Alberta Construction Magazine Winter 2010

There’s green in being green

P3 or not P3?

Safe haven

Energy efficiency finds place in retail

That’s a big question for industry right now

New domestic violence shelter raises the bar in Canada

PAGE 28

PAGE 35

PAGE 43

Winter 2010 | $8.00

TWENTY TEN

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outstanding construction projects from around Alberta

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The world is watching Alberta. We are the kind of place that can attract and hold investment – whether it be time, money or human capital. To realize our potential, we need to remain competitive. Being competitive means jobs for Albertans – not only in oil and gas production and construction, but also hotels, restaurants, accounting firms, transportation companies, and more. Every dollar invested in the province’s oil and gas industry creates three dollars of value for Alberta’s economy. Alberta is Energy is supported by several Alberta business associations, many of which are focused on the oil and gas sector.

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Chaz Osburn

editor’s note

cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com

ewsman Paul Harvey used to include what he called “what might be the day’s news of most lasting significance” in his radio broadcasts every now and then. Usually it was an item about some quirky bit of research or finding at a university or research centre — some bit of science that held the promise of wiping out disease or hunger or somesuch. Sometimes the item truly would have lasting significance. Other times, you wouldn’t hear about it again. You can be sure the changes Tim Mavko writes about in his legal column in this issue will have significance for us all. Mavko, of Reynolds, Mirth, Richards & Farmer LLP, touches on some interesting changes to Alberta’s legal system with the replacement of the Alberta Rules of Court. The changes took effect Nov. 1. As Mavko describes it, “The old 700-plus rules, some of which go back over 100 years, controlled every aspect of court procedure, from the look of legal documents to the deadlines for delivering them, from the conduct of trials to the appeals of unfortunate court decisions.” Now they’ve been rewritten, reorganized and revised. If that doesn’t hold the promise for lasting significance — something that will certainly affect us all in ways we might not even yet realize — what will? As we prepare to put the old year behind us and face 2011, it’s important to be aware of these changes. So be sure to check it out on page 97. Also in this issue is a report on this year’s Top Projects recipients. This is the fourth time I’ve been involved in this annual report and I continue to be amazed at the variety of projects and the quality that this industry achieves. While the effects of the recession are still upon us and the pace is slower, in some cases significantly, from the go-go days of the boom, maybe that’s not all bad. The six words that every client likes to hear — “finished on time and on budget” — was a common theme for many of the projects. Top Projects begins on page 49. There’s one other thing I want to draw your attention to. Our editorial/advertising/marketing team will be creating a survey on our website, albertaconstructionmagazine.com, asking for suggestions about improving the site. Please take a few minutes and give us your thoughts once the survey is posted. What you say is important and will go a long way in making the site more useful. Thanks, and here’s to a prosperous 2011.

Coming next issue: The Green Issue

Alberta Construction Magazine | 7

President & CEO Bill Whitelaw • bwhitelaw@junewarren-nickles.com

Publisher Agnes Zalewski • azalewski@junewarren-nickles.com

associate publisher & editor Chaz Osburn • cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Stephen Marsters • smarsters@junewarren-nickles.com

features

Editorial

Editorial Assistance Laura Blackwood, Janis Carlson de Boer, Samantha Kapler, Marisa Kurlovich • proofing@junewarren-nickles.com

Contributors Godfrey Budd, Diane L.M. Cook ,

Tricia Radison, Kelley Stark

creative Print, Prepress &

Production Manager Michael Gaffney • mgaffney@junewarren-nickles.com Senior Publications Manager Audrey Sprinkle • asprinkle@junewarren-nickles.com Publications Manager Rianne Stewart • rstewart@junewarren-nickles.com

Art Director Ken Bessie • kbessie@junewarren-nickles.com Creative Services Manager Tamara Polloway-Webb • tpwebb@junewarren-nickles.com Senior Graphic Designers Birdeen Selzer • birdeen@junewarren-nickles.com

Cathlene Ozubko • cozubko@junewarren-nickles.com

Creative Services Janelle Johnson

• production@junewarren-nickles.com

Contributing Photographers Aaron Parker, Joey Podlubny sales Director of Sales Rob Pentney • rpentney@junewarren-nickles.com

Sales Manager – Magazines Maurya Sokolon • msokolon@junewarren-nickles.com Senior Account Representative Della Gray • dgray@junewarren-nickles.com

Ad Traffic Coordinator – Magazines Elizabeth McLean • atc@junewarren-nickles.com

Advertising Inquiries adrequests@junewarren-nickles.com marketing and circulation

Marketing/Trade Show Coordinator Jeannine Dryden • jdryden@junewarren-nickles.com OFFICES Calgary: 2nd Floor, 816-55 Avenue N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 6Y4 Tel: 403.209.3500 Fax: 403.245.8666 Toll Free: 1.800.387.2446 Edmonton: 6111 - 91 Street N.W., Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6V6 Tel: 780.944.9333 Fax: 780.944.9500 Toll Free: 1.800.563.2946 SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription rates: In Canada, 1-year $24 plus GST (4 issues), 2-year $39 plus GST (8 issues) Outside Canada, 1-year C$49 (4 issues). Single copies $8 plus GST Subscription inquiries: Tel: 1.866.543.7888 Email: circulation@junewarren-nickles.com Alberta Construction Magazine is owned by JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group and is published bimonthly. ©2010 1072011 Glacier Media Inc.

Commercial

There’s green in being green

Energy-efficient buildings find their place in retail construction by Tricia Radison

Infrastructure

P3 or not P3?

A hot-potato question for supporters and opponents of delivery method by Godfrey Budd

Institutional

Safe haven

New domestic violence shelter raises the bar in Canada by Tricia Radison

Safety

Warm thoughts

Yes it’s c-c-c-old, so make sure you know the signs to work safely when the thermometer drops by Kelley Stark

Finishing Touches

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

…and other ways to let people know how to get around by Kelley Stark

Transportation

106

Keep on truckin’

Accessories for your machine to truly make it your own by Chaz Osburn

All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors to Alberta Construction Magazine may not represent the official views of the magazine. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for errors or omissions. Printed by PrintWest Postage Paid in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada If undeliverable return to: Circulation Department, 800, 12 Concorde Place, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 Made In Canada GST Registration Number 826256554RT Printed in Canada ISSN 1499-6308 Publication Mail Agreement Number 40069240

91 8 | Winter 2010

contents cover story

Volume 30, Number 4 Published Winter 2010

page

TWENTY TEN

rojects 16 outstanding construction projects from around Alberta

99 Departments

108

13 �� Nuts & Bolts 25 �� Around Canada 75 �� People, Products & Projects 85 �� ACA Report 89 �� CCA Report 97 �� Legal Edge 99 �� Trade Talk 108 �� Time Capsule Alberta Construction Magazine | 9

contributors

Based in Calgary, freelance writer TRICIA RADISON is a frequent contributor to Alberta Construction Magazine. She has been published in numerous magazines, including Holmes Magazine and Business Edge. In addition to tracking down stories, Tricia juggles a variety of corporate and non-profit communication projects. She recently ghostwrote a memoir that has been accepted for publication, and she’s now waiting for a brilliant book idea that will make her rich.

KELLEY STARK is a freelance writer, regular contributor for Alberta Construction Magazine and former employee in the editorial assistance department of JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group. The Sherwood Park resident says freelance writing has given her more time to research new subjects, eat candy and drive around her 13-year-old twins.

AARON PARKER, a graphic designer and photographer for JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group’s Edmonton office, says his interest in photography and graphic design goes back to his high school days and that he is fortunate to do both for a living. In this issue, Aaron shot some of the Top Projects.

Calgary-based freelancer GODFREY BUDD, who wrote two stories for this issue, is a veteran writer, contributing many articles for industry magazines and business periodicals on western Canada’s energy industry and Alberta’s construction sector.

DIANE L.M. COOK frequently writes for JuneWarrenNickle’s Energy Group trade publications, including Oilweek, Oilsands Review and Alberta Construction Magazine. A freelance writer, she lives in Calgary.

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nuts & bolts

PHOTO: PINKWOOD

News briefs for the busy construction professional

From left: James Lind, president of PinkWood, Ryan Armstrong, director of operations for Greenboro Homes, and Richard Dettbarn, CEO of PinkWood, celebrates the company’s first installation of new fire-, mould- and moisture-resistant flooring products.

IN THE PINK We all know the value of building with wood. It’s relatively cheap. It’s strong. It’s renewable. But it is flammable and susceptible to mould and moisture. Now comes PinkWood. PinkWood Ltd. is a Calgary company that has come up with a factory-applied coating process, designed specifically to provide flooring with a visible and effective barrier against fire, mould, fungus and rot. Its products are coated with something called PinkShield, a non-toxic, water-based protective coating that when exposed to flame creates a reaction that greatly increases the time it takes for a fire to ignite and slows the spread of fire. The coating also prevents the growth of mould on lumber and acts as a protective barrier reducing moisture absorption.

PinkWood has another reason to use its products. The plans to donate one cent for every lineal foot of material it sells to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Prairies/NWT Region to research a cure for breast cancer. Greenboro Homes is a PinkWood customer. “As soon as we heard about this innovative product we knew it would be a good fit for our company,” said Greenboro Homes’ director of oper ations, Ryan Armstrong. “Our goal at Greenboro is to build homes that owners will be proud of, which includes building with the best available materials to provide homeowners with a strong, stable and secure home. Utilizing the PinkWood flooring is another way that we will continue to achieve a greater standard of excellence with our homes.”

Table of Contents 14 Alberta nets outdoor retailer. . . 16 The big chill(ers). . . . . . . . . . . . . . Firm sees drop in facility infrastructure division work. . .

Oilsands projects going forward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lawyer wannabe a big time trucker. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Alberta tapped for $40M storage facility. . . . . . . . . .

19 Crossing over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Firms take on new name. . . . . . 22 Base lands federal funding. . . . 22 Alberta Construction Magazine | 13

PHOTOS: PETER FLECK, UNIMARK CREATIVE SERVICES

nuts & bolts

The big chill(ers) Historical data, weekend shutdowns and planning every step was key to HVAC renovation by Godfrey Budd

When Calgary’s twin Suncor office towers, formerly Petro-Canada Centre, recently had some of its HVAC system replaced, the crew from Chisholm Mechanical Contractors Ltd. installed the biggest chiller plant to date for any downtown Calgary building. It surpassed the capacity of the previous chiller plant, which had held the record as Calgary’s biggest since it was installed during construction in 1984 to service both towers. The new plant also provides chilling for both towers. The process of replacing the old chillers with new ones while the building remained occupied and chillers continued to operate — so that computer banks didn’t begin a meltdown — was

complex but nevertheless essential. “The chillers were installed 26 years ago, and their lifespan was mostly used up,” says Bill Chisholm, president of Chisholm Mechanical. The firm became involved in the project via competitive bid. There was leeway on some issues, and Chisholm could choose chiller plant units from one of “three or four manufacturers that were acceptable,” but the critical guideline that was without any wiggle room was “to maintain cooling at all times.” The five new units are 20 ft long and weigh about 60,000 lb each. Detailed planning and precise logistics were key to the project, with much of the work done on weekends during winter

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nuts & bolts

These four photos show some of the work Chisholm Mechanical Contractors had to complete when replacing the chillers in Calgary’s Suncor office towers.

when chiller requirements are considerably less than they would be on a weekday in mid-summer. A dozen 12-inch butterfly valves and accompanying flanges had to be installed on weekends, as did the draining of about 60,000 gal of condenser water and about 20,000 gal of chiller water. Staff levels on weekends reflected the amount of work done then, compared to weekdays, as everything had to be running again Monday morning. “There would be two or three people on weekdays and 12 or more on weekends,” says Scott Grobel, GM at Chisholm. When work began, existing chillers that were not working properly were removed first, but what if the old units that were

still cooling the buildings broke down? “We salvaged parts from inoperable units for use as spares, and it also meant getting some of the new units running before the shutdown began on the others,” Chisholm says. Once the chiller gas was reclaimed from them, the old chillers were cut up prior to their transport along hallways and into the parkade. Bringing the new units was perhaps trickier. They were disassembled into three main sections of about 20,000 lb each, two of which were the length of the chiller units. Well before the removal of old units and installation of new ones — work that was done on weekends over a period of nearly five months last winter — the parkade’s structural strength to bear extra heavy loads had to be verified. Chiller sections had to be transported down three parkade levels. “This is where planning is key,” Grobel says. “Every step of the way is mapped out. We had only inches to play with, getting the units into and along the hallways. Rigorous planning was needed.” Specs for the new chillers and other system components were not only based on the previous units and projections derived from building size and other standard factors, but also benefited from examining the data on past chiller use in downtown Calgary. Harry Wollin, a principal at TMP Consulting Engineers Ltd., says: “We looked at historical chilling across downtown Calgary, in order to match capacity with actual conditions instead of just relying on assumptions, as is often the case. This can save owners money because efficiency and specs are keyed to actual conditions. This is true value engineering.” He says that talking with buildings’ operating and management staff helped develop an accurate profile of winter and summer loads and patterns of use. This, in turn, helped with both chiller specs — and when to do shutdowns.

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nuts & bolts

ALBERTA NETS OUTDOOR RETAILER

Artist’s renderings of Cabela’s store in Edmonton’s Windermere development, which is now under construction.

IMAGES: CABELA’S

Construction of Alberta’s first Cabela’s store is underway, with completion expected in the fall of 2011. The 70,000 sq. ft building is being built in the Currents of Windermere shopping development on Windermere Boulevard, between Terwillegar Drive and Anthony Henday Drive, in southwest Edmonton. It will be the second Cabela’s location in Canada, joining the Winnipeg store, which was converted from the S.I.R. Warehouse Sports Store in May 2008. The Edmonton building’s exterior will reflect Cabela’s trad itional store model with log construction, stonework, wood siding and metal roofing. A large glass storefront will allow customers to view much of the store’s interior as they approach the building, the company says. The inside will highlight the company’s next-generation layout, which is designed to immerse customers in the outdoor experience and includes conservation-themed wildlife displays, trophy animal mounts, a gun library and a bargain cave. Cabela’s is based in the United States.

FIRM SEES DROP IN FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION WORK Flint Energy Services Ltd. blamed a nearly 12 per cent drop in revenue during the third quarter on a drop in major projects work in its Facility Infrastructure division. As noted, Flint’s Facility Infrastructure division saw less activity in the third quarter, as work on the Shell Canada Ltd.’s Albian Sands and StatOil Hydro’s bitumen project near Fort McMurray, Alta., were completed.

16 | Winter 2010

At the same time, Flint said work continues on module fabrication, sitewide construction and service work on the Firebag steam assisted gravity drainage bitumen production projects for Suncor Energy Ltd. Flint recently announced the extension of its current site-wide services contract from an ori ginal $33 million to $110 million and the recent award of an $18.9-million module

fabrication contract, which will run through the first quarter of 2011. Flint is bidding on a number of other major construction projects in bitumen production, and said that decisions on these bids are expected sometime in the next three to four months. “As anticipated, our third-quarter revenues and [pre-tax earnings] were down compared to last year as we completed work on two major oilsands projects before the start of the third quarter,” said Bill Lingard, Flint president and CEO in a statement.

nuts & bolts

OILSANDS PROJECTS GOING FORWARD With the pickup in activity in oilsands pro jects comes news of other projects to keep construction crews busy. Husky Energy Inc. will spend $475 million for pipeline and terminalling services for its Sunrise Oil Sands Project. When it’s completed in the latter half of 2013, Sunrise will use steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) technology to extract bitumen from the ground. Sunrise is located 60 km northeast of Fort McMurray, Alta. Calgary-based Enbridge will build a terminal at the Sunrise site. In addition, Enbridge will construct a 112 km, 24-inch diameter pipeline from Hartley to Enbridge’s Cheecham terminal and additional storage tanks at Cheecham. Initial capacity will be 90,000 barrels per day (bbl/d), expandable to 270,000 bbl/d. This new project brings expansions and extensions of Enbridge’s Regional Oil Sands System announced in the last year to a total of about $2.3 billion, according to the Daily Oil Bulletin, a sister publication to Alberta Construction Magazine.

Under the terms of the agreement, Enbridge will also provide pipeline transportation services on its existing Regional Oil Sands System for up to 90,000 bbl/d of diluted bitumen produced from Phase 1 of the Sunrise project. All of these arrangements remain subject to the final sanctioning of the Sunrise project by Husky. Also announced recently was Atco Structures & Logistics’ award of a contract for construction of a camp to house

strengthen,” said Harry Wilmot, president and COO of ATCO Structures & Logistics. The project includes the manufacture and installation of a 684-person temporary camp and a 60-person permanent camp. The temporary camp will feature rooms in multi-storey dormitories, a large central area with dining facilities, lounge, theatre, fitness centre and coffee shop. The permanent camp will include “lodge-like” amenities similar to ATCO’s Creeburn Lake Lodge, built north

“Demand for camps is high in the resource sector and it’s a good indication that part of the economy is continuing to strengthen.” — Harry Wilmot, President and COO, ATCO Structures & Logistics 744 people. Though the company did not reveal its client, it did say the project is located 200 km south of Fort McMurray, adjacent to this new in situ oilsands development. “Demand for camps is high in the resource sector and it’s a good indication that part of the economy is continuing to

of Fort McMurray in partnership with the Fort McKay First Nation, and will feature large hotel-style rooms with private bathrooms, high ceilings, an open floor plan, large entryway and well-appointed reception areas. The lodge experience will be enhanced by additional camp services that include a bar and theatre.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 17

nuts & bolts

LAWYER WANNABE A BIG TIME TRUCKER

18 | Winter 2010

PHOTO: HISTORY CHANNEL

If you watch the History Channel, you’re no doubt familiar with Alex Debogorski, one of the stars of its top-rated Ice Road Truckers, a show about the perils of driving big rigs across the frigid north where few permanent roads exist. But what you may not know is that Debogorski started his career right here in Alberta. “I came to the University of Alberta [in 1972],” recalls Debogorski, who stopped by Alberta Construction Magazine’s office in late September to discuss his new book, King of the Road. “I was going to be a lawyer. Then I met my wife and we got married and moved back to the Peace Country.” Debogorski says he was working in a tire shop in Grimshaw and when “a fellow came in and said, ‘We’re looking for a truck driver in Grande Cache. The truck driver got drunk and quit. Can you drive a truck?’ So I said, ‘Of course I can drive a truck. I’m off the farm. I can drive anything. How much you paying?’ It was

Ice Road Trucker Alex Debogorski learned to drive trucks in Alberta.

three times what I was making, so I said, ‘I’m with ya.’” For four years he hauled coal in the Grande Cache area before quitting and moving to the Northwest Territories. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he had his own dump truck and began hauling gravel and doing other odd jobs — including taking loads to the far north on the ice roads. Then, just a few years ago he was discovered, and as they say in

Hollywood parlance, the rest is history. Or in Debogorski’s case, History Channel. With more than three decades of experience under his belt, Debogorski probably can’t recall each and every load of construction equipment or other things he’s hauled back and forth on Canada’s ice roads. But he’s not likely to forget his latest adventure — driving the world’s most dangerous roads. “I think they’re trying to kill me,” he jokes.

nuts & bolts

ALBERTA TAPPED FOR $40M STORAGE FACILITY

Inclusive Energy’s future includes plans for a storage facility in Alberta.

PHOTO: JOEY PODLUBNY

Mideast investors will develop a $40-million liquids storage facility near Edson, Alta. The facility will be designed to store flammable and combustible liquids, including crude oil, methanol and glycol. Plans call for 200 to 300 storage tanks, each with capacity of 750 barrels, on the 25-acre site. “We will make sure we can store each and every product industry is looking for,” said Bilal Hydrie, president and CEO of Inclusive Energy Ltd. Existing third-party storage facilities in Canada do not have a means of accurately measuring the volumes going into their storage tanks, Hydrie said. “The companies are losing inventory every day; the companies are losing a million dollars of oil every year.” The company did not give a firm construction start date but it is expected the facility would be ready in the spring. Inclusive has a petroleum storage facility in Pakistan for storing flammable and combustible liquids similar to the one planned for Alberta. The company’s main business, however, is absorbent products for cleanup involving fuel, liquid, storage, secondary containment and chemical spills, along with spill kits. The group is interested in Canada because “the demand is there,” Hydrie said.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 19

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nuts & bolts This is what the Deh Cho Bridge will look like when finished. IMAGE: GNWT TRANSPORTATION

CROSSING OVER

PHOTO: CHAZ OSBURN

This should be the last winter you have to use the ice crossing on the Mackenzie River on your way to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Construction on the Deh Cho Bridge is well over half done, putting it on schedule to open in the fall of 2011. Ruskin Construction Ltd. is the prime contractor on the $182million project. The bridge not only will provide a year-round road link between Alberta and the communities north of the Great Slave Lake, N.W.T., it will mean truckers and others wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to wait weeks for weeks when the ice melts in the spring for ferry operations to safely resume. For years the Merv Hardie ferry has shuttled cars and trucks across a stretch of the Mackenzie River during the warmer months. The N.W.T. government says eliminating ferry and ice bridge service will save $2 million annually. That money, plus a toll on commercial vehicles, will be used to fund the project. Construction of the Deh Cho Bridge began in 2008.

Pier-bent rise from the river this past summer.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 21

nuts & bolts

BASE LANDS FEDERAL FUNDING The federal government will pay $3.6 million to improve infrastructure at the Canadian military base in Cold Lake, Alta. The money will be used to renovate the Supply Squadron Warehouse at 4 Wing Cold Lake. The plan is to add a second floor to Building 171 to house all offices of Wing Supply Headquarters. By moving these offices in one building, this facility will allow for improvements to supply-related issues, while providing jobs for the local economy, the government said. The 4 Wing Cold Lake base is home to about 2,000 military and 500 civilian personnel. The Department of National Defence holds a large number of properties all across the country to support the Canadian Forces, including some 21,000 buildings, 2.25 million ha of land, 5,500 km of roads, and 3,000 km of water, storm and sewer pipes.

22 | Winter 2010

FIRMS TAKE ON NEW NAME A group of architecture, engineering, interior design, planning and urban design firms have a new name. Cohos Evamy, Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden, Mole White Associates, and Office for Urbanism are known collectively as DIALOG. “We believe the most effective way to design and plan for our increasingly complex world is to use a highly collaborative approach, one that brings unique perspectives together, bridges traditional boundaries, and engages clients and their communities,” explained firm managing principal Tom Sutherland. When asked about moving beyond the original names, firm chair Doug McConnell said: “We’re looking to the future. Our new name speaks to a vital national professional practice built upon a multidisciplinary approach committed to collaborative design.” The name DIALOG conveys the firm’s collaborative approach founded upon engagement of clients and communities by multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, interior designers, planners and graphic artists in an interactive planning and design process. It is an approach that has garnered international recognition for the firm’s outstanding contributions to the public realm and the design of cities.

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AROUND CANADA The first phase consisted of a 425,000 sq. ft addition with an emergency department that was built to maximize efficiency and patient flow with infection control. The surgical suite includes eight operating rooms equipped with the latest in medical technology. EllisDon is the project contractor. The hospital was formerly known as Henderson General Hospital.

HOSPITAL EXPANSION

30 million Approximate cost to construct Connacher Oil and Gas Ltd.’s new cogeneration plant at its Algar steam assisted gravity drainage bitumen extraction plant. The plant was commissioned in late August.

The next phase will include a new medical diagnostic unit, pain management centre, clinical exam space, front lobby and information area, food services and gift shop, auditorium and meeting space, and office space.

Ending the year on a down note

Number of projects that had been posted in the Edmonton Construction Association’s plan room as of Sept. 30, which beat a record of 2,095 projects for all of 2009.

Number of homes planned for Waterfront Toronto’s Bayside development project. Bayside is targeted as a residential and employment hub on the waterfront.

1,700

PHOTO: HAMILTON HEALTH SCIENCES

Construction of the first phase of the nearly $200-million Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre redevelopment in Hamilton, Ont., is now complete, with the second phase to be finished in two years.

$32.9 million Value of a contract awarded to Aecon Group Inc. by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation to expand Highway 11, near North Bay, Ont. Aecon will complete a four-lane, 24.2 km expansion of the highway. The project should be finished by next September.

Spending on non-residential construction in Canada is not expected to return to prerecession levels before 2012, the Conference Board of Canada predicts. “Spending on commercial and industrial space will be down this year compared to 2009,” predicts Michael Burt, the board’s associate director, industrial economic trends. “High vacancy rates are limiting growth. In addition, the institutional segment, which has been the industry’s main source of growth over the past 18 months, is expected to weaken as government stimulus spending comes to an end.” If that’s not bad enough, pre-tax profits in the non-residential industry are expected to end the year at a five-year low of $1.2 billion. The Conference Board says improving market conditions will allow profit growth to resume next year, but industry profits are not expected to return to their pre-recession levels before 2014. Alberta Construction Magazine | 25

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LAFARGE ROAD CONSTRUCTION SERVICES HELPS KEEP CALGARY’S WEST LRT CONSTRUCTION MOVING

ith a price tag of $700 million, the City of Calgary’s West LRT project is one of the largest and most publicly scrutinized projects currently underway in the city. The new LRT line consists of 7.7 km of new track starting downtown at 7th Ave. and 10th Street, running west up to 69th Street and 17th Ave. in Strathcona Park. The project features six new stations, including the first elevated and first underground stations in Calgary’s LRT system. Lafarge is playing a major role in the designbuild project, led by the SNC-Lavalin Graham Joint Venture, which is scheduled for completion in 2012. The Lafarge Ready-Mix Group is supplying concrete for the tunnels, bridges and other structural concrete needed to build the new LRT system. Lafarge Precast has worked on a number of LRT stations, and is again involved in providing components for the new stations. Lafarge Pipe is providing pipe and

worth approximately $40 million. “The large scale of the West LRT construction project makes it a specialty job,” says Lyle Leboldus, Lafarge Senior Project Manager for the Construction group. “People look to Lafarge for our expertise.” At the West LRT project, Lafarge Construction is responsible for all surface work, which includes reconstructing roadways, construction detours, and providing all the aggregates, asphalt, concrete curbs, gutters and barriers needed along the 7.7 km route. “We follow the earthworks contractor and take it from there to the finished product,” says Leboldus. “It sounds fairly simple when you put it in those terms. Where they need a road, we build it. Where they need a patch, we patch it. Where they need a detour, we put it in place.”

“The resources Lafarge can draw from are extremely important for projects like the West LRT, as it allows us to deliver required results on time.” Vern Stefanyshyn, General Manager, Lafarge Construction

manhole systems that are incorporated into the According to Leboldus, execution of the surface deep utility system. works in a safe, efficient and expedient manLafarge Road Construction Services is play- ner is essential to the success of the project. ing a crucial role in keeping the project in motion, providing all the surface work, materials and logistical support to execute the project efficiently and safely, under a subcontract

“We have to keep the traffic flowing so that construction of tunnels, utilities and stations can occur,” he explains. “It’s a huge logistical challenge as design-build projects typically have

very tight schedules, and keeping to that schedule is key to the success of the project. Any delay in opening an area for work can lead to a delay in opening the project.”

to the table is the commitment to safety. The West LRT team is to work the required two million man-hours without a medical aid emergency. “This project has a high priority focus on safety. Lafarge has a comprehensive The Lafarge Construction Group has long been safety culture, setting the industry standards a leader in Calgary in executing large-scale pro- for safety. The LRT project is a straightjects like the West LRT surface works. Success forward fit for us.” is driven by the effort and commitment Lafarge puts into understanding the project and plan- Leboldus says SLG has been extremely ning for its safe and efficient completion. focused on job-site hazard assessments, and on developing work procedures and safe work “Our group spent four months studying the practices to account for those hazards. details of the West LRT project,” says Vern Stefanyshyn, General Manager of the Lafarge “We had to evaluate all our work methods before Construction Group, “including set-up and commencing operations,” he explains. “There how to proceed with the work to ensure pro- are so many varying conditions affecting safety ject success.” due to the 7.7 km length of the job.” Adding to the safety challenge, much of the surface construction takes place along one of the busiest traffic corridors in the city. “The Lafarge focus is not limited to worker safety, we are also committed to public safety.” Stefanyshyn adds, “A critical factor in all Lafarge projects is keeping drivers, pedestrians and cyclists safe.” Spence finishes by saying, “Lafarge is looking forward to completing the West LRT project Lafarge also has the ability to supply the skilled safely, on time and within budget.” labour force and equipment to get the job done efficiently and safely. Lafarge employs 60 peo- For further information on this project or general ple tasked at four separate projects along the inquires about Lafarge Construction Services, 7.7 km job site. Stefanyshyn says that with the please call Lyle Leboldus at 403-292-1555. West LRT surface works, having Lafarge as the sole contractor provides all of these advantages to the SNC-Lavalin Graham Joint Venture (SLG) in charge of the project. “SLG has the ability, through Lafarge, to singlesource every product and material needed for the project,” he explains. “And everything required is just one phone call away.” Bob Spence, VP of Asphalt and Paving for Lafarge, says another key skill Lafarge brings

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in being

commercial

Energy-efficient buildings find their place in retail construction by Tricia Radison The big boys in retail are tightening up. Companies like Shoppers Drug Mart, Lowe’s, and most notably, Walmart Canada, are building energy efficiency into new buildings and improving efficiency in older buildings. But concern for the environment may not be the biggest motivating factor behind the trend. “Retailers are high-energy users, mostly because of their display lights,” says Bill Partridge, executive VP of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Calgary. “Their biggest costs are their ongoing operating costs. If they can do things that will reduce their consumption, they are motivated to do it in order to reduce those costs.” The stores Walmart builds today are 30 per cent more energy efficient than those built in the past. One, in Burlington, Ont., is an environmental demonstration store that’s 60 percent more energy efficient thanks in part to geothermal heating and cooling. Walmart’s new distribution centre in Balzac, Alta., is expected to be 60 per cent more energy efficient than similar buildings thanks to a host of alternative technologies and energy-efficient techniques. (See separate story, page 68.)

Alberta Construction Magazine | 29

commercial The building incorporates fuel cell technology, LED lighting, solar panels and a wind turbine. The roof is white, reflecting sunlight to help control the temperature of the interior, and air doors are used between areas with different temperatures to minimize the transfer of heat.

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE Bowling alley lanes repurposed as restaurant tables. Reclaimed wood floors in stores like lululemon. Access flooring on interior walls. Using reclaimed material in retail and other commercial construction is becoming more common as owners and developers learn about the benefits. What’s driving interest? “They’re either looking for sustainable solutions for Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) credits and certification or an opportunity to save money,” says Nathan Benjamin, principal and founder of PlanetReuse, a reclaimed material brokerage and consulting company with an interactive website that makes it easier to use reclaimed material in commercial projects. Depending on the material, reclaimed materials are typically about 15 to 20 per cent cheaper than buying new. But using them in commercial projects can be challenging due to scheduling and the need for large quantities. PlanetReuse provides a way to buy and sell used materials anywhere in the world and addresses the challenges of using reclaimed material in commercial construction. The company provides a range of services, including sourcing large quantities of a material, providing ideas, ensuring quality and assisting with documentation for programs like LEED. Benjamin encourages owners, developers, contractors and others to explore what’s possible. “We all get kind of stuck in a rut of understanding what opportunities are there,” he says. “The industry doesn’t think about things like reclaimed access flooring, doors or structural steel.” Planetreuse.com contains many ideas that can be used in virtually any type of commercial building. Reclaimed light fixtures, doors, doorframes, hardware and carpet tile are some examples. Doors can be repurposed as tables, ceiling panels or wall panels. Access flooring can be used on walls, installed with the honeycombed underside facing out to provide soundproofing and a decorative appearance. While it can be harder to ensure complete consistency between branches or across a large facility, reclaimed material can be a conversation piece that adds to the appeal of the space. “People like the stories that are associated with where materials came from,” Benjamin says. “They enjoy hearing about how they came into the space, what they originally were.”

30 | Winter 2010

DRIVING OUT COST The fuel cells in the Balzac distribution centre are expected to deliver $2 million over seven years in operating-cost savings, while the LED lighting is forecast to deliver $1 million in operating-cost savings over the same period. Cost savings are certainly a driver, but the company says there are other motivators as well. “Every time Walmart successfully reduces energy or minimizes waste, it also reduces costs,” says Virginia Garbutt, director strategic network planning and improvement for Walmart Canada. “Many of these green initiatives hold the added bonus of earning an improved return on investment.” Walmart does appear to be taking sustainability seriously, even establishing a website for corporations to share best practices. That’s welcome news for those worried about greenhouse gas and climate change.

commercial According to Geared for Change: Energy Efficiency in Canada’s Commercial Building Sector, a report put out in 2009 by the National Round Table on Environment and the Economy and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, commercial buildings, which include retail facilities, consume 14 per cent of Canada’s energy. They are also responsible for 13 per cent of this country’s carbon emissions. Attention to the environment on the part of major players could lead more retailers and the developers who house them to explore energy efficiency. Stephen Carruthers is a managing partner with Zeidler Partnership Architects in Calgary who participated in the design of Canada’s first Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design (LEED) Gold mixed-use commercial building, the Bison Courtyard in Banff, Alta. He hasn’t worked on any retail projects incorporating the same high level of sustainability and efficiency since that building was designed in 2003 because, he says, the opportunity simply hasn’t presented itself. The Bison Courtyard, completed in 2005, has a high-efficiency building envelope with increased insulation, triple-glazed windows and efficient mechanical and electrical systems.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 31

commercial A green roof adds to the insulation value and doesn’t absorb heat, helping to keep the building cool and preventing the radiation of heat onto surrounding buildings. The roof is also designed to retain as much snow as possible to provide additional insulation in the winter. “It’s an excellent example of what can happen when a client is committed to a project,” Carruthers says. “You can do a lot of things to the base building technology that are energy effective and thoughtful in terms of sustainability.” PAYING MORE Getting tenants willing to live up to LEED standards, however, can be more difficult. Fitting out retail space with low-energy lighting or heat exchangers is more expensive and tenants have a difficult time justifying the cost when they don’t know how they will perform in the space.

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“Retailers are high-energy users, mostly because of their display lights.” — Bill Partridge, Executive VP, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) Calgary

“There are some pretty interesting dynamics with respect to retail because it can be a narrow-margin business,” Carruthers says. “Tenants are often very concerned about additional costs at the front end.” But developers and large corporations can, if they choose, take a leading role in encouraging the retail industry to embrace energy efficiency. Shopping malls and buildings like The Bow, which will house a retail and food court component, are desirable locations and tenants may be willing to spend more in order to be there. “The Bison Courtyard is probably the template,” says Mike Kehoe, an Albertabased real estate broker. “This is the future.”

commercial Kehoe was responsible for filling the 30,000 sq. ft of commercial space at the Bison Courtyard. It’s not just the physical building that impresses him, but the fact that the developer created a triple bottom line lease that encourages tenants to give back to the community and to participate in environmental programs. Kehoe believes that energy-efficient buildings can help developers attract and retain retail tenants — if they actually perform and the company building them isn’t just greenwashing. The BOMA BESt (Building Environ mental Standards) program measures energy performance so owners and tenants can see the operational savings. “There’s bona fide criteria that they have to follow in their building operations, and a track record of performance,” Kehoe says. “That goes further than just building up to a standard that may not be able to be proven.” Geared for Change recommends government involvement to increase the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and design. This involvement could take the form of energy efficiency standards in building codes, minimum performance, financial incentives and subsidies and information programs. But those in the know, like Partridge, don’t necessarily agree that government needs to be involved, especially in a regulatory capacity. “Right now, industry will go out and spend millions of dollars to make buildings more efficient in many ways on their own, without any government inducement to do so,” he says. “I think if government has to get involved, it needs to get involved in a manner that would reward people for doing things on a voluntary basis and, in effect, punish those who don’t.” Partridge suggests altering taxation policy to reward energy conservation and structuring utility rates so that energy becomes more expensive when you use more of it. Ultimately though, he, Kehoe and Carruthers agree that adoption will continue to increase on its own as the price of energy increases, operational cost savings are proven and a new generation that’s grown up with the green movement takes the reins of the nation’s retail and development companies.

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infrastructure

P3 P3 or not

A ho sup t-potat p of d orters o quest ion elive and o r ym ppo for by Go dfrey e thod nent Budd s

Public-private partnerships (P3s), typically for public sector capital construction and operating contracts, can trace their origins in the stampede to government privatization, deregulation and outsourcing that began in the late 1970s and took off in the 1980s. The P3 model has been used in Russia, China, the United States, Brazil, India, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, Germany, France, Britain and, of course, Canada. Despite this extensive history, however, P3s are not without controversy. Proponents of P3s argue that they save money, prevent cost overruns and fast-track the construction process.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 35

infrastructure

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

The provincial government has used the P3 model to build portions of Anthony Henday Drive, Edmonton’s ring road.

Critics, on the other hand, complain of poor accountability, insufficient transparency and lack of innovation, and say that P3s, in fact, generally cost more. Also, they say, many P3 projects have been approved as a result of comparative cost analyses that are skewed to P3s. In neighbouring British Columbia, a 2009 study of four P3 projects by Ronald Parks, a forensic chartered accountant at Vancouver-based Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc., found that, “the methodology used by Partnerships BC to compare the P3 projects to the public sector comparator is biased in favour of the P3 projects.” (Partnerships BC is a government-owned company that promotes P3s.) The 51-page study concludes that the P3 projects cost substantially more than their traditional counterparts, and that “critical information and documentation” was lacking. 36 | Winter 2010

Across the country, provincial auditors general in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta have questioned the value for taxpayers of specific P3 projects in their respective jurisdictions. Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF), traditionally a powerful advocate of deregulation, privatization and P3s, has weighed in. It has criticized the British government for excluding P3-related future liability — i.e., debt — from its balance sheets. In 2004, the country’s then finance minister, Gordon Brown, clashed with the IMF over his government’s accounting of this debt, at the time equivalent to about C$240 billion. Closer to home, British Columbia’s controller general recently told the B.C. government that its P3 liability belongs on the government’s balance sheet. “The debt is on the government’s books, even though the private sector

borrowed the money, because the government has undertaken to make payments,” Parks says. PREVENTING OVERRUNS P3s emerged in the wake of delays and cost overruns of large governmentfunded infrastructure projects. Although some privately owned projects — in the oilsands, for instance — are no stranger to cost overruns, the spectacle of publicly funded ones was particularly irksome — and politically risky — as they could burden the taxpayer directly. “The view was that the private sector might be more efficient at doing infrastructure,” Parks says. “If the consortium that performs the contract — it typically includes a bank, builder and maintenance provider — only starts to receive payment on completion, then there’s an incentive to get it done on time. But the government

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could sidestep P3s by having an iron-clad contract in place.” Governments, especially ones with excellent credit ratings like those in Canada, can borrow money at lower cost than the private sector. This largely accounts for the advantage of traditionally procured projects over the P3s in British Columbia, Parks says. “It’s the cost of borrowing over the long period that results in the greater cost for P3s,” he points out. In both British Columbia and Alberta, P3s have not always had a smooth road. Although 18 Alberta elementary and elementary–junior high schools, built on the P3 model, opened in September, and another 10 such schools are going ahead as a P3, four high schools were dropped from what was to have been a 14-school package. In May 2009, the province, citing “the economic climate,” announced

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that the four schools would instead go ahead on a design-build basis. Also, six months after a September 2008 provincial news release announcing the go-ahead for the 18-school package, one of the partners in the P3, Babcock and Brown, the project’s banker, collapsed under the weight of $3.8 billion of debt, and in August 2009 Deloitte was appointed liquidator. In British Columbia, the $3-billion facelift for Vancouver’s Port Mann Bridge was originally to have been done under a P3, but the government eventually stepped in, saying it could borrow for less. The declared mission of Partnerships BC is “to structure and implement partnership solutions which serve the public interest.” Parks counters this, saying, “You can have all the mission statements you like, but if a company is not going to make money from a P3, they are not going to do it. Over the long haul, they want to make oodles of money. But there are lots of risks in long-term deals. These contracts remain confidential. If I were a business involved in these contracts, I would not want to carry all the risks.” This past April, an Alberta Auditor General report faulted the government for overstating savings by $20 million, but a few months later did accept that the government’s 18-school P3 deal will

infrastructure A portion of Calgary’s ring road, shown under construction in 2008.

PHOTO: JOEY PODLUBNY

save taxpayers $97 million over 32 years. But the April report also cited a lack of transparency. Lack of transparency around P3s is an issue for Vic Walls, president and GM of Border Paving Ltd., an Alberta firm founded in 1955. Although he considers P3s as “a very worthwhile approach” to the timely completion of infrastructure projects, he wonders whether taxpayers are really getting a bargain. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS “I think we will never get the answer to [this] question,” he says. Some ring road sections and bypasses around Edmonton and Calgary are being built as P3s. Long term, they are needed, says Walls, “but do they have to be built rapidly, one after another?” Noting that P3 road projects typically include long-term maintenance contracts, he says it is not clear that, “the government has the measures in place to enforce these contracts.” The sheer size of P3 contracts could affect their potential savings for taxpayers. That’s because these contracts are often too big for smaller firms. Walls says that one P3 road contract could equal a typical season’s work for a smaller firm.

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infrastructure “I know something about the benefits of competition for the taxpayers,” he says. “When you deal with smaller companies, you deal at the maximum competitive level. When you make it difficult for small contractors, you remove competition, which benefits taxpayers.” Few would disagree. It is generally accepted wisdom that contractors sharpen their pencils better if they face lots of competitors, rather than just one or two, when bidding a project.

Some contractors say that the big corporations are using their muscle to lobby hard for P3s. “As a taxpayer, I’m concerned when big multinationals take the profits out of the country,” says one veteran builder, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “P3s do accelerate the work, but when you want something done fast, there’s bound to be a premium.” He says that the size of P3 contracts, especially like the ones for schools, accounted for so much work within one

“You can have all the mission statements you like, but if a company is not going to make money from a P3, they are not going to do it.” — Ronald Parks, Forensic Chartered Accountant, Blair Mackay Mynett Valuations Inc. “Big corporations would like you to believe that they sell for less,” Walls says. “They claim better economies of scale, but I compete with them daily.”

40 | Winter 2010

sector, that it hurt smaller players, forcing them to seek work elsewhere. P3s do seem to offer a clear advantage for politicians, however, as they prevent any

unsightly association with publicly funded cost overruns for their governments. “From the government’s point of view, there can’t be cost overruns,” notes Ted Zandbeek, vice-president of Carlson Construction. “If there are overruns [in a P3], the contractor has to deal with them as the government has a fixed delivery price, but how big is the premium? There has to be one,” Zandbeek spoke as a taxpayer, not on behalf of members of the Edmonton Construction Association, of which he is president. He said P3s could deliver “more product quicker, but there is a cost and we don’t know what it is.” Two books published in the last year may shed more light on the debate. One, Public Service, Private Profits by John Loxley, is focused on Canada. The other is Global Auction of Public Assets by Dexter Whitfield, director of the European Services Strategy Unit, and looks at alternatives to P3s in the global infrastructure market. Although plenty of questions remain, one thing is certain. The P3 debate will continue to be a hot-potato issue — and not just in Alberta. o

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institutional

New domestic violence shelter raises the bar in Canada by Tricia Radison

Alberta Construction Magazine | 43

institutional

About the project CONTRACTOR: Golden Triangle Construction Management Inc. ARCHITECTS: Norr Architects Engineers Planners ENGINEERS: Wiebe Forest, Hemisphere Engineering

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

The Brenda Strafford Foundation’s mission for the domestic violence shelter project involved construction of a framed/structural steel building that is four storeys on one end and six storeys on the other.

The Brenda Strafford Foundation is bringing a unique mix of affordable and market housing to Calgary with a $30-million domestic violence shelter project designed to help women break the cycle of abuse once and for all. W hen comple te t h i s mont h (December), the shelter will have 34 apartments that can house victims of domestic violence and their children for six months and 51 affordable apartments where they can stay for two additional 44 | Winter 2010

years, giving women the time they need to establish themselves. “The number one barrier to keeping women from returning to abusive partners is the lack of affordable housing,” says Mario Siciliano, president and CEO of the Brenda Strafford Foundation. “This continuum of housing will assist tremendously in preventing the cycle of abuse.” The project consists of two mixed-use buildings over one level of underground

parking. Building A is 8,101 sq. m in six storeys and includes 289 sq. m of retail space and 85 units of affordable housing as well as space for programming. Building B is a four-storey building that includes 512 sq. m of retail space and nine luxury condominiums that will be sold to help fund the project. The second floor of the U-shaped building A includes an outdoor courtyard that will serve as a protected playground for kids living at the shelter.

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“It is our understanding that this facility has raised the bar for domestic violence shelters in Canada,” says James Peloso, founder and president of Golden Triangle Construction Management Inc. in Okotoks, Alta. As construction manager and general contractor, Golden Triangle has led the project team from conceptual design to completion and provided value engineering, input on design constructability, evaluation of market

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 45

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conditions and cost estimating during preconstruction. Before construction began, Golden Triangle was presented with an unusual dilemma. The foundation asked the company to work around an existing building on the site so that the business operating out of that building could continue to do so for as long as possible. “That was obviously impossible to do,” Peloso says. So when the Calgary Board of Education stepped forward with three portable classrooms, Golden Triangle revamped them for the business to occupy. “That kind of set the tone for this project,” he says. “It said a lot about the owners, that they would go to that extent.”

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In partnership with the trades on site, Golden Triangle was able to bring the project in under budget and ahead of schedule. The company also upgraded the building envelope and many other design elements at no extra cost to the owner to solidify their commitment to the project and those it would eventually serve. “Our entire staff and trade group were quite excited about the project,” says Peter Kiranas, senior project manager with Golden Triangle. “They understood the importance of this project to the community and performed accordingly to make sure that the building was completed on time and of the highest quality.” Getting the entire team rowing in the same direction was a challenge. Kiranas attributes the ability to align all stakeholders to the perseverance and dedication of Golden Triangle’s staff. The provincial government, municipal authorities and private contributors provided financing for the shelter.

Groundworx can solve your problem — and they’ll prove it Grant Kergen has a simple message for contractors: “If you’ve got a shredding, grinding or crushing problem, we can help.” Okay, like a lot of contractors, you’re probably skeptical. Kergen, owner and sales manager for The Groundworx Co., understands: “It’s like saying my car gets 80 miles to the gallon. And the customer says, ‘Prove it.’ Well, we can.” Groundworx, based in Nisku, Alberta, has sold and rented shredding, grinding, conveying and crushing machines throughout Western Canada. While Kergen would be happy to tell you about his past customers, he would rather show you in person how his equipment can help you get the job done — and your problem solved. “I’m not going to bring a machine in unless I know it works,” Kergen emphasizes. “I really believe that we offer real solutions. When you sell something to a contractor, it has to work the way you tell them it works. Other companies tell you that, then when it doesn’t work they tell you, ‘Well, you didn’t this, you didn’t that.’ We make no excuses.” Kergen’s number one goal is to provide customers with “what they need, not what we have. Everything that we’ve ever sold a customer, they still own. Very few of our customers trade their things off or get rid of it after they’ve bought it. In fact, the first year we were in business, about 40 per cent of our customers traded in their first purchase on a bigger, more modern piece because we were able to set them up with what they wanted.” Want an example of how Groundworx can help? “Everybody’s got this recycled concrete laying around,” Kergen says. “They don’t know what to do with it. Guess what? We’ve got a machine that will crush 250 tons an hour.” Groundworx also has the equipment you need to handle wood, drywall and other construction waste material. But, as the saying goes, seeing is believing. So let Groundworx prove it to you in person. “You’ve got a problem with grinding, shredding, screening or conveying?” says Kergen. “Call me.” The Groundworx Co. #2–1008, 17th Avenue Nisku, Alberta T9E 0G5 Tel: 780-463-7077 Fax: 780-955-7783 www.groundworx.ca

Calgary (403) 272-8801

Leduc (780) 986-7055

Fort McMurray (780) 791-5900

Fort Saskatchewan (780) 992-0777

TWENTY TEN

rojects 16

outstanding construction projects from around Alberta

Like a lot of other sectors, Alberta’s construction industry continues to feel the effects of the post-boom global recession hangover. While things have picked up, the U word — uncertainty — continues to hang over the industry like a dark rain cloud. But this is an industry known for getting things done, dark cloud or not. For proof, check out the next 24 pages of our annual Top Projects feature. Here you’ll find 16 top-notch examples of work in the commercial, institutional, civil and industrial construction categories. We received some outstanding nominations this year. Each year it seems they get better and more innovative in terms of the way the projects were delivered and built. Projects had to be at least $5 million in value, substantially completed in this calendar year and situated within the province of Alberta.

The selections were based on these criteria: ■

Design functionality and appearance.

■

onstruction process (on time, on C budget, innovative tools or building methods, etc.).

■

sage of unique or innovative U construction materials.

■

roject delivery method (stipulated bid, P design-build, construction management, P3, etc.).

■

ny other unique features that made A the project stand out, such as the use of recycled materials, when the work was done, etc.

What the year ahead will bring is anyone’s guess. But for now, take some time and learn about some of the outstanding work you and your colleagues did this year.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 49

TWENTY TEN

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

rojects

Saddle Ridge Multi-Service Centre Completed two months ahead of schedule in May, the Saddle Ridge MultiService Centre houses the Calgary Police Service, fire department and EMS but doesn’t make a big footprint. The fully integrated and shared facility allows the city to use 20–25 per cent less land than it would have required to house the services separately. Operational efficiencies created through sharing space also decrease operating costs. Two storeys and a basement, rather than one very large floor plan, and reduced parking space, mean the building

50 | Winter 2010

takes up 40 per cent less site area than would normally be used for three similar facilities. The remaining site is parkland. The functional and security needs of the three organizations differ greatly and had to be considered in the design. “It seems simple enough to say ‘put them together and save money,’ but they each have very specific and very differing practical needs,” explains Linus Murphy, partner, S2 Architecture. “One works with big trucks, oxygen tanks and hoses; one has guns and high-security needs; and one deals with critical-care situations, all

The $24-million Saddle Ridge Multi-Service Centre makes optimal use of land space.

At a glance PROJECT: Saddle Ridge Multi-Service Centre COST: $24 million LOCATION: Calgary PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD: Lump sum CONTRACTOR: Ledcor Construction Ltd. ARCHITECT: S2 Architecture STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: TRL & Associates MECHANICAL ENGINEER: TYZ Engineering Ltd. ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Stebnicki+Partners LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Urban Systems Ltd.

of which has to be considered when colocating users.” Sustainability is a theme throughout the approximately 52,500-square-foot building, which was designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver requirements. Features such as highperformance glazing on windows, a good building envelope and an irrigation system that uses rain and meltwater help ensure that the building is environmentally friendly. Dennis Kiddie, senior project manager for contractor Ledcor Construction Ltd. in Calgary, says that the construction of the

project was virtually challenge-free. “The consultants’ team, led by S2 Architecture, were a great bunch of people to work with,” he says. “Everybody worked on the same team and it reflected on the way the building came together.” That team approach was a primary contributing factor in finishing the building ahead of schedule. This is the third multi-service centre in Calgary. Kiddie says that the Saddle Ridge facility is the most modern of the three. “It’s airy, open,” he says. “A very nice building.”

NER N I W commercial

Alberta Construction Magazine | 51

TWENTY TEN

rojects COST: $140 million

location: Calgary

The Core ER-UP N N RU

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

commercial

Spanning three city blocks and occupying three buildings joined by bridges, the $140-million renovation of The Core in Calgary boasts the world’s largest skylight of its kind. Measuring 90 ft wide and 750 ft long, and containing 1,740 pieces of glass and 95 arches, the skylight differs from other

skylights because the glass hangs, giving the illusion that it is not supported by framing. Size is not the only impressive thing about the skylight. Its installation, like the other renovations at The Core, was done while shoppers browsed. General contractor EllisDon collabor ated extensively and early on with project

owner 20 Vic Management, the consult ants and the City of Calgary to overcome the logistical challenges. EllisDon’s research and development division helped with scheduling and logistics. MMC International Architects designed the mall’s new look, which included updating the curtain wall systems and structural steel support for the bridges that connect the three buildings, and redesigning the public areas.

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Executive Place

location: Red Deer

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

COST: $33.9 million

The tallest building in Red Deer, Alta., was completed in September — all 12 storeys of it. Located downtown, the $33.9-million project brings over 95,000 sq. ft of office and retail space to the city, complete with three levels of parking.

shouldered by two-storey aluminum panel columns and wraps around two sides of the building, providing a magnificent view extending beyond the city. Other interesting features include a two-storey entrance marked by tapered precast columns and a glass canopy. Consulting engineers were Wiebe Forest Engineering Ltd. for structural and Hemisphere Engineering Ltd. for mechanical and electrical.

Designed by NORR Architects Planners (formerly by Poon McKenzie) and built by Clark Builders, construction managers on the project, the building offers views in all directions, putting its height to good use. An outdoor terrace on the 11th floor is

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 53

TWENTY TEN

rojects Courts Centre Park & Parkade location: Calgary

IMAGE: KASIAN

COST: $44.3 million

ER-UP N N U R commercial

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five abstract areas: LRT Gardens, Calgary Courts Commons, Prairie Ribbon, Parkland Ribbon and Tectonic Gardens (Mountains). The park and parkade include a number of sustainable features, including a rainwater harvesting cistern, low-flow drip irrigation system, low-maintenance seating walls, optimal structural design to utilize a minimal amount of steel and concrete to achieve goals, among other things. CANA Management Ltd. was the general contractor. Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. was the architect. Engineers were Stantec, Hemisphere Engineering and Stebnicki+Partners. Scatliff + Miller + Murray Inc. was the landscape architect. The parkade opened to the public on May 31, with construction of the park scheduled to be finished as this issue of Alberta Construction Magazine was going to press.

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TWENTY TEN

rojects

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

The extension of Edmonton’s LRT system was a complex megaproject costing $690 million. This is the Century Park station at the LRT route’s most southern point.

Edmonton South LRT Extension

NER N I W

civil

56 | Winter 2010

The City of Edmonton reached a significant milestone earlier this year with the completion of the south leg of its Light Rail Transit (LRT) system. The $690-million extension picks up at the Health Sciences Station near the University of Alberta and runs south to a multi-storey glass and brick transit station at Century Park. The completion means those taking the LRT can travel from Century Park to Clareview in the north in about 30 minutes. From an environmental standpoint, the extension has resulted in fewer vehicles on Edmonton’s already clogged streets and

lower greenhouse gas emissions. The city estimates that a rider creates 65 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than an auto user for the same trip. The length of the south extension is 7.63 km, making the length of the entire system 20.3 km. The project includes four new stations. The scope of work went far beyond the laying of track, however, and included construction work on nearby roads, cat enary, signals and several major civil features including two LRT tunnels, a bridge, pedestrian overpasses and an underpass, and a fully landscaped multi-use recreation trail.

At a glance PROJECT: Edmonton South LRT extension COST: $690 million location: Edmonton PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD: Multiple PROJECT OWNER: City of Edmonton CONTRACTORS: PCL, Pentagon, Graham, Aecon, PNR, Epcor, General Electric Canada, Seven M Construction, Heritage Nursery, Standard General, On Track Railway Services, City of Edmonton, Arinc, O’Hanlon Paving, ARM, Ganotech, Lorac, Earthwise, Alberco, Fish Creek, HJ Skelton, CN Rail, VAE Nortrak, CXT, LaFarge, Norellco, Milrail ARCHITECT: Stantec as the prime consultant (Project Management Office) Because of the project’s size, the city used a variety of contract delivery methods, primarily design-bid-build. Three components were delivered by construction management. PCL was the primary construction contractor, though the city also singled out several others (see accompanying box) as playing important roles in the project. “The South LRT project was a complex megaproject, with multiple disciplines and a high degree of public visibility,” the city said in its nomination of the project, pointing out that the project was finished on

time and on budget. The public has reacted favourably as well, it adds, with estimates indicating that weekday LRT ridership has doubled from 50,000 to 100,000. Future expansion of the LRT has been a hot button in Edmonton, and was a key issue in October’s municipal elections. At this time, work is proceeding on expanding the LRT from the downtown core north towards the NAIT campus. Meanwhile, Mayor Stephen Mandel has been pushing to have a plan in place before year’s end to pay for construction of a line that would take riders to the southeastern part of the city.

MAJOR CONSULTANTS: Aecom, CH2M Hill, Stantec, ISL, Associated Engineering, Williams Engineering, Eidos, Omnia, Platinum Engineering, AMEC, Thurber, Morrison Hershfield, K-3 Project Management, HFP Noise Consultants Alberta Construction Magazine | 57

TWENTY TEN

rojects Fort Edmonton Footbridge

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COST: $23.5 million

location: Edmonton

ER-UP N N RU civil

PHOTO: ALBERCO construction ltd.

While the rebuilding of Edmonton’s Quesnell Bridge seemed to grab all the attention, another bridge project over the North Saskatchewan River not far away is equally impressive. It’s the $23.5-million Fort Edmonton Footbridge. Designed by HFKS Architects Inc. and built by Alberco Construction Ltd. of St. Albert, it’s one of the few suspension bridges in Alberta. The bridge’s centre span is 138 m with abutment spans of 54 m for a total of 246 m. The two piers that hold the 110 mm main suspension cables rise 32 m above the river, and the abutments each contain 60 soil anchors for the suspension cables. The superstructure deck? It has 72 precast deck segments, which are suspended with vertical cables from the main cables. The superstructure precast is grouted and post tensioned and incorporates a winddampening system at each abutment. CH2M Hill was the engineer. Cohos Evamy also played a key role in the project.

Icefields Interchange COST: $22 million

ER-UP N N RU

location: Near Lake Louise

civil

PHOTO: GRAHAM design builders

The upgrade of the Icefields Interchange at the junction of Highway 93 and the Trans-Canada near Lake Louise, Alta., involved demolition, design and construction on a busy highway, yet it was completed in just 14 months. Graham Design Builders was general contractor for the design-build pro ject. It was designed by EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd. The $22-million project included demolishing the overpass, removing 250,000 tonnes of rock, placing 132,500 tonnes of granular materials and 35,000 tonnes of

asphalt pavement, and constructing a new overpass and ramps. The Trans-Canada Highway was widened and twinned, and a bridge was built over the Bow River. Street lighting, signage, culvert installation, landscaping, fencing and traffic

accommodation were also all accomplished while traffic continued to flow. CH2M Hill provided structural engineering while Fortis Alberta provided electrical engineering. Thurber Engineering Ltd. was responsible for pavement design.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 59

TWENTY TEN

rojects

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement (ASAP) Phase 1

With Alberta’s explosive growth over the past decade came the need for additional schools in its two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton. But, as you can imagine, new schools aren’t cheap. In a bid to get more schools built at the best possible price, the Government of Alberta used the innovative public-private partnership model to deliver 18 elementary and junior high schools. BBPP Alberta Schools Ltd., a consortium, took on the responsibility to design,

60 | Winter 2010

build, finance and maintain the schools. Graham Design Build Services and Bird Design Build Ltd. partnered in a joint venture to design and build nine schools in Calgary and nine in Edmonton. The state-of-the-art schools consist of cores containing essential facilities such as washrooms, classrooms, gyms and administration offices. Modular classrooms are then added and removed as needed to accommodate the ebb and flow of student capacity. It’s a flexible design that will

allow the province to adjust school sizes as necessary and helped to create efficiencies that contributed to lowering the cost of the project. Due to the short schedule and pressure to meet deadlines, the consortium substantially redesigned the core schools. By replacing load-bearing masonry with structural steel and infill block, and by decreasing foundation work through the use of piles and grade beams, the team managed to increase constructability,

A K-9 school building, shown under construction in February, was finished in time for the 2010-11 school year. It was 1 of 18 buildings that was part of the ASAP Schools Phase 1 project.

At a glance PROJECT: ASAP Schools, Phase I COST: $411,892,351 LOCATION: Calgary, Edmonton PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD: Public-private partnership PROJECT OWNER: BBPP Alberta Schools Ltd. ACHITECTS: Barr Ryder Architects, GEC (Graham Edmunds Cartier) Architecture GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Bird-Graham Schools STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Protostatix Engineering Consultants Inc. MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Williams Engineering Canada Inc. CIVIL ENGINEER: Terrain Group Inc.

decrease cost and improve the schedule. Throughout the design process, the team used life-cycle costing to ensure value and longevity. Three basic designs were used to create eight two-storey K-9 schools, two single-storey K-9 schools, two singlestorey K-6 schools and six single-storey K-4 schools. Each school was built using piling, grade beams and slab on grade foundation, structural steel, masonry and a flat PVC roof. The exteriors consist of

metal cladding and brick while the interiors are made of masonry and drywall. All 18 schools were built to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The pro足 ject was completed one month ahead of schedule and the schools were handed to the school boards in time to open for the current school year. Collectively, the schools, costing more than $400 million, add 12,000 K-9 spaces to the province.

NER WIN institutional Alberta Construction Magazine | 61

TWENTY TEN

rojects COST: $360.7 million

Centennial Centre For Interdisciplinary Sciences

location: U of A Campus

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

The $360.7-million Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences is the newest educational and research facility on the University of Alberta campus. Designed by ONPA and built by PCL Construction Management Inc., the pro ject consists of a 53,000 sq. m building with 2,200 lecture theatre seats, teaching and research laboratories, and faculty and graduate student office space. There were two components: A multi-storey main building and a lecture theatre structure just east of the existing Biological Sciences Centre. Interestingly, an estimated 30 per cent of the area of the project is below grade, which reduces the visual impact on a part of campus overlooking Edmonton’s scenic North Saskatchewan River valley. And it

re-established the original configuration of the university quad by restoring it as the university’s first president, Henry Marshall Tory, had envisioned. Consulting engineers included Read Jones Christoffersen, Stantec and Hemisphere.

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62 | Winter 2010

Authorized Distributor Of

Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre

ER-UP N N U R

COST: $135 million

location: Edmonton

institutional

PHOTO: AARON PARKER

Scheduled to open in December, the massive $135-million Terwillegar recreation centre and arena complex includes aquatic facilities, an indoor track, fitness centre, multi-purpose meeting rooms, four-rink arena and assorted other features. Fans in the arena get to sit closer to the action thanks to an innovative warm-fan concept in which the rink board and glazing system are used to separate the colder rink space from the warmer public concourse space, allowing fans to sit comfortably at the edge of

the rink. The viewing concourse is also raised by 45 cm so viewers can see the entire ice sheet. Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd. provided construction management services. Sahuri + Partners Architecture Inc. designed the recreation complex

while BBB Architects Alberta Inc. designed the arena complex. Consultants included Building Science Engineering Ltd., Protostatix Engineering Consultants, Aecom, MK Engineering, ISL Engineering and Land Services, Halcrow Yolles, Smith + Anderson, and Read Jones Christoffersen.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 63

TWENTY TEN

rojects Taylor Family Digital Library Project COST: $152.5 million

location: U of C Campus

ER-UP N N U R

PHOTO: CANA construction

institutional

It’s three projects in one. The $152.5-million Taylor Family Digital Library project at the University of Calgary consists of the Taylor Family Digital Library — a 265,000 sq. ft, six-storey academic and cultural library — as well as the High

Density Library, which is a 32,000 sq. ft long-term storage facility. The final phase involved the redesign of 285,000 sq. ft of campus grounds. Built to incorporate new technologies and ways of researching, the digital library

portion has a two-foot raised access flooring system to make it easier to deliver necessary services to students. The space is being used for all mechanical, electrical and data systems distribution and is pressurized to deliver air throughout the building. Acting as project manager and general contractor, CANA Construction completed the fixed-price project over three months ahead of schedule. Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd., Read Jones Christoffersen and Stantec were also involved.

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64 | Winter 2010

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Streamline your equipment rentals with the Total Control® management system from RSC Equipment Rental. Now you can manage everything you rent and own right from your computer. The Total Control® management system gives you an easy-to-use, intuitive, web-based interface that provides: n Access to fleet activities in real-time, 24/7 n Single-source convenience for all rented and owned equipment n Paperless scheduling, tracking, billing and auditing

Call 800.222.7777 to learn more about this unique program, or visit RSCrental.com.

PCL Construction Management Inc. knows a thing or two about building quality recreation centres. Earlier this year, the Edmonton-based company won the Recreation for Life Foundation’s Award of Excellence for Constructing Recreation Spaces & Places for its work on the Leduc Recreation Centre. Among other things, the award “demonstrates project management skills that includes adherence to scheduling and budget, excellent rapport

Leduc Recreation Centre COST: $45.5 million

and communication with other professionals and facility owners, and shows concerns for the community and on-site staff.” Highlights of the $45.5-million addition to what was formerly the Black Gold Centre includes two NHL-size hockey rinks with seating for 300 in each, a field house with two indoor fields — one

location: Leduc

primarily used for soccer — a fitness/ wellness centre and an indoor track. Plus there’s also leasable space, a kitchen and other amenities. The project was designed by Architecture Arndt Tkalcic Bengert. Read Jones Christoffersen was the structural engineer. Stantec was the mechanical and electrical engineer.

R-UP E N RUN PHOTO: PCL

institutional

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6111–56 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6B 3E2 Phone: (780) 434 - 7476 Fax: (780) 437 - 6130

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www.vetssheetmetal.com Alberta Construction Magazine | 65

TWENTY TEN

PHOTO: GRAHAM

rojects

Aurora East Pillar Relocation NER N I W industrial

66 | Winter 2010

The Aurora East Pillar Relocation, a reconfiguration of a crusher and associated facilities for Syncrude Canada Ltd. in the oilsands region near Fort McMurray, Alta., had to be done quickly. Construction manager Graham Industrial Services Ltd. was given just 40 days to move the 1,350tonne crusher, 1,000-foot conveyor and 400-tonne drive station three kilometres. “We had to build a new crusher slot; turn the whole system off; disconnect the whole thing electrically, mechanically

and structurally; assemble some new support structures; take it apart piece by piece and move the conveyor sections to what’s known as a ‘laydown area’ until the crusher and drive station were relocated,” explains Blair Ouellette, construction manager for Graham Industrial Services in Fort McMurray, describing just part of the project. There were three major phases to the move. First, the infrastructure for the move was built, then the move took place. Lastly,

Oilsands projects have a reputation for being massive. The Aurora East Pillar Relocation project was no exception.

At a glance PROJECT: Aurora East Pillar Relocation — Crusher and Facilities Reconfiguration COST: $160 million LOCATION: Near Fort McMurray PROJECT DELIVERY METHOD: Construction management PROJECT OWNER: Syncrude Canada Ltd. GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Graham Industrial Services Ltd. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: CoSyn Technology, Amec MECHANICAL ENGINEER: CoSyn Technology, Amec ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Amec

the crusher had to be fine-tuned by electricians and millwrights before it could be put back into operation. To expedite the schedule, the structure was moved in large sections. One truss installation weighed 73 tonnes. The crusher facility itself was jacked up off its foundation and moved using selfpropelled modular transporters — trailers with row after row of tires, steered by remote control. The crusher took just six hours to relocate.

Graham and Syncrude worked around the clock to get the job done. “It took three different groups planning diligently and working as a team,” says Brandon Pratt, a project manager with Graham. Planning meetings took place twice each day and each task was tracked to the hour. Graham also adopted Syncrude’s Systems for Management. Shifts began with the team discussing what would be done that day. At the end of each

shift, they’d review what was accomplished and determine why tasks were pushed back and how to improve performance. Graham will use the system on all projects for Syncrude, with which it has a five-year construction management contract. The relocation was the first job under that contract. The move went so well that Syncrude was able to reactivate the crusher four days ahead of schedule. Alberta Construction Magazine | 67

TWENTY TEN

rojects

Blue may be one of the colours of the Walmart brand, but its new $75-million Perishable Distribution Centre in Balzac, Alta., is definitely green. Touted as one of the most energyefficient distribution facilities of its kind in North America, Walmart expects the building to be about 60 per cent more energy efficient than its other traditional refrigerated distribution centres. Among the features: LED lights, solar panels and a white thermoplastic polyolefin reflect ive roof.

COST: $75 million

location: Balzac PHOTO: CHAZ OSBURN

Walmart Perishable Distribution Centre

Crediting the owner, consultant groups and its trade contractors, general con tractor Stuart Olson Dominion Construction points out the job was brought in on time and on budget. “Key decisions early on in the project — such as the selection of a joint-free concrete slab system (Twintec USA) that reduces maintenance costs and operational down times — have been key to the success story of this massive distribution centre,” Stuart Olson said.

NEW TECHNOLOGY FROM

ER-UP N N RU industrial

Petroff Partnership Architects designed the centre. Engineers were: William Leung & Associates (Engineers) Ltd. (structural), Ellard-Willson Engineering Ltd. (mechanical), Ellard-Willson Engineering Ltd. (electrical), Counterpoint Engineering (civil) and M. Karan Engineering (refrigeration).

TERRAFOAM PLATINUM 3000 POLYSTYRENE INSULATION WITH GRAPHITE

FUNCTIONALLY EQUIVALENT TO “TYPE 4” EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE PRODUCT PERFORMANCE Excellent thermal insulation values, compressive strength, & flexural strength • Manufactured in any thickness in 2’ or 4’ x 8’ panels • Custom sizes also available which may reduce jobsite dumpster waste • Contains reground materials, reducing virgin resin content •

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68 | Winter 2010

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Enmax District Energy COST: $30.5 million

location: Calgary

industrial

Designed to deliver energy to commercial buildings in Calgary’s core, Enmax’s $30.5-million District Energy Plant certainly doesn’t look like an industrial plant. With 10 m ceilings, a low-E curtain wall and feature lighting, it fits with the architecture of the downtown area while churning out hot water energy for neighbouring buildings. The 23,000 sq. ft facility can generate 60 MW of thermal energy and can be expanded to generate up to 100 MW, with an additional 3.5 MW of electrical cogeneration. The buildings it heats will no longer require their own boiler systems. More than 15 per cent of the materials used had recycled content and the facility includes low-flow faucets and a solar panel system on the roof. It is expected

R-UP E N RUN

to be certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver. Graham Construction & Engineering was general contractor. The plant was designed by Gibbs Gage Architects, and Read Jones

Christoffersen provided structural engin eering while Emans Smith Andersen Engineering Ltd. were the mechanical engineers. Mulvey & Banani International (Alberta) Ltd. were the electrical engineers.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 69

TWENTY TEN

rojects Enbridge Hardisty Contract Tankage Project PHOTO: ENBRIDGE

One of this year’s runners-up projects was singled out for this interesting fact: It was the largest tank coating project in Canada with a construction cost of $15 million. The work, by Park Derochie Coatings Ltd., was at Enbridge Inc.’s Hardisty, Alta., Contract Tankage project, which includes 19 new tanks adjacent to Enbridge’s mainline system terminal. The project involved applying internal linings, roof coatings and painting. This wasn’t a small job. Tanks range in size up to 530,000 barrels each and are capable of holding a total of 7.5 million barrels of oil — enough to fill 48,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Working safely was a huge goal; there were zero lost-time accidents in 153,000 hours of work. But there were challenges. They included operational interruptions, revised completion dates, exterior product specification changes and work during poor weather. Sometimes the temperature was below -30ºC.

COST: $15 million location: Hardisty

“Due to weather conditions,” the company pointed out, “jobs of this nature can see premiums in the neighbourhood of 20 [per cent] — this project was executed at a mere 5 [per cent].”

R-UP E N RUN industrial

All the functionality of a self-propelled sweeper at a fraction of the usual cost Choosing a detachable Multi Sweep sweeper and dust control machine means you can save up to 80% versus the cost of a truck sweeper. Payback is achieved in as little as 24 months. And the cost of service and maintenance is 65% less than the cost of running a self-propelled sweeper. Choose from a wide variety of models that attach to your materials handler in as little as one minute. Call now for a free estimate and DVD or visit us online at www.multisweep.com

AMB Lift, 110 Bentley Ave., Unit 1, Ottawa, ON K2E 6T9 | Contact: Roch Bissonnette | Cell: 613-913-3909 roch@amblift.com | Toll Free: 1-800-560-1053 Tel: 613-224-9890 | www.multisweep.com

70 | Winter 2010

Celebrating Great Work

ASAP I and II Schools Calgary & Edmonton

Aurora East Pillar Relocation Fort McMurray

Great building is achieved through extraordinary construction solutions. With decades of experience partnering with the public and private sectors on a variety of Commercial, Industrial, Infrastructure, Earthworks and Masonry projects, Graham has the skills, experience and expertise to realize your vision for any size project, from strategic planning to commissioning.

Your construction solutions partner.

www.graham.ca Oscar Regional Safety Manager

Susanne Project Manager

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5719 115 Street Edmonton, AB T6H 3P5 (708) 414-1756

9, 2821 - 3 Avenue N.E. Calgary, AB T2A 7P3 (403) 296-0505

845 Broad Street Regina, SK S4R 8G9 (306) 584-1906

TWENTY TEN

rojects Honourable mention There were a number of construction projects this year worthy of honourable mention. They include: ■

Centennial Garage

■

Centre in the Park

■

Finning Edmonton Facilities

■

Commonwealth Stadium Fieldhouse

WEP Development

■

University of Calgary

■

Suncor Tailings Reduction Operation piping

Downtown Campus

■

Royal Glenora Club expansion

■

Cambrian Executive Place

■

Icon Towers

■

Royal Alexandra Hospital —

■

Median cable barrier for QE2

Orthopedic Surgery Centre

■

Brenda Strafford Foundation shelter and affordable housing

■

Augustana Forum

■

Quesnell Bridge rehabilitation project

■

Foothills Medical Centre McCaig Tower

■

23rd & 19th Avenue overpasses

■

The Banff Centre rehabilitation project:

■

Jamieson Place

■

Ralph Klein Education Centre

The Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation and the Donald Cameron Hall Amphitheatre

THE LEDCOR GROUP OF COMPANIES Alberta’s newest shopping centre. Cross Iron Mills. Built by Ledcor. From iconic buildings to mining operations and everything in between. We have built it. Since 1947 we have been doing it right. Always. We believe every project – your project – is about more than concrete and steel. It’s about people and the power of partnerships.

Ledcor Construction Bob Hildenbrandt, Vice President Calgary (403) 264-9155

www.ledcor.com

Alberta Construction Magazine | 73

Rocky Mountain DealeRships bRings teRex poweRscReen aggwash systeM to albeRta MaRket

educe, reuse and recycle. All three of these foundations of environmental sustainability are integrated into Terex’ new Powerscreen Aggwash system, being marketed in Alberta and Saskatchewan by Hi-Way Service Ltd, one of the largest Terex dealers in North America. The Powerscreen Aggwash is a fully integrated mobile recycling wash plant capable of producing three grades of aggregate and a single grade of sand at up to 60 tonnes per hour. Primarily designed for the processing of construction and demolition waste but equally suited to virgin materials, the system brings together rinsing, screening and scrubbing capabilities on a single transportable chassis for the first time. Electrically powered and delivered pre-wired, the Aggwash lends itself to operations in built-up sites that are subject to noise or emission controls. User-friendly features include a simple-to-transport (with a single low loader trailer) and assemble arrangement with extremely fast set-up times, typically less than one day. Like all Powerscreen equipment, the Aggwash is designed for performance. “They do the job they were built to do very well,” says Shane Smith, who has been using Powerscreen equipment for four years. “Powerscreen equipment is very well-designed.” “They’ve got the best performance for wet and dry screening,” adds Dan Decker, who has been using Powerscreen equipment for five years. “We’ve tried different ones. Switch to Powerscreen. It’s the only way you’ll make any headway, especially with a wet season like we’ve had.” By recycling demolition materials for reuse, the Aggwash system will reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills.

Its mobility also means less greenhouse gas emissions due to a reduction in transportation of materials. It is already proving its worth for one contractor in Northern Ireland — JPE Holdings. When applying to reopen an abandoned quarry, JPE Holdings faced a challenge. The company wanted to continue extracting 350,000 tonnes of sand and gravel reserves on site as well as dispose of construction and demolition waste. But to do this required an ecologically sound plan for the site. Extensive environment and noise pollution regulations meant that JPE Holdings needed the right solution for the problems unique to the site, including protecting a fresh water lake on the site developed naturally in a hole dug to landfill material. During the years the quarry had lain dormant, local fishermen had started to stock fish in the new lake, while wildlife such as geese and pheasants were naturally attracted to it. The Aggwash system answered the environmental concerns present on site while providing JPE attractive economic returns. JPE is now paid to receive waste, process it, and then sell the washed aggregate it produces. The recycled aggregate is used for laneways, low-grade concrete and asphalt, drainage and pipe bedding. Before the introduction of the Aggwash, the materials for these applications would have come from natural sand and gravel sources, at considerable extra cost, both for the buyers and for the environment. “Aggwash has exceeded my expectations,” said Dave Rogers, Process Manager for JPE Earth & Aggregates Solutions. Due to his satisfaction with the performance of the machine, he already has plans to move the Aggwash to a second landfill site in two years where it will be used to process and sell material that otherwise would be buried.

Powerscreen products are available from your nearest Hi-Way Service Branch. www.hiwayservice.com

Table of Contents

76 77 New track loaders out �� 78 Put a lift in your day �� 79 Plow ahead with your work �� 80 Levelton acquires Calgary’s seti �� 81 Extend the life of concrete �� 81 New president at imv projects �� 82 Aecon joint venture wins contract �� 82 Stuck to your ribz �� Cordless tool nails the job quickly ��

people, products

& projects

Kee Walk is a slip-resistant walkway for workers accessing a roof during construction or maintenance.

OIL COMPANY AWARDS CONSTRUCTION WORK Flint Energy Services Ltd. has been awarded a six-year contract by Imperial Oil Canada Ltd. for field construction work in western Canada. The company did not provide a value for the work. The contract includes the construction of other facilities in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia as well as construction of a pipeline connection in northeastern British Columbia. The agreement also has provision for a further four-year extension after the initial six-year term. The work will be performed by a number of branches of Flint’s production services division in western Canada.

HOW TO submit items PHOTO: KEE SAFETY

Does your company have news about personnel changes or new products? Or did it just land a new project in Alberta? We want to know about it. Here’s how to get your news to us.

SAFE WITHOUT SLIPPING

Email items to: cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com

Kee Walk is a slip-resistant walkway for workers needing access to roofs for construction or maintenance Introduced by Kee Safety Ltd. of Concord, Ont., Kee Walk provides a clear demarcation route that can protect a roof from unnecessary damage and uniformly distribute the pedestrian load across its surface. Kee Safety says the roof is easy to install with preassembled standard lengths supplied from stock and is designed for modern roofs with composite, trapezoidal metal profile and standing seam metal roofs. Kee Walk is compliant to OSHA 1910.22 and BS 4592. For information, visit keesafety.com.

or send it to: Editor, Alberta Construction Magazine, 6111-91 St. NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6V6 or fax to: (780) 944-9500 Please include the full name and location of the company.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 75

people, products and projects

STUCK TO YOUR RIBZ Having essential gear in a fast and easy-to-reach location is a breeze with an innovative new pack called RIBZ. Capable of carrying more than 600 cubic inches of gear — a smaller 400 cubic inch model is also available — RIBZ fits comfortably and securely around the user’s ribcage, positioning the contents so that they do not impede torso or arm movement and can be accessed from the front. Heavy duty but also lightweight, the RIBZ Front Pack is made from nylon and weighs 11 ounces (18 ounces water-resistant 600D nylon also available). Four external zippered pockets and four additional internal pockets provide plenty of storage options. To learn more, visit ribzwear.com.

R E A D Y

M I X

BURNCO Ready Mix Division provides a full range of ready mix construction services for residential and commercial markets. Utilizing our own aggregate sources, cement terminal, concrete plants, mixer trucks, gravel trucks and a motivated workforce, BURNCO maintains the edge in meeting customer demands.

D I V I S I O N

INC.

Supplying Propane Delivering Service Cal-Gas provides: ✦ Servicing 24 hours -

7 days a week

✦ System Design ✦ Storage Tanks ✦ Heaters ✦ Vaporizers

SUPPLIER OF QUALITY READY-MIXED CONCRETE

✦ Qualified Installation

SERVING BOTH RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL

✦ Technical Support

LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT ALBERTA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

✦ Safety Training

QUALITY AND SERVICE SINCE 1912

Let our friendly and knowledgeable staff assist you with equipment and expertise. No matter what your project we have a solution.

READY MIX

200, 155 Glendeer Circle SE Calgary, AB T2H 2P9

76 | Winter 2010

CUSTOMER SERVICE

1.877.528.7626 www.burnco.com

Calgary, AB Rimbey, AB (Red Deer Market) Edmonton, AB 4255 - 64 Avenue S.E. 5930 - 125A Avenue 5006 - 45 Avenue Tel: (403) 843-4100 Tel: (403) 279-4777 Tel: (780) 477-8395

www.calgasinc.com

people, products and projects

CORDLESS TOOL NAILS THE JOB QUICKLY

PHOTOS: SENCO

Senco says its F-15 is the first cordless pneumatic finish nailer providing the power and consistency of an air tool with the added convenience and portability of a cordless tool. That means no gas, no hoses and no battery ramp-up times. The F-15 includes an 18-volt lithium ion battery that can attain an 80 per cent charge in just 15 minutes. The tool’s patented design provides an instant trigger response and delivers up to 500 drives between charges. Utilizing 130 psi of self-contained compressed air as the driving method, when the trigger is pulled the F-15 delivers the power and feel associated with pneumatic nailers. The battery, assisted by a gearbox and lifter, returns the piston and driver blade to the ready position to drive the next fastener. It is capable of driving 15-gauge finish nails powerfully and consistently, even into hard woods. The air pressure is pre-set at the factory, permanently sealed and never needs recharging. The F-15 also features a robust 0.25-inch aluminum drive cylinder and durable over moulding. At 6 lb, the ergonomically balanced nailer is nearly 2.5 lb lighter than competitive models and can be comfortably operated with one hand. For more information, visit www.cid.ca.

There’s no cord with the F-15. It’s rechargeable.

Can you spot the fuel thief?

If you aren’t tracking it, someone is taking it. Fuel is the highest operating cost after labour for companies in construction and transport. To combat high fuel costs and rising theft, leading businesses are using automated fuel management by 4Refuel to improve security and maximize control. Only 4Refuel provides professional onsite delivery to equipment, tanks, and trucks as well as powerful online tracking and reporting features. It’s time to take control of your fuel. Call 4Refuel today.

1-888-4Refuel

www.4Refuel.com

Alberta Construction Magazine | 77

people, products and projects

NEW TRACK LOADERS OUT

Kubota Canada Ltd. has two new compact track loader models. The SVL — short for Super Vertical Lift — series feature the 75-hp SVL75 and 90-hp SVL90 models. The SVL75 and SVL90 boast a 6,204 lb and 7,961 lb bucket breakout force, respectively, and a lifting capacity of 4,881 lb and 5,869 lb, respectively. Both models are powered by four-cylinder, direct injection, turbocharged diesel engines. The vertical lift loader allows for optimum reach and dumping capabilities. Standard features include engine stall guard, two-speed travel, self-levelling lift and a floor drain outlet for easy cleaning. Both models offer a wide cab entrance and a spacious, comfortable operator area. The area features a high-back, fully adjustable suspension seat and ample leg and elbow room. A hand-and-foot throttle ensures exceptional versatility and the two-speed travel and high ground clearance provide optimal travel performance. Visibility around the entire machine, and to the tracks and the bucket edge is clear from the seat. For more information, check out Kubota.ca.

PHOTO: KUBOTA

The SVL75 tackles a job.

C A R M A C K S E N T E R P R I S E S LT D . ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢

Asphalt Paving Roadway Maintenance Industrial Site Services Bridge Maintenance & Construction Aggregate Sales

701 – 25 Avenue Nisku, AB T9E 0C1 t: 780.955.5545 f: 780.955.1768

Mobile Offices Workforce Camps Storage Products Modular Buildings

www.carmacksent.com

13930 – 52 Street, NE Calgary, AB T3N 1B7 t: 403.543.0305 f: 403.543.0314

800.782.1500 www.willscot.com

Offices in Edmonton, Calgary, Fort McMurray 78 | Winter 2010

people, products and projects

PHOTO: TRANS-QUIP

PUT A LIFT IN YOUR DAY

The Lift-Tool can be raised to 17.75 inches.

Southworth says its new portable Lift-Tool can improve the user’s posture while reducing fatigue and back strain. And what’s best, it only needs a cordless drill to move the platform up or down. Fully raised, the Lift-Tool’s 22-inch by 23-inch platform is 17.75 inches high. With a load capacity of 300 lb, it holds nearly 10 times its own weight (32 lb) and is only 3.5 inches high when lowered. The user can raise and lower the aluminum platform with an electric drill. A socket in the unit’s steel screwjack mechanism accepts a hexagonal bit. For positioning/steadying certain heavy objects, such as in the installation of a cabinet or microwave oven over a range or sink, the Lift-Tool allows one worker to do a job that once required two. A slotted platform allows for the use of straps and other devices to securely fasten loads. A plastic cover (included) can be placed on top to protect delicate items or underneath the base to protect work surfaces. The Lift-Tool from Southworth is available in Canada through Trans-Quip Inc. For further information, email swproducts@trans-quip.com.

Pleased to have provided electrical and data communication systems for many of Alberta’s buildings.

Calgary 403.259.2221 | Red Deer 403.347.1266 | Edmonton 780.454.0381 | www.canem.com

Alberta Construction Magazine | 79

PHOTO: PRO-TECH

people, products and projects

PLOW AHEAD WITH YOUR WORK

With its ability to switch between a rubber edge and steel trip edge, Pro-Tech’s new Switchblade plow can handle changing weather and job site conditions without having to change plows. The steel edge of the Switchblade features a steel edge mounted on a specially blended memory urethane. When an obstruction is hit, the edge flexes and snaps back to its original angle in a smooth, non-shocking trip action. When dealing with wet, heavy snow — a problem at times in some parts of southern Alberta — or surfaces that are sensitive to steel edges, the Switchblade can be easily flipped to push with a rubber edge, which acts as a squeegee to produce a clean pass. Twelve Switchblade models are available for attaching to any make of loader, backhoe or skid steer. The 10 to 18 ft loader models are capable of pushing 12 to 23 cubic yards of snow in one pass, respectively. The 10 to 14 ft backhoe models can push 9 to 13 cubic yards, and the 6 to 12 ft skid steer models can handle 5 to 11 cubic yards. Check out snopusher.com to learn more. Twelve Switchblade models are available.

DEWATERING SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS GROUNDWATER CONTROL SYSTEMS INC.

www.groundwatercontrol.com

email: info@groundwatercontrol.com

• WELLPOINT DEWATERING SYSTEMS • PUMPS & PIPING SYSTEMS • GENERATORS

• TRANSFORMERS • METERING SYSTEMS • FILTERING SYSTEMS • IRRIGATION PIPE & FITTINGS • DEEP WELL PUMPS

EDMONTON: (780) 447-4685 • FAX: (780) 447-4912 FT. MCMURRAY: (780) 715-2265 • FAX: (780) 715-2270

Proud to be the structural consultants for the Terwillegar Community Recreation Centre and ASAP I P3’s #1100, 10117 Jasper Ave. Edmonton, AB. T5J 1W8

Phone: (780) 423-5855 Fax: (780) 425-7227

Email: Protostatix@caisnet.com

80 | Winter 2010

people, products and projects

LEVELTON ACQUIRES CALGARY’S SETI Sabatini Earth Technologies Inc. (SETI) of Calgary has been acquired by Levelton Consultants Ltd. of Vancouver. Established in 1987, SETI provides geotechnical engineering, environmental sciences, hydrogeology, materials testing and laboratory services to a broad range of public and private sector clients. “SETI has a tremendous professional team with considerable experience on residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects,” Levelton Consultants said in a news release. SETI’s senior management — including Paul Sabatini, Ken Hugo and Andrew Korytynski, all professional engineers, as well as Enrico Lopez — are now part of the leadership team with Levelton. Overall management and direction of the combined Alberta operations is handled by Oliver Gepraegs, P.Eng., a Levelton team member since 2000 and manager of operations in Calgary since 2009. Managing Levelton’s new Edmonton office is the responsibility of Armando Abello, P.Eng.

“SETI has a tremendous professional team with considerable experience on residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects.” — Levelton Consultants Ltd.

EXTEND THE LIFE OF CONCRETE A new three-step restoration and protection system for above-grade concrete structures is available from Kryton International Inc. Available since Sept. 1, the Hydrostop Restore & Protect System greatly extends the useful life of aging concrete infrastructure and buildings, improves overall aesthetics and offers a more environmentally sustainable alternative to total replacement, the company says. The first step in the system uses a nonshrink waterproof grout to repair cracks and defects at the concrete surface. Once the substrate is repaired, the entire concrete surface is coated with polymerized, cementitious slurry. This layer provides a durable barrier against water and chem ical intrusion and improves the concrete’s overall aesthetics. The third step creates a long-lasting water repellent effect on the concrete surface by using a blended silane-siloxane sealer. To learn more, visit www.kryton.com.

Head Office

Winnipeg, Manitoba

#205, 698 Corydon Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3M 0X9 Ph.: 204.453.9177 Fx.: 204.475.4304 Offices

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 81

people, products and projects

NEW PRESIDENT AT IMV PROJECTS IMV Projects, a project execution company for the energy industry that delivers project management, engineering, procurement and construction management services, has appointed Kevin O’Brien as president, effective Jan. 1. Ivan Velev, founding president of IMV Projects, will continue to serve the company as chairman of the board. O’Brien has more than 15 years of experience in Alberta’s oil and gas sector and previously served as COO. He has been instrumental in driving IMV Projects’ emergence as an engineering, procurement and construction management leader in thermal heavy oil facilities and pipelines. O’Brien has a BS degree in engineering from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. Founded in 1999 and employing approximately 500 people, IMV Projects is headquartered in Calgary. IMV Projects’ Kevin O’Brien becomes president on Jan. 1.

AECON JOINT VENTURE WINS CONTRACT Aecon Group Inc., which has a presence in Alberta, says a joint venture of Aecon and SNC-Lavalin Constructors (Pacific) Inc. has won a contract for the civil works design and construction portion of the Waneta Expansion Project in British Columbia. Financial terms of the contract were not revealed. The power project near Trail, B.C., is being carried out through a limited partnership of Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corp. and Columbia Basin Trust. Work on the Waneta Expansion Project is already underway and is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2015. “This is a significant project for Aecon from both a financial and strategic perspective,” The Canadian Press quoted Teri McKibbon, CEO of Aecon Infrastructure, as saying. “Our partnership with SNC-Lavalin on this project further establishes Aecon’s presence in western Canada’s heavy civil construction market.”

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A great new

Position

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All variances, positive or negative, are flagged instantly, so the customer can take corrective action to maintain schedule and budget. When a scaffold is fully erected, total actual hours worked can be compared to the estimate — ensuring that the project is on budget and costs are accurately recorded per area. On repeat jobs, like annual maintenance shutdowns, Track-RITE’s data mining capability is particularly valuable. When the next scheduled event approaches, it’s easy to go back to the data to compare previous estimates and actuals, and obtain solid information with which to plan the next project. Track-RITE keeps the customer informed and in charge of the schedule and budget, and that’s a better way to do business.

aca report

An advocate for industry in times of change by Ken Gibson ACA Executive Director

Alberta’s construction industry has traditionally managed through cyclical recessions and booms, and forecasts suggest brighter prospects ahead after 2011. However, it may have been a long time since our industry has faced so much uncertainty and change at one time as now. The developed economies of the United States, Japan and western Europe (with the exception of Germany) face daunting challenges for experiencing anything other than feeble long-term growth, in grappling with consumer retrenchment, a housing bust and crippling future pension and health care liabilities for the wave of retiring workers. The traditional reliance of Canada and Alberta on these export markets is no longer assured. Emerging dominant economies such as China, India and

Brazil may focus on alternative sources of supply for raw materials, and in building their domestic consumption to offset reduced export prospects in traditional markets. Alberta’s reliance on fossil fuel royalties is undergoing change. Alberta’s industry is extremely fortunate that Premier Ed Stelmach’s government has placed a high priority on infrastructure as an economic enabler. Nevertheless, in a time of uncertain market prospects, the provincial government’s commitment is focused on trying to ensure that Alberta’s design and construction industry can improve its competitiveness in a global marketplace. Indeed, the premier speaks of his vision for Alberta to have the most advanced infrastructure in North America. What may this mean?

Foremost, it likely means maximizing value to the users and funders of the infrastructure, from a variety of perspectives, including functionality, sustainability, security and safety over the entire life cycle of the structure. Further, for building infrastructure, this may also mean being able to anticipate future needs and designing and constructing for adaptability to repurpose buildings over their useful life. It will likely also mean contractors’ skilling up to utilize technologies and processes such as online bidding, and building information modelling (BIM) and integrated project delivery for ongoing operations as well as construction. And it will also likely mean greater experimentation in project partnerships to deliver and perhaps finance projects where project owners expect greater performance within constrained resources.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 85

aca report

STAY IN THE GAME Help them

So where does your A lber ta Construction Association (ACA) fit? These same issues have been topics for discussion with both the Canadian Construction Association Forum in January and again in a special board meeting of the ACA in mid-April. ACA brings the expertise within our membership to identify industry issues and opportunities to our partners — whether those partners are in government, the design community or other construction associations. For example, these issues are agenda items for the Institutional Infrastructure Partners Committee, a forum for public sector owners, the design community and contractors. Since July 2010, the ACA has also brought the industry voice to bear on the following ministerial meetings and forums: ■

I ndustry Leaders Meeting with Infrastructure Minister Ray Danyluk (July 6)

■

inister’s Workforce Forum with M Employment and Immigration Minister Thomas Lukaszuk (Oct. 27)

■

inister’s Forum on Workplace Safety M with Minister Lukaszuk (Nov. 8)

■

inister’s Forum on Foreign Worker M Qualification Recognition with Minister Lukaszuk (Nov. 23)

■

I nfrastructure Conference with seven Cabinet Ministers led by Minister Danyluk (Nov. 30 and Dec. 1)

What are some of the concrete deliverables from this advocacy?

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86 | Winter 2010

■

ublic sector owner commitment to P providing future outlook for project scheduling and planning.

■

I ndustry participation in Alberta Infrastructure’s BIM implementation plan.

■

equests for ACA input to recomR mend “where to from here?” in responding to opportunities and challenges.

With these opportunities, ACA members have a great opportunity to influence their future operating environment and success. Get involved with ACA and help shape your future.

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cca report

Constructor (gold) and Master (silver) level sponsors gather at Carnmoney Golf and Country Club.

Following the cheque presentation by CCA Education Fund Trustee chairman Les LaRocque (left) to CCA president Ian Reid, additional funds were donated to total $55,000.

Ryan Hagen (centre), CCA’s Youth Employment Program coordinator, helped raise money for the fund by hosting a putting challenge, encouraging employers to become familiar with the program and to take advantage of the services it has to offer. Challenging Hagen are Botting and Associates personnel Curtis Patchin; Greg Stewart of Rogers Insurance; YEP chairman Victor Jensen, Botting and Associates; and Education Fund Trustee chairman Les LaRocque, also with Botting and Associates.

$55,000 raised for CCA’s Education Fund Calgary Construction Association (CCA) members were finally treated to some hot summer sun on what was one of the four hottest days Calgary received all year at the 6th annual Education “Fun”Draiser Golf Tournament. The tournament took place at Carnmoney Golf and Country Club on Aug. 26. The tournament is organized by the Education Fund trustees and held annually to raise money for the CCA’s Education Fund. Since the Education Fund’s inception in 2001, it has been used to provide scholarships to those individuals enrolled in apprenticeship programs or pursuing a career in construction. The major generator of funds has been through the annual fall golf tournament. With a sold-out tournament, 148 golfers

participated in this year’s pursuit to raise $50,000 for the CCA’s Education Fund. Attractions on the course collected money through mulligan sales, a putting challenge against CCA’s Youth Employment Program coordinator Ryan Hagen, door prize draws from Renfrew Insurance, 50/50 tickets and a live auction raising $11,000. The format of the tournament was best ball, but Pockar Masonry’s foursome had one exceptional team member as he sunk the ball in one shot on Hole 13, which just so happened to be a $10,000 hole-in-one sponsored by Renfrew Insurance. Mark Stevens from Pockar Masonry was the golf star of the day, taking home the grand prize. The 50/50 draw of $585 was awarded to Brian Phelps of Custom Electric. He generously donated his winnings to the fund.

Doug and Greg Davidson of Davidson Enman Lumber supplied golfers with a gourmet Spolumbo sausage on Hole 4, refuelling the golfers in the 30-degree heat. With the commitment from industry to invest in the future of construction, an impressive $55,000 was raised for the association’s Education Fund; the CCA is closer to its goal of raising one million dollars, as the grand total of the fund now sits at $695,000. The CCA will be providing industry with 29 scholarships in 2010, eight of which are provided through the CCA’s Youth Employment Program. The CCA sincerely thanks all of the participants of the tournament and the generous sponsors who are investing in today’s youth. Alberta Construction Magazine | 89

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safety beat

Warm thoughts Yes it’s c-c-c-old, so make sure you know the signs to work safely when the thermometer drops by Kelley Stark Now that winter is here, many of us complain about the weather even though our total amount of time spent outside braving the blowing wind and aching cold is equal to the time it takes to walk from our cars to our buildings. Our colleagues in the field — those that have to spend the day outside risking hypothermia, frostbite and other cold stress — don’t have it as good. So what should we know about working when it’s cold? Preventing cold stress before it can happen can save a lot of time and limbs. Wearing the proper clothing is one defense. Workers should be wearing at least three layers — cotton next to the skin, down or wool next, then a layer of nylon to break the wind. Wearing a hat and insulated workboots is also important. And staying hydrated and being aware of substances that will affect a person’s tolerance to cold (like alcohol, cannabis and antidepressants) can also prevent cold stress. For over half of the year, Alberta suffers with cold weather. It’s important to know the signs of cold stress and what to do when symptoms appear: Frostbite is caused when body parts are exposed to extreme cold or by contact

with extremely cold objects (yet another reason not to lick a metal pole in the dead of winter). A cold, tingly, stinging or aching feeling will turn into numbness and skin will turn from red to purple to white. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety suggests that the frostbitten worker move into a warm area, loosen or remove constricting clothing, loosely cover the affected area with sterile dressing and seek medical help. Possibly more important is what you should not do: do not rub the area or apply dry heat, drink alcohol or smoke, rub the area with snow or ice or attempt to rewarm the area on site (if there’s a chance that the affected area will get cold again it could result in severe tissue damage). We’ve all heard stories of people being so cold that they feel warm enough to strip naked and senselessly run around in the freezing cold temperatures. Hypothermia affects the brain as well as the body. It occurs when the body loses more heat than it’s able to make up for. Mild hypothermia is apparent when a worker is shivering and has numb hands. That can turn into moderate hypothermia — loss of muscle coordination, violent shivering, difficulty speaking and walking and signs of depression. As the core temperature

drops further, severe hypothermia can set in. The worker will stop shivering, exposed skin will turn blue or puffy, confusion and irrational behaviour will turn into semiconsciousness and stupor as the body temperature drops. Possible heart fibrillation, unconsciousness and a weak pulse can result in death if hypothermia is not treated. If hypothermia is suspected, you should seek medical help immediately. Call 911. Moderate and severe hypothermia are medical emergencies. While waiting for professional help, you should remove wet clothing, cover the head, warm the body gradually, drink warm (not hot), sugary drinks and, if necessary, perform CPR until medical aid is available. Alberta Occupational Health and Safety’s Best Practice — Working Safely in the Heat and Cold suggests that you also “watch for signs of ‘unusual –umbles’ in yourself and your coworkers…stumbles, mumbles, fumbles and grumbles.” FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more, go to employment.alberta.ca/whs/whs-pub_ gs006.pdf

Alberta Construction Magazine | 91

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finishing touches

SignS, signs, So your new building project is nearly complete and you think it’s pretty awesome. Will the end-user think the same? Have you made it easy for users to find their way around? Proper wayfinding — the term used to describe the signs, maps and other visual or audible methods that convey location and directions — can allay whatever confusion the building’s designer may not have anticipated. To give you some ideas, here are examples of effective wayfinding.

A sign …and other ways to let people know how to get around by Kelley Stark

Alberta Construction Magazine | 93

finishing touches

In a building where different languages are spoken, travellers are rushing around trying to find their gates and go through security before their plane leaves without them. From the outside where arrivals, departures and airline signs are posted so you know what doors to enter, to the inside where symbols must be used as well in more than one language on signs so everybody is sure to find where they want to be easily.

SignS

At the airport

,--------1 Along the highway The signage on the side of the road can tell you among other important information, what highway you’re on and how to get to the one you should actually be on, what animal you might see crossing the road in front of your vehicle, and can answer the whining question from the back seat: how much longer?

,--------1 Inside the arena

At the hotel Employees of construction companies, from the CEOs to the managers to the tradespeople, often spend time in unfamiliar cities and towns. Some hotels can resemble a large maze with hundreds of guest rooms and meeting rooms, spa, pool, fitness room, restaurants, parking and even shops. Like hospitals, it is important that these buildings have noticeable signage so weary travellers can quickly find what they are looking for.

On the street

' 1 - - - - -

POINT OF INTEREST 94 | Winter 2010

It’s hard to cheer for your favourite team when you can’t find your seats. Luckily, stadiums and coliseums have maps that you can look at from home to figure out what section you’re in and then very large and clear signage when you get there to help you find where you should be.

Tourists rely heavily on wayfinding methods in unfamiliar communities. Banff, over the next few years, will update all its signage, basing the designs on the shapes of mountains, trees and stones. The town’s signs will be placed strategically so that they are obvious yet not intrusive. What more could a visitor want?

finishing touches In a hospital

Radiology

Auditory wayfinding

Radiology

Gone are the days when we were forced to try to follow a striped line painted on the floor, sometimes finding nothing but dead-ends and grumpy seniors with broken hips instead of the maternity ward we were looking for. But hospitals are huge buildings with so many different departments that it would be impossible to get around without some sort of wayfinding system. Because visitors are often distracted, the newer signs are extremely noticeable and easy to follow.

Wayfinding is not exclusively signage. Because not everybody has sight, can read English (or read at all), it is often necessary to have other wayfinding methods. Audible communication can include such things as the beeping at crosswalks, the dinging of elevators or even the attendant at an information booth.

On public transit Posting maps inside light rail and subway cars and multiple places at all the stations helps people to navigate what might otherwise be a very confusing trip, especially if taking the train is not something they do on a daily basis. Many subway maps are set up to tell passengers what they will find at the stops (i.e., university or city hall) instead of just street or station names.

In the mall

SignS IJ&iIS There are tactile ways to find where you are as well. This can include anything from the use of Braille on signs to using different flooring to mark different areas to having rumble strips at the end of each stair.

Tactile wayfinding

ACCESSIBLE . . u · ...

Maps posted inside the shopping centre will let you know where you are, how to get to what store you are looking for, and give you a list of stores sorted into sections just in case you can’t decide between jewelry or designer handbags as the perfect Christmas gift for your wife or the fishing pole and new skis for your husband.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 95

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the legal edge

Alberta’s new rules of court by Tim Mavko Reynolds, Mirth, Richards & Farmer LLP

The legal system in Alberta recently changed. It underwent a sweeping overhaul that profoundly affects how courts, lawyers and litigants handle lawsuits. And yet few people outside of the legal system noticed. On Nov. 1, the Alberta Rules of Court was replaced. This is the three-inch thick rulebook for civil litigation in this province. The old 700-plus rules, some of which go back over 100 years, controlled every aspect of court procedure, from the look of legal documents to the deadlines for delivering them, from the conduct of trials to the appeals of unfortunate court decisions. These rules have now been completely rewritten, reorganized and revised. Lawyers, judges and court staff are grappling with the changes. And while many of the new rules only alter things behind the scenes (for example, few care how the Clerk of the Court stamps a court document, but there is a new rule for that), there are some significant changes that affect everyday people and ordinary companies (such as contractors and owners) who find themselves entangled, for one reason or another, in legal proceedings. One such change encourages out-ofcourt settlements. It is a simple fact that most lawsuits settle before they get to the courthouse. At some point in most lawsuits the parties can measure the strength of their cases, assess their risks and make hard business decisions that let them avoid trials. Sometimes this happens early (such as after each side discloses their relevant records); sometimes it happens on

the courthouse steps on the morning of the trial (when even a bad settlement looks better than three weeks — or months — in court). Recognizing the realities, the new rules make it mandatory for litigants to at least try to settle. To do this, the new rules say that before they can schedule a trial, the parties to a lawsuit must participate in some sort of formal dispute resolution process, be it private mediation with a hired mediator, court-assisted settlement meetings with a judge, or something else that they agree upon. To then get a trial date, the parties either have to certify that they tried to settle (but failed) or convince a judge that there was little point in even trying.

It used to be that a lawsuit could sit dormant for up to five years. The new rules shorten that to two years. If no steps are taken for two years that significantly advance the lawsuit, a court must now strike out the lawsuit if one of the parties asks. Perhaps the most visible change is the language used for the new rules: it’s plain language (or at least it’s supposed to be). Gone are many of the awkward, archaic and arcane expressions. In their place, the new rules try to use everyday English and try to encourage the litigants to do the same. This means pre-trial interrogations are now called “questioning” rather than “examinations for discovery,” documents can be sent electronically rather

Lawyers, judges and court staff are grappling with the changes. But some lawsuits don’t (or won’t) settle. And of these, there are still a few that never get to trial, let alone near a courtroom. Instead, these lawsuits seem to fall into a coma. Whether it is because the plaintiffs lose interest or run out of money, these neglected lawsuits sit unmoving and untouched for years, with nothing happening and no resolution. These orphaned lawsuits clog the system, countermine credit ratings (your bank cares that there is still a lawsuit out there, even if the plaintiff doesn’t) and cost the other litigants heartache and money. At some point, fairness dictates that neglected lawsuits should die.

than by “double registered post,” and legal bills are “reviewed” by the court rather than “taxed.” And when the doorbell rings, and a polite stranger asks your name and hands you a legal document, the new rules make sure that you will understand what is happening. Beneath the newly formatted heading with your name and address, the new rules say that the first thing you will read will be: “You are being sued. You are a defendant. Go to the end of this document to see what you can do and when you must do it.” That’s about as clear as it gets. Alberta Construction Magazine | 97

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trade talk

Cut corners now, pay for it later Effective cladding and wall design is critical for long-term building durability by Diane L.M. Cook The old saying, “Never buy a house built in a boom,” couldn’t be more true than in one of the case studies presented at the Building Envelope Solutions conference in Calgary in September. Michael Ball ’s presentation — Cladding Durability: A Case Study on Construction and Restoration — examined an eight-storey residential condo building built in 2002 in Calgary. The condo’s board of directors retained Morrison Hershfield, the firm Ball works for, in 2006 to investigate water

penetration into the first-floor electrical room and several other first-floor areas. Morrison Hershfield’s initial investigation of the building revealed that water was potentially entering from several sources. An extended investigation revealed significant problems with the cladding assembly, which included an Exterior Insulated Finish System (EIFS) over paper faced gypsum sheathing over insulated steel studs. The EIFS was undrained; that is, there was no drainage path for water to be deferred

to the exterior. Also, the sheathing was completely unprotected from moisture penetrating the exterior cladding; that is, there was no secondary moisture barrier. Detailing around penetrations were poorly conceived and executed with massive detail failure at roof scupper interfaces. The west elevation was in the worst condition from a deterioration standpoint, but all elevations were of similar construction. And the belowgrade detailing at curbs were poor, as was the membrane bond. Alberta Construction Magazine | 99

trade talk “The results of these problems are that the cladding and backup wall conditions were not built to a level of durability required for the building to last its estimated lifetime,” said Ball, a professional engineer who is an associate and the senior project manager in the Buildings and Facilities Division at Morrison Hershfield.

To rectify the water penetration problems with the cladding and the building envelope, Morrison Hershfield recommended to the condo’s board of directors that the entire cladding and sheathing systems be replaced on the entire west elevation and parts of both the north and south elevations.

“Major short-term costs and inconveniences to occupants can occur as a result of not using durable construction materials, and a lack of construction quality control reviews can easily result in major errors.” — Michael Ball, Senior Project Manager, Morrison Hershfield “The water breaches required financial planning for what will very likely be a 100 per cent restoration of the exterior of the building with short-term planning for replacement over approximately onethird of the building that is currently in very poor condition due to active water penetration.”

100 | Winter 2010

During the restoration process, the project’s scope grew enormously as the firm found further problems with the existing steel studs lateral loading capacity; the steel stud framing’s as-built details; window installation inconsistencies and window flange breakage, and interior mould. The problems were

not all related to water penetration but encompassed many poor construction practices. “This condo building is a common example of a new build team who might have chosen to cut costs by choosing less durable construction materials, by not employing best-practices construction methods or qualified workers, and by not having each stage of construction inspected,” Ball said. Ball said effective cladding and wall design is critical for long-term building durability. “Major short-term costs and inconveniences to occupants can occur as a result of not using durable construction materials, and a lack of construction quality control reviews can easily result in major errors,” he pointed out. Restoration of the building is ongoing. Unfortunately, Ball said, many buildings in Alberta of the same age are in a similar situation: “A lack of protection for future owners such as warranty requirements and durations, turn-over protocols, audit requirements, etc. are resulting in needless but major short-term capital expense costs for repairs.”

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superconference January 24 & 25, 2011 The Hyatt Regency Hotel, Calgary

updates, strategies and techniques for effective risk management at all stages of construction. You will gain expert advice and guidance from our faculty of top industry specialists and leading construction lawyers so you can overcome your most pressing challenges.

Reg i s t e r n o w. C a l l 1- 8 7 7 -9 2 7 -7 9 3 6 o r o n l i n e a t www. C a n a d i a n I n s t i t u t e . c o m / w e s t c o n s t r u c t i o n / a cm Presented by: