Alberta Construction Magazine Nov/Dec 2009

INTO THE OPEN

THE NEXT WAVE

A TALE OF TWO BRIDGES

PAGE 22

PAGE 27

PAGE 30

NEW RETAIL PROJECTS AROUND ALBERTA

SAIT POLYTECHNIC’S TRADES AND TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX

EDMONTON AND CALGARY FOOTBRIDGES ARE DIFFERENT

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Despite a recession, Top Projects of 2009 shine

PLUS Uplifting experience: A look at cranes

PAGE 34

The company that

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Chaz Osburn

editor’s note

cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com

A

re we in recovery mode yet? If so, how long will it take? Will a recovery follow a “V” pattern, signalling robust growth, or will we fall into the “W” recovery where we have growth for a while and then fall back into recession?

These questions will likely persist for some time.

While some economists declared the recession over as early as the summer, it’s all but certain the painful recovery will drag well into 2010. We read about these so-called green spouts of recovery, but there are still some trouble areas.

Unemployment remains high, and those with the money are cautious about where to invest.

The recession has whacked Alberta’s economy hard, touching every industry.

Oil and gas. Construction. Yes, even publishing. Beginning next year, Alberta Construction Magazine will decrease the frequency of its print edition from six to four times a year. On the plus side, we’re working to revamp our website, albertaconstructionmagazine.com, to offer additional content as well as a digital edition of the print magazine.

As the recession moves towards a recovery, Alberta Construction Magazine, through an initiative called “Recession to Recovery,” will show you how others are dealing with the downturn and preparing for a rebound. Hopefully you’ll come away with practical ways to improve your operation at the same time.

With this issue we’re introducing a new columnist. His name is Tim Sweet, owner of Revolve Business Consulting Ltd. of Calgary.

Tim describes himself as a profit-producing expert employed by aggressive Alberta businesses seeking growth and market dominance. Leaders who want changes and improvements that are quick and successful hire Tim’s team of dedicated coaches, who each specialize in specific business areas. As a published author, his original theories remain required reading for business students across Canada.

Unlike other consultants who simply borrow ideas, Tim has a track record of creating customized solutions that produce substantial results. (Check out his website, revolveconsulting.com, to learn more.) We think his column couldn’t come at a better time—this period of transition.

Hopefully the topics Tim writes about will help you find the answers to some of the challenges you face.

At the beginning of the year I began my editor’s note by citing the ancient Chinese saying, “May you live in interesting times.” I’d like to end 2009 by amending it to, “May you live in uninteresting times.”

Coming next issue: Our annual Green Issue.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 3

President & CeO

Bill Whitelaw • bwhitelaw@junewarren-nickles.com

Publisher

Agnes Zalewski • azalewski@junewarren-nickles.com

assOCiate Publisher & editOr

Chaz Osburn • cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com

editOrial direCtOr

Stephen Marsters • smarsters@junewarren-nickles.com

features

editOrial Editorial Assistance Marisa Kurlovich, Kelley Stark • proofing@junewarren-nickles.com Contributors Godfrey Budd, Tricia Radison, Kelley Stark, Kevin Yuers Print, Prepress & Production Manager Publications Manager Publications Supervisor Lead, Creative Services

Creative

Michael Gaffney • mgaffney@junewarren-nickles.com Audrey Sprinkle • asprinkle@junewarren-nickles.com Rianne Stewart • rstewart@junewarren-nickles.com Tina Tomljenovic • ttomljenovic@junewarren-nickles.com Graphic Designer Cathlene Ozubko • cozubko @junewarren-nickles.com Creative Services Rachel Dash-Williams, Birdeen Jacobson, Alanna Staver • production@junewarren-nickles.com Contributing Photographers Aaron Parker, Joey Podlubny

sales Director of Sales Sales Manager – Magazines Senior Account Representative Account Managers

Rob Pentney • rpentney@junewarren-nickles.com Maurya Sokolon • msokolon@junewarren-nickles.com Della Gray • dgray@junewarren-nickles.com Michael Goodwin • mgoodwin@junewarren-nickles.com Bonnie Pigeon • bpigeon@junewarren-nickles.com Sales Administrator Craig Cosens • ccosens@junewarren-nickles.com Ad Traffic Coordinator – Magazines Elizabeth McLean • atc@junewarren-nickles.com

marketing and CirCulatiOn Senior Marketing Coordinator Alaina Dodge-Foulger • adodge@junewarren-nickles.com Marketing/Trade Show Coordinator Ryan Mischiek • rmischiek@junewarren-nickles.com Marketing Designer Cristian Ureta • cureta@junewarren-nickles.com

OFFiCes

Calgary – North: #300, 5735 - 7 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8V3 Tel: 403.265.3700 Fax: 403.265.3706 Toll Free: 1.888.563.2946 Calgary – Downtown: #300, 999 - 8 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 1N7 Tel: 403.204.3500 Fax: 403.245.8666 Toll Free: 1.800.387.2446 Edmonton: 6111 - 91 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6E 6V6 Tel: 780.944.9333 Fax: 780.944.9500 Toll Free: 1.800.563.2946

SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription rates: In Canada, 1-year $35 plus GST (6 issues), 2-year $55 plus GST (12 issues) Outside Canada, C$69 per year. Single copies $8 plus GST Subscription inquiries: Tel: 1.866.543.7888 Email: circulation@junewarren-nickles.com Alberta Construction Magazine is owned by JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group and is published bimonthly. ©2009 1062807 Glacier Media Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors to Alberta Construction Magazine may not represent the official views of the magazine. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for errors or omissions. Printed by PrintWest Postage Paid in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada If undeliverable return to: Circulation Department, 800, 12 Concorde Place, Toronto, ON M3C 4J2 Made In Canada GST Registration Number 826256554RT Printed in Canada ISSN 1499-6308 Publication Mail Agreement Number 40069240

4 | November/December 2009

COMMERCIAL

22

Into the open

New retail projects planned for the province won’t include mall makeovers any time soon

by Tricia Radison

INSTITUTIONAL

27

The next wave

SAIT Polytechnic’s new Trades and Technology Complex will go a long way to help labour shortage

by Kelley Stark

INFRASTRUCTURE

30

A tale of two bridges

Edmonton’s and Calgary’s multi-million-dollar footbridges cross rivers—but that’s where similarities end

by Tricia Radison

INdUSTRIAL

34

Uplifting experience

Advances in crane equipment and technology mean heavier loads can be lifted higher

by Godfrey Budd

BUILdING BLOCKS

83

Protecting shotcrete

There are ways to keep shotcrete structures from water damage

by Kevin Yuers

contents

Volume 29, Number 6 Published November/December 2009

22 COVER STORy

39

Look what you’ve done!

Even in a recession, Alberta’s top construction projects shine

Departments

27 30

9 21 67 75 77 81 87 89 92

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Nuts & Bolts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Around Canada � � � � People, Products & Projects � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � ACA Report � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � CCA Report NEW

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Business Briefing � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Safety Beat � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � The Legal Edge � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Time Capsule Alberta Construction Magazine | 5

contributors

KeVIn Yuers, who wrote the article on protecting shotcrete from water damage (page 83), is a veteran of the construction and renovation industries who just so happens to have spent most of his career in concrete waterproofing. Yuers is VP of The Kryton Group of Companies, which is based in neighbouring British Columbia. Kryton manufactures concrete waterproofing and related products and distributes them to the construction industry worldwide.

trICIa raDIsOn is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to Alberta Construction Magazine and other magazines published

by JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group. Radison is an avid reader and expert researcher. She lives in Calgary. In this issue she writes about commercial development as well as two different bridge projects in the province.

Calgary-based freelancer, GODfreY BuDD is a veteran writer, contributing many articles on western Canada’s energy industry and Alberta’s construction sector. He’s a regular contributor to Alberta Construction Magazine.

KeLLeY starK works in the Editorial Assistance department of JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group. She is fascinated by the construction projects she writes about, admiring the skill and talent of the people and companies who are responsible for turning abstract ideas into reality. She is a recent graduate of Grant MacEwan’s Professional Writing program.

w w w.ellisdon.com

Building extraordinary projects together.

It takes more than just steel and concrete to build something great. It takes experience, knowledge and most importantly, a great team of people.

So we’d like to take the time to thank all of those who were involved in some of the best projects we’ve worked on this year, including the University of Calgary EEEL Building, the Alberta Children’s Hospital, the Calgary International Airport expansion project and the Child Development Centre.

6 | November/December 2009

aarOn parKer, who photographed several photos in this issue, is interested in many different forms of communication. He began taking photos to gain another means for getting a point across.

And he says that it has been a learning process in which he has discovered that good photographs communicate far more than the moment in which they are taken.

THANK YOU! FOR SPONSORING THE 2009 5TH ANNUAL CALGARY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION’S EDUCATION “FUN”DRAISER GOLF TOURNAMENT CONSTRUCTOR LEVEL SPONSORS

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• Renfrew Insurance Ltd. • Rogers Insurance Ltd. • Rollison Plumbing & Heating Ltd. • Universal Flooring Systems Ltd. • Winwood Construction Ltd.

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nuts & bolts NEwS BRIEfS fOR ThE BUSy CONSTRUCTION PROfESSIONAL

PHOTO: JOEy PODLUBNy

Ross Grieve began with what is now PCL in 1969.

“OUTSTANDING CEO” GRIEVE STEPS DOwN AT PCL

By CHAZ OSBURN

One of the true titans of Canada’s construction industry, Ross Grieve, has stepped down as president and CEO of the PCL family of companies. he remains with the organization as executive chairman.

The company named Paul Douglas as the new president and CEO. (See the next issue for further details about Douglas.)

Grieve has been president and CEO of the PCL family of companies for the past 12 years. Not only did the Edmontonbased company become a construction powerhouse under Grieve’s leadership, but PCL also became one of the most soughtafter places to work in North America. “we are all grateful for the tremendous leadership Ross has given to the PCL family of companies,” said Peter Stalenhoef, president and COO of PCL’s heavy

Industrial division. “we’re delighted that he will be staying on with us as our chairman for many years to come.”

Just last month, Caldwell Partners International, Deloitte, the National Post, and CTV Inc. named Grieve their Outstanding CEO of the year for 2009.

“Ross’s track record…shows that he is an inspired leader who has truly earned the respect and loyalty of his colleagues, peers, and staff,” Caldwell chairman Douglas Caldwell said in an interview in the National Post.

The group singled out Grieve for tripling the size of the company and, between 2005 and 2008, producing five consecutive years of record revenue and earnings. (The Financial Post in November will print an exclusive interview with Grieve.)

Grieve began his career at PCL— known then as Poole Construction—as a project engineer in June 1969 in his hometown of winnipeg. he had just finished a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Manitoba.

Grieve learned about the business the old-fashioned way—by working his way up. Over the years he developed an in-depth understanding of construction processes.

Grieve was one of the original 25— and the youngest—of the management group that purchased Poole Construction from the Poole family in 1977. he was also part of the team responsible for implementing employee ownership under the new PCL company.

In addition to his engineering background, Grieve has an executive finance certificate from the harvard Business School. he is also a Gold Seal certified project manager through the Canadian Construction Association.

TABLE Of COntents Solar home about to have its day in the spotlight . . . . . . .

10 The end is near . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Go east, young man . . . . . . . . . . 12 Could fort hills be in the wings? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

12

Recession knocks wind out of country’s biggest wind farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

13 historic canal expands . . . . . . . 14 Edmonton International Airport’s new tower . . . . . . . . . .

15

worldskills Calgary: By the numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16

$550M reno for N.y. Landmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17

New precast modular system reduces on-site construction time . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

Alberta Construction Magazine | 9

nuts & bolts PHOTO: ALBERTA SOLAR DECATHALON PROJECT

The solar home under construction.

SOLAR HOME ABOUT TO HAVE ITS DAy IN ThE SPOTLIGhT A solar home built by a Calgary student-led team will be showcased in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympic winter Games. Team Alberta has received funding from federal western Economic Diversification Canada to transport the solar home—called SolAbode—to Vancouver following an appearance in washington, D.C., this fall.

The team includes more than 100 students, faculty, and staff from the

10 | November/December 2009

University of Calgary, SAIT Polytechnic, Mount Royal University, and the Alberta College of Art + Design, which worked on the project for more than two years. In June, Enmax Corp. joined as the title sponsor of the custom-built, 850 sq. ft home, which relies solely on solar energy for both heat and power.

The home’s design features a traditional western Canadian wooden post-and-beam

structure, while incorporating energyefficient solar panels to produce electricity. The exterior of the SolAbode features reclaimed barn wood and Rundle rock cladding from the Rockies, forming a banded pattern, echoed inside the home through a solar-heated hot water system integrated into a glazing unit. A southfacing deck and a rooftop patio are accessible from inside the home.

nuts & bolts

THE END IS NEAR There’s always a silver lining.

Case in point: RBC Economics recently came out with a report that, in a nutshell, says the Alberta economy is going through its roughest patch since 1982.

That’s not exactly a news flash. So what’s the silver lining?

RBC says rock-bottom activity levels in housing construction, oil and gas drilling, and other sectors should be easily surpassed next year. So look for the economic recovery then. RBC has revised its 2010 real gross domestic product growth rate projections for Alberta to three per cent from an earlier forecast of 2.9 per cent.

“Signs of a burgeoning recovery apparent elsewhere in the country have yet to show much progress in Alberta�” — Craig Wright, Senior VP and Chief Economist, RBC

RBC noted that Alberta’s economy still endures the effects of earlier slowdowns in oilsands megaprojects, low gas prices, and a sharp drop in residential construction— all factors that pulled down capital spending and employment. As a result, RBC has revised its real gross domestic product forecast for the year down to -2.8 per cent from the -2.5 per cent in the June outlook.

“Signs of a burgeoning recovery apparent elsewhere in the country have yet to show much progress in Alberta,” said Craig wright, senior VP and chief economist for RBC. The main theme of the RBC report is that, while the collective performance in Canada has largely unfolded as anticipated, recent developments on the provincial side indicate that the contraction in activity is more widespread than previously thought.

Bottom line: it looks like nine provinces will post negative growth in this year. RBC forecasts Manitoba as the sole province expected to show positive, if modest, growth this year.

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www.singletouch.com Alberta Construction Magazine | 11

nuts & bolts An artist rendering of what East Village could look like.

COULD FORT HILLS BE IN ThE wINGS?

PHOTO: CALGARy MUNICIPAL LAND CORP.

THE CANADIAN PRESS

GO EAST, yOUNG MAN Imagine a section of Calgary with colourful shops and memorable restaurants, awesome urban housing, and even a promenade along the beautiful Bow River for those who would rather walk than drive. welcome to East Village. Or rather the dream of East Village.

Now that Calgary Municipal Land Corp. has unveiled its highly anticipated master plan for this part of the city and completed much of the needed infrastructure work for the area, what’s needed next are investment dollars.

Then the construction work can begin. “we will be preparing for land sales and to partner with developers by January 2010,” says Chris Ollenberger, president and CEO of Calgary Municipal Land Corp. his organization is

12 | November/December 2009

managing East Village’s rejuvenation and development.

One element of the plan is a rather novel idea called “The Riff.” It’s a diagonal streetscape slicing through Calgary’s traditional city grid, “signalling a revolutionary change in direction for the East Village,” according to the corporation.

So-called character neighbourhoods include River’s Edge, which features a promenade along the river; Parkside, which contains boutique hotels and multi-family residences near fort Calgary Park; and the Crossing, which will represent the cultural heart of the urban village.

As many as 10,000 people could live in East Village by 2020.

The East Village master plan can be viewed at evexperience.com.

The delayed fort hills oilsands project could be developed at a smaller scale than previously conceived once operator Suncor Energy Inc. decides where to rank it on its list of priorities, says the head of UTS Energy Corp.

That’s significant given the slowdown apparent all year in the oilsands.

“The key question for that is: ‘where does fort hills fit in that portfolio?’

And obviously we’ll be working pretty closely with Suncor trying to understand where that is,” UTS CEO william Roach told an energy conference in Calgary in September.

Suncor acquired a 60 per cent working interest in fort hills when it merged with Petro-Canada. (UTS and Vancouverbased miner Teck Resources Ltd. evenly split the rest.)

“My plea on this one is give them some time,” Roach said.

A slide in Roach’s presentation showed that UTS expects Suncor to present a plan to the other fort hills partners toward the end of this year or beginning of next year.

Nearly a year ago, a decision on going ahead with the mining portion of fort hills was delayed after costs soared by nearly half to more than $21 billion.

Its accompanying upgrader, which would convert bitumen into synthetic crude oil, was shelved indefinitely.

Most recently the project has been conceived as going ahead without the upgrader, and with two production trains churning out 160,000 barrels of bitumen a day at a fraction of the original cost.

“The last words from [former PetroCanada CEO] Ron Brenneman prior to handing over the keys were: ‘It’s less than $10 billion,’” Roach said. “we’ve done a bunch of independent work on that and we think in today’s market, that will be around $8 billion,” of which UTS would be on the hook for $700 million to $800 million.

But Roach’s assessment is that a single production train of 80,000 barrels of bitumen per day would be a more likely outcome, which would mean UTS needs to shell out about $300 million.

nuts & bolts

RECESSION KNOCKS WIND OUT OF COUNTRy’S BIGGEST wIND fARM THE CANADIAN PRESS

Canada’s largest wind farm faces more construction delays because its original financial backer is broke, and national wind advocates say the recession has cramped the booming wind industry.

Babcock & Brown, the Australian investment firm that was financing the project, is being liquidated by creditors and has sold off its North American wind power division, including Manitoba’s project, to an American investment firm.

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Manitoba hydro president Bob Brennan says the sale has definitely slowed down the project.

Canadian wind Energy Association president Robert hornung says tight capital markets and the global recession have put a slight damper on what was expected to be an exceptional year for wind.

Canada’s second largest wind farm is Ontario’s wolfe Island farm, near Kingston.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 13

nuts & bolts PHOTO: PANAMA CANAL AUTHORITy

A steam shovel in operation during construction of the Panama Canal.

HISTORIC CANAL EXPANDS Built nearly a century ago, the Panama Canal still stands out as one of the true construction marvels of modern time.

As many as 30,000 people died during attempts to construct the 77 km canal. Over the years, literally thousands of ships have traversed the narrow land bridge that separates North America and South America, shaving off untold days

14 | November/December 2009

moving goods from one side of the world to the other. what you may not know is that the canal is undergoing another expansion.

The expansion, which will include a new set of locks, will allow for one additional lane of ship traffic. It will also enable the Panama Canal Authority to accommodate many of the longer, wider ships that

currently are unable to use the canal. The result will be that capacity of the canal will double.

If things go according to plan, it should be completed in 2014—100 years after the first ship passed through the canal. we haven’t seen a cost estimate for the project, but you can be sure the figure will have a lot of zeros.

nuts & bolts

ILLUSTRATIONS: COHOS EVAMy

It won’t be hard to miss Edmonton International Airport’s new control tower complex.

EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S NEw TOwER If you’ve flown in or out of Edmonton International Airport lately, you know that some major construction work is underway. It’s all part of Expansion 2012, a $1.1-billion project that is designed to accommodate the growing number of flights and passengers in and out of Alberta’s capital.

One of the most visible parts of the expansion will be an eye-catching new control tower complex. Cohos Evamy integratedesign is the architect. The tower is said to draw inspiration from wheat fields and snowdrifts—common scenes on the prairie landscape.

The airport’s current capacity is 5.5 million passengers annually. That is, however, about one million fewer than the number expected to pass through gates this year.

The airport expects that number to increase to nine million passengers by 2013.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 15

nuts & bolts

WORLDSKILLS CALGARY:

By ThE NUMBERS

You can build on our reputation.

If you spent any time at or know anyone who attended worldSkills Calgary in September, you may be interested in some final numbers:

151,589 Total attendance for the event, including opening and closing ceremonies.

8 Number of medals that Team Canada won, topping its previous record of six medals two years ago in Shizuoka, Japan.

13

We built our first building in 1971 and have completed more than 40 million square feet of design-build projects. Our record growth and expansion attest to another defining mark — the satisfied customer.

Number of Medallions for Excellence won by Canada. (These are awarded to competitors who scored 500 or more points out of a total possible 600.)

900 Number of competitors.

45

www.scottbuilders.com

Number of skills represented.

51

Take it inside.

Member countries or regions represented.

23

PHOTO: WORLDSKILLS

Number of medals won by Korea.

(Switzerland and Japan tied for second place, with 14 medals each.)

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16 | November/December 2009

Hard at work, trying to win a medal. for the past five years, worldSkills Calgary 2009 worked closely with industry, government, and business to plan and hold the event. The event helped draw attention not only to the labour shortage, but also to competency standards and education programs designed to motivate and encourage young adults to explore successful career options in skills, trades, and technologies.

nuts & bolts

$550M RENO fOR N.y. LANDMARK It’s arguably the most famous skyscraper in the world. Now the Empire State Building is undergoing a $550-million renovation.

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Art Deco lobby. That includes work to ceiling murals hidden by fluorescent lighting that was installed in the 1960s.

■ Special entrances and new traffic

flow to separate office tenants from tourist attractions. including the 86th and 102nd floors.

There will also be improved visitor queuing and retail areas on the 80th floor.

■ Energy-efficient retrofits. These

alone are expected to result in a 38 per cent energy savings with a three-year payback.

■ waterproofing the building’s

limestone facade.

Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners and project manager Jones Lang LaSalle are leading restorations.

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 17

nuts & bolts

NEW PRECAST MODULAR SYSTEM REDUCES ON-SITE CONSTRUCTION TIME

Nexcon’s thin shell composite precast.

Called the first of its kind in western Canada, a single family–unit built with a new and versatile precast panel wall and floor system from Nexcon Inc. is completing construction just east of Edmonton’s downtown business district.

The house will be the home of Nexcon’s director of business development for western Canada, Dave Chomik, and his family.

“Prospective clients wanted to see an example of our technology,” he says.

Although structural precast systems with single family–unit applications have been used in Europe for years, they are virtually unknown in North America. “The system has been adapted from technology first developed more than 15 years ago,” Chomik says. “we have improved it so that it conforms to current building codes.” The system is suitable for both multi-storey commercial and residential applications.

The company’s standard precast panels can have as little as two-inches thicknesses of concrete, and panels have embedded cold-formed steel studs that extrude from them. The patented design of the studs ensures that thermal bridging is sharply reduced. Chomik says this eliminates the need for an interior barrier wall that is often required for precast concrete envelopes.

18 | November/December 2009

RENdERING NEXCON INC.

BY GOdFREY BUdd

The studs, which use recycled steel, provide structural strength to the load bearing panels, with the result, says Chomik, that, “They use a relatively small amount of concrete per square foot of envelope.

This enables buildings that use this kind of system to qualify for [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] points.”

The envelope and floor panels are entirely modular, and, when erected, the exterior is completely finished. “whether stucco, brick, rock, or other architectural finishes, these are applied in the factory,”

Chomik says. Conventional flat or peaked roofs are then installed. On-site erection of floors and envelope can take as little as three or four days.

Standard finished walls, complete with insulation, are about eight inches deep.

The company offers a range of precast wall systems including double-faced sandwich panels, non-load-bearing cladding, and foundation walls.

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around canada

AROUND CANADA

$2B WInD prOJeCt SPINS TOWARdS REALITY

HARNESSING

A $2-billion offshore wind energy project in British Columbia has gotten a big financial push with an announcement that the haida Nation is taking a 40 per cent stake in the venture.

The Nova Scotia government has given its approval to a construction project that would harness the power of the Bay of Fundy’s dramatic tides and turn it into electricity.

THE BAY OF FUNDY’S

The project involves constructing wind turbines in hecate Strait, between the Queen Charlotte Islands/ haida Gwaii and Prince Rupert, B.C. This area has some of the strongest, most consistent winds in Canada, according to the project’s description.

The 396 Mw project will generate enough energy to provide electricity to 130,000 B.C. homes. It could also help the province reach its goal of becoming electricity self-sufficient by 2016. And the project will play a significant role in combating climate change. The proposed project will also create an estimated 200 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs for maintenance and operations.

The haida Nations’s haida Enterprise Corp. and NaiKun wind Energy Group Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding supporting the agreement this summer. Enmax is also a partner in the project.

MILLION

$

VALUE Of CONTRACT ThAT AECON wON TO BUILD A SOCIAL SCIENCE BUILDING AND RENOVATE VANIER hALL AT ThE UNIVERSITy Of OTTAwA

AWESOME POWER No cost estimate has been given.

NUMBERS 2 KNOW

SOURCES: Aecon Group Inc., Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., Government of Canada, Infrastructure Canada, Structal-Bridges

14,177

li ion l 2m

PRICE TAG fOR NEw CRUISE ShIP TERMINAL IN NANAIMO, B.C. ThE fEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS ARE EACh CONTRIBUTING $8.5 MILLION UNDER CANADA’S INfRASTRUCTURE STIMULUS fUND

$2

$72.4

million

79

A construction schedule has yet to be set.

Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau approved the Fundy project Sept. 1. It’s conditional that the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy be responsible for developing a comprehensive environmental effects monitoring program and establishing an environmental effects advisory committee.

Amount that the Canadian government has said it will invest in Biox Corp.’s biodiesel production plant in Hamilton, Ont.

NUMBER OF HOUSING STARTS THROUGHOUT CANADA IN AUGUST. THAT COMPARES TO 19,626 STARTS IN AUGUST 2008

232

Length, in metres, of what will become the new Dominion Bridge, located on Highway 132 in Lévis, Que. Structal-Bridges has won a $16.5-million contract to rebuild the bridge

Alberta Construction Magazine | 21

-

, r

commercial

open into the

New retail projects planned for the province won’t include mall makeovers any time soon

by Tricia Radison

A

s a burst of enclosed shopping mall construction winds down throughout Alberta, developers of new projects seem to be betting that mall rats are looking for a little fresh air. Large, open-air projects appear to be the newest trend in retail as developers look for a different way to lure fickle consumers.

“What’s been trying to happen in Calgary is what they call a lifestyle centre, which is a very upscale, outdoor, village-type centre,” says David Miner, principal at Cohos Evamy integratedesign in Calgary. “It’s a nice little street. Nice little shops. Trying to get back to the old mom and pop and the old city centre and the town square.”

Miner is working on Stampede Trail. Reportedly, the $170-million project will have 165,000 sq. ft of retail space combined with restaurants and office space in six buildings. The idea is to get people moving—and hopefully shopping—up and down the street.

Miner says these developments are nostalgic, giving shoppers a dose of the warm fuzzies.

“Most [shoppers] don’t understand the architecture and how things are pulled together,” he says. “They just know if they feel comfortable in a space.”

The desire to offer something new in retail is good news for the construction industry. Alberta’s large enclosed malls have undergone millions of dollars’ worth of renovations in the past few years. Many, like the $108-million expansion of Southgate Centre

in Edmonton and the $102-million redevelopment of Southcentre in Calgary, are finished or close to finished. Others, like the $275-million addition to Chinook in Calgary, are well underway.

According to Miner, it will be another 5 or 10 years before another round of facelifts is required. New construction of malls isn’t expected either. Although CrossIron Mills, Calgary’s $454-million megamall and the first enclosed mall built in the province in 20 years, has successfully opened, the challenges of this type of project combined with a recession-hit economy make it too risky for today’s developers.

“The open-air, power centre concepts have much less financial risk,” says Blair Forster, VP of development at Harvard Developments Inc. in Regina. “They can be phased much easier, which is the key component. You can do them in smaller chunks and expand over time as your project generates sales and generates desirability.”

Harvard has three urban village developments underway or in the planning stages, one in Regina and two in Alberta.

Already well known, Currents of Windermere in Edmonton is a $600-million, 1.3 million sq. ft residential, entertainment, and retail development with a 33-acre village component.

Originally, the village was designed to vertically integrate residential space with commercial and retail space. With parking at the rear and a town square in the heart of the village, the mixeduse buildings would contribute to a small town atmosphere.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 23

commercial CHANGE OF PLANS Plans have changed. Condominiums are no longer a hot commodity and fashion retailers are reducing their number of store openings.

“When you’ve got a vertically integrated site and you’ve got all of those uses in the site being tentative in making business decisions, you’re almost paralyzed on how quickly you can move that forward,” Forster says.

Construction of vertically integrated projects is also more complicated. A residential column grid must overlay a retail column grid, elevator cores have to be considered, and fire stairwells on the upper level can affect the footprint of the tenants on the main floor. Parking requirements are also different.

“The open-air, power centre concepts have much less financial risk�” — Blair Forster, VP of Development, Harvard Developments Inc� “The cost of construction is significantly greater, and you’re kind of held ransom to the marketplace where both uses need to be interested in proceeding at the same time at the same construction start date,” Forster says. “What we’re finding right now is that retail is interested but residential is in a standstill mode.”

To keep costs down, Harvard has limited vertical integration. Instead, the developer hopes to build in such a way that

condominium units can be added to some of the structures financially feasible.

The company is holding off on its new $750-million development in Calgary for the same reasons. The long-anticipated redevelopment of Eau Claire Market will be much like Currents of Windermere; development approvals have been received for 1.8 million sq. ft made up of 300,000 sq. ft of retail, 300,000 sq. ft of office space, two hotels, and residential property. While it waits for the right time, Harvard is working on securing retailers and hotels for the project.

Somewhat ironically, new projects like Eau Claire and Stampede Trail may avoid some of the challenges being experienced by developers whose projects were built during the busy years when construction costs were sky-high and whose tenants are feeling the sting of the recession.

“There are real interesting challenges happening right now, and the market is trying to find that adjustment spot of where rents need to be versus construction costs and how much risk owners can continue to take,” Miner says.

Miner and Forster are optimistic about the future of retail development in the province, believing there is room for more and that things will heat up again once credit becomes easier to obtain and the economy improves. Until then, there are small projects to keep industry busy.

Says Miner: “The B and C malls are changing hands, getting started up a little bit, little facelift[s]. That kind of work is ongoing.

Landlords have to spend money to try to make their place look better than the guy across the street to attract the tenants.”

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institutional

The next wave lex

mp o C gy o l o chn e T d T r a n w d a e s e n nic’s h c te

by Kelley Stark

long w ay

to help

labour shor

tage

y

Pol T I SA

will go a

SAIT Polytechnic’s Trades and Technology Complex should be finished in 2012.

A

$445-million project at SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary will play an important role in easing Alberta’s skilledlabour shortage.

Construction on the Trades and Technology Complex starts next March. When it’s finished, the complex should open up another 3,600 new training spaces to students.

The complex is badly needed.

“We turn away thousands of qualified applicants every fall because we do not have enough spaces,” says Carly McConachie, media relations coordinator, corporate communications at SAIT. Now that construction has the green light, SAIT expects the complex to “fulfill a very great and real need for the city and province.”

Recession or not, ensuring that adequate qualified skilled labour exists remains a problem for industry. It may get worse.

In the next decade thousands of baby boomers will retire.

ILLUSTRATION: SAIT

Eventually, the 700,000 sq. ft. complex will house the School of Construction, MacPhail School of Energy, School of Manufacturing and Automation, and Applied Research and Innovation Services.

Construction should be finished in 2012.

The 3,600 new spaces will allow for 6,000 additional apprentices, bringing the total to more than 17,000 a year. Occupations that will benefit most from training that will be held in the complex are plumbers, electricians, welders, carpenters, millwrights, steamfitters, sheet metal mechanics, and refrigeration mechanics.

There will also be spaces for 2,100 more certificate, diploma, and applied degree graduates, bringing the total to about 10,000 per year, according to SAIT. Technical career courses run out of the new building: petroleum engineering technology; architectural technology; engineering, design, and drafting technology; Alberta Construction Magazine | 27

ILLUSTRATIONS: SAIT

institutional

These two views of SAIT Polytechnic’s Trades and Technology Complex, designed

by Gibbs Gage Architects, show how windows will be used to create inviting areas for students.

civil engineering technology; electrical engineering technology; and power engineering technology.

The provincial government will pay $300 million of the cost.

The federal government will kick in $4 million. Private donations include $10 million from SAIT alumnus Keith MacPhail (president and CEO of Bonavista Petroleum Ltd.) and $5 million from Enerplus Resources Fund. The Renaissance Program within the Government of Alberta’s Access to the Future Fund will provide $9 million.

It will be hard to miss the complex along 16th Avenue.

“We’ve strived to capture learning opportunities in the design and have placed high priority on what we call ‘SAIT spaces,’” says Wade Gibbs, a partner with Gibbs Gage Architects. “These are inviting areas—often along windows with great views—where students can gather to study, socialize, or eat. Collaboration and integration is vital in the way SAIT delivers its training.”

When designing the complex, architects displayed some elements not normally visible in buildings. An example is the 28 | November/December 2009

escalator mechanisms. The architects felt that this strategy not only demonstrated the training provided at SAIT, but also could work as a teaching tool.

Says Gibbs, “[The] design…emulates elements of SAIT’s historic Heritage Hall and features wavy roofs that are intended to depict tradition upholding innovation. It’s a unique appearance that will become immediately identifiable with SAIT.” Heritage Hall was built in the early 1920s. It has a look and feel to other institutional buildings built at that time.

McConachie says that while the new complex “will be a contemporary design,” it will “incorporate elements from Heritage Hall such as brick, large windows, and gathering areas for students.”

Highlights will include the Enerplus Innovation Centre, which will be used for research and innovation. And also included is what’s being called an “Exploratorium.” This area will provide school-age children with direct experience in trades and technology training.

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infrastructure TOP PHOTO: Calgary’s Peace Bridge ILLUSTRATION: © SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

BOTTOM PHOTO: Fort Edmonton Footbridge PHOTO: AARON PARKER

E

dmonton and Calgary are each building bridges.

Okay, so that in and of itself isn’t newsworthy. But what’s interesting is that both the bridges we’re talking about happen to be footbridges. Each ring in at just under $25 million and are designed to capture attention.

But that’s where the similarities between Edmonton’s $23-million Fort Edmonton Footbridge and Calgary’s $24.35-million Peace Bridge end.

“The process is different, the outcome is different, the reaction is different,” says Mac Logan, director of Transportation Infrastructure for the City of Calgary.

Peace Bridge Calgary’s project is certainly the more contentious of the two. Logan blames the storm of controversy on unlucky timing. “The fact that we went to an external architect and that we sole-sourced it hit at a time when [the local industry’s] workloads were shrinking and they raised the issue. That brought it to the attention of the public. The public then looked at it and said, ‘Do we actually need this piece of infrastructure?’”

But architect Santiago Calatrava’s solution to the city’s challenging criteria, Logan says, is one of the best pieces of structural engineering he’s seen in Calgary and it brings new expertise to the city that local industry can build on in the future.

The steel that will form the actual structure is now the biggest challenge for the Transportation Infrastructure office.

“One of the most elegant elements of the design is how it transfers the load of the bridge into the ground,” Logan says, explaining that the top of the 130 m, singlespan bridge is under compression. The compressive load spirals through the helix of steel that makes up the bridge’s frame to the outer edges, where it is then shifted 90 degrees by a technically complicated piece of steel and transferred through foundations into the ground.

30 | November/December 2009

The steel must be perfectly crafted for the bridge to work.

“We did take an uncommon step in this tendering process to prequalify the key folks,” Logan says. Local firms were able to demonstrate the skills required in erection and glass glazing, “but the steel was definitely one that was harder to get in Canada than any other skill set.”

If possible, Transportation Infrastructure will avoid encroachments in the Bow River, simplifying environmental approvals. Calatrava recommends building the bridge out of premanufactured components on the south riverbank and pushing it off a launch across the river as it’s being constructed. If the prime contractor agrees to the process, two cranes on the north bank will support the bridge until it reaches the bank and can be set on the north foundation.

“It will minimize the amount of time that we’re actually working directly over top of the river, and you can do your welding in a controllable environment,” Logan says.

At press time, a prime contractor had not yet been selected.

FORT EDMONTON FOOTBRIDGE Set in the capital city’s river valley and spanning the North Saskatchewan River, the Fort Edmonton Footbridge is one of the few suspension bridges in the province.

The design reproduces the awe inspired by nature. “It’s all geometry-driven and there are quite a few pieces to put together to

infrastructure

mu lti-m Edm onto illio n n d but olla ’s and tha t’s w r footb Calgar ri y her e si dges c ’s mil ross arit riv ies end ers—

A ta le two of brid ges

by T rici aR a d is on

make it all happen,” says Mike Rozendaal, the project manager for general contractor Alberco Construction Ltd. of St. Albert.

“I think that a person may look at this bridge and appreciate all the pieces that went together.”

Although Alberco has worked on more than 300 bridges and overpasses in the province, this is its first suspension bridge.

“All the pieces have to come together with very tight tolerances to make sure the towers remain straight,” says Rozendaal, illustrating the difficulty of the work.

Precast deck slabs are supported by two main support cables, which are suspended

from the two towers in the river. One hundred and forty four vertical suspender wires hang from the main support cables, hooking into and supporting the 72 precast deck segments, which are then bolted and grouted together.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 31

infrastructure “The tower cap that supports the main cables has about 60 cubic metres of concrete in it and it’s about 30 metres above the water level,” Rozendaal says. “We had to come up with a forming system that would hang off of these steel columns that were erected on top of the pier structure and then pour the concrete up there without anything moving.”

About 1,800 cu. m of concrete went into the abutment structures and piers.

Environmental protection is important, with the bridge having a single span of 138 m rather than several shorter spans, reducing the number of piers. The piers were constructed within earth berms made of engineer-specified, tested, and approved clay that would not leach into the water.

“The whole berm installation, including materials, was pretty involved to minimize the environmental impact,” says Bruce Moisey, Alberco’s VP. The Fort Edmonton Footbridge should be fully complete by the middle of 2010.

Calgary’s Peace Bridge is expected to be open to the public in the fall of 2010.

ABOUT tHe tWO BrIDGes

FOrt edmOntOn bridge

PeaCe bridge

■

280 m long

■

■

Two viewing platforms with seating at pier locations

6.2 m wide pathway that separates pedestrians and wheeled traffic

■

Thought to be the second longest suspension bridge in Alberta

Expected to serve 1.3 million people per year

■

Intended to add to Edmonton’s trail system and improve access to the river valley

Intended to promote sustainability, encouraging people to walk or bike in and out of the core

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industrial

Uplifting 34 | November/December 2009

industrial

R

ecent exponential growth, new technologies, and, until last year, the fast evolving trends in Alberta’s construction sector have significantly re-shaped the province’s crane supply industry over the last decade. The biggest player in this game-change, there can be little doubt, was the oilsands construction boom that took off in 2001 and screeched to a halt late last year.

When Bob van Engelen, VP operations at Northern Crane Services, moved to Canada from the Netherlands in 1998, there were 22 Liebherr all-terrain (AT) telescopic cranes in the country. Today, he says, there are around 400. About three-quarters of those are in Alberta.

“Of this 75 per cent, probably 50 per cent are in the Fort McMurray region doing something that’s related to the oilsands,” says Barry Olsen, branch manager with Liebherr Canada Ltd. at the company’s Spruce Grove facility.

Making sure you have the right crane really comes down to the job you have in mind. In the case of the telescopic cranes, better hydraulic technology, new software applications, and today’s high-powered computing ability have expanded the horizons for the sector. Their compactness for moving and their mobility, combined with changing processes in the construction industry, has made telescopics the cranes of choice for a widening number of project applications.

Probably the biggest telescopic crane in the world is the LTM 11200–9.1 from Liebherr. The LTM in the name stands for Liebherr telescopic mobile, which has a combined boom and lattice jib height of 226 m—741 ft—when fully extended. That’s slightly higher than the 53-storey west tower of Calgary’s Petro-Canada Centre, which, at 706 ft, is currently the city’s tallest building.

The first unit for North America had been slated for work in Alberta, but, after landing at the port of Halifax earlier this year,

it was shipped to the southern United States, where it is being used for wind tower construction.

It is the first of its kind with a 100 m live boom, van Engelen says.

“Before that, the largest was 84 m,” he says. “A few years ago, you could do 100 m mechanically, but you did not have the computer processing technology to let you know the limit and control it.”

Like its smaller AT telescopic counterparts, the LTM 11200– 9.1 is truck-mounted with rubber tires, so it can travel on the highway or operate off road with minimal ground disturbance.

Most AT telescopics, however, have fewer axles than the nine on the LTM 11200–9.1.

Need for speed “The advantage of the AT telescopics is that they can get to the job site fast, and do the job,” van Engelen says. “This is useful, especially if you just need it for a short time.”

While the oilsands have driven much of the demand in Alberta, van Engelen says that telescopics are also being used more widely in commercial, residential, and institutional construction.

“They are also getting lots of use for parkades, installing bridge girders, plant equipment, and coal mining equipment,” he says.

Telescopics are also being used for adding or replacing mechanical components on roofs or the top floors of high-rises.

More use of pre-cast concrete components and the increased role of modular and pre-fab construction practices also make telescopics the crane of choice more often today, Olsen says. “People want a single product with flexibility and more applications,” he says.

Their popularity is likely reflected in the fact that about half of the 120-unit fleet at Northern Crane are telescopics. Besides ATs, the company’s other telescopics include rough terrain, boom truck, carry deck, and hydraulic truck cranes.

experience Advances in crane equipment and technology mean heavier loads can be lifted higher

by Godfrey Budd

Alberta Construction Magazine | 35

industrial Despite their growing popularity and number of applications, the level of engineering required for efficient, safe, and reliable machines means that the number of telescopic crane manufacturers worldwide “can be counted on the fingers of two hands,” van Engelen says.

Axle weight restrictions and regulations across North America present something of a challenge, however, when it comes to the larger AT and hydraulic truck cranes. For most of Europe, 12,000 kg per axle is the permitted upper limit. But, in North America, weight limits are set by provinces and states—and vary from one to another. During winter in Alberta, limits are about 9,000 kg per axle, van Engelen says.

Crawlers and gantries Of course, there are other types of cranes, and they too have been undergoing something of a transformation in the 21st century.

One example is the traditional lattice boom crawler crane, a stalwart of many industrial construction sites.

“The new crawlers come with hydraulics, instead of mechanical gears,” van Engelen says. “ We first acquired them around 2000. It’s a lattice boom, so it can move with a load, but it’s driven by hydraulics, not belts, chains, gears, and mechanical clutches.”

Gantry cranes have also drawn a lot of interest in recent years.

Pre-cast concrete, industrial fabrication, and module yards were among the main drivers.

“Modules were a big part of our business, but that has tapered off drastically,” says Mike Margetts, operations manager at Crane & Rig Inc. “But the pre-cast sector has held its own.”

Their stability, efficiency, and ability to turn on a dime make gantries a natural for large, but sometimes cluttered yards.

Improved safety is one of the draws of gantries. They straddle a load, unlike boom cranes, so the tipping risk is virtually eliminated. Units have both four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering. A gantry crane with a crew of three can do the work of two rough terrain cranes with a crew of six or seven, including operators. The firm’s units from Shuttlelift range widely in capacity, but the most popular is the ISL 70, Margetts says. It has a lifting capacity of 70 tons and recently replaced a 50-ton unit as the most widely sought after.

The Shuttlelifts typically undergo some customization before they are shipped to clients. Mark Davis, marketing and sales manager at Crane & Rig, says two units recently went into service handling large oil storage tanks—after some customization.

The innovations will continue, but, on many large commercial and high-rise residential projects, traditional hammerhead and luffing cranes (that’s where the crane boom is hinged to a frame with a winch operating the boom through a pulley tackle) continue to hold sway. Choosing the right crane boils down to a few main factors.

“It comes down to loads, the distance from the mast, how fast it will do the job,” says Frank Crawford, a project manager with EllisDon. Oh, and one other important factor, Crawford says: “And which is the most available.”

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Even in a recession, Alberta’s top construction projects shine of you may already know this, but it bears repeating.

M any Construction is one of this country’s biggest industries.

The Construction Sector Council estimates that 1 in 16 workers employed in Canada earns a living from construction. Construction workers are involved in the installation, repair, or renovation of more than $150 billion of work annually, according to the council. And construction accounts for about 12 per cent of Canada’s gross domestic product.

Alberta’s often been called the economic engine of Canada.

That wouldn’t be possible without our industry. While it’s true that the industry has taken a hit over the past year because of the recession, there’s ample evidence that great things continue to happen. And yes, while those multi-million-dollar projects still manage to turn heads, there are plenty of smaller ones that are impressive in their own right.

For proof, check out the next 26 pages. Here you’ll find our annual Top Projects winners and runners up in the commercial, civil, industrial, and institutional sectors.

These projects made our eighth annual list because of their design functionality and appearance, construction process (on time, on budget, innovative tools or building methods, etc.), use of unique or innovative construction materials, project delivery method, and/or any other unique features that made the project stand out.

Much has changed over the past year. We wish we could tell you that 2010 will be a lot better, but uncertainty continues to dominate headlines—and conversations.

Still, as these projects show, there are rays of brightness even in gloomy times. ■

Alberta Construction Magazine | 39

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These interior and exterior views give you an idea of the size of the 1.4 million sq. ft. CrossIron Mills shopping centre.

CrossIron Mills and Southgate expansion T

wo of the largest commercial retail construction projects in western Canada of late—CrossIron Mills shopping centre in Balzak and the Southgate Shopping Centre expansion in Edmonton—tie for this year’s Top Project in the Commercial category.

A source of excitement since Ivanhoe Cambridge announced it, CrossIron Mills shopping centre, valued at around $450 million, has drawn more than a million visitors since its mid-August opening.

The 1.4 million sq. ft mall is the first Mills project in western Canada. The Mills Corp. in the U.S developed the Mills concept. It combines retail with entertainment to create buildings that offer much more than shopping.

The concept also combines the best of traditional enclosed malls with the best of power centres. The mall boasts 17 anchor tenants with more than 40 | November/December 2009

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PCL's 51,000 sq. ft Southgate addition has a decidingly urban feel.

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court, parking space, and loading docks. The structure is reinforced concrete. PCL says about 21,000 sq. ft of the existing part of the mall—which remained open during the two years of construction—was changed to accommodate the expansion.

The expansion features 155,000 sq. ft on the ground level and two levels of parking directly above.

The new west exterior incorporates the existing brick with metal cladding and glazing to give Southgate a decidedly urban feel. That dovetails with the upscale look of the interior, which has become home to a number of new high-end retailers such as Coach.

The addition officially opened Aug. 5. While largely complete, the existing food court on the north end of the building is being converted into additional retail space. PCL says that work should wrap up early next year. ■

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20,000 sq. ft each. Many of the retailers have their own exterior entrances as well as interior entrances.

In other firsts, CrossIron Mills is the first enclosed mall built by Ivanhoe Cambridge since 1990.

Bob Hildenbrandt, VP of Ledcor Construction Ltd. in Calgary, says construction came in on budget and schedule in spite of a delay related to water service.

Most of the mall is open. An entertainment wing is scheduled to open next summer.

Major subcontractors include Western Electrical, DCM Mechanical, Collins Industries Ltd., and Skyline Drywall.

The other notable retail construction project completed in Alberta this year is the $100 million-plus Southgate expansion. Contractor PCL says the structure was completed about six months ahead of schedule.

The main 510,000 sq. ft addition contains more space for commercial outlets as well as a new food

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Construction on the expansion at Heritage Park began in 2006.

Heritage Park Historical Village expansion C

algary’s Heritage Park Historical Village takes visitors back on a time journey, spanning from the 1950s back to the 1860s, and captures the early settlement of sestern Canada with costumed interpreters, historic buildings, and working antiques and artifacts.

During the park’s recent $50-million expansion, Dominion Construction Co. Inc., the construction manager, oversaw the construction while the park remained fully operational. Not only did Dominion successfully manage safety and public access concerns,

42 | November/December 2009

the construction manger also ensured noise didn’t interfere with visitors’ experiences at the park.

The scope of construction included an automotive storage garage in the lower level and complete parking and site upgrade for 1,300 stalls. With new buildings designed by Gowling and Gibb Architects, construction began in September 2006 on the infrastructure upgrade and the site redevelopment, including Gasoline Alley Transportation Exhibit Hall, Heritage Block Administration and Retail Building, and ancillary support buildings. ■

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 43

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Bass Pro Shops World Sport Store 150,000 sq. ft, the Bass Pro Shops A tWorld Sport Store would be impres-

sive no matter where it was built.

While technically a part of CrossIron Mills, this project is so different it cannot be ignored. First, it is the largest outdoor sports megastore of its kind in Canada— and that’s no fish tale. It’s also Bass Pro Shop’s second Canada location and greatly overshadows its predecessor at Vaughan Mills shopping centre in Toronto.

Man-Shield Construction Inc. began construction on the $32.7-million store in July 2007 and completed the project for

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It's been hard to find a parking spot at Bass Pro Shops' huge new store in Balzac, which at 150,000 sq. ft is so big it even includes a 76,000-litre aquarium.

the official opening in April—four months before CrossIron Mills itself. That was particularly challenging given that the project underwent “ever changing scope” to meet the client’s evolving vision, according to Man-Shield.

With a heavy emphasis placed on stone and mortar to give it a rustic look, the store features biologically correct stampings and printing of animal tracks in the concrete.

There are areas of the store where shoppers may actually forget they’re not outside in the brush—including a 76,000-litre aquarium that features fish native to Canada. ■

Alberta Construction Magazine | 45

PHOTO: GRAHAM GROUP

Keephills 3 Power Plant

46 | November/December 2009

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he $1.8-billion, 450 MW Keephills 3 Power Plant, under construction west of Edmonton, is the first coal-fired generating plant in five years, a sibling to the existing Keephills operation and the product of a joint venture partnership between TransAlta and Capital Power, formerly Epcor.

Keephills 3 will provide much-needed power to our growing province. It’s also been providing muchneeded work in a slow economy.

“It’s being constructed by probably 80 per cent Edmonton-area people and involvement from contractors from the local area is probably about

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Keephills 3 during construction.

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80 per cent as well,” says Cecil Dawe, director of construction—industrial, Graham Industrial Services Ltd. in Edmonton.

Mike Long, spokesman for Capital Power, says that when the project started, labour wasn’t as readily available as it is today and Keephills 3 offered work close to home.

The massive project involves the construction of a number of facilities, including a water treatment plant, boiler house, fly ash silo, turbine hall, cooling tower, coal plant, cooling water pump house, and control building.

Graham has been on the job since February 2007, providing construction management, earthworks, underground services, architectural finishes, and structural concrete foundations.

Approximately 2 km of underground cooling water lines and about 4 km of underground piping for utilities were installed and between 500,000 and 700,000 cu. m of dirt moved.

About 40,000 cu. m of structural concrete was required to build foundations big enough to handle the equipment required by a coal-fired generating station. Graham designed and developed an on-site batching facility as well as an ice-making facility to provide 40 tonnes of ice each day. The ice was used to keep the temperature of the concrete down for the many large pours required.

As of fall 2009, Long reports that cladding was going onto many of the buildings, while interior work is ongoing.

Other parties bringing their expertise to power the province include Colt WorleyParsons as well as structural steel supplier Waiward Steel Fabricators Ltd.; mechanical contractor Melloy Industrial Services, a PCL company; electrical contractor Chemco; and Alstom, which took care of the boiler work. ■

Alberta Construction Magazine | 47

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The Spy Hill plant is built on a mined portion of Inland's gravel pit.

Inland-Spy Hill Pipe Plant of a floating slab that’s then compacted by dropping a 30-tonne weight from a crane eight times.

The nearby Spy Hill Landfill also posed a problem.

To prevent methane from seeping into the building, a vapour management system consisting of an impermeable membrane and pipe network was installed.

To save water, the storm pond is connected to a lower pond where water is stored for use in Inland’s processing plant.

The plant was built by Cana. ■

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he Inland-Spy Hill Pipe Plant’s fully automated 84,000 sq. ft concrete pipe plant is notable for being the first of its kind in western Canada as well as for being built on some potentially shaky ground.

The single-storey building is on a mined portion of Inland’s gravel pit, a situation that challenged industrial site developer, Idea Group.

About 30 m of material had been replaced after mining without compaction. The solution was dynamic compaction, a process involving the creation

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Remanufacturing of Edmonton remanufactures O EM engine and powertrain components for the railway,

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natural gas, and diesel sectors. The company is a stickler for cleanliness. Dust and dirt in the engines and filters can get into the lubrication system and cause products to fail.

Not an ideal situation for a major construction project. Although the 50,420 sq. ft addition to the building was constructed outside the facility, general contractor Scott Builders Inc. in Edmonton had to

make an 18 m wide by 10 m high opening between the two areas to allow for the movement of a 40-tonne crane.

To keep dust, dirt, and debris from entering the operational part of the building, a double tarp system was erected in the opening. Indirect heaters then pumped air between the two tarps, creating an air barrier.

J Ochman Design Ltd. acted as client’s consultant and did preliminary architecture for the project while Barr Ryder Architects did the design. ■

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OEM Remanufacturing addition

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PHOTO: AARON PARKER

Art Gallery of Alberta L

ove it or hate it, there’s no denying the originality of the Art Gallery of Alberta. Designed by Randall Stout Architects, Inc. of Los Angeles, the $88-million, steel and glass structure consists of 85,000 sq. ft of gallery, public, and classroom space, including a 5,000 sq. ft atrium.

It’s a structure with panache, with a striking stainless steel ribbon winding endlessly in and out of the building. All that steel and glass were a challenge, even for experts like Empire Iron Works Ltd. “You have to make sure all the members are in the right place to ensure none poke out of the skin,” explains Thorsten Gaul, VP, Empire Iron Works in 52 | November/December 2009

Edmonton. Empire used electronic data from the architect with Empire’s software program to digitally define the locations.

This was reportedly the f irst project in Edmonton to be completed without any paper drawings. All data was generated and transmitted electronically, posing a learning curve for construction management contractor Ledcor Construction Ltd. and the subtrades. However, it also helped the team avoid problems virtually rather than having to fix them in the physical world, and made it easier to construct a facility requiring things like climate control systems.

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Using electronic data also allowed for easy communication between parties. Structural, mechanical, and electrical engineers and trade contractors hailed from Canada and the United States, but despite their locations, all were able to see the complex geometry of the building.

BPTEC-DNW Engineering Ltd. in Edmonton and DeSimone Consulting Engineers of San Francisco provided structural engineering while IBE Consulting Engineers Inc. of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Stantec Consulting in Edmonton did the mechanical.

Stantec was also the Canadian consultant for electrical engineering, provided by Lam Partners Inc. in Massachusetts. ■

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Says Bob Walker, VP of Ledcor Construction in Edmonton: “When you use this program, the computer will tell you if there are conflicts between the lights and the duct work and the air diffusers and the sprinkler heads. In the traditional drawings you just lay one drawing over another and hope that there’s no conflicts.”

Using electronic data is controversial among architects, raising the question of who is responsible for accuracy. The precision accuracy of construction on this project was exciting for everyone involved. Ledcor now uses the Building Information Modelling software Rhinoceros 3D, and this project will be used to train NAIT and University of Alberta students.

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The $88-million Art Gallery of Alberta will open in January 2010.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 53

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made especially colourful to provide a calming and a psychologically uplifting experience for both the children and the families.

The building is filled with numerous games and activity rooms to keep the children occupied and happy. There is also an exterior area where families can enjoy a barbecue. The exterior contains a mock lighthouse (playhouse) that is directly accessible for the children from the main and second level of the building. ■

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he $9.8-million Rotary/Flames House in Calgary has the distinction of being the first children’s hospice in Alberta. Designed by Graham Edmunds Cartier Architecture with construction by EllisDon, the hospice that will serve families from southern Alberta who are caring for a child with a progressive or life-threatening illness.

The 23,000 sq. ft three-level concrete and wood structure includes interior and exterior details and finishes that were carefully designed, detailed, and

The Rotary/Flames House.

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of concrete slabs and blocks, which were later crushed and recycled into the new building development.

The modern new building is brightly lit with plenty of open spaces.

Key elements include more than 200 under-slab service ports in each of the building’s large halls.

Interconnected through underground piping, they can be used to service various kiosks during trade show setups. As well, operable walls in the large halls—two of them are more than 70 m in length— create flexibility throughout the facility space. ■

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f you haven’t been to the Northlands Agricom site in Edmonton lately, get ready for a big change. In its place you’ll find the new Edmonton Expo Centre.

Although it won’t officially open until December, already the new centre is being billed as the premier convention and trade show venue in western Canada.

To make the $47.7-million, 31,587 sq. m expansion and renovation of the former Agricom a reality, Clark Builders’ project team had to make extensive changes to the former site, including the demolition of Northlands’ Sportex. That itself provided approximately 6,000 tonnes

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The Edmonton Expo Centre officially opens in December.

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PHOTO: JOEY PODLUBNY

Northeast Stoney Trail Stoney Trail, a 21 km section of N ortheast Calgary’s long-awaited ring road, wraps up this

year after about 31 months of construction.

One of Alberta’s innovative public-private partnership transportation (P3) infrastructure projects, the fixed-price, $650-million stretch of road has already received the 2009 Minister’s Award of Excellence for Process Innovation.

The award recognized Aecom’s solution to the permitting process and stormwater management design necessary to protect wetlands in the area.

Aecom, lead designer for the design-build team Stoney Trail Constructors, a joint venture led by 58 | November/December 2009

Flatiron Constructors Corp. and including partners Graham Construction & Engineering and Parsons Transportation Group, developed a unique partnership among all stakeholders.

A peer audit process that included members of Alberta Environment, Alberta Transportation, and the City of Calgary helped develop risk analyses, and reviewed drainage plan models.

Thanks to the audit and the early involvement of all stakeholders, review processes were shortened and the resulting drainage plan met the requirements for wetland compensation as well as those of the municipality.

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signalized intersection. The Alberta government chose a P3 delivery model to get the roadway built as quickly as possible for the best price.

“What stands out is the ability of the contractor to innovate and improvise without delaying the project,” says Trent Bancarz, spokesman for Alberta Transportation. Design changes such as an alteration to the 16th Avenue interchange were made during construction and handled without getting off schedule.

Concludes Bancarz: “This ability to innovate, and the flexibility afforded by the P3 procurement process, are reasons why the P3 model is a good way to build largescale projects.” ■

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By involving the stakeholders in determining wetland compensation and drainage design, Aecom shortened timelines, making scheduling and cost estimation easier. Approval of the concepts and design was also obtained throughout the development stage, allowing wetland compensation approvals to be provided on site, a first for Alberta’s P3 projects. Ultimately, the innovative solution saved a year of construction because drainage controls could be installed earlier than would have been possible otherwise.

Northeast Stoney Trail consists of four- and sixlane sections of freeway, six interchanges, two new railway bridges, two existing railway bridges, and one

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Construction of Calgary's Northeast Stoney Trail in its early phase.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 59

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100-megalitre-per-day (that’s 100 million litres, or the equivalent of 40 Olympic swimming pools) facility designed to expand to up to 700 megalitres per day while having a minimal impact on the environment.

The City of Calgary’s vision for the centre included protection of the Bow River, integrating the building into the landscape, and setting a standard for effluent quality. Prime consultant CH2M Hill, working with subconsultants Stantec Consulting Ltd, Aecom, and Graham Edmunds Cartier Architecture, took an integrated approach

to sustainability, balancing stakeholder interests, aesthetics, economics, and environmental design to create a world-class facility.

In February, the Operations, Maintenance, and Administration building at Pine Creek was certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold. While many things were done to achieve the certification, the reclamation of a portion of the treated effluent normally discharged into the Bow River is one of the more innovative elements of the project. Reclaimed effluent is used to irrigate a nearby golf course and a tree nursery, and provides non-potable water for the plant. ■

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to grow with the city, Calgary’s $463-million B uilt Pine Creek Water Management Centre is a

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 61

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40,000 sq. ft aquatic and fitness centre B eaumont’s is a state-of-the-art facility with all the expected

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bells and whistles—and one big surprise.

The centre includes two saltwater pools, a hot tub, sauna, waterslide, steam room, dance studio, and a 10,000 sq. ft fitness centre. The pool areas and locker rooms are brightly painted, welcoming spaces.

Outside, the exterior masonry walls were overlaid with steel studs, spray insulation, plywood, and a sand-cement stucco system.

The surprise is the relatively low price tag of $12 million.

“We went back to the basics instead of using highend materials,” explains Gary Greenough, president of general contractor LC Greenough Construction Ltd. in Edmonton. Back to basics didn’t detract from results. The S&D Aqua-Fit Centre is not only an attractive recreation addition to Beaumont, it was made even more attractive by costing just $300 per sq. ft when similar facilities cost $400 to $600 per sq. ft. ■

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2009 Top Project nominees

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Bankers Court Jamieson Place Holt Renfrew (Fit-Out) WestJet corporate headquarters CrossIron Mills Steels Industrial Products Ltd. building Smart Technologies headquarters Southgate Shopping Centre expansion Palliser South Professional Building and Office Tower Centennial Place, Phase 1 BMO Centre at Calgary Exhibition & Stampede Park expansion Heritage Park Historical Village expansion Bass Pro Shops Loblaws Superstore (Edmonton) AMA Office Building (Edmonton) Wye Road Crossing British Petroleum Geophysical Building Commerce South Office Park Southgate Audi Albi Homes Ltd. building Icon Omega Tower-Phase 1 Inland Spy Hill Pipe Plant OEM Remanufacturing addition Weldco Heavy Industries/Fort McMurray/ Clark Builders Keephills 3 Power Plant

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ICON Congratulations Northlands on the Edmonton Expostion Centre ~ from your Mechanical Contractor of Choice

ICON INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTORS LTD. 12849-141 St., Edmonton, AB T5L 4N1 Ph: (780) 455-2299 | Fx: (780) 455-2448

Art Gallery of Alberta Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre Rotary/Flames House UA Local 488 Education Building Red Deer College Building Communities Through Learning, Component 1 Rockyview General Hospital South expansion University of Calgary Hotel Alma/Global Village Student Residence University of Calgary Clinical Skills Building Genesis Wellness Centre—expansion & renovation Crop Diversification Centre project Brooks Centennial Arena SAIT Polytechnic Parking Garage Edmonton Expo Centre (Northlands) Jubilee Car Park Calgary Centre for Innovative Technology/ University of Calgary Maude Clifford School Northeast Stoney Trail project Wesley Creek to Meikle transmission line foundation (Peace River area) Edmonton International Airport temporary jetways South Boundary Road project Materials Recovery Facility S&D Aqua-Fit Centre Integrated Process and Transfer Facility Pine Creek Water Management Centre Calgary Stampede-Back of House tunnel and bridge Cold Lake High School

Celebrating

great work

Great building comes from the hard-working people of Graham often achieving the extraordinary. Our building, like our company, stands the test of time.

Congratulations to the Keephills 3 Power Plant and Pine Creek Water Management Centre teams on achieving Alberta Construction’s Top Projects.

Building your vision.

COMMITMENT | INTEGRITY | RELIABILITY

www.graham.ca

Alberta Construction Magazine | 65

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TABLE Of COntents Sleeker and slimmer .................................................. 68

Suck up dust fast ......................................................... 69 Chemco rolls out Singletouch technology ...... 70 Give falls the slip.......................................................... 70

A win for water centre .............................................. 71

wide area coverage ................................................... 72 former ambassador on Stantec board ............. 72 2009 symposium approaches .............................. 72

people, products

& projects

PHOTO: CANADA LANDS COMPANy

EXPANDED OPTIONS FOR MAC USERS

The Village at Griesbach.

SMART AND GREEN The Village at Griesbach real estate development project in Edmonton has been recognized for its combination of smart growth, new urbanism, and green building.

The project has received a Stage 2 LEED ND (short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Neighbourhood Development) Gold certification. It becomes the first

project in Edmonton to receive the designation.

The Village at Griesbach is on the site of a former Canadian forces Base in Edmonton, which Canada Lands Company CLC Ltd. purchased in 2003 from the Department of National Defence. when the project is completed, as many as 13,000 people will live and work there.

LUNCH AND LEARN Two speakers at upcoming monthly meetings for Sustainable Industrial Development for the 21st Century will talk about how simple solutions to nagging problems can be green and cost-effective.

Marc LaBerge, leader, facilities construction for Devon Canada Corp., will speak Nov. 3 on innovative pipelining strategies. It’s an idea that originated with Alberta Environment to improve landowner relations, mitigate pipelining risk, conserve soil, reduce carbon footprint, and improve liability management.

On Dec. 1, Barry Lester, a professional engineer who is the director of whitemud Resources Inc., will speak on the challenges Barry Lester that whitemud Resources has embraced. whitemud Resources has developed a world-class kaolin deposit in southern Saskatchewan to manufacture metakaolin, a performance-enhancing additive to concrete.

Both lunch meetings will be at the Danish-Canadian Club in Calgary.

Sustainable Industrial Development for the 21st Century is a networking group of business and industry leaders, architects, engineers, entrepreneurs, and others interested in fostering sustainable industrial development. for further information, contact Nattalia Lea at nattalia@shaw.ca or at (403) 513-0846 or (403) 826-8863.

Autodesk Inc. will now support use of AutoCAD software, AutoCAD LT software, Autodesk Inventor Professional software, Autodesk 3ds Max software, Autodesk 3ds Max Design software, and the Autodesk Revit Architecture software platform for building information modelling (BIM) on Mac OS X via Parallels Desktop.

The expanded options are possible because of an agreement between Autodesk, which makes 2-D and 3-D design, engineering and entertainment software, and Parallels, which makes virtualization and automation software, making Parallels Desktop for Mac Autodesk’s preferred Mac virtualization software.

hOw TO suBmIt 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: cosburn@junewarren-nickles.com or send it tO: Editor, Alberta Construction Magazine, 6111-91 St. Nw, Edmonton, AB T6E 6V6 or Fax tO: (780) 944-9500 Please include the full name and location of the company.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 67

people, products & projects The Woodmere faucet.

SLEEKER AND SLIMMER

PHOTO: MOEN CANADA

Moen has changed its woodmere pulldown faucet to make it sleeker and slimmer. while it can be used anywhere in the kitchen, it was designed for island and bar applications.

The pull-down wand features three functions (pause/spray/stream) with a pause button, which enables users to conveniently pause the water flow from the wand without turning off the water source.

Think of it as like having a second on-off button in your hand.

Another feature of the faucet is its reversible side-mount handle, which can be mounted on either the right or left side of the faucet, allowing installers to customize the faucet for their customers’ needs. while the woodmere faucets feature a single-hole mount, a matching escutcheon (deck plate) is available so the faucets can be installed on three-hole sinks.

Phone: (403) 562-7600 Fax: (403) 562-7676 boilers1@shaw.ca BOILERS dicksboiler.ca 14700-13 Ave., STAINLESS STEEL Frank, AB ALUMINUM

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PORTABLE WATER HEATERS Burns #1 and #2 fuel Used to build ice roads, well fracing, environmental clean-up

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WATER HEATERS BOILERS Sizes from 15 h.p. to 200 h.p.

HEAT EXCHANGERS 3 pass design Burns #1 and #2 fuel Trailer mounted, skid mounted, truck mounted, free standing or housed

BOILER BUILDING Built to your requirements GLYCOL HEATERS Designed and built for construction sites, drilling mud curing and thawing frozen ground Burns #1 and #2 fuel SNOW MELTER Designed for environmental cleanup where oil contaminents have occurred; no exposure to flammable materials…no flash fire threat All units are C.S.A. approved…controls are C.S.A/U.L. approved. North American or European electrical system.

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68 | November/December 2009

people, products & projects

SUCK UP DUST FAST

The TE DRS-B Dust Removal System.

PHOTO: HILTI

hilti (Canada) Corp. says its new TE DRS-B Dust Removal System lets contractors spend more time working and less time doing non-productive prep and cleanup duties. Clipping easily onto all recent hilti demolition hammers and combi hammers, the TE DRS-B reduces the operator’s exposure to fine dust. And time spent setting up plastic walls or ventilation for dust containment can now be spent getting the job accomplished more quickly and cleanly.

The TE DRS-B quickly assembles to the tool through a simple belt clip, with no screwdriver needed. Throughout the demolition process, the TE DRS-B captures both heavy and fine dust and whisks it away to a vacuum for a cleaner working environment and increased productivity. for more information, call hilti at 1-800-363-4458 or visit hilti.ca.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 69

people, products & projects

Taking good care of you Protect your investment with an AMA business insurance policy. We can customize a package to meet your specific business needs including: • Building and property damage • Business interruption • Crime

• Liability • Commercial vehicles

Singletouch Corp. says it expects to complete the rollout of its data-capture solution across Chemco Electrical Contractors Ltd.’s business by mid-2010. Chemco focuses on the heavy industrial construction sector and is one of the largest companies of its type in North America, capable of handling projects in excess of $250 million. It has a peak workforce exceeding 1,800 employees.

Singletouch recently landed Chemco as a customer after completing a pilot project for the Alberta-based electrical contractor earlier this year. “During the pilot project, we were able to reduce the invoice cycle on one of our biggest accounts from 15 days to less than one day using Singletouch,” says Todd halina, corporate procurement manager, Chemco.

Singletouch’s technology enables real-time input of information in the field, which can eliminate the paperwork headaches common in the industry. Details collected in the field are instantly accessible at head office and seamlessly integrated into backend systems, expediting payroll, accounting, and project reporting.

Says halina, “Singletouch will help us achieve such significant savings by reducing inventory leakage, providing better job cost control, and overall process standardization across our company.”

GIVE FALLS THE SLIP PHOTO: HEATTRAK

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1-888-446-3276 | AMAInsurance.ca/Business 70 | November/December 2009

you can place these heated mats right over a sidewalk.

people, products & projects

A WIN FOR WATER CENTRE

www.concrete-solutions.ca concretesolutions@shaw.ca

In the world of design, few awards have more prestige than the Good Design Awards bestowed by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

One of this year’s winners of the Green Good Design Awards, which singles out significant projects “that are leading the global way to a design that is fully sustainable and compatible with the highest standards of good environment,” is Calgary’s water Centre. Recognized were:

Polished Concrete

Hangar System

Architects: Jeremy Sturgess, Sturgess Architecture, Calgary Architects: Manasc Isaac Architects, Edmonton Landscape Architects: Carlyle + Associates, Edmonton Structural Engineers: Read Jones Christoffersen, Calgary Civil Engineers: Urban Systems, Calgary Contractors: Dominion Construction, Calgary founded in Chicago in 1950, Good Design is said to be the oldest and most established awards program for the most innovative and visionary new product design worldwide.

Tired of shovelling snow or of the slips and falls in the workplace due to snow and ice? heatTrak, a U.S. company that manufactures heated matting products for commercial and industrial use, has developed a product line of walkway and stair mats in a variety of standard dimensions that can meet the needs of any business or facility. heatTrak can also customize heated mat systems to meet more specific dimension requirements.

The mats are made of rubber, are placed on top of existing outdoor surfaces such as sidewalks, and may be left outside for the entire winter season. The company also makes electrically heated stair treads designed to prevent snow and ice accumulation on exterior stairways.

To learn more, check out heattrak.com.

Concrete polishing & grinding  Self leveling systems  Concrete dye & acid staining  Polyurethane floor systems  Hanger systems  Epoxy systems  Methyl methacrylate systems  Tank linings & secondary containment 

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Alberta Construction Magazine | 71

people, products & projects

Get Trained!

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WIDE AREA COVERAGE fire fighting Enterprises has a new optical beam smoke detector with wide area coverage for large indoor spaces. The Multi-head fireray 5000 is the first and only UL/ULC listed, motorized, auto align, self-correcting beam smoke detector that allows up to four beam detectors to be installed as one system. with a single system controller, the fireray 5000 can reduce both time and cost for installation, wiring, and power supply.

Each detector head beam can be fully adjusted, controlled and annually tested from the low-level system controller. In addition to requiring fewer system controllers, a built in laser pointer for simplified prism placement; two conductor wiring between the detector and controller; and a complete line of accessories all reduce the time, effort, and expense of installation. with only one controller for four heads, the Multi-head fireray 5000 draws a much lower current, also saving on operating costs over the life of the system.

To learn more, check out ffeuk.com.

FORMER AMBASSADOR ON STANTEC BOARD Edmonton-based Stantec Inc. has appointed Paul Cellucci to its board of directors. Cellucci is a former U.S. ambassador to Canada and governor of Massachusetts.

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www.onsiteequipment.com 72 | November/December 2009

2009 SYMPOSIUM APPROACHES Registrations are now being accepted for the Alberta Green Building Technologies’ 2009 Symposium in Calgary. The event is Dec. 8 and 9 at the Calgary Stampede Grounds. for more information, check out greenbuildingtech.ca.

The most impressionable art is behind the wall It’s a stroke of genius the way Icynene® seals a home and protects homeowners from expensive energy loss.

Icynene insulation, thanks to its soft spray foam application, effectively minimizes energy-robbing air leakage because it’s a perfect fit for any shaped cavity.

Saving today’s energy-conscious consumers up to 50% on their energy bills makes Icynene a highly attractive investment. And it delivers incremental cost savings for builders too. Constructing an airtight thermal envelope can be achieved in fewer steps, saving you time and money.

Icynene introduces its Builder Advantage Marketing Support Program, designed to help you sell your Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient® homes. For more information about this program, visit Icynene.com/buildbetter

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aca report

ACA’S MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT: NOw IS A GOOD TIME TO BUy

by Ken Gibson ACA Executive Director

Job one for the Alberta Construction Association (ACA) is to represent the interests of Alberta contractors at the provincial level. Regardless of your size, market specialty, labour affiliation, or geographic market, ACA connects your views with provincial agencies that affect your business.

Here are some highlights of recent activities: With the recession, construction employers are understandably concerned about a lack of predictability in the marketplace. ACA is lobbying governments to maintain industry capacity and provide economic stimulus by purchasing construction while prices are favourable.

Now is a good time to buy construction.

Further, ACA is recommending that with the current situation in financial markets, the provincial government should explore smart debt options such as community infrastructure bonds.

Alberta Infrastructure is an influential tender authority, investing each year in millions of dollars of projects and as a source of technical expertise for hundreds of millions of dollars of construction by Alberta Health Services, post-secondary education institutions, school boards, and

do c u ment s for pro c u r i ng a nd managing construction management jobs.

• Developing an understanding of the readiness of the industry to adopt Building Information Modelling (BIM) for design and construction.

Regardless of your size, market specialty, labour affiliation, or geographic market, ACA connects your views with provincial agencies that affect your business� municipalities. Together with Alberta Infrastructure, ACA is: • Promoting the use of CCDC 2 as the standard construction contract for stipulated price work.

• Assisting the development of a Best Practices Guide and supporting

ACA is also engaged in enhancing the understanding of tender authorities and the cost implications of inappropriate allocation of risk through non-standard contract provisions. Also, ACA is examining the need to review the Alberta Builders’ Lien Act.

18012 - 107 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5S 2J5 • Phone: 780.455.1122 • Fax: 780.451.2152 E-mail: info@abconst.org • Web Site: www.abconst.org

Alberta Construction Magazine | 75

aca report ACA is partnering with tender authorities and the Construction Sector Council to develop tools to improve contractor planning and ultimately the capacity to deliver the work. The major projects database already captures work in the energy sector. The new web-enabled public sector capital plan will be live this fall providing a three-year outlook for all major public sector building projects across the province. Phase 2 of the public sector capital plan will be to develop models that translate dollars of construction cost into demand for specific trades and occupations. Availability of skilled labour impacts directly on productivity and on project costs, which is of interest to contractors and owners alike.

The construction industry workforce is the lasting source of competitive advantage for employers. ACA has developed a workforce strategy to advocate industry needs with Alberta Apprenticeship and Alberta Employment and Immigration to influence their respective strategies and programs. ACA also advocates on behalf

of industry where regulation impacts the workforce and consequently the operations of employers.

A major influence on the construction industry is the regulation of workplace health and safety. ACA has: • Provided priorities and concerns from ACA membership in the development of the new Worksafe Alberta Strategy, to be unveiled this November.

• Had dia log ue w it h A lber ta Employment regarding the proposed Employer Review Process, including proposed Partners in Injury Reduction (PIR) and Certificate of Recognition (COR) impacts for specific regulatory situations including fatalities, serious incidents, and repeat imminent danger orders.

• Sought members’ views on the impacts of audits on peer auditors, and future directions for the COR. ACA has also facilitated dialogue with the Workers’ Compensation Board and employers in the industrial construction rate group about proposed impacts

of industry custom pricing and employer concerns arising from those impacts.

In an emerging area of regulation, ACA has partnered with other industry associations to establish a strong case for continuing industry leadership in the administration of a provincial stewardship program to divert construction and demolition waste from landfills. ACA has consistently called for industry solutions that utilize industry expertise to respond and develop solutions unique to conditions in each region of the province. Alberta Environment has been very responsive to this message, and any program introduced appears likely to respect these principles.

The success that ACA achieves on behalf of its members rests with the volunteer contributions made by those members. Governments and other partners tell us how much they appreciate hearing from contractors through the construction associations. We appreciate your help in serving to advance the interests for the industry as a whole.

chaseot@gmail.com | 403.466.8573 chaseot.com Chase Operator Training offers training on: 4Aerial platform 4Backhoe 4Counter balanced forklift 4Excavators 4Narrow aisle forklift

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cca report

CCA’S EDUCATION fUND IS ON TRACK TO $1M

by Amy Smith Communications Coordinator, CCA

The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) was extremely pleased with industry support at the fifth annual Education “Fun”draiser Golf Tournament on Aug. 27 at Carnmoney Golf & Country Club. The handsome setting had 144 CCA members and guests come out to enjoy a beautiful round of 18-hole Texas scramble golf under the clear blue sky. Industry leaders supported the Education Fund through mulligan sales, 50/50 tickets, and high bids on the live auction items to support industry’s future workforce.

Golfers were enthusiastic at trying their luck at three holein-one opportunities, picking up snacks at the various holes, and golf ball giveaways. After the activities on the links, golfers came into the clubhouse to try their hand at a minigolf hole-inone challenge with their eye on the prize—free beer. Following their efforts, everyone settled in to enjoy a juicy steak dinner with a buffet of decadent desserts.

Dan Nel (far left), CCA’s youth Employment Program (yEP) coordinator, was on the course to encourage employers to sign up and use the services of the program. yEP, now in its 12th year, has placed over 800 youths ages 16 to 24 in construction trades. Accompanying Nel (from left): Shawn Jungwirth, Gerry Kirkpatrick, Kyle Thompson, and Francis Lee—all with North American Caisson Ltd.

Thrilled with raising $53,000 is Education Fund chairman Les LaRocque (left) with CCA president Bob Robinson.

SAIT Polytechnic president Irene Lewis and SAIT’s dean of construction, dr.

Larry Rosia (right), receive the CCA’s sixth $25,000 contribution to the school from CCA president Bob Robinson.

Constructor (Gold) and Master (Silver) level sponsors line up on a gorgeous summer day.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 77

cca report With 58 tournament sponsors and the proceeds from the day, a striking $53,000 was raised. That will enable the CCA to provide 29 scholarships in 2009 to youth who wish to build a career in construction. With the inspiration and drive from past chairmen Greg Davidson (Davidson Enman Lumber Ltd.) and Ken Trueman (formerly with Kent Construction), current chairman Les LaRocque (Botting & Associates Alberta Ltd.) aspires to reach the set goal to raise $1 million for the Education Fund.

Thus far, $640,000 has been raised.

Who knew LaRocque was such a comedian as he entertained golfers with some history of the tournament, sponsor thank-yous, and a live auction conducted by none other than himself? His wild sense of humour and well-received antics raised the bidding bar. Four auction items including three rounds of golf for three lucky foursomes and dinner at SAIT Polytechnic’s Highwood dining facility raised nearly $2,000. CCA president Bob Robinson closed the evening by thanking all the generous CCA members for their continued support of the Fund and efforts to raise the impressive $53,000.

CeLeBratInG safetY exCeLLenCe IN CONSTRUCTION The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) and the Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) joined forces Sept. 16 to celebrate the Gold Seal certification program. The event was a huge success with 250 people gathering at the new ACSA office and training facility to congratulate 40 construction professionals, 15 of whom received their Gold Seal certificates as construction safety coordinators.

CCA president Bob Robinson opened the floor, highlighting that Gold Seal has become the national standard of competence for individuals working in the institutional, commercial, and industrial construction sectors. Owners have been proactive in making Gold Seal a condition of contract.

Last year the Calgary health Region, now known as the Alberta health Authority, designated the South health Campus (ShC)— the largest infrastructure project in Canada’s history—as a Gold Seal project. In order for the ShC to be a designated Gold Seal project, workers in any of the four designated Gold Seal occupations—project manager, superintendent, estimator, and construction safety coordinator—must be Gold Seal certified.

Gary wagar, executive director of ACSA, also commented on the importance of Gold Seal certification and encouraged all safety coordinators to contact the CCA or visit www.goldsealcertifcation. com and pursue Gold Seal certification.

After certificate presentations, the celebration continued with a delicious barbeque in the gorgeous open air on a record-breaking hot day. Several CCA board members volunteered their time and culinary expertise in cooking jumbo hamburgers with all the fixings. Guests also enjoyed complimentary refreshments while mixing and mingling with fellow colleagues and other industry professionals. Information and application forms for Gold Seal were on hand but disappeared quickly, which is a great sign that the CCA will continue to lead the country in Gold Seal certifications.

CCA believes the great success of this event and the number of professionals adhering to the Gold Seal certification program demonstrates the industry’s strong commitment to excellence in construction.

Gold Seal recipients in the newly decorated atrium at the Alberta Construction Safety Association. Forty professionals were recently Gold Seal certified in their respective disciplines.

CCA board members generously gave their time by volunteering at the event. From left: CCA’s youth Employment Program coordinator Dan Nel with board members Larry Benner (Brock White), Barry young (Burnco Rock Products), Mark Taylor (PCL), Ian Reid (Bird Construction Company), Todd Poulsen (Elan Construction), Jack Vanier (Harris Rebar), Rob Bromberg (Davidson Enman Lumber), Rod Roll (Executive Millwork Inc.), Tyler Bungay (Botting & Associates), Les LaRocque (Botting & Associates), Greg Stewart (Rogers Insurance), and Rick Allan (SimplexGrinnell).

78 | November/December 2009

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business briefing

TAKE ThIS JOB AND LOVE IT—OR ELSE With the economic slowdown and rise in joblessness, it’s become an employer’s market� So why hasn’t anyone told the employees?

by Tim Sweet

If we were having a conversation about your workforce three years ago, the topic likely would have turned to how to recruit and retain good people. Things were booming and few businesses had a stable, reliable workforce. We began in desperation to look out of province—even out of country—for recruits. We raised wages and included all sorts of perks to attract applicants. We lowered our standards for hiring and promotion—and as a result lowered our standards for quality and customer service. Many managers can admit to accommodating behaviours that under any other circumstance would have guaranteed dismissal.

Regularly, I was told how new employees showed up late on their first day, if they showed up at all. How staff began taking impromptu long weekends, often with no excuse. Inevitably, these “bad apples” would be allowed to continue working.

As the axiom goes, “one bad apple spoils the bunch.” Soon many long-time employees followed suit. After all, why shouldn’t they enjoy the company’s lax attitude too? We entered a period where some employers were virtually held hostage by their employees.

Today things are different. We’re over a year into a market slowdown.

Unemployment is on the rise, and while many managers have cleaned house, some employees are still testing our patience.

The headlines all proclaim a rocky economy, and staff are watching their pennies and seeing neighbours or co-workers laid off. Why then is this not inspiring people to become model employees? Shouldn’t your productivity be on the rise and your time and money spent managing poor workers going down?

The reason your employees haven’t changed is because your managers are still treating them the same way, using the same methods they used during the boom.

The problem has become systematic and ingrained in your business. It’s time make the employee/employer relationship fair again—and here’s where to start.

1 Get back to basics. Review job descriptions. If you don’t have job descriptions, now is the time to put them together. These form the backbone of the employee/employer agreement.

Review expectations and accountabilities with each employee. If you do have to hire, carefully compare resumés to

job descriptions, take your time to interview correctly, and check references. Make sure you have the right person for the job.

2 Let employees in on the company’s expectations. Discuss company policies on key issues (attendance, drug use, dress code, safety, etc.). In no uncertain terms make it clear: no one is above dismissal.

3 Lead by example. Managers and supervisors must be held to task. If a person of authority flouts the rules, you can’t expect employees to respect them either.

4 Get the pout out. Don’t tolerate employees who constantly vocalize their displeasure. Be receptive to genuine suggestions that make sense for the business, but distinguish these from mere bellyaching. Take grumblers aside and review their job description, accountabilities, and their compensation structure with them. Respectfully explain, “This is your job; take it or leave it. There are many out there who will appreciate this role if you don’t.”

Alberta Construction Magazine | 81

business briefing

REMEMBER tHIs …

5 Have one-on-one conversations.

Individually communicate your expectations with staff. Review their performance every one to two weeks.

Set goals together and mentor their development. Let them know you are conscious of what is going on.

6 Document, document, document.

When there are issues raised with the employee, write it in an employee file.

Remember, it’s about documenting the bad and the good behaviour.

These actions cost next to nothing, but they do require one thing: consistency. If you go down this path, you have to see it through or it will only cause confusion and resentment. If you are not an experienced change manager, get help.

The time is right to deal with this issue.

If you achieve balance now, your business will be in great shape when the pendulum swings back again.

A few things to remember when you deal with employees: •

Younger employees are different, so take care. Generation y (generally, those under 30) are a different animal than those employees you hired before the boom. These employees require a different touch. If you don’t build support into their jobs, they will disappoint you. If you do, they can be more productive than expected.

• Don’t become the villain. Demonstrate that you will be holding staff to account, but not by abusing your power. Don’t use a recession as an excuse to slash wages or make them pay for past luxuries. In the boom, employers had to become more sensitive to an employee’s feelings. That’s a skill you don’t want to lose. Seek balance, not dominance.

• Show respect. Don’t come down on these employees like a tonne of bricks unless you want a mass exodus. This is about changing the tone of management from passive to assertive—but not to aggressive.

• Keep things in perspective. Since the labour market has turned, you will be better able to enforce your will. Managers (especially younger ones) may feel they are being unfair by applying even mild pressure when employees are vulnerable. Remind them that it’s not personal.

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building blocks PHOTO: KRyTON GROUP

Workers prepare a building wall before applying shotcrete.

PROTECTING SHOTCRETE There are ways to keep shotcrete structures from water damage

by Kevin Yuers Like any concrete, shotcrete is porous and contains joints and cracks—opening the door to water penetration, water-borne contaminants, and structural deterioration. To protect a shotcrete structure, proper waterproofing is essential.

The waterproofing system you choose is extremely important.

Surface-applied waterproofing systems fall roughly into three groups: liquid coatings, sheet membranes, and expanding clays.

Liquid membranes work well on projects with multiple plane transitions, intricate geometric shapes, and protrusions.

However, they are not suitable for shotcrete as they require generous access to

the outside of the structure—something that’s not typical of below-ground shotcrete applications.

Sheet membranes are placed against the back form and shotcrete is sprayed against it. These products have excellent crack-bridging abilities. Yet the system also relies on impeccable workmanship and can be expensive to install and difficult to repair. Seam failure is a serious concern—both during shotcrete impact and later in the membrane’s service life.

Bentonite clay swells when it comes in contact with water. Installation is similar to sheet membranes and they have similar advantages as well as disadvantages.

Shotcrete may not provide the confining pressure required to maintain the bentonite’s integrity and thus it may wash out or deteriorate over time.

Integral waterproofing systems have several advantages over surface applied systems. They require no labour, surface preparation, time, or access to the outside of the structure. They are also not vulnerable to poor workmanship or damage.

Integral systems fall roughly into three groups as well: densifiers, water repellants, and crystalline formulas. Each is added into the shotcrete during mixing.

Densifiers are typically fine-particle materials such as microsilica. They can Alberta Construction Magazine | 83

building blocks PHOTOS: KRyTON GROUP

be effective at lowering shotcrete permeability. The problem is that they do not address the real weak points of a structure—joints and cracks—and the silica fumes can even contribute to cracking.

As a result, densifiers are not really a valid waterproofing strategy for shotcrete.

Water repellants are typically metallic soaps or silicones. They work to block water through surface tension. Because of this, a big disadvantage of using water repellants is their inability to withstand high hydrostatic pressure.

Different shotcrete waterproofing methods have benefits as well as drawbacks.

Shotcrete being applied via a pressure hose.

84 | November/December 2009

Shotcrete is great because it can save you time and money and requires far less of the typical concrete forms used with regular cast-in-place methods� Crystalline products react within the shotcrete to produce crystal growth within the capillary pores and microcracks of the shotcrete mass. These crystals effectively and permanently block the passage of water and water-borne chemicals. They have the ability to self-seal new cracks and keep water out over the long term. Crystalline products do not contain petroleum-based chemicals and are generally a greener alternative.

Despite their numerous drawbacks and failures, surface-applied systems have been and continue to be the industry norm. The advantages of integral systems present a highly versatile and sophisticated method for waterproofing shotcrete. It provides an inexpensive, easy, and reliable way to create permanent, durable, and seamlessly waterproof concrete structures.

Shotcrete is great because it can save you time and money and requires far less of the typical concrete forms used with regular cast-in-place methods. By doing a little homework on the front end, you’ll find that waterproofing your investment will pay off in the long run.

“As a leader in the community, you have helped make STARS what it is today and on behalf of the STARS family, I want to thank you for being a ‘Partner in our Silver Anniversary Publication’.

You make a difference.

”

~ D. Gregory Powell, O.C., MD FRCPC, President & Chief Executive Officer, STARS & STARS Foundation

“ JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group is honoured to be publisher of the official STARS Silver

Anniversary publication, STARS: 25 Years of Care in the Air. I want to invite you to join me in congratulating STARS and wishing stars the best for the next 25 years.

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~ Bill Whitelaw, President & Chief Executive Officer, JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group

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For further information about participating in STARS Legacy Publication, contact: Phil Enarson

Ph: 1.780.439.8788 | Toll Free: 1.800.390.1235 email: westbrier@shaw.ca | Westbrier Communications Inc.

© Mark Mennie/STARS

Partners in CeLeBratiOn: stars siLver anniversary LegaCy PuBLiCatiOn

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safety beat

RADON MITIGATION COULD SPELL O·P·P·O·R·T·U·N·I·T·Y FOR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

by Connie Wong The Lung Association, Alberta & N�W�T�

Do you know that radon—a colourless, odourless gas found naturally in the air we breathe as well as in soil and rock, which typically surrounds home foundations— is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers? Or that it is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking?

The Lung Association, Alberta & N.W.T. recently launched an awareness campaign to educate homeowners about radon. As more homeowners become aware of the issue and get their homes tested, this will ultimately lead to a need for more professional contractors. These professions are known as radon mitigators.

Radon mitigators are hired to reduce radon levels inside buildings. Examples of work done by radon mitigators include sealing cracks in the walls of a home to prevent radon from entering, or installing active soil depressurization systems to vent indoor radon outdoors.

Because there are only a handful of certified mitigators available across Canada, this could represent an opportunity for builders, contractors, and other indoor air quality professionals to expand into the radon mitigation business.

There is a difference between radon mitigators who have a general idea of how to fix radon problems and professionals who have gone through extensive training to become qualified radon mitigators.

Right now there is only one professional

in Alberta certified as a qualified radon mitigator. It is hoped that as The Lung Association’s radon awareness campaign grows, demand for professionals with proper radon mitigation training will increase and contractors will respond with an interest in becoming certified. Not only does certification strengthen your professional knowledge, it also improves the consumer-contractor relationship by relaying a sense of confidence in the consumer that the services being conducted are done in the most effective manner possible by a trained professional.

Dalhousie University offers the only professional radon training course in Canada that is recognized by Health Canada and The Lung Association, Alberta & N.W.T. From Nov. 23–26, Dalhousie is offering Radon Mitigation Training. Once certified, you will become a trained radon professional recognized by Health Canada, the National Radon Safety Board, and the National Environmental Health Association.

Continuing Education Units will be awarded for participation.

Connie Wong is the health initiatives coordinator—Environmental Issues & Infectious Diseases for The Lung Association, Alberta & N.W.T.

fOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more, contact Mary Meidell at 902-494-6060 or visit http://cte.dal.ca/cte/ course_detail.php?id=5749 Or contact The Lung Association, Alberta & N.w.T. at 1-888-566-LUNG or visit www.ab.lung.ca

Alberta Construction Magazine | 87

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the legal edge

A SAD, MAD, MOULDy LAwSUIT

by Tim Mavko Reynolds, Mirth, Richards, & Farmer LLP

Stachybotrys chartarum is nasty stuff.

It’s one of just a few moulds known to be dangerous. When it shows up in buildings, it terrifies contractors and horrifies owners.

Several years ago, Scott and Betty Tomkins found it in their Ontario home, growing on a wall in their daughter’s bedroom.

Mould needs moisture to grow, and the Tomkins thought they knew the source.

Several years before, they had replaced some older wooden windows with new vinyl models. The new windows came from Home Depot, which had hired a subcontractor to install them.

Unfortunately, the subcontractor did a poor job. Shortly after the new windows were installed, moisture appeared on the inside surfaces. During the next four winters, condensation repeatedly formed on the glass when the weather turned cold, and then disappeared in the summer heat.

The Tomkins complained to Home Depot.

The problem never got solved.

During this time the Tomkins say their health deteriorated. They say their children fell sick more often with respiratory and allergy-like symptoms. They say their house felt cold and damp.

In the fifth winter, the Tomkins brought in an expert, who sampled the air in an upstairs bedroom. The expert detected stachybotrys chartarum and recommended that the room be sealed for remediation. The infected patch of wall should be stripped, cleaned, and replaced.

He further recommended that the rest of the house be tested for additional mould growth, and any further areas should be remediated as needed.

The Tomkins did not follow the expert’s advice. Instead of cleaning the known area, and then inspecting and dealing with the rest of the house, they moved their family out of the house and into a hotel. They stayed in the hotel for 79 days while they gutted their home.

They stripped the outside walls down to the studs, demolished the interior walls, pulled up the flooring, pulled down the ceilings, and ripped out the ductwork.

Alberta Construction Magazine | 89

the legal edge

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While some economists have declared the recession over, the painful recovery is expected to drag well into 2010.

JuneWarren-Nickle’s Energy Group’s new Recession to Recovery initiative will help you navigate these uncertain times.

We’re increasing our editorial content with stories and columns focusing on how companies are handling the downturn, preparing for the rebound, and, in some cases, even thriving. They’ll be easy to find. Just look for the special Recession to Recovery logo in each issue of Alberta Construction Magazine.

90 | November/December 2009

They then threw out much of their belongings. Their bedding, clothing, appliances, tables, chairs, mattresses, TV, and stereo all went to the dump.

To pay for this they went deep into debt, adding to their existing mortgage, taking out a second mortgage, and finally charging $250,000 to their credit cards.

They then sued Home Depot and the installer for $550,000—the cost of demolishing and rebuilding the inside of their house, and of replacing their belongings.

The trial lasted 20 days, and the court’s decision was released earlier this year.

(The decision is reported as Tomkins v.

Home Depot 2009 CanLII 2, and can be found at http://www.canlii.org.)

The judge agreed with the Tomkins that the new windows were not properly installed. He concluded that the windows were not properly set within the wall cavity, and were without sufficient insulation.

This let cold air seep into the house, and meant that the inside window surfaces were cooler than the rest of the air in the house. When the warm, moist air hit the cooler glass, condensation formed.

But this did not decide the claim, as the judge still had to determine the cause of the mould. And here the Tomkins had trouble. An expert testified at trial that there was no moisture or wetness on the drywall surfaces around the new windows.

Rather, there was water-saturated insulation behind wood framing elsewhere in the house. More importantly, while the new windows were on the north wall, the mould was on the east and west walls.

The judge concluded that the condensation on the windows was not the cause of the moisture and the mould, but rather showed that there was pre-existing moisture inside the house from some other source. This other source was found to be bad mortar, plugged weeping holes, and improperly installed flashing—all of which existed before the new windows were installed. Since the new windows were not the cause of the mould, Home Depot and the installer were not liable.

The judge also concluded that the Tomkins’ reaction was unreasonable.

Even if the windows were at fault, fixing the known mould contamination meant replacing less than 10 sq. ft of drywall.

The cost of doing that, along with testing and other expenses, was around $15,000.

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time capsule

TIME CAPSULE

ThE fORMER hERALD BUILDING PHOTO: GLENBOW MUSEUM

Nearly a century ago in downtown Calgary, the fysche, Martin Company Ltd. of Calgary constructed what was described as one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture adapted for a business building in North America.

The structure was the herald Building. Built in 1913 for the Calgary Herald, it was the first building in the city to exceed six storeys. According to the Calgary Public Library, it had all the modern conveniences of the day.

That included â&#x20AC;&#x153;safety deposit boxes, mail chute service, and vacuum cleaning systems on each floor.â&#x20AC;? Even better, offices came with running water and had piping for gas and compressed air.

Plus the building had two elevators.

And talk about ornate. The corridors had terrazzo floors. The vestibule was done in marble. The exterior included decorative terracotta figures such as reptiles, birds, fish, and monkeys.

According to the library, the 10storey building was home to the Calgary Herald until 1932. (The first paper was printed Dec. 15, 1913, in the basement pressroom.) After that, the name was changed to the Southam Building and eventually the Greyhound Building.

The building, located at 130 Seventh Ave. Sw, was demolished in 1972.

The former Herald Building, circa 1913.

92 | November/December 2009

time capsule

KeY faCts tHInGs tO KnOW aBOut tHe fOrmer HeraLD BuILDInG: BuILt: 1913

DemOLIsHeD: 1972

arCHIteCt: Brown and Vallance, Montreal

COntraCtOr:

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“Servicing the Underground Infrastructure” Commercial • Industrial

fysche, Martin Company Ltd., Calgary

COst: $750,000

HeIGHt: 10 storeys

COnstruCtIOn materIaLs: Reinforced concrete and steel frame faced with brown brick and ornamental terracotta. four entrances were built of granite.

SOURCE: Calgary Public Library

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Alberta Construction Magazine reaches 51,000 people with each printed issue.

WHAT OUR READERS SAY: 58% place their copy of the magazine in a common area for others to read 37% pass it along to a colleague 30% save it for future reference

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Alberco Construction Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Alberta Construction Safety Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Alberta finance & Enterprise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Alberta Motor Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Alberta wood works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Aluma Systems Canada Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Arpi’s North Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 ATB financial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 ATCO Structures & Logistics Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Bantrel Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Beaver Plastics Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Bob’s Pipe Sales Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 BURNCO Rock Products Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Calgary Construction Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Cal-Gas Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Cana Construction Co Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Canadian western Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Chase Operator Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Christian Labour Association of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Cloverdale Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Concrete Solutions Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Consolidated Gypsum Supply Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Cover-All Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Davidson Enman Lumber Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 D C M Mechanical Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Dicks Boiler Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Dominion Construction Company Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Durabond Products Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . 14 EllisDon Construction Services Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Emco Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside back cover Empire Iron works Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 faculty of Extension, University of Alberta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Graham Group Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Grant Metal Products Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Groundwater Control Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 hertz Equipment Rental Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Icon Industrial Contractors Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Icynene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Imperial Oil Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ITT water & wastewater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 IVIS Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Kingspan Insulated Panels Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lafarge Construction Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Land Measurement Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 L C Greenough Construction Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Ledcor Construction Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Lloyd Sadd Insurance Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Man-Shield (Alta) Construction Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Manulift EMI Ltee’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Maxim Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Northland Construction Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 On * Site Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 PCL Constructors Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Phoenix fence Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Proform Concrete Services Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 & 94 Renfrew Insurance Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Rev Drill Sales & Rentals, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Reynolds Mirth Richards & farmer LLP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Scott Builders Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Singletouch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 & 43 Skyjack Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Skyline Drywall Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Skyline Roofing Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inside front cover SMS Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Spatial Technologies Partnership Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Steels Industrial Products Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Sterling western Star Trucks Alberta Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Superior Propane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Territorial Electric Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . outside back cover The Canadian Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Toole Peet Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 U f A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Vertigo Theatre Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Vet’s Sheet Metal Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Volvo Rents Construction Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 westbrier Communications Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 western Surety Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 williams Scotsman of Canada Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Products for Construction throughout Alberta

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Territorial Electric Ltd. is proud to have been the electrical contractor for the Northlands Edmonton Expo Centre project.

 Rexall Place

Northlands Spectrum Edmonton Expo Centre

Congratulations northlands on the opening of the new edmonton expo Centre.

Contact us today to discuss your unique project needs.

8303 Roper Road, Edmonton, AB T6E 6S4 Phone 780.465.7591 | Fax 780.469.1821

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