JULY 2018CONSTRUCTIONINFOCUS.COMMAKING CONSTRUCTION A STRONGER INDUSTRY 25 YEARS AS A KNOWLEDGEABLE RESOURCE FOR UTILITY CONSTRUCTION & TREE CARE CONTRACTORS A RETROFIT CONTRACTOR BIG ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE AND SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE EDITOR’S CORNERWelcome to a new Construction in Focus. In this issue, we take a closer look at the Canadian housing market. Unlike the crash experienced by our neighbours to the south, Canadian real estate held fast through the global financial crisis, with prices continuing to rise and bubble conditions developing. Particularly in hot markets like Vancouver and Toronto, prices have continued to skyrocket, and even with new construction going strong, many consum-ers are finding themselves priced out of these sizzling markets.“Even with new construction going strong, many consumers are finding themselves priced out of these sizzling markets.”With these markets highly vulnerable, some experts, like John Mollenhauer, president and CEO of the Toronto Construction Association, are predicting that localized markets are likely to enter a recession by early to mid-2020. The Canadian gov-ernment has undertaken efforts to normalize these runaway markets, yet, as Jessica Ferlaino writes in this issue, “The rules have had a destabilizing impact on weaker housing markets that, unlike Toronto and Vancouver markets, were not in need of market cooling measures.” In other markets, values are begin-ning to drop and sales are in decline, with many sellers unwill-ing to let their homes go for less than their perceived value.In Jessica’s Waiting for the Bubble to Burst - Making Sense of the Canadian Real Estate Market, she examines the steps the government is taking to stabilize the market and the new mortgage conditions buyers are facing as a result. Jaime McKee EditorSuite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | CanadaP: 1-647-479-2163 | E: info@fmgpublishing.comEDITORJaime McKeeDEPUTY EDITORTim Hocken COPY EDITORThora SmithCONTRIBUTING WRITERSRyan Cartner | Nate Hendley Mark Golombek | Jen Hocken | Robert Hoshowsky Pauline Müller | Samita Sarkar | Stacey McCarthy Margaret Eaton | Jessica FerlainoREGIONAL MANAGER OF RESEARCHNate Selig | Ciaran DunneSENIOR CONTENT MANAGERSBrad Mike | Tom England | Peter SwaleCONTENT MANAGERSMehul Jagawat | Des O’Reilly | Simon Lisowiec Marc Boudreau | Evan Broussard | Melissa McIsaac Scott Forbes | Aaron Conway | Simon LisowiecSALES & MARKETING MANAGERLuke SimmsSALES TEAMPamela Taylor | Dean Lucas | Lucy Palmer | Kayla Brown Shawn Clarke | Joshuwa Amero | Sam DesjardinsPRODUCTION COORDINATORClaire ChambersGRAPHIC DESIGNERSEbic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva | Gavin Billings Lindsay Bailey | Sarah Leeson | Nicole GalatisDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTRobert ChambersPROJECT MANAGERJaimie FoxDIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONSColin O’NeillREGIONAL DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICAAdam CameronOPERATIONS MANAGERJonathan FisherCONTROLLERJen HamiltonPUBLISHERJeff Hocken3INSIDE JULY03 EDITOR’S CORNER06 INDUSTRY EVENTS07 INDUSTRY NEWS RESIDENTIAL HEAVY CIVIL & INDUSTRIAL ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERINGCONSTRUCTION SERVICES SPECIALTY CONTRACTING 4CONTINUING FOCUS: ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTORS (AED)10 COVER STORYWAITING FOR THE BUBBLE TO BURSTMaking Sense of the Canadian Real Estate MarketThe world’s leading bankers and analysts are closely watching the Canadian real estate market, chiefly hot markets in Toronto and Vancouver, trying to make sense of the perceived volatility that many speculate will result in a bubble and a subsequent crash.EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY & PRODUCTS MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, HVAC & PLUMBING 5CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS 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 1-647-479-2163MICROBIOLOGY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT 15 – 20 July, Biddeford, METhe first Gordon Research Conference on the Microbiology of the Built Environment will include expert speakers, poster sessions, and an inter-active agenda – all focused on the ecology, control, and positive and negative health impacts of microbes, viruses, allergens and biotoxins in buildings. Enjoy varied sessions and numerous networking opportunities.For more information INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL CIVIL AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING3 – 4 August, Montreal, QCThe International Conference on Structural, Civil and Architectural Engineering, organized by the Innovative Research Publication will take place at the University of Quebec at Montreal in Montreal, Canada. The conference will cover areas like Structural Engineering, Architectural Engineering, Advanced Technology of Engineering Structures, High-rise Structures and Large-span Structures, Bridge and tunnel engineering, and many more.For more information DATA CENTRE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION15 – 16 August, San Francisco, CAThis conference will explore the theme of, ‘Optimizing Energy Efficiency for Infrastructure, Cooling Systems, & Servers while Cost Effectively Procuring Materials and Labour.’ Professionals attending this conference will develop and master sustainable practices in data centre design and construction while exploring innovation in cooling systems and server design in the era of innovation and IoT (Internet of Things). Attendees will foster a smoother transition from design to construction to operations through newfound skills in planning, procurement, and contractor management to keep up with the pace at which the data centre industry proliferates.For more information NATIONAL ERGONOMICS CONFERENCE & ERGOEXPO21 – 24 August, Las Vegas, NVAt this conference, attendees will earn how to build an effective ergonomics program or maximize an existing one, on any budget. ErgoExpo is also home to the industry’s largest expo, featuring hundreds of exhibitors offering thousands of ergonomic and safety products all under one roof. Learning tracks include Industrial Ergonomics and Safety, Material Handling / Tools / Workstation Design, Office and Mobile Workforce, Wellness / Healthcare / Lab Ergonomics, and much more.For more information CANADIAN APARTMENT INVESTMENT CONFERENCE5 September, Toronto, ONThe Canadian Apartment Investment Conference brings together owners, managers, developers, investors and lenders to provide valuable insights into the multi-unit residential market: how to increase net asset values, and how this sector is performing. Last year’s conference attract-ed over 700 executives interested in learning about major trends, issues, opportunities, and strategies in Canada’s multi-unit residential market.For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS6INDUSTRY NEWS$1B HISTORIC TRANSFORMATION UNDERWAY IN CHICAGOA $1 billion transformation that will see the historic Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois converted into an Owings and Merrill-designed redevelopment has broken ground and will soon become the dual branded Hyatt House/Hyatt Place Hotel. To date, $135 million in financing has been secured for the project. The development team consists of Walsh Construction, who will serve as general contractor on the project, Murphy Development Group, Civic Health Department Group, MB Real Estate, Plenary Group and Granite Companies. The team has secured a 99-year lease with Cook County for the project. The project will begin with a non-structural interior demolition followed by the restoration of the Beaux Arts façade on the 102-year old building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has been vacant for the past 16 years. The hotel will have 210 rooms, with 70 000 square feet allotted for medical space and 4000 square feet that will be dedicated to a museum of the building’s long history. In the future, the project could include the addition of mixed-use residential, retail and office space. VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT UNDERGOING $9.1B EXPANSIONConstruction has commenced on the first of 75 projects that are planned as part of a two-year C$9.1 billion expansion of the Vancouver International Airport that will eventually see gates, baggage and connections all located conveniently in one inter-connected terminal. The project is expected to create 2500 full time construction jobs. The project, which spans both the airport’s domestic and international terminals, will include one of the largest geo-thermal heating and cooling GeoExchange systems in Canada, new parking facilities that will boast increased capacity, and improved car rental facilities.Vancouver International Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in North America. It had 24.2 million passengers pass through in 2017 and there is a reasonable expectation that number will grow to 32 million by 2022. The airport operates according to a not-for-profit business model. It receives no government funding and all profits are reinvested back into the airport, which plays an important role in the provincial and national economy. An increase to the airport improvement fee is being considered to cover the costs associated with the expansion project. 7NEW JERSEY OFFICIALS SECURE $600M FOR PORTAL NORTH BRIDGEA financing agreement between the New Jersey Transit Board of Directors and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has been secured, with the latter agreeing to contrib-ute up to $600 million for the Portal North Bridge project. The bonds that are issued will be paid back during a 30-year term from the state’s Transportation Trust Fund. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was joined by other gov-ernment officials and representatives of Amtrak for the ground breaking for the two-track rail bridge that sits 53 feet above the water. The project is part of a $24 to $30 billion Gateway Program that intends on alleviating congestion and improving rail service along the northeastern corridor. The new bridge will accommodate faster trains and greater volumes. The existing 110-year-old swing bridge being replaced has been fraught with technical problems and traffic bottle-necks. Over 58 million passengers cross the bridge each year. Contracts totalling $20 million have already been awarded and they include the construction of a finger pier, new fibre optic cable poles and a steel bridge that will traverse over a municipal water main and retaining wall. The Portal South Bridge project, another two-track replacement, is planned for the future. FUTURISTIC TRANSIT PLANNED FOR CHICAGO’S O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTElon Musk’s Boring Company has been selected by Chicago Infrastructure Trust (CIT) on behalf of the City of Chicago to design, build, finance and build a multimillion dollar high-speed express train from Chicago to O’Hare International Airport. The project aims at reducing traffic congestion and reducing pas-sengers’ commute times. Two lines will run from Chicago’s Central Loop to the airport and will use autonomous pod-like cars that will depart as often as every 30 seconds. Known as the Chicago Express Loop, passengers will travel at 100 miles per hour, taking only 12 minutes to arrive at the airport. The project is expected to be complete by 2022. INDUSTRY NEWSAECON-LED JV AWARDED BRUCE POWER CONTRACTA joint venture between Aecon and SNC-Lavalin that is operating under the name Shoreline Power Group has been awarded the $475 million contract to replace the Unit 6 fuel channel and feeder at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station in Kincardine, Ontario. The project is the focus of the Major Component Replacement (MCR) program to replace the main reac-tor’s main components. Part of Bruce Power’s Life Extension Program, these efforts will enable the facility’s CANDU units to continue to safely operate through 2064. Unit 6 is the first of six reactors being replaced. The contract includes the removal and replacement of calandria APHRIA TO BUILD CANNABIS FACILITY IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIOtubes, pressure tubes and feeders and is scheduled to commence June 2020, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2022. The JV signed a preferred supplier agree-ment with Bruce Power and could potentially be awarded similar contracts for the remaining five units that require replacement under the MCR program. Aphria Inc.’s Board of Directors recently announced the company’s plan to invest $55 million to build an extrac-tion centre in Leamington, Ontario, a city already known for its agricultural prowess, self-proclaimed as the tomato capital of Canada. The facility will be named the Extraction Centre of Excellence and will have the capacity to conduct a range of cannabis extractions, including using CO2, butane and ethanol to produce cannabis con-centrates. This investment will give Aphria a competitive advantage in the market as an industry leader in research and development.The facility will have two class one/division one extraction rooms, in addition to production and packaging facilities that are expected to process more than 200 000 kilograms of cannabis each year, bringing Aphria’s total annual capacity to 255 000 kilograms. This will help it satisfy supply agreements with provincial retail establishments and others players like Shoppers Drug Mart. Construction is slated to begin imme-diately and is expected to be up and running with its first concentrates ready to go by March 2019, just five months after cannabis is set to be legalized in Canada. 9Next >