JULY 2019CONSTRUCTIONINFOCUS.COMBEST-IN-CLASS CONSTRUCTIONLeeswood ConstructionPERSONALIZED CONSTRUCTION FROM A SKILLED TEAMBANC GroupBRINGING LUXURY TO LIFELépine Corporation OLD19 Q2-WW-03 360 Rail Services Print Ad_PRELIM 3.indd 15/2/19 9:06 AMEDITOR’S CORNERWith summer finally here, backyard living is once again at the top of many minds. Today’s homeown-ers, though, are taking things to the next level, building the cottage or vacation experience into their landscaping and décor.“Much like home interior renovations, exterior projects are about making a splash,” writes Robert Hoshowsky in this issue. Sometimes that splash is literal – in-ground pools, waterfalls, and ponds are all desirable features for homeowners looking to make their yard an oasis. Bringing the indoors out in the form of outdoor kitchens – replete with gas barbecues, wine fridges, sinks, and even pizza ovens – is another trend on the rise. And comfortable seating and inviting lighting to rival any living room will always have a place in a luxurious backyard setting.“Bringing the indoors out in the form of outdoor kitchens – replete with gas barbecues, wine fridges, sinks, and even pizza ovens – is one trend on the rise.”In Robert’s Bespoke Backyards – Creating Outdoor Luxury, he explores these trends and more, and takes a closer look at the impetus behind wanting a resort-style vacation in our own backyards.Jaime McKee EditorEDITORJaime McKeeDEPUTY EDITORTim Hocken COPY EDITORThora Smith | Allister HavercroftCONTRIBUTING WRITERSJessica Ferlaino | Ryan Cartner | Nate HendleyWilliam Young | Pauline Müller | Robert HoshowskyKaren Hawthorne | Anne Lindert-Wentzell | David CaldwellMark Golombek | Margaret Eaton | Stacey McCarthyJen Hocken | Samita SarkarREGIONAL MANAGER OF RESEARCHCiaran DunneSENIOR CONTENT MANAGERSBrad Mike | Tom England | Peter SwaleCONTENT MANAGERSMehul Jagawat | Dale ConnollyLouis Susara | Zoe Lenzie-Smith | Darragh GilliganObed San Jose | James Corbett | Rosie WalkerAlan Keogh | Aaron Conway | Scott ForbesSALES & MARKETING MANAGERLuke SimmsSALES TEAMPamela Taylor | Dean Lucas | Kayla BrownEvan Broussard | Joshuwa Amero | Jason MerriottPRODUCTION COORDINATORChantal De BrouwerGRAPHIC DESIGNERSEbic Tristary | Yoana Ilcheva | Gavin Billings Lindsay Bailey | Victoria Lane | Ina GachparovaDIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTRobert ChambersPROJECT MANAGERJaimie FoxDIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONSColin O’NeillREGIONAL DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICAAdam CameronOPERATIONS MANAGERJonathan FisherCONTROLLERJen HamiltonPUBLISHERJeff Hocken OLD19 Q2-WW-03 360 Rail Services Print Ad_PRELIM 3.indd 15/2/19 9:06 AMSuite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | CanadaP: 1-647-479-2163 | E: info@fmgpublishing.com3INSIDE JULYFOCUS ON: USGBC CONSTRUCTION SERVICES SPECIALTY CONTRACTINGMECHANICAL CONTRACTING GENERAL CONSTRUCTIONEQUIPMENT & MACHINERY 4FOCUS ON: NRCA Today, spending tens of thousands of dollars or more on luxurious land-scaping is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Relaxing outdoor spaces serve as idyllic settings for romantic candlelit dinners and gathering places for family functions while adding curb appeal and value to properties.HEAVY CIVIL & INDUSTRIALROOFING MATERIALS & PRODUCTS 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 1-647-479-2163CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS CONGRESS25 – 28 July, Québec City, QCThe Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors Congress aims to promote and advance professional quantity surveying and construction estimat-ing, establish and maintain national standards, and recruit, educate and support its members. 2019’s Congress coincides with the Institute’s 60th anniversary celebration, so numerous special events and opportunities for networking will abound. Topics to include BIM and BIM Technology, Emerging Technologies, Sustainable Construction, Real Estate Development Trends, Economics and Opportunities, and many more.For more information FEDERAL DESIGN-BUILD SYMPOSIUM7 August, Arlington, VAThe Design-Build Institute of America will gather the nation’s leading federal sector design-builders in a one-of-a-kind opportunity for industry and owners to learn together and network. 2019’s Symposium will bring together key players from Federal agencies and the design and con-struction industry for sessions focused on optimizing project delivery outcomes for federal projects. For more information INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON STRUCTURAL CIVIL AND ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING9 – 10 August, Montreal, QCThe International Conference on Structural Civil and Architectural Engineering will bring together leading researchers and engineers from around the world. It will cover topics including Civil Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, Earthquake and Structural Engineering, and much more.For more information INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION ON CLEAN ENERGY12 – 14 August, Longueuil, QCThe International Conference & Exhibition on Clean Energy aims to gather researchers, scientists, engineers, practitioners and policy makers from all over the world to present advances in clean energy technologies. We are in an era in which there is a continuous progress in green energy sources and technologies and ICCE 2019 will provide a forum to exchange information, present new technologies and developments, and discuss the future direction, strategies, and priorities in the field of clean energy.For more information WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP: CEO OF YOU, INC.15 – 16 August, Chicago, ILThis interactive, hands-on workshop will provide a process for you to create a solid plan for increased life and career satisfaction. Topics include The Changing Workplace, Crafting a Future That Satisfies Your Values, Action Planning, Implementation Strategy, and more.For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS6INDUSTRY NEWSRAIN DAMAGE AT NOAH’S ARK ATTRACTION, LAWSUIT ENSUESA 510-foot-high replica of a biblical ship at Noah’s Ark Attraction, an ark encounter creationist theme park in Kentucky, received fairly substantial rain damage a couple of years ago and after its insurers refused to compensate for the damages incurred, the owners of the park filed a lawsuit seeking compensatory damages and recovery of losses. Rain showers caused a landslide on an access road to the attraction. The ark itself was not damaged. Insurers refused to pay the owners $1 million, citing faulty design or workmanship on the road to be the cause of the damage, which was not covered by its policy. OSHA REPORT ASSIGNS BLAME FOR FIU BRIDGE COLLAPSE While many await the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report for its findings on the cause of the fatal March 2018 pedestrian bridge collapse at Miami’s Florida International University, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Department of Labor’s workplace safety enforce-ment agency, has assigned blame on the engineer and the contractors on the project. Five contractors were cited: Figg Bridge Engineers, Magnum Construction Management (formerly Munilla Construction Management), the engineering firm and contractor on the project, engineering and inspection firm Network Engineering Services, post-tensioning special contractor Structural Technologies, and formwork contractor The Structural Group of South Florida. The project continued to proceed after cracks in the concrete were observed. NTSB and the Florida Department of Transportation have photographic evidence that shows that small cracks were visible before installation. The bridge was built off-site and the cracks grew during transport and con-struction. Despite the cracks, no adequate fall arrest system was employed. OSHA’s Office of Engineering Services (OES) places much of the blame on Figg, given it was clear that the cracks contributed to the bridge collapse and the cracks were the direct result of bridge design errors and no corrective or preventative actions were taken to prevent such a catastrophic event. Where the bridge fell and where most of the fatalities and injuries occurred should not have been open to traffic at the time and the bridge should have been reinforced or supported. During a morning meeting on the day of the tragic event, no one questioned why the trusses were developing cracks or whether it could potentially be a safety concern. It was Figg that instructed the post-tensioning bars to be re-tensioned, an action that ultimately led to the collapse. The ten-sioning bars of diagonal member eleven is where the cracks were observed and where the failure was presumed to take place. This was not part of the original design and had not been subject to peer review, as it should have. 7INDUSTRY NEWSU.S. MATERIAL SUPPLIERS SUED AFTER DEADLY GRENFELL FIRE Material suppliers in the U.S. are being sued by the survivors and families of the 71 lives lost during the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London, United Kingdom. The suit claims that the products cited in the suit exacerbated the spread of the fire. The materi-als in the building prior to the renovation would not have had the same impact. During renovations, workers did not comply with building codes and safety measures. Cavity barriers were poorly installed and as a result, created a path for the blaze rather than prevent-ing its spread, as they should have. Further, materials were stuffed in gaps in window frames and door closures were missing, which also helped the fire to spread more rapidly, and the building was not equipped with a sprin-kler system, which would have prevented the fire’s rapid onset. The insulation released cyanide gas when it burned, making the fire even more deadly. Whirlpool is named in the suit based on the claim that one of its refrigerators caused the fire (a claim that has been unsub-stantiated), in addition to cladding manufacturer Arconic Inc., and Celotex, an insulation manufacturer. Both the cladding and insulation are combustible and have been taken off the market. The trial by jury is likely to take years to commence. KAISER PERMANENTE TO SPEND $900M ON OAKLAND HQKaiser Permanente, a healthcare giant with seven locations cur-rently, is planning to spend $900 million to build its Oakland, California headquarters which will consolidate its 7,200 employ-ees into a single location, saving the company money and improving its culture in the process.The project will be located at 2100 Telegraph Avenue and is a testament to its seven decades in the community. The Kaiser Permanente Thrive Center will feature modern, environmen-tally sustainable design components, efficient workspaces, access to public transit, and healthy food options, and will support the company in achieving its goal of being carbon net positive by 2025. There will be a health clinic and health education, including exercise and cooking classes, as well as community meeting areas and community art installations. Construction is set to begin in 2020 and is anticipated to be complete in 2023. By consolidating its seven locations into one headquarters location, Kaiser Permanente can decrease its operating costs by $60 million annually, saving money in facilities management, utilities expenses, and leasing. EXXONMOBIL, SABIC JV CONSTRUCTION BEGINSA joint venture between ExxonMobil and Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC) has commenced. Construction on the $9 billion pet-rochemical plant in San Patricio County, Texas has begun and once completed, it will be well positioned to take advantage of the activity and opportunity in the Permian basin. With state-of-the-art technology, the 1.8 million metric ton ethane steam cracker with two polyethylene units and a mono-ethylene glycol unit is set to be the world’s largest steam cracker. Commissioning is expected by 2022. It will produce materials that are used in the manufacture of countless products includ-ing automotive coolants, packaging, building and construction materials, clothing and more. The project will create 6,000 jobs during construction and 600 permanent jobs once operational. A study by Impact Data Source estimates that the project will generate more than $22 billion in economic output during construction and $50 billion during the first six years in operation. Industries Group, Chiyoda and Kiewit, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Zachry Group have been selected as the primary engineering, procurement and construction companies that will lead the project through construction. Grenfell TowerThabo Jaiyesimi / Shutterstock.com8INDUSTRY NEWSTRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION GRANTED APPROVAL After declaring a climate crisis, Prime Minister Trudeau’s cabinet has approved the $7.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expan-sion. The decision affirms the conclusion of the National Energy Board that the 1,150-kilometer expansion that will triple capacity to close to one million barrels a day does have the potential to pose a risk to the environment and marine life, but it is in the nation’s best interest to push ahead with the project. The pipeline expansion will span from Alberta to British Columbia, which will provide logistical advantage and proxim-ity to markets in the Asia-Pacific region, diversifying the market for Canadian resources. The project is expected to generate billions for tax coffers and thousands of jobs. The approval comes after many delays, though there are likely to be additional delays and court battles ahead. The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association has noted that every year that the project is delayed, its value of the pipeline is diminished nearly $700 million. Part of the announcement outlined the government’s commit-ment to direct federal corporate tax revenue to investments in unspecified clean energy projects, which are estimated to reach upwards of $500 million annually. Any proceeds from the eventual sale of the pipeline will be earmarked for projects that support the transition away from fossil fuels.9Next >