CREATING ICONIC SPACES THROUGH INTEGRITY & AUTHENTICITY Kodem Developments, Inc. FAMILIES WORKING FOR FAMILIES Lacey Developments Ltd. MORE THAN CONSTRUCTION: BUILDING THE BUSINESS OF PEOPLE Reid’s Heritage Construction CONSTRUCTIONINFOCUS.COM D EC 2 02 1 - JA N 2 02 2®™®™EDITOR’S CORNER ®™®™ 3 In the United States, there are currently 96,000 proper- ties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, representing a broad range of sites and struc- tures. More than just interesting spaces, heritage buildings have a role to play in preserving local history and culture, and help to weave together the disparate threads that make cities and towns unique. They can also be immensely valuable. “Not only do these buildings bring in tourists and help local businesses, they increase the value of local real estate as well,” writes Karen Hawthorne in this issue. They can breathe new life into communities and, if the building’s original purpose is no longer relevant, can even provide new housing, office space, or retail if adaptive reuse is on the menu. “For the con- struction industry,” then, “there’s a very practical case to be made for the pains and costs of restoring old buildings and giving them new life.” In Saving Grace – The Beauty and Value of Heritage Buildings, Karen examines these challenges – and why they’re often worth overcoming. “Heritage buildings,” she writes, “are windows to understand- ing our past and providing a sense of permanency even in uncertain times.” As a year full of uncertainty draws to a close, it can be comforting to take a closer look at buildings that have not only stood the test of time, but that represent something special and worth preserving. Jaime McKee Editor EDITOR Jaime McKee DEPUTY EDITOR Tim Hocken COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jen Hocken | Pauline Müller | Karen Hawthorne Nate Hendley | Margaret Eaton | William Young Allison Dempsey | Robert Hoshowsky | Claire Suttles CONTENT TEAM MANAGER Tom England SENIOR CONTENT MANAGER Brad Mike BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Erin Wells TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT MANAGER James Corbett CONTENT MANAGERS Wendy Hood-Morris | Obed San Jose | Louis Susara SALES & MARKETING MANAGER Luke Simms SALES TEAM Pamela Taylor | Kayla Brown | Morgan Culpepper PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Chantal De Brouwer OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen GRAPHIC DESIGN MANAGER Severina Gachparova GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Laura Pratt | Ashley Dowling Ebic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva REGIONAL DIRECTOR Adam Cameron OPERATIONS MANAGER Jonathan Fisher CONTROLLER Jen Hamilton PUBLISHER Jeff Hocken Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: INSIDE DEC - JAN FOCUS ON: CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION (CHBA) GENERAL CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES 4 The Beauty & Value of Heritage Buildings Practically every county in the U.S. has a heritage building. In fact, we probably drive by one or more regularly without giving it much thought. But, in many ways, these historic build- ings and sites help knit together local history and culture. EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS 5 CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS WORLD OF CONCRETE 17 – 20 January, Las Vegas, NV Part knowledge, part equipment, part connections—World of Concrete is everything you need to keep thriving through disruptions to the supply chain, safety and beyond. Get your hands on advanced technology and machinery, access the newest training and techniques in concrete and masonry, and build momentum for another unstoppable year. Connect with OEMs from around the world and exclusive distribu- tors of equipment, tools, products and services for the commercial construction, concrete and masonry industries. For more information INTERNATIONAL ROOFING EXPO 1 – 3 February, New Orleans, LA The IRE is where residential and commercial contractors, remodelers, builders, distributors, architects, engineers, suppliers, and manufacturers from across the globe come together for education, product sourcing, and networking. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect face-to-face and hear from leading experts, educators, and your colleagues as they show you how to capitalize on the industry’s latest innovations, strategies, and best practices. For more information THE INTERNATIONAL SURFACE EVENT: SURFACES | STONEXPO/MARMOMAC | TILEEXPO 1 – 3 February, Las Vegas, NV and online Whether traveling to Las Vegas for in-person networking and product sourcing or connecting to the event virtually at the hybrid TISE Live Virtual Event | Vegas Edition 2022 sponsored by Mannington with Microban®, discover more exhibitors, the return of highly anticipated exhibitors, new education formats and programming, new show features, and much more. The full experience is being planned now for flooring, stone, and tile professionals to experience at TISE 2022. For more information GLOBAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYMPOSIUM 2022 14 – 17 February, Indian Wells, CA Whether your objectives are to learn more about breakthrough research and world-class content, to network with solid waste professionals and decision-makers from around the world, or to find solutions to your biggest challenges, GWMS is the event to accomplish them. The premier event for technical presentations in the solid waste industry, GWMS features world-class content, state-of-the-art research, and abundant oppor- tunities for networking. For more information CONTRACT AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND CONSTRUCTION 22 – 24 February, Houston, TX This conference will deliver case studies and panel discussions on how owners and contractors have overcome material shortages, labour scarcity, and price fluctuations with contract negotiation, wording, and interpretation to mitigate and balance risk. Sessions will explore strate- gies related to scheduling, assessing the shift toward an increase in renewables, and how to optimally forecast the future of the market. For more information visit: INDUSTRY EVENTS 6 Are you planning an event relating to North America’s growing Construction Industry? To get your event listed in Construction in Focus, please contact us at least six to eight weeks before the event takes place at or call 1-647-479-2163LOOKING TO THE PAST TO BUILD THE FUTURE SOFTWOOD TARIFFS ALMOST DOUBLE Before COVID-19, using sustainable building materials in con- striction was a growing issue. With shortages of construction products during the pandemic – lumber in particular – some builders began looking at alternatives. Used in Asia for thousands of years, bamboo has proven itself to be durable, flexible, and sustainable. Unlike typical heavy hard- woods and softwoods – which take decades to mature before they can be harvested – bamboo is lightweight, fast-growing, and can be harvested in just a few years. Along with being rela- tively inexpensive, bamboo has a considerably smaller environ- mental footprint compared to wood products. Recently, experts at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, Scotland discussed the many positive features of bamboo, particularly in India and other developing nations, which are poised to see consider- able construction in the next 50 years. This past May, the U.S. Commerce Department issued a report stating the country needed to increase the tariff on Canadian lumber, from 9 to 18 percent. Less than a week after November’s North American Leaders’ Summit, the Biden administration made good on this promise. With some calling Biden’s America First move a ploy to boost his sagging approval ratings, the move to impose a 17.9 percent tariff on exports of Canadian softwood to the United States has Canadian politicians and wood producers shaking their heads in bewilderment. The move follows other threats to Canada’s economy by the U.S., including cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline and recent American subsidies for electric vehicles, with their neighbours to the north being left out of the mix. While Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated Canada “is prepared to retaliate, to defend the national interest,” she omitted what any possible retaliatory efforts would be. INDUSTRY NEWS 7BEST & WORST PLACES FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS The building of a port believed to be a secret military facility in the United Arab Emirates has been put on hold. Cautioning that the Chinese-led project could pose a threat between the UAE and China, the Biden administration stated that classified satellite images revealed the site to be a poten- tial Chinese military base. According to the U.S. government, the UAE never had an agreement to host a Chinese military base in the country. American officials confirm they have been watching the site – located in the commercial Khalifa shipping port – for over a year. A recent ranking of the world’s best and worst places to be a construction worker recently raised some eyebrows. Complied by clothing manufacturer Workwear Guru, the survey looked at factors including wages, cost of living, and health and safety. All combined, the highest honours go to Switzerland, with construction workers earning an average annual salary of $80,000. This was followed by the United Kingdom, Belgium, the United States, Canada, Singapore, Luxembourg, China, Netherlands, and Denmark in 10th place. According to the findings, the most dangerous places to work in construction are Myanmar and Uganda, where job sites were rarely examined. Coming in at the bottom of the list in the 124th and 125th spots respectively were Ethiopia and Yemen. The country with the lowest wage was Uzbekistan, at $875 a month. “The future of the worldwide construction industry appears promising, forecast to reach $10.5 trillion by 2023 and employing more than 220 million people or 7 percent of the total global employment,” stated Workwear Guru on its survey site. “The primary drivers of this market’s growth are rising home starts and increased infrastructure as a result of increas- ing urbanization and population expansion.” CONSTRUCTION ON SUSPECTED MILITARY BASE HALTED INDUSTRY NEWS 8ONTARIO INVESTING IN SKILLED TRADES SMOG SHUTS DOWN CONSTRUCTION With an estimated shortfall of 100,000 construction workers over the coming decade, the Province of Ontario recently announced $90 million in new funding to promote skilled trades as a career to younger workers. Responding to the recent Apprenticeship Youth Advisors Report of workers in Ontario, the money will be used to attract students to the many unique opportunities which exist and to help drive the economy. “When you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life,” stated Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development in a media release. “Ontario’s trades are the backbone of our economy. More young people need to know that a job in the trades opens doors to bigger paycheques, with a pension and benefits. The trades can be their ticket to building a better life, strong family, and a stronger community for us all.” Additionally, the province announced an extra $2.9 million (for a total of $20 million annually), for expanding its Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). At present, the OYAP has 63 recruiters across more than 800 schools promoting skilled trades learning opportunities to young students. It is estimated that one in five Ontario jobs will be in the skilled trades by 2025, yet the average age of men and women in trades is 29. Combined with over 30 percent of existing tradespeople heading into retirement, it is projected Ontario could see a short- fall of 100,000 construction workers over the next 10 years. India’s capital of New Delhi recently saw construction sites closed as toxic smog engulfed the area. With air quality falling into the “very poor” category, residents of the city of almost 32 million found it difficult to breathe, owing to a combination of burning crop residue and cooler tempera- tures, resulting in trapped, grey smog. The move to temporarily close construction sites was followed by a shutdown of schools and coal-powered plants, and banning the movement of trucks transporting nonessential goods. INDUSTRY NEWS 9Next >