FEBRUARY 2018constructioninfocus.comBUILT ON RESPECTThe John G. Johnson Construction CompanyBUILDING RELATIONSHIPSCFI MechanicalOKLAHOMA’S LOCAL HEAVY ROAD CONSTRUCTION COMPANYBecco Contractors EDITOR’S CORNERWelcome to a new issue of Construction in Focus. With a new year upon us, sustainability is at the top of many minds and the tips of many tongues. But sus-tainability is far more than just the latest buzzword; the construction sector in par-ticular is positioned to make huge strides in the areas of environmental sustainability, affordable housing, alternative energy integration, and smart infrastruc-ture. With the ability to incorporate eco-friendly building materials, energy-efficient design, sensitive water and waste management, and the latest technology into projects, leading construction and design firms are often at the vanguard of sus-tainable building and, ultimately, living.As Nate Hendley writes in this issue’s Sustainable Cities – Good for the Environment and the Bottom Line, “Sustainability is a trend worth paying attention to and not just to save the planet; green construction is rapidly becoming an area that generates a great deal of revenue.” It also has the power to showcase new ideas. Nate’s piece takes a closer look at Florida’s Babcock Ranch, a planned, sustainable community that “highlights measures big cities can implement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, energy costs and reliance on fossil fuels while creating more liveable, IT-friendly environments.”If sustainability is the way of the future, then there is certainly value in modeling smart, scalable ideas that could be applied industry-wide. Babcock Ranch is doing this, and so too are the innovative companies we profile for you in these pages. We look forward to seeing where they will take us next.Jaime McKee EditorSuite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | CanadaP: 1-647-479-2163 | E: info@fmgpublishing.comconstructioninfocus.comEDITORJaime McKeeDEPUTY EDITORTim HockenDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTRobert ChambersDIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONSColin O’NeillREGIONAL MANAGERSAdam Cameron | Ciaran DunneMANAGER OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENTNate SeligRESEARCH MANAGERSMehul Jagawat | Melissa McIsaac | Peter SwaleBrad Mike | Alan Keogh | Zach O’KeefeChristian Cooke | Evan Broussard | Sam DesjardinsAfrah El Hack | Simon Lisowiec | Mary Hirtle | Matt ShayErin Wells | Richard Bell | Kris JordanPRODUCTION COORDINATORClaire ChambersGRAPHIC DESIGNERSEbic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva | Gavin BillingsLindsay Bailey | Akira ArrudaOPERATIONS MANAGERJonathan FisherCONTRIBUTING EDITORJessica FerlainoCONTRIBUTING WRITERSRobert Hoshowsky | Ryan Cartner | Nate HendleyPauline Müller | Laura McHargue | Margaret EatonMark Golombek | Anne Lindert-WentzellJen Hocken | Samita Sarkar | Ian McCauslandCOPY EDITORThora SmithSALES & MARKETINGJosh Daurie | Pamela Taylor | Luke Simms | Lucy PalmerKayla Brown | Shawn Clarke | Dean Lucas CONTROLLERJen HamiltonPUBLISHERJeff Hocken “Leading construction and design firms are often at the vanguard of sustainable building.”3 INSIDE FEBRUARY Green Commercial Construction Heavy Civil and IndustrialFocus on: HVACR M.E.P. Equipment, Machinery & Products4 CONTENTS Based in Southwest Florida, Babcock Ranch is a planned community that aims to be the first city in the United States powered almost entirely by solar energy. Homeowners just started moving into the community earlier this year.Focus on: Concrete Architecture & EngineeringSteel, Wood & Concrete Focus on: Steel Focus on: Woodwork Specialty & Construction Services 5 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 info@fmgpublishing.com or call 1-647-479-2163INDUSTRY EVENTSWORKPLACE BULLYING 13 – 14 February, Chicago, ILThis workshop provides the interpersonal skills needed to develop a positive workplace culture, and addresses negative behaviours from dif-ferent angles. Assertiveness skills are integrated into the course for those who might feel targeted or have team members who are targeted by aggressive co-workers. Positive communication skills are demonstrated for those who may be too aggressive or have aggressive team members. The behaviour of bystanders is addressed by creating awareness about the importance of standing up for each other to create positive and productive workplace, and attendees will agree on a set of ground rules that can be used in their own workplace.For more information BUILDEX VANCOUVER 14 – 15 February, Vancouver, BCBUILDEX Vancouver is Western Canada’s largest tradeshow and conference for the Construction, Renovation, Architecture, Interior Design and Property Management industries. With over 600 exhibits and more than 80 educational seminars, BUILDEX attracts over 14,000 attendees annually. For more information THE WWETT SHOW 21 – 24 February, Indianapolis, INThe WWETT Show – Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport – Is the largest annual U.S. trade show for the wastewater industry. With a robust Marketplace Expo, best-in-the-industry education, a festival of live demos, and great parties and events, the WWETT Show is truly the industry event of the year. Choose from over 110 sessions taught by some of the best and brightest in the industry. Three days of seminars, including opportunities for certification, begins with a jam-packed Education Day on Wednesday.For more information JLC LIVE RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION SHOW 22 – 24 March, Providence, RIJLC LIVE is the leading construction industry event exclusively serving the residential building segment. From coast to coast, construction professionals and manufacturers alike come to JLC LIVE to take their business to the next level. Enjoy exhibitor demonstrations, building clinics, training sessions, networking opportunities, and more.For more information MONTRÉAL REAL ESTATE FORUM 28 March, Montréal, QCOver 75 speakers and presentations will focus on the economic drivers responsible for the city’s growth; the major investment, leasing and development trends in the office, industrial, retail, multi-unit residential, and land markets; how much renewal activity is underway; and what municipal initiatives and strategies are facilitating growth. The Forum is targeted at real estate executives, brokers, developers, investors, asset managers, and other professionals active in the acquisition, leasing, financing, management, and marketing of office, industrial, retail, and multi-unit residential real estate. For more information 6 INDUSTRY NEWSAPPLE TO BUILD SECOND CAMPUSApple has indicated interest in building a second campus in the United States at a location that is still being determined, making the announcement after Amazon created a media frenzy with its proposed second major North American campus. Dubbed HQ2, Amazon short-listed 20 of the 238 North American cities that submitted a proposal to contend for the $5 billion invest-ment and the promise of 50 000 jobs. Apple’s proposed $350 billion investment is part of its five-year commitment to the U.S. economy. The project is expected to create 20 000 new positions. The company recently completed work on its new 2.8 million square foot headquarters in Cuper-tino, California. In addition to its $5 billion headquarters investment, it is also investing heavily in data centers, doubling the size of its Reno, Nevada operations with a $1 billion investment, and investing $1.3 billion in a data center in Waukee, Iowa.The announcement hinges on the tax overhaul that is currently taking place in the U.S. Apple intends on taking full advantage of a provision that not only reduces corporate tax rates, but also allows for a one-time break on cash being held overseas, $250 billion of which it will re-shore to fund the project. It will be interesting to see if Apple entertains a bidding process as gran-diose as Amazon’s.ONE LEAF MAKES SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT IN SASKATCHEWANHaving received conditional approval, construction is underway at One Leaf Cannabis Corporation’s 44 000 square foot, multi-million-dollar marijuana production facility that will be located in RM of Sherwood, a Joint Planning Area located in Regina, Saskatchewan. The project will create more than 100 jobs and is expected to be complete by summer 2018. Located in Sherwood Industrial Park, the facility will produce 4 100 kilograms of medical marijuana annually, increasing production to 16 000 kilograms annually once its two other planned facilities are operational. The project has unique bio-security considerations that were addressed by essentially designing a building within a building to ensure compliance with regulations. The company is awaiting Health Canada approval and may look to expand into recreational marijuana markets when cannabis is legalized in Canada later this year.Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com7 INDUSTRY NEWSTALLAHASSEE SOLAR FARM IS READY TO SHINE BRIGHTA $33.2 million 20-megawatt solar farm in Tallahassee, Florida is up and running and is now integrated with the city’s energy grid. Contracted by the City of Tallahassee’s Utilities Depart-ment, Miami-based Origis Energy USA financed the project, constructing it without tax contributions, and is now in control of operations.The agreement states that if Origis continues to produce energy for the city, the city will cover the $60 000 annual lease for the property it is located on. The solar farm is located on property at the Tallahassee International Airport that is being leased to the Utilities Department for a 33-year term. Both the Utilities Department and the airport are overseen by the city. The 120-acre property is covered with 234 000 glass panels giving it the capacity to light up over 3000 homes. The solar farm, which was completed in December 2017, is expected to generate up to 37 million kilowatts of power or two percent of the city’s total power supply, while helping it reduce its carbon footprint by 18 000 tons a year. This is one of Tallahassee’s many efforts to be a leader in sustain-ability. The city’s goal is to become 100 percent sustainable by 2035. A second phase of the solar project is awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and will result in the addition of 40 megawatts of power to the grid.SITE C DAM GETS GO-AHEAD IN BRITISH COLUMBIAAfter numerous delays, the NDP government in British Columbia has announced it is allowing construction of the highly conten-tious Site C Dam project to go ahead. The hydroelectric dam project which entails large-scale earth fill on the Peace River near Fort St. John has been the source of controversy and opposition since the idea was first introduced. The project was originally granted approval by the provincial Liberals in 2014 and has been under construction for two years, during which it has fallen behind schedule and has gone over-budget. Now that permission to resume operations has been granted, it is expected to be completed by late 2024. Site C Dam is the largest construction project in British Colum-bia’s history and it is expected to generate enough energy to power the equivalent of 400 000 homes. The project was originally projected to cost $8.3 billion but new estimates are placing the overall cost closer to $10.7 billion. A total of $4 billion has already been spent on the project which has been plagued by mismanagement, the blame for which is being assigned to the previous government. The current NDP government cited the costs associated with terminating the project as one of the main reasons for its decision to move ahead with construction, noting that it would ensure greater budgetary oversight moving forward. If terminated, the project would have cost an additional $4 billion over ten years, an expense that would have fallen to ratepayers, BC Hydro or taxpayers. Likewise, rates would have increased as a result. Regardless of the decision that was rendered in this highly divisive case, the project is likely to be met by continued protest from those opposed to its development. 8 INDUSTRY NEWSFIAT CHRYSLER TO INVEST $1 B IN MICHIGANAnticipating the White House’s withdrawal from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which would sig-nificantly minimize risks to its profitability, Fiat Chrysler has announced its intention to invest $1 billion in its operations in Warren, Michigan, adding 2 500 jobs as it transfers production of its Ram Heavy-Duty pickup trucks back to the United States in 2020. This move by the automaker has been contingent on the direc-tion of tax and trade policy at the federal government level, as a withdrawal from NAFTA could result in the automaker paying 25 percent duty on pickup trucks that are assembled in Mexico and shipped to the United States, a smart move as 90 percent of the pickup trucks it manufactures in Mexico are sold in the U.S. and Canada. No reductions in workforce are expected in Mexico, as opera-tions south of the border will be shifted to produce future commercial vehicles that have yet to be announced. This will improve Fiat Chrysler’s access to global markets as Mexico enjoys free-trade agreements with numerous countries around the world. WILL CARILLION’S FALLOUT IMPACT CANADA?Carillion, the United Kingdom’s second largest construction firm, has been forced to enter bankruptcy as debts exceeding $2.6 billion and a $1 billion pension deficit leave the company little choice but to liquidate. Of the company’s 23 000 global workforce, 6 000 operate in Canada. Carillion Canada is the largest road service contractor in Canada and is responsible for plowing and maintaining 40 000 kilome-tres of highway in Ontario and Alberta, in addition to property service contracts it has with hospitals, airports, educational institutions, commercial buildings and shopping malls. A sub-sidiary of Carillion, Outland, manages remote work camps in Canada as well. Having secured numerous high-profile contracts, Carillion Canada has had its fair share of challenges of late. In 2017, Ontar-io’s Ministry of Transportation halted an 11-year maintenance contract for highways in Muskoka-Parry Sound, cutting it short by five years. In 2014, the City of Toronto put an end to Carillion Canada’s role in Union Station’s ongoing renovations over per-formance and budgetary issues. Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com9 Next >