SITE . DIFFICULT SOIL CONDITIONS. Count us in. Foundation Piling
Excavation Support
Ground Improvement
Keller thrives on challenges and excels where others struggle. Backed by the largest and most comprehensive independent ground engineering specialist in the world and with full-service capabilities and over 30 years of local on-site experience, Keller Canada provides the largest variety of deep foundation piling, earth retention/shoring and ground improvement solutions in the country. Engage us early to experience the true benefits of value engineering. Lower your total install costs today. KellerCanada.com Acheson, AB, Corporate Office 2-53016 Hwy 60 T7X 5A7 P: (780) 960-6700 F: (780) 960-6725
COMMITTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Happy Summer 2016, Winter has quickly faded and now our thoughts turn to summer and a fresh new start. With that comes the rituals of sweeping off the patios, firing up the barbecues and spending more time on the links. (Or in the trees, depending on your golfing ability). Trees have sprouted their leaves and flowers can be seen blooming everywhere across the city. Mother Nature has graciously hit her reset button early and we welcome it with open arms. At the Edmonton Construction Association, we also welcome the emergence of summer and the opportunities it presents to kick off another fabulous year of networking. And I can say that the 2016 networking season is shaping up to be a fantastic one. Recently, we held our third installment of the ECA Meet & Greets and this one was a huge success. A total of 300 members attended a sold-out event and had an opportunity to network with seven architectural and engineering firms, their peers and partners in industry. In addition, in less than four hours of release, all three of our annual golf tournaments were sold out! These are just two recent and amazing displays of enthusiasm by member firms to continue to support the ECA networking events – and quite impressively in the face of our current economic situation. This is testimonial to not just the quality of the networking opportunities afforded to the member firms but how important networking is to our member firms. Behind the scenes of all of our events, the ECA staff and Board of Directors are hard at work ensuring that members receive the maximum value for their networking investment and recognize that networking is much more than collecting business cards. As we enter the 2016 networking season, I wanted to take this time to offer you some networking tips to ensure you optimize your opportunities and enjoy the upcoming ECA events. • Networking events are not speed dating. Slow down. It takes time to nurture and build a relationship. Choose four or five firms or individuals you wish to connect with. Spend 10-20 minutes with each and respect their time. • Before entering the event, find out whether there is an attendee list published or registry at the door to see if the event will host firms relevant to your business. • Don’t feel like you have to attend every event. Ask yourself a couple of questions such as: How will this event help me grow professionally and personally? What do I hope to get out of this event? What can I take
18
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Trevor Doucette, Chair ECA Networking and Member Care Committee
back to my company and share with others? What can I share with the people I am trying to connect with? • Networking is not all about getting business deals. It’s also about connecting to industry so that we can share information, obtain some peer education, connect with your industry partners and grow your company and people professionally. • Be current on local and global topics. Breaking the ice and getting comfortable around someone new requires casual conversation. Know what’s happening in the city, in your industry and in the news. • Always be cordial and remember that everyone has their own comfort level in group environments. Smile and speak with a casual, approachable tone when introducing yourself or being introduced. Relax and be yourself. • If you see someone who’s uncomfortable or alone at an event, lend some support and reach out, say hello and be friendly. Don’t stick to the same people over and over. I have had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people over the last few years at the ECA events and I have developed relationships – and more importantly, friendships – that I know will last a lifetime. In the coming months, I look forward to seeing some familiar faces and some new faces, and I look forward to seeing you at our next ECA event.
Trevor
PCL CONSTRUCTION
Join us on social media
Watch Us Build at PCL.com
CONT RIBU TORS
Curtis Comeau
Ben Freeland Ben Freeland is a writer, blogger, spoken word poet, PR generalist, and #yegdt development fanboy. He is a regular contributor to Business in Edmonton, Metro News, and Alberta Venture, and a familiar face in Edmonton’s spoken word and interdisciplinary arts scene. You can read more of his writings on www.medium.com/@benfreeland
Curtis Comeau is an advertising photographer from Edmonton who for the past 16 years has worked for a wide range of industrial clients such as Graham, Bird, Ledcor, PKS as well as companies that service industry such as Finning Canada. He is currently working on a new photography exhibit called WORK, a celebration of the Alberta worker and their hard working spirit.
Sander Sarioglu
Alexandra Zabjek
Sander Sarioglu is a 2005 graduate of the Alberta College of Art and Design’s Visual Communications program with a major in illustration. Since graduating he has worked as both an illustrator and designer for a wide variety of clientele. Be it through design or illustration, he believes in the power of narrative, story telling, and visual communication.
Alexandra Zabjek is a veteran journalist who worked for a decade at major daily newspapers in Canada. Most of her career was spent at the Edmonton Journal, where she covered city news and wrote about everything from murder trials, to medical breakthroughs, to city planning disputes. Despite growing up in the Vancouver-area, she thinks Edmonton is awesome.
20
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Amber Bracken Amber Bracken is an award-winning photographer, member of Rogue Collective and lifelong Albertan covering assignments across the province and farther from home. After getting her start as a staffer in daily newspapers, she has moved on to a freelance career focused on portraiture, commercial and editorial work.
Specializing in: • Commercial and Industrial Surface Work • Acreage Subdivisions • Parking Lot Maintenance • Snow Removal
FREE ESTIMATES 22943 - 110 Ave NW Edmonton, AB T5S 1Y2
We efficiently bring the foundations of construction within reach
Phone 780.447.2280 master-paving.ca
Ph 780.447.3540
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
21
New Edmonton Location Now Open!
21359 115th Avenue NW
Celebrating 10 years in Alberta! From geotextiles and erosion control, concrete chemicals and masonry products to insulation and roofing, Brock White provides more of the construction materials you need from best brands in the business. From ground to roof, we have the products to help you get the job done.
Calgary 2703 61 Avenue SE, 403-287-5889
Edmonton 21359 115th Avenue NW, 780-447-1774
www.BrockWhite.ca
OUR PRODUCT. OUR PEOPLE. OUR SERVICE. It’s what sets us apart. YOUR ONE STOP FOR... • Septic Tanks (up to 4m burial depth) • Holding Tanks (up to 3m burial depth) • Water Cisterns (up to 3m burial depth) • Lift Stations • Sumps
• Oil & Grit Separators • Advanced Wastewater Treatment Systems • INFILTRATOR® Field Systems • Pumps, Pipe & Fittings • Fleet of Picker Trucks for Delivery
20 YEAR WARRANT Y ON ALL CONCRETE TANKS • CSA APPROVED
Toll Free 1-800-232-7385 Calgary – Red Deer – Edmonton www.wilbert.ca
22
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
BUY LOCAL IN FORT MAC REBUILD: ECA PHOTO BY: AMBER BRACKEN
...the ECA Board is standing with the FMCA in urging all purchasers of cleanup and construction to engage local labour, contractors and suppliers.
The Edmonton Construction Association is lending a helping hand to Fort McMurray as it starts to rebuild following the devastating May wildfires. In a gesture of solidarity, compassion and concern, the ECA Board has committed $100,000 from its operational reserve to support the rebuilding effort. The board made the commitment after meeting with members of the Fort McMurray Construction Association executive in the aftermath of the fires and ensuing evacuation. The road to recovery will require dedicated, longterm partners, and this is where the ECA will have an impact. After the FMCA was forced to temporarily relocate its operations to Edmonton due to the evacuation, the ECA Board invited them to set up in the ECA building. As thoughts turn to rebuilding the city, the FMCA is seeing an influx of new members from outside the Wood Buffalo region. However, short- and longterm economic recovery require cleanup and construction dollars to be spent locally. That’s why the ECA Board is standing with the FMCA in urging all purchasers of cleanup and construction to engage local labour, contractors and suppliers. While the local construction community can likely handle the rebuilding effort, ECA will be responsive to the FMCA leadership, and will call on members to help if needs outstrip local resources. In the meantime, ECA encourages its members to give to local or national charities to help get Fort Mac back on its feet.
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
23
In a gesture of solidarity, compassion and concern, the ECA Board has committed $100,000 from its operational reserve to support the rebuilding effort.
24
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
ALTA Ready Mix
provides outstanding service, quality, and a full range of ready-mix concrete products for the residential, commercial, industrial, and civil markets. Specialty Concrete Decorative/Architectural • ALTA Ultra Exposed Aggregate • High-Performance Concrete • Custom Mix Designs • Self-Consolidating Concrete • •
Call today for a quote
780.465.0567 ALTA Ready Mix Inc. 3165 64 Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T6P 1N7 www.altareadymix.com
780.467.1367
OUR SIX DIVISIONS • Power Utility Infrastructure – Contracts • Directional Drilling • Telecommunication Infrastructure
• Subdivisions – Turn Key Shallow Utility Install • Hydrovac • Traffic Control & Rentals
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
25
“ Project Managers now have complete visibility into the health of their projects at their fingertips” - Jamey Singh
A BOLD TABLEAU LightHorse Innovation helps local construction company increase productivity through power of data visualization By Fraser Gallop, LightHorse Innovation Product Manager
Data Analytics is becoming increasingly important in our rapidly changing economic environment. Simply reporting data is no longer sufficient, and the ease of access to “meaningful data” is at the forefront. Systems which can help construction firms shape and highlight their key drivers, in addition to giving users insight into their overall performance, are highly sought-after. The demands on reporting have evolved along with the construction industry. Today, firms such as Clark Builders (CB) rely on real-time, valuable and actionable data to facilitate better forecasting and financial reporting. Such data allows firms to make better day-to-day decisions. Not unlike its competitors, Clark Builders employs separate systems for managing finances, project management, safety, sales,
26
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
etc., in order to meet the unique needs of the construction industry. As a solutions-driven company, the CB team set out to find a more efficient method to access relevant information on demand. Before entering the procurement process, three key requirements were identified: 1. System must be simple and integrated: One reporting solution which consolidates reports across all systems. The data reported must be clear, easy to follow and concise for key stakeholders via reports built by the users, not the IT department. 2. Immediate and accurate information: Reporting must provide accurate and real-time information to project staff when they need it. 3. Interactive and dynamic: Reporting structure must present the information at a high level, allowing project management staff to quickly identify potential issues, with the ability to focus on specific details quickly and easily should further analysis be required. The solution was achieved through the LightHorse Innovation Company, a technology company exclusively focused on the construction industry. After reviewing several options, Tableau was selected as the best business intelligence platform for Clark Builders in terms of delivering analytics and reporting. Tableau enables organizations to present information typically locked in business systems, in a more meaningful and useful way through the use of data visualization. »
STEEL SERVICE CENTRE AND STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATOR FABRICATION • DETAILING • PLATE PROCESSING • SAND BLASTING / PAINTING • CWB CERTIFIED, ISO CERTIFIED • COR CERTIFIED, CISC CERTIFIED •
5815 - 75 Street, Edmonton, AB T6E 0T3 sales@cwcarry.com | fabsales@cwcarry.com P: (780) 465.0381 | F: (780) 466.8263
TOLL FREE 1.800.215.0427
Challenger is proudly a wholly employee-owned, Canadian company providing a full range of multidisciplinary survey and geomatics services to the construction, municipal, land development, oil and gas, utilities, and mining sectors since 1984. OUR SERVICES • Construction & Grading Surveys • Precision Layout for Buildings • Commercial & Industrial Real Property Reports • Site & Topographical Surveys • Underground Locating • Legal Subdivisions • Legal & BOMA Surveys • Condominium Plans • As-Builts • Concrete Flatness/Levelness Certification • Right-of-Way Surveys • Precision LRT & Rail Surveys • Machine Control Data Prep • Deformation Monitoring • Volume Surveys & Certified Reports • Bathymetry • Oil & Gas Surveys TECHNOLOGY • Latest-Model Survey Equipment • 3D Laser Scanning • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) • Aerial Mapping & LiDAR • Satellite Imagery • Software Development
#200, 9945 - 50 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T6A 0L4 T: 780-424-5511 F: 780-424-3837 www.challengergeomatics.com
PROUD MEMBER OF THE EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Arthur J. Gallagher can provide: � Full
Commercial Insurance Service
� Design/Build
- Environmental Liability � Professional Liability � Specification Reviews & Risk Management
� Bonding � Wrap
Up Liability Builders Risk Fleets � Exceptional Claims Assistance � Auto
J.D Power names Gallagher highest in Client Satisfaction among Brokers for Large Commercial Insurance
William A. Summers Jr. Area Vice President Curtis Masters CGA, CAIB Surety Manager Robert Hookes B.Comm, CIP Account Executive Grace Brady, CIP Senior Account Manager Milind Joshi, B.A Account Executive Arthur J. Gallagher (Canada) Group - Edmonton, AB Phone: 780.428.9500 | Fax: 780.424.2370
Voted for the fifth consecutive year as one the World’s Most Ethical Companies 2016
ajgcanada.com
Edmonton • Calgary • Fort McMurray • Whitehorse
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
27
Document Turn-Around vs Volume
Average Response Time
Average Response Time
“The Tableau solution delivered by LightHorse Innovation has significantly lowered our risk exposure as we have evolved from a culture of emotion-based to data-driven decision making...” - Marc Timberman
28
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Data visualization extracts raw data from backend business systems and displays it in a highly consumable way – charts, graphs, maps etc. – with the ability to sort, filter and drill down through the information quickly and easily. Clark Builders deployed Tableau with more than 130 active visualizations across all functional areas, providing project management staff with “dashboards” that offer a comprehensive look into the health of their projects. “Project Managers now have complete visibility into the health of their projects at their fingertips, enabling faster and high-quality decision making,” explains Jamey Singh, Clark Builders Chief Operating Officer.
B U I L D ER S LT D .
Tableau enables organizations to present information typically locked in business systems, in a more meaningful and useful way through the use of data visualization. Key project indicators such as job cost, cash flow, safety and productivity are now available with a few clicks of a mouse as opposed to running long reports or tracking information in spreadsheets. Increased efficiency and productivity have resulted as the wait for information is severely diminished. “The Tableau solution delivered by LightHorse Innovation has significantly lowered our risk exposure as we have evolved from a culture of emotion-based to data driven decision making,” said Marc Timberman, Clark Builders Chief Financial Officer. Technology in construction is an evolving industry, constantly changing and adapting to the current demands and trends. Although it’s impossible to predict what type of system will best meet its needs in the future, to date Clark Builders is continuing to drive results via the Tableau data visualization system.
Improve quarry and construction productivity with Trimble LOADRITE onboard scales
LOADER, EXCAVATOR, BELT SCALES, HAUL TRUCK MONITOR and REPORTING SOLUTIONS Local sales and support across AB, BC, SK: R.L Rurka Sales & Service Tel: +1 780 914 0005, email: loadrite@shaw.ca Web: loadritescales.com
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
29
LOFTY GOAL Planned Dubai landmark touted as world’s tallest observation tower – though height yet to be announced A “neo‐futuristic” architect who designed the Calgary Peace Bridge and other world landmarks has won an international design competition to build a spectacular new tower in Dubai. Santiago Calatrava Valls’ vision for the Tower in Dubai Creek Harbour was chosen by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, United Arab Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The new tower will be more than just another glittering landmark in a city already renowned for its architecture, its proponents say. “A shining beacon of hope for the world, celebrating diversity and human achievements, this new iconic landmark further highlights the country’s ambition and futuristic vision. It will be the destination for the world to visit, enjoy and celebrate life, as Dubai prepares to host the Expo 2020,” Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, said in a news release to unveil the planned structure. The height of the new tower is yet to be announced. But The Telegraph reported that the new, $1-billion tower will be taller than the 828-metre Burj Khalifa, also in Dubai and currently the world’s tallest building.
30
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Calatrava’s design is inspired by a lily and evokes the image of a minaret, according to the release. Sturdy cables will anchor an oval-shaped “bud” to the ground. Its most-heralded feature will be fully glazed rotating balconies on the outside. It will also include a boutique hotel. Along with the $24.5-million Calgary Peace Bridge, Calatrava – described in the release as a Spanish/Swiss neo-futuristic architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter – designed the World Trade Centre Transportation Hub in New York, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens and the Turning Torso Tower in Malmö, Sweden. The new tower is to be the core of Dubai Creek Harbour, a development 10 minutes from the Dubai International Airport. But it’s not likely to hold the title of world’s tallest tower for long: Saudi Arabia’s one-kilometre high Kingdom Tower is slated for completion in 2020.
“A shining beacon of hope for the world, celebrating diversity and human achievements...” – Mohamed Alabbar
Calatrava’s design is inspired by a lily and evokes the image of a minaret
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
31
32
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
MEET AND GREET We held our third Meet & Greet style event – “Meet & Greet: Meet the Architects & Engineers” – on April 21st at the Derrick. Nearly 300 people attended to interact with our seven featured firms. Firms included Stantec, Manasc Isaac, Read Jones Christoffersen, DIALOG, Williams Engineering, Arrow Engineering and Kasian Architecture. Each firm had a chance to interact with interested members as well as give a short presentation to the room. Meet & Greet events continue to grow in popularity. The ECA looks forward to presenting more in the near future. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
33
Meet & Greet events continue to grow in popularity. The ECA looks forward to presenting more in the near future.
34
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“Concrete Our Specialty” Shandro Construction Ltd. Is a locally owned concrete construction company which has proudly served the Edmonton area since 1977. Shandro has the experience to provide a wide range of services including: parking structures, civil work, concrete paving, commercial site work and municipal road work.
Sterling Business Center #109, 17420 Stony Plain Rd. Edmonton, AB
780.484.7777
shandroconstruction.com
OUR PATRONS ARE YOUR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES Among the more than 100,000 people who see shows at the Citadel Theatre each year, many are Edmonton’s movers and shakers. A lot of them invest in our theatre ensuring it remains strong and vibrant, today and for the future. Let us help you build your business profile in Edmonton. Sponsor a Citadel production or program today. Make your presence known. Underscore your investment in Edmonton. Or try a Corporate Subscription for the 2016/17 Season. It’s a great perk for customers, staff, or even yourself. Contact Debbie Theuss, Corporate Relations Manager: 780.428.2109 • dtheuss@citadeltheatre.com
THE 2016/17 SEASON:
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
35
Photo courtesy of Jason Cook of JC Power Systems Inc.
You must first find your Heart art before you can speak from it.
EWEL YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Ewel specializes in providing residential, commercial, and industrial electrical products, with unparalleled service levels in the electrical industry. Call us today for more information!
NORTH 780.451.2311 | SOUTH 780.432.2400 | SH. PK. 780.417.9770
® MARKETING ON BRAND
780.451.1379 odvod.com
Managing Risks to Build Success Lloyd Sadd is a valued ally of Alberta’s construction sector, delivering risk management solutions tailored to our clients’ unique business needs. We know that every project you undertake helps to build your business, but comes with risks, as well. Our solutions simultaneously mitigate these risks and strengthen your operations, helping you succeed over the long-haul.
We Listen. We Think. We Deliver.
We employ more than 20 professionals with broad and deep knowledge of the construction industry. As a result of our collective expertise, we can cover every phase of a project — from design through to construction. Our team also includes a dedicated bonding team, ensuring your financials are water-tight.
www.lloydsadd.com
36
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Edmonton | Calgary | Grande Prairie
Contact us to discuss your commercial insurance needs
1.800.665.5243
ED TALKS More than 170 members were in attendance at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald on Wednesday, May 4th for the YBG’s third annual Ed Talks event. The event brought together six excellent local speakers to talk about a variety of pertinent leadership and industry topics. Our 2016 list of speakers included: Jim Andrais, Program Manager, Environmental Policy, City of Edmonton; Carol Belanger, Chief Architect, City of Edmonton; Allan Watt and Scott Murray, Edmonton Eskimos; Christy Benoit, Mosaic Family of Companies; Tyler Waye, Alberta School of Business; and Bill Giebelhaus, former COO and Founding Partner, Clark Builders. We look forward to the 4th annual Ed Talks event in the spring of 2017. 
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
37
The event brought together six excellent local speakers to talk about a variety of pertinent leadership and industry topics.
38
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Does your insurance program have structural problems? Put the proper framework in place with HUB. HUB International is a leading insurance and surety broker for the construction industry. We are known for our market-specific expertise, comprehensive programs, exceptional service and cost-effective pricing. HUB International has extensive resources, regional specialists, risk management professionals and personal insurance advisors who are expert in addressing the needs of businesses and business owners. If you are unsure whether your coverage is secure or properly priced or simply are not getting the responsive service you deserve, then it’s time to call HUB. HUB International www.hubinternational.com EDMONTON 800-563-5325 #201, 5227 - 55 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6B 3V1 Rick Steenbergen 780-732-9917 rick.steenbergen@hubinternational.com Randy Singh 780-453-8414 randy.singh@hubinternational.com GRANDE PRAIRIE 800-563-5325 214 Place, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 2V4 Brock Clement 780-513-5706 brock.clement@hubinternational.com RED DEER 888-309-3444 204, 7803 - 50 Avenue, Red Deer, AB T4P 1M8 Derek Johnson 403-309-3770 derek.johnson@hubinternational.com CALGARY 877-906-6637 410-7220 Fisher Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 2H8 Ryan Cushner 403-777-9240 ryan.cushner@hubinternational.com
HUBInsurance
HUBInternationalLimited
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
39
Dr. George Jergeas delivered the keynote at the ECA-hosted Infrastructure Productivity Forum 2016.
SO LONG, SILOS Industry embracing collaboration over conflict – and how about not setting the price of a project up front? By Alexandra Zabjek
40
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
When developers started planning a new community called Harmony on the western outskirts of Calgary, the engineering branch of Urban Systems was called to the planning table. It’s not a spot in which engineers always find themselves, when a multi-phase development is still being sketched on paper. Engineers are often called after a problem arises, when a solution has been roughed out, and an engineer is needed to execute the fix. “We’ve been working on the project right since inception. We were engaged to look at opportunities, constraints, what the process could look like to bring this land to market,” says Matt Brassard, a principal at Urban Systems, who works in the firm’s Edmonton office. “The earlier we’re brought in as a trusted adviser to the client, the more influence we can have in the process that can save the client time, money, and give them options.” The notion of bringing engineers, architects, owners and contractors to the same table at the beginning of a project is not new – the Harmony project, for example, started more than 15 years ago. But it’s an approach that still isn’t used
enough in the construction arena, where specialists from different fields might clash more than collaborate. Industry experts say contracts are often set up to create conflict, pitting contractors, for example, against designers or owners. At least some of those conflicts can be attributed to a project environment where the various disciplines work in silos, not consulting those whose work is inherently linked to their own efforts, and not considering that everyone should share a common goal: A great finished product. Call it Integrated Project Delivery, call it construction management, call it basic collaboration – the idea is to get the right parties together early in the design process, with a common goal of making a fantastic building. “The default mentality is, ‘Cover your own butt.’ Nobody is incentivizing the, ‘We’re in it together mentality,’” Brassard says. “It’s usually a penalized system of, ‘When you can’t meet a deadline, here’s what happens.’ Versus: ‘Here’s what happens when you’re 15 days early or it came in under budget.’” In the case of the Harmony development, Urban Systems worked to create zero-metre setbacks for spray effluent discharge, meaning that spray irrigation can extend to property lines of the community golf course. The firm worked with regulators to receive approval based on a higher quality of effluent. This gave the developer more land to work with, since a typical setback is 300 metres. In the Alberta construction world, a go-to figure on collaborative approaches is George Jergeas, a professor in the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. Prior to his academic career, Jergeas worked with a claims and disputes company, investigating problems that arose on construction projects. He saw the same issues repeatedly, and emphasizes that adversarial relationships benefit no one. “We love sports in Canada but we don’t apply it to projects. It’s teamwork. Each one of us has a role, we’re one team: Contractors, sub-contractors, engineers,” he says. “It’s similar to winning the Stanley Cup but it’s building a bridge.” Jergeas’s arguments for a collaborative approach focus on a few areas. “A major cause of problems is scope – it’s either not defined very well or it gets pushed quickly into construction. And then you have scope changes, and extras, and then you have a big fight,” he says.
Jergeas recommends 80 per cent of engineering should be complete before moving to construction, and argues 100 per cent of Issued For Construction drawings be done before starting work. Those targets are rarely met in the world of industrial projects and are just starting to change on the civil infrastructure side, Jergeas says. He acknowledges, however, that specific projects justify fast-tracking, but such projects must prepare for more changes along the way. Jergeas also challenges the construction industry to re-think risk. The construction environment is inherently risky, he says. Not everything can be accurately predicted and there always will be changes: “From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, every project has had changes.” Owners can prepare for changes, anticipate them, and account for
“ The earlier we’re brought in as a trusted adviser to the client, the more influence we can have in the process...” - Matt Brassard
them in the budget, Jergeas says. Doing more planning before shovels hit the ground can obviously minimize changes. But owners should also shake up how the risk associated with changes is distributed, Jergeas says. It’s now the norm for different players in a construction project to offload risk onto others. This has turned the approach from a team approach, says Jergeas, to a “legalistic »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
41
Below: Panellists discuss how to improve construction productivity.
approach” where everyone is trying to protect themselves. Contractors are often saddled with a disproportionate amount of risk. And this forces them to account for the risk in pricing a project, increasing overall costs, says Jergeas. “The focus should be on changing our industry mindset away from, ‘Everyone else is bad,’ which is the thought you have in an adversarial relationship.” However, the reality is that even those with the best intentions to collaborate don’t necessarily work well together. Jergeas suggests an owner-assigned Project Executive Officer – or PEO – to be a
“ The focus should be on changing our industry mindset away from, ‘Everyone else is bad,’...” - George Jergeas
42
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“benevolent dictator” who makes decisions and is connected to both the corporate and project levels. He also suggests solutions be found whenever possible at the local managerial levels. Industry experts also say trust between colleagues in different disciplines is essential for a collaborative approach to work. That trust can take years and multiple projects to develop. “There’s always healthy conflict in any relationship … you push to get people better, not just to say no. It’s got to be healthy conflict to get the best out of everybody,” says Alan Kuysters, vice president and district manager for PCL.
Kuysters currently oversees work on the Ice District and the sports arena that are taking shape outside his downtown Edmonton office window. PCL has taken a project management approach to the mega-project, and the contractor been actively involved since the beginning to ensure the design will work appropriately from a contractor’s perspective to deliver the project on time and budget. “Designers don’t know cost, just design. Whereas collaboration brings cost and design together to say, ‘What’s the most cost-effective way to deliver that design?’” The approach isn’t new for Kuysters. When PCL was contracted to do renovation work »
IMET: INTEGRATIVE MEDICAL EVALUATION AND TREATMENT •
Return to Work Psychiatric Treatment Program for Employees.
•
Reduced Over-all Disability Claims.
•
Sustainable Return-to-Work Strategies that gets employees back to work and keeps them back to work.
Chokka Center for Integrative Health www.imet.ca
P: 780.465.5749 ext. 110 | E: fdunphy@chokkacenter.com
Building success. Making your project successful means combining creative legal thinking with in-depth knowledge of the construction and infrastructure industry, its skilled professionals and the law. Whether it is advice on financing, procurement and contracts, design, development, operations, or maintenance, Miller Thomson has the specialized expertise and experience to guide you through every phase of your large or small scale project. For strategic advice and support, contact: Bill Kenny, Q.C. 780.429.9784 403.298.2404 wkenny@millerthomson.com
Scott Hammel, Q.C. 780.429.9726 shammel@millerthomson.com
Miller Thomson LLP
millerthomson.com VANCOUVER
CALGARY
KITCHENER-WATERLOO
EdmontonConstructionReviewAd_4.75x4.75.indd 1
EDMONTON GUELPH
SASKATOON
TORONTO
REGINA
MARKHAM
LONDON
MONTRÉAL
6/28/2016 1:35:26 PM
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
43
Jergeas recommends 80 per cent of engineering should be complete before moving to construction
44
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
on the lower levels of the Banff Springs Hotel in 1999, the company worked in tandem with the architect and owner through a year of pre-construction and almost two years of construction. Not all of the details were set when the team got to work, and the group had to make decisions together. “There were the gives and takes in the design that we had in working with the client and architect to get the look they wanted at less time and dollars,” he says. The plan originally called for stone arches in the lobby. But the material would require time and money that wasn’t available. The compromise was to expertly paint the arches to look like stone, for significantly less time and cost. The project was so successful, the architect, client, and PCL went on to partner together on various buildings for another 10 years. Kuysters acknowledges that not every project can unfold in the construction management model. There needs to be trust and experience from all players. And in that model, the contractor’s price isn’t set up front – a major issue for public projects where budgets are set publicly, often before functional designs are even complete.
“Cities typically have a tough time dealing with a collaborative approach because of the idea of not knowing the cost before it starts,” he says. “But it’s when you have a knowledgeable owner, contractor, designer that get together and say, ‘Here’s the budget we need to get to, how can we get there and stick to it?’” Adam Laughlin, general manager of integrated infrastructure services at the City of Edmonton, says his department is trying to “change the parameters” of how projects are presented to city council, with a more defined scope, schedule and budget established before presentation. The city has also re-organized departments so his group, for example, looks at all infrastructure projects, not just a transportation project or a community services project. The idea is to take a more holistic approach, to look at the bigger picture, to perhaps ask: “Who else should we engage on this project.” “The idea is, ‘Let’s develop this together, let’s rationalize this scope together, let’s seek different expertise we need,” he says. “Then we’ll get a more well-rounded understanding of the outcomes and it’s easier to quantify how we’ll do that.”
Prompt attention to water and fire damage saves time and money. Let ServiceMASTER of Edmonton be your first call for mitigation with our 24/7 emergency response team. www.servicemasterofedm.ca
780.443.4338
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
45
NO I IN ARENA
PCL maestro in wellorchestrated team effort
By Cary Castagna PHOTO BY: CURTIS COMEAU PHOTOGRAPHY
From Left: Wayne Dilk, VP Business Development - Cimco Refrigeration, Trevor Panas, Area Manager - Inland Concrete, Ryan Land, Owner - Pro Bond, Mike Millard, VP Sales - Milltech Millwork
46
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
All the building blocks are in place for an architectural hat trick. With the countdown on, Edmonton’s half-a-billion-dollar downtown arena project is poised to be completed on time, on budget and score with fans. The massive undertaking that is Rogers Place — the iconic new home of the Edmonton Oilers — has been captained by PCL Construction. But the local general contractor, of course, has been assisted by many subcontractors — both large and small — in a well-orchestrated team effort that has relied heavily on thorough preparation and precise execution. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
47
PHOTO BY: ANDY DEVLIN, OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
48
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“The entire project has been one big collaboration,” says Roger Buksa, mechanical manager with Arpi’s North Inc., a firm responsible for much of the mechanical work on the arena, including the heating and cooling systems, ventilation, plumbing, sprinklers and refrigeration systems. “From the value engineering process with the owners, consultants and contractors when the project started to get it within the budget, to the consultants working side by side with the contractors to complete the final design so construction could progress, and finally PCL and all the trade contractors working and coordinating together to complete this project on time and within budget, it’s an amazing task if you consider what has been accomplished in such a short period of time.” Helping to facilitate the widescale collaboration have been some major technological tools. The first is 3D computer modeling known as BIM (building information modeling), Buksa says. “BIM was
used for coordinating all construction on the project, including the underground,” he explains. “This is one of the biggest factors that helped keep the project on track.” Although the various trades used different software packages, the downloaded models were integrated into one system via collaboration software called BIM 360 Glue. “Any conflicts with things like pipe hitting electrical trays were then worked out and remodeled,” Buksa notes. “This process helped to eliminate installation conflicts in all aspects of the work, reduce rework due to routing conflicts and speed up system installations.” In addition, by using iPads, field personnel have had access to the latest BIM data, which they use in a variety of ways. “For example: dimensions from the floor to the bottom of a piece of pipe being installed, clearances between an electrical tray and a sprinkler line, and even the length of rod required to hang a piece of equipment,” Buksa says. “They can also view what the finished product should look like by holding the iPad in the direction they wish to view. As you move the iPad, the model moves to show you what will be installed.” Along with all of that, the Trimble GPS system has been used to aid with installation, a system Buksa says “saved man hours, resolved conflict issues and helped keep the project on schedule.” Meanwhile, for a company like Inland Concrete – the sole supplier of concrete to Rogers Place – collaboration has been an absolute must. As area manager Trevor Panas explains, concrete is a perishable building material. “From batch time to unloading of trucks, there is only a two-hour window before concrete is ‘timed-out’ and cannot be used in the structure,” he notes. “This requires tremendous coordination between PCL, subtrades, and us as the concrete supplier.” Pre-pour meetings involving representatives from each of the involved suppliers and subtrades were held prior to many of the larger slab pours to plan the entire delivery process. “PCL did a phenomenal job of facilitating those meetings and ensuring that the actions that were agreed to, both for their own staff handling onsite logistics and third party supplies and subtrades, were adhered to on the date of the pour,” Panas says. “This ensured the pours were done on time, and that there were no additional costs associated with extra labour, equipment rental, or rejected concrete
PHOTO BY: ANDY DEVLIN, OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
“The entire project has been one big collaboration...it’s an amazing task if you consider what has been accomplished in such a short period of time.” - Roger Buksa
resulting from poor planning and execution. The project went very well from a concrete delivery perspective, and the credit belongs to everyone for the part they played.” At last count, Inland Concrete has supplied more than 35,000 cubic metres of concrete to Rogers Place and related structures, including the Winter Garden and pedways. Collaboration was also critical for Pro Bond, the company that performed the waterproofing of the structural slab below the ice surface. “This project is definitely not like any others we’ve worked on recently. You can certainly tell how passionate Edmontonians are about their hockey,” says Pro Bond owner Ryan Land. “The dedication that everyone involved in this project has to it is absolute proof of it. Workers, managers, designers, manufacturers, and anyone else involved were dedicated to do whatever it took to complete this work on time. PCL helped to provide as much access to the worksite as we could in advance by coordinating with other trades, so we could complete work in parallel safely and effectively in close proximity. When trying to shut down a large footprint of a construction site to waterproof it, planning these overlaps with other trades can be a difficult task.”
Another huge help, according to Land, was that the design team, management team, manufacturing representatives and Pro Bond installation team, all made themselves available throughout the holiday season — with the exception of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day — to complete the bulk of the work. “The sacrifice that they and their families made to help keep the schedule on track just shows the pride and dedication that this project has brought out of everyone involved,” he adds. “As a trade contractor, keeping things on budget depends largely on all required details for the design intent to be effectively communicated in the specifications and drawings and then everyone involved working together as a team to execute the work.” Land lauds all stakeholders for helping to ensure the work was kept on track. “PCL as the general contractor, RJC/ HOK/ATB as the design team, Soprema as the material manufacturer, and the other subtrades working in the area at the same time all had an excellent level of dedication to the project.” Collaboration was also bolstered by a keen scheduling protocol, deftly managed by PCL, which has served as maestro to the steady parade of workers requiring access to confined spaces throughout the site. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
49
PHOTO BY: JEFF NASH, OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
50
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“ This project is definitely not like any others we’ve worked on recently. You can certainly tell how passionate Edmontonians are about their hockey” - Ryan Land, Pro Bond
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
51
“One of the biggest challenges all of us faced was access to the site,” says Wayne Dilk, VP business development for Cimco Refrigeration, the company tasked with designing the ice surface to NHL specifications. “There’s such a multitude of trades and activities going on at the same time in multiple areas and limited access to the location. So the scheduling protocol was always firmly laid out and PCL’s site people managed that fairly well — quite well, actually.” That scheduling protocol, Dilk adds, has been complemented with a mandated communication protocol and a firm onsite meeting schedule. Still, the sheer numbers involved are staggering. “In a nutshell, it would include the site
52
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
superintendents – there’s quite a number of them on this project – from PCL all the way down to our millwork cabinet makers on our shop floor, which includes a huge amount of people all in between,” explains Mike Millard, VP of sales for Milltech Millwork, the company in charge of architectural woodwork, including the dressing rooms, luxury suites and merchandising counters. “We deal and communicate with all these people on a daily basis and it’s basically to ensure quality of work, on-time delivery and installation of our product. So the collaboration is huge. For the size of this project, it has gone very smoothly. There’s going to be hiccups everywhere. But this one has gone as smooth as can be.”
Inland Concrete has supplied more than 35,000 cubic metres of concrete to Rogers Place and related structures...
PHOTO BY: JEFF NASH, OILERS ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
53
From left: Roger Melo – Overhead Door Co., Jeff Cline – Overhead Door Co., Henry Nimilowich – Executive Commercial Manager, Lynda Nimilowich, Dianne Storey, John Storey – President, Overhead Door Co. of Edmonton and Vancouver, Jamie Byrne – Overhead Door Co.
‘NOT AN EIGHT-HOUR GUY’ Henry Nimilowich celebrates 50 years (and counting) at Overhead Door By Cary Castagna
54
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
In this era of waning employer -employee loyalty, Henry Nimilowich knows he’s a rarity. The 71-year-old Edmontonian recently celebrated his 50th year with Overhead Door — and he has no plans to retire anytime soon. “I guess I would be called a dinosaur,” he says, referring to the pervading economic upheaval in today’s working world that has made corporate restructuring and downsizing the norm. “It’s pretty tough to be 50 years with one company. It’s a great achievement for me. It’s been very enjoyable. It went by pretty quick – it really did.” Five decades ago, Nimilowich was just looking for a summer job. Then 21 years old, the native of Rabbit Lake, Sask., was in Saskatoon, where he was a student in the University of Saskatchewan’s Faculty of Education. “I heard that Overhead Door Saskatoon was hiring, so I made a phone call and I got hired on the phone. It was that easy,” he recalls. “Through the conversation, the guy »
“It’s pretty tough to be 50 years with one company. It’s a great achievement for me. It’s been very enjoyable. It went by pretty quick – it really did.” – Henry Nimilowich
Mayor Don Iveson presents Henry Nimilowich with a citation for 50 years of employment with the Overhead Door Co. of Edmonton
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
55
From left: Matt Schellenberger, Jennifer Parker, Henry Nimilowich, Geoff Lilge, Caroline Bowen, John McNicoll
“To watch him, you’re just mesmerized. He just has this way and that charisma about him. He knows everyone.” - Jan Butler
56
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
said to me, ‘Can you start tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock?’ And that was the beginning.” Nimilowich’s first day — May 1, 1966 — saw him glazing wood-panel doors in the fabrication shop. Not long after that, Nimilowich found himself working in the field as an installer’s helper. He was part of a crew tasked with installing doors at the Lanigan potash mine in south-central Saskatchewan. It soon became evident to Nimilowich that he had found himself much more than a typical summer job. “I never did go back to university and get my degree,” he notes. Instead, Nimilowich continued to learn the ins and outs of the overhead door industry, eventually capturing the imagination of the late Ray Storey, the Saskatoon entrepreneur who established the Overhead Door Co., in 1961. “Ray approached me (in the fall of 1966),” Nimilowich remembers. “He said, ‘How would you like to move into the office for the winter?’ He said, ‘I certainly see you can handle something like that.’” The young employee jumped at the promotion, relating with a chuckle that he became “office manager, chief bottle washer and head of accounts payable.” He adds: “We were small back then.” The following spring, Nimilowich returned to the field, this time as a travelling rep. “At that time in Saskatchewan we did a lot of lumber yard business,” he explains. “Every small town had a lumber yard. And so it was my job to call on them all, update their price lists and make sure they had all the information and help they needed in selling doors. I travelled all
over northern Saskatchewan.” And that was pretty much Nimilowich’s first year on the job, according to his memory. A couple years later, circa 1969, Nimilowich transferred to the company’s Regina branch to help “sort out a few difficulties.” He came to Edmonton around 1970, where he would soon meet Ray’s son and eventual company president, John Storey. “Employees don’t come any more loyal,” John says of his venerable staffer. “Today his hours of work would be well past 40 hours a week. For years, he didn’t take a lot of holidays. Now he’s got some grandkids who live out of town, so he takes more than he did. He’s really enjoying them but still very active at work.” Indeed, Nimilowich, who these days carries the title of executive commercial manager, isn’t the type to punch the clock. “This morning, I got here at 5:20. I knew I had a lot of tenders that I had to close by noon and so I made sure I came in earlier to get it done,” he explains. “I’m not an eight-hour guy. I’ve got to get the job done. If I’m partway through an assignment, a quotation or whatever it is, I’ll finish it, or I will take it home and finish it and come in a little bit earlier in the morning and then my client has it.” Perhaps it’s that old-school work ethic that has contributed to Nimilowich’s longevity in the working world. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he maintains a genuine passion for his profession, along with a knack for networking. Nimilowich may just have the beefiest Rolodex in the industry and his list of contacts continues to grow after all these years.
A current supervisor points out that Nimilowich was described as a “magnet” at this year’s Edmonton Home and Garden Show. “People just go right to him. He’s just so knowledgeable,” notes Jan Butler, Overhead Door’s director of business development and head of commercial install and service. “To watch him, you’re just mesmerized. He just has this way and that charisma about him. He knows everyone. You just have to mention his name and it’s like, ‘Yeah, I know Henry.’” Beyond his day job, Nimilowich is perhaps best known for his volunteer work with the Edmonton Construction Association. By his own estimates, Nimilowich — a former ECA president — has been on the association’s golf committee for 43 years and counting. “The role in which he would be the most visible to people is that for years and years he was the organizer of their annual golf tournament,” John Storey affirms. “Even today, while he’s not in charge, he’s the guy that gets in the cart and drives around from hole to hole and says hello to the golfers.” The ECA’s longest-serving volunteer calls it “giving back” to an industry that has given him so much. “The best way to describe Henry is dedicated, interested. He would never hesitate to volunteer to help,” lauds Gordon MacPherson, former ECA executive vicepresident. “He was really interested in the industry, the association and the people involved.” And there have been plenty of other beneficiaries. Nimilowich also represented the construction industry on the public advisory committee for now-defunct Edmonton Power. He was a canvasser for the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation. Other volunteer interests included the Cancer Society, curling and bowling leagues and the Baptist Church. “He’s just one of those guys who always jumped in and rolled up his sleeves,” MacPherson adds. “Every once in awhile you meet these people that are genuinely nice people. That’s Henry. He’s a gentleman and genuinely nice person. All associations and organizations need people like Henry. When they lose people like him, it leaves a big hole.” Fortunately, Nimilowich, who marvels at the technological advancements he’s witnessed over his career, says he has no immediate plans to retire. “But down the road? Yes,” he acknowledges. “I’m going to start thinking about slowing down. That’s for sure.” Well, he has certainly earned it.
Ice sculpture by Steve Buzak of the Royal Glenora Club
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
57
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS • DESIGN BUILD 14530 - 116 Ave. Edmonton, AB. T5M 3E9 Phone 780.760.0806 Fax 780.760.0807
ALBERTA PARAMEDICAL SERVICES LTD. Ambulance and Medical Support
Established in 1988 we are leaders in on site medical and first aid services. We supply all levels of Medics, First Aid Trailers, First Aid Rooms, 4X4 Ambulances, Mobile Treatment Centre’s and Emergency Transport Vehicles.
LET US BE YOUR MEDICAL CONTRACTOR OF CHOICE!
Main Office: 780-499-1280 Fax: 780-458-0967 albertaparamedical.com
info@albertaparamedical.com
58
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
A NEW CHAPTER FOR MILL WOODS Dramatic new library a As Edmonton’s architecture gutsy reaction to blandness and design renaissance of surrounding buildings continues to radiate outward By Ben Freeland
from the downtown core to the periphery, the challenge inherent in blending new buildings and developments with existing commercial, industrial, and residential areas becomes ever more complicated. A prime example of this problem is the task that the City of Edmonton set out for the duo of Dub Architects and Vancouver-based HCMA Architecture + Design. The challenge: Design a multipurpose library and centre for senior citizens’ activities and cultural events to be built on a nondescript plot of land adjacent to the Mill Woods Transit Centre in what is slated to become the core of the new LRT-linked Mill Woods Town Centre. The result was the 25,000-squarefoot Mill Woods Library, Seniors and Multicultural Centre, which opened in the spring of 2015 — and a year later won the prestigious International Interior Design Association’s Library Design Award. For architect Michael Dub, co-principal at Dub Architects together with his father (and company founder) Gene, the Mill Woods Library presented unique challenges from the outset, stemming from both the location and the project specifications. “Integrating the second-floor seniors’ centre with the first-floor library was an interesting problem,” he asserts. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
59
“Integrating the second-floor seniors’ centre with the first-floor library was an interesting problem. Both were needed in the community, and the decision to integrate the two in a single building was a political one aimed at maximizing operational efficiency.” -Michael Dub
60
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
61
Striking as the building’s exterior is, it is its interior that has garnered the lion’s share of critical acclaim since it opened
62
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“Both were needed in the community, and the decision to integrate the two in a single building was a political one aimed at maximizing operational efficiency. The second challenge was designing a building for a site surrounded by low-rise commercial developments with very little inherent character — not the sort of landscape you associate with public buildings. A third challenge was the land itself, which had no clear point of arrival to put the “front” of a building. This meant that whatever we designed would have to be equally compelling from all sides.” With little in the way of surrounding architectural reference points, the decision was made to design a large, imposing building that would not only hold its own in the environment, but in fact subvert the simplicity of the surrounding urban landscape. With its dramatic, crystalline contours and the massive windows ringing its public reading rooms, the building has all the appearances of an anti-big box development, a gutsy, calculated reaction to the blandness of the surrounding buildings. This approach not only allowed the designers to overcome the lack of surrounding reference points, but also to create a building that is equally compelling from all vantage points. Striking as the building’s exterior is, it is its interior that has garnered the lion’s share of critical acclaim since it opened. With a mandate to make the first-floor library space as flexible as possible and the entire building energy-efficient (with a view to securing LEED Gold certification), the architectural team designed the space with a minimum number of permanent walls and a large amount of glazing (shared by both levels) aimed at maximizing natural lighting. Among the building’s most unconventional and complex features is the library level’s ceiling, whose sloped, angular design and diverging lines interspersed by seamlessly integrated light fixtures, make it a work of art all on its own. “The ceiling was one of the most complex aspects of the building, design-wise,” Dub explains. “Getting it right required intense collaboration between the design team, EllisDon (the project general contractor), and the subcontractors, as well as extensive
use of Building Information Modelling (BIM). By putting all the HVAC and communication-related electrical hardware under the floor we had design leeway with the ceiling. The result was a varied and dramatic series of spaces within the building.” This design approach, with the upward sloping statement of the ceiling blending seamlessly into the dramatic windows, does more than maximize energy efficiency, Dub asserts. “The idea behind this design was to make the building as welcoming to the community as possible,” he says. “As a public space in a largely non-public neighbourhood, it was very important to us that its identity as a public building be expressed loud and clear, and that it functions as a clear extension of the public walkways around it, including the nearby transit centre.
We saw this as especially important given the demographics of the Mill Woods area, with its high concentration of new Canadians, as well as the importance of libraries and community centres for the area’s new Canadian population. We wanted a building with a real gravitational force to it that exudes a sense of openness and transparency, and I really think we accomplished this.” Much of the complexity around the design of the Mill Woods Library, Seniors and Multicultural Centre lay in the fact that the building represents the opening salvo in one of Edmonton’s most ambitious upcoming urban redevelopment projects. Originally drafted in 2013, the current redevelopment plan for the Mill Woods Town Centre calls for the construction of up to 1,750 residential units, up to 69,700 square meters of new commercial space, an expanded network of publicly accessible green spaces and pedestrian and bicycle paths, and a new Mill Woods ETS bus station adjacent to the much-anticipated southeastern terminus for the Valley LRT line currently slated for opening in 2020. »
“As a public space in a largely non-public neighbourhood, it was very important to us that its identity as a public building be expressed loud and clear, and that it functions as a clear extension of the public walkways around it...” -Michael Dub
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
63
Apart from impacting the choice of building site, the existing Mill Woods Town Centre Plan did not directly impact the design of the building, Dub explains. “At this point it’s anyone’s guess what this neighbourhood is going to look like a decade from now,” he says. “We clearly designed the building in accordance with an anticipated increase in pedestrian traffic, but for the time being it had to work as a standalone building. How that plays into the future redevelopment of the area remains to be seen.”
64
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
“We wanted a building with a real gravitational force to it that exudes a sense of openness and transparency,” -Michael Dub
66
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
AVOIDING ‘PAY WHEN PAID’ PAIN By Paul V. Stocco ILLUSTRATION BY: SANDER SARIOGLU
There is an old saying that “cash is king”. Adapted for challenging economic times, the saying should be “cash flow is king”. Ensuring that accounts receivable are paid in a timely way – and having enough cash flow to pay accounts payable – are prime concerns for any business. Adequate cash flow is especially important for the construction industry, where the flow of money from the top to the bottom of the contract pyramid determines the success, or failure, of a construction business. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
67
To deal with the uncertainties caused by cash flow issues, some parties have begun to insert “pay when paid” clauses into their contracts. Essentially, if the payor on a contract gets paid by its client (i.e. someone further up the contract pyramid), the payor will then, and only then, pay money owed to its payee. These clauses are not new, and given current economic uncertainties, these clauses have enjoyed a resurgence. However, before there is widespread adoption and acceptance of “pay when paid” clauses in all construction contracts, consideration should be given to recent judicial treatment of “pay when paid” clauses. In the Bluelime Enterprises1 case, the Ontario Divisional Court reviewed the efforts undertaken by a payor to collect money owed to it so that the payor could in turn pay its payee. In the case, the payor contracted to provide IT services to Alberta Justice. Due to the sensitive nature of the IT work, Alberta Justice required that all service providers have no prior criminal record. The payor had subcontracted some of the IT work to its payee. During the course of the work, it came to light that the payee had failed to disclose prior breaches of US and Canadian securities legislation. When Alberta Justice became aware of this, the payor’s contract was terminated. The payor’s account went unpaid. Alberta Justice incurred significant costs to conduct a security sweep of the IT system in order to determine whether the payee had compromised the IT system. Alberta Justice’s costs were greater than the monies owed to the payor. As a result of nonpayment by Alberta Justice, the payor refused to pay its payee.
To deal with the uncertainties caused by cash flow issues, some parties have begun to insert “pay when paid” clauses into their contracts. 68
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
When analyzing the efforts that the payor took to collect the outstanding account, the Court noted that the payor made a few calls to Alberta Justice, but the payor stopped short of commencing a lawsuit against Alberta Justice – largely on the grounds that the payor did not want to upset the good customer relationship it had with Alberta Justice. As a matter of law, the Court found that the payor was bound to take “reasonable steps” to collect the outstanding account; however, this obligation was not boundless. If no money was forthcoming from such reasonable collection efforts, then the payor would not be required to pay its payee. This “reasonable efforts” requirement is consistent with a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada,2 which recognized a party’s obligation of “honest performance” of its contractual obligations. What does this mean for the construction industry? If a payor seeks to rely on a “pay when paid” clause as an excuse for not paying, the payor must take reasonable steps to attempt collection. What is reasonable will depend on many circumstances. It is clear that doing nothing, or only making half-hearted attempts, will not be enough. By contrast, a payee should ensure that it is
not the reason for its payor to not be paid by someone further up the contract pyramid. If both parties follow these straightforward suggestions, there will be more “payin” than “pain”. 6157734 Canada Inc. v. Bluelime Enterprises Inc. 2016 ONSC 1794. {06/04/2016,B2005633.DOC;1} 1
2
Bhasin v. Hrynew 2014 SCC 71. {06/04/2016,B2005633.DOC;1}
Paul V. Stocco, Partner, Brownlee LLP
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
69
Adv Code 118506 Advertising S MECHANICAL PIPING OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THEPLUMBING JOURNAL S. Rep: Wayne Jury (P) Pub Code MA 2009 ANNUAL EDITION Naylor (Canada), Ad OrderInc. # - Winn 645
MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION OF AB,SK,MB AND B.C.
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
100Adv Sutherland Ave. Code 118 S. Rep: Wayne Jury3C7 (P) Winnipeg, MB R2W
Tel: (800) 665-2456, (204) 947
Naylor (Canada) MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS 956 100 Suthe ASSOCIATION OF AB,SK,MB ANDFax: B.C.(800) 709-5551, (204)
Advertiser:
Leroy Jonk
Winnipeg, M
Plumbers & Pipefitters Union
P.O Box 23034, Citadel RPO AD SPECIFICATIONS
AD ID:
311704
St. Albert, AB T8N 6Z9 Size: Shape: Horizontal 1/6 Page Advertiser: leroy@anmarconcretepumping.com Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Position: 2nd Quarter AD SPECIFICATIONS AD ID: office@anmarconcretepumping.com Color: Match #:
Docket: Width:
Tel: (800) 665-245
COPY Fax:AD (800) 709-55
8872 Depth:
4.583
Keeping you warm for 31 years. Docket: 311704
Black & White Size:
2.166
A
8872
Shape: Horizontal Width: 4.583 1/6 Page Phone: 780.349.3699 PMS9281-50 #: Use Exact Ad Copy • gemcofireplaces.com Street, Edmonton • 780.465.9719 Position: 2nd Quarter Fax: 780.732.2226 Blackissues: & White Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 8am - 5pm • “ Signature: Your Fireplace Experts ” Free: I approve thisToll ad copy for 888.349.3699 use Color: in the following Authorized MAB-A0009 Match #:
Donalco
Index Listings:
UNIONS
Western Inc.
2.1
Use Exact Ad Copy
PMS #:
I approve this ad copy for use in the following issues:
Depth:
MAB-A0009
Authorized Signature:
Date:
INDUSTRY LEADERS FOR OVER 45 YEARS
Pull (exact) fromDate: MAB-A0008 (AdID: 311704)
Fireproofing, Firestopping, Index Listings: Spray Foam, Asbestos UNIONS & Mould Removal
Pull (exact) from MAB-A0008 (AdID: 31
8804 - 53rd Avenue Edmonton, Alberta T6E 5G2 Toll Free 1.888.894.6704 Phone (780) 448.1660 Fax (780) 448.0102 www.donalcowestern.com 311704_Plumbers.qxd311704_Plumbers.qxd 2/21/07 11:15 AM2/21/07 Page 111:15 AM
Page 1
PLUMBERS & PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS UNION PIPEFITTERS UNION Local 488
Jensen Contract Contract Flooring.indd Flooring.indd 1 1 Jensen
Kevin Dowler kdowler@empiremech.ca Cell: 587.988.5369
Ph. 780.417.1035 Fax. 780.417.7036 #12 Chippewa Road, Sherwood Park, Alberta T8A 3Y1
www.empiremech.ca
LOCATED AT: 16735 – 114 AVE. NW EDMONTON, AB T5M 3P9
READY-MIX CONCRETE AVAILABLE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
INDUSTRIAL • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL EXPOSED AGGREGATE, COLORED CONCRETE & OTHER SPECIALTY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE OPEN SATURDAYS — JUNE TO OCTOBER
PHONE: 780.452.6541 ~ ORDER DESK: 780-487-1188 ~ EMAIL: ADMIN@RAPIDCONCRETE.CA
70
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
16-01-12 10:53 10:53 AM AM 16-01-12
Local 488Committed to Quality, Safety & Education
Committed to Quality,Phone Safety (780) & Education 452-7080 Fax (780) 452-1291
16214 - 118th Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta Phone (780) 452-7080 Fax (780) 452-1291 16214 - 118th Avenue, Alberta BusinessEdmonton, Manager - Larry Matychuk
Business Manager - Larry Matychuk
CAFÉ LEVA: NEIGHBOURHOOD BEACON University hangout remains cherished haven for construction professional and family man By Scott Benoit
Fresh-squeezed orange juice is expensive for a reason: it’s delicious and it takes effort – and a lot of oranges – to produce. Since the day it opened in a defunct laundromat, Garneau’s Café LEVA has been serving a $5 glass of orange juice that’s the stuff of expense account scandals and student loan defaults. I used to struggle a bit with ordering it because it felt like such a power move, but that quickly faded once I was chugging it down while devouring other breakfast delights. It brings to mind the Italian ethos that some foods really are as good as they can be without alteration. In my student days, Café LEVA was a quiet European retreat from campus mayhem and soulless food kiosks. The strange and wonderful thing is that the café is even more relevant to me now as a careered construction professional and family man. »
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
71
In construction, as in all business, the groundwork for success is good relationships, connections, and an understanding of each other’s needs and how we can help each other. At the heart of such groundwork is often face-to-face communication, and we find ourselves seeking out the special places throughout our city that facilitate great conversations. Café LEVA is that special place for me – the perfect place for breakfast with a colleague, the best bet for an exceptional cup of coffee with a client, and an oasis where one can pause, plan or prepare for a meeting. It’s a bustling neighbourhood hub, serving refreshing and contemporary Italian fare, smooth coffee and gelato. Once the sun goes down, the spot morphs into a late-night destination for a glass of wine or dessert. To get a better understanding of how and why LEVA works, I sought out the designer responsible for the café’s current aesthetic and built form: Joe Johnson. “Opening the patio to the interior completely via a folding glass wall compliments the attitude of the community – one of Edmonton’s oldest and most vibrant. It engages people and functions as a beacon in the neighborhood,” says Johnson.
Café LEVA is that special place for me – the perfect place for breakfast with a colleague, the best bet for an exceptional cup of coffee with a client, and an oasis where one can pause, plan or prepare for a meeting. “We try not to get too busy – a clean architectural palette with some beautiful focal points, and a bit of cleaned-up landscaping,” explains Johnson, referencing the light-filled, brilliant white interior, adorned with iconic fixtures and authentic materials such as walnut and marble. Johnson is quick to acknowledge the vision and tenacity of LEVA founder Joe Parrottino, who blazed the trail to offer a European alternative a full decade before Big Coffee embraced the flat white. “Joe is always travelling and evolving in his space. He tries stuff (like late-night service) and if people respond
72
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
Scott Benoit, Clark Builders
well to it, he goes with it,” says Johnson. ACE Coffee Roasters, Parrottino’s newest venture, expands on the passion and work he began with Café LEVA. This perfectly blended Italian coffee can now be savoured at LEVA as well as Coffee Bureau, Peter West and Christiane Fassinari’s wonderful Jasper Ave gem. It’s essential to our business that we have spaces like this to frequent – and furthermore, what Café LEVA set out to do, and succeeds at in the community, is vital to our city. In business and in life, we need comfortable, welcoming and inspiring meeting places we will return to again and again. To get a sense of what’s next for Café LEVA, I caught up with Parrottino himself. “Over the years, LEVA has evolved and grown, but only to offer a more complete experience without pretension. Although many may view LEVA as a success, as the owner I still feel we have so much more to improve on and much more to offer. At LEVA we aim to support local businesses – give back to the community. In doing so, we hope that quality, value, exceptional food, amazing coffee (c/o ACE coffee in Edmonton), clean/comfortable space and sincere service is the feedback sung and shared by all our customers. We thank all of Edmonton for their continued patronage.” Well said, Joe. See you at breakfast…
14576 116 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3E9
587.520.4020 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING AND SERVICES
WE DELIVER GREAT SERVICE
Allspec Asphalt is your go-to provider for asphalt needs, big and small. Our full line of products and services includes: • Commercial / Residential Driveways • Parking Lot Construction • Base Work Preparation • Streets / Roads • Asphalt Patch Repair • Asphalt Resurfacing • Line Painting • Asphalt Hauling
A Solid Guarantee: We go above and beyond basic services to provide you with individualized service, flexible solutions, and a job done right the first time.
Get in touch for a quote today!
110 Manitoba Court, Spruce Grove, AB P 780.962.9598 F 780.962.9758 info@allspec.ca | allspec.ca
ECA BREAKING GROUND | SUMMER 2016
73
66
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION
60 YEARS OF DEEP FOUNDATIONS EXPERTISE
www.agra.com
66
EDMONTON CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION