Urban infill building highlights hybrid construction
Kipling Transit Hub
Advanced steel framing cuts tonnage and costs
Giant Steps Autism Centre
A giant step for autism
Up to 60% Less Embodied Carbon Cradle-to-Gate.
That’s More to Love About Your Favourite Gypsum Solutions.
Coming in 2025 from North America’s First Zero Carbon*
Drywall Production Facility in Montreal
*Scopes 1 & 2
Prefabricated Balconies
Benefits in time, cost and performance
New Ecospex All-Canadian Platform
A one-stop shop to search and specify products for sustainable building
Best Sustainable Residential Development
Amexon wins prestigious IPAX Americas Property Award
Navigating the Transformation
The evolving role of wood in sustainable construction
Fast + Epp Head Office
Urban infill building highlights hybrid construction
Building Better with Steel Guidelines for lowering GHG emissions in conventional steel structures
Kipling Transit Hub
Advanced steel framing cuts tonnage and costs
Canada’s Strong Upswing Galvanized Steel as the optimal sustainable construction material
The Drive to Decarbonization
The Role of Prefabricated Precast Concrete
Giant Steps Autism Centre
A giant step for autism
Mechanical Systems
Concepts for low energy buildings
CAGBC’s Zero Carbon Building Micro-Credential Building proficiency in low-carbon design
Interview with
The husband-and-wife team behind the FlexPlex® building
DON’T MISS
• təməsewtxʷ Aquatic and Community Centre
First all-electric facility to achieve CAGBC’s Zero Carbon Building-Design Standard. Photo: Nic Lehoux.
• Masonry for construction and life cycle considerations
• The 2025 Directory of Products and Services for Sustainable High-Performance Building
Our annual Special Supplement
… and more!
Cover: Fast + Epp Office, photo Michael Elkan; Kipling Transit Hub, photo Simon Liao; Giant Steps Autism Centre, photo Adrien Williams.
Windows + Doors for Passive House Projects
Innotech Windows + Doors is a Canadian manufacturer of high-performance windows and doors. The Defender 88PH+ System combines decades of fenestration knowledge to deliver a robust window and door system that is not only Passive House Institute certi ed, but that also delivers the air, water and structural performance required for highly sustainable housing developments.
Dedicated to high-performance building
Member Canada Green Building Council
SABMag is a proud member and official media partner of the Canada Green Building Council.
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COUNTING THE COST OF CLIMATE CHANGE
This past summer, scientists at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) analyzed the devastating heat waves that have recently affected many regions of Canada. They found that human-caused climate change made almost all of these heat waves hotter and their occurrence much more likely.
Using ECCC’s Rapid Extreme Weather Event Attribution (REWEA) system, they were able to compare today’s climate with a pre-industrial one. Comparing current and historic data helps us understand better how human emissions and activities are affecting our lives and weather today, and how those impacts are increasing in real time.
The analysis of 37 of the hottest heat waves in 17 regions across Canada determined that human-caused climate change made every one of these events more likely to occur; 32 of them by a factor of between 2 and 10 times.
As increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere continue to drive climate change, Canada is warming at roughly twice the global average rate. Spring and summer are becoming hotter, resulting in earlier snowmelt, dangerous heat waves, and conditions highly conducive to wildfires.
Moving forward, ECCC is expanding the scope of its REWEA system to analyze the connection between human-caused climate change and the odds of extreme cold temperature and extreme precipitation. These additional capabilities are expected to come online in 2025.
The direct and indirect costs of extreme weather are substantial, ranging from loss of productivity to loss of life. Understanding the causes and effects of extreme weather events can help us better plan for, respond to and rebuild from weather emergencies. Recent studies show that what were previously considered ‘ “once in 100 years” climate-related weather events are becoming more frequent, severe, and costly.
Based on insurance claims, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 all rank in the top 10 most expensive years surpassed only by the 2016 Fort McMurray fires, the 2013 flooding in Calgary and Toronto, and the 1998 Quebec ice storm. The yearly average cost of claims related to catastrophic events has risen from $400 million between 1983 and 2008 to $2 billion from 2009 to 2023.
These figures make it clear that failure to meet our GHG reduction targets comes at an ever increasing cost – both economic and social.
Jim Taggart, FRAIC Editor
photo: Roy Grogan
RAIC REPORT: THINKING DIFFERENTLY TO SHAPE THE FUTURE
As I begin my role as President and Chair of the RAIC Board, at a time when our benchmarks and reference systems are rapidly evolving, I see it as both an honour and a significant responsibility. By the end of my term, I will have dedicated 30 years to architectural organizations, actively contributing to the positive transformation of our century-old institution. With deep optimism, I embrace our 2025-2027 strategic plan, a collective effort aimed at building a better world.
I share the view with my peers that the architectural profession is at a decisive turning point, where ecological challenges are no longer optional, but essential. It is crucial that we adapt and think differently. Together, we can address national issues while respecting regional and cultural nuances. Our past successes lay the groundwork for a future where creativity and innovation continue to inspire.
Alongside our team and partners, I aim to foster a culture of creativity and design excellence, particularly as our industry undergoes an unprecedented technological revolution.
By embracing innovation and emphasizing the value of design, we can strengthen our leadership, amplify our profession's cultural and economic impact, and expand our recent achievements on a national scale.
To ensure our voice is heard, we must communicate our work clearly, build a compelling value proposition, and enhance our market presence. It is vital that we deepen our engagement with our members, politicians, academics, professional bodies, and the public who place their trust in us.
I am confident that by reimagining our role, supporting innovation, and championing a bold design culture, we can shape a remarkable future for Canada’s architectural landscape.
Jonathan Bisson, architect, MOAQ, FIRAC
LITTLE BY LITTLE STUDIO
In the SABMag Summer issue, we should have reported that the architect of the Little by Little Studio, which received the Existing Building Upgrade Award in the 2024 Canadian Green Building Awards, was pico ARCHITECTURE inc. We regret our error.
CAMBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL PARK SHOOTS FOR ZERO CARBON BUILDING DESIGN V3
The Eagle Street Industrial Park in Cambridge, Ontario is expected to have the first industrial building in Ontario and one of only eight in all of Canada to be certified by the Canadian Green Building Council as ‘Zero Carbon Building Design v3’. The ‘v3’ certification demands carbon reduction be 30% below the Ontario average for embedded carbon in building materials. Further, it calls for full electrification of all heating and cooling systems down to -10 celsius. The Eagle Street project has gone well beyond the minimums. The steel is recycled from old projects and forged in electric arc furnaces for lower carbon emissions. The concrete for the foundations and footings came from recycled concrete from demolished projects and then mixed with new concrete. The building insulation is also unique, with R40 roof insulation, R30 wall insulation, and R20 foundation insulation. After consultation with Toronto based company ‘Ecovert’, every connecting point in the building has engineered thermal breaks, ensuring the energy that is put into the building stays in the building. Revolutionary air source heat pumps have been incorporated for heating and cooling the building. Projected annual reductions include 27% less electricity and 82% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity. Information: MichaelHilson@Crillion.com
Jonathan Bisson
Daylighting
productivity
To be most productive, one needs to be comfortable first. Add superior light quality and views to the outdoors along with natural ventilation to enhance indoor environmental quality and people thrive. Daylighting done right has been proven to increase productivity, reduce absenteeism and improve mood. Kalwall works hard so employees can work smart.
balance
Only Kalwall offers the power of beautifully balanced daylighting. Unlike other glazing products on the market, Kalwall provides predictable, glare-free daylight that blocks harmful UV-A and UV-B rays while transmitting the full spectrum of visible light for perfect color rendition within interiors.
sustainability
Translucent Kalwall panels provide perfectly diffuse daylighting that evenly bathes spaces in natural light, meaning fewer lights on during the day. Our high recyclability and low embodied carbon ratings are planet-friendly. Even better, our best-in-class thermal performance means you get superb daylight without any solar heat gain. That means savings for electrical and cooling costs, which is good for both your bottom line and the environment.
PREFABRICATED BALCONIES BRING BENEFITS IN TIME, COST AND PERFORMANCE
By Sam Estall
Prefabrication and modular construction are innovative approaches that can benefit a building project, and this includes balconies.
Reducing the time on site by not needing to manufacture balconies in-situ can be a time and cost-effective way to manage balconies on a development. Delivering fully assembled units means not only a decrease in cost, but also a reduction in risk.
And, since the floor of the prefabricated balcony is not continuous with the floor of the interior space, thermal bridging is all but eliminated.
Pre-finishing as much as possible in the factory reduces the requirement for secure storage on site – a further benefit particularly ideal for projects in city centres like Toronto or Vancouver where site space can often be extremely limited.
On-site health and safety issues, such as the risk of errors and potentially costly project delays due to bad weather, can be reduced with a prefabricated solution.
Finally, this increase in quality stretches out to quality assurance too – prefabricating balconies in factory conditions ensures a high degree of quality control which is almost impossible to achieve on site.
Prefabricated balconies do need to be designed to ensure compatibility with modular construction processes. Ensuring that the balcony design integrates seamlessly with other building systems, such as façade elements and structural supports, can enhance overall project coordination and efficiency.
Compliance with step codes in Canada must also be considered. Having a prefabricated balcony can lead to sustainability benefits, but making sure that balcony designs comply with relevant building codes and regulations, including requirements for structural integrity, fire safety, and accessibility, are crucial for ensuring code compliance.
Prefabrication is reinventing modern balcony construction – as time goes on, we at SAPPHIRE are seeing signs that the modular approach to balcony manufacturing could be on its way to becoming the norm.
With the various benefits of a prefabricated approach such as faster installation times, minimized thermal bridging, and quality assurance, a building development can benefit from not only a streamlined approach, but a lighter, safer, kinder one too, with more possibilities than ever before.
To learn more about how a prefabricated solution could benefit your project, visit balconies.global/visit-us-canada-showroom.
Prerfabricated balconies reduce on-site construction time, cost, and thermal bridging and adapt well to modular construction.
SAM
Efficiency Capital (EC), Canada’s first Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) company, and Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. (MESCA) have announced a strategic cross-promotional partnership to make low-carbon building solutions more accessible to building owners and operators across Canada. Energy efficiency in buildings, despite being one of the critical pathways to meet Canada’s climate goals, faces several systemic barriers for adoption at scale. As partners in sustainability, EC and MESCA will offer turnkey efficiency solutions with little to no upfront capital so that building and business owners can enjoy the financial benefits of upgrading their buildings. The partnership combines EC’s project investment and delivery model with MESCA’s heat pumps and related technologies in the drive towards net-zero buildings across Canada. This collaboration will better enable owners and operators to optimize their energy systems and capital expenditures while reducing their carbon footprint, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. Information: Candace.Steinberg@mesca.ca
CASCADIA WINDOWS & DOORS THE FIRST TO ISSUE AN EPD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW PCR
Cascadia Windows & Doors in Langley has published Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its Universal Series™ Windows, Doors and Window Wall uti-
lizing the new Fenestration Assemblies Product Category Rule (PCR) released in December, 2023. This milestone makes Cascadia Windows & Doors the first window manufacturer in the world to issue an EPD in accordance with the new PCR.
Visit SABMag's Directory of Sustainable Products and Services for Sustainable, High-Performance Building [sabmagazine. com/product-directory/ ] where products are organized by Product Category and by LEED Category. Examples of featured listings include:
Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing Inc.Proudly providing the Canadian marketplace with highefficiency condensing boiler, water heater products manufactured by Lochinvar LLC. LEED v4.1 BD & C Category potential for New Construction, Major Renovations and Homes for energy performance. aquatech-canada.com Duxton Windows & Doors - The Future is FIBERGLASS: Super low Uvalues; Tough frames; Beautiful aesthetics; and Passive House Applications. duxtonwindows.com
PRODUCTS
ECO Building Resource - Suppliers of High-Performance Membranes & Tapes, Sealants & Adhesives, Paints & Finishes, Insulation and more. eco-building.ca
Forbo Flooring Systems - Marmoleum is CO2 neutral (from cradle to gate) due to natural ingredients that absorb carbon dioxide and a low energy production process, resulting in a sustainable floor that looks beautiful and lasts over 30 years. forbo.com
UNICEL Architectural - Specialists in the manufacturing of high energy- efficiency timber curtain wall with proven RAICO technology. Each Therm+ H-I system (56 and 76mm) combines Passive House certification-level thermal insulation, along with superior wind resistance and greater air tightness. unicelarchitectural.com
Innotech Windows + Doors - A BCbased manufacturer of Passive House Institute certified fenestration systems for deeply sustainable custom residences and multi-family developments. innotech-windows.com
Dulux/PPG - Dulux Paints operates the largest network of company-owned paint stores across Canada. Our highly experienced team of account representatives provides specification and on-site support, and we have the scale to deliver outstanding services to help you meet any of your design challenges. dulux.ca
Big Ass Fans - The world’s preeminent manufacturer of HVLS ceiling fans (high-volume, low-speed fans), we engineer and purpose-build our airflow products to provide significant energy savings and improve occupant comfort year-round. bigassfans.com
NZP Fenestration Passivhaus Windows and Doors - NZP Fenestration is a passivhaus certified tilt and turn window manufacturer in Quebec. We offer high-performance products and support from our team of experts from the production of the plans to the installation. Our uPVC profile allows us to manufacture very large dimensions, install the best triple glazing available and significantly reduce your energy use. nzpfenestration.com
Daikin Applied - Designs and manufactures technologically advanced commercial HVAC systems for customers around the world. Our goal is to deliver superior air quality and energy efficiency to every solution with innovation in advanced technology, IoT, and next generation compressors. daikinapplied.com.
reducing carbon emissions and creating a more comfortable and consistent interior environment. ecopilotai.com
Efficiency Nova Scotia - Did you know installing energy efficient upgrades can make your commercial space more comfortable for tenants while saving on your bottom line? From new builds, building retrofits, optimizing controls and everything in between, we can safely help with incentives, financing, and expert advice. efficiencyns.ca
MAPEI Canada – We represent the Canadian subsidiary of the MAPEI Group. Founded in 1937 in Milan, MAPEI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of chemical products for the building industry and has contributed to the construction of some of the most important architectural and infrastructure works worldwide. mapei.com
Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc. - We offer a wide range of solutions for the residential and commercial market including: Air Source VRF, Water Source VRF, Hybrid VRF, SingleSplit, Multi-Split, Hydronics and Ventilation. Mitsubishielectric.ca
SLOAN Valve - Our EPDs are produced in accordance with international standards and verified by an independent third party to ensure the data we communicate is credible, resulting in full LEED Material and Resource credits for your project. dobbinsales.com
Fantech - Specifying made simple. BIM models and CSI 3-part specifications make it easy to spec quality residential and commercial ventilation products providing a healthy indoor environment where people live and work. fantech.net
Ecopilot® - A clean-tech pioneer in intelligent building management software. Using real-time data to make continuous improvements to a building’s HVAC system, Ecopilot’s Artificial Intelligence saves heating and cooling costs while
Tempeff Inc.- Building on over 20 years of European innovation, we offer air to air Dual Core® energy recovery ventilation equipment with up to 90% energy efficiency in winter without any requirement for an energy robbing defrost strategy. Tempeff Dual Core® Technology is the highest efficiency solution available for your building ventilation needs. tempeff.com
NEW ALL-CANADIAN PLATFORM
WHAT IS IT?
EcoSpex is a verified product specification platform designed to revolutionize how construction materials are specified for green and healthy buildings.
WHO IS IT FOR?
EcoSpex supports manufacturers by automating and digitizing the environmental certifications and other relevant documentation of their products on one platform so that Developers, Owners, Architects, Engineers, General Contractors, Interior Designers, and sustainability professionals can cut the time it takes to decide the suitability of products for sustainable building from hours to minutes.
WHY NOW, WHY CANADIAN?
EcoSpex consulted with the Federal Government, numerous companies and Industry Associations across Canada to discover the need for an all-encompassing, fully digitized one-stop platform that collects, verifies and automates environmental certifications of manufacturers’ products accessible in Canada and suitable for Canadian climates.
Product Passports are standardized to allow users to compare or review a summary of the sustainability attributes of product manufacturers' data.
The platform quickly provides an accurate set of documents to assure project teams that a product can meet sustainability and performance goals and compliance with LEEDv4, LEEDv5, WELL®, ILFI, International Passivhaus Institute, Fitwell, Green Globes, BOMA and BREEAM.
EcoSpex Low Carbon Platform allows project teams to:
• Access a Trusted Process
• Streamlined Product Evaluation
• New Product Alerts
• Get Guidance
• Powerful Search & Compare Tools
Start
• Fully prefabricated, modular balcony system
• 34% embodied carbon reduction compared to a traditional concrete slab
• Experienced in achieving Passive House standards
• Science-Based Targets approved
• Innovative interfacing for easy-install on any façade or structure
• Preferred by developers across North America
• Up to 10x faster to install than a concrete alternative
• 15,000 balconies sold globally in 3 years
Amexon Development Corporation wins prestigious IPAX Americas Property Award
The Residences at Central Park project by Amexon Development Corporation has won the coveted IPAX Americas Property Award for "Best Sustainable Residential Development" in Canada.
The globally-recognized IPAX Americas Awards honour outstanding achievements across the real estate sector from nine global regions, awarding projects that exemplify innovation, superior quality, and environmental responsibility.
Amexon's award-winning Residences at Central Park in Toronto —a 12-acre master-planned community of five towers— contains numerous green technology measures, some of which include: In the building:
• Vegetated roofs reduce energy consumption and absorb rainwater
• Photovoltaic modules supplement the building’s power needs
• High-performance thermal building envelope minimizes unwanted solar gain and heat loss
• Over 1,500 electric car charging stations service every parking space, including visitor parking spaces, a first in North America
• Energy-efficient LED light fixtures and motion sensors in corridors and common areas
• Intelligent building automation system for heating and cooling controls in common areas
• Next-generation building mechanical systems feature improved air flow and HEPA filtration systems
• Central building water filtration system
• On-site car-share service and bicycle-share service
• Convenient access to transit
In each suite:
• Individually metered electrical and water usage provide control over consumption and water-wise fixtures for showers, sinks and dual-flush toilets
• Individually controlled and programmable comfort systems to control heating and cooling from smartphone
• Low-voc finishes and significant use of hardsurface flooring for easy maintenance
"The Award is a testament to our ongoing commitment to sustainability and forward-thinking design," said Ashling Evans, General Manager of Real Estate at Amexon Development Corporation.
The Residences at Central Park also recently won the Ontario Home Builders' Association's Project of the Year (People's Choice Award) and named a finalist for the BILD Green Builder of the Year and the OHBA Green Building of the Year.
The project seamlessly integrates with the adjacent East Don Parkland to create a mixed-use community that represents the future of sustainable urban living in North America. centralparktoronto.com
Every day, we support architects with their projects and greatest achievements, including the Property Tower in Baku, the Museum of the Future in Dubai, the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, the New Parliament House in New Delhi, the Research and Development District (RaDD) in San Diego, and the Forest Campus in Warsaw. These iconic buildings represent major technical and aesthetic achievements and our innovative solutions are helping reduce their energy consumption and use of natural resources(1) while ensuring comfort for everyone. Faced with today’s environmental, social and societal challenges, we stand by all the construction professionals shaping the world of tomorrow to leave behind a desirable and more sustainable heritage for future generations.
NAVIGATING THE TRANSFORMATION
The evolving role of wood in sustainable construction
By Peter Moonen
Around the globe, the construction sector is in the midst of a profound transformation. Faced with an array of social, economic, and environmental challenges, the industry is adapting to new demands and regulations. As urban populations swell—80% of the world’s population is projected to live in cities by 2050, with Canada already at 81%— the need for affordable, high-performance multifamily housing has never been more pressing. The sector is grappling with rising operational costs, material expenses, and a shrinking labour force, all while striving to enhance energy efficiency and affordability in rapidly densifying urban areas.
THE CARBON CONUNDRUM
Decarbonizing construction is a crucial part of this transformation. For decades, regulations have focused on operational energy, pushing the industry toward buildings with minimal energy demand and related monthly costs. Recently, however, there has been a shift toward addressing the carbon footprint of the construction process itself. Wood, with its low carbon emissions, is emerging as a key player in this shift. As building codes evolve to permit greater use of wood, particularly mass timber, there is a significant opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of construction.
In Europe, energy efficiency has long been a standard, and now low-carbon building policies are becoming more prevalent. Canadian cities like Vancouver and Toronto are following suit with initiatives to cut embodied carbon in new construction. Provincial and federal governments are also setting carbon reduction targets in their procurement practices, creating a ripple effect across the industry.
1. and 2. Brock Commons/Tallwood House.
Urban infill building highlights hybrid construction
Completed in 2022, the Fast + Epp Home Office is an elegant, economic and highly transferable example of an urban densification project whose approach to material use is a pragmatic hybrid of mass timber, steel and concrete.
The four-storey mixed use building is located close to the city centre on the south shore of False Creek, an eclectic light industrial area that has undergone dramatic transformation over the past decade.
The 137.1m x 13.3m site is zoned for an FSR of 3.0, of which 1.0 must be an industrial use located at street level. A 1.2m right-of-way reduced the width of the site, forcing a portion of the industrial use to the second level and making vertical fire separations necessary.
Below grade, the reduced width required the elimination of interior columns in favour of a clear span, post-tensioned slab to accommodate a single row of parking and an aisle. This in turn influenced the design of the above ground structure, where clear spanning glulam beams informed both the subdivision of space and the routing of exposed building services.
Site plan / Floor plan
Entrance to parking
Light industrial / Concept lab
1. West elevation under construction. On this side of the building, the glulam and CLT structure is supported on slender steel columns to maximize daylight and views.
BUILDING BETTER WITH STEEL
Guidelines for lowering GHG emissions in conventional steel structures
By Scott Norris
Finding ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings is on every professional’s mind. While certification programs like LEED, Toronto Green Building Standards, and CAGBC Net Zero Carbon Building Standard have helped guide the industry in terms of reducing the environmental impact of buildings, including Global Warming Potential (GWP), it is an ever evolving mission.
The steel industry has begun to take a life cycle approach, reducing the emissions associated with the production of the material, the construction process, as well as the energy efficiency over its lifespan. Regardless of the building type, occupancy, or design material, it is critical that consultants reaffirm their design approaches to ensure they align with this more holistic goal.
In buildings where, large clear spans are required by the program, a steel structure with conventional cast in place concrete foundations is often preferred for reasons of economy. Steelwork that is efficiently fabricated off-site offers quality-assured, fully tested, and traceable products. On-site construction is fast and has minimal adverse local environmental impacts. These characteristics lend themselves well to warehouses, community centres, transit buildings, data centres and low-rise offices, among others.
For those involved with these building types for which steel is better suited, the overall embodied carbon in the structure can be reduced in several ways:
1. Design efficiently and purposefully. For example:
a. The consultants must work together to determine accurate design loading; excess loading compounds exponentially in the member design phase.
b. Work with the consultants and contractors to understand serviceability requirements of floors, finishes and curtain walls.
c. During preliminary building layout, opt for bays with a 3:4 rectangular aspect ratio for girders to beams. Also, aim for bay sizes of 7.5m x 10m to 10m x 13m to maximize deck spans and optimize framing weight and depth.
d. Utilize efficient framing systems, such as: SIN Beams, composite beams, gerber girder framing, open web steel joists (OWSJs), trusses, arches and tension only members wherever possible.
e. Avoid inefficient systems such as moment frames, transfers of gravity structure, Vierendeel trusses, etc., wherever possible.
f. Understand the transportation impacts created by the materials that you are choosing. Truck transportation produces 17 kg CO2 / tonne / 100 km, while train is 33% of that and marine shipping is 5%.
g. Prioritize members that are produced using an electric arc furnace (EAF). North American manufacturers typically use EAFs to manufacture steel for hot rolled shapes like wide-flange members, angles and channels.
h. Understand the benefits and limitations of hollow structural sections (HSS). These members are more efficient from a material standpoint, however if they are purchased in Canada, they currently come from basic oxygen furnace (BOF) coil which increases embodied carbon and reduces recycled content. If the HSS is purchased from US mills it is more likely that the coil will be coming from EAF.
The basic oxygen furnace
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KIPLING TRANSIT HUB
Advanced steel framing cuts tonnage costs
By Scott Norris
Completed in 2022, the Kipling Transit Hub is a 4,890m2 revitalization of an existing transit station. The LEED Gold station serves as a key transit interchange in Toronto’s west end, connecting GO Transit, TTC subway and MiWay buses under one roof.
The focal point of the project was a new 300m2 bus terminal with a long curving cantilevered roof structure projecting out over the bus parking and circulation area. The $73 million design/build project was led by Ellis Don.
The elliptical shaped roof structure supports a 4,460m2 green roof which contributed to the LEED accreditation. Along with the station building there were many other components including a pedestrian bridge, tunnels, platforms and parking, which will not be covered in this article.
Over the course of the project it was determined that the scope of the structural steel work was expanding beyond the initial budget. At this point, Steelcon was brought on in a design assist role to determine whether its proprietary SIN beam member could be utilized to reduce cost, overall steel tonnage and improve delivery times.
The SIN beam is a custom built-up beam with a corrugated web section that allows the web thickness to be optimized for the design loads. The sinusoidal (SIN) profile of the corrugations improves the strength-to-weight ratio of the web by virtue of its geometry. This web optimization along with substantial variability in the flange members resulted in significant reduction in the overall tonnage of steel required for the project.
1. The LEED Gold revitalization of the Kipling Transit Hub.
Corbec is the Leading Hot-Dip Galvanizer in Canada
Unrivaled Service | Unparalleled Expertise | Bold Innovation
Why Galvanize?
✔ Maximum Protection
✔ Durability & Adaptability
✔ Longest Life Coating
✔ Best Return on Investment
✔ Eliminate Maintenance
Corbec Specializes in Galvanizing a Wide Range of Structures and Metal Products, Including: and more!
Buildings
Bridges
Galvanized Rebar
Towers & Electric Power Grids
Steel Structures
OEM Products
To Corbec What Matters Is:
▪ Galvanizing Better
▪ Quality & Innovation
▪ Expertise & Quality Assurance
▪ Service - Pre-During and After the Project
▪ Collaboration and Assistance to the Project Team
Sustainability
▪ The lowest carbon footprint option
▪ The durable solution
▪ Protection without maintenance
▪ No added costs during Life Cycle of the project
▪ Zinc is Recyclable and Reusable
GALVANIZE BETTER.
Corbec Inc., the leader in Canada’s galvanizing and construction industry, made a trend-setting announcement!
Publishing with CSA, the first-ever Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
The first in Canada for Galvanized Steel
The first in North America for Galvanized Rebar
Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
Why EPDs Matter?
EPDs are critical in assessing the environmental footprint of materials, assisting in making informed decisions and effects the scope for considerations and design for sustainable construction projects.
Utilizing EPDs in Your Project
▪ Material Selection
▪ Design Optimization
▪ Establish Clear Sustainable Targets
▪ Life Cycle Assessment
▪ Transparent Reporting
The Advantages of Using EPDs
▪ Leverage long-term cost savings
▪ Gain a competitive edge
▪ Reduce Environmental Footprints
▪ Enhanced Life Cycle Assessment
▪ Achieve Green Building Certifications
▪ and more
CANADA’S STRONG UPSWINGUsing Galvanized Steel as the optimal sustainable construction material
By Hellen Christodoulou
Canada has made a range of commitments to sustainability in the construction sector, focusing on reducing environmental impacts, promoting energy efficiency, and enhancing green building practices both domestically and globally. Domestically, these commitments include initiatives like the National Climate and Green Building Initiatives and Net-Zero Energy Ready Codes. Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, Canada aims for all new buildings to be net-zero energy ready by 2030.
In line with this goal, the National Building Code now incorporates sustainability guidelines. Additionally, the Canada Green Building Strategy (CGBS) was launched to address the environmental footprint of the building sector. Programs like LEED Certification incentivize sustainable construction practices to further reduce the carbon footprint of buildings.
Globally, Canada has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030, as part of the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, the construction sector has embraced stricter regulations, retrofits, and sustainable building practices. Canada is also an active member of the World Green Building Council (WGBC) and the Canadian Green Building Council (CAGBC). Together, these commitments promote low-carbon construction materials, finishes, and methods, helping owners, designers, and specifiers make more sustainable choices.
Recently, there has been a strong upswing to use galvanized steel as the optimal sustainable construction material. Galvanized steel stands out for its full life cycle benefits, which include durability, minimal maintenance, and recyclability. The galvanizing process coats steel with a protective zinc layer, preventing corrosion and significantly extending its service life. This longevity reduces the need for frequent replacements, cutting down on resource consumption, waste production, and energy usage associated with manufacturing and installation. The sustainability benefits increase over time, as fewer repairs result in a smaller environmental footprint.
At the end of its life cycle, galvanized steel remains highly recyclable. The steel industry has one of the highest recycling rates globally, and this closed-loop process reduces waste and conserves natural resources, supporting circular economy principles. Additionally, galvanizing requires less energy and fewer materials than alternative protection methods, resulting in lower emissions during production. Overall, galvanized steel aligns with eco-friendly practices throughout its life cycle, from production to end-oflife recyclability.
The Charles Hayden Parking Garage, Toronto. Galvanizing steel extends service life which reduces resource consumption, waste production, and energy for manufacturing.
For asset owners, galvanized steel offers a high return on investment (ROI) by extending the life of steel structures and reducing the need for costly repairs or replacements. Its high recyclability also adds residual value at the end of an asset’s life cycle. Moreover, galvanized steel’s durability minimizes downtime associated with structural repairs, supporting operational continuity. These factors collectively reduce total lifecycle costs, making galvanized steel a sound choice for enhancing asset performance and longevity.
Almost any structure can benefit from galvanizing, including buildings, bridges, rebar, towers, electric power grids, and other steel structures. Painted galvanized structures, known as the Duplex System, mostly used for infrastructure exposed to the environment, can further extend the service life.
As the use of galvanized steel expands, architects, engineers, and builders require Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), that record verifiable environmental data on the Global Warming Potential (GWP), to make informed choices and promote sustainable building practices. To date, EPDs for galvanized steel products in the North American construction industry were only available through the American Galvanizers Association (AGA).
But this is changing. Corbec Inc., a leading Canadian Hot-Dip Galvanizer has recently introduced the firstever plant-specific EPDs for galvanized steel in Canada and the first-ever, plant-specific EPDs for galvanized rebar in North America, both registered by CSA (Canadian Standards Association).
These declarations detail resource usage, emissions, and potential impacts, allowing professionals to make informed decisions aligned with sustainability goals. EPDs enable accurate comparisons between similar materials, empowering architects and engineers to choose galvanized steel confidently for its durability and eco-friendliness. Additionally, EPDs support compliance with green building standards like LEED and BREEAM, facilitating sustainable certifications and strengthening the role of galvanized steel in creating resilient, low-maintenance, and environmentally responsible structures.
HELLEN CHRISTODOULOU PH.D., ENG., B.C.L., LL.B., M.B.A. IS EXECUTIVE VP, ENGINEERING, SUSTAINABILITY & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AT CORBEC INC.
Canadian Directory of Products and Services
for Sustainable, HighPerformance Building
SITE | LANDSCAPING | RAINWATER HARVESTING
ACO Systems
Visit our on-line Directory to see hundreds of listings of companies which supply products and services for sustainable, high-performance building. Listings are organized by Product Category and by LEED Category. Our LEED v4.1 Directory is created with the help of our partner:
Filterra Bioretention Systems/Langley Concrete Group
Molok North America Ltd.
Roth North America
Wishbone Site Furnishings
STRUCTURE & EXTERIOR ENVELOPE
Airfoam Industries
Arriscraft
Canada Brick
CAYAKI Charred Wood/ CFP Woods
CBC Specialty Metals and Processing
Engineered Assemblies
Fraser Wood Siding
475.Supply
International Timberframes
Live Roof Ontario
LP SmartSide
MAPEI Canada
N.A.T.S. Nursery Ltd.
Radon Environmental
Sapphire Balconies Ltd.
Siga
Thames Valley Brick & Tile
Tremco CPG Inc.
THERMAL, WINDOWS & DYNAMIC GLASS
Cascadia Windows & Doors
Duxton Windows & Doors
Inline Fiberglass Ltd.
Innotech Windows + Doors
JELD-WEN Windows & Doors
KALWALL
Our 2024 Partners
Kohltech Windows & Entrance Systems
NZP Fenestration passivhaus windows and doors
Unicel Architectural Corp.
VETTA Windows & Doors
COATINGS AND INTERIOR
Century Wood Products Inc.
Dulux/PPG
Eco Building Resource
Forbo Flooring Systems
ELECTRICAL | PLUMBING | HVAC | RENEWABLES
Aqua-Tech Sales and Marketing Inc.
Big Ass Fans
Daikin Applied
Ecopilot Real-Time Energy Management System
Fantech Canada Ltd
Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada Inc.
RadiantLink In-wall Heating
Sharc Energy
Sloan Valve
Tempeff Inc.
Teritt Indoor Environmental
TRANE
Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc.
GREEN DESIGN SUPPORT + PROFESSIONALS
Canada Green Building Council
Canadian Precast Concrete Quality Assurance
Certification Program
Efficiency Nova Scotia
Entuitive
FABRIQ architecture
Green Building Initiative
Save EnergyNB
THE DRIVE TO DECARBONIZATION
The Role of Prefabricated Precast Concrete
By Brian J. Hall and Val Sylaj
Prefabrication, an innovative production method, stands out with its unique features that have the potential to yield significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions while meeting current and future construction needs. The fundamental differences between factory prefabrication and conventional site construction offer a reduced carbon footprint, and so a promising path towards a more sustainable future.
With traditional construction, the different building materials are delivered from production facilities to the site where the building is constructed from the ground up. In prefabricated construction, building components are fabricated at an off-site facility and installed at the construction site. Moreover, using prefabricated precast concrete products significantly reduces the waste and energy usage typically associated with construction.
This shift from the building assembly stage to the product manufacturing stage not only minimizes the environmental impact but also supports a more sustainable approach to construction. The benefits of prefabrication are already being seen, and there is potential for further carbon reduction going forward
OUR PROGRESS TO DATE
Since the publication of our first CPCI industry-average Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) in 2015, the Canadian precast concrete industry has made significant strides, achieving a remarkable 22% reduction in our A1-A3 (Product Stage) embodied carbon (Figure 1). This reduction underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainability and the potential of prefabricated precast concrete to play a significant part in the decarbonization of the construction industry.
In 2015, ASTM published the first industry average Type III (EPD) for the Canadian precast concrete industry, a significant milestone within the wider construction industry. Since then, the Canadian precast concrete EPDs have been updated twice (in 2019 and 2023) reflecting the more comprehensive emissions data that is now available.
The latest EPDs from 2023 introduced a more detailed regional emissions breakdown than just a national average. Four product categories were reported: architectural precast products, insulated wall panels, structural precast products, and underground precast products.
However, the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) community must understand the limitations of EPDs and the differences between EPDs and whole life, whole-building life cycle assessment (wbLCA). Most people focus on just the Global Warming Potential (GWP) reported in the EPDs, but what does this number mean? Can you compare two different building materials’ EPDs and make your choice based solely on the lowest GWP?
EPDs are intended to be used as reference input data for consultants conducting a wbLCA, which includes all the life cycle stages identified in European Standard EN 15804, the most popular global standard for producing EPDs for construction products.
For a full ‘Cradle to Cradle’ life cycle assessment, the stages are (Figure 2):
• Modules A1-A3 Product Stage
• Modules A4, A5 Construction Stage
• Modules B1–B7 Use Stage
• Modules C1–C4 End of Life Stage
• Module D Net Benefits and Loads
JOIN
Join the industry leaders using their Canada Green Building Council membership to accelerate low-carbon, resilient and cost-effective buildings.
With CAGBC, access the research, training, expertise and opportunities that unlock the value of green building.
Become a member today.
cagbc.org/membership
CERTIFY
Solidify your sustainability investments with trusted third-party certification platforms including the LEED rating system and the Zero Carbon Building Standards.
Access support for your projects from the experts at CAGBC to help realize your sustainability goals.
We’re here to help.
cagbc.org/certify
LEARN
Grow your green building expertise with on-demand courses, live workshops and events, and now, the new Zero Carbon Building Micro-Credential.
With individual and private group training, CAGBC has what you need to upskill your workforce for a low-carbon future.
Get started today.
cagbc.org/learn
GIANT STEPS autism centre
A giant step for autism
A thorough, highly individualized interdisciplinary approach led to the design of Giant Steps Autism Centre, a cutting-edge facility aiming to transform the way autism services are deployed worldwide. Tailor-made for individuals on the spectrum, this project constitutes a perfect example of the use of architecture as a malleable work tool. More than just a school, Giant Steps is a place of solace – a safe space for the entire community.
For the past 40 years, Giant Steps Autism Centre has asserted its leadership in the provision of services supporting the education and success of people with ASD. As the number of individuals and families affected by autism steadily grows, there was an urgency to develop new ways to respond to their needs. The Centre represents a centralized hub based on four separate but integrated pillars: education, adult services, community outreach, and research.
Giant Steps Autism Centre finds its home in the Technopôle Angus, an avantgarde eco-district guided by principles of innovative sustainable development. With a design informed by the many perceptual differences and sensory challenges often facing people with autism, the Centre integrates the values of its new environment with style, placing innovation at the heart of its achievements.
The architecture is expressed as a concave curve creation that opens into an inner shielded courtyard and closes at the site’s rear embankment. Individuals on the autism spectrum experience both perceptual differences and difficulty processing sensory information.
6. The curved precast concrete façade enclosing the playground offers solar and acoustic protection, reinforcing feelings of safety and privacy.
Better Air Everywhere.
It's not just our tagline. It's our commitment to ventilation solutions that help redefine indoor air quality no matter where you are, like a Mixed-Use Building.
Residential Tower
Parking Garage
Challenge: These spaces trap car exhaust and gases, posing serious health and safety risks if not controlled.
Solution: Dilution ventilation by Systemair’s Jet Fans and Gas Detection system.
Mixed-Use Areas
Challenge: Poor indoor air quality, and buildup of pollutants, odors, and allergens cause discomfort and health issues to occupants in high-usage areas.
Solution: Balanced ventilation to remove airborne contamination and control humidity levels by modular Air Handling Units and ERVs from Systemair.
Challenge: Stagnant air in residential dwellings causes moisture buildup and dust and allergen accumulation.
Solution: Balanced ventilation to be controlled by Fantech’s ERVs.
Challenge: Poor air circulation or ventilation inefficiencies in dedicated areas such as public bathrooms or commercial kitchens.
Solution: Spot ventilation to reduce stagnant air and remove odors and contaminants by Inline Duct Fans from Fantech.
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS for low energy buildings
By Stuart Hood, Principal, Introba
When it comes to energy use in buildings, it may seem counterintuitive to say that big savings can cost less than small savings – but this is true if you consider the entire building as a single integrated system. Amory Lovins, co-founder of the green energy non-profit Rocky Mountain Institute, has written
extensively on the diminishing returns that are realized when an incremental approach is taken to improving the energy efficiency of traditional building systems; and how the whole building approach to energy conservation can ‘tunnel through the cost barrier’.
A Whole Building Approach
Whether the demand is for heating or cooling, a whole building approach shifts the emphasis from a reliance on high-capacity active systems to the predictable (and much reduced) energy demand inherent in the stable thermal mass of a building with a high-performance envelope. This translates into an enclosure with a greater thickness of thermal insulation, increased airtightness, structural thermal breaks at balconies and other structural penetrations together with careful detailing of cladding systems, doors and windows, and the minimum number of penetrations of ducts and pipes through the building enclosure.
In addition, adequate solar shading is required on south, west, and east elevations to control heat gain. The shading should be externally mounted with adequate depth if fixed or using manually operable blinds with easily accessible controls through opening tilt and turn windows.
The seven-storey, multi-family, affordable living Vienna House, designed by Public Architecture + Communication in a whole building HVAC approach, is being piloted as a Learning Lab to evaluate innovative solutions to affordability, inclusion, climate change, and other systemic challenges.
CAGBC LAUNCHES ZERO CARBON BUILDING
MICRO-CREDENTIAL
New micro-credential helps build proficiency in low-carbon concepts and applying the Zero Carbon Building Standards.
The Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC) recently launched its Zero Carbon Building Essentials Micro-Credential, a new leaning path designed to help green building professionals develop the knowledge needed to advance carbon reductions.
“The growing demand for low-carbon building solutions requires building professionals to acquire and integrate new skills and knowledge now,” says Thomas Mueller, CAGBC President and CEO. “Drawing on 20 years’ experience delivering high-quality green building training and the expertise we gained from our Zero Carbon Building program, CAGBC’s new microcredential will provide the key concepts and insights that Canada’s building professionals need to advance decarbonization today.”
The ZCB Micro-Credential was developed to support Canada’s building sector and meet growing demand for low-carbon buildings and retrofits. With only five years left to meet 2030 carbon reduction targets and another 25 years to achieve decarbonization, Canada’s building sector needs to act now to be prepared for the lowcarbon future.
The ZCB-Essentials Micro-Credential builds on insights gained from creating and implementing the Zero Carbon Building Standards, Canada’s first and only building standards focused solely on carbon reductions. Now with over a hundred certified buildings and hundreds more registered, CAGBC has created a microcredential for building industry professionals seeking to better understand zero-carbon concepts.
“Zero-carbon buildings and retrofits require specific skills and knowledge,” said Mark Hutchinson, CAGBC’s vice president of Green Building Programs and Innovation. “Project teams need to be more integrated and collaborative, using common terminology and approaches that everyone involved can understand, from design through to construction and building operations.”
ZCB-Essentials will focus on low carbon fundamentals and help establish an industry-wide lexicon. The micro-credential starts with the live and interactive “Introduction to the Zero Carbon Building Standards” webinar. Five on-demand courses explore key topics including making the business case for zero carbon, Thermal Energy Demand Intensity, the Zero Carbon Balance, Embodied Carbon and transition planning. To complete the micro-credential, a new interactive workshop will provide a practical look at the latest ZCB Standards.
Participants that complete the micro-credential will receive a ZCBEssentials badge through Credly, a global Open Badge management platform. With Credly, participants can secure and share their ZCBEssentials badge, demonstrating their knowledge of zero-carbon principles to clients and employers.
“Launching a micro-credential for the Zero Carbon Building program is one of the many ways CAGBC continues to advance decarbonization in the Canadian real estate market,” said Mueller. “Along with projects to support transition planning, our Learning program is helping prepare the building sector workforce for Canada’s lowcarbon future.”
To learn more about the micro-credential, visit cagbc.org/learn.
INTERVIEW WITH Mike Manning and Catherine Marshall
The husband-and-wife team at Greenbilt Homes (greenbilthomes.ca) have turned their attention to FlexPlex® – their multiplex building that easily flexes from duplex, triplex, fourplex to single-family. This is a new venture for this 15-year-old Passive House company. Traditionally, Greenbilt has been a custom home builder working with both modular and conventional technology.
1. How did you get the idea for FlexPlex We started ruminating about multiplexes when our kids were teenagers as a way that they could generate the rental income to afford to own a place. But we wanted them to have the option to enlarge their personal area by removing space from the rental area. Eventually, we came up with a “FlexPlex” prototype. We decided to build a duplex version for ourselves as both our retirement home, and as a retirement income generator. Our FlexPlex could also turn into a single-family multigenerational home if the “kids” have kids and want to live with “Mom and Dad”. We’re waiting!
2. How did you develop a flexible design and how does it work?
We designed a four 2-bedroom apartment building. Then we stress-tested the building infrastructure by seeing how it would work in a duplex, and a single-family home. We also focused on the aspects of each configuration that make it work and adjusted the design accordingly. There are so many ways the building can flex from one configuration to another, so we’ll give you one example.
If we wanted to turn the upper duplex into two 2-bedroom apartments:
Floor 1: use hidden infrastructure to add an extra bathroom, and in-suite laundry; frame two interior walls and open up a hidden doorway in an existing wall; and move one door. Floor 2: use hidden infrastructure to add a kitchen; move one door.
3. How can owners benefit from FlexPlex features?
Many buildings become functionally obsolete because they were designed with a single purpose. For example, office buildings with large floorplates likely can’t be adapted to another use. Because of the floorplate and the infrastructure, renovation to change the FlexPlex are quick and easy.
As the FlexPlex can have up to eight bed/bath combinations and four kitchen/ food prep areas, there’s a lot of optionality in the design. This building could have multiple configurations as a residence. In addition, it could be a small institutional or hospitality building.
4. It seems unusual to copyright a construction process. Why did you do that?
We wanted to protect our IP. But regardless of the legalities, now that we have given SABMag the drawings of the four-unit design (see p. ???), our secrets are out. Perhaps a better question is “why are you sharing this proprietary information?” We are getting toward the end of our careers, and we decided to try to inspire others in sustainable design to keep pushing forward with new ideas. We feel that it’s socially imperative for more innovation to occur to densify sustainably and affordably. We won’t maintain social cohesion if new housing sells at $1,600 per square foot.
The FlexPlex®.
Total Precast Concrete Key Attributes to Passive House Development are:
· Manufactured in local precast facilities under controlled conditions
· The whole building envelope in one composite panel; air barrier, moisture control, insulation and the structure
· Hollowcore floor slabs allow for a much lower depth to span ratio
· Hollowcore provides the lowest GWP per m2 of concrete floor area
· Precast concrete dramatically reduces the construction schedule, site congestion, noise and environmental impacts
For more information on Passive House Total Precast Concrete, visit www.cpci.ca/publications to download your free copies of the Structural Solutions Guide and the Putman Family YWCA Total Precast Concrete Publication.
Project: The Putman Family YWCA, Hamilton, ON Architect: Kearns Mancini Architects Inc., Toronto, ON
