News
Jim McKay rejoins HDR to lead Canadian engineering practice
He was previously a vp and Canadian resources group leader from 2010 to 2016, and most recently was the general manager of solid waste management for the City of Toronto.
City of Toronto announces new Transit Expansion Office
The city is seeking an executive director for the new office that will play a role in providing end-to-end oversight of transit expansion projects as they advance through the project lifecycle.
Free building energy benchmarking tool released for Ontario designers/constructors
The new online tool, developed by RWDI in partnership with the Ontario Association of Architects and Toronto’s Architecture 2030 District, streamlines energy benchmarking and reporting during the design phase of building development projects.
UL opens new building envelope test facility in Toronto
The new site contains both a fenestration lab and a mock-up lab that can test full scale window wall, curtain wall and wall assemblies.
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Calgary’s new library opens
The Snøhetta- and DIALOG-designed library reached substantial completion in July 2018, was handed over to Calgary Public Library in September, and opened on time and on budget.
Stantec finalizes divestiture of MWH Constructors
The sale to funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management was for $103 million, with net cash proceeds estimated to be $46 million.
B.C. Government launches efficient building incentive program/competition, administered by Integral Group
The province’s new Better Buildings BC program is challenging designers, builders and developers with up to $390,000 in incentives to design cost-effective net-zero energy ready buildings.
Feds commit to rail line to Churchill, MB running by end of November
In September, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $117 million to support the acquisition and repair of Churchill rail line.
Province pitches in for Edmonton’s LRT extension
Alberta is investing $1 billion, or 40%, of the city’s expected $2.6-billion Valley Line West LRT expansion cost as well as $131 million of the $328-million Metro Line expansion project.
Studying termites for clues to sustainable building
Termite mounds are resilient and naturally energy efficient, and their intricate interior designs provide ventilation and temperature regulation throughout what can be a 15-foot-tall homes.
Goldcorp awarded $5M from Federal Clean Growth Program
The company’s Borden Project located in Chapleau, Ont. will be the first underground gold mine in Canada to replace all diesel mobile equipment with battery electric vehicles.
Feds launch Infrastructure Statistics Hub
The Hub is an interactive tool that allows users to view data on the investment, stock, and contribution of infrastructure to the Canadian economy from the recently launched Infrastructure Economic Account.
EllisDon wins construction management contract for rehabilitation of West Memorial Building
The construction manager will work with the design consultant to provide pre-construction advisory services to Public Services and Procurement Canada during the planning and development phases of this multi-year project.
New Mimico GO Transit Station closer to reality
Allowing developers to build above transit stations in exchange for constructing new station facilities reduces the cost of transit expansion projects.
Champlain Bridge opening delayed until Spring 2019
The main structure of the bridge will be complete by December 21st, but some important weather-dependent permanent work, including waterproofing and paving, is unlikely to commence until early spring.
Consulting Engineers of Ontario visit Queen’s Park
The focus of this year’s event, the fourth annual, was to establish relationships with newly-elected members of provincial parliament and to reconnect with returning MPPs.
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HH Angus Wins Schreyer at 50th Annual Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards
Overall, 20 Awards of Excellence were handed out at the Gala, which included five special achievement awards.
Raymond Cho joins S+A in Vancouver
Cho will be providing added leadership to the West coast office’s growing mechanical team.
Stantec divesting its construction business
With the pending sale of MWH Constructors, Stantec will continue to focus on its core consulting services business globally.
Feds invest in biomass heating for First Nations recreation centre
This bioheat project in Hazelton, B.C. is the first to receive funding under the government’s Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program.
Study Ranks Ontario Municipalities for their Recycling of Concrete and Asphalt
The study found that many municipalities in Ontario have policies that prohibit or limit the use of recycled aggregate.
Hiawatha First Nation unveils a solar installation
The 22kW solar installation will generate enough carbon-free energy to meet approximately 14% of the building’s overall electricity requirements annually.
New Manual: Structural Fire Engineering Design
This Manual of Practice (MOP) is a valuable resource for structural engineers, architects, building officials, and academics concerned with performance-based design for structural fire safety.
Winners of the 2019 AHR Expo Innovation Awards Announced
Winners were selected by a panel of third-party ASHRAE member judges who evaluated each award entry based on its innovative design, creativity, application, value and market impact.
Nova Scotia commits funding for water/wastewater projects
The Provincial Capital Assistance Program allows the province to contribute funds towards high-cost, priority municipal infrastructure projects, and this year’s investment by the province is $690,000.
Rebranding and Reorganization of Pretium Engineering
Pretium Anderson and Pretium GRG, Ontario-based building science engineering firms, have completed a merger they started last year, consolidating their operations into Pretium Engineering Inc.
Governments investing $3.6M in northern highway research
The Feds along with the Government of Yukon are investing in two climate change adaptation research projects, one to study the effectiveness of thermosyphons and another to monitor changing highway conditions.
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Feds investing $1M in Lemay’s new net-zero building reno
The 3500 Saint-Jacques project will result in net-zero annual energy consumption through the integration of renewable energy, energy storage and advanced control technologies that ensure optimal operation of the HVAC and electric lighting systems.
ASHRAE and Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) split up operations
IAQA became an affiliate of ASHRAE in 2015. In that relationship, IAQA’s operations became integrated within ASHRAE’s headquarters operations in Atlanta.
Nova Scotia issuing RFQ for Halifax Infirmary site expansion
“The Halifax Infirmary is the heart of the redevelopment of the QEII [Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre]. The new facilities will have the most advanced equipment and technology to handle the most complex care in Atlantic Canada,” – Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil.
