Construction Business by MediaEdge

November/December 2015 Vol. 13 No.1

2015 VRCA Awards of Excellence PM 40063056

Dave Baspaly, COCA president | Construction Safety Buildex Vancouver 2016 Preview

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Inside 06 Connections

COCA president Dave Baspaly is enjoying getting to know the industry and the multifaceted and complex world of representing the industry on WorkSafeBC issues.

November/December| Volume 13 No 1

PUBLISHER

MANAGING Editor Contributing writers

Dan Gnocato dang@mediaedge.ca Cheryl Mah Tracey Block Charles W. Bois

21 Special Supplement

Robin Brunet

2015 VRCA Awards of Excellence

Rebecca J. Cleary Jennifer Davis Terry Duncan

Industry Focus

Robyn Fenton Marguerite Laquinte Francis Kathleen Garbutt

11 Construction Safety

Spencer Landsiedel

Situational Awareness Managing Radon in Buildings Investing in Road Safety

Departments

David Shearer Jean Sorensen Joanna Wyatt B.C./ALBERTA SALES

04 Message from the Editor

Dan Gnocato Tel: 604.549.4521 ext. 223

PUBLISHED BY

13 The Legal File

Pollution Exclusions When Statutory holdback Funds Aren’t Posting Security with a Lien Bond

16 Architect Corner Responding to Disasters

52 Industry News

PRESIDENT Kevin Brown vancouver office 2221 Hartley Ave. Coquitlam, B.C. V3K 6W9 Tel: 604.549.4521 Fax: 604.549.4522 Toronto office 1000-5255 Yonge St. Toronto, ON M2N 6P4 Tel: 416.512.8186 Fax: 416.512.8344 Copyright 2015 Canada Post Canadian publications mail sales publication agreement no. 40063056 — ISSN 1710-0380 Return all undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Suite 1000 — 5255 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario, M2N 6P4

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Cover Photo

The Airside Operations Building at YVR Airport won Graham Construction and Engineering the VRCA Gold general contractor award for a project over $40 million. Photo: Ed White Construction Business is British Columbia and Alberta’s construction magazine. Each issue provides timely and pertinent information to contractors, architects, developers, consulting engineers, and municipal governments throughout both provinces. Complimentary copies are sent bi-monthly to all members of the Architectural Institute of B.C., B.C. Construction Association, B.C. Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association, Consulting Engineers of B.C., Construction Specifications Canada — B.C. Chapter, Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, B.C. Ready-Mixed Concrete Association, Independent Contractors and Businesses Association of B.C., Urban Development Institute of B.C. and Vancouver Regional Construction Association.

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Editor’s Note

Going Home

’m well aware of the construction industry’s dangers and injury stats. It’s part of my job. I even did a whole safety series on the dangers in the different sectors. But only when it happens to you or someone you know does the serious message of safety really hit home — and hard. My husband had a serious work accident from a fall in November. He is recovering — bones will heal. But it could’ve been much worse. So this issue’s focus on safety has a very personal meaning for me this year. Despite all the messages and tool boxes, injuries can still happen and it may be a cliché but it is really important that everyone goes home at the end of the day. You can’t really appreciate or understand what that message means until they don’t come home.

That is a message Dave Baspaly, COCA president, repeats during our interview. Since taking over from Grant McMillian in 2013, Baspaly has been busy getting to know the industry and keeping up with WorkSafeBC changes. This issue also contains our annual VRCA Awards of Excellence coverage. In this year’s competition, Gold Awards were presented to 11 winners, selected from 128 entrants and 37 projects. Graham Construction and Engineering was the big winner, taking home the General Contractor over $40 Million Award for the YVR Airside Operations Building, the Member of the Year Award, and a Safety Award for achieving a zero frequency injury rate. As the last issue of the year for us, I hope you’ve enjoyed our coverage for 2015 and we

look forward to more projects, people and stories in the new year. Finally, to everyone: please remember to be safe and go home to your families and friends.

Cheryl Mah Managing Editor

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Connections

Voice for Safety By Cheryl Mah

nsuring fair and effective legislation, regulation, policy and practice within the workers’ compensation system in B.C. has been the Council of Construction Associations (COCA)’s mandate from the beginning. COCA has been in existence for more than 20 years and the industry has worked together to achieve many significant milestones that ensure the needs of the industry are addressed. “It’s a multifaceted and complex world representing the industry on WorkSafe issues ...so many things that can happen at the same time,” says COCA president Dave Baspaly. “We have independent companies that are confused by regulations and implications of legislation. We also work to ensure that regulations system-wide are fair and reasonable.” Since he assumed his position in November 2013, Baspaly has enjoyed getting to know the industry better, especially the people. “We have the best people for forward thinking, innovation and trying to do the right thing. From the board of directors to the members of those associations we represent, it’s really a great group,” he says. “Everyone is committed to making sure everybody goes home at the end of the day.” With more than two decades of business and consulting experience, Baspaly brings many strengths to the role including organizational leadership, government and member relations, professional negotiation and strategic planning. He has a proven track record of uniting diverse interests to achieve mutual results. 6

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He is a certified management consultant and has a Doctorate in Business Administration from the International School of Management (2010) as well as a master’s degree from Royal Roads University (2009) specializing in dispute resolution. The Ontario 46-year-old native grew up in Vancouver and graduated with a B.A in history and political science from Simon Fraser University in 1991. He began his career working in municipal government (Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows) before serving as executive director for a number of different organizations. Baspaly then opened his own management consulting firm in 2001 and worked with a variety of industries. In 2009, he became the executive director of B.C. Common Ground Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the highest possible standards of public safety, worker safety and damage prevention for underground infrastructure. In that role, he developed relationships with many construction industry stakeholders including COCA. When Grant McMillian, who has been president since the inception of COCA, announced his retirement in 2013, Baspaly was tapped to succeed him. “The organization is the best and brightest in terms of health and safety,” says Baspaly about what attracted him to the position. “Secondly, Grant McMillian has done such a fantastic job of creating a unique relationship with WorkSafe and other ministries. Finally, it was at a time when WorkSafe was going through a tremen-

November/December 2015

dous amount of change...so it was an opportunity to hit the ground running and try to take construction to a better place.” One of Baspaly’s first move was to retain McMillian on a contract basis. “It allows Grant not to have to deal with some of the overwhelming day to day work, while allowing us to still have his expertise on the team.” Formed in 1992, the umbrella organization is a unified voice, representing the interests of all major construction associations in B.C. with membership from a broad cross-section of the industry. COCA assists individual contractors with all areas of WorkSafeBC concerns — occupational health and safety (OHS), claims management, return to work, and assessments. “Right now COCA is really watching the interpretation of Bill 35,” says Baspaly. “We applaud the minister for taking the leadership to promote workplace safety and we want to make sure the regulation doesn’t unnecessarily create confusion or bureacuracy in the system.” Bill 35 is the government’s response to two tragic mill accidents, the subsequent coroners’ reports, as well as key recommendations made by Gordon Macatee in the 2014 WorkSafeBC Review and Action Plan. In 2012, two mill explosions, one in Prince George, and one in Burns Lake, killed four men and injured dozens of other workers. Bill 35 makes amendments to the Workers Compensation Act as part of the broader undertaking to improve safety at sawmills. Those amendments were introduced in the House on

NEW LOOK, NEW FEEL AT NANAIMO REGIONAL GENERAL HOSPITAL BEING POWER SMART MAKES BUSINESS SENSE Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s new 6,200 square metre Emergency Room and Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit is not your usual hospital wing: gone are the skimpy curtains between the beds, the stale air, the gloomy institutional paint on the walls. Opened in fall 2012, the addition is bright, airy and fresh. It’s also incredibly energy efficient. By working with BC Hydro’s New Construction Program to energy-model the new addition, the designer was able to select and install a series of energy-saving measures that will save an estimated 1.1 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. These savings are enough to power around 100 homes for a year. “For a small investment in the beginning, you get a long-term reduction on your operational costs year after year,” says Deanna Fourt, Director of Energy Efficiency and Conservation for Island Health. “We estimate payback at just seven years. And I believe the way the unit was designed has had a great effect on patients as well. It’s a calming and beautiful space.”

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Connections

October 8th, 2015 and will strengthen WorkSafeBC’s ability to promote and enforce OHS compliance in workplaces. Occupational disease prevention is another area of concern with asbestos remaining a leading cause of fatalities. While the risks of worker exposure to asbestos are well known, the risks of dust exposure are starting to get attention. A proposed silica regulation by WorkSafeBC has been in the works for almost three years and is slated for 2017. The new rules would require the use of risk assessments, exposure-control plans, monitoring workplace exposure and training. “Occupational disease is a really important one and impacts a lot of people in B.C. Again, we want to make sure any changes will keep people safe while not being onerous for the contractor,” says Baspaly, noting the development of an online exposure control tool (by BCCSA and UBC) that will assist companies with assessing silica exposures and determining appropriate control measures. “Using technology to create real solutions for companies of different size and scale is a great example of the industry’s innovation.” Controlling costs and managing claims are also top priorities for COCA. WorkSafeBC’s preliminary assessment rates for the ICI sector in 2016 is $2.75 per $100 of payroll, making it the lowest ever historical average. It is a decrease of more than 20 per cent from $3.42 per $100 of payroll in 2015.

“When we look at the ICI CU we can clearly see a trend moving in the right direction. While serious injuries rates are flat, the normal injury rate is trending down, hence the lower rate for this CU,” says Baspaly. “We see this lower rate trend continuing into the foreseeable future.” Industry focus on early RTW, Stay at Work programs and more effective claims management process by WorkSafeBC seems to be paying off when it comes to the duration of injury claims. The average time off on claims decreased

Controlling costs and managing claims are top priorities for COCA. from 72 days in 2014 to 66 days in 2015, down 8 per cent. It is a decrease from the record high of 75 days in 2013 but still above an average of 50 days only seven years ago. Baspaly says there’s been a positive downward trend but the industry is still actively looking at ways to expedite the claims process. WorkSafeBC approved facilities like the False Creek Heatlh Centre has helped. But the fact that majority of the industry is comprised of small companies makes finding solutions that much harder.

Small companies don’t necessarily have the time, resources or infrastructure to address safety issues or to be aware of new regulations and policies, notes Baspaly. The unique nature of construction remains a big challenge when it comes to safety but the industry continues to work collaboratively for solutions. “Over the last five years, the construction sector in partnership with WorksafeBC and the BC Construction Safety Alliance, have worked extremely hard to improve safety and compliance at all points in the system. Our employers know that safety is a fundamental responsibility as well as the right thing to do,” he says. “We are seeing unprecedented engagement across the industry and a recognition that safety is a business imperative — essentially if you invest time and resources into creating a safe worksite or shop, you will experience a direct return in business success over the long run.” Ultimately, health and safety is everybody’s responsibility and Baspaly would like the construction industry, especially the small contractor, to know there are a range of programs and services available. “We encourage every company to make sure they are familiar with the obligations under the Workers Compensation Act and that they work with their employees to be as safe as they can and if they need help, they can come to us,” says Baspaly.

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November/December 2015

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Construction Safety

Situational Awareness Improving incident investigations By Terry Duncan

ompleting adequate, objective, incident investigations is a critical part in advancing safety in any industry or organization. Having a good understanding of Situational Awareness (SA) and how it can be compromised can be a key component of the investigative process. Situational Awareness may be defined as “knowing what is going on around you”. It is something that workers and other persons have at the beginning of a work day, work shift, project, etc. in that they have identified, processed, and have a comprehension of the critical elements of the project they are undertaking. Where Situational Awareness can be used as an investigation technique is when we look for the items and issues that distract us and compromise our ability to maintain Situational Awareness. Case Study: An ironworker, with 22 years experience, is assembling a skeletal steel structure and finds that a beam that is being installed will not fit in the space between two columns. Does the Ironworker stop and try to determine why the goal cannot be achieved or does the ironworker use the tools that are available to make the pieces fit and achieve the goal. In the case above, the ironworker climbs onto the beam which is suspended from a crane hook and uses the counterweight ball (headache ball) of the secondary load line. The ironworker swings the secondary line in a fashion that causes the “headache ball” to impact the column and move it over enough to allow the beam to fit. 10

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Unfortunately, the ironworker loses his footing and falls from the beam. The investigator’s job is to find out why a 22 year experienced worker would make the decisions that led to the incident occurring. The loss of Situational Awareness can lead to poor judgment and poor decisions not based on fact, to be made. Some of the clues to a loss of Situational Awareness may occur over time, but will include: • Confusion or “gut feel” being used to achieve goals • No-one is watching or looking for hazards • Workers using improper procedures • Workers no longer use established regulation • Projects fail to meet target dates or times • Workers fixate on moving the project forward instead of finding the causes of the problem • Unresolved discrepancies in the process as completion becomes the main focus. In the case study above, the real problem was that the crew who erected the columns overtightened their base plates preventing the installation of the beam. Take the information that is gathered through the Situational Awareness review and combine it with the information gathered by other investigative techniques to develop a comprehensive incident investigation report. There are methods available to recover and maintain Situational Awareness. The key ele-

November/December 2015

ment is timely and effective communication combined with some of the following: • Recognize and advise others of deviations from standard practices • Monitor the performance of your fellow employees • Provide information in advance • Identify real and potential problems • Develop and communicate a course of action • Continually assess the situation • Ensure that all workgroup members understand expectations. Beware of the barriers that can compromise Situational Awareness: • Perceptions based on faulty information • Excessive motivation — rewards, threats • Complacency of management, supervision and workers • Overload — too many issues to process during a project • Fatigue • Poor communication at all levels and in both directions. The next time an incident investigation is required, make sure you determine how much damage was done to the Situational Awareness of those directly involved and those providing guidance. Terry Duncan is a safety consultant in B.C.

Construction Safety

Managing Radon in Buildings By David Shearer

Building radon out

RRNC detail around footings.

adon in buildings is a significant health concern recognized by Health Canada and the World Health Organization. According to Health Canada, approximately 16 per cent of all lung cancer deaths are caused by radon; this results in the loss of about 3,200 Canadian lives per year. Next to smoking, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer and the number one cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.

What is Radon Gas? Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, which can readily enter buildings through foundations with direct soil and rock contact. Radon is present in virtually all of the air we breathe but the problem occurs when too much accumulates inside a building. One common question that invariably comes up is, are there any maps or studies that will tell me what the radon concentration of my building is? Unfortunately, the short answer to that question is no, but, there are resources available that can identify general ‘hot spots’ for radon. However, even within any given ‘hot spot’, you will still find buildings that can have either high and low levels of radon right next door to each other. In areas where the radon potential is very low, you will still find buildings with high radon levels. The only way to know if a building has an elevated radon concentration is to test it.

Radon Measurement Testing is a simple process involving the installation of small radon detectors at prescribed locations in a building. A typical residential home would require only a single detector, whereas a large commercial building could require dozens of detectors, depending on the layout and the occupancy patterns within the building. Health

Canada recommends that testing only be conducted in areas occupied by an individual for a minimum period of four hours per day. Radon concentrations can vary significantly from day to day and even more so from season to season. Radon testing is most representative of building conditions when conducted over a minimum period of 91 days up to 1 year. The best time of year to test a building is in the fall and winter months when windows are most often closed and radon concentrations tend to be the highest. Health Canada has set an action level of 200 Becquerels per cubic meter (Bq/m3) in their guidelines for residential and public buildings. This refers to the amount of radiation associated with radon in a building. It is recommended that buildings exceeding this action level have a radon mitigation system installed.

How to fix a radon problem? There are several ways to mitigate elevated radon levels within buildings which depend on a number of factors. In buildings with robust HVAC systems, mitigation can often be accomplished by ensuring the building is adequately pressurized and ventilated in order to keep radon levels low. In the absence of such a system, installation of a sub-slab depressurization (SSD) system is effective. SSD systems work by exhausting the radon gas from beneath a building to the outdoors before it can enter the building. This is accomplished by inserting PVC piping through the foundation floor slab and connecting it to a fan that is vented outdoors where the radon gas dilutes to low levels very quickly. Soil crawlspaces can be mitigated just as effectively using a well sealed polyethylene membrane over the crawlspace floor, and similar suction system.

Recent changes to the National Building Code and BC Building code prescribe measures to inhibit radon entry and to facilitate potential future mitigation of radon levels in new buildings. These techniques are collectively referred to as Readily Remediated New Construction (RRNC). One aspect of RRNC includes the installation of rough-ins of mitigation systems prior to the slabs of buildings being poured. If post-occupancy radon concentrations are above Health Canada’s guideline of 200 Bq/m³, the complexity of installing an active mitigation system is reduced by the RRNC measures. Building owners are advised to test their new building, and based on the test results either do nothing if results are below 200 Bq/m3, or convert the rough-in to an active mode by installing fans and venting radon gas to the exterior of the building if the results are above 200 Bq/m3. In Canada there is a growing network of radon professionals to assist with measurement and mitigation of buildings. The Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) certifies radon professionals through detailed training courses and testing, and requires frequent professional development to maintain certification. Another source for guidance of radon issues includes the Canadian Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (CARST).

Radon Awareness Beyond technical innovations, development of standards of practice and improved building codes, the largest challenge with respect to radon continues to be public awareness. It has proven difficult to communicate the risk radon poses to occupant health, in a manner that hits home with Canadians. In an era where we are bombarded by information about emerging health risks by the media, the signal is easily lost. Through the dedicated efforts of the Canadian Cancer Agency, Health Canada, Alberta and BC Lung Association, and public health professionals across Canada, headway is being made. This is an important health issue, and the signal must not get lost. The research linking the radiation associated with radon exposure to lung cancer is undeniable. The process of testing a building is simple. Radon professionals skilled at conducting measurement and mitigation of buildings are eager to support in reducing the risk from radon. Building code professionals are laying the groundwork to eliminate this issue from all new buildings. David Shearer, B.Sc., LEED AP, is senior project manager at Pinchin West Ltd. in Kelowna, B.C.

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Construction Safety

Investing in Road Safety Why integrating road safety into a safety management system is smart business. By Joanna Wyatt

f companies have employees who drive for work, they are as responsible for the employee’s safety when they are behind the wheel as when they are on the construction site.

Why invest in road safety “Motor vehicle crashes are a significant workplace issue. In fact, they are the leading cause of traumatic workplace deaths in British Columbia, accounting for 36 per cent of all traumatic workplace fatalities,” says Mark Ordeman, manager, Industry and Labour Services, WorkSafeBC. “In the construction sector, an average 140 workers a year are injured in motor-vehicle crashes on the job and miss time from work. Another four are killed.” When workers are hurt in motor vehicle crashes, they are typically off the job longer and their WorkSafeBC claims are higher than when injured in other ways. In the five year period from 2010 to 2014, the average number of days a construction-sector worker was off work due to a work-related injury was 74 and the average claim cost was $31,000. During the same period, the average length of time a construction-sector worker injured in a motor vehicle crash was off work was 125 days — about six months — and the average claim cost was $70,000. 12

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Strong road safety programs “Strong road safety programs have been proven to help companies reduce crashes and avoid costly downtime,” says Rick Walters, fleet safety manager, Road Safety at Work. “More importantly, fewer crashes mean fewer injuries, fewer WorkSafeBC claims and fewer lost work days.”

Assess your current road safety program

To help evaluate a road safety program’s strengths and weaknesses, take Road Safety At Work’s short questionnaire (http://action.roadsafetyatwork.ca/questions/10qconnect.php) about the 10 key indicators of successful road safety programs. Think about the organization, the work-related driving that occurs there, the attitudes of employees who drive for work and the road safety culture the organization advocates.

Get employees involved

It’s also important to understand how employees view their company’s road safety program so ask them to take the survey too. Then, pool the results and a snapshot of the road safety program becomes available. Statements with which most employees strongly agree are program strengths. Statements with which employers and other employees strongly disagree identify aspects of the

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road safety program that deserve improvement and should be areas to focus on first.

Next steps

Check out the 10 Essentials of a Road Safety Program (http://roadsafetyatwork.ca/employer-and-supervisor-tools/essentials-of-a-roadsafety-program/) which has tips and helpful links to resources to help improve a road safety program. Use the initial results as a benchmark. Complete the survey again in 12 to 18 months and compare the second results to the first ones to see how the road safety investments have paid off. “Road Safety At Work offers a vast array of free tools and services for workplaces to either start or improve their road safety plan,” says Ordeman. “I encourage all B.C. businesses to take advantage of this great resource.” Joanna Wyatt is the program manager for Road Safety At Work, an occupational health and safety initiative managed by the Justice Institute of BC and funded by WorkSafeBC. It offers online tools and resources as well as free workshops and consulting services to help employers reduce the number of workplace motor-vehicle crashes, deaths and injuries in B.C. roadsafetyatwork.ca

Legal File

Pollution Exclusions Commercial General Liability Policies By Jennifer Davis and Kathleen Garbutt

The Court of Appeal accepted that Precision Plating had a reasonable expectation of coverage for damage caused by fire. That expectation, however, did not extend to circumstances where liability existed for the release of pollutants and no coverage was required in respect of these claims. The court found that in circumstances where liability was caused by an excluded loss, such as the escape of pollutants, the insurer has no duty to defend. This remains true even in circumstances where the liability is concurrently caused by events that would be covered. However, an insurer is required to provide coverage, and therefore defend any claim for covered losses. Therefore, claims in relation to fire damage, were still covered.

A Cautionary Tale

recent ruling from the British Columbia Court of Appeal has clarified pollution exclusion clauses by focusing on causation and liability. In Precision Plating v. AXA Pacific Insurance Co. (Precision), the Court of Appeal considered the effectiveness of a pollution exclusion contained in a Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy. Businesses need to ensure that policy exclusions are understood to avoid any surprise exclusions.

Background Precision Plating, who was insured by AXA, operated out of a multi-tenanted commercial building. A fire broke out, which triggered the sprinkler system, filling chemical vats and causing them to overflow. The overflowing vats seeped diluted chemicals into neighbouring businesses, contaminating the surrounding property. Alleging property damage due to contamination, the neighbouring property owners commenced an action against Precision Plating.

The Policy As with all Commercial General Liability Policies, the CGL policy in question was a third party indemnity policy: there was no coverage for the insured’s property, but the insurer indemnified the policy holder for damage that occurs to a third party’s property. Within the CGL policy there was a pollution exclusion which provided that coverage would not apply where damage was caused or contributed to by the “discharge, emission, dispersal, seepage, leakage, migration,

release or escape at any time of Pollutants.” Pollutants was defined within the CGL policy and included chemicals of the sort that had escaped during the fire. The British Columbia Supreme Court determined that the damage to the claimants’ property was caused by the fire, the insurer was obligated to defined and the pollution exclusion did not exclude coverage. The Supreme Court’s decision was primarily based on the imaged cause of the damage being the fire.

The Decision AXA appealed. The British Columbia Court of Appeal concluded that the trial judge erred by framing his analysis with reference to the cause of the damage claimed, rather than the liability which gave rise to the damage. The Court of Appeal changed the focus from the cause of the damage, the fire, to the source of the liability, the release of pollutants. In reaching this conclusion, the court considered the specific language in the CGL policy and concluded that “the language provides coverage for potential liability because of property damage due to an accident or occurrence, not the potential damage itself.” In other words, liability, or potential liability, for the release of pollutants was not covered by the CGL policy. As the escape of the pollutants (the source of liability) caused the damages complained of, not the fire, AXA was not required to provide coverage to Precision Plating for damages caused by the release of the pollutants.

The Court of Appeal confirmed the longstanding principles applicable to the interpretation of insurance policies. An insurer’s obligation to provide coverage, including the duty to defend, will generally be broadly interpreted in favour of the insured. Where a policy exclusion is unclear or ambiguous, such uncertainties are generally resolved in favour of the insured. Further, insurers have a duty to defend their insureds against any claim “that could possibly fall within the policy language.” That being said, a policy exclusion, such as the pollution exclusion in the AXA CGL policy, will be enforced where the exclusion is clear. In those circumstances, the insured has no duty to defend or indemnify the insured against claims. In Precision, the fact that the release of the pollutants was caused by fire, a covered peril, did not matter. The actual cause of the potential liability will be examined in order to determine if there is an applicable coverage exclusion. Taking a risk management approach, construction firms can take steps to mitigate losses by assessing operating risks and determining where potential liability may occur. General coverage policies do not always provide the broad coverage that you hope it provides. Coverage needs should be fully considered and carefully explained to insurers or insurance agents to ensure the broker or agent fully understands your risk management needs. Policies and exclusion clauses should be reviewed to ensure coverage is appropriate and risks are being appropriately addressed. A project with known pollution risks may warrant purchase of a pollution policy. Jennifer Davis and Kathleen Garbutt are associates at McLennan Ross in Edmonton who practice in the area of construction litigation.

November/December 2015

construction business

Legal File

When Statutory Holdback Funds Aren’t By Charles W. Bois and Spencer Landsiedel

ll provinces in Canada have some form of builders’ lien legislation that imposes rigorous obligations upon owners, contractors and subcontractors. Such legislation is intended to benefit contractors and their subcontractors and suppliers by providing them a right to file a builders lien for the value of the work or materials provided against an owner’s property if they remain unpaid. A significant obligation imposed on owners is the requirement to retain a fixed percentage of the contract price as “statutory holdback”. The statutory holdback funds are impressed with a trust, the beneficiaries of which are all those providing supplies and services to the contractor completing the owner’s project. The contractor retained by the owner has similar statutory holdback obligations in respect of its subcontractors. If an owner fails to retain the statutory holdback or pays it to the contractor too quickly, the owner could be personally liable for and have to pay an amount equal to the statutory holdback value that should have been retained. As a general principle, an owner’s obligation to retain the statutory holdback funds typically comes to an end once the period for filing liens has expired, provided no liens have been filed on the project. Although a builders lien can be filed against the project at any time during the project, quite often, a lien claimant is reluctant 14

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to file a lien early in the work and will wait until the end of the project to file a lien claim. Builders lien legislation requires lien claimants to file a lien claim within a fixed period as set out in the statute. This period of time is typically a fixed number of days after the contractor has achieved substantial completion of the contract work. Liens outside of this time period will be void and unenforceable. The statutory holdback money retained by the owner will become due and payable to the contractor if no liens have been filed in connection with the work or, if any liens were filed, those liens were satisfied or discharged. Once the period for filing liens has expired and provided that there are no outstanding lien claims filed against the project, the statutory holdback funds become due and payable to the contractor. It is at this point however, that the owner can now assert off-setting claims against the ‘holdback funds’ and, as a result, could continue to retain the former holdback funds on account of deficiencies in the work or any other claims that the owner may have against the contractor. If there are lien claims filed that are not satisfied and discharged then the owner cannot release the holdback funds to the contractor, nor can the owner assert any claims against the holdback funds. While there are many different lien statutes in Canada, the general principles are largely the same:

November/December 2015

1. Statutory holdback funds represent funds held in trust by the owner for the benefit of the contractor’s suppliers and subcontractors who performed work on the owner’s project; 2. Subject to a any progressive release of the statutory holdback funds for subcontract work substantially completed during the construction, the owner must hold the statutory holdback funds in trust until the period for filing lien claims has expired and the owner is certain that no liens have been filed against the project and that any liens that were filed have been satisfied and discharged; and 3. Once the period for filing liens has expired and the owner is certain that there are no outstanding lien claims, the statutory holdback funds become ‘contract funds’ which are due and payable to the contractor and which can be subject to any off-setting claims that the owner may have against the contractor. In summary, the statutory holdback funds eventually transform into contract funds that become due and payable to the contractor which are subject to any set-off claims asserted by the owner. . Charles W. Bois is a construction lawyer and Spencer Landsiedel is an articled student, both in the Vancouver Office of Miller Thomson LLP.

Legal File

Posting Security with a Lien Bond The Lien v. The Trust By Rebecca Cleary

he BC Builders Lien Act (the “BC Act”) provides two separate and district remedies for unpaid contractors. The first is the well-known lien. The second is the lesser known statutory trust. The Supreme Court of Canada recently confirmed the separate nature of these two remedies in Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd. v. Structural Heavy Steel1, which considered Manitoba’s Builders’ Lien Act (the “Manitoba Act”). In this case, the owner retained general contractor Stuart Olson (the GC) to construct a new football stadium for the University of Manitoba. The GC in turn subcontracted the supply and installation of steel to Structal (the subcontractor). During construction, the GC withheld payment from the subcontractor, first citing the owner’s delay in payment and then back charges resulting from the subcontractor’s alleged delay. The subcontractor filed a $15.5 million lien and asserted that the GC was required to comply with the statutory trust provisions in the Manitoba Act which operate to create a trust for contract funds held for the benefit of persons engaged in connection with the construction contract. As is common practice and permitted by both the Manitoba Act and the BC Act, the lien was cancelled from title in exchange for the GC posting security for the entire amount of the lien in the form of a lien bond. The owners continued to pay the GC its progress draws, but the GC refused to make further payments to the subcontractor, asserting that it had a setoff against the monies claimed, there was therefore no breach of the statutory trust claimed, and the subcontractor’s claim was fully secured by the lien bond. The GC brought an application seeking a declaration that it had satisfied its

obligations under the Manitoba Act by posting the lien bond and thus could pay all amounts owed from the owner to other trust claimants and, once satisfied, to other creditors. The subcontractor replied with its own application for full payment of its invoices. The issue before the Supreme Court of Canada was whether, by posting a lien bond as security for the lien, the GC had also satisfied its statutory trust obligations under the Manitoba Act. The court considered this issue by first confirming that any money or security posted takes the place of the land in securing the interests of the contractor or subcontractor who registered the lien. The only effect of posting security is that the amount posted, rather than the land itself, is available in the event of a lien judgment. The underlying lien claim remains, but the land is freed from encumbrances. The court then considered the statutory trust provisions of the Manitoba Act. Both the Manitoba Act and the BC Act provide that money received by a contractor or subcontractor on account of the price of a construction contract constitutes trust funds for the benefit of certain persons engaged in connection with that contract. Those Acts generally provide that subcontractors are to be paid before a contractor can appropriate trust funds for his or her own use. The result is that an unpaid subcontractor or beneficiary of the trust may assert a trust claim against funds payable on the contract. In this case, the GC asserted that by posting the lien bond as security for the lien, it had satisfied its obligation to maintain the trust funds for the subcontractor. The court disagreed. The court held that the filing of a lien bond had no effect on the existence of the statutory trust. A lien bond is simply an assurance that the surety will pay upon judgment if the GC failed to do

so. The lien bond provided no more security for the lien than the lien which was removed because the lien claimant had to be successful in its lien claim to collect the money secured by the bond. The trust provisions of the Manitoba Act provide that a contractor is barred from using any trust funds until all subcontractors have been “paid”. A lien bond did not constitute payment and thus did not extinguish the statutory trust. Therefore, the court concluded that GC had not satisfied its trust obligations under the Manitoba Act. Had the GC posted security in the form of cash, then that would have satisfied the statutory trust as the Manitoba Act provided that payment of trust funds into court to vacate a lien would not breach the trust. The BC Act similarly provides that if “money” is paid into court, the money becomes or remains subject to the statutory trust. While there are some differences between the Manitoba Act and the BC Act, the BC Act has also been interpreted to the effect that a lien claim is a separate and distinct remedy from the statutory trust claim. The BC Act also provides that trust funds must not be used until all beneficiaries of the trust are “paid”. This wording suggests that the court’s determination that the posting of a lien bond as security in British Columbia does not extinguish the statutory trust. The bottom line is that if a contractor choses to post security for a lien by way of a lien bond (and incur the expense of purchasing the bond) it is likely that they will also be required to maintain trust funds until the subcontractor is paid in accordance with the terms of the BC Act. . Rebecca J. Cleary is a member of the Construction + Engineering practice at Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP 1

2015 SCC 43

November/December 2015

construction business

Architect Corner

Responding to Disasters BY Marguerite Laquinte Francis and Robyn Fenton

lash floods, earthquakes and wildfires have caused significant property damage and displaced many communities in Alberta and British Columbia in recent years. Did you know that in the immediate aftermath of natural disasters, individuals with design, construction and facility management expertise can be of great assistance to local authorities? In 2012, when Hurricane Sandy swept the East Coast, 80,000 affected buildings were assessed for safety and damage by first responders, municipal staff and trained volunteers within the first 30 days. In 2013, more than 17,000 homes and businesses were damaged by the Southern Alberta floods. In August 2015, after the Metro Vancouver windstorms, the need for damage assessors once again far exceeded expectations. On November 16, 2015, members of the Architectural Institute of BC’s (AIBC) PostDisaster Response Committee participated in “Operation Windshield”, a full scale earthquake exercise coordinated by North Shore Emergency Management. The onsite training was a simulation of the response and coordination efforts that would be triggered by a credible 7.3 shallow earthquake in the central Georgia Strait. It included the full activation of the North Shore Emergency Operations Centre and the deployment of responders from the Districts of West Vancouver, North Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, neighbouring municipalities, air and marine response and many other stakeholder agencies. For the design professionals who participated, it validated the importance of their contribution as advisors to municipalities and as members of rapid damage assessment teams. In Canada, the responsibility for disaster response first lies at the municipal level. Should the event overwhelm their resources they would request help from the provincial government such as the Alberta Emergency Management

construction business

Agency and Emergency Management BC. A fundamental and common function of disaster response is to evaluate the state of the built environment. This activity is broadly referred to as Damage Assessment (DA), and more specifically: rapid safety assessments and detailed damage assessments. These reviews which allow people to return to their homes and get businesses back up and running as soon as possible are central to reducing the demand for the limited emergency resources and allowing everyday activities to resume so that a community can recover more quickly. Although some international precedents exist, such as those of the Applied Technology Council (www.atcouncil.org), there is no single Canadian standard. In B.C., each jurisdiction establishes its own guidelines for DA leading to a patchwork of response protocols across the province. Disaster response is commonly broken into three stages; within each, we find that design and construction professionals have a key role to play. Emergency First Response (within the first 7 days): Work during this stage includes the provision of emergency shelter, medical services, food, social and psychological support. Authorities and their staff will perform preliminary ‘windshield’ safety assessment to quickly get an understanding of the scale and scope of the damage. Specialty consultants including engineers and architects would likely be called upon to provide assessments of critical buildings and infrastructure. Relief (within the first 70 days): The relief stage can begin immediately in certain parts of the affected area however it generally refers to the period of time following the initial impact of the event, when clean up begins. Rapid safety assessments of housing stock and smaller structures are performed in under an hour to triage buildings that are largely unaffected and suitable

November/December 2015

for occupancy from those which pose a risk to health, life-safety or are structurally unstable. Individuals with varying levels of training and expertise in facility management, design and the construction industry are a valuable pool of resources to complement an assessment team given that the number of buildings to assess in any given community is far greater than the number of municipal staff available. The relief stage also includes more detailed assessments of damage to infrastructure, more complex building types and historic properties. Generally this in depth analysis is led by structural engineers, geoscientists and senior architects who might also be supported by others in the industry. Recovery (within the first 700 days and beyond): The recovery stage is that of rebuilding. It involves the planning and conceptualizing of a long term vision which will enhance the physical fabric and resilience of a community. Architects, engineers and other construction professionals have a more obvious role to play throughout this stage with the hope that by the end of this approximately two- year period, residents will have positively adjusted to the new reality of their post-disaster community. For the last two years, the AIBC’s Post-Disaster Response Committee has been working with agencies from all three levels of government, post-secondary institutions and other professional associations to develop an interconnected system for damage assessment and volunteer deployment. Within this programme, our committee sees a formal role for the AIBC to train and certify members on both rapid safety assessments and detailed damage assessments. The objective is to create a province-wide roster of trained DA volunteers who could be called upon to assist with smaller, localized disasters or those of greater impact. Our hope is that the agreements and strategies that are developed will be adopted as standard guidelines for communities across the province and that the communication structures created will aid in establishing a national network of trained volunteers able to support and provide assistance between provinces, territories and internationally. . Robyn Fenton Architect AIBC is the founder of ReForma Architecture on Bowen Island, B.C. She is a volunteer on the AIBC Post-Disaster Response Committee. Marguerite Laquinte Francis Architect AIBC is the principal of MLF Event Architecture which specializes in temporary construction and site planning for major sporting events. Marguerite also chairs the AIBC’s Post-Disaster Response Committee.

weStern canada’S LargeSt conference and tradeShow for

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Western canada’s largest event of its kind is back. BuiLDeX Vancouver attracts more than 14,000 attendees from the Property Management, architecture & Design, and construction & renovation industries. With more than 600 exhibits on our tradeshow floor, and more than 70 educational seminars — this industry event should not be missed! For the latest updates and to register online, visit buildexvancouver.com. see you February 24 & 25, 2016!

WHy aTTEnd? networK with thousands of professionals from Vancouver’s design, architectural, construction and property management industries. eDucate yourself by attending one of over 70 ceu accredited seminars oﬀered by leading industry professionals. diScover more than 600 exhibits showcasing products for design, construction and property management.

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• architects • designers • Property Managers • Building owners • contractors • builders & renovators • developers

Vancouver convention centre West – 1055 canada Place tradeshow – exhibit halls b&c Wednesday, February 24 • 9:30am – 5:00pm Thursday, February 25 • 9:30am – 4:00pm seminars – level 2 Wednesday, February 24 • 8:00am – 4:00pm Thursday, February 25 • 8:00am – 4:00pm

iT’S all HErE... MEET & GrEET nETWOrKinG rECEPTiOn Join us for the annual Meet & Greet reception — a perfect way to end your first day at BuiLDeX on Wednesday, February 24. network with over 500 industry professionals and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a glass of wine or beer.

nEW! WOrld OF COnCrETE PaViliOn this is your one-stop-shop for the commercial concrete and masonry industries, with approximately 40 exhibits showcasing new products, expert know-how and the latest innovations in the industry.

nEW! rOOFinG ZOnE Get all of the latest and greatest in the roofing industry, at BuiLDeX Vancouver’s brand-new roofing Zone. Get your hands dirty in the live demo area and remain up-to-date on the leading-edge products in the market.

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Bui LDeX Vancouver and the Vancouver regional construction association look forward to welcoming all leaders in the construction, renovation, interior Design, architecture and Project Management industries to this NEW event! Keynote Speaker: Rusty Sherwood, Senior consultant, FMi center for strategic Leadership. open to all delegates. Vrca Members, please contact the Vrca oﬃce at (604) 294-3766 for more information.

BOMa lUnCH Wednesday, February 24 Reception • 11:30am–12:00pm Luncheon & Announcements • 12:00pm–1:00pm Keynote Address, Q&A • 1:00pm–1:30pm Join BoMa for their annual lunch during BuiLDeX Vancouver. For more information, contact the BOMA oﬃce at (604) 684-3916.

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JOin THE COnVErSaTiOn connect with BuiLDeX Vancouver! tweet us at @buIlDeXshows or use hashtag #buildexvan. Follow us on our Linkedin company Page at buIlDeX shows.

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BUILDEX Vancouver Show Preview • February 24 & 25, 2016 • www.buildexvancouver.com

Cover Image: Photo taken by Jeﬀ Cunningham®

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FEaTUrEd KEynOTES

FEaTUrEd SEMinarS

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 10:30AM–12:00PM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR W13 – INTERIOR DESIGN KEYNOTE PANEL: CULTIVATING COMMUNICATION AND CREATING COMMUNITY IN SPACE: BEST PRACTICES FROM FOUR INTERIOR DESIGN inFlUEnCErS ar CO id PM suPPorteD BY

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 8:30AM–11:30AM • $100 EARLY BIRD / $125 REGULAR W04 – SUCCESSFUL PROJECT MANAGEMENT PART 1: aVOid COMMUniCaTiOn FailUrE ar CO En id Pd

[ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, iDcec 0.1 ceus ] as societal generations diversify and their needs and demands continue to advance, cultivating communication and creating a sense of community is of growing desire in today’s corporate and institutional environments. Balancing technological advancement, the behavior and trends of building inhabitants, aesthetic outcomes, and cultural considerations of a region make this no easy feat.

MeDia sPonsor

attend this panel presentation to hear four interior design influencers discuss how to cultivate communication and create community in space.

[ AIBC 3.0 Core LUs, BOMI 3.0 CPDs, HPO 3.0 CPDs, IDCEC 0.3 CEUs ] The top three project success criteria are user/client involvement, executive management support, and a clear statement of requirements. Malfunction in these areas lead to the most commonly cited reason for poor project performance: tina ViGneuX communication failure. Your achievement as a Project Manager is directly tied to your ability to communicate eﬀectively and influence the stakeholders. this session will increase awareness of your own personal communication style, how you impact others, communication styles, filters, generational diversity in the workplace, communications protocols, channels, and processes. Speaker: tina Vigneux, Vice President, atocrates Project sciences international

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 11:00AM–12:00PM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR W14 – GENERATION MYSUNDERSTOOD ar CO En id Pd PM [ aiBc 1.0 non-core Lu, BoMi 1.0 cPD, HPo 1.0 cPD, iDcec 0.1 ceus ] aanDra currie sHearer

annie BerGeron

BiLL DoWZer

Joe PettiPas

By 2025, 75% of the workforce will be Generation Y: What does this mean for the future of work? With the average company tenure for a Millennial being just over two years before heading elsewhere, how can organizations leverage and build institutional memory? How do we reduce the time, energy, and finances lost as the recruiting cycle becomes shorter and shorter? How are students being educated about their careers and how can we engage them once they join our companies?

saraH stanForD

Moderator: aandra currie shearer, President, iDc Panelists: annie Bergeron, Design Director, Gensler Bill Dowzer, Principal, BVn architecture Joe Pettipas, senior Vice President, Practice Leader, HoK sarah stanford, senior interior Designer, Perkins + Will (invited)

eric terMuenDe

this seminar will outline how to better attract, engage, and retain a highly misunderstood generation. the future of work is happening now and businesses have to be sure that the communication of their culture is being done properly to attract the best employees for their organizations.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 2:00PM–3:30PM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR W30 – SUSTAINABILITY KEYNOTE: LEED – IS IT STILL RELEVANT IN 2016? ar CO En id PM SB [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs ] The 2030 Challenge set a goal of producing only net zero energy, new buildings by 2030 in North America, and ensuring existing buildings improved their energy performance by 50%. current codes won’t get industry to this lofty goal, but it’s not clear that LeeD won’t either. the granddaddy of green building is competing with a proliferation of other rating systems that promise net zero performance and in some cases, are easier and cheaper to implement. What needs to change if LeeD is going to continue to lead the way for green building?

Speaker: eric termuende, co-Founder and Director, Gen Y inc.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 10:00AM–12:00PM • $75 EARLY BIRD / $100 REGULAR T13 – LEAD, CREATE, COLLABORATE — OPTIMIZING COLLABORATION TO DRIVE PrOFiTaBiliTy and PrOdUCTiViTy ar CO id Pd PM [ BoMi 2.0 cPDs ] research proves that a highly collaborative work environment drives profitability and productivity. creating a singular culture deeply unifies your company around a common vision driving alignment, consistency and cross-office coordination. During this highly interactive session, participants will discover how to create a differentiated organizational culture that helps develop the next generation of leadership through collaborative efforts.

rustY sHerWooD

Speaker: rusty sherwood, senior consultant, FMi center for strategic Leadership anDrÉe iFFriG

eDen BruKMan

sÉBastien Garon

HeLen GooDLanD

GraHaM tWYForD-MiLes

DouG WeBBer

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 10:30AM–12:00PM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR T17 – LIGHTING & CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY — TRENDS & LIGHTING VISUALIZATION/MODELLING CO En id PM SB

Moderator: andrée iﬀ rig, Leader, sustainability team, Dirtt environmental solutions Panelists: eden Brukman, Founder & Principal, concenter solutions sébastien Garon, architect aiBc, LeeD aP BD + c, Principal, sébastien Garon architecture + Design Helen Goodland, Principal, Brantwood consulting Graham twyford-Miles, associate and Practice Lead, sustainable solutions, stantec Doug Webber, associate Vice President, sustainability & energy, WsP canada

[ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs, iDcec 0.1 ceus ] sPonsoreD BY

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 10:30AM–12:00PM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR T18 – ARCHITECTURE KEYNOTE PANEL: TODAY, TOMORROW & AFAR: DESIGN TrEndS OF PrESEnT day and PrEdiCTiOnS FOr THE FUTUrE ar CO id PM SB [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs, iDcec 0.1 ceus ]

aLan BoniFace

GreGorY HenriQueZ

JiM HuFFMan

sunnY GHatauraH

Speaker: sunny Ghataurah, Director, aes engineering

suPPorteD BY

over the course of history, the practice of architecture has unfolded in ways that reflect the places and times in which the designers lived. in that time, new materials, unique approaches, and daring designs have moved the design process forward challenging each generation to push the bar. While many argue that architecture has moved leaps and bounds, other ask has it come far enough?

treVor BoDDY

With the technological advancements in the lighting industry, it wasn’t more than 5 years ago that the industry was specifying 95% fluorescent and 5% LED. Today, the numbers have reversed. this evolution can be attributed to the significant advancements in the quality of LeD lighting, in particular gains in energy eﬃciency.

MeDia sPonsor

Bruce KnaPP

Moderator: trevor Boddy, critic, curator & Historian of architecture Panelists: alan Boniface, architecit aiBc, aaa, Mraic, aia, Ba, Barch, Principal, DiaLoG Gregory Henriquez, Managing Partner, Henriquez Partners architects (invited) Jim Huﬀman, architect aiBc, Mraic, LeeD aP, Design Principal, Perkins +Will Bruce Knapp, aiBc, architect aaa, saa. Maa, oaa, aanB, nsaa, aaPei, architect, nWtaa, Principal, Vancouver, B+H architects

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 1:00PM–2:00PM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR T24 – FROM VISION TO REALITY: UNLOCKING THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF COMPlEX UrBan SiTES ar CO En id Pd PM [ aiBc 1 non-core Lu, BoMi 1.0 cPD, HPo 1.0 cPD, iDcec 0.1 ceus ] every city and community has sites or areas that are derelict, vacant or underutilized. these sites are typically located in key commercial areas with high walkability, access to schools, services, and transit. it is these derelict and vacant sites located in prime neighborhoods or waterfront districts that have the potential to be most carLa Guerrera transformative for cities. this session will present best practices and key lessons for the redevelopment of complex urban, often contaminated sites that is well-grounded in the key lessons from one of canada’s largest and most valuable contaminated sites, and several local examples including the redevelopment of a gas station site into an award-winning mixed-use development. this presentation will focus on the best practices that can be distilled from these projects and used for other sites to realize their development potential. Speaker: carla Guerrera, Vice President, Planning & community Development, Darwin Properties SeMinar StreaMS: ar ARCHITECTURE Bc BUILDING CODE co CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION en ENGINEERING id INTERIOR DESIGN Pd PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SB SUSTAINABILITY

BUILDEX Vancouver Show Preview • February 24 & 25, 2016 • www.buildexvancouver.com

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COnFErEnCE HiGHliGHTS

SeMinar StreaMS: ar ARCHITECTURE Bc BUILDING CODE co CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION en ENGINEERING id INTERIOR DESIGN Pd PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PM PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SB SUSTAINABILITY

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 8:30AM–10:00AM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR W01 – INTRODUCTION TO THE WELL BUILDING STANDARD ar CO En id SB

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 8:30AM-10:00AM • $35 EARLY BIRD / $45 REGULAR T03 – SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATED PASSIVE HOUSE BUILDINGS ar CO En SB

[ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs, iDcec 0.1 HsW ceus ]

[ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs ]

the growing evidence showing the impacts that buildings have on health has broadened the conversation about sustainability beyond just environmental factors, to one that also addresses the human component. The WELL Building Standard® has emerged as a framework to this end. WeLL is a new evidence-based system HeLen BrenneK Maeri MacHaDo to measure, certify and monitor features of buildings that impact health and wellbeing. it focuses on best practices in design, construction and operations to enhance air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. this session will discuss the opportunities available for owners, investors, and tenants to enhance health and wellness on the path to improving building performance.

Gain a comprehensive and diverse rundown on the processes, components and details that make an integrated Passive House building successful. Looking at local PH Projects, attendees will be introduced to the assembly details, air-sealing strategies, mechanical systems and lessons learned from project outcomes.

Speakers: Helen Brennek, Project associate, sustainability, WsP canada Maeri Machado, Project Manager and Green Building consultant, WsP canada

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 8:30AM–10:00AM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR T09 – BEST PRACTICES FOR THE BUILDING ENCLOSURES OF MID-RISE & TALLER WOOd BUildinGS ar BC CO En SB [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs ] in recent years, many north american building codes have been updated to allow for the construction of mid-rise wood-frame buildings of up to five and six storeys in height. the construction of these taller wood-frame buildings have continued to evolve, and wood-design and construction practices have adapted for these taller GraHaM FincH buildings. Further to this industry shift, the design and construction of high-rise wood buildings of up to 18 storeys is also currently underway in Canada and other parts of the world. These high-rise wood buildings utilize new mass timber elements and engineered wood products and are a departure from traditional light-framing practices commonly used today. this seminar will provide guidance for the design of building enclosures for these said buildings. the speaker will review building and energy code requirements. taking an in-depth look at the latest industry best practices, this presentation will expand on: • Lessons learned and industry best practices for the design and detailing of durable and energy eﬃcient mid-rise buildings in the Pacific northwest • the techniques and methods to construct taller wood building enclosures and how they diﬀer from mid-rise structures • insights into the building enclosure design of several recently constructed mid-rise to high-rise wood buildings Speaker: Graham Finch, Building science research specialist, rDH Building engineering Ltd.

Speaker: Lucio Picciano, architect aiBc LeeD aP, owner + Principal, DLP architecture inc.

Lucio Picciano

BUildinG COdE SESSiOnS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 8:30AM–10:00AM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR W03 – ENERGY PROVISIONS IN CONTEXT: BC BUILDING CODE AND THE CITY OF VanCOUVEr BUildinG BylaW ar BC CO En SB [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs, iDcec 0.1 HsW ceus ] By February of this year, the new energy provisions in the Bc Building code (BcBc) won’t be so new anymore. are you curious to see how local industry has adapted? This presentation will review the Energy Provisions of the BCBC (9.36) and introduce the key elements of the Vancouver Building Bylaw, implemented in December, 2014 & January, 2015 respectively.

MurraY FranK

Speaker: Murray Frank, President, constructive Home solutions

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 12:30PM–3:30PM • $100 EARLY BIRD / $125 REGULAR W19 – BUILDING SMART – FROM THE GROUND UP: CURRENT CONSTRUCTION sPonsoreD BY OPTiOnS FOr nEW HOMES in BC ar BC CO En [ AIBC 3.0 Core LUs, BOMI 3.0 CPDs, HPO 3.0 CPDs, IDCEC 0.3 CEUs ] Building code modernized home construction and the requirements for almost all of the major building systems. in this session you’ll learn about Build smart #22, which brings all of the recent Building code changes required in the construction of homes in Bc.

MurraY FranK

in this three-hour seminar, a typical Bc house will be used as an example to explore a variety of code conforming approaches for each step in the construction process, from excavation through to the final finishes of the house. Speaker: Murray Frank, President, constructive Home solutions

PaSSiVE HOUSE SESSiOnS WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 8:30AM–10:00AM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR W02 – QUALITY ASSURED PASSIVE HOUSE: PASSIVE HOUSE AS A ‘WHOLE SYSTEM aPPrOaCH’ ar En CO SB [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs ] this presentation will look at the Passive House design standard from a quality assurance perspective. speakers will identify and expand on areas such as certification, trades, products/materials and collaboration demonstrating how the Passive House standard can be used as a toolkit to deliver quality and add value.

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THURSDAY, FEB. 25 • 10:30AM–12:00PM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR T16 – NEW BUILDING CODE AND PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF EXTERIOR SHEaTHinG ar BC CO En SB sPonsoreD BY [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs ] this presentation will provide a clear description on new building code requirements, specifically, in understanding newly adopted energy eﬃciency requirements (9.36). Panelists will address common code concerns and share best practices on how to address these challenges through the use of exterior sheathing and air barrier systems. expanding on the benefits of exterior insulation and air barrier systems, panelists will provide technical first-hand knowledge on the assembly of the codebord air Barrier system (caBs). taking a case study approach, attendees will hear from a technical specialist and builder that have successfully used this system to meet and surpass code requirements.

Speakers: adam James, architect, acton ostry architects inc. Marcel studer, Principal, econ Group Ltd.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 • 10:30AM–12:00PM • $45 EARLY BIRD / $55 REGULAR W12 – FACTORY-BUILT PASSIVE HOUSE: THE CASE STUDY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSinG FOr a rEMOTE FirST naTiOnS COMMUniTy ar CO En [ aiBc 1.5 core Lus, BoMi 1.5 cPDs, HPo 1.5 cPDs ] this presentation takes a case-study approach to canada’s first publictender Passive House. Built for Vancouver coastal Health by Britco industries, this project was constructed in a Vancouver-area factory, barged 700 kilometers north into the Great Bear rainforest, and then assembled in the ancient Heiltsuk nation village of Bella Bella. craiG MitcHeLL Monte PauLson this six-unit rowhouse is canada’s first fully modular Passive House in addition to the first Passive House built in a First nations community. it was completed within nine months after contract, making it quite possibly the fastest constructed Passive House on earth. Speakers: craig Mitchell, Director of sales, Britco Monte Paulson, Partner, red Door energy advisors

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Speakers: David aclair, Director, Blackfish Homes Limited ryan Dennis, technical Manager, owens corning Zachary May, senior codes administrator, Province of British columbia

Early Bird dEadlinE

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2015 VRCA Awards of Excellence

Building Excellence

27th Annual Awards of Excellence 2015 VRCA Awards of Excellence Winners:

General Contractors — Over $40 Million

Manufacturer and Supplier

General Contractors — $15 to $40 Million

Judges’ Award

General Contractors — Up to $15 Million

Lafarge Canada Inc. Mossom Creek Hatchery Rebuild

Graham Construction and Engineering LP YVR Airside Operations Building

PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization Project Mierau Contractors Ltd. UFV Student Centre

Founder’s Trade Award — Over $3 Million Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd. Pacific Centre Mall — Sears Redevelopment

President’s Trade Award — $1 to $3 Million StructureCraft Builders Guildford Aquatic Centre

Chairman’s Trade Award — Up to $1 Million Matcon Excavation & Shoring Ltd. Lynn Sewage Pump Station Upgrade

Mechanical Contractors — Over $2.5 Million

Structurlam Products LP Wood Innovation and Design Centre ITC Construction Group Ronald McDonald House BC

Lifetime Achievement

Paul Myers, Keith Plumbing and Heating Co. Ltd.

Construction Workplace Health & Safety Innovation

Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. for Sack-o-Matic.

Safety

Houle Electric Ltd. Scott Construction Group McLeod Masonry International Corp. Graham Construction and Engineering LP Omicron Canada Inc.

Alpha Mechanical Contracting Ltd. Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization Project

Education Leadership Award

Mechanical Contractors — Up to $2.5 Million

Outstanding Woman in Construction

Dual Mechanical Ltd. Seabreeze Farm

Electrical Contractors — Over $2 Million Canem Systems Ltd. 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Hangar

Electrical Contractors — Up to $2 Million Status Electrical Corporation UFV Student Centre

Randy Callaghan, PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. Alma Garnett, Convoy Supply Ltd.

U40 Excellence in Construction Fraser McIntosh, Bird Construction

Member of the Year

Graham Construction and Engineering LP

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Commitment and PROFESSIONALISM The Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s 27th annual Awards of Excellence on October 21 was a celebration of the construction industry’s finest companies and individuals. Feeding off the momentum created by last year’s revamped event, and with Cirque-type entertainment adding sizzle to the evening, the 2015 Awards of Excellence increased exposure of our Silver and Gold Award winners and industry partners and ensured plenty networking time for everyone who attended. The evening was the culmination of several weeks of presentations, judging and award deliberations, a process that attracted 128 entrants and shone the spotlight on 37 projects representing approximately $500million in construction value. I would like to thank Awards of Excellence Committee and VRCA team members (Peter Bazilewich, Bruce Betker, Joe Burnett, Amanda Caverly, Tony Everett, Mel Flathen, Dan Gnocato, Dolphe Hoffman, Steve McConnell, Bob Tomyk, Don Vandervoort and Jennifer Jones) for their time commitment and passion for the judging process that took place over the summer. Each year, as we work through the judging process, trends emerge that reflect the state of the industry. This year, we reviewed a large number of valueengineered submissions. Margins and construction

schedules are tight these days and so many of the submissions demonstrated how owners, general and trade contractors and suppliers collaborated in order to expedite project delivery. Also, we noted that suppliers are bringing forward new and innovative materials and are driving the contractor and sub-trades to consider new technology. We were also struck by the growing trend towards energy conservation and sustainability, reflected in the incredible amount of wood and glulam used in projects. While it is a government initiative to incorporate wood in provincial structures, it’s great to see the trend also finding its way into non-public buildings. In addition to the announcement of the Gold (project) award winners, the evening saw the presentation of seven Outstanding Achievement Awards to individuals and companies who have demonstrated excellence in certain fields e.g. safety and education as well as commitment to the industry. The saying goes that it takes a community to raise a child. I’d suggest it takes a community of public and private owners, consultants, general and trade contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and various allied service providers to raise a project out of the ground. It also requires the commitment of organizations like WorkSafeBC and others to ensure that it all happens safely. In that context, I again want to acknowledge

our industry — across the entire supply chain — for the work you do, the commitment and professionalism you bring to each project and your achievements as evidenced by the complex, stateof-the-art infrastructure that we use every day. Thank you to all the nominees and congratulations to all the 2015 Silver, Gold and Outstanding Achievement Award winners! Fiona Famulak President, VRCA

Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Inc. The Insurance, Bonding and Construction Risk Specialists

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GENERAL CONTRACTOR OVER $40 MILLION GOLD Graham Construction and Engineering LP — YVR Airside Operations Building

Tough Conditions By cheryl mah

A new flagship hub for airside

operations teams at the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will increase the efficiency and response times to emergency or maintenance issues at Canada’s second busiest airport.

On the drawing board since 1990, the 90,000 square foot post-disaster Airside Operations Building (AOB) consolidates all airside operations, maintenance and support teams into one, state-of-the-art-facility. It brings together key personnel under one roof that was previously located in a number of different locations around the airport. The three storey AOB is a first of its kind including a new fire hall, office space, maintenance, training rooms, a fitness centre, and a materials storage building. Seven emergency vehicle bays are located on ground level; training rooms, fitness centre, mechanical and electrical rooms are on second level, and offices, meeting rooms, and kitchen on the upper level. All airfield maintenance equipment is now stored and protected from elements and ready to use in the new indoor parking garage. Situated between the domestic and international terminals, the key challenge was coordination and compliance with airport security, safety and operational constraints. Construction in the middle of an active airfield presented many unique challenges for Graham Construction and Engineering LP. “Working in the middle of the airfield obviously meant security, logistics and access was tough,” says Graham Construction district manager Jason Glue. The successful delivery of this complex and challenging project earned Graham Construction 24 construction business

a 2015 VRCA Gold Award of Excellence in the General Contractor over $40 Million category. “It is an honour for Graham and the team to receive the Gold Award and to be recognized in the industry for our hard work and efforts to successfully deliver the award-worthy Airside Operations Building project,” says Glue. “It has been a pleasure sharing the success of this award with the project team and stakeholders.” Graham Construction broke ground on the project in July 2013 with completion in February 2015. At peak of construction, 200 workers were on site. Due to a large amount of change orders and an initial structural steel delay upfront, schedule milestones had to be adjusted three quarters of the way through the project. “There were changes right up to completion. We only added about a month to the original timeline to incorporate all the changes,” says Glue.

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Graham also developed a five-phased occupancy plan to allow YVR to take possession of portions of the building. The multiple occupancies put additional pressure on the project team. In addition, most of the airfield work (eg. utilities) was done at night which required careful coordination and scheduling. Installation of complex mechanical and electrical systems had to meet the requirements of the YVR maintenance team including very thorough commissioning and green tagging progresses. The facility is equipped with advanced data, communication, emergency power and security systems providing capacity to serve as a backup airport operations centre. Division 15 Mechanical Ltd. earned a Silver Award of Excellence for their work on this project. Designed by Francl Architecture, the building has a strong identity which is expressed through a very dynamic aviation form with a sweeping curved facade at one end. The exterior is comprised of low

YVR Airside Operations Building Richmond, BC

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sound transmission curtain wall system, composite aluminum panels and corrugated metal cladding. Wood is showcased both in the interior and exterior of the building with wood soffits, glulam beams and cross-laminated wood roof panels. The structure required approximately 375 tons of structural steel and 4,600 cubic meters of concrete. To address airport security and safety requirements, Graham implemented an innovative security system to streamline transport of workers to and from the site as well as to deliver an accurate accounting of site personnel. Workers were tracked with unique barcodes on their hard hats, which would be scanned as they enter or exit the site. The bar code scanning system met Transport Canada regulations and provided a time saving and cost effective monitoring program of all site personnel. “The project was extremely logistically challenging so we managed the logistics closely and were able to introduce a security system that enabled the site to be landside rather than airside, through escorted transportation,” he says. Other challenges included soil instability and unpredictable weather conditions. Heavy fog was a major factor throughout the project when work on site could not begin or had to be stopped due to low visibility. Exposure to high winds also meant special attention had to be paid to envelope assemblies and sequence of roofing and cladding construction.

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Although not seeking LEED certification, AOB features a number of sustainable strategies that makes it the greenest building to date at YVR. The rainwater collection system diverts rainwater for non-potable uses including washrooms, the truck wash and emergency use in fire trucks. The building uses a solar hot water system for indoor use, geothermal heating and cooling and energy efficient LED lighting. Through the use of green technologies such as a geothermal field, wind turbine and photovoltaic solar panels (24 modules at 260 watts each), the energy savings expected is 48 per cent compared to the average energy consumption of other con-

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ventional buildings. For their part, Graham recycled 253 tonnes of construction waste. From emergency response to snow removal and all airside activities in between, the AOB supports a collaborative environment that will enhance overall safety and efficiency for the public, employees and airlines. “Airport operations are extremely pleased with the benefits of all their people sharing one building. Their reaction time to general requirements such as de-icing and snow removal and incidents is significantly reduced, increasing overall airport productivity and cost of doing business,” says Glue.

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GENERAL CONTRACTOR $15-40 MILLION GOLD PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. — Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization project

Challenging Requirements By cheryl mah

Located in Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium underwent a major multiphase $120 million revitalization and expansion that nearly doubles the aquarium’s gallery space. The ambitious 55,000 square foot expansion features a new main entrance, admissions area, café and coffee bar, gift shop, children’s area and an outdoor plaza. Construction started in September 2012 with phase 1A which involved primarily back of house infrastructure components (utilities, new emergency generator). The scope of work for Phase 1B included extensive mechanical upgrades and construction of the three storey addition. PCL Constructors Westcoast completed work on time and within a tight schedule of 18 months. The aquarium officially opened to the public in June 2014. The $45 million project features one level above grade and two below. The gallery, new restaurant and revamped gift shop are located on the upper ground level. A feature double staircase takes visitors down to next lower level which contains future space for large temporary living exhibits and displays as well as the connection walkway to the existing building.

The third level houses the significant electrical and mechanical equipment required to maintain the important life support systems for the animals. The single biggest challenge on the project was working with the existing building which remained open during construction. As a flagship tourist destination, the Vancouver Aquarium hosts more than a million visitors annually. PCL project manager Stephen Brownsett says careful attention had to be taken not to disturb the sensitive marine life or the thousands of visitors at the aquarium. For example, work would have to stop during show times. “It was pretty challenging to work with a live aquarium with animals only metres away and making sure we did not affect day-to-day operations,” he says, estimating peak manpower was around 200. “We also had to work around the public — gets pretty busy on the one main road — and making sure they were safe was a big priority.” Vibrations and noise were a particular concern during excavation and shoring but the animals were closely monitored by the aquarium and there were no issues, according to Brownsett. The unique location inside Stanley Park also posed many challenges with getting materials

and trades in and out of the site given the heavy tourist traffic levels during the spring and summer months, as well as the height restrictions coming into the park. Designed by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership Architects, the overall design aesthetic is influenced by water and organic elements in the natural world. The Teck Connections Gallery is the central hub of the new expansion, featuring a 14 foot glowing blue globe and 185 foot digital screens. While the main entrance is new, the iconic sculpture that has marked the aquarium’s entry for three decades has not changed. The iconic bronze killer whale sculpture by renowned Haida artist Bill Reid (originally installed in 1984) was removed during construction for safe keeping and put back at the end of the project. The building exterior features glass (for lots of natural light) and Alucobond paneling with a special metallic paint finish that gives an iridescent two tone effect like fish scales. The canopy underside features Douglas fir glulams which extend to the interior to define the ceilings. In keeping with the aquarium’s long standing commitment to sustainability, the expansion is on track to achieve LEED Silver certification. Some of the green strategies include a high performance envelope, rainwater harvesting system for non-potable use, energy efficient lighting, and natural materials. About 75 per cent of construction waste was diverted from landfill. Mechanical upgrades represent a significant portion of phase 1B and the most prominent feature is the installation of a new site wide energy loop. The district energy system, consisting of 12-inch diameter insulated PVC pipes, is an energy efficient heat exchange system that will heat and cool the building and animal exhibits using sea water pumped into the facility from the Burrard Inlet. Ultimately, the DES will allow energy sharing among buildings. This is the first of three planned phases of revitalization for the Aquarium. The next phase (expansion of the outdoor pools) is scheduled to be completed in 2017. “At the end of the day, it is those workers on the ground that really made the project a success and with that in mind we would like to thank all of our subtrades for the tremendous effort they made over the course of the project,” says Brownsett. The Aquarium project was recognized with a total of four VRCA Awards of Excellence. Other project team members who won were Alpha Mechanical with a Gold Award and both Island Precision Millwork and Status Electrical Corporation with Silver Awards.

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GENERAL CONTRACTOR UP TO $15 MILLION GOLD Mierau Contractors Ltd. — UFV Student Centre

Wow Factor By Tracey Block

“You really just have to walk through the building to feel the wow factor,” says Kevin Mierau about the Student Centre at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), a project that recently won Mierau Contractors Ltd. the 2015 Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) Award of Excellence for General Contractor — up to $15 million. “Criteria for this award category include that wow factor, but also innovation, sustainability, profitability and safety,” says Mierau. While the UFV and its Student Union Society officially opened the new centre on September 8, Mierau Contractors began the project two years earlier in September 2013, with completion in March 2015. The structural construction consists primarily of architectural concrete and steel. The exterior is a combination of aluminum windows and metal cladding. Interior finishes include polished concrete floors, glass and stainless steel handrails, as well as a grand wood feature wall throughout the atrium area. As a “one stop shop” for students, housed within the three-storey, 82,000 square foot facility are the Canoe Restaurant, meeting rooms, a coffee shop, club and association rooms, a student lounge, a multipurpose room with flexible walls, the university’s radio station and newspaper, and career and alumni centres. A spacious three-storey atrium mall, its ceiling paneled in cedar planks, is the centre’s social heart. “The offices feel very open because they’re on the outside wall,” explains Mierau. “The corridor wall is also glass, so light coming in [the offices] also pours into the corridor as part of the impact.”

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The use of natural light is just one strategy in the efforts to achieve LEED Gold certification. The project also integrates a state-of-the-art “Thermenex” thermal energy exchange, a green roof on the canoe-shaped overhang above the renamed restaurant’s patio, low-flow plumbing fixtures, solar water heating, a green retention wall and a bioswale system with the existing detention pond. “It was a good team we had there,” says Mierau. “Everybody has their role, and if everybody is working together, it can go very smoothly. And that’s what happened with this project.” Nevertheless, a few hiccups can occur in every smooth-running project. The new Student Centre is a partnership between the University and the Student Union Body. The student union body that was in place after the bidding process and during construction was not the same during the design. This resulted in many changes to the interior spaces resulting in additional work and time. “We had some fairly large changes to the floor layout . . . brought in within the first few months,” recalls Mierau. “Those did delay the project.” But he is grateful to his team for keeping the work on schedule despite the design modifications. “It was such a large amount of changes.” Except for July and August, another continuous challenge was running a work site around a fully operational university. “There were thousands of students milling around,” says Mierau. “Nothing negative happened, but you are continually mindful of keeping everyone safe.” Vancouver’s ever-changing winter weather also tested the crew. “We were pouring [concrete] mid-winter and shoveling snow,” says Mierau. Through an excellent team atmosphere and a high level of communication Mierau was able to successfully complete the various stages of the project from ground-breaking to turnover.

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FOUNDER’S TRADE AWARD — OVER $3 MILLION GOLD Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd. – Sears Redevelopment

Sustainable Demolition By Tracey Block

“Everyone will remember this project. They’ll talk about it til the day they die.” Like a father reminiscing about the birth of his first child, Dan Gaudette, assistant general manager of Pacific Blasting & Demolition Ltd., reflects on his company’s involvement in the Sears Redevelopment Project at Pacific Centre Mall in downtown Vancouver. Winning a Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) 2015 Gold Award of Excellence, Gaudette, the job’s estimator and project manager, says: “These are the projects we like. We excel at anything complex and challenging. Not just anybody can do what we do.” The concrete seven story 650,000 square foot building had a precast concrete curtain wall encompassing 90 per cent of the exterior and a two storey curved metal panel facade to top that all had to be removed back to the base building for a complete rebuild. The entire building was over a two level underground parkade that served an operating mall that remained open during the entire process. With the Sears Revelopment project designated as a LEED Gold project, Pacific Blasting & Demolition surpassed the goal of 90 per cent sustainable demolition. “We hit over 95 percent,” Gaudette beams. Specifically, 18 million pounds of concrete, 4.8 million pounds of metals and 2.5 million pounds of drywall were removed and recycled. Undeniably one of the city’s most iconic buildings, the cornerstone of the downtown’s entertain30 construction business

ment district: “It was an immense undertaking in the timeline provided,” says Gaudette. “Probably the biggest strip-out to date in Vancouver, dollarwise and project size. Absolutely.” Beginning demolition in the fall of 2012, it was nearing completion in November 2014. “But there [was] extra work they wanted us to do. So we were there until January. That’s very close for a demo crew to still be there,” laughs Gaudette. “People were getting nervous.”

Work included a strip-out of approximately 650,000 square feet of retail space... The demo proved immediately challenging. “Usually we work from the top-down . . . for the material handling,” explains Gaudette. But the need to cut through four floors to prepare for two massive atriums meant “we started at the top and bottom simultaneously and worked . . . where they needed us.” Work included a strip-out of approximately 650,000 square feet of retail space, and seismic and structural upgrades in the basement and lower parking. To make way for large panels of glazing, Gaudette’s crew faced the complex removal of the

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iconic white panels lining the building’s exterior. They lowered them with an elaborate combination of mobile and tower cranes and finally two mini cranes mounted on the building. “I believe 440 panels were removed,” recounts Gaudette, “and all were re-used as roadway between the runways at the Fort Langley airport.” Sustaining an active parkade, traffic and pedestrian movement through the mall below the building was significant. “But the real difficulty [lay] in the nightlife downtown,” recalls Gaudette. “There’s a lot of police action; a lot of people doing mischievous things.” Gaudette is as proud of the project as he is of his crews, who achieved a zero lost time injury record. “At any given time, our manpower was at 70 to 80, [running] two shifts, 10 hours a day, six days a week, basically for almost two years,” he says. “I’m the first to give credit to all the guys that worked on the project. They came up with solutions. They thought out[side] the box. It wasn’t just me.” After one of the labourers working on the demolition had a massive stroke and passed away, a lasting tribute was made “that’s forever going to be in this building,” says Gaudette. Enormous letters emblazoned on interior concrete spell out the worker’s name, date of birth and date of passing. “It was very sentimental,” recalls Gaudette. “In the end, what I would like to emphasize is that this project’s success was a team effort.”

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TRADE AWARD — $1-3 MILLION GOLD PRESIDENT’S StructureCraft Builders — Guildford Aquatic Centre

Showcasing Wood By Robin Brunet

Of StructureCraft Builders winning the gold at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association annual Awards of Excellence, business development associate Isaac Epp says, “We were certainly happy to see our project pull in this award, particularly considering its challenging nature. This is also the second consecutive year in which one of our projects has won this award, making it particularly meaningful.” The project in question is Surrey’s Guildford Aquatic Centre (for which the VRCA recognized StructureCraft in the category of trade contractors with projects worth between $1 and $3 million). This 30,000 square foot structure combines a leisure pool, walking lanes and a toddler’s area with a FINA-certified 50-metre lap pool to provide a welcoming recreational facility for people of all ages. At a time when recreation centres in general are undergoing a massive design rethink to lift them out of the ‘big dark box’ depths which they have been associated with for decades, the City of Surrey wanted the $32.8 million Aquatic Centre to be a visually striking community hub for Guildford Town Centre. To achieve this, Bing Thom Architects (BTA) was retained to design the facility, which would be an addition to the existing Guildford Recre-

ation Centre. The StructureCraft team worked with BTA to design a laminated strand timber truss system for the Aquatic Centre that would serve as the main natatorium roof and also contain the mechanical systems, acoustical dampening system and sprinklers, as well as enough lighting to meet 600-lux requirements. Epp says, “This ultimately required the construction of 22 13-foot wide, 95-foot long highly integrated clear-span trusses at a warehouse we leased in Delta because our existing workshop wasn’t big enough to accommodate the large number of highly integrated trusses.” The specialty trusses are comprised of CNC cut laminated strand lumber (LSL) panels, with structural glulam top and bottom chords and plywood deck. On the leading edge of the new trend toward fully prefabricated modular construction, the trusses were designed to facilitate pre-installation of mechanical ducts, sprinklers, up-lighting and the acoustic ceiling insulation. Epp says, “Prefabrication was the key to the success of this complex project. By building everything into the trusses and pre-fabricating the trusses themselves, we kept costs down and enhanced quality control. This also hugely simplified on-site erection, reducing needed time to a mere 12 days. This not only prevented the truss-

es and other components from being exposed to the fall rains, but also greatly reduced the risk of injury and the typically pricey installation.” The design of the trusses would also vastly simplify maintenance, a typically time-consuming and tricky task in any aquatic centre: this is because each truss contains a built-in catwalk for easy access of crews. Special consideration was required to transport the trusses from Delta to the Surrey job site. “We used a somewhat unusual two-part flatbed system involving two driver steering two different supporting vehicles — at the same time, one in the front and one in the rear,” says Epp. Once on site, the trusses were installed rapidly, and with no scaffolding required. As for the wood itself, its benefits include corrosion resistance and ease of maintenance; moreover, it is a renewable material that sequesters carbon (an important consideration to green-minded City of Surrey planners). In addition to accommodating recreationalists, the finished aquatic centre serves as a gateway for visitors to the Guildford community. For Epp and his colleagues, the project “was another satisfying collaboration with Bing Thom, who created a truly stunning facility. We’re grateful to the VRCA for singling out our work in this regard.”

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CHAIRMAN’S TRADE AWARD — UP TO $1 MILLION GOLD Matcon Excavation & Shoring Ltd. — Lynn Sewage Pump Station Upgrade

Unconventional Ingenuity By Jean Sorensen

Built in 1965, the Lynn Sewage Pump Station reached the half century mark in full need of an upgrade and expansion to meet a rising population on Vancouver’s North Shore plus enhanced seismic and code requirements. Owner Metro Vancouver chose Graham Construction & Engineering Inc. as the primary contractor with a condition that the work had to be performed without disrupting the North Shore portion of a Metro Vancouver wastewater collection system that handles one billion gallons of wastewater. While the Metro Vancouver collection system is largely gravity fed, pumping stations like the Lynn facility play a key role in moving wastewater over humps. The upgrade involved an expansion, refurbishing the building equipment, electrical and mechanical and also bringing the existing building and new addition up to seismic and code provisions. Excavation would be required. Graham turned to Matcon Canada to undertake the location and excavation of the utilities and the seismic work on the extremely tight site, which left no room for error. The successful completion of the excavation and shoring work has earned Matcon the Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s 2015 Chairman’s Trade Award for a project up to $1 million in value. “It was a deep excavation and the cut-off wall built around the perimeter ensured that our men could work safely in the hole,” says Graham’s senior project manager Ronan Deane. Deane says there was a lot of drilling and anchoring work that had to be carried out by Matcon with large equipment on the tight site as well as large structures brought and placed 32

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on site.”The whole process was delicate and had to be well thought out. I think that is a major reason they were commended with this award. Throughout the work they carried out they protected the electrical and sewage utilities and kept the system running,” he says. Dan Hunt, construction manager for Matcon, says the initial challenge was finding the utilities. While there were old drawings for the existing building, there was a lack of detailed information on where the utilities lay beneath the surface and at what ground depth. In total, Matcon

In total, Matcon found and unearthed 14 utilities... found and unearthed 14 utilities, including two force mains measuring 600 and 450 mm plus another 1050 mm concrete pipe. Matcon also had to devise a means of preventing ground water from flowing into the hole and stabilize the walls of the excavation as the soil consisted of sand and cobble — river-like stones that were susceptible to crumbling. A cut-off wall was built above ground, but employed reinforced secant jet grout piles. The wall blocked ground water from the area but the jet grouting also extended below the surface holding back the wall as crews excavated at the site and around the building, which was situated at the south side of the excavation. In order to hold

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back the walls near the building, the crew used shotcrete walers with tie-back anchors to maintain slope integrity. The second challenge was the congested site for the heavy equipment which had to move around in the excavation site avoiding utilities and also overhead lines. “It was a non-conventional area of about 25 metres long and 15 metres in width,” says Hunt, with the existing pumping station close to the south cut-off wall and measuring five metres in width and 18 metres in length. Working in the area was a large Soilmec SM30, a jet grouting rig, plus a large Hitachi 455 excavator which assisted with wall reinforcement as well as a drill rig used to place the anchors. “In addition, we had a smaller excavator moving material around,” he says. To facilitate the jet-grouting, a batch plant was set up on two steel skids which took up an area of six by nine metres. The final challenge on the job was supplying and installing 12 DCP soil anchors using the onsite drill rig. While there was clear access to the area where the new addition was planned, Matcon had to provide seismic anchors under the existing building. “We went through the roof,” says Hunt, with the drill going completely through the building’s structure, into the basement and the grade below to tie the structure into place. Matcon also had to test the anchors once they were placed and used a test jack and beams in the existing structure’s basement. Hunt says it was really the small site and soil conditions, with the large amounts of cobble, that were the factors that caused Matcon to look at a different approach to excavating the area. “We couldn’t use conventional methods,” he says.

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MECHANICAL CONTRACTR UP TO $2.5 MILLION GOLD Dual Mechanical Ltd. — Seabreeze Farm

Creating a Unique Energy Source by Robin Brunet

ect, and it consulted extensively with CH Four Biogas to determine the correct components for the manure conversion process. The three tanks comprising the plant are a 2500m3 manure digester, a 20-foot liquids tank for organic oils, and a same-size hydrolyzer tank for food waste from Metro Vancouver. The heating component for the digester was challenging, requiring “13 kilometers of pipe, with 24 runs around its circumference,” says Dual’s project manager Stewart Burnside. Unlike in past projects, the construction of the tanks required crews to do more than merely wrap the pipes around the structures. These tanks were built using the Octaform PVC stay-in-place concrete forming system, meaning

..the Seabreeze project [converts] manure FROM 250 milking cows into natural gas...

Dual Mechanical Ltd. of Surrey is no stranger to complicated projects. In fact, this company is quickly gaining a reputation for its expertise in wastewater and alternative energy development. Dual Mechanical received a Gold award from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) in 2012 for the mechanical systems at the Annacis Wastewater Centre in Vancouver, B.C. Now the company has earned another Gold Award in 2015 for the challenging Seabreeze Farm’s anaerobic digester system. Engineered and supported by CH Four Biogas, a company specializing in anaerobic digestion, the Seabreeze project would convert manure from 250 milking cows into natural gas for about 1,000 Metro Vancouver homes. The manure would also

be turned into cost-efficient cow bedding and a solid, compacted nutrient for use as fertilizer. In order to achieve this, an anaerobic digester bio-gas plant had to be built that would produce the methane gas; the excess nutrients from the digester would, thanks to a Trident Bedding and Nutrient Recovery System, be converted into fibre for the auxiliary products. Additionally, a Trident Nutrient Recovery System would convert the remaining liquid material into water and concentrated NPK nutrients. Following a feasibility study carried out in 2010, Dual Mechanical was contacted by Kloot Construction, Seabreeze’s general contractor, and construction began in the spring of 2014. Dual was responsible for the heating, domestic water, drainage and process piping for the proj-

the pipe had to be threaded through webbing between the layers of skin comprising the tank walls. “It took four people an entire week to complete,” says Burnside. Another challenge was the installation of two 15 foot flare towers from the U.S. which required the company to make sure it was CSA approved. “Although there was a lot of back and forth to make sure everything was CSA approved, we actually achieved a significant cost savings,” says Burnside. A variety of pumps were required for both the processing and heating portions of the waste conversion, and special attention was given to the 20-horsepower pump that would sit at the bottom of the hydrolyzer tank. “It had to operate reliably and handle six loads of waste daily from Metro Vancouver,” says Burnside. All the process piping below and above ground was run using a mix of welded and Victaulic 316 Schedule 40 Stainless steel. Parts of many of the systems were installed either underground or encased in concrete which made co-ordination of the installation very critical to the progress of the other trades on this project. As of September 2015, Seabreeze was producing 225 cubic metres of methane gas daily for FortisBC. Annual production is pegged at approximately 12,000 tons/yr of off-farm organics, with the biogas cleaned (carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide is removed) and then sold to FortisBC for injection into the existing natural gas pipeline.

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MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR OVER $2.5 MILLION GOLD Alpha Mechanical Contracting Ltd. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization project

Specialized Expertise By Cheryl Mah

We at Frontier Fire Protection would like to congratulate Alpha Mechanical on their GOLD VRCA Award of Excellence 2015 for the Vancouver Aquarium Expansion Project. We would also like to extend our gratitude for the privilege of being able to work along side them in achieving this wonderful result. The achievement is an obvious reflection on Alphaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pride in workmanship, and the co-operation needed to bring a project of this magnitude to completion. Good luck in your pursuit of the next medal worthy project, from all the staff at Frontier Fire Protection Ltd. Robin Westie, President

38237 Old Yale Road, Abbotsford, BC, V3G1X3 cell 778-241-FIRE (3473) | office 604-870-0373 | fax 604-859-5951 frontierfire@shaw.ca | www.frontierfireprotection.ca 34 construction business

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3735 Myrtle Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5C 4E7 tel: (604) 872-8651 fax: (604) 872-8653 www.teamkd.com

Aquariums are highly complex facilities. A vast array of specialized systems are required to support all the sensitive inhabitants — water treatment, life support, precise temperature control, tank leak prevention, humidity monitoring and much more. When the Vancouver Aquarium underwent a major multi-phase $120 million revitalization and expansion in 2012, extensive mechanical upgrades represented a significant portion of phase 1B. For its successful delivery of a highly complex job, Alpha Mechanical Contracting took home a Gold VRCA Award in the mechanical contractor over $2.5 million category. “It’s very satisfying after spending so much time and effort on a project like that …and to have it be recognized with a VRCA Award” says Alpha project manager Allyn McFarlin. Phase 1B consisted of extensive mechanical upgrades to the existing building and construction of a three-storey, 55,000 square foot addition which included a new main entrance, exhibit space, cafeteria, gift shop and offices. PCL Constructors Westcoast was the general contractor who also won a Gold Award. Alpha utilized their previous Vancouver Aquarium experience to keep the project on track and used their expertise to handle all the sophisticated and complex systems required to provide a comfortable environment for animals and visitors. On this most recent expansion, the company initially played a design assist and budgeting role. In collaboration with the design teams, Alpha initiated design modifications and proposed alternate methods, equipment and products (most notably sand filters), resulting in significant cost savings for the owner. “Before construction, we spent over a year working with the Aquarium on cost savings and value engineering,” says Jay Lang, senior estimator at Alpha. Alpha was awarded the contract in October 2012 with completion in November 2014. But Lang notes that Alpha had budgeted portions of this phase more than 10 years ago. “We actually started budgeting back in May 2004 on the master planning of this part of the upgrade and then to do the job 10 years later makes it even more special,” he says.

You’ve gone and done it again. Congratulations on another successful project and VRCA Gold Medal! We are as proud as ever to be a specialty sub supplier to Alpha Mechanical

Tiger PurificaTion SySTemS inc. #186-5489 Byrne Rd. Burnaby, BC V5J 3J1 T: 604-630-1114 | F: 604-629-0879 www.watertiger.net | info@watertiger.net Twitter: @WatertigerBC

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CONGRATULATIONS ALPHA MECHANICAL ON YOUR VRCA 2015 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE VANCOUVER AQUARIUM PROJECT Trane is proud to have worked with you on this award winning project

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Congratulations Alpha Mechanical on winning the GOLD VRCA Award of Excellence 2015 for the Vancouver Aquarium Expansion Project. Con-Cur West is very proud to have worked with you on this Award winning project!

COn-CuR WEst TRANE CANADA | TRANE.COM/CANADA 3080 BETA AVENUE, BURNABY, BC V5G 4K4 CELOWRY@TRANE.COM | 604.473.5600 36 construction business

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71a Clipper Street Coquitlam, BC V3K 6X2 Phone: (604) 540-5088 | Fax: (604) 540-5084 www.concurwest.com

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Congratulations Alpha Mechanical on winning the GOLD VRCA Award of Excellence 2015 for the Vancouver Aquarium Expansion Project.

Crosstown Metal Industries is proud to have completed the Ventilation Systems on this Award winning project.

Crosstown Metal IndustrIes ltd. #100 - 13133 115 Ave Surrey, BC V3R 2V8 Phone: 604-589-3133 | Direct: 604-954-3146 | Fax: 604-589-3134

crosstownmetal.com To accommodate the expansion and future expansions of the facility, upgrading the aging mechanical and electrical systems was required. Work consisted of plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, salt water life support systems, and upgrades throughout the existing facility as well as improving access for future services and maintenance. The mechanical systems included the addition of 50,000 pounds of stainless steel and galvanized ductwork, seven air handling units, two heat pumps, one cooling tower, 36 pumps, seven exhaust fans, 27 fan coil units, 14 radiant pumps and kitchen equipment hook-ups.

Installation of a new district energy system (DES) loop for energy efficient heating and cooling was the single biggest challenge. “In addition to the work for the current expansion, we laid out and installed the systems taking into account the necessary space and infrastructure for the next phase to accommodate all the new ozone and filtering equipment when upgrades to the main outdoor pool and other exhibits are done,” says McFarlin. “We built four ozone towers which has all the piping set up inside. We also have 16 filters that are bigger than your average car sitting in the basement waiting for the next phase.” Installation of a new district energy system (DES) loop for energy efficient heating and cooling was the single biggest challenge. Designed by Integral Group, a single ambient loop DES integrates marine life support systems and building heating, cooling and domestic hot water.

Plumbing

Hydronics

HVAC

Industrial

You need it? We got it. noblebc.ca

Congratulations Alpha Mechanical on your GOLD VRCA Award of Excellence 2015 for the Vancouver Aquarium Expansion Project. We are proud to have been your partner on this Award winning project

Noble BC Coquitlam • Maple Ridge • Mission • Sechelt Surrey (Port Kells) • Vancouver

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“The biggest challenge was routing these two 12 inch diameter pipes for the DES from the existing building through to the new expansion — down hallways, through offices, up on the roof. Our superintendent Tom Hammill went through room by room, space by space to determine the most efficient routing to satisfy all parties’ needs,” says McFarlin, estimating peak manpower was around 25. “It took a lot of meetings with the Aquarium, engineers and architects to get it right. Now heat is shared between the new addition and existing building as needed.” To support the project’s designated LEED Silver certification, Alpha’s contract also included the installation of a rainwater harvesting system for non-potable use. Water is collected from the roof and filtered into a 5,000 gallon tank. “It took some thought to get the filters, level indicator and pumps right. Integral designed the use of a domestic water booster pump for that system rather than just a conventional circulating pump and the system is working well,” says McFarlin. These systems (along with various other custom mechanical equipment) provided considerable energy cost savings and reduction in on-site greenhouse gas emissions. With the Aquarium remaining open during construction and sensitive marine life to be considered, disruption to critical systems had to be

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avoided when it came to shutting down power and switching over the new systems. “Connecting into the existing systems without shutting down the whole aquarium was challenging, in particular the domestic water,” says McFarlin, noting a pipe had to be hung 30 feet in the air

Working in close proximity to the aquarium’s more than 50,000 animals and sea life meant careful attention had to be paid to any vibrations and noise that might disturb them. during excavation to keep the main domestic water line functional. “When we tied into the existing sea water equipment, we had to do one half and get it up and running and then do the other half and get it up and running… so we didn’t interrupt anything.”

Congratulations Alpha Mechanical on your GOLD VRCA Award of Excellence 2015 for the Vancouver Aquarium Expansion Project. We are proud to have worked with you on this Award winning project

NELSON’S MECHANICAL INSULATION SERVICES LTD. Covering All AspeCts of CommerCiAl And industriAl insulAtion 1166 Shelter Crescent Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y5 Cell: 778.385.7556 | Fax: 604.552.4084 | Office: 604.552.5608 nmechan@gmail.com

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Working in close proximity to the aquarium’s more than 50,000 animals and sea life meant careful attention had to be paid to any vibrations and noise that might disturb them. It was a priority to maintain normal conditions for the animals while working on the existing systems, says McFarlin. “We were very respectful of the existing facility and I’m most proud of how we executed our tie-ins without causing any major disruptions,” he adds. The unique location inside Stanley Park also made getting equipment and deliveries in and out of the site extremely difficult, given the heavy tourist traffic levels during the spring and summer months, as well as the height restrictions coming into the park. “We had to pilot semi-trucks in the opposite direction from Lions Gate Bridge to get equipment to the aquarium — it was very tricky,” says Lang, adding there was also very limited storage on site. The expansion was the most ambitious construction project in the Vancouver Aquarium’s 58-year history and its successful upgrade of systems and infrastructure ensures it will continue to reign as one of the best aquariums in the world. “The aquarium is extremely happy,” sums up Lang. “It was a team effort by all the trades, suppliers and PCL specifically to get this job done.”

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR OVER $2 MILLION GOLD Canem Systems Ltd. — 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Hangar

Attention to Detail By Robin Brunet

Canem Systems Ltd.’s Gold win (in the category of electrical contractors for projects over $2 million) at the Vancouver Regional Construction Association’s 27th Annual Awards of Excellence Gala is for a structure that sounds deceptively simple (what could be more basic than an aircraft hanger?) but in reality is a complex facility designed to post-disaster standards, provides storage for five aircraft, has wash and maintenance bays, maintenance shops, plus administrative and personnel support, warehousing, and other work space. At 215,280 square feet, the $105-million 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Hangar at the Victoria International Airport is one of the largest buildings on southern Vancouver Island and consolidates seven Squadron operations under one roof. This massive project, designed by Stantec and requiring two and a half years to complete, obliged Canem to install more than 230,000 feet of conduit and 130,000 feet of large copper conductors — and that’s only a fraction of the work that was undertaken. From the outset, it was obvious that attention to detail and pre-planning would be essential, in light of the highly detailed drawings and specifications (which included extensive seismic engineering), plus the fact that many of the systems were new to the Canem team. “We had to work carefully through each system to ensure that correct purchase and efficient installation was achieved,” says Morris Lansing, Canem’s regional vice president, British Columbia. 40 construction business

Careful pre-planning led to the erection of a pre-fab storage/receiving building, which proved to be enormously beneficial in keeping material organized and ready for use throughout the sprawling construction phase. Because the 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Hangar had ceiling heights of anywhere between 20 and 55 feet, a lot of work was performed using platform lifts. By contrast, electri-

...there were no lost time injuries in more than 60,000 hours worked on the project. cal installation in the facility’s 150,000 square foot crawlspace was conducted in heights of only three to five feet; there, 340 light fixtures, 70 exit lights, 70 120 volt receptacles as well as fire alarm pull stations and strobe/horns alarm devices were installed. For the hanger portions of the facility, lighting was suspended from a continuous cantruss system, and aircraft static ground receptacles were cast into the concrete floor in a pattern around the helicopter parking spaces.

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Service consoles were outfitted with 120/208, 480 and 600 volt power systems, and cable reels on both ends of consoles with motorized feed reels were designed to carry 400 HZ of power to the helicopters for maintenance and servicing. One particularly innovative solution involved the installation of distribution conduit, which was to be located in the structure’s crawl space (the building sits on 1,200 pilings). When Canem pointed out that dozens of sleeves would have to be installed through structural beams, the Department of National Defense agreed that PVC underground would be the best solution — so Canem installed a total of 8,000 feet of two-inch and 6,000 feet of three-inch PVC in lieu of aluminum rigid hung in the crawlspace; the resulting savings to the owner was significant. As with every project in which Canem is involved, safety at the 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Hangar site was the prime consideration. Careful attention was paid to safety training, including fall protection, lift platform, and tool and lift inspection; the foreman and lead hands conducted scrupulous hazard assessments and communicated issues immediately. As a result, there were no lost time injuries in more than 60,000 hours worked on the project. As Canem celebrates its VRCA Gold win, Major Donald Leblanc, the commander of 443 Squadron’s Air Reserve flight, basks in the knowledge that a project 10 years in the development has been brought to fruition: “This is a state-of-the-art facility that will serve the Royal Canadian Air Force for decades to come.”

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR UP TO $2 MILLION GOLD Status Electrical Corp — UFV Student Centre

Coordinated Success By Jean Sorensen When Status Electrical Corporation project manager Ken Hurst looks back at his team’s work at the University of Fraser Valley Student Union Building project, which won the company the 2015 Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) Gold Award of Excellence for a project of up to $2 million, he remembers the scheduling was the most daunting task. “There was a lot of coordination with our counterparts,” he says, as Status had to work around and with other trades on the site. The $17.3 million, 46,700 square foot project, designed by Chernoff Thompson Architects and built by Mierau Contractors with construction starting in Sept. 2013 and finishing in 2015, featured an open-area design over an elongated structure that also housed an atrium. The structure, built to achieve LEED Gold designation, used progressive technology and building innovation. The open-area design made it difficult to reach areas without moving onto the floor. As it happened, the design called for the use of Comflor, a composite of steel decking topped with concrete that lends itself to a very strong floor over large areas. However, as Hurst points, when crews were placing the concrete, it limited mobility and his crew members had to manoeuvre around them. “We tried not to interfere with the other trades,” he says. Another challenge was the installation of an innovative HVAC system. Chernoff Thompson Architects’ Tony Yip, who led the design team, says the Thermenex system is newer technology that has been used in other large institutional structures such as the University of B.C. and at Langara College. It is a smart system that utilizes hydronic energy exchange pipe arrangements to optimize the transfer, exchange and reuse of a building’s inherent thermal energy. It is able to balance energy demands in different parts of the building through a central header with branch loops that go throughout the building responding to demands for more or less heat or cooling. The system’s logistics controller is able to direct the energy needs. The university’s student centre also has the first Thermenex Modular Thermal Energy Centre (MTEC), installed to work with the header and the logic controller. Hurst says that because this was a more complex installation with the MTEC, it again created a greater need to coordinate efforts with installation crews. Both were working inside the walls. Crews had no previous drawing to estimate how the more complex system would fit into the structure so they had to collaborate with each other to determine how the system’s placement fit within the building, says Hurst, and how the Thermenex components would impact each

trade’s space needs. “That was our primary concern — how much space would they need,” he says, adding Status did not want to install its electrical elements serving the HVAC system and interfere with the mechanical crew’s requirements. Each portion of the work had to be carefully coordinated to determine how it would impact the system and also the rest of the work Status undertook. “We also had to provide power to the rest of the building, so, we had to know their requirements throughout the project,” he says. Status had six employees at the site on average but during peak periods the number rose to 12. Hurst says the new structure includes all the modern energy saving features such as motion sensors that will turn lights off when individuals

are not in the room or reduce heating requirements in an area not used as well as LED lighting. Yip says he was pleased with the work carried out on site by the teams. “They (Mierau Contractors) worked very closely with us and the maintenance side of the university to ensure staff understood the systems they were getting. The same can be said for Status. They were good to work with and very good at passing information to the university on how to maintain what was installed.” The Gold Award of Excellence is not the first VRCA award that a project team led by Hurst has received an award. His project team received a silver VRCA award in 2009 for its work on the Squamish-Lil’Wat Cultural Centre in Whistler in the category of a project under $2 million.

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MANUFACTURER & SUPPLIER Structurlam Products LP Innovation and Design Centre GOLD Wood

Prince George’s Wood Innovation and Design Centre is a world-class building that pushed the envelope for the structural use of wood. The building is an excellent example of how wood can replace concrete and steel in a tall structure by highlighting the advantages of using mass timber. Structurlam Products provided the entire structural shell. This included the glue-laminated columns, the cross-laminated floor panels, the cross-

laminated walls for the stairwell and elevator shaft, and the cross-laminated stair parts. The components were pre-fabricated to extremely tight tolerances in Structurlam’s manufacturing facilities in Penticton and Okanagan Falls using CNC machinery. To minimize on-site storage, they were shipped to Prince George on ‘just-in-time’ basis. In total, approximately 1500 m3 of fibre was used, all of which was sourced in British Columbia.

SILVER

Solid Rock Steel Fabricating Company Ltd. Moving Surfaces

Marcon Metalfab Inc. Burrard Bridge Bearing and Expansion Joint Replacement

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JUDGESâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; AWARD

Lafarge Canada Inc. Mossom Creek Hatchery Rebuild

The Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody was founded in 1976 with the aim of educating children about salmon and the environment. When the wood-framed facility was destroyed by an accidental fire in December 2013, life member, Pat Dennett and the Lafarge team supplied all the concrete, associated formwork and labour and project management services to replace the hatchery with an environmentally sound facility.

ITC construction Group Ronald McDonald House BC

Ronald McDonald House BC is a 74,000 square foot, LEED Gold house that provides 73 families with a comfortable residence while their children receive treatment for their serious illness.Â ITC donated all their construction services, assisted with the fundraising efforts, and proactively came to the table with ideas on how to value-engineer the project.

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The $88 million Roberts Bank Rail Corridor (RBRC) combo design-build project addresses significant traffic bottlenecks in a growing industrial/ commercial area through the construction of three grade-separated crossings of an active railway line at 192 Street, 54 Avenue and 196 Street in Surrey and Langley B.C. The RBRC project is one of the largest transportation DB carried out in B.C. by a municipality and required the coordination of approximately 80 properties immediately adjacent to project. BA Blacktop completed nine infrastructure improvement projects and one Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) project on time and on budget. The scope of work was extensive and complex. It included bridge and grade construction in compressible soils, re-alignment of municipal roads, traffic management, railway management and lighting, signalization, and BC Hydro works. Challenges were many including delays with third-party utilities, complicated property acquisitions, tight project boundaries and contaminated soils.

The Anvil Centre is set in the heart of New Westminster which combines a multi-use civic facility with a commercial office tower. The 95,000 square foot, four storey civic centre occupies the entire lower building podium which supports the 135,000 square foot, nine storey office tower above. The development sits atop a three level below grade parkade. The development includes a 364 seat performance theatre, a 60‐foot open atrium intertwined with a variety of walkways and balconies, office space and outdoor areas, museum, art gallery and public archives. The project involved extensive coordination between subtrades, consultants and owner groups and a high level of complexity involving the building geometry and finishes. One of the biggest construction challenges was to successfully implement the many complex angles from design to construction. Most of the main interior and exterior surfaces are offset from 90 degree gridlines and many are also sloped at positive or negative angles from vertical.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR PROJECT OVER $40 MILLION BA Blacktop Ltd. — RBRC Combo Project

GENERAL CONTRACTOR PROJECT OVER $40 MILLION PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc — Anvil Centre

SILVER GENERAL CONTRACTOR PROJECT $15 to $40 MILLION Scott Construction Group — Mulgrave Senior School Addition

The Mulgrave Senior School addition features open, welcoming spaces for assembly and celebration as well as private study areas for group work. The facility supports Mulgrave’s goal to reinvent the traditional school concept to encourage proactive, individualized learning. This addition was constructed on a steep hillside with poor ground conditions to maximize the space available for construction and provides 43,800 square feet of space, including an atrium, classrooms and administrative space, a kitchen, and cafeteria, and parkade, drop-off area, and loading dock. The roof over the new addition is both a living roof and an outdoor accessible area for students. Main challenges were unanticipated poor ground conditions and the school remained operational throughout construction, requiring careful planning for safety and access. The original schedule projected a construction period of July 2013 to November 2014. However, the poor ground conditions resulted in a delay of three months with final project occupancy achieved in February 2015. 44 construction business

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This 36,000 square foot project involved a new two storey underground parkade as well as an extensive renovation and expansion to the existing synagogue. Transforming Vancouver’s Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue posed many challenges for Haebler Construction including unexpected setbacks, structural changes after construction started, very poor soil conditions and a flood to the basement. The existing building was seismically upgraded, the slabs level was lowered, new piles and footing were added. The majority of the existing Eastern façade was also removed, and the building was gutted with a completely new interior and exterior finish. Once the new parkade was constructed a new Santuary and Chapel building was built on top, and connected to the existing building. The building’s entrance was also relocated to West 28th Avenue from Oak Street. Despite all the challenges, the project was completed 18 days ahead of schedule in time and under budget for the planned Jewish High Holiday Celebrations.

Vancouver Pile Driving (VPD) was responsible for the design-build of a new load-out pier for the Vancouver Shipyard Modernization Project. Demolition and removal of existing ship ways and creosote piles were necessary before construction could begin. VPD installed a temporary sheet pile retaining wall for the caisson bed preparation which included dredging, bottom feed vibro densification, fill and screeding. The reinforced concrete caisson was built using removable EPS foam forms, the first such built at the company’s facility. It was built to the maximum capacity of VPD’s graving dock and the foam and outer wood formwork is completely removable and reusable resulting in zero waste of the formwork. It was floated to the site at high tide and sunk into place before a cast-in-place concrete slab was laid over it. Challenges on this 10 month project included densification, sheet piles and removal of the concrete ways and creosote piles.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR — PROJECT $15 to $40 MILLION Haebler Construction Projects Inc. — Congregation Beth Israel Synagogue Renovations and Additions

GENERAL CONTRACTOR — PROJECT UP TO $15 MILLION Vancouver Pile Driving Ltd. — Vancouver Shipyards, Load out Pier

SILVER GENERAL CONTRACTOR — PROJECT UP TO $15 MILLION Graham Infrastructure LP — Burrard Bridge Bearing and Expansion Joint Replacement

Graham Infrastructure LP was responsible for the replacement of 19 expansion joints on the Burrard Bridge in Vancouver. Work began in February 2014 and substantial completion was achieved in March 2015. The expansion joint work included all joint rehabilitation including steel work, replacement of expansion and deck joints as well as other related works. Since the Burrard Bridge had to remain open to the flow of traffic during construction, Graham developed and implemented a complex traffic management plan to ensure minimal and safe traffic disruption to all bridge users. Due to the presence of asbestos asphalt, Graham also created an environmental protection plan to ensure the safe removal and disposal of materials. In addition, the project required the replacement of nine sets of three bearings (27 in total) which meant jacking the bridge up and setting it down. The 835 metre long bridge was raised about ¼ of an inch with a teeter-totter technique. November/December 2015

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FOUNDER’S TRADE AWARD OVER $3 MILLION LMS Reinforcing Steel Group — Richardson Grain Silo

FOUNDER’S TRADE AWARD OVER $3 MILLION Solid Rock Steel Fabricating Co. Ltd. — MNP Tower

This 18 month project consisted of the construction of two silos, each with 14 cells using slip form construction. LMS supplied and installed rebar for the foundations, silo slip walls, roof and mezzanine. During the slip work, the structure rose by 1 inch every 6 minutes (on average) as rebar was placed while concrete was poured continuously until the structure was complete. The project required 1,500 metric tons of rebar, 23,00 manhours performed by a crew of 120 men.

This LEED Gold project features more than 200 tons of steel perched on top of the MNP Tower. The innovative roof truss structure required extensive planning and meticulous execution by Solid Rock Steel. The original placement encased in the elevator core walls was modified to place the trusses outside of the concrete core. A custom trolley gantry sat on top of the core concrete to roll the big trusses away from the concrete core for construction access, bolting and eventually welding.

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PRESIDENT’S TRADE AWARD $1-3 MILLION Drystar wall & Ceiling Ltd. — UFV Student Centre

PRESIDENT’S TRADE AWARD $1-3MILLION Limen Group Construction Ltd. — Anvil Centre

Drystar installed the linear wood ceiling and wall panels at the UFV Student Center. Challenges included the preparation required for the layout, which began as early as the framing stage of the windows and skylight. Once the drywall was installed, the next challenge was the layout of the wall and ceiling areas to ensure the reveals would be in line. The linear wood panels for the flat walls and ceiling were manufactured with hemlock blades. For the curved areas, the panels were made using the flexible backer strips to achieve the required radius.

Located in New Westminster, the Anvil Centre is a multi-use civic facility with a commercial office tower. The exterior geometry and finishes are carefully designed to provide a contemporary appearance while working in harmony with the surrounding heritage buildings. A combination of natural limestone and modern glazing work together to achieve this goal and all are set it various complex angles to produce a unique building geometry.

SILVER

CHAIRMAN’S TRADE AWARD UP TO $1 MILLION Distinctive Millwork Inc. — Organo Gold

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD UP TO $1 MILLION Island Precision Millwork — Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization project

This facility is the new home of Organo Gold global headquarters which required exterior and interior renovations of an existing 19,000 square foot block warehouse plus a 5,000 square foot two storey addition. The new office hosts a two storey executive office area with two meeting rooms, wet bar/lunch areas on both levels and a gorgeous reception area. The large working area hosts hundreds of work stations, manager offices, lounge area and staff lunch room.

The scope of work for this project included internal and external glulam beams, Café millwork and stone tops, gift shop millwork, ticket kiosk, back of house, changing gallery pocket doors and washrooms. Challenges were confined working space/material storage, reduced time line and elevated scaffold over feature stair case 46 feet above Level 2 slab. More than 10,894 lineal feet of glulams was used. The project was completed on schedule and on budget.

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD —OVER $2 MILLION Status Electrical Corporation – Vancouver Aquarium Expansion and Revitalization project

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD – OVER $2 MILLION Protec Installations Group — Anvil Centre

This project was the aquarium’s largest expansion and renovation in its 58 year history. It featured a state-of-the-art sustainable design, increased green space and expanded exhibits. Status was contracted to complete division 26 electrical work. This included ongoing load control and automatic usable power optimization. The primary challenge was working with the marine animals. Temporary power and mechanical considerations were required to protect all the marine life during required shutdowns.

The Anvil Centre is a mixed use civic facility with a commercial office tower in New Westminster. Electrical scope of work included dual wound 1250 KVA / 2500 KVA transformer, a 500 KW energized generator, LED lighting and exterior façade lighting. Challenges included the diverse use of the building and minimal ceiling service space to run electrical cabling so much of it had to be embedded in the concrete slabs.

Focused on Building Opportunities areas of practice builders liens construction disputes contract drafting fairness advisors insurance mediation and arbitration professional liability contacts john r. singleton, q.c.

jsingleton@singleton.com

stephen j. berezowskyj

sberezowskyj@singleton.com

SILVER t h e p r o b l e m s o lv e r s™

Singleton Urquhart llp 1200 – 925 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6C 3L2 T 604. 682 7474 | F 604. 682 1283 www.singleton.com | su@singleton.com

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ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD – UP TO $2 MILLION Western Pacific Enterprises GP — Cache Creek — Landfill Gas Utilization project

WPE installed a 4.5MW 4160 volt power generating facility located in Cache Creek for Wastech Management Services Ltd. The scope of work at this multi-million dollar facility was to provide a partial design/build installation for a fast track completion. Three 1.5MW customer supplied Finning methane fueled power generators controller were installed. Total power created by all three generators is synchronized and stepped up to 25kV via a 6MW 4160V to 25kV transformer.

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SILVER ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD — UP TO $2 MILLION Houle Electric Ltd. — Wood Innovation and Design Centre

The Wood Innovation and Design Centre is a six‐storey, 29.25 m high structure, making it one of the tallest contemporary wood buildings in North America. Houle completed an integrated electrical system installation, providing controls, data and security services. The main challenge was the building’s unique architecture. The acoustical wood ceiling slats left little room for infrastructure. Most of the main wiring was run in floor trenches, requiring Houle to be innovative.

The main challenge was the building’s unique architecture.

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Award Winning Quality, Safety, Ethics & Integrity since 1944 604.434.2681

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MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD — OVER $2.5 MILLION Keith Plumbing & Heating Co. Ltd. — Mountain Equipment Co-op Head Office

MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD — OVER $2.5 MILLION Division 15 Mechanical Ltd. — YVR Airside Operations Building

The new Vancouver MEC head office is a very high performance four storey building designed to achieve LEED Platinum. A high-efficient mechanical system was installed, 20 geothermal wells coupled with nine ground source heat pumps. Heating and chilled water is generated during off peak hour and stored in thermal tanks for next day’s operation. Three large wind/ ventilation towers on top of the building are oriented to take advantage of prevailing wind.

maintenance, training, storage, and emergency response capacity to various user groups forming the airside operations team. Scope of

The new Airside Operations Building at YVR Airport provides office,

work for Division 15 was underground and above ground mechanical including storm, water, sprinklers, HVAC, sanitary, controls, insulation, rainwater harvesting, solar hot water panels. Installation of complex mechanical and electrical system had to meet the requirements of the YVR maintenance team including very thorough commissioning and green tagging progresses.

SILVER

MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD — UP TO $2.5 MILLION Absolute Industrial Mechanical Ltd. — Lynn Sewage Pump Station Upgrade

MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR AWARD — UP TO $2.5 MILLION Keith Plumbing & Heating Co. Ltd. — Seaspan Vancouver shipyard – C740 Blast and Paint

Constructed back in 1965, the Lynn Pump Station required upgrades to its mechanical and electrical systems to meet demands and code requirements. Absolute replaced the 600mm and 450mm forcemains, and supplied and installed all pipes and valves. From the outset ground conditions were a challenge. Working with Matcon, the general contractor developed a system involving a reinforced secant jet grout pile cut-off wall. The presence of many active utilities made the installation of this jet grout pile shoring very difficult and slow.

This two phase project was a part of the modernization work at the Seaspan Vancouver shipyard. KPH provided input on the design concept for two sand blast and paint buildings including pricing for installation of equipment, supply and install of ductwork, electrical, NG and CA system plus the design of structural/seismic supports. The first phase involved the relocation of one blast and paint building while phase two was a new blast and paint building.

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Individual Awards

LIFE MEMBER Grant McMillian

U40 Award Fraser McIntosh – Bird Construction

MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD Graham Construction and Engineering LP

Grant McMillian’s career has included teaching at a university level and 17 years of senior management at WorkSafeBC. At WorkSafeBC, he was responsible for the organization’s corporate safety and health program, building services and community relations. Grant was the founding chair of the Construction Safety Association of BC (now the BC Construction Safety Alliance). He was also the president of the Council of Construction Associations from 1992 to 2013, an organization that represents the interests of 19 construction associations in BC when dealing with WorkSafeBC issues, and is currently their strategic adviser.

Fraser McIntosh is a project manager at Bird Construction. He has worked on a wide range of projects throughout his career and recently completed the RCMP ‘E’ Division Headquarters in Surrey. In 2008, Fraser was one of a small group of visionaries who recognized the need to bridge the generation-gap and promote the value of the younger generation entering the industry, leading to the creation of the VRCA U40 Network in 2009. He has served as chair of the U40 executive committee, and as event coordinator for countless charity, networking and educational events and sessions. His years of dedicated work has been instrumental in developing the network into the successful group that it is today.

Graham is a growing, dynamic and innovative construction solutions provider with a history of success dating back to 1926. From the beginning, Graham Construction was built on values of commitment, integrity and reliability. Community involvement has always been an integral part of their culture. Graham understands how important it is to engage with the community. They work closely with local communities to maintain open communication, minimize disruption and inconvenience, and understand and address local concerns through the project delivery phases. Graham has been a member of the VRCA for more than 19 years. EDUCATION LEADERSHIP AWARD Randy Callaghan — PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.

LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Paul Meyers, Keith Plumbing and Heating Co. Ltd.

OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN CONSTRUCTION AWARD Alma Garnett – Convoy Supply Ltd.

In 1954, Paul Myers joined Keith Plumbing and Heating as a young plumbing apprentice. After taking over the reins 10 years later, Paul continued to grow the company with a strong focus on commercial and public projects as well as government contracts. Today, still under Paul’s steady guidance, KPH is one of B.C.’s and the Yukon’s largest mechanical contractors. Paul has been an active member of the VRCA for many years. He is also a former director of the Construction Labour Relations Association of BC (CLR) and the Mechanical Industrial Relations Association (MIRA). Recently, he donated $25 million to Lions Gate Hospital. This gift was the largest single donation made to a hospital foundation by an individual in B.C.’s history.

Alma Garnett has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and distribution of construction materials. From 1991 to 1996, she was the vice president of sales and marketing for NRG Barriers, and in 1997 she founded Hunter Panels, LLC. Alma took her life’s saving and with her special drive, vigour, industry expertise and raw determination, made Hunter Panels into a dominant discretionary polyiso brand. In 2012, she moved to B.C. where she became president of Convoy Supply Ltd., Canada’s leading wholesale distribution company serving the construction industry. Alma has always driven herself and others to create a great customer experience and build intimate customer relationships.

Randy Callaghan is a Field Personnel Advisor for PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. He began his career in construction over 35 years ago and currently manages the PCL apprenticeship program as well as recruiting skilled tradespersons for PCL in B.C. Randy is a Red Seal certified carpenter and has achieved his Certified Human Resources Professional designation. Promoting a career in the trades is one of his passions. He works with several school districts on advisory committees, as well as with postsecondary colleges raising the profile of apprenticeship programs. He connects with students early to promote the construction industry as a viable and rewarding career choice. ANNUAL SAFETY AWARDS Houle Electric Ltd. (trade contractor 200,000+ personhours) McLeod Masonry International Corp (trade contractor 10 to 49,000 personhours) Scott Construction Group (general contractor 100,000 to 199,999 personhours) Zero Accident Frequency: • Graham Construction and Engineering LP, • Omicron Canada Inc CONSTRUCTION WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY INNOVATION AWARD • Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. • Sack-o-Matic

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Industry News

Concrete Excellence The Mission Bridge Seismic Retrofit in Abbotsford, B.C. has won an American Concrete Institute (ACI) 2015 Excellence in Concrete Construction Awards. The project won first place in the category of repair and restoration. The awards were created to honour the visions of the most creative projects in the concrete industry, while providing a platform to recognize concrete innovation, technology, and excellence across the globe. The Mission Bridge is a major 4-lane, 1-km long crossing of the Fraser River. It was opened to traffic in 1973. The bridge is located in a high seismic zone and is a critical lifeline link in the province’s disaster recovery network. The crossing is one of the nine major crossings prioritized for seismic retrofit, spurred in large part by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco. Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Owner: Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Engineer of Record: Associated Engineering General Contractor: HRC Construction Concrete Contractor: HRC Construction Concrete Supplier: Lafarge North America Inc. Nominating ACI Chapter: British Columbia

Preferred proponent named for Site C Peace River Hydro Partners has been named as the preferred proponent for the Site C main civil works contract by BC Hydro. Peace River Hydro Partners include ACCIONA Infrastructure Canada Inc., Petrowest Corporation and Samsung C&T Canada Ltd. The Site C project has been estimated at a value at $8.3 billion (CAD), making it one of the largest infrastructure projects underway in Canada. Main civil works is the largest single contract for construction on the Site C project. It includes the construction of an earthfill dam, two diversion tunnels, and a concrete foundation for the generating station and spillways. ACCIONA estimates the construction work will create over 8,000 person years of employment over the eight-year contract. New Construction Association CEO The Prince George Construction Association and BC Construction Association-North Board of Directors have announced Scott Bone as their new CEO. He replaces Roz Thorn who has retired after 48 years with the association. Bone is no stranger to the community having spent more than 20 years working for the City of Prince George as the manager of supply and fleet services. Most recently he was with TransCanada Pipelines in the role as the local contract representative responsible for promoting employment and contracting opportunities associated with major pipeline projects. “We know that Scott’s proven record as a results-oriented, strategic leader will be critical as we develop and implement programs to grow and serve our membership of over 250 members in the industrial, commercial and institutional construction industry” said board chairs Iain Elder and Ken Morland. Bone says he is looking forward to “Working with the board of directors and members as well as government/tendering authorities across Northern B.C. to promote construction investment, high industry standards, and effective practices.” 52

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Wood Centre wins DB project of the year The Wood Innovation and Design Center in Prince George, B.C. was recognized as this year’s outstanding design-build project by the Canadian Design-Build Institute. The CDBI Awards of Excellence are presented annually to recognize excellence in Canada’s design-build industry and to acknowledge designbuild teams whose projects contribute to the growth and stature of the design-build profession. Award recipients demonstrate the highest standards and principles in the design-build industry and the business community in pursuit of excellence. This year’s winner, the Wood Innovation and Design Centre, is a six-storey structure entirely supported by modern structural wood systems for both structure and flooring. The 29.25-metre building height makes it one of the tallest contemporary wood buildings in North America. The project team was led by PCL Constructors Westcoast and Michael Green Architecture. The second place winner for this year’s awards, led by BA Blacktop Ltd. and McElhanney Engineering Services, was the Roberts Bank Rail Corridor Combo Project. The purpose of this project was to provide rail and road overpasses and road improvements at three major rail and road crossings, in Surrey, B.C. It involved 192nd Street, 196th Street and 54th Avenue, some of which were realigned or relocated in the project area. GHG Reduction Canada’s road transportation sector is unlikely to achieve an 80 per cent reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2050, according to a new report from The Conference Board of Canada. The report, A Long Hard Road: Drastically Reducing GHG Emissions in Canada’s Road Transportation Sector by 2050, examines the potential reductions from a range of vehicle usage trends and technologies. Findings show that even when accounting for reduced distances traveled per vehicle, improvements in fuel efficiency and greater market penetration of alternative technology vehicles, Canada falls short. At current conditions, there is a steady decline in road transportation emissions levels until 2025, but after this point, levels are projected to rise by almost 12 per cent. And in order for road emissions to reach an “80-by-50 target,” they would have to be reduced by approximately 117.5 megatonnes (Mt) carbon dioxide equivalent from 2013. However, road transportation emissions, which accounted for about half of the increase in Canada’s emissions from 1990 to 2013, are growing with more cars on the road and Canadians’ changing preference for light trucks. A few report recommendations include, continued improvement in vehicle performance and efficiency, more alternative vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, plug-in electric, natural gas and biofuels, getting the public to use other modes of transport, considering lower carbon freight options such as rail and marine transport and reducing demand for transportation. Largest Natural Gas Plant Construction of the largest natural gas processing plant in Western Canada has commenced. Encana is overseeing the project management and construction of the $860 million facility near Dawson Creek in B.C. on behalf of Veresen Midstream. “This is the largest gas plant to be commissioned in western Canada in the last 30 years and we are excited to partner with CRP on this facility,” said David Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Veresen Midstream. “Upon start-up of the Sunrise plant, Veresen Midstream’s footprint in the Montney will grow substantially, and we look forward to continuing to work with Encana and CRP, as well as other producers in the region, to unlock the value of this important resource play.” Veresen Midstream anticipates that CRP will proceed to a final investment decision for the 200 mmcf/d Tower gas plant in late 2015. CRP has also proposed to add an incremental 200 mmcf/d of compression and 400 mmcf/d of refrigeration capacity to the Saturn compressor site, effectively converting this site into a 400 mmcf/d gas plant. A final investment decision for this project could also be made in late 2015 or early 2016. These projects, along with assets acquired on March 31, 2015, will be part of Veresen Midstream’s commitment to provide up to $5 billion of new gas gathering and processing infrastructure to Encana and CRP in the Montney area.

2015

resource

Guide

2015 Resource Guide

resource GuiDe 2015 Acoustic Finishes

Window Treatments & Finishes

Fabrics

Acoustic & Noise Control (GWP) Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products Inc. (GWP) Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products Inc.

424-51st Avenue South East Calgary, AB T2H 0N7 Phone: (403) 255-3550 Fax: (403) 686-2592 Email: info@wallworks.com Website: www.wallworks.com Contact Name: Lyle Fuller WALLWORKS Acoustic Architectural Products Inc. Sound and Noise Control — Residential, Commercial, Industrial. Specialized Architectural Products and Systems — Manufacturers-Distributors Fabri-Lok Tensioned Fabric Systems. Acoustic — Panels, Baffles, Diffusers, Sound Barriers and Isolators, Decorative Graphics & Murals, Specialized Ball Chain Dividers and Aluminum Link Curtain Screens/Murals Manufacturers of Custom Oversize Commercial Lighting and Fixtures, Solar Window Treatments. An international company with head office in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and local sales offices across Canada,with affiliations in the United States, the Middle East, China and Europe.

Architectural Specialties

Decorative & Lighting Products Designer Showrooms

(GWP) Wallworks Acoustic Architectural Products Inc.

54 construction business

Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics 88 Ronson Drive Etobicoke, ON M9W 1B9 Phone: (416) 245-2900 Toll Free: (800) 268-1300 Website: www.crownwallpaper.com Email: ecohen@crownwallpaper.com Contact Name: Earl Cohen, Director of Sales & Operations Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics is a leading resource in Canada offering a vast collection of wall solutions and fabrics for various commercial and residential markets. Condo, hospitality, corporate, healthcare, store planning, property management, and residential interior design. Our extensive range of products includes; low VOC and natural fiber wallcovering, specialty woods and acoustical wallcovering, digital murals and high-performance fabrics.

November/December 2015

Wall Coverings

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