Patkau Design Lab in Vancouver is the recipient of the RAIC Research and Innovation in Architecture Award. The RAIC Annual Award recipients consist of architectural practices, projects and initiatives that illustrate the dynamic environment of Canadian architecture today. Patkau Design Lab is the research and fabrication wing of Patkau Architects. More than simply a workshop, it engages in speculative experiments that test the potential of new ways of working with common materials. Through iterative development, attention to detail, and a refined aesthetic, this experimental work has evolved i ..read more

Work is complete on the upgrade and expansion of Victoria High School. The new addition creates spaces for 200 more students, and includes a new library and learning commons. “Our government continues to build, expand and upgrade schools throughout the province in order to meet the needs of B.C. students and their families,” said Rachna Singh, minister of education and child care. “I am excited that now more students will have access to an upgraded and modern Victoria High.” The B.C. government provided $97 million to complete the seismic upgrade and expansion project, with the Greater Victori ..read more

Canadian businesses investing in data management capabilities before January 1, 2027 will be able to deduct the full capital cost of some key purchases in the year they come into use. The newly released 2024 federal budget opens an approximately 32-month window, granting 100 per cent capital cost allowance (CCA) for designated “innovation-enabling and productivity-enhancing” assets. These include: patents or the licences to use them, which normally have a 25 per cent CCA rate; data network infrastructure equipment and related software, which normally have a 30 per cent CCA rate; and general-p ..read more

Housing is a major focus of the 2024 federal budget and industry reaction has been mixed. There is a promise of at least 1.2 million more homes for Canadians and along with the $6 billion Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund, an additional $500 million will be spent over five years for municipal community, culture and recreation facilities through the Green and Inclusive Buildings Program. The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) believes the federal government’s housing strategy is a long-awaited step forward to build more homes, but significantly more investment is needed to address critica ..read more

Chandos Construction announced the appointment of Sean Penn as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Penn’s career at Chandos spans more than 20 years, from his years working as a carpenter to his tenure as chief operating officer (COO). He has showcased leadership and an unwavering commitment to Chandos’ core values of inclusion, collaboration, innovation, and courage. “Our board’s decision to appoint Sean as CEO reflects our confidence in his abilities and visionary approach” said Roger Babichuk, chief financial officer, Chandos Construction. “His remarkable leadership, dedication to our pe ..read more

As many companies evaluate their impact on the planet, developing programs and practices that align with their ESG goals, facility cleaning and maintenance are certainly areas to consider. “In today’s landscape, where sustainability dominates discussions, there’s a heightened urgency to enact changes that will truly help our planet,” said Carlos Albir, Jr., Vice President of Operations, ABCO Cleaning Products. It’s estimated that 40 per cent of the ocean’s surface is covered in plastic waste and global plastic waste generation is projected to triple by the year 2060. In an effort to lessen env ..read more

Waste disposal systems in multi-residential buildings are under a great amount of pressure. Every day, residents pack their garbage down the interconnecting metal chutes which make up a building’s garbage disposal system, culminating in the garbage room. Cleanliness and garbage rooms may not instantly seem conducive, but the sanitary health of the waste disposal room is more important than you think. Here, we learn from the team at MJW Team the importance of ensuring garbage room maintenance is never overlooked: Hygiene & Pests “Food waste and household garbage is going down chutes unbag ..read more

The federal government introduced new budget measures to help first-time homebuyers who have been shut out of various housing markets across Canada. A 30-year amortization period for insured mortgages on new construction is a key change. The Home Buyer’s Plan also increased from $35,000 to $60,000 so buyers can use the tax benefits of an RRSP to save $25,000 more for their down payment faster. The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) said these initiatives aren’t quite enough to support first-time homebuyers, especially as incomes aren’t accelerating alongside the housing costs ..read more

The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is proposing several changes to its LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance Rating System Version 5 (LEED-EB: O+M V5). The proposed changes, if implemented, could set our industry back significantly and disregard all the hard work, time, resources, and progress our industry has made in improving cleaning effectiveness, reducing cleaning’s impact on the environment, and protecting human health. Fortunately, Version 5 is now open for public comment, allowing industry members to express their views and thoughts about Version ..read more

Measures announced in the federal government’s housing plan include funding for energy efficiency retrofits like the installation of heat pumps and home energy labeling, while helping to make homes more climate-friendly and cheaper to heat. But sustainability proponents are also flagging missed opportunities to meet national climate commitments by 2050. An estimated $903.5 million is being invested into the Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program as part of the Solving the Housing Crisis: Canada’s Housing Plan. “It’s a good start and now we hope this investment is matched by all other order ..read more