Alberta Construction Magazine Winter 2012

winter 2012 | $8.00

PlUS | living the high life PaGe 26

TOPPROJECTSTOPPROJECTS

A W A R D S

30 PAGES OF TOP PROJeCTS AWARDS COveRAGe

sAit trades and technology Complex is

Project of the year

FROM THE TOP VIeW

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Agland Corporation Lloydminster

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Ag-Plus Mechanical Ltd.Medicine Hat

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Bobcat of Calgary Calgary

403-243-2011bobcat.cervusce.com

Bobcat of Edmonton Edmonton

780-447-4441bobcatofedmonton.com

Bobcat of Edmonton SouthEdmonton

780-439-9288bobcat.cervusce.com

Bobcat of Fort McMurray Fort McMurray 780-714-9200

bobcat.cervusce.com

Bobcat of Red Deer Red Deer County403-346-9011

bobcatofreddeer.com

Brooks Farm Centre LtdBrooks

403-362-8222

Drumheller Equip. Sales Drumheller

403-823-8383bobcatofthebadlands.com

Evcon Farm Equipment LtdLethbridge

403-329-6011evconequipment.com

A L B E R T A

Authorized Bobcat Dealers

Bobcat® and the Bobcat logo are registered trademarks of Bobcat Company in the United States and various other countries. ©2012 Bobcat Company. All Rights Reserved. | 1112646

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You’DBETTER

FinD MoRE

TRTRuuCCkkSS.

KPMG would like to congratulate all the teams involved in the 2012 Top ProjectsKPMG Canada’s Building, Construction and Real Estate practice offers relevant audit, tax and advisory services to a wide range of clients within the industry.

We provide insights and tailored services including:

• Real estate advisory• Project management skills• All forms of taxation• Business strategies• Transaction structuring know how

For more information please contact:

Randy Kraft Craig SneddonBuilding, Construction Building, Construction & Real Estate Leader, & Real Estate Leader,Calgary Edmonton403 691 8039 780 429 [email protected] [email protected] randykraftkpmg craigsneddon

kpmg.ca/construction

© 2012 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

AB Construction_8x10.75_Oct2012_FINAL.indd 1 11/14/2012 2:21:59 PM

KPMG would like to congratulate all the teams involved in the 2012 Top ProjectsKPMG Canada’s Building, Construction and Real Estate practice offers relevant audit, tax and advisory services to a wide range of clients within the industry.

We provide insights and tailored services including:

• Real estate advisory• Project management skills• All forms of taxation• Business strategies• Transaction structuring know how

For more information please contact:

Randy Kraft Craig SneddonBuilding, Construction Building, Construction & Real Estate Leader, & Real Estate Leader,Calgary Edmonton403 691 8039 780 429 [email protected] [email protected] randykraftkpmg craigsneddon

kpmg.ca/construction

© 2012 KPMG LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership and a member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved.

AB Construction_8x10.75_Oct2012_FINAL.indd 1 11/14/2012 2:21:59 PM

Chaz Osburn editor’s note

Coming next issue: The 2013 Green Issue

Like many of you, I’ve made the trip to Fort McMurray, Alta., by car. And each time I do so, I am cognizant of why Highway 63 is nicknamed the Highway of Death.

As some of you are aware, I was an automotive journalist earlier in my career. I’ve driven over 1,000 vehicles on three continents. On highways as flat as a sheet of paper. On roads and tracks with so many twists or turns I was sure I would lose my lunch. But until that first journey from Edmonton to Fort Mac—in the snow, in January, in a small car—I thought no road anywhere would surprise me.

Was I wrong.It’s not the road itself that has earned Highway 63 its reputation. It’s the people behind

the wheels. The people who pass on a double yellow. Coming up the crest of a hill. On a curve. And the speeders. The rigs pulling big-as-a-house modules. The guy who’s had a six-pack after a 12-hour day in the field and just wants to get home and sleep in his own bed.

After untold wrecks and lives lost, the provincial government has finally—finally—figured out a way to twin the roadway between Grassland and Fort McMurray by the fall of 2016 by going through capital markets rather than using the pay-as-you-go funding methods.

For that, I say, “Thank you.”I also say “thank you” for the other things the province has done to make Highway 63

safer—the 16 new traffic enforcement officers that have been announced for the region, and the work on two new passing/climbing lanes and extensions to six existing lanes, to name two.

As we prepare to leave 2012 behind and start a new year, I’ll leave you with this line from a popular ’80s TV show: “Let’s be careful out there.”

Regardless of which side of the double yellow you’re on.

To all our readers, here’s to a safe and prosperous holiday season.

[email protected]

Alberta Construction Magazine | 5

featurescommercIal

26 Living the high life Condo towers bring luxury lifestyle to Edmonton and Calgary

By Tricia Radison

safeTy

75 A safer approach Failing to use best practices when writing safety procedures can increase risk

By Tricia Radison

fInIshInG Touches

84 Give your building a new look Thanks to technology, architects and builders have choices when it comes to selecting architectural panels

By Diane L.M. Cook

exTerIors

91 Advancing the envelope New methods surface for ensuring an efficient building envelope

By Godfrey Budd

WIndoWs

95 Hitting close to home Buildings are a major source of GHG emissions, but the right windows can help cut energy waste

By Joseph Caouette

Glass

98 Light at the museum The new Royal Alberta Museum shines a light on its inner workings

By Joseph Caouette

TechnoloGy

102 The ultimate man cave BIM CAVE brings industry one step closer to a virtual building environment

By Godfrey Budd

editorialEditOr

Chaz Osburn • [email protected] EditOr

Joseph Caouette • [email protected] writErs

Godfrey Budd, Diane L.M. Cook, Ken Gibson, Randy Kraft, Tim Mavco, Tricia Radison, Michelle M. Simpson

EditOriAl AssistAnCE MAnAgEr

Samantha Sterling • [email protected] AssistAnCE

Kate Austin, Laura Blackwood, Brandi Haugen

CreativePrint, PrEPrEss & PrOduCtiOn MAnAgEr Michael Gaffney • [email protected]

CrEAtiVE sErViCEs MAnAgEr Tamara Polloway-Webb • [email protected]

CrEAtiVE lEAd/sEniOr dEsignEr Cathlene Ozubko

grAPhiC dEsignErs Janelle Johnson, Joel Kadziolka

COntributing PhOtOgrAPhErs Aaron Parker, Joey Podlubny

SaleSsAlEs MAnAgEr—AdVErtising Maurya Sokolon • [email protected]

sEniOr ACCOunt ExECutiVE Della Gray • [email protected]

For advertising inquiries please contact [email protected]

Ad trAFFiC COOrdinAtOr—MAgAzinEs Denise MacKay • [email protected]

direCtorSPrEsidEnt & CEO Bill Whitelaw • [email protected]

ViCE-PrEsidEnt & dirECtOr OF sAlEs Rob Pentney • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF EVEnts & COnFErEnCEs Ian MacGillivray • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF thE dAily Oil bullEtin Stephen Marsters • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF digitAl strAtEgiEs Gord Lindenberg • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF COntEnt Chaz Osburn • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF PrOduCtiOn Audrey Sprinkle • [email protected]

dirECtOr OF FinAnCE Ken Zacharias, CMA • [email protected]

oFFiCeSCAlgAry

2nd Flr-816 55 Avenue N.E. | Calgary, Alberta T2E 6Y4 Tel: 403.209.3500 | Fax: 403.245.8666 | Toll-free: 1.800.387.2446

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PhoTo: GIBBs GaGe archITecTs

6 | winter 2012

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor’s note

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Project update

11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nuts & bolts

23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Around Canada

65 . . . . People, Products & Projects

73 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ACA report

77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . business of building

105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . legal Edge

108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . time Capsule

33 TOP THESEMeet the winners of the 2012 Alberta Construction Magazine top Projects Awards

26

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Cover sTory


A W A R D S

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volume 32, number 4Published Winter 2012contents

WE’VE GOT THE GOOD STUFFWe run a one-stop-shop because we know you’re too busy to be running all over. So whatever job you’re working on, you can count on us for quality concrete, ceramic and masonry products, tools and expertise to help you get it done right the first time. Stop by – for the good stuff.

CALGARY EDMONTON RED DEER FORT MCMURRAY LETHBRIDGE EVERYTHINGCONCRETE.CA

St. Patrick’s Island in Calgary is getting a major $45-million facelift—a process that began this year when construction kicked off on the new St. Patrick’s Bridge. The com-pleted structure will provide expanded access to the 31-acre island, which will feature a restored lagoon, boat launch, trails, space for festivals, and picnic and play areas.

Eight things to know:1. Bridge cost is $25 million.2. Replaces the existing G.C. King Pedestrian Bridge.3. Design by RFR Group of France and Halsall Associates of Calgary.4. Arches designed to evoke a stone skipping across the Bow River.5. Features animated lighting.6. Links St. Patrick’s Island to East Village in the south and Bridgeland in the north.7. Graham Construction is the primary contractor.8. Completion expected in fall 2013.

st. Patrick’s Bridge

project update

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8 | winter 2012

Say No to Cumbersome FTP Sites and Hello to Efficiency

COOLNet Alberta has a new service for you – COOLNet on demand Tired of: • Managing a limited-functionality FTP site • Manually sending invitations to bid • Controlling multiple address books

Take control of who sees your projects – easily and quickly load your “restricted access” project and start sending invitations to your

“selected” contractors.

For more information, contact your Local Construction Association.

L E T H B R I D G ECONSTRUCTIONA S S O C I A T I O N

COOLNet on demandINVITE

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Deere family of equipment at your worksite. Add Brandt’s uncompromising commitment to after-sales support in 22 locations across Western Canada, and what you’ll have is a machine as dependable

as the company that sold it to you. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.

Keep it inthe family.

Call 1-888-2BRANDT for a demo or visit www.brandt.ca for more information on our products and financing options.

Brandt is celebrating $1billion in annual revenue and we’re thanking our customers by offering special rebates throughout 2012. Visit thanksabillion.ca for details.Rebates!

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For over 80 years, Brandt has built its legacy by providing exceptional service and top quality equipment –like the John Deere D-Series Skid Steers.all your heavy-duty John Deere equipment. D-Series Skid Steers provide the perfect balance of power, versatility and



as the company that sold it to you.


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nEws briEFs FOr thE busy COnstruCtiOn PrOFEssiOnAl

nuts & boltsTime To Tackle oilsands overruns, professor urges

‹ university of calgary professor George Jergeas says overruns are rampant on oilsands megaprojects. For instance, when the first two phases of MEG Energy Corp.’s Christina Lake operations came on stream in 2009, the cost had reached nearly $1 billion—compared to an original estimate of $650 million.

the blame game has to stop.that was one of the key messages for

the construction industry during a talk on improving productivity from george Jergeas, delivered at the national buyer/seller Forum in Edmonton in late October. (Junewarren-nickle’s Energy group, publisher of Alberta Construction Magazine, organizes the event, which is aimed at improving links in the oil-sands supply chain.)

Oilsands megaprojects invariably face unexpected challenges, such as economic downturns, labour shortages or environ-mental protests. yet cost overruns aren’t an unplanned risk—they’re an absolute certainty, according to the university of Calgary project management professor. And in a culture of blame, overruns can be disastrous for any project manager.

winning the plum position of man-ager on a major project may be more likely to kill your career than launch it, Jergeas warns. Anyone who becomes the first project manager on a big build should “prepare a new resumé, because you’re going to lose your job,” he says. “i guarantee it.”

According to Jergeas, it’s not uncommon for oilsands megaprojects—anything worth over $1 billion—to overrun by 50 per cent.

“some of [the risks] are within the control of the project manager, but most of them are outside of control,” he says. “but in the blame culture, every problem is yours.”

low labour productivity is a favour-ite scapegoat for many projects lagging behind schedule, but Jergeas believes it’s wrong to make workers take the fall for what are usually management problems. he encourages project managers and owners to consider the perspective from the other side of the toolbox.

“workers wake up at 5 a.m., they’re bused for a few hours, go into this lineup, get into the gate, open the toolbox—it’s 8:30 in the morning. do it the other way around on the way back,” he says. “in between, how many hours are left?”

Mismanagement plays a major role in crippling labour productivity, he notes. during his years of research into con-struction productivity, Jergeas has seen it all: lacklustre communication, poor site organization, the absence of proper super-vision and crews left waiting for materials or information, while an endless string of project changes finally crushes whatever remains of morale.

so what can be done to bring out-of-control oilsands megaprojects to heel?

First of all, Jergeas says benchmarks for major projects need to better reflect condi-tions in Alberta. he’s involved in a project with the Construction Owners Association of Alberta, the university of Calgary and the Construction industry institute that is currently gathering and analyzing bench-marking data from major projects in the province. initial results were released in 2009, and a second, more-detailed report is planned for 2013 or 2014.

At the same time, better planning needs to be done upfront to ensure the project starts on the right foot. “the priorities of construction should drive the priorities of engineering,” Jergeas says. “what are you going to build first? design it first.”

in discussions with construction owners, he also found agreement on the ideal level of supervision for crews—one supervisor for every eight to 20 workers.

but he puts special emphasis on empowering these workers and their supervisors, all up and down the chain of command. For the professor, it all comes back to the culture of blame.

“we have good-quality people,” he says. “but if you put the blame on me when i make a mistake, then i’ll never make a decision.”Ph

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nuts & bolts

Anyone who has seen the trucks barrelling down highway 63 to Fort McMurray, Alta., knows how quickly things move up there. Apparently that also includes construction.

late in October, the Alberta government unveiled 36 kilometres of newly twinned road on highway 63 north of wandering river, Alta. Construction on the stretch of road began in 2009 and was supposed to finish later in 2013. however, crews managed to bring the project to completion nine months ahead of schedule.

“we worked hard to get this section of twinning completed ahead of schedule so all travellers could use it this winter,” says ric Mciver, Alberta transportation minister. “i am happy to say our crews

Albertans can expect the twinning of Highway 63 to wrap up by fall 2016.

HigHway Twinning HiTs HigH gear

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have been out all summer working on the twinning as well as clear-ing, grading and preparing new passing lanes on other sections of the highway.”

the government is planning to tackle the entire highway 63 twinning project with that same renewed pace. work on expand-ing the treacherous stretch of road—48 people have died in traffic accidents on the highway since 2006, including two most recently in september—is now slated to wrap up by fall 2016.

in total, the project will cost $1.1 billion. Extensions and improvements to highway 881 are included in the final price tag, but are expected to be completed two years after highway 63.

12 | winter 2012

nuts & bolts

Physical condition of Canadian municipal infrastructure:

Following a survey of over 120 munici-palities representing 60 per cent of the Canadian population, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities has released its first-ever report card on the country’s infrastructure.

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$55.4 billion* $22.5 billion* $31.3 billion* $11.9 billion* $121.1 billion*

source: federaTIon of canadIan munIcIPalITIes* Replacement value

replacement value of all assets

assets in very poor and poor physical condition

assets in fair physical condition

$173.1 billion

20.7%

32.0%

$35.7 billion*

Municipal roads Drinking water Waste water Storm water Total

$171.2 billion

2.0%

13.1%

$3.4 billion*

$121.7 billion

6.3%

25.7%

$7.7 billion*

$69.1 billion

5.7%

17.2%

$3.9 billion*

$538.1 billion

$50.7 billion*

800,000Number of hours

of construction employment expected to be generated by a new canola crushing plant to be built by Cargill incorporated

near Camrose, Alta.

storm-water systems were rated in very good shape, while waste- and drinking-water systems were considered in good con-dition. however, municipal roads are looking rough with a fair rating—suggesting many are nearing or already past the end of their

canada’s infrasTrucTure geTs passing grade—for now

useful life. in fact, the report says one in four roads is over capacity.

the report was conducted in partnership with the Canadian Construction Association, the Canadian Public works Association and the Canadian society for Civil Engineering.

$55.4 billion* $22.5 billion* $31.3 billion* $11.9 billion* $121.1 billion*


nuts & bolts

At PCL Construction Inc., employees pull their own weight, and then some. These PCL staffers are participating in a crane pull to kick off the company’s annual fundraising drive for the United Way. The goal this year is to raise $2.2 million for the charity.

aeronauTics firm Helps launcH Biomass Boom

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Toss THose eXTra forms

those unused Form A contracts lying around the office aren’t good for anything more than lining bird cages now.

Form A 2012 for prime and sub-contractors is now available through the Alberta Construction Association. the revised form is meant to better align with the industry-standard contract cur-rently used by owners and prime contractors.

the form is also available at local construction associations throughout the province.

Construction on biomass power plants in Alberta is about to take off. And it’s all thanks to a partnership between a local company and one of the world’s largest aeronautics firms.

Mustus Energy ltd. and lockheed Martin Corporation are team-ing up to build six biomass power plants in the province. All six will rely on discarded wood waste from the local lumber industry for fuel.

the deal follows an announcement earlier this year that revealed Mustus would be tapping lockheed Martin to build a 41.5-megawatt biomass plant in la Crete, Alta. Construction has already begun on the plant, with completion expected by the fall of 2013.

the American firm—known for producing everything from bal-listic missiles to spacecraft designed to explore Mars—will provide the engineering and construction management expertise needed to get the plants off the ground. recent years have seen the company expanding into the biomass sector, with two plants in new york state now among its assets.

locations for the remaining five Alberta biomass plants have not yet been disclosed.

for prime and sub-contractors is now available through the Alberta Construction

meant to better align with the industry-standard contract cur-rently used by owners and prime contractors.

the form is also

14 | winter 2012

SINCE 1931For 81 years, the Edmonton Construction Association has been at the heart of the Edmonton Construction Industry. Through booms and depressions, the Association has never deviated from the original Board’s mandate of promoting excellence in construction, just and honorable practice in the conduct of business, and the suppression of malpractice.

Today, ECA is the second largest Construction Association in the country and operates the largest Electronic Plan Room in Canada, with over 2,600 projects posted last year. Our members, made up of leading General Contractors, Trade Contractors and Manufacturers & Suppliers, represent the best of the local construction Industry.

As an Association, we are a leader in Member Benefits, Social Events, Industry Advocacy, Affinity Programs, Publications and much more. Our education initiatives include the support of over eighty Industry scholarships and training initiatives such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) classes in our state of the art I-Room – the first of its kind in Canada. The Canadian Construction Association recognized the work of ECA in 2012 with the coveted CCA Partner Association of the Year award in recognition of outstanding Leadership in the areas of Industry Enhancement and Education.

Looking forward, the Board of Directors remains committed both to the principles of the past that have made the Association the respected force it is today, while expanding and looking forward to a prosperous future. Changing demographics as well as new technologies mean that our Association, like our Industry, is in a state of evolution. This exciting evolution involves integrating the values and history of the Association with some new and vibrant initiatives in communications, training, services, education, member services and more. Look for these enhancements in the coming months as ECA proudly reinforces its position as a leading advocate on behalf of the Edmonton Construction Industry.

www.edmca.com780-483-1130

For additional information on membershipbenefits and advantages

SINCE 1931For 81 years, the Edmonton Construction Association has been at the heart of the Edmonton Construction Industry. Through booms and depressions, the Association has never deviated from the original Board’s mandate of promoting excellence in construction, just and honorable practice in the conduct of business, and the suppression of malpractice.

Today, ECA is the second largest Construction Association in the country and operates the largest Electronic Plan Room in Canada, with over 2,600 projects posted last year. Our members, made up of leading General Contractors, Trade Contractors and Manufacturers & Suppliers, represent the best of the local construction Industry.

As an Association, we are a leader in Member Benefits, Social Events, Industry Advocacy, Affinity Programs, Publications and much more. Our education initiatives include the support of over eighty Industry scholarships and training initiatives such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) classes in our state of the art I-Room – the first of its kind in Canada. The Canadian Construction Association recognized the work of ECA in 2012 with the coveted CCA Partner Association of the Year award in recognition of outstanding Leadership in the areas of Industry Enhancement and Education.

Looking forward, the Board of Directors remains committed both to the principles of the past that have made the Association the respected force it is today, while expanding and looking forward to a prosperous future. Changing demographics as well as new technologies mean that our Association, like our Industry, is in a state of evolution. This exciting evolution involves integrating the values and history of the Association with some new and vibrant initiatives in communications, training, services, education, member services and more. Look for these enhancements in the coming months as ECA proudly reinforces its position as a leading advocate on behalf of the Edmonton Construction Industry.

www.edmca.com780-483-1130

For additional information on membershipbenefits and advantages

nuts & bolts

the Francis winspear Centre for Music is pre-paring to hit a new high note.

since opening in 1997, the $45-million facility has been one of the jewels of Edmonton’s downtown arts district. the stately concert hall was even named the top performing arts centre in the country at the Canadian session and touring industry awards in 1999.

now the winspear Centre is revealing plans to expand. developers are being invited to submit expressions of interest in a public/pri-vate partnership in an expansion that will add 40,000 square feet of cultural space to the city.

the plans are focused on an adjoining park-ing lot, which will be converted into a mixed-use building that will offer additional performance and support space. A 400–600-seat hall will be added, as will studio space for educational and outreach programs.

the new project adds to the growing chorus of developments in Edmonton’s downtown core. Aside from the recently completed Art gallery of Alberta, work has already begun on a new royal Alberta Museum for the area—and a proposed downtown arena is waiting in the wings, if funding for the project can be secured.

the winspear Centre also lies just on the outskirts of the downtown quarters redevel-opment, a major effort to revitalize 18 blocks of one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods. that plan will cost public coffers $56 million, in addi-tion to over $200 million of private investment.

submissions for the winspear expansion project will close on november 30, with a shortlist expected 30 days later.

sitting on any bright ideas? now’s the time to dust them off.

Ellisdon Corporation is hoping to tap some crowd-sourced creativity with its new uprising initiative. the project’s website (iamuprising.com) offers a forum for anyone to offer

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Rise up, rise up

downTown edmonTon seT To sing

An expanded Winspear Centre will add 40,000 square feet of cultural facilities to Edmonton’s downtown core.

solutions to the most vexing problems faced by industry.

Feedback and discussion on every idea is encouraged, and users vote on their favour-ites. A total of $25,000 in prize money is up for grabs, with $5,000 going to the most feasible answer to each of the five challenges posed.

these challenges tackle the full range of modern construction con-cerns, from sustainability and energy efficiency to age-old questions of moisture measurement.

the competition is open until mid-night on dec. 3, 2012.


Where do I find a

PPPrrrooofffeeessssssiiiooonnnaaalll EEEllleeeccctttrrriiicccaaalll CCCooonnntttrrraaaccctttooorrr???

Since 1993 the ECAA received professional status under the Professional and Occupational Associations Registration Act as Professional Electrical Contractors (PEC), making them the first trade Association in North America to grant professional status to electrical contractors.

Professional Electrical Contractors, PECs are

Educated in all Aspects of Business • Project Management • Estimating • Accounting • Safety Principles • Legal Issues Affecting Contracting • Business & Public Relations

PECs are accountable for their work and

business practices and strive for excellence in the Electrical Industry.

For more information on PECs Call the

Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta

Ph. 780 451-2412 Toll Free 1-800-252-9375 Email: [email protected] Web: www.ecaa.ab.ca

nuts & bolts

.— by the numbers—.Twinning

HigHway 63doubling the number of lanes on 240

kilometres of Alberta highway stretching from grassland to Fort McMurray takes a fair amount of elbow grease—and more

than a few buckets of paint.

443,600 litresof traffic paint

57,400 pounds of reflective glass beads mixed into paint

4.41 million tonnes of gravel

2.3 million tonnes of asphalt

479,000 tandem truck loads

of gravel and asphalt

9 major bridge spans

2,200 culverts

PHO

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18 | winter 2012

Whitemud Ironworks Limited is a fully integrated steel fabricator and erector that specializes in turnkey structural

and miscellaneous steel projects.

7727-18 St, Edmonton AB T6P 1N9 Phone 780-465-5888 | Fax 780-465-1722

www.whitemud.com

nuts & bolts

companies puT dollars Towards producTiviTy researcH

Four construction companies have each made $100,000 contributions, along with $45,000 by the Calgary Construction Association, to the next phase of a research project to improve construction productivity.

the companies are Ellisdon Construction services ltd., stuart Olson dominion Construction ltd., graham Construction & Engineering inc. and PCl Construction Management.

the university of Calgary project is titled i3P (innovation, improvement and issues on Productivity). Professor Janaka ruwanpura has trained over 30 students at the university in developing these best practices while training over 4,000 con-struction industry professionals to use the developed best practices and tools.

$127.8 millionbudget for a major redevelop-ment of Chinook regional hospital in lethbridge, Alta. the project will include construction of a new 19,000-square-metre, five-storey wing and will open in the summer of 2015.

PHO

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6111-56 Avenue

edmonton, AB t6B 3e2 Phone: (780) 434 - 7476 FAx: (780) 437 - 6130

www.vetssheetmetal.com

Vets sheet Metal ltd. Now Offering Complete HVAC Maintenance

and Emergency Service

nuts & bolts

THe calgary THaT could Have Been

A pedestrian bridge with lights that grow brighter with more traffic. A utopian worker’s village built in the middle of a fac-tory district. A downtown core filled with so many zigzagging cross streets that it would repel drivers and turn the city centre into a “pedestrian kingdom.”

All tantalizing glimpses of a Calgary that never was—and all found in Unbuilt Calgary, a new book from local architect and writer stephanie white. Focusing on the city’s first 100 years, white highlights 30 projects proposed but never built, illustrating these discarded plans with concept drawings and models rescued from the archives.

the book revives some of Calgary’s biggest and boldest architectural visions, with grand plans rising up in boom times only to be scuppered during the inevit-able bust. Ambitious figures abound, such as bill Milne, the local architect who envisioned a downtown pedestrian para-dise, where white says an anti-automobile layout would prove “so enraging that most drivers would have avoided the downtown completely” (and you thought rush hour traffic was bad now).

At the same time, white explores the evolving nature of Calgary, from its small-time prairie roots to the bustling hub it is today. the book shows how the city can be defined not just by iconic structures like the Calgary tower or the saddledome, but also by its unrealized—and sometimes unrealistic—architectural dreams.

Unbuilt Calgary is now available from dundurn Press.

20 | winter 2012

| B U I L D I N G S | C I V I L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E | H E A V Y I N D U S T R I A L |

At PCL, we aspire to be the most respected

builder by delivering superior service and

unsurpassed value to our customers.

Edmonton International Airport Terminal Building ExpansionEdmonton, Alberta

Edmonton Clinic – SouthEdmonton, Alberta

Glenmore Filter Plant ImprovementCalgary, Alberta

PCL Campus Building 5Edmonton, Alberta

SAIT Trades & Technology ComplexCalgary, Alberta

EPCO

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VALUE OF HEAVY-EQUIPMENT ITEMS sold during an unreserved public auction at the ritchie bros. Auctioneers’ site in Edmonton on september 5 and 6. Almost 5,000 regis-tered bidders competed for 4,600 heavy-equipment items

and trucks.SOURCE: RITCHIE BROS. AUCTIONEERS

MILLION

sTreTchInG NORTHWARD

stuArt OlsOn dOMiniOn WIns WInnIPeG JoBTHE WINNIPEG CONVENTION CENTRE is undergoing a 304,000-square-foot expansion. stuart Olson dominion Construction ltd. has been selected by the centre’s board to handle the $147-million design-build project. work is expected to be finished in 2015.

the expansion “supports the City of winnipeg’s vision of a revitalized and dynamic city centre, and is expected to act as a catalyst for further private and public sector invest-ment in downtown winnipeg,” says david leMay, president and chief operating officer of the Churchill Corporation. Churchill is stuart Olson dominion’s parent company.

the project is targeting leadership in Energy and Environmental design silver certification.

IMA

GE:

WIN

NIP

EG C

ON

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TIO

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ENTR

E

JOBS GeneraTorTHIS PAST SUMMER, the Canadian Energy research institute put out a report looking at the economic impact of exporting natural gas from the horn river region of british Columbia to Asia as liquefied natural gas (lng). the report predicts the construction and operation of an lng terminal will generate:

112,000 jobs in Canada, with the majority—97,000 jobs—being created in british Columbia.

$7.8 billion in gross domestic product.

$2.2 billion in taxes.

ATCO STRUCTURES & LOGISTICS says its acquisition of a fleet of construction equipment and two lodging oper-ations in nunavut is important to building its presence in the high Arctic.

the agreement to acquire the majority of the assets of 953731 nwt ltd., which includes the south Camp inn and Airport hotel, “will be used as a foundation to support resource projects, as well as Arctic sovereignty and infra-structure initiatives undertaken by the Canadian Forces and other federal organizations in the region.”

terms of the deal were not disclosed.AtCO structures & logistics offers modular buildings,

site services, and industrial noise control and logistics solu-tions worldwide. the company has operated in resolute bay since 1970.

“Total permits issued reached their third-highest monthly level since

the economic recession of 2008-09, with commercial permits hitting their

second-highest level.”— Keith sashaw, president of the Vancouver regional Construction

Association, in a story in Business in Vancouver about the value of business permits reaching $841.3 million in July

60

50

40

30

20

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2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

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source: cerI


| around CANADA

In the Middleof Nowhere,Or in the Middle of Everything.

Only Astec has the patented Double Barrel Green® System.

Astec can configure a plant to fit your site, whether that site is in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

And every Astec plant, no matter where it is located, is also backed by the Astec Service and Parts departments available 24/7 anywhere.

Astec is the right choice.

Ima

Ge:

Wes

Tern

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26 | winter 2012

Multi-million dollar condominium tower projects are popping up in the province’s two major urban centres,

bringing a new level of living for those look-ing for simpler lives in more walkable areas. Projects like the 35-storey Pearl Tower and the 32-storey Ultima Tower in Edmonton’s downtown and the 34-storey MARK on 10th tower in downtown Calgary are just three examples of buildings designed to meet the needs of the market and intended to make a strong impact on the cities’ skylines.

A number of factors drive the tower trend, including the retirement, or at least empty nests, of baby boomers, and the improv-ing economy.

“In Edmonton, we’re starting to notice labour shortages, and we’re starting to see in-migration happening again,” says Raj Dhunna, chief operating officer, Regency Developments.

Business has picked up and the City of Edmonton is focused on revitalizing the downtown core, which is generating a lot of interest. “There’s a bit of a clean slate where Edmonton can build for the future, and so we see labour getting involved and the private sector starting to invest again,” Dhunna explains.

Regency Developments is building Pearl Tower, which, according to Dhunna, will be the first luxury condo tower as well as the tallest residential tower in the city. Due to market demand for larger suites, Regency re-jigged the project to offer 128 suites instead of the initial 174, with the average square footage around 1,550. Residents will have

Living the high life

Condo towers bring luxury

lifestyle to Edmonton and

Calgary

By Tricia Radison

‹ The 32-storey Ultima Tower in downtown

Edmonton incorporates an all-window wall

system rather than a curtain wall.

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commercial

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28 | winter 2012

commercial

LABOUR PAINS

large condo tower projects are good news for Alberta’s industry. regency developments, builders of Pearl tower in Edmonton, tries to ensure that 95 per cent of contracts are locally sourced. westrich Pacific, which is building ultima tower and Encore in Edmonton, has its own construction team and also uses local sub-contractors. but labour shortages are becoming an issue, and westrich has had to recruit from eastern Canada.

that’s another positive for the industry.“with the Alberta advantage and people wanting to come here and be a part

of this province, we are seeing a lot of relocation, which is helping us meet some of our labour shortage and getting skilled workers and tradespeople into the Alberta workforce,” Jason buehler, general manager of westrich Pacific, says.

access to three of the highest-speed resi-dential elevators in the city and an on-site wellness centre with a 4,000-square-foot social room, boardroom, relaxation area and two-storey fitness facility.

“With all our projects, we have that focus on a community atmosphere,” he says. “In our four-storey projects, we have lobbies on each floor and amenity build-ings where people can meet each other. The wellness centre at Pearl offers a meet-ing place.”

The $100-million MARK on 10th tower will also have some pretty impressive


commercial

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About LeveltonAs one of the largest engineering firms in British Columbia, with offices in Alberta, the Company has played a role in most of BC’s major landmark infrastructure projects for the past 47 years. Levelton’s ongoing commitment to comprehensive and innovative solutions for clients has earned the Company a reputation for providing excellence in materials and geotechnical engineering, environmental sciences and building technology.

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common space. Designed by Rafii Architects Inc. in partnership with BKDI Architects Inc. and Durante Kreuk Ltd., and located in the Design District, it will feature a 17,000-square-foot garden on the third-floor podium. Step out on the roof and you’ll find lawn, trees and pedestrian pathways, as well as places to sit and enjoy the outdoors.

On the 33rd/34th floor, there will be a rooftop lounge with a gym, infrared sauna, kitchen/bar, hot tub, yoga studio, steam room and barbecue, all taking in the amazing views.

Roger Navabi, president, Qualex-Landmark, developer of MARK on 10th, says that customers are looking for high-quality amenities both within their build-ings and in the area.

“It’s a trend spreading throughout North America,” he says. “With increas-ing time spent in transportation as roads are more and more congested, and the price of gas rising, it’s becoming more and more acceptable, indeed fashionable, to live closer to work and all the entertain-ment and activities that the downtown can offer.”

A room with a viewViews are important in tower living, so glass plays a big role in the design. MARK will have a combination of curtain wall and coloured glass, and Pearl Tower, which will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver standards, will also have a curtain wall system. The $85-million Ultima Tower in Edmonton’s planned downtown Arena District, being built by Westrich Pacific Corp., and another Westrich Pacific tower, Encore, which is in the design stages and is expected to be 40–43 storeys, will also feature floor-to-ceiling glass.

But is all that glass a good idea in frosty Alberta?

Says Jason Buehler, general manager, Westrich Pacific, “After a lot of research and work, we’ve gone with an all-window wall system in comparison to curtain wall. So there’s one envelope and that gives us insulation between all the floors and span-drel wall areas. [Low-emittance] coated glass gives us energy efficiency with the solar heat gains.”

Westrich is also using a high-efficiency heat pump system that has LEED energy

30 | winter 2012

commercial

Leading With Energy TM

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TAKE YOUR INTEREST TO NEW HEIGHTS

the Council on tall buildings and urban habitat is the source for information on architecture, engin-eering, planning, development and construction of tall buildings.

the council doesn’t use storeys to define tallness because floor-to-floor height isn’t always the same. instead, it says a tall building “is a building that exhibits some ele-ment of ‘tallness.’”

so what is “tallness”? Elements include:➳ height relative to context—

what’s tall in one city or country may not be in another.

➳ Proportion—thinness, especially against a squat background, can lead to a tall classification.

➳ use of tall-building technolo-gies—if a building needs a technology like structural wind bracing, it may be a tall one.

to learn more about tall buildings, visit ctbuh.org.

points. Humidifiers are built in, which Buehler says is imperative for an all-glass envelope in Edmonton’s climate.

“We think it will have comparable qualities to traditional building systems and at the same time get that Vancouver-style look that Edmonton does not have,” says David Sanche, chief executive officer, Westrich Pacific.

Towers of this size obviously impact the skyline. MARK has been designed to be tall but slim, and the rooftop lounge will cantilever out, adding architectural inter-est. Pearl will stand tall in an area where the majority of buildings are only about 15 storeys, and Ultima and Encore will be filling in Edmonton’s downtown skyline, which is currently quite spread out.

“The urban core is starting to develop and it will be a prime address as it pro-gresses,” Sanche says. “Projects like Ultima and Encore will help us create a more world-class city to put Edmonton on the map and attract head offices and investment.”


commercial

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Phone: 403.255.5521 Fax: 403.259.4004 or

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Services Construction Services

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The SAIT Trades and Technology Complex in Calgary. Edmonton International Airport’s new office and control tower . The Hangingstone Pedestrian Bridge in Fort McMurray, Alta.

These are just a few of the impressive projects featured in the next 29 pages, which are included in our coverage of the annual Alberta Construction Magazine Top Projects Awards.

Not only are these projects reflective of the creativity, innovation and hard work that go into Alberta’s construction projects—the underlying theme of the Top Projects Awards since its inception more than a decade ago—they illustrate the diversity and complexity of projects throughout the province.

We keep the rules for the Top Projects Awards simple to keep the focus on the projects themselves. Design functionality and appearance, the success of the con-struction process, unique or innovative construction materials and the project delivery method are key to determining which projects win.

Over the years, we’ve tweaked the awards categories—this year we’ve added design and sustainability—to reflect the trends we see.

Also new this year is our Project of the Year award. Our judging panel looked at all the nominations from this year’s entries and voted by secret ballot to choose the winner.

So, without further ado, it’s time to introduce the winners….

tOP tHeseMeet the winners of the 2012 Alberta Construction Magazine

Top Projects Awards


A W A R D S


LOCATION: calGary

COST: $400 MILLION

ARCHITECT: GIBBs GaGe archITecTs

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Pcl consTrucTIon

MANAGEMENT INC.

ENGINEERS – STRUCTURAL:

dIaloG alBerTa

archITecTure

enGIneerInG InTerIor

DESIGN PLANNING INC.

ENGINEERS – MECHANICAL: WIeBe foresT

ENGINEERING LTD.

(SNC-LAVALIN GROUP INC.)

ENGINEERS – ELECTRICAL:

CROSSEY ENGINEERING LTD.

OTHER: morrIson hershfIeld

lImITed (consulTInG

ENGINEER—CIVIL)

the three linked build-ings that make up the

SAIT Trades and Technology Complex are Alberta Construction Magazine’s Project of the Year, chosen from the winners of all cat-egories after a secret-ballot vote by a panel of five judges.

The Three BuIldInGs ThaT comPrIse

The Trades and TechnoloGy comPlex

oPened In TIme To accommodaTe

STUDENTS IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR.

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W I N N E R

saIT Trades and TechnoloGy

comPlex

The $400-million project is a winner for many reasons. From concept and design to construction, the complex, which opened to students in late summer, has been a show-case for innovation and collab-oration. With 56 classrooms, 94 teaching laboratories/

workshops and three new schools of learning, as well as teaching opportunities throughout the complex, the complex also has potential capacity for an additional 8,100 students, helping ensure the construction industry has skilled, knowledge-able labour for years to come.

design during pre-construction. As a result, the massive pro-ject came in on time and under budget.

In addition to its distinc-tion as Project of the Year, the Trades and Technology Complex also won in the Institutional—Over $50 Million and Design—Institutional categories.

Old meets newLead designer Gibbs Gage Architects designed the build-ings to emphasize innovative, flexible and a more-integrated approach to trades and tech-nical training, intended to reflect real workplaces.

The team was challenged to design a space equipped with practical and flexible learn-ing environments for today’s students and students of the future, while at the same time respecting SAIT Polytechnic’s Campus Master Plan and incorporating a high level of reverence to the unique and collegiate architecture of Heritage Hall, a historical and inspirational focal point at the heart of the campus.

Throughout the pro-ject, PCL Construction Management Inc. worked as a team with the owner, design team and subtrades to maxi-mize project value and meet schedule milestones, including identifying value-engineering opportunities that fit with the


PROJECT OF THE YEAR

+INSTITUTIONAL

[OVER $50M]+

DESIGNINSTITUTIONAL

Three buildings make up the SAIT

Trades and Technology Complex.

details:

° Aldred Centre: The largest of

the three buildings is named

after John and cheryl aldred

in honour of their $10-million

donation. Situated along the

south side of 16 Avenue N.W., the

440,000-square-foot building

houses the enerplus centre for

Innovation and the School of

Construction’s main office.

° Johnson-Cobbe Energy Centre: This 273,000-square-

foot building is named for David

Johnson and murray cobbe,

who each donated $5 million

to the building campaign. It

forms the west wing of the

complex and is near the centre

of campus, and houses the

MacPhail School of Energy.

° Cenovus Energy Centre: The complex’s smallest

building is about 40,000 square

feet and is home to the Power

Engineering Technology,

and Process and Power

Operations programs. The

name recognizes oil company

Cenovus Energy Inc. for its

donation of $3 million.

AT A GLANCE

As a result, the new struc-tures incorporate bricks, echo-ing the cadence of the Heritage Hall pillars while employing a modern language through materials such as glass, alum-inum, terra cotta and through design elements such as waves, angles and swooshes. The terra cotta cladding is a sym-bol of the traditional, while the curvilinear metal and membrane roof on the Aldred Centre—with its eye-catching, undulating, wavy shape—sug-gests innovation and repre-sents the waves of the future.

That wavy roof isn’t just decorative. The white surface reflects heat and air handlers are built into the crests of the waves. Where the waves dip, runoff water is collected. The water can then be stored under-ground and emptied into the storm water system in a man-ner that won’t tax the system.

Teaching toolThe architectural theme dur-ing design and construction was “pedagogy,” the art or sci-ence of teaching. As a result, the complex—which, of course, includes the new School of Construction—itself can be used as a teaching tool to enhance the learning experi-ence of students.

Structural, mechanical and electrical details that are typ-ically concealed have been left exposed in the classrooms, labs and public spaces, allowing students the opportunity to see and understand the sys-tems and concepts taught in the classroom. Other building systems and equipment usu-ally hidden behind walls and doors are on display behind glass windows, giving students a close-up view of areas like mechanical rooms, electrical closets or elevator shafts.

Eco-friendlyThe Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)–accredited complex, which is comprised of 70,000 square metres (753,000 square feet) of training space and includes an extensive under-ground services and site works component, was built with sus-tainability in mind.

PCL set a target of divert-ing a minimum of 75 per cent of construction, demolition and land-clearing waste from the landfill by developing and implementing a waste manage-ment plan for recycling and salvaging materials. When the project was nominated, PCL was on track to achieve over 90 per cent of all waste being

INTERIOR AND ExTERIOR (TOP-RIGHT PHOTO) VIEWS OF THE COMPLEx.

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1 2 3 6

PARK DEROCHIE COATINGS (SASK) INC.HWY 12 INDUSTRIAL PARKPO BOX 25127SASKATOON, SK S7K 8B7PHONE: 306.934.6665

COATINGS CONTRACTOR EDMONTON

NEW REMAND CENTRE

PARK DEROCHIE INC.

FORT MCKAY BUSINESS PARKPO BOX 6519FORT MCMURRAY, AB T9H 5N2PHONE: 780.791.2205

COATINGS FIREPROOFING INSULATIONSANDBLASTING SPRAY FOAM SCAFFOLDING

S

11850 - 28 STREET NEEDMONTON, AB T6S 1G6PHONE: 780.478.4688


W I N N E R

diverted from landfill and sent to recycling facilities.

The project also incorpor-ates materials with recycled content; the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus half of the pre-consumer content is at least 20 per cent, based on cost, of the total value of the materials in the project. The recycled content value of a material was determined by weight; the recycled fraction of the assembly was then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled con-tent value.

Incorporating recycled con-tent into the project reduces the impact from extracting and processing virgin materi-als. The project achieved

maximum LEED points, and Exemplary Performance points and recognition, for including these materials.

Using regional materials was another high priority. At least 30 per cent of the incorporated building materials or products used were extracted, harvested, recovered or processed within 800 kilometres (2,400 kilo-metres if by rail or water) of the final manufacturing site.

The commitment to using regional materials supported the local economy and reduced environmental impacts resulting from transportation. Again, the project achieved maximum LEED points, and Exemplary Performance points and recognition, for including these materials.

Embracing technologyUsing building informa-tion modelling, a digital 3-D model of an entire building or of select building compon-ents could be created to ensure fully integrated solutions were developed prior to tendering and construction.

Another program, called Navisworks, was used to ensure quality communication of model specifics, allowing problems to be identified and resolved before the start of construction. The benefits of resolving these potential problems early in the process include significant cost sav-ings during construction due to reduced on-site issues or required change orders, and elimination of the risk that

compromises have to be made if a problem is noticed too late in the construction process.

A picture is worth a thousand wordsAnother technology was used to not only assist with the construction process, but to provide a record of what’s been done if changes or additions are made to the building sys-tems in the future.

An advanced photographic as-built platform through Multivista was used to create a visual construction docu-mentation of the concrete

PROJECT OF THE YEAR


The places we’ll goWe go to great lengths to please our customers. It’s what we do.

Field construction, module fabrication and assembly at near and “not-so-near” locations—WorleyParsonsCord is the engineering, procurement and construction authority you can always count on.

www.worleyparsons.com

We Build Structures. We Build Opportunity. We Build Communities.

EllisDon is a Canadian success story; we export our construction expertise and services across North America and around the world. That means we’re able to employ over 1,400 people, as well as countless subcontractors and tradespeople – building transit systems, hospitals, commercial and government buildings that become the very fabric of communities. And we’ll go right on doing that for many years to come.

For more information, please visit www.ellisdon.com

The Core. Calgary, Alberta. Foothills Medical Centre, McCaig Tower.Calgary, Alberta.

structure. Over the course of construction, photographs of the reinforcing steel and in-slab mechanical and electrical rough-in were taken at regular intervals to record a visual as-built of the concrete slabs.

All photographs were catalogued and documented within an interactive, digital, web-based documentation

platform. The photos are avail-able in inspection-grade detail and indexed according to the architectural drawings by date.

The system gave the con-struction team quick and easy access to the photographs so members could locate in-slab conflicts before laying out additional coring required due to changes. It will also serve as

a permanent photographic rec-ord of the project for the owner to use should additional coring be required in the future.

SAIT’s new complex is already capturing atten-tion. This summer, KPMG LLP named the complex one of the most innovative and exciting urban infrastructure projects in the world in its Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition.

The publication recog-nizes innovative infrastruc-ture that contributes to the economy, job creation and long-term impact while keep-ing people, the environment and economic issues in mind. SAIT’s Trades and Technology

Complex won in the Education category for its emphasis on vocational training.

The Trades and Technology Complex was SAIT’s largest campus expansion in its almost 100-year history. SAIT broke ground in 2009, and construc-tion started in January 2010. After more than two mil-lion labour hours and a lot of hard work and commitment, all phases and site work were completed by the time students returned to class in August.

Today, these three buildings are filled with the people who will one day lead the construc-tion industry and help ensure that Alberta continues to grow and prosper.

THIS SUMMER, KPMG NAMED THE TRADES AND TECHNOLOGY

COMPLEx ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND ExCITING URBAN

INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE WORLD.

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38 | winter 2012

The places we’ll goWe go to great lengths to please our customers. It’s what we do.

Field construction, module fabrication and assembly at near and “not-so-near” locations—WorleyParsonsCord is the engineering, procurement and construction authority you can always count on.

www.worleyparsons.com

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS3

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

GMC Savana/Chevrolet Express

Ford E-Series

Nissan NV

1 Year or 20,000 km

Oil Life Monitor Avg. 16,000 km

6 Months or 10,000 km

3 Months or6,000 km

Does your cargo van take too many days off?Beyond the sticker price, a cargo van requires additional expenses you might not always account for. In addition to the lowest fuel cost per kilometer and highest retained valuein its class1, Sprinter also has the longest maintenance interval, helping you earn more and spend less.

All of this has earned Sprinter the very fi rst ‘Best Fleet Value in Canada’ award2, and the lowest total cost of ownership for the third year in a row1 as rated by VINCENTRICTM, the authority on identifying, analyzing, and comparing automotive ownership costs.

© 2012 Mercedes-Benz Canada. 1Based on analysis of Canadian retail market for 2500 and 3500 services van performed in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by Vincentric, LLC. 2Awarded to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo series 2500 Std Roof and 144" wheelbase and 3500 High Roof and 144" wheelbase. 3Based on Mercedes-Benz Canada review of vehicle owners manuals.

Visit thesprinter.ca to learn more about TCO.


W I N N E R

LOCATION: calGary

COST: $1 BILLION (EST.)

The BoW

the Bow is the Top Project in the Commercial—

Over $50 Million cat-egory. Not only is it western Canada’s tallest building at 58 storeys, but its distinct-ive curved shape is quickly gaining the attention of those outside the province. One Toronto newspaper colum-nist has gone so far as to write that The Bow is “not just another tower; it’s a piece of architecture.”

Designed by renowned British firm Foster + Partners, the western-facing orientation of The Bow, with its diagonal grid pattern, pro-vides dramatic views of the Rockies while taking advan-tage of the western sunshine.

Ledcor began construction of the glass and steel structure in 2007. Other key players include Gensler, Zeidler Partnership Architects, Sturgess Architecture, Gustafson Guthrie Nichol Ltd., Carson McCulloch Associates Ltd., Halcrow Yolles, Cosentini Associates, D.A. Watt Consulting Group Ltd. and Kellam Berg Engineering Ltd.

THE BOW TAKES SHAPE DURING CONSTRUCTION IN EARLY 2011.

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COMMERCIAL

[OVER $50M]

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS3

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

GMC Savana/Chevrolet Express

Ford E-Series

Nissan NV

1 Year or 20,000 km

Oil Life Monitor Avg. 16,000 km

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All of this has earned Sprinter the very fi rst ‘Best Fleet Value in Canada’ award2, and the lowest total cost of ownership for the third year in a row1 as rated by VINCENTRICTM, the authority on identifying, analyzing, and comparing automotive ownership costs.

© 2012 Mercedes-Benz Canada. 1Based on analysis of Canadian retail market for 2500 and 3500 services van performed in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by Vincentric, LLC. 2Awarded to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cargo series 2500 Std Roof and 144" wheelbase and 3500 High Roof and 144" wheelbase. 3Based on Mercedes-Benz Canada review of vehicle owners manuals.

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Western Electrical Management Ltd. is proud to have provided electrical, data, security

and fire alarm for The Bow.

Western Electrical Management has been in business since 1959 and offers a complete range of electrical and data communication services.

western electricalmanagement ltd.

Since 1959


W I N N E R

Pcl headQuarTers BUILDING 5

LOCATION: edmonTon

COST: $24 MILLION

the latest addition to PCL Construction

Management Inc.’s Edmonton campus is warm, inviting and light-filled thanks to an expanded cur-tain wall that gives 90 per cent of tenants a view.

Built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold stan-dards, the 83,000-square-foot building, Top Project in the Commerical—Under $50 Million category, includes a green roof, low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient building sys-tems. The mechanical system redistributes heat from the data centre in the basement to occupied spaces. Rainwater from the roof is stored in a cistern in the basement and used to water gardens.

Not surprisingly, PCL was the general contractor for the project, which was designed by DIALOG Alberta Architecture Engineering Interior Design Planning Inc., which also handled structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. The landscape design was done by Carlyle and Associates Landscape Architecture.

PCL’S NEW BUILDING IS THE COMPANY’S LATEST ADDITION TO ITS EDMONTON CAMPUS

and feaTures a mechanIcal sysTem ThaT redIsTrIBuTes heaT from The daTa

CENTRE TO OTHER SPACES.

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COMMERCIAL

[UNDER $50M]

Now inCanada!

Now inCanada!

Newest Branch in Edmonton, AB

Toll-free: 1.888.FMMAFCOOr 1.888.367.2151


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Anthony H

enday D

r.

WN

tS

071

184 St NW

Yellowhead Trail Trans-Canada Hwy


W I N N E R

LOCATION: near forT mcmurray

COST: $85 MILLION

suncor fIreBaGSTAGE 4

PAD 106/116 SAGD FIELD

facIlITIes consTrucTIon

WorleyParsonsCord Ltd. installed over 4,064

tonnes of modules, 10,000 metres of pipe, 259,000 metres of electrical cable and erected 270 tonnes of struc-tural steel while completing 28,000 electrical connec-tions to make the Top Project in the Industrial—Over $50 Million category a reality.

The Suncor Firebag Stage 4 Pad 106/116 SAGD Field Facilities Construction Project is also notable in that more than 810,000 workforce hours were spent on the pro-ject with no lost-time safety incidents involving a peak workforce of 400.

Also of note: Close to 400 shoes—the iron brack-ets used to secure pipelines to the ground—were built and installed on this pro-ject. Clamped-on shoes were installed on the high-pressure steam line instead of welded shoes. Normally, each shoe would have taken about eight hours of weld-ing while each clamped-on shoe takes about an hour per shoe to install. In all, this approach saved approximately 2,800 hours or work.

The key engineering firm on the pro ject was Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE FIREBAG

STAGE 4 SITE.

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INDUSTRIAL

[OVER $50M]

Now inCanada!

Now inCanada!




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Construction

Sa

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C

UCTION AND JOBSITE NEEDS.

uipment

ts & Spares

WE ARE HEREWE ARE HERE

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Anthony H

enday D

r.

WN

tS

071

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Yellowhead Trail Trans-Canada Hwy

WN

tS0

71

Phone: (403) 295-00285935-6 St. NE, Calgary, AB T2K 5R5

www.manteiwoodcraft.com

We are proud of our contribution to The Bow Project

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W I N N E R

When it comes to large construction pro-

jects, few can compare to Calgary’s South Health Campus, Top Project in the Institutional—Over $50 Million category.

South Health Campus is Alberta’s largest hospital,

LOCATION: calGary

COST: $1 BIllIon

souTh healThcamPus

employing well over 2,000 people when finished. Little wonder contractor EllisDon Construction Services Inc. faced numerous challenges du ring construction, from using construction manage-ment/unit price contracts for consistency to designing

and building large depres-sions where the Magnetic Resonance Imaging units were expected to be located.

And then there’s the challenge of figuring out how to feed 1,600 people on site—and providing wash-room facilities, parking and other necessities.

Already the winner of the Canadian Construction Association’s Excellence in Innovation Award for its formwork system, the pro-ject also used the first-of-its-kind Electronic Barrier Management Program in Canada to ensure there is proper fire-barrier integrity throughout the building. The South Health Campus was built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification—the largest project to attempt LEED certification in Canada.

Helping make the project a reality were Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd., Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers, Wiebe Forest Engineering Ltd. and Stebnicki & Partners Consulting Electrical Engineers.

aT one TIme, The souTh healTh

camPus consTrucTIon

Was called The larGesT

InfrasTrucTure ProJecT

IN CANADA.

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INSTITUTIONAL

[OVER $50M]

Even when the direction of the economy seems to change with each gust of wind, leaders stay agile and act quickly. From sudden changes in global markets to dropping commodity prices, we’ve done just that—by continuing to custom build solutions to help our clients do what they do best…lead. Because Alberta means the world to us.

atb.com/Leaders

TM Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.

10years

Living Leadership

Leaders bend but never break.


W I N N E R

LOCATION: calGary

COST: $38 MILLION

emerGency oPeraTIons cenTre

the one-of-a-kind Emergency Operations

Centre is a dual winner, both in the Institutional—Under $50 Million category and in the new category of Sustainability.

The Calgary project is an attention grabber for what you can’t see—two of its three storeys are underground. The lower-profile building blends seamlessly into the neigh-bouring park and buildings in the primarily residential area. Having the building under-ground also increases security and reduces energy require-ments for heating.

Designed to achieve Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) Gold certification, the 50,000-square-foot concrete facility was built using the best available environmental

design practices to minimize the impact of the build-ing on the natural environ-ment. Sustainable strategies included reusing existing materials. For example, the glulam beams that were removed from the on-site Rotary Park Community Hall before it was demolished were reused in the media pavilion on the east side of the site. About 87 per cent of the pro-ject’s waste was diverted from the landfill.

A very high-performance waterproofing and build-ing envelope strategy was required to ensure the under-ground building is water-proof. This was achieved by a belt-and-suspender approach using conventional sheet waterproofing, and with a bentonite waterproofing additive in the concrete.

Other unique aspects of the centre include the on-grade media pavilion, a large green roof and an art wall in the out-door space. This project also resulted in the development of a new glass cladding system that has been commercialized by the glazing trade.

The facility, which houses the City of Calgary’s disaster services unit and a new state-of-the-art operations room, is also self-sustaining for up to 72 hours, providing off-grid power, water, food storage and cleansing areas to help personnel deal with emergency situations.

KEY FACTS

Project delivery method: Construction management

Owner: city of calgary

Architect: Manasc Isaac Architects Ltd.

General contractor: Bird Construction

Engineers – electrical: mulvey+Banani International Inc.

Engineers – mechanical: Stantec Inc.

Engineers – structural: read Jones christoffersen consulting engineers

The emerGency oPeraTIons

cenTre Is The WInner of

TWo ToP ProJecTs aWards

IN 2012.

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INSTITUTIONAL[UNDER $50M]

+ SUSTAINABILITY

Even when the direction of the economy seems to change with each gust of wind, leaders stay agile and act quickly. From sudden changes in global markets to dropping commodity prices, we’ve done just that—by continuing to custom build solutions to help our clients do what they do best…lead. Because Alberta means the world to us.

atb.com/Leaders

TM Trademarks of Alberta Treasury Branches.

10years

Living Leadership

Leaders bend but never break.

Years of Excellence

Sylvan LakeGrande Prairie

Phone: (780) 464-5551

Toll Free: 1-800-667-4847 www.albertatruss.com

• Residential• Farm

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Centennial Place

COMPLETEDCOMPLETED

Bankers Hall

COMPLETION IN 2013The Bow

Project Expertise: • Project Management • Design/Build Services • Construction

• CAD Modeling• Plumbing and Heating• Ventilation

• Off Site Fabrication• Planned and Preventative Maintenance• COR Certiried• Plumbing and Heating

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PROUD TO BE THE MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON THE BOW PROJECT.Project Expertise: • Project Management • Design/Build Services • CAD Modeling

PROUD TO BE THE MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGER ON THE BOW PROJECT.Project Expertise: • Project Management • Design/Build Services • CAD Modeling

1.800.661.7673


W I N N E R

Calgary’s West Light Rail Transit (LRT)

Stations project is the Top Project in the Civil—Over $50 Million category. The project involves the con-struction of six stations, including the first elevated station in the city and the first underground station.

CANA Construction, the general contractor on this portion of the design-build project (awarded to SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. and its other partners), says construction involved the use of numerous advanced products and techniques.

Of note was the use of a Kalzip copper roofing sys-tem on five stations, which offers high performance and low maintenance.

Innovative construction techniques included the specialty design and con-struction of structural steel sand jacks used to support pre-tensioned girders dur-ing concrete pouring.

Key players on the project include Gibbs Gage Architects, Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers and Wiebe Forest Engineering Ltd. (part of SNC-Lavalin).

sunalTa sTaTIon Is

THE FIRST ELEVATED

STATION ON CALGARY’S

CTRAIN NETWORK.

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LOCATION: calGary

COST: $160 mIllIon

WesT lrTsTaTIons

CIVIL

[OVER $50M]


W I N N E R

fort McMurray, Alta., has been working hard over

the past few years to ensure that its infrastructure can handle the massive growth the community has experienced from the oilsands boom.

Designed to expand the capacity of the existing sani-tary sewer system while addressing several sewer cap-acity issues, the Gregoire HDD Sanitary Sewer Siphon Project goes a long way to meet that need. The project is notable in that it involved the design, construction and installa-tion of two 600-millimetre-diameter steel pipelines, each 1,600 metres long, by using a

LOCATION: forT mcmurray

COST: $17.5 MILLION

GreGoIre hdd

sanITary seWer sIPhonProJecT

trenchless, horizontal direc-tional drilling method.

This Top Project in the Civil—Under $50 Million category faced several chal-lenges, such as drilling through the underlying geol-ogy of the oilsands forma-tion and dealing with the steep terrain and environ-mental sensitivity of the Saline Creek valley and the Saline Creek.

Still, contractor Direct Horizontal Drilling and engineering firm Associated Engineering managed to bring the project, originally expected to cost $19 million, in on time for $17.5 million.

The GreGoIre hdd sanITary

SEWER SIPHON PROJECT INVOLVED

The desIGn, consTrucTIon and

InsTallaTIon of TWo sTeel

PIPelInes usInG a Trenchless,

HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL

DRILLING METHOD.

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CIVIL

[UNDER $50M]

Vancouver: P: 604.214.9453 F: 604.214.9455TF: 1.877.252.0070

Calgary: P: 403.252.0070 F: 403.259.3992TF: 1.877.252.0070

Edmonton: P: 780.486.2111 F: 780.486.2155TF: 1.877.252.0070

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One man roboticIncrease your productivity by working in one-person mode. With industry leading tracking performance and the patented PowerSearch technology, Leica iCON robot 50 allows you to finish jobs faster maintaining highest accuracy.

Interior overhead with laser pointer Using one of the world’s most accurate laser pointers, remotely layout points on walls for drill patterns or on ceilings for air conditioning or other such projects.

Machine control Work to the tightest tolerances under any site conditions. With Leica iCON robot 50 you can carry out fine grading and paving with highest precision speeding up your work with construction machinery.

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C A L G A R Y(403)259-5155

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Servicing the Underground Infrastructure since 1996

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W I N N E R

no TWo WIndoWs are The

same In The comBIned

OFFICE–CONTROL TOWER.Drawing inspiration from

the surrounding prairie fields, the new 130,000-square-foot Edmonton International Airport Combined Office–Control Tower, the Top Project in Design—Commercial, is sure to leave visitors with a last-ing impression.

General contractor EllisDon Construction Services Inc. collabor-ated with DIALOG Alberta Architecture Engineering Interior Design Planning Inc., the firm that provided integrated architectural and engineering services, to make the project a reality.

Built completely airside, construction of the eight-level structure took place between two operating gates for board-ing aircraft and occurred in phases so it didn’t interrupt

the operations of the air-port’s six million passengers per year. NAV Canada Cab, which was added to the scope after the project was awarded, was designed and constructed to function independently of the rest of the facility and incorporates complex redun-dancies to ensure continuous operation.

The tower is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification with fea-tures such as an exterior of zinc panels and triple-glazed strip windows. The zinc sec-tions are molded so they don’t impede viewing angles and to reduce solar gain. And no two windows are the same.

Building information modelling was instrumental to the project’s success.

LOCATION: edmonTon

COST: $80 MILLION

comBIned offIce– conTrol

ToWer

edmonTon InTernaTIonal

aIrPorT

DESIGN

COMMERCIAL

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ROXUL® RHT INSULATION

Introducing our expanded lineupWhen you need high- temperature thermal performance or personnel protection, Roxul® has you covered with a wide range of boards, blankets or rolls to meet all your requirements.

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Bring on the Heat.

www.roxul.com

RO

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102-

0112


W I N N E R

t he Elevation Place multiplex in Canmore,

Alta., Top Project in the Design—Institutional category, boasts a 2,500- square-metre aquatic centre as well as a library, climbing centre, fitness centre, and multi-use com-munity space.

Graham Construction & Engineering Inc. used build-ing information model-ling and 3-D modelling to coordinate the structure. Detailed erection and crane hoisting plans had to be created to hoist 30,000-pound glulam beams into place. Engineered Doka formwork was used to pour 30-foot concrete columns in

ELEVATION PLACE RELIED

HEAVILY ON BIM.

one pour with full liquid head to achieve the desired finish.

Targeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold, the building, constructed on a brownfield site, includes geothermal ejection and injection wells that harness cooling and heating from an aquifer 50 feet below the building.

Gibbs Gage Architects designed the facility, with Cascade Engineering Group providing structural engin-eering. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., which had acquired Wiebe Forest Engineering Ltd., provided mechanical engineering, and SMP Engineering provided electrical engineering.

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ELEVATIONPlace

LOCATION: canmore

COST: $31 mIllIon

DESIGN

INSTITUTIONAL

ROXUL® RHT INSULATION

Introducing our expanded lineupWhen you need high- temperature thermal performance or personnel protection, Roxul® has you covered with a wide range of boards, blankets or rolls to meet all your requirements.

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Bring on the Heat.

www.roxul.com

RO

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102-

0112

COMMERCIAL • RETAIL • RESIDENTIAL • INSTITUTIONAL • LIGHT INDUSTRIAL

• Suite 1300, 800 - 5th Ave SW Calgary, Alberta CA T2P 3T6 • Tel: 403-262-7400 • Fax: 403-233-0440 • www.mulvey-banani.com

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS

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construction administrationenvironmental resource managementoccupational health and safety


W I N N E R

The hanGInGsTone

PedesTrIan BrIdGe

USES 42-METRE

GLULAM GIRDERS.

t he Hangingstone Pedestrian Bridge

in Fort McMurray, Alta., which is the Top Project in the Design—Civil category, not only meets the need for a new crossing, but also complements the natural environment and offers pedestrians an enhanced experience.

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo engaged Associated Engineering to create a pedestrian bridge that was in keeping with the natural surroundings of two adjoining parks—and a tim-ber structure was identified as the right fit.

Forty-two-metre-long glulam girders were fab-ricated in Edmonton. The haunched girders provide a shallow curve with the main load-carrying mem-bers doubling as the para-pets. A salient design feature includes multiple openings in the girders to break up the solid face of the members for visual interest and to allow pedestrians to view the river.

Alberco Construction Ltd. delivered the project on time and under budget. Associated Engineering provided the structural and electrical engineering. HFKS Architects Inc. was the project architect.

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alo


LOCATION: forT mcmurray

COST: $4 MILLION

hanGInGsTone PedesTrIan BrIdGe

DESIGN

CIVIL


A W A R D S

In addition to the Top

Projects featured on the

previous pages, the judges

of Alberta Construction

Magazine’s 2012 Top

Projects Awards chose

the following projects as

finalists.

Commonwealth Community Recreation Centre

ProJecT oWner:

City of EdmontoncosT:

$112.5 millionGeneral conTracTor:

Clark BuildersarchITecT:

Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd.consulTInG enGIneers:

Read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers, Hemisphere Engineering Inc., ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd.

Edmonton Clinic – South

ProJecT oWner:

Government of AlbertacosT: $322.5 millionGeneral conTracTor: PCL Construction Management Inc.archITecT:

DIALOG Alberta Architecture Engineering Interior Design and Planning Inc.consulTInG enGIneers:

DIALOG

Edmonton International Airport Terminal Building Expansion

ProJecT oWner:

Edmonton Regional Airports AuthoritycosT:

$266.3 millionGeneral conTracTor: PCL Construction Management Inc.archITecT: Stantec ArchitectureconsulTInG enGIneers:

Stantec Structural, Stantec Mechanical, Stantec Electrical

Edmonton Public Library/Jasper Place Branch

ProJecT oWner: Edmonton Public LibrarycosT: n/aProJecT and consTrucTIon

manaGemenT: Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd.PrIme consulTanTs: DUB Architects Limited, Hughes Condon Marler Architects

Edmonton New Remand Centre

ProJecT oWner: Government of AlbertacosT:

$500 millionGeneral conTracTor: Stuart Olson DominionarchITecT: ONPA Architects

Glenmore Filter Plant Improvement Project

ProJecT oWner: City of CalgarycosT:

$12 millionGeneral conTracTor: PCLarchITecT: Simpson Roberts Architecture Interior Design Inc.consulTInG enGIneers: AECOM Canada Ltd.

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FINALISTS


A W A R D S

■ Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement (ASAP) II

■ Aon Edmonton Office Renovations

■ Coal Creek Golf Resort

■ Devonian Gardens Redevelopment

■ Emerald Hills Centre

■ Foothills Academy Expansion

■ Husky Energy Office Complex Lloydminster

■ Lions Village Affordable Housing

■ Oi Kwan Place

■ Sunnyside Station LRT Platform Extension

■ Valour Place

■ Widewater Fire Hall

Highway 63 Utility Relocation Project

ProJecT oWner: Regional Municipality of Wood BuffalocosT:

$54.5 millionGeneral conTracTor: Site Energy ServicesconsulTInG enGIneers: Stantec Consulting Ltd.

TELUS Spark HD Digital Dome Theatre

ProJecT oWner: TELUS SparkcosT: $5.6 millionGeneral conTracTor: CANA ConstructionarchITecT: DIALOGconsulTInG enGIneers:

DIALOG Mechanical, SMP Engineering, Stantec Consulting

Timberlea Community Park

ProJecT oWner: Regional Municipality of Wood BuffalocosT:

$18 millionGeneral conTracTor:

Wilco Contractors Northwest Inc.archITecT: 818 Studio Ltd.consulTInG enGIneers:

AMEC Environment and Infrastructure, Applied Engineering Solutions, Ion Irrigation Management Inc., Athletica Sport and Recreation Architecture Inc.

West Light Rail Transit Line

ProJecT oWner: City of CalgarycosT: $365 millionGeneral conTracTor: SNC-Lavalin Pacific Inc.archITecT: n/aconsulTInG enGIneers: Wiebe Forest Engineering Ltd., SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., MMM Group Limited

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www.iglooerectors.com


A W A R D S

HOW JUDGING WORKED A panel of five judges—two from JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group, the publish-ers of Alberta Construction Magazine, and three from outside the company—chose this year’s Top Projects Awards.

Judges followed a demo-cratic process that worked this way: After nominations closed, the judges gathered in Calgary and were each given a packet containing the nominations. Judges were also able to bring forward any significant

projects not nominated at this point.

Each judge narrowed down the list of nominees using the following scoring criteria:° Meeting client require-

ments (maximum 15 points)

° Use of technologies (max-imum 10 points)

° Environmental impact (maximum 30 points)

° Project’s uniqueness (up to 45 points)The finalists were then

determined by a vote.Next came an even tougher

task—whittling down the

list of finalists to the Top Projects themselves. From that came the Project of the Year, which was done by secret ballot.

Throughout the process, judges with connections to a specific project or company were asked to excuse themselves from voting in that category for obvious conflict-of-interest reasons. Judges were also asked to keep the 2012 Top Projects Awards winners confiden-tial until they were formally announced on December 4 in Edmonton.

meeT The JudGes

Scott Jenkins, president of DIRTT Environmental SolutionsScott MacPherson, dean of the School of Construction at SAIT PolytechnicChaz Osburn, editor of Alberta Construction MagazineCraig Sneddon, partner and the location leader of the KPMG Canadian Tax group in EdmontonDarrell Stonehouse, editor of Oil & Gas Inquirer and a former editor of Alberta Construction Magazine

62 | winter 2012

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Doosan unveils largest wheel loader yet

say goodbye to the doosan dl500 wheel loader and hello to its replacement, the dl550.now the largest wheel loader offered by doosan infracore Construction Equipment

America, the dl550 features several notable improvements over its predecessor.A six-cylinder diesel engine offers 380 horsepower, while the operating weight sits at

69,655 pounds. breakout force is 58,450 pounds and full-turn tipping capacity is 48,061 pounds, making the machine ideal for heavy-duty jobs such as quarries, mines and manu-facturing operations.

A number of options are available for the dl550 as well. For instance, a torque con-verter lockup clutch can be added to allow the machine to climb grades more quickly. the standard dump height is 11 feet and two inches, but can be upgraded to a high-lift configuration.

Visit doosanequipment.com for details.

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two metal panel manufacturers are com-bining forces to launch a new website.

All weather insulated Panels and Vicwest both deal in insulated metal panels for the industrial, commercial and cold-storage construction markets. now the pair will showcase their product portfolio together through a jointly developed website.

the new site will provide technical documentation, the ability to search for the nearest sales representative, and links to related product and resource information.

Future expansions are planned down the road. the companies are currently working on adding a member centre that will provide access to technical documents, including computer-aided design files and testing reports.

Check out the new site at awipanels.com or vicwestpanels.com.

Two companies, one website

hOw tOsuBMIt IteMs

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

eMail iteMS to: [email protected]

or SeNd it to:Assistant Editor, Alberta Construction Magazine,220-9303 34 Avenue nw, Edmonton, Ab t6E 5w8

or FaX to: 780-944-9500

Please include the full name and location of the company.

The new DL550 wheel loader offers 58,450 pounds of breakout force.


whO’s whO And whAt’s whAt

people, products & projects

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Edmonton’s northern Alberta institute of technology (nAit) is celebrating its golden anniversary with 50 of its best and brightest alumni.

since its foundation in 1962, the polytechnic school has seen 172,000 students pass through its halls. Out of that wide field, nAit chose 50 former students who have made a difference in their respective professions, whether it be health research, oil and gas, or even curl-ing (in the case of Olympic gold medallist Kevin Martin).

“the accomplishments of our top 50 alumni reflect the quality and relevance of nAit as a polytechnic,” says college president and chief executive officer glenn Feltham, who goes on to laud the group as “nAit ambassadors.”

naturally, the construction industry found itself well represented on the list of luminaries from the trade school’s past. leaders were recognized from all corners of the industry, ranging from engineering and environmental consulting to general contracting and manufacturing.

here’s a look at six who made the cut:

Naseem Bashir (electrical engineering technology, 1988), president and chief executive officer of williams Engineering Canada inc.

stephani Carter (interior design technology, 2001), founder of EcoAmmo sustainable Consulting inc.

James Cumming (construction engineering tech-nology, 1981), chief executive officer of Creative door services ltd.

Kees Cusveller (building construction engineering technology, 1980), vice-president of business develop-ment at graham group ltd.

roger Dootson (carpentry, 1977), retired vice-president and district manager of PCl Construction Management inc.

Don Oborowsky (carpentry, 2007), chief executive offi-cer and founder of waiward steel Fabricators ltd.

NAIT honours construction leaders

stephani carter

Naseem Bashir

Kees CusvellerJames Cumming

Don Oborowsky

roger dootson

66 | winter 2012

people, products, projects

Give the boot to nesting birdsA California company is promoting a novel way to scare off pesky nesting birds mak-ing a mess of buildings. how does fried pigeon sound?

bird-b-gone, inc., located in Mission Viejo, Calif., offers the bird Jolt Flat track to condition birds to stay away from build-ing ledges.

Just a quarter of an inch in height, the system provides an unobtrusive alternative

to the spikes typically deployed on build-ings to discourage pigeons and other birds from roosting. it delivers a low-level elec-trical jolt that isn’t strong enough to be fatal, but is shocking enough to dissuade the birds from coming back to nest.

the system was recently deployed on the ledges of the new county courthouse in rockwall, texas, where as many as 500 pigeons had been seen perched above

the front of the building. the recently built $37.2-million structure was already show-ing damage from the bird droppings—to say nothing of providing a rather perilous walk for those entering the hallowed halls of justice.

since the jolt track was installed, the birds have moved on to nest at a different location, the company says.

learn more at birdbgone.com.

iCOn has unveiled its new model 6510 construction disc, designed specifically to handle the land-clearing demands of construction sites.

with weight-per-blade specs of 719 pounds per blade, the disc is made to mow through compacted soil and thick vegetation. the 11,500-pound 6510 model uses large notched blades measured at 32 inches by 10 millimetres, which can penetrate 15 inches into the soil.

the design borrows liberally from disc harrows made by iCOn’s par-ent company, landoll Corporation, including such features as a hydraulic levelling system and rockshaft pivot bushings that don’t require maintenance.

More information is available at landoll.com/icon.

A harrowing new entry into the land-clearing market

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Pigeons plagued this Texas courthouse until one company offered a shocking solution.



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Power to the people

Finding a plug-in at a construction site can be a challenge. Fortunately, a new power distributor from larson Electronics llC can help.

the company’s latest temporary power distribution system—known more formally as the Mgl7-480-2x120V—allows contract-ors to run their 120-volt tools from a 480-volt alternating current outlet.

Mounted on wheels for easy transport, the unit provides two 120-volt plug-ins and includes a 25-foot-long power cord, mak-ing it ideal for construction jobs and indus-trial operations such as plant turnarounds.

Everything from welders to lights and numerous other tools can run safely from the power distributor, the company notes.

Find out more at magnalight.com. Pho

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McGregor joins IronPlanet

used heavy equipment seller ironPlanet inc. has a new managing director for its Canadian operations: sue Mcgregor.

she joins the company following a stint at Aggreko, where she served as vice-president and general manager for

68 | winter 2012


36PAGE

VIEW FROM ENTRANCE PLAZA

KEYPLAN

2010 MARCANMORE MULTIPLEXSCHEMATIC DESIGN REPORT

New structural engineer at Halsall Associates

Kristy neish has joined halsall Associates as a structural engineering project manager.

neish brings with her over 13 years of experience in designing commercial, public, residential and emergency service facilities, with a particular focus on green design. in addition to being a leadership in Energy and Environmental design–accredited professional and licensed Alberta engineer, she holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from lakehead university in Ontario.

Most recently a project engineer at read Jones Christoffersen Consulting Engineers, neish has lent her skills to numerous note-worthy projects in Alberta. she has worked as a project engineer on Calgary’s ralph Klein Park and Environmental Education and Ethics Centre, and the city’s new Emergency services Operation Centre, among others.Ph

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western Canada, overseeing operations across british Columbia, Alberta and saskatchewan.

with over 20 years of experience, Mcgregor is expected to help grow ironPlanet’s sales and operations in Canada. the online equipment market-place did over us$568 million in sales volume worldwide in 2011.

Kristy Neish



ACO Drain linear drainage systems can inspire creative landscaping planning. They allow the elimination of physical barriers and can be incorporated into a wide range of designs to contrast or complement the pavement design.

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For more information, call 1-800-387-2446 or visit postreport.ca

postreport.ca

Plugging the data holes

Ensuring reports from a site are accur-ate is vital to monitoring the progress of any project. so why not automate the whole process?

the inPave system is a new option for bergkamp inc.’s flameless pothole patcher. the computerized system helps measure the number of potholes repaired, their location and the amount of material needed for the job.

using a seven-inch touch-screen control in the cab, the operator enters the amount of material loaded into the patcher. Otherwise, the system is auto-mated, with reporting sensors throughout the machine tracking production and per-formance rates for the machine.

reports can be accessed online from anywhere, allowing the head office to easily check on the progress of a crew at any given time. three different systems work in concert to gather and custom-ize information:

• InPaveNavigoExplorermapsthepatcher’s location over the past 24 hours and provides additional details on the status of the unit.

• InPaveNavigoReportsprovideshistorical data on each patcher.

• InPaveManagerallowsuserstocus-tomize the data gathered from the field with additional information entered in the office.

learn more at bergkampinc.com.

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The InPave System’s touch screen allows operators to monitor the amount of materials used while patching potholes.

70 | winter 2012


• Increased working range for more digging reach

• Powerful Tier 4 Interim engine improves operational efficiency

• Enhanced work modes designed to match your work

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Just like the real thing

wannabe welders can now hone their skills with a new simulator. And maybe they can pick up a few pointers on infant care at the same time.

realityworks, inc. is best known for its baby simulators—replicating scenar-ios ranging from choking to fetal alcohol syndrome—but the company recently stepped into the world of the skilled trades with its teachwEld welding simulator.

users are provided a virtual environ-ment to learn about basic welding form and technique. the program includes a number of exercises geared towards three different skill levels, which are then evalu-ated through diagnostic and welding integrity assessments.

the simulator includes a welding station, a practice gas metal arc welding gun, helmet and gloves, as well as software and a curriculum.

Visit realityworks.com for more information.

A greener roofthe first step in green roofing was reducing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. the second step is taking pollutants out of the air.

toitures r@9, a quebec company, has launched a new de-polluting roof mem-brane. using noxite-treated granules, the roof converts nitrous oxide—a potent greenhouse gas—into nitrate salt.

A 15,000-square-metre roof can convert enough nitrous oxide in one year to match the emissions of 60 vehicles driving over 20,000 kilometres, the company estimates.

the product comes to Canada via denmark’s siplast–icopal group. in October, toitures signed an agreement to become the quebec manufacturing agent for the membrane.

Find out more at r-a-9.com.ILLU

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CARRIES CASE CX SERIES EXCAVATORS.

Rocky Mountain EquipmentDEPENDABLE IS WHAT WE DO.

MODEL ENGINE MAX DIG DEPTH OPERATING WEIGHT

CX17B 15.15 HP (11.3 KW) 7FT 1IN (2.16M) 3,638 LB (1650 KG)CX27B 21.3 HP (15.9 KW) 8FT 4IN (2.54M) 5,556 LB (2520 KG)CX31B 28.4 HP (21 KW) 9FT 2IN (2.79M) 6,679 LB (3030 KG)CX36B 28.4 HP (21 KW) 10FT 1IN (3.07M) 7,958 LB (3610 KG)CX50B 39.8 HP (29.3 KW) 11FT 11IN (3.63M) 10,261 LB (4660 KG)CX55B 39.3 HP (29.3 KW) 12FT 10IN (3.91M) 12,295 LB (5677 KG)

CX75 MSR 54 HP (40 KW) 13FT 7IN (4.14M) 17,468 LB (7920 KG)CX80 54 HP (40 KW) 13FT 9IN (4.18M) 18,585 LB (8430 KG)

CX130B 95 HP (71 KW) 19FT 10IN (6.05M) 27,800 LB (12,610 KG)CX135 MSR 95 HP (70.9 KW) 19FT 5IN (5.91M) 29,631 LB (13,440 KG)

CX160B 120 HP (89.2 KW) 21FT 4IN (6.49M) 37,700 LB (17,100 KG)CX210C 160 HP (119.3 KW) 21FT 10IN (6.65M) 47,800 LB (21,685 KG)

CX225 MSR 153 HP (114.4 KW) 22FT 0IN (6.7M) 53,352 LB (24,200 KG)CX250C 177 HP (132.1 KW) 22FT 8IN (6.9M) 62,100 LB (28,100 KG)CX300C 207 HP (154 KW) 23FT 4IN (7.1M) 65,900 LB (29,900 KG)CX350C 266 HP (198 KW) 26FT 8IN (8.14M) 80,000 LB (36,300 KG)CX470C 329 HP (245 KW) 25FT 4IN (7.72M) 105,300 LB (47,763 KG)CX700B 463 HP (345 KW) 32FT 4IN (9.85M) 153,400 LB (69,581 KG)CX800B 532 HP (397 KW) 35FT 0IN (10.66M) 178,575 LB (81,000 KG)

We know you need to be as productive as possible on the job. Case offers a full line of excavators, from 3,638 pounds up to 81 metric tons, giving you plenty of power and performance to get the job done. Our five compact models offer zero tail swing and a center-swing boom for maximum productivity in the tightest spaces. Our three minimum swing radius models excel at digging and lifting, whether they’re working in cramped construction sites or along busy highways. Matched with the nine full-sized B Series excavators, Case brings you a full complement of excavators that are built for the jobs where high performance and durability are important. Your Case dealer can help you choose the right excavator to suit your needs.

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18012 - 107 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2J5 • Phone: 780.455.1122 • Fax: 780.451.2152E-mail: [email protected] • Web Site: www.albertaconstruction.net

New supplementary general conditions for use with CCDC contracts in AlbertaThe Alberta Builders’ Lien Act has some unique characteristics compared to other jurisdictions, and when the stan-dard CCDC forms of contract are used in Alberta, they require modification by supplementary conditions. The ACA has for many years published a standard set of supplementary conditions whose pur-pose is to align CCDC 2—Stipulated Price Contract with the act. The ACA recently revised these supplementary conditions for improved clarity and has published additional ones for use with the most current editions of the entire suite of CCDC contracts, including CCDC 2, 3, 4, 5b, 14, 17 and 18. These are available

By Ken Gibsonexecutive Director, Alberta Construction Association

FOCus On stAndArd PrACtiCE initiAtiVEs

In the last issue of Alberta Construction Magazine, I reported on actions

focused on workforce and owner educa-tion. This issue expands on describing a number of standard practice initiatives.

New ACA procurement advisorOver the past year, the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) has retained the services of Contrax Consulting Inc. to develop Alberta supplementary conditions to Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) documents, to update Form A and to develop the new sub-subcontract Form B. ACA has retained Contrax on a pilot basis to provide pro-curement- and contracting-related advis-ory services. These services will assist ACA in responding more effectively to

enquiries from members and local con-struction associations, and assist ACA in educational outreach to owners and the design community.

Herb Guhl, the principal of Contrax, brings more than 35 years of experience in procurement of construction and design services with the Alberta govern-ment, past service to CCDC as an owner representative and, more recently, con-tracted services to CCDC as well. While the pilot engages the services of Contrax for a limited number of hours, members are encouraged to forward enquiries related to roles, responsibilities, obli-gations, processes and best practices under construction tenders, request for proposals and contracts to ACA via [email protected]


aca report

The Alberta Builders’ Lien Act has some unique

characteristics compared to other jurisdictions,

and when the standard CCDC forms of contract

are used in alberta, they require modification

by supplementary conditions.

for download at no charge from the ACA website, albertaconstruction.net, under the Documents tab.

ACA Form A 2012Form A 2012 is now available through your local construction association (and through ACA for direct members in the greater Edmonton area). A number of sub-contract conditions have been revised to bring them into better alignment with the CCDC 2 contract between owner and prime. The new contract is five pages compared to four pages for previous ver-sions. Please destroy any previous versions of Form A.

New ACA Form B sub-subcontractIn response to member request, ACA has developed a sub-subcontract to align with Form A subcontract. Form B is available

through your local construction associa-tion (and through ACA for direct members in Edmonton).

Owner educationAlong with partners Consulting Architects of Alberta, Consulting Engineers of Alberta, Alberta Urban Municipalities Association and Alberta Infrastructure, ACA is developing outreach to public pro-curers of construction to promote adoption of industry standard practices. One initia-tive has been the development of an outline of potential educational topics for procure-ment staff. The partnership will be con-sidering how best to develop and deliver these topics into seminars, webinars, etc., and to test these with procurement groups in order to address their needs. Development and testing of an initial offering is planned for the first half of 2013.

aca report

74 | winter 2012

In 1991, Lauda Air Flight 004 crashed due to a system failure. The pilots of the Boeing 767 were alerted of the potential failure, but, after consulting the 457-page Quick Reference Handbook, were unable to locate the action required to avoid the catastrophe.

According to Klaus Hofer, an organiza-tional psychologist and training specialist in workforce learning and development with Communications and Training International, the information was there, but the handbook hadn’t been written in such a way that pilots under stress could easily locate the information—a tragic example of the importance of writing safety procedures using best practices.

When it comes to safety on the job, following procedures is critical. Unfortunately, procedures are often writ-ten by people who understand the pro-cedure but who have not been trained in technical writing. The result can be mis-understanding and confusion, putting workers at risk.

“If you have a safety procedure that includes steps a worker must follow, in a specific order, and you list those steps with bullets rather than Arabic numerals, there is a risk that someone could think that he can do the steps in any order,” says Hofer, illustrating just one potential issue.

To help organizations reduce the possibility of misunderstanding in

A safer approach

are YOur safetY PrOCeDures safe?

tips from organizational psycholo-gist Klaus hofer to help you deter-mine if your company is putting workers at risk.

Do:• Buildin“parallelconstruction”to

enable readers to navigate to the information quickly when they need it. long blocks of text force the reader to search instead of navi-gate, risking getting lost or wasting valuable time.

• Use tableswith relevanthead-ings to help readers envision how information items relate to one another (e.g., pressure vs. tem-perature) to minimize the risk of misunderstanding.

Don’t:• Usecolourtomakedocuments

guiding behaviour look attract-ive. Colour should only be used to communicate, not to decorate.

• Exhaustthereaderwithlonglistsofsteps or overly wordy documents, as information will be overlooked.

Failing to use best practices when writing safety procedures can increase risk

By Tricia Radison

safety12345678910 Alberta Construction Magazine | 75

documentation, Hofer invented “Usability Mapping,” a technical writing method designed to produce documents that ensure people will engage in the correct behaviour. It’s used to map technical answers to the questions that users of the document will have and is ideal for safety procedures, standard operating proced-ures, guidelines, policies, instructional material and management reports.

The method is based on 40 years of research into human perception, selec-tion and response, and takes into account the fact that people read differently when

they have to alternate between reading and acting, particularly when stressed.

The goal is to control comprehension as perfectly as possible. That essentially means telling the reader precisely what you want them to think.

“In other types of writing, you want to draw associations for the reader, to capture the reader’s imagination,” Hofer says. “But when you are delivering infor-mation that guides behaviour, you do not want people to make associations because you can’t control what they are picturing.”

One way to control comprehension is by using graphics to illustrate what’s written so that you are giving the reader exactly what you want him or her to envision.

Hofer, who is based in Calgary and trav-els the world to work with companies like Nestlé SA, Harley-Davidson and the Dow Chemical Company, has identified 11 cri-teria that documents guiding behaviour must meet. In his workshops, he teaches writers how to map information and ensure it meets the criteria. The results, he says, are documents that are safer, faster to produce and, ultimately, cheaper.

safety

“ If you have a safety procedure that includes steps a worker must follow, in a specific order, and you list those steps with bullets rather than Arabic numerals, there is a risk that someone could think that he can do the steps in any order.”

— Klaus Hofer, organizational psychologist and training specialist, work learning and development, Communications and Training International

76 | winter 2012

Alberta legislation permits a person who has not been paid for a claim over $300 the right to register a Statement of Lien against title to the property upon which the improvement is being made if the person has:• Doneorcausedanyworktobedoneonorinrespectofan

improvement; or• Furnishedanymaterialtobeusedinorinrespectofan

improvement for an owner, contractor or subcontractor.The lien must be registered against the title to the building

where the improvement is being made and it must be registered in a form acceptable by law. If the project involves more than one title, the Statement of Lien must be filed on all titles to the buildings where the work or materials were actually provided.

Under Section 40 of the act, a person who registers a lien for an “amount grossly in excess of the amount due to the person” or registers a lien when the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the person does not have a lien, is liable for legal and other costs and damages incurred as a result of it.

General contractors and owners of land should beware of Statements of Lien that include a “quantum meruit” claim against the general contractor or the owner, even when the lienholder had no direct contract with the general contractor or the owner. From my perspective, including a quantum meruit claim in a Statement of Lien is a clear attempt to circumvent the act and is not a preferred practice. General contractors and owners of land should read Statements of Lien carefully before settling any lien claim to ensure that appropriate releases are obtained not only from persons with whom the general contractor or owner had a contract, but also from any lienholder that may have included a quantum meruit claim against the general contractor or the owner of the land under the Statement of Lien.

Understanding builders’ liensBy Michelle M. Simpson

This is the first of

a series of articles

about builders’ liens

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business of building

Bird Calgary Office106, 12143 - 40th Street SE, Calgary, Alberta

tel.403-319-0470 fax.403-319-0476

www.bird.cast. john’s ▪ halifax ▪ saint john ▪ wabush ▪ montreal ▪ toronto

winnipeg ▪ calgary ▪ edmonton ▪ vancouver

Time for registering the lienA lien for materials or services may be registered at any time within the period beginning when the lien arises under the act (that is, when work or materials are provided and at least $300 is owing to the lienholder) and ending 45 days from the day that the last of the materials is furnished or the services are completed, or the contract to furnish the materials or services is abandoned. Section 42 of the act specifically provides that if the lien is not registered within the time limited by Section 41, the lien ceases to exist.

Registering a lien is not the end of a lienholder’s work. Within 180 days of registering the lien, the lienholder must begin an action under the act and must register a Certificate of Lis Pendens against title to the lands that the project was carried on, failing which, the lien can be cancelled under Section 47 of the act. It is also important to note that a trial of the action should be held within two years of the filing of the Certificate of Lis Pendens. Failing which, an application can be made to the Court to cancel the registration of the lien.

PrioritiesBuilders’ liens enjoy some priorities over other instruments and those are set out under Section 11 of the act. One priority found under Section 11(4) of the act is worthy of note: “Advances or pay-ments made under a mortgage after a statement of lien has been registered rank after the lien, but a mortgagee who has applied mortgage money in payment of a statement of lien that has been registered is subrogated to the rights and priority of the lienholder who has been so paid to the extent of the money so applied.”

The act also speaks to priorities among lienholders. For example, a lien for wages of a labourer has priority, to the extent of six weeks’ wages, over all claims on that portion of the lien fund that applies to or through the contractor or subcontractor for whom the work was carried out. All such labourers rank without preference among themselves. PH

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Alberta is thriving, fed by a steady supply of skilled SAIT Polytechnic grads that know how to hit the ground running. Programs taught by instructors with real world experience and designed through industry collaboration have the potential to deliver thousands of additional skilled trades people, technicians, technologists and degree graduates over the next decade. SAIT offers bright futures in Energy, Business, Information Technology, Media, Hospitality, Health and Public Safety, Manufacturing and Automation, Transportation and Construction. Our commitment to transforming student lives is what makes them successful. Our reputation as a provider of training solutions to organizations across Canada and around the world is what makes us a leading Polytechnic.

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EDUCATION THAT’S BEEN BUILT TO MEET DEMAND.

Practical effects of the registration of a lienThe practical effect of registration of a lien is that it typically prevents mortgage funds from being advanced because of the priority that a builders’ lien enjoys over any mortgage advances made after the lien is registered. As a general contractor, this means that construction draws will dry up if the source of the funding for the project is the mortgage.

Typically, once a builders’ lien is registered against title, the owner will also discontinue making any payments under the construction contract even if there is no mortgage funding the project because to do otherwise would expose the owner of the land to increased risk, which will be described in a subsequent article when we discuss the calculation of the major and minor lien funds and the liability of the owner to ensure the establish-ment and retention of those lien funds.

Registering a Statement of Lien is the statutory right. That having been said, contractual relations will be strained or, in certain circumstances, may even be severed when liens are regis-tered. Considerable effort should be made by the parties to nego-tiate a settlement to the dispute before considering filing a Statement of Lien. Contractors should immediately consult their contracts for dispute resolution mechanisms spelled out in the contract and fol low those where appropriate and timely.

Editor’s note: Michelle Simpson is an Edmonton lawyer, arbitra-tor and mediator practicing in the areas of construction, busi-ness, workplace and insurance issues. In her next article, she will canvass the options open to a general contractor or owner of land who is met with a Statement of Lien being registered against title to the project and the negative effects that can be suffered by a lienholder who fails to respond on a timely basis to notices served upon the lienholder.

considerable effort should

be made by the parties to

negotiate a settlement to the

dispute before considering

filing a Statement of Lien.



Is this the end of the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards?By Randy Kraft

As public real estate entities filed their year-end continuous disclosure docu-ments for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011—their first full set of financial statements under the new reporting framework of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)—management is reflect-ing on the impact of the transition. That

includes the opportunities that the new reporting framework has presented to enhance finan-cial reporting for the real estate industry, as well as the increased

use of judgment allowed and how it has increased the need for proper presen-tation and enhanced, more-transparent disclosures in the financial statements.

The regulators recognize this as an area of focus, and this past February,

the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) released a staff notice highlighting areas of interest that the commission observed from its review of IFRS adoption experi-ences last year and identifying areas it would examine closely during 2012. We discuss some of these areas here, which impact entities in the real estate industry.

In our earlier examinations on the impact of the transition to IFRS on real estate companies, we noted a major-ity of issuers elected to account for their real estate property using the fair-value model; however, there were inconsisten-cies in how finance costs were presented and disclosed.

Let’s discuss real estate property first. The biggest change for real estate entities is the ability to account for their real estate

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80 | winter 2012


property at fair value. The absolute value and the change in valuation of an entity’s real estate portfolio is an important metric in evaluating an entity. As such, the pro-cess and the key assumptions incorpor-ated therein assist users in understanding the real estate fair value. In our review of the financial statement disclosures, there is much variability in how entities are developing and presenting this infor-mation, which reduces the comparability between real estate entities. For example, certain companies have chosen to obtain external appraisals on an annual basis. Others have decided to develop the valu-ations in-house. Further, certain entities have presented disaggregated “cap” rate data and “cap” rate sensitivity data that many users find insightful, as reflected in charts 1 and 2.

We also noted that the variability in fair-value information is not limited to related disclosures, but also in how enti-ties present fair-value changes in the profit and loss statement. The OSC staff notice reiterated that the changes in value of the real estate assets should be considered to form part of an entity’s operations. However, we have noted that many enti-ties do not include this fair-value change with its operations, but rather as an other-income/expense item, as noted in chart 3.

If we shift the discussion to finance costs, there are a few differences between previous Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (CGAAP) and IFRS that significantly impact the composition of finance costs, and impact how these are presented not only on the income state-ment, but also on the cash flow statement. (See chart 4.)

For example, items such as distribu-tions on Class B Exchangeable units, fair-value changes relating to the Class B Exchangeable units and convertible debentures are required to be presented as finance costs. We find that many real estate entities deem these “costs” to be an accounting consequence as opposed to representing the operations and are therefore presenting these differently.

Fair-value adjustments/depreciation presented in operating income

Net vs. gross presentation of finance costs

Capitalization rate sensitive analysis

not presented63%

Presented37%

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industrial retailsenior Multi res

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Presentation of valuation assumptions2



As a result, these costs were segregated from other finance costs by many enti-ties. Chart 5 compares those entities that present finance costs net on the income statement as opposed to presenting the components separately.

Also, IFRS requires finance costs paid to be explicitly presented on the cash flow statement. Under CGAAP, interest paid was required to be presented as supple-mental cash flow information. Therefore, under IFRS, total finance costs incurred and recognized on the income statement are first added back to net income. The actual finance costs paid are then sub-tracted as either an operating item or a financing item, as IFRS allows for an accounting policy choice. We noted that there are varying practices on how finance costs paid are being presented. This differ-ence in presentation has an impact on the users that are looking to financial state-ments to assess the entity’s liquidity and analyzing measures derived from cash flow from operations. (See charts 6 and 7.)

To date, we have focused primarily on policy selection by the real estate indus-try entities and its impact on differences in measurement and recognition between CGAAP and IFRS. There are also differ-ences in how real estate entities are pres-enting items on the income statement. We have noted divergence in practice on how real estate entities define “net earnings from operations” or are presenting other subtotals, or where certain items such as fair-value changes of Class B exchange-able units, general and administrative/trust expenses, finance costs and depreci-ation/amortization are presented on the income statement in order to achieve their preferred format of the income statement.

This variability creates confusion in comparing real estate entities, as care must be taken to ensure key income-statement metrics are comparable. Further, the OSC’s staff notice reiterated that an area of focus is to ensure that issuers are com-plying with the income-statement presen-tation requirements.

Throughout our look at the adoption of IFRS by the real estate industry, we have seen great progress by the real estate entities

Net operating income (NOI) presentation6

reported nOi—implied 17%

nOi not reported—12%

reported nOi— Explicit 71%

Interest paid presented as operating or financing activity5

■ Operating

Office0%

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■ Financing

General and administrative/trust expenses presentation in net operating income

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■ included

82 | winter 2012


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and many areas where policy selection has made financial statements more relevant to users. But we also have seen areas where improvement is required by way of enhanced disclosures and more-consistent presentation to make the financial state-ments more comparable for users. Even though the transition year has ended, financial reporting under IFRS will con-tinue to be refined, especially in key areas impacting the industry in order to improve comparability.

Editor’s note: Randy Kraft is the build-ing construction and real estate leader for KPMG LLP in Calgary. To learn more, contact him at [email protected] or linkedin.com/in/randykraftkpmg.

We have seen great progress by the real estate entities and many areas where policy selection has made financial statements more relevant to users.



Give your building a new look

thanks to technology,

architects and builders have

choices when it comes to

selecting architectural panels

By Diane L.M. Cook

finishing touches

Architectural panels come in many shapes, sizes and colours. Vancouver’s Olympic Village used panels from Alcoa, as did the other buildings in the photos on pages 84 and 85.

The Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

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F or some it may seem like only yesterday, but the shift to using architectural panels actually started in Alberta about 25 years ago. The look and, more importantly, the technol-ogy have come a long way since then, making architectural

panels key to building envelope performance in both new builds and retrofits.

Architectural panels consisting of aluminum composite material (ACM) instead of traditional materials used in envel-opes and facades are popular today. ACM contains two thin sheets of aluminum continuously bonded to either side of a poly-ethylene core, under tension at the point of bonding. The sheets are restricted by the core, retaining residual tension. The result is an extremely flat, rigid, strong surface that remains stable under ever-changing thermal conditions.

The key benefit to manufacturing panels out of ACM is that the finished product has the rigidity of heavy-gauge steel combined with the lightness and flexibility of aluminum. Many architec-tural panels have 20- to 30-year warranties and can withstand the harsh Alberta summers and winters.

Creatively flexibleBesides the structural benefits, architectural panels also allow builders maximum architectural freedom with customizable products like StrataClad, a system manufactured by Lenmak Exterior Innovations Inc. in Edmonton.

“Our automated manufacturing system is the most advanced in North America, and it’s the automation that gives us the abil-ity to custom-make any size, shape and colour of architectural panels, which in turn gives architects, designers and builders greater freedom in their product choices,” says Lenmak founder Ray Turner.

For buildings using curtain-wall engineering, the company also offers EnvaTherm, a patented line of insulated panels designed to maintain building envelope performance in sec-tions between window vision wall glass. Using robotics to fill back pans with light-density foam insulation, EnvaTherm forms a secure bond with the inside of the cavity.

“By re-engineering the thermal qualities of the panel, it changes the overall effectiveness of the panel as a whole, which includes reducing the occurrence of mould,” Turner says.

EnvaTherm is 80 per cent lighter than traditional assemblies and is 100 per cent water-blown, so there are no harmful chem-ical blowing agents used. An added benefit is that the self-sealing insulation restricts vibration and noise due to trapped air, and the injection process means no wasted insulation.

EnvaTherm just received a stamp of approval from the federal government as a component of a non-combustible assembly up to 12 storeys.

finishing touches

Two views from the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation at the University of Alberta.

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You need to stay competitive. You need to get systems and people to collaborate – effectively. You need to control costs without compromising project or product quality. Staying ahead today presents a wide range of challenges but also provides opportunities.

At IMAGINiT, our focus is helping clients uncover opportunities and overcome challenges. With deep industry expertise and the largest staff of technical experts in the industry, IMAGINiT has the know-how to help pinpoint critical issues and address them through the better use of people, processes and technology.

To learn how we can help solve your toughest problems, call our offices in Calgary at 403-219-0660 or Edmonton at 780-408-3440, or visit us at imaginit.com.

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fi nishing touches

“During the test, the amount of fuel produced by the foam in the EnvaTherm product when burning was insignificant and passed using only 40 per cent of the allowable amount,” Turner says.

On top of being customizable, both StrataClad and EnvaTherm are considered sustainable products because they do not contain harmful toxins, and ACM generally contains high recycled content in its core and aluminum composition.

Examples of the variety of panels manufactured by Lenmak Exterior Innovations, giving each building a distinctive look. PH

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finishing touches

Environmental benefitsSustainability is another one of the motivators for the shift to architectural panels, as Alyssa Bilych, project manager and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) coordinator at Igloo Erectors Ltd. points out.

“As LEED becomes more of a major factor in today’s con-struction industry, architects, designers and builders are choosing architectural panels over traditional building materi-als,” she says, pointing out that the high recycled content PH

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Town of MinnedosaInvitation for Submission of a Non Tender Expression of Interest

Development of Residential Property

The Council of the Town of Minnedosa, Manitoba is inviting interested Developers to submit a Non Tender Expression of Interest (EOI) for the development of approximately 68 acres of residential land located within the boundaries of the Town of Minnedosa.

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finishing touches

in ACM helps companies achieve LEED points in the Recycled Content category.

And while LEED is relatively new, Igloo has been manufac-turing architectural panel systems for over 20 years.

“We take our field experience and combine it with engin-eering technology to try and make our panels easier to install, which in turn makes it a more cost-effective option for owners,” says general manager Richard Nesbitt.

“One of the biggest benefits to using architectural panels is that they are resistant to ‘oil canning,’ a term used to describe a waviness found with all thin sheet metal products, which is aesthetically undesirable.”

Nesbitt says installing architectural panels is like putting together a giant puzzle. Every piece has to be exact, and if it isn’t, it won’t fit. The company pays close attention to the work-manship going into the panels to ensure every detail is perfect and aesthetically pleasing.

“Igloo Erectors has completed and is working on several large projects in Calgary’s downtown core using architectural panels, which has created a ‘wow!’ factor, changing Calgary’s downtown skyline to best illustrate its vibrant and energetic enthusiasm for generations to come,” Nesbitt says.

A versatile choiceAnother product boasting many structural, architectural and environmental benefits is Reynobond ACM panels, manufac-tured by Alcoa Architectural Products, a business unit of Alcoa BCS North America. Reynobond ACM architectural panels have been produced since 1989 and consist of an extruded thermoplas-tic compound core that is fusion-bonded between two sheets of coil-coated aluminum, brushed aluminum, zinc, stainless steel, copper or titanium. This creates the same flat surface that ACM is known for, with an exterior warranty up to 30 years.

The Reynobond ACM panel product range includes Reynobond XXL, Reynobond with EcoClean, Reynobond with KEVLAR and Reynobond Natural Metals. The panels can be painted in a variety of colours and finishes, giving builders a lot of flexibility. The panels can also be easily integrated with most curtain walls, creating a seamless look on building facades. George Rosado, commercial director at Alcoa Architectural Products, points out that all of these options make Reynobond ACM panels perfect for any builder looking for panels that will allow architectural freedom: “Reynobond ACM’s strength, weight and formability allows architects to achieve designs that are not possible with other materials.”

88 | winter 2012

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fi nishing touches

Reynobond architectural panels will also help builders achieve LEED points in the Innovation in Design, and Materials and Resources categories, with the aluminum skins being 90 per cent post-industrial, recycled material.

Rosado sees many reasons for the increased use of ACM: “Aesthetics, affordability and reliability are a few of the reasons

that ACM is increasing in popularity, and as a result, they are being installed on a variety of building applications ranging from major-project wall-panel systems to cornices and canopies, and are frequently used to interface areas between other major building components such as glass and precast panels.”

The TELUS Spark in Calgary (left) and the Alberta Heart Institute in Edmonton incorporate architectural panels from Igloo Erectors.

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exteriors

he last year or so has seen a heightened appreciation for continuous insulation in the thermal functionality of a build-ing envelope system. Thermal bridging, the process of moving

heat along a path, has also been exposed as a bigger enemy of envelope efficiency than was previously known, thanks to a 189-page technical study released by Morrison Hershfield in July 2011.

The study, stemming from an agreement with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc., had a principal goal of developing better tools for building design-ers to estimate thermal performance of a building envelope—and specify accord-ingly. The study also provided thermal performance data on a catalogue of 40 com-mon building envelope details for mid- and high-rise buildings.

Advancing the envelope

new methods surface for ensuring an efficient building envelope

By Godfrey Budd

within the envelope,” says Troy Smith, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)–accredited professional and principal at Group2 Architecture Interior Design Ltd. “You try and mitigate this effect through the design process.”

In residential towers, balcony slabs can create thermal bridges between sub-zero weather outdoors and build-ing interiors, invariably causing heat loss and the possibility for condensa-tion and mould. One solution to this, recently introduced from Germany, is the Schöck Isokorb, a structural device similar to a beam that contains thermal insulation elements that provide a ther-mal break between the exterior balcony and the interior f loor.

Says Smith, “We’ve been using these elements more than in the past. There are some new technologies to make high-performance buildings work better.”

Solving thermal bridging issuesA key issue analyzed in the report related to the fact that when cladding is attached to back up steel stud walls, the attach-ments bypass exterior insulation. These attachments, often made of steel, have good thermal conductivity and produce heat flows, creating a bridging effect.

Architects and engineers have known about this phenomenon for decades; however, it was not known how much heat loss this type of thermal bridging might cause. The study found that some common insulation procedures could cut the effective R-value of an insula-tion product in half, meaning that add-ing insulation to a building can increase capital costs while doing nothing to decrease heating costs.

“When it comes to steel and concrete structures penetrating the envelope, you try and minimize the thermal bridges

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exteriors

R-7. Aluminum frames, which provide the strength that vinyl lacks, can also reduce the R-value of a window because of their thermal conductivity.

To solve this, a firm launched in 1999, DUXTON Windows & Doors, has focused on framing its windows with pultruded fibreglass, which has low thermal con-ductivity while maintaining the required strength. Its windows were used on an Edmonton net-zero duplex project in the

inner city and, Smith says, the firm’s quad-pane windows achieve about R-15.

“Because fibreglass is strong, you can make windows with it that are quite large,” Smith says.

Much more is being done with glass these days as well. Curtain wall, typically great for looks and durability, doesn’t have the greenest reputation because of the low R-values it’s associated with. But, Smith says, that is changing with the use of more thermal breaks and triple glazing.

Improving the envelopeCementitious fibre-reinforced panel and siding systems cost about 2.5 times their vinyl equivalent, but are starting to be used for more than just institutional LEED projects. A 234-unit townhouse complex in Calgary is being clad with cementitious siding.

“It’s a condo group, mostly low income, but they wanted to spend more on qual-ity, something that will last,” says Bob Passmore, a principal at Building Science + Architecture Ltd.

Products like this, he says, can be a bet-ter deal than wood or vinyl when cradle-to-grave costs and sustainability are taken into account.

Passmore suggests a few principles of envelope design: “Build it so it is protected from the elements and able to resist ele-ments; make sure design relates to the location; if a material accepts water pene-tration, you need a secondary plane that allows for water drainage.”

Another principle that is sometimes ignored, Passmore says, is understand-ing the materials you’re working with and their requirements.

Making sure that the design is free of intrinsic obstacles to construction and can be both understood and built relatively easily is also important—even critical.

“Constructability of the envelope is 50 per cent of a good, strong building envelope,” says Randy Smith, building science engineering manager at Williams Engineering Canada Inc. “If they can’t build it, my design isn’t worth anything. It’s building science, not rocket science, but you have to think it through.”

Smith says that one of the most valu-able contributions LEED has made to the

construction industry is its use of the team approach—which can be applied to any project, LEED or non-LEED.

“Everyone’s at the table at the start. That kind of process is so much bet-ter and more fun. Everything integrates better. There are cost savings as systems are all meshing, as people on the team have all consulted with each other,” says Smith, who adds that the team approach assists on many fronts, including envelope constructability.

For help with envelope efficiency, building managers and operators can apply for certification with the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), under a program called BESt (Building Environmental Standards), formerly Go Green. After the applica-tion form is submitted, buildings are graded based on four levels of certifica-tion. Since certification is based largely on operations, it lapses after three years but can be reapplied for.

“Since 2005, 3,700 buildings in Canada have been certified and 1,600 are actively certified at present,” says Hazel Sutton, manager for environmental standards at BOMA Canada.

“Build it so it is protected from the elements and able to

resist elements; make sure design relates to the location; if a

material accepts water penetration, you need a secondary plane

that allows for water drainage.”

— Bob Passmore, principal, Building Science + Architecture Ltd.

Windows are another factor, espe-cially in places like Alberta, with long, cold winters and curtailed hours of day-light. Building owners generally want windows with a high R-value and lots of sunlight, which is a squaring-the-circle-type challenge. As Smith notes, many win-dows have an R-value of three or four, and even a triple glaze might not be more than

“Constructability of the envelope is 50 per cent

of a good, strong building envelope. If they can’t

build it, my design isn’t worth anything. It’s building science, not

rocket science.”— Randy Smith, building

science engineering manager, Williams engineering Canada Inc.

92 | winter 2012

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On April 18, 2002, at 5:47 p.m., a single-engine Commander 112 Tc aircraft hit the façade of the Pirelli building in Milan, Italy, between the 26th and the 27th fl oors. Impacting practically on the centerline of the building, the plane crashed through the wall.

As a result of the impact, the engine of the aircraft detached from the fuselage, exiting from the opposite side of the building. The two fuel tanks, located near the wings, exploded. A fi re started in the breached outer wall, with a highly visible column of smoke billowing from the building. The aircraft itself came to rest against machinery spaces between the fl oors.

While there was no damage to the 26th fl oor, the shock wave from the fuel tank explosion caused highly visible downward deformations in the 26th fl oor’s frames and upward deformation in the 27th fl oor’s frames. The restoration project entailed the static repair of the beams of the central area of the 26th and 27th fl oors’ frames.

The fi rst step was to realign the frame by “forcing” it in a controlled manner. After the damaged sections were re-built and the gaps were sealed, the damaged structures were returned to their original load-bearing capacity by a combination of post-tensioned external cables and using carbon-fi ber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to plate the bottom face of the girders and parts of the fl oor.

After repairs were completed on the degraded concrete, the structural strengthening of the girders and the bottom face of the fl oor slabs was performed by applying pultruded carbon fi ber laminas. The substrate was thoroughly cleaned, an epoxy primer (MapeWrap™ Primer 1) was applied to consolidate the surfaces, and then Carboplate™ E 170/50 was applied with an epoxy adhesive (Adesilex ™ PG1).

Diagnostic work was done throughout the process to defi ne the restoration techniques and determine the best materials to restore the façade and the load-bearing capacity to the 26th and 27th fl oors. MAPEI worked diligently with the Pirelli Building owners to deliver a satisfactory repair that allowed the building to reopen on April 18, 2004.

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windows

Many people would likely assume the oilsands industry is responsible for the bulk of Canada’s greenhouse gas emis-

sions (GHG)—at least going by the headlines.It’s a good guess, but wrong. According to

Environment Canada, the oilsands emitted 48 megatonnes of GHGs in 2010. The transporta-tion sector took top honours in the carbon sweep-stakes, emitting 166 megatonnes that same year. Fourth place went to the nation’s buildings, which were responsible for 79 megatonnes of emissions.

Energy conservation needs to start at home, it seems.

Figures on the amount of heat lost through win-dows vary based on climate and construction, but the Canadian government estimates it to be as high as 25 per cent. Any effort to improve the energy efficiency of a building can’t look past the windows.

So what’s the first advice Harry Sunner has for people looking to tighten up building effi-ciency? Look past the windows.

“You want to be primarily paying attention to the entire building envelope, not just the win-dows,” he says.

He should know. Since 1995, Sunner has served as vice-president and co-owner of Durabuilt Windows & Doors Inc. Over the years, the 400-person company has provided windows for a num-ber of high-rise condo towers, such as the Quest and Parliament buildings in downtown Edmonton.

Sunner makes the point that a high-quality, energy-saving window won’t matter much if the rest of the building envelope is leaking heat like a sieve. That’s why the way the window is installed is just as important as the window itself.

Reducing emissionsA mixture of foam and batt insulation can help seal cracks and stop airf low. Begin with the foam farther away from the window—it can expand over time, damaging the window if it’s too close—and then tightly pack in some batt insulation, he recommends.

While Sunner tends to deal in smaller appli-cations, Brent Harder, senior engineer and esti-mator at Ferguson Corporation, deals in larger applications, such as curtain walls that can cover the entire side of a building. He suggests that

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Hitting close to HOME

buildings are a major source of ghg emissions, but the right windows can help cut energy waste

by Joseph Caouette


windows

the significance of the frame drops as the win-dow grows in size.

On a curtain wall, the frame is miniscule next to the glass, which might make up 90 or 95 per cent of the total size. “Area-wise, that has a far bigger impact,” he says. “So you can put in the best frame, but if you have really lousy glass, it won’t help you a whole lot.”

Curtain walls are dependent on aluminum frames—a notoriously poor insulator—because of the metal’s strength and durability. Smaller windows, such as those installed by Durabuilt, can use polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or PVC-aluminum hybrid frames, both of which offer better insulating values.

In fact, curtain walls can be a contentious choice when it comes to energy-efficient con-struction. “You’ve got a beautiful, aesthetic-ally pleasing building, but is it giving you the performance, longevity and energy efficiency that it should be?” Sunner asks. “That’s the trade-off.”

But Harder takes a different perspective. He acknowledges that a curtain wall can’t beat a solid, well-insulated wall, but who wants to live or work in a lightless box? In his view, the real problem is integrating the glass section with the rest of the building. “Your weak point is typ-ically at the intersection of two different wall types,” he says.

No shortage of optionsWhat both men agree on is the abundance of options for people looking to cut down on energy wasted by poor-quality windows. Low-emittance (or low-E) coatings are a common, simple way to cut down on heat loss while allowing light inside. In the case of double- or triple-paned windows, multiple coatings can be applied to magnify the energy efficiency.

Sunner notes that the triple pane has seen a steady rise in interest in recent years, to the point that it verges on becoming industry stan-dard. “The triple pane has grown immensely—almost 10 or 15 per cent each year for the last three years,” he says.

It should come as no surprise, considering the obvious benefits. While more expensive and heav-ier, a triple-pane window with low-E coating can provide more than double the insulating value of a similar dual-pane product, Sunner estimates. On top of that, there’s also the noticeable noise reduc-tion that invariably comes with thicker windows.

The value of a triple pane can be amplified with the use of argon gas. By filling the inside of the window with the relatively inexpensive gas, manufacturers can significantly increase the product’s insulating value. Over time, the colourless, odourless gas dissipates, and within a decade it is usually gone. “But the value is def-initely there and proven to impact when you have low-E and argon,” Sunner says.

The future for energy-efficient windows is unsurprisingly bright, given that the interest in green building and energy conservation is unlikely to fade any time soon. Harder sees a pair of prospective technologies on the horizon that could add even more choice to the market.

The first is switchable glass, where a mild cur-rent can change the opacity of the glass, which is already being bandied about by architects, even though Harder has yet to see any installed in the province.

But the next logical step for windows is to move from conserving energy to producing it—namely, photovoltaic windows, which convert solar energy into usable electricity for the build-ing. “That’s a little bit more in the future, per-haps, but we’ve seen lots of interest in those kind of technologies,” he says.

96 | winter 2012

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LIGht at the museum

Designing a museum is not an easy task. Just ask Donna Clare, who would be the first to admit the dif-ficulty in creating a welcoming

space that can also protect a collection of thousands of historic—and, in some cases, priceless—objects. The public loves wide-open spaces, lots of light and plenty of glass. But what do 100-year-old cultural artifacts love?

“The conservation practice is to put them in a dark room,” Clare says.

You can see how this might be a problem.Clare and her colleagues are not eas-

ily discouraged, though. As a principal at DIALOG, she leads a team of about 25—more once the project ramps up—on laying out a new Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) that can serve the needs of both the public and the collection. DIALOG, alongside Lundholm Associates Architects and Ledcor Construction, forms the core of a design-build team that is working to complete the $340-million project by 2016.

In a presentation, the design team spells out its goals for the new building: “demystify the museum for the public,

Citadel Theatre, the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Stanley A. Milner Library.

A new visionWhen asked to distinguish the new build-ing from its predecessor, Clare is quick to cite its openness and accessibility.

“We’ve introduced glass,” she says. “A lot of parts of the museum can’t have any glass because daylight is damaging to the artifacts, but the public spaces will have a lot of connection to the site and to the city.”

The crucial link between inside and outside will be the building’s lobby—a spa-cious, glass-enclosed area that reaches 12 metres in height, complete with a large multimedia wall to entice pedestrians into entering and exploring the museum. This public gathering space will look out upon the park area in front of the museum, as well as Sir Winston Churchill Square far-ther down the road.

Fret patterns will be used on the glass as well, offering something more distinct-ive than a typical curtain wall. Clare says this has the benefit of “allowing views, but

providing views and access into the working museum,” while also “creating a museum that is a central social setting.” Lofty goals, to be sure, and a stark contrast to the current building, which stands like a stone-faced behemoth—more imposing than inviting.

Even the location of the old museum seems to conspire against its role as Alberta’s capital museum. Located just west of Edmonton’s gallery district on 124 Avenue, the current museum site is handsomely appointed—and easily over-looked. The building feels like a wayward straggler from the city’s downtown core, forced to struggle on its own as a destina-tion rather than draw energy (and crowds) from nearby amenities.

That will change with the new loca-tion, set to take the place of the old down-town post office building at 99 Street and 103A Avenue. The move will place the Royal Alberta Museum a few blocks away from the city centre, and give it a position of pride in the city’s arts district, where it will rub shoulders with other key cultural institutions like the Winspear Centre, the

the new Royal Alberta Museum shines a light on its inner workings

By Joseph Caouette

98 | Winter 2012

glass

cutting down on the amount of glare that you get from glass.

“It also allows us to potentially intro-duce some patterning that is integrat-ing natural patterns into the fabric of the building,” she adds. “We’re trying to embed stories of Alberta right into the very skin of the building, so we’ve got a lot of perforated metals that we’re also using.”

These patterns will appear not only on the glass, but will also be used to clad the building in metal marked with iconic Alberta imagery. “We’re creating sun shades with a perforated pattern that is like the canopy of an aspen tree,” she says. “We have some images of the way that ice breaks up on rivers in spring.”

Clare is also keen on including some form of renewable energy in the project, with wind turbines, earth tubes and piezo-electricity all possibilities. Solar windows, which would allow light in while generat-ing solar photovoltaic power, are also being explored as an option.

The museum is currently weighing whether or not it could generate enough

electricity to make the costly windows eco-nomical. “We’re not across the finish line on that one yet,” she admits.

Open conceptThe plan to open up the museum is not solely centred on glass walls and large spaces. By Clare’s count, the museum is home to 11 million objects and arti-facts, most of which are hidden away from the public eye on the curatorial side of the museum. The new RAM would change that.

“We’ve brought forward some of the back-of-house functions you don’t nor-mally get to see,” she says. “There’s a con-servation lab and a science lab that are viewable from the main lobby space, so you can actually see the curators working on restoring artifacts.”

Guided tours would allow the public to get a first-hand look at the normally hidden curatorial and restoration areas necessary to keep any museum func-tioning—the “working heart” of the build-ing, as the design team describes it. And while the interaction between the public

and the museum staff would naturally be limited during a tour, there will still be other opportunities for visitors to talk to curators, Clare says.

This will happen in an “information zone,” where experts will examine objects brought in by the public, whether it be a leaf from an unknown tree or an arrow-head discovered on a hike. “If you find a shell in your backyard and you don’t know what it is, then you can take it into the museum and meet with a curator who’s an expert in that area and they can help you identify what it is,” she says.

Of course, it would be cruel to entice the public with such an expanded view of the museum while hiding everything behind an admission gate. The RAM is countering that problem by leaving sev-eral sections of the museum entirely free to the public.

Spacious and bright, the lobby of the new Royal Alberta Museum is designed to be a welcoming place for visitors.

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“They really want the museum to be part of the everyday life of Edmonton and people visiting Edmonton, so in that way it’s much more accessible than the exist-ing building is,” Clare says.

Discussions are currently underway to include the Manitou Stone in one of the free galleries, providing public access to an object held sacred by many aboriginal groups. The second free area would be a community gallery, which could house exhibits organized by various commun-ity groups. Clare says that objects from the museum itself could be displayed in this

gallery, but only if they are robust enough to be moved out of the more stringently climate-controlled galleries inside.

Again, everything comes down to bal-ancing the public’s need for access with the preservation of the museum collection. “How do you make a place that’s open and engaging to the visitor and at the same time protect the artifacts and objects?” she asks.

Such is the dilemma of the museum designer. The building needs to be a fort-ress, protecting the artifacts from the marauding hordes of time and climate.

But if it is to be a fortress, it must be an invisible one, and that’s where glass comes in. By helping the building fade into the background, glass allows the RAM to take centre stage at long last—and that’s exactly how it should be, Clare says.

“Your experience of going to a museum is the stories inside the building,” she says. “To a certain extent, we’d like some of those stories to spill out into the street.”

the $340-million museum should be open by 2016.

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Westcor Construction Ltd.’s Executive Committee photo (from the left): Brad Hammond, C.E.T., G.S.C., Team Leader - Business Development & Pre-Construction Services; David Vandegriff, B.A., Chief Financial Officer; Val Stordy, Team Leader - Administration; Bob Robinson, P. Eng., G.S.C., President & Chief Executive Officer; and Andrew Morgan, G.S.C., Team Leader - Operations.

Bob Robinson, P.Eng., G.S.C. President & Chief Executive Officer is excited to announce that David Vandegriff has joined Westcor as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Vandegriff has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry, including Financial & Risk Management and Administration & Operations Management. His university education in California included Economics & Finance in his field of study. Mr. Vandegriff is a Past Director of the Calgary Construction Association.

In this newly created role, Mr. Vandegriff will oversee Westcor’s financial health, risk, performance and integrity—and assist with the company’s continued growth and success.

Westcor Construction Ltd. is a full service General Contractor and Construction Manager servicing Calgary and the surrounding area in Southern Alberta. Westcor is fully committed to providing the highest level of client service, while demonstrating excellence in safety and integrity. Through innovation and the continuous development of their dedicated personnel, Westcor strives to meet or exceed client expectations on quality of work, schedule, and effective cost management. Westcor’s mission is that “every client should believe that their project is the most important one”.

It is possible that an innovation known as the BIM CAVE—short

for Building Information Modelling Computer-Aided Virtual Environment—could turn out to be the greatest boon to the design-build process since the intro-duction of computer-aided drafting—per-haps the greatest ever.

The latest iteration of the technology, at Texas A&M University, two decades after an earlier BIM CAVE incarnation at the University of Illinois, has a dozen 46-inch monitors, and with an assist from three computers and some software, can provide the closest thing to the physical experience of a building without actually having to be anywhere near it.

“The BIM CAVE gives you the sense of being inside the buildings and its systems, so you can get a lot more information quickly,” says Julian Kang, associate pro-fessor in the department of construction science in the College of Architecture at Texas A&M, and head of the team develop-ing the BIM CAVE. “For example, the dis-tance from the floor to a valve—you get it right away. It enables people to physically relate themselves to the space.”

The BIM CAVE uses Autodesk Navisworks software and allows users to view and analyze large projects and com-bine models created by other software applications like Revit, Inventor, AutoCAD and others. Three graduate students on the team have developed extra software specif-ically for the BIM CAVE to control cam-era perspective and enable the exchange of

BIM CAVE brings industry one step closer to a virtual building environment

visual information between the computers on the Navisworks platform.

Even before a formal unveiling cere-mony at Texas A&M in late 2011, the BIM CAVE had caught the attention of two construction companies engaged in campus building projects. They requested use of the BIM CAVE for coordination meetings with subcontractors.

“We would like to see how industry can use the BIM CAVE to improve the dis-cussion process, do coordination and help with decisions,” Kang says. “Also, they may be able to test how it is changing the decision process during pre-construction coordination meetings.”

A good chunk of time at construction meetings of this sort inevitably deals with potential or existing clash issues. Aided by a big screen at one end of a cramped room in a construction trailer, the various players—from architects to subtraders—sort through the issues one clash at a time. Those whose clash is not currently under review must wait their turn. A BIM CAVE could speed up the process, perhaps cut-ting the meeting time by more than half.

“The BIM CAVE would allow various people to look at various clash issues at the same time,” Kang notes. “More screens means more perspectives. The number of people that could make use of this at once would depend on the number of screens. It can be extended to as many screens and computers as we want.”

The necessary computing power is avail-able today in a way it was not back in the

early 1990s, when the BIM CAVE concept was first rolled out. Also, its portability will only improve as hardware continues to diversify and expand. Users and develop-ers will select from flat screens, LCD pro-jectors and other devices, depending on requirements and the available space on construction trailers, Kang says.

He emphasizes the speed and range of precise information delivered by the BIM CAVE, and makes the point that immer-sion into a virtual building that provides an almost-tactile sense of its components and

By Godfrey Budd

The ultimate man cave

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102 | Winter 2012

their physical relationship to one another, and to the people looking and “walking” around, is a big step beyond simply viewing a 3-D image on a flat screen. Kang believes there is a quantum leap in the amount of information assimilated by the viewer in a BIM CAVE.

It is one of the reasons that Kang—and others, including several oil companies—believes that the BIM CAVE also has a future as a training and educational tool.

So, when will it be possible to visit one in Alberta?

“We’re hoping in the next year or so,” says Klaas Rodenburg, chief executive offi-cer of the Alberta Centre of Excellence for Building Information Modelling. He says that an Alberta BIM CAVE could be in place by early 2014.

BIM CAVEs and related BIM-type tech-nology could soon be everywhere across the construction sector’s design-build con-tinuum. Rodenburg notes that already there is an iPhone application that allows you to create a 3-D model from a photograph and send it to a printer.

The ultimate man cave

Associate professor Julian Kang at the BIM CAVE.


technology

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SUBCONTRACTORS AND HOLDBACKS

By Tim MavkoReynolds, Mirth, Richards & Farmer LLP

Holdbacks are touchy things.On one hand, it makes a lot of sense for someone paying

for a construction job to want to hold back some of the money until all the work is finished, all the problems are fixed and all liens have been cleared. That final 10 per cent (or whatever) is a powerful carrot for a contractor to get things done, and import-ant insurance for the owner in case something goes wrong.

But it’s also understandable why those waiting for their money chafe at the idea that they have to wait months, sometimes years, to get paid that last chunk for the work they have already done. Worse yet is the plight of a contractor who has money held back by the owner, but pays his own subcontractors and suppliers in full. Without careful planning, the squeeze on the cash flow can be painful, if not crippling, particularly for work completed early in the project.

The natural inclination, then, is for contractors to make the same holdbacks from subcontractors as owners make from them. So, if the owner holds back 10 per cent from the contractor, the contractor withholds the same percentage from each of the subcontractors. When the owner later pays the holdback, the subcontractors then get their share, too.

The problem is that contractors and subcontractors some-times have to play by different rules.

It’s fairly well-known that Alberta law requires an owner to hold back 10 per cent from all payments he makes to a gen-eral contractor. This is the standard lien holdback imposed by Alberta’s Builders’ Lien Act. The owner keeps that money for 45 days after substantial performance as protection against any liens that are filed. If, on the 46th day, the title is clear,

then the owner can release the holdback, safe from liens that might show up later.

But what is not well-known is that the same law does not require general contractors to withhold a similar amount when paying subcontractors and suppliers. The point is worth repeating. There is nothing in Alberta law that says a contractor must keep a lien holdback from subcontractors and suppliers.

Yet it happens all the time. Indeed, more often than not sub-contractors find their progress payments reduced by 10 per cent, with the balance promised at the end of the job.

Since the law does not impose these sorts of holdbacks on sub-contractors, the legal basis must be found in the subcontract itself.

The first place to look is the payment clause. For example, many contractors and subcontractors in Alberta use the stan-dard Alberta Construction Association ACA Form A Contract (“Agreement Between Contractor and Subcontractor”). When they use this standard agreement, one of the things the par-ties write into the pre-printed form is the percentage of each month’s progress payment that gets paid. This, by implication then, sets the holdback. So if the parties agree that 90 per cent of the subcontractor’s monthly invoices gets paid, there is a 10 per cent holdback. Conversely, if the parties agree that 100 per cent of each invoice gets paid out, then they have agreed that there will be no holdback.

A different example is the Canadian Construction Association CCA-1 Stipulated Price Subcontract, a standard form subcontract used across Canada. Here, the default pro-vision is that payments are to be made “in accordance with legislation and statutory regulations respecting holdback


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percentages.” But, as we now know, Alberta’s Builders’ Lien Act does not require holdbacks from subcontractors. So, in the absence of some other agreement between the parties, the CCA-1 does not require a holdback. To allow for one, the parties have to amend the standard wording, through (for example) a supplemental condition that they draft and attach to the pre-printed agreement.

A third way is where the subcontract says that the sub-contractor gets paid when the contractor gets paid. Commonly known as “pay-when-paid,” this sort of subcontract allows

the contractor to withhold from the subcontractor the part of the payment held back by the owner. The effect is the same as a holdback.

Thus, whether a general contractor can hold back part of the payment from a subcontractor depends on the subcontract.

The bottom line is this: the subcontract, and nothing else, determines whether a subcontractor will face holdbacks. If the subcontract says so, the subcontractor better plan accordingly. But if the subcontract does not say there will be holdbacks, the subcontractor should expect to be paid in full.

The subcontract, and nothing else, determines whether a subcontractor will face holdbacks. If the subcontract says so, the subcontractor better plan accordingly.

106 | Winter 2012

the legal edge

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TIME CAPSULE

headlinetext

photo caption and credit

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TIME CAPSULE

MEDALTA POTTERIES

SET AGAINST THE CLIFFS along the South Saskatchewan River in Medicine Hat, Alta., Medalta Potteries National Historic Site of Canada is a former industrial cer-amic complex. As one of western Canada’s largest historic sites, the Historic Clay District, which includes the restored 1912 Medalta Potteries factory, covers nearly 150 acres and captures Medicine Hat’s past as a centre of industrial ceramic produc-tion. In its glory days, Medalta produced nearly 75 per cent of the dishes manufac-tured in Canada.

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The site includes five interconnected brick-and-steel buildings dating from 1912 and the 1930s, as well as four beehive kilns built between 1920 and 1926. The site tells the history of the evolution of the ceramics-manufacturing industry from 1912 to 1954. Medalta Potteries became the first manu-facturer to ship its products east of the Great Lakes and became the largest manu-facturer of pottery in western Canada.

Thanks to the South Saskatchewan River’s centuries of alluvial silt deposits along its banks, Medicine Hat had abundant,

high-quality clay deposits. The strong demand for the ceramic industry’s prod-ucts helped create steady e mployment and economic stability for Medicine Hat.

In 1986, local citizens, who feared the abandoned Medalta factory would be demolished, founded the Friends of Medalta Society. Medalta was declared a national historic site, and throughout the 1980s and 1990s a group of volun-teers operated tours that told the story of the ceramic industry’s crucial role in the development of Medicine Hat.

Pottery was baked in these ovens. this photo was taken around 1920.

time capsule

108 | Winter 2012

A surviving “bake oven.”

KEY FACTS

• Medalta Potteries was built between 1912 and 1950. It officially shut down in 1966, though its financial troubles dated back to the late 1950s.

• While in operation, Medalta produced nearly 75 per cent of the dishes manufactured in Canada.

• The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in June 1985.

Source: medalta.org

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In 2009, the Friends of Medalta Society received more than $3 million from the federal government. The money went towards reconstructing a portion of the factory that was lost to a fire in 1996 and renovating a section of the facility to include an expanded gift shop, reception area and exhibit gallery.

Today, Medalta is a state-of-the-art con-temporary ceramic artists’ studio facility and industrial museum where visitors can walk in the footsteps of men and women who once worked in the factory.


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B U I L D I N G M A T E R I A L S

ACO Systems Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Alberta Blue Cross . . . . . . . . . . . . . outside back coverAlberta Construction Safety Association . . . . . . . . 74Alberta Truss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50All Weather Windows Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Anglia Steel Industries (1984) Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Arpi’s Industries Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Astec Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 & 25ATB Corporate Financial Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49Bantrel Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Beaver Plastics Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Bird Construction Company Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . 78Bobcat Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Brandt Positioning Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107Brandt Tractor Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Brock White Canada Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Calgary Construction Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Cal-Gas Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Cana Construction Co Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Canadian Welding Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Canadian Western Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Canessco Services Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Carmacks Enterprises Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Davidson Enman Lumber Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Edmonton Construction Association . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta . . 18 & 76EllisDon Construction Services Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta . . . . . . 58F&M Mafco, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Graham Group Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Grant Metal Products Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Hertz Equipment Rental Corp . . . . inside front coverHired Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90ICS Group Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Igloo Erectors Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62IMAGINiT Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Iron Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90IVIS Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Joint Utilities Safety Team . . . . . . . inside back coverKlimer Platforms Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13KPMG MSLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Kubota Canada Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Ledcor Group of Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Levelton Consultants Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30Lloyd Sadd Insurance Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Mantei Woodcraft Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46MAPEI Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Merchandise Mart Properties Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22MMFX Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46Mulvey & Banani International (Alberta) Inc . . . . . 58NAIT Corporate and International Training . . . . . . 83National Concrete Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Northland Construction Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Park Derochie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37PCL Constructors Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Phoenix Fence Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Proform Concrete Services Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Proform Precast Products Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68PwC Management Services LP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Reynolds Mirth Richards & Farmer LLP . . . . . . . . . . 50Rocky Mountain Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72Roxul Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57SAIT Polytechnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79Scona Cycle Honda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109Serv-All Mechanical Services Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Site BIM Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100SMS Equipment Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Spatial Technologies Partnership Group . . . . . . . . 53Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd. . . . . . . . 89Toole Peet Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Town of Minnedosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88Travelers Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30The Truck Outfitters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104United Rentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Vertigo Theatre Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Vet’s Sheet Metal Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Vicwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Westcor Construction Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Western Electrical Management Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . 42WesternOne Rentals & Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90Whitemud Ironworks Limited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Williams Scotsman of Canada, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta . . . . . . . . . 64WorleyParsonsCord Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

110 | Winter 2012

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Alberta Construction Magazine Winter 2012

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Transcript of Alberta Construction Magazine Winter 2012