LOOKING TO CORNERSTONE FOR WHAT’S BEST IN CORRECTIONS Cornerstone A TEAM APPROACH TO EVERY PROJECT Amcon Construction HIGH-END MATERIALS, SUPERIOR SERVICES Silvi Materials CONSTRUCTIONINFOCUS.COM OC TO BE R 2 02 3Elite has been a utility contractor since 1999. Elite provides turnkey substation construction services ranging in size up to 500kV stations, site development, access roads, matting, and erosion control services. Site clearing and preparation, including transmission ROW clearing Underground utility construction (sewer, water and storm) Access roads & matting Erosion control Control equipment enclosure (CEE) built on-sitebuilt on-site Concrete foundation installation Electrical construction Apparatus testing and commissioning Relay services Elite has been a utility contractor since 1999. Elite provides turnkey substation construction services ranging in size up to 500kV stations, site development, access roads, matting, and erosion control services. Site clearing and preparation, including transmission ROW clearing Underground utility construction (sewer, water and storm) Access roads & matting Erosion control Control equipment enclosure (CEE) built on-sitebuilt on-site Concrete foundation installation Electrical construction Apparatus testing and commissioning Relay servicesEDITOR’S CORNER Elite has been a utility contractor since 1999. Elite provides turnkey substation construction services ranging in size up to 500kV stations, site development, access roads, matting, and erosion control services. Site clearing and preparation, including transmission ROW clearing Underground utility construction (sewer, water and storm) Access roads & matting Erosion control Control equipment enclosure (CEE) built on-sitebuilt on-site Concrete foundation installation Electrical construction Apparatus testing and commissioning Relay services Elite has been a utility contractor since 1999. Elite provides turnkey substation construction services ranging in size up to 500kV stations, site development, access roads, matting, and erosion control services. Site clearing and preparation, including transmission ROW clearing Underground utility construction (sewer, water and storm) Access roads & matting Erosion control Control equipment enclosure (CEE) built on-sitebuilt on-site Concrete foundation installation Electrical construction Apparatus testing and commissioning Relay services 3 The birth of steel can be traced back more than 4,000 years, to the beginning of the iron age. Originally used by a number of soci- eties around the globe for specialized applications such as armour, tools, and weaponry, the use of steel for structural purposes began to take off in the 1880s, largely in response to the devastation wrought by fire on traditional timber- framed buildings. That decade saw the construction of the first steel suspension bridge and the first steel skyscraper, and marked a crucial turning point in construction. To this day, the popularity of steel persists, and it is not difficult to see why. “Today, it is unusual to see large-scale structures built without steel,” even when other materials are used in combination, writes Robert Hoshowsky in this issue. “Relatively lightweight, steel doesn’t bend or deform unless it is placed under extreme stress. Combined with a high strength-to-weight ratio, steel is well-suited for structural sections and both internal and external applications, such as staircases and railings,” Robert describes. Steel also lends itself well to speed and uniformity in con- struction, and the aforementioned fire resistance cannot be overstated. “Historically, some of the biggest structures on Earth were made using steel, and remain intact to this day,” writes Robert. That bridge we mentioned? It’s the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, still in use 140 years later. Take a closer look in this issue’s From Beautiful Bridges to Breathtaking Buildings – The Enduring Strength of Steel. Jaime McKee Editor Suite 300, 7071 Bayers Rd. | Halifax, NS | B3L 2C2 | Canada P: 1-647-479-2163 | E: EDITOR Jaime McKee DEPUTY EDITOR Tim Hocken COPY EDITORS Thora Smith | Allister Havercroft CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jessica Ferlaino | Margaret Eaton | Nicholas Parker Nate Hendley | Pauline Müller | William Young Allison Dempsey | Robert Hoshowsky DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS James Corbett OPERATIONS MANAGER Severina Gachparova CONTENT DEVELOPMENT TEAM LEAD Scott Forbes SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPER Wendy Hood-Morris CONTENT DEVELOPERS Connor Connolly | Dean Lucas | Erin Grant Steve Finn | Eugene Farrow | Faye Hiscock Erin McWhinney | Nilla Poorashkan SALES TEAM LEAD Pamela Taylor SALES TEAM Morgan Culpepper | Dean Lucas GRAPHIC DESIGN TEAM LEAD Laura Pratt GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Ashley Dowling | Ebic Tristary Isaac McWhinnie | Yoana Ilcheva SENIOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT Christi Lingard OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR Julia MacQueen IT ADMINISTRATOR Rebecca Sanford CONTROLLER Jen Hamilton PUBLISHER Jeff HockenINSIDE OCTOBER FOCUS ON: MODULAR BUILDING FOCUS ON: KITCHEN CABINET MANUFACTURERS GENERAL CONTRACTING ATLANTIC MOMENTUM 86 BUILDING CABINETS, CAREERS, AND COMMUNITIES Great Northern Cabinetry 4 The Enduring Strength of Steel Of all building materials, one of the most popular—and most vital—is steel. Strong, versatile and long-lasting, steel is an alloy made from iron and small amounts of carbon—often 0.04 percent to 2.25 percent—and small amount of other elements including silicon, phosphorus, sulphur and oxygen. So much more than simply ‘steel,’ there are five main classifica- tions of the material: carbon steels, alloy steels, high-strength low-alloy steels, stainless steels, and tool steels. CONSTRUCTION SERVICES EQUIPMENT & PRODUCTS 5 CONSTRUCTION IN FOCUS BUILDEX CALGARY 18 – 19 October, Calgary, AB BUILDEX Alberta is a driving force behind today’s building industry and a vision of its future, bringing together professionals from across industry to interact, learn, and discover the newest innovations in a market in constant transformation. This year, BUILDEX is bigger and better than ever. With even more seminars, workshops, product demos, innovation showcases, and exhibitors, it’s your source to stay up to date on current trends and issues in the built environment. For more information 25TH ANNUAL LEAN CONSTRUCTION INSTITUTE (LCI) CONGRESS 24 – 27 October, Detroit, MI Gain new ideas and perspectives that will enrich your work and drive your Lean practice forward. Playing a vital role in the ever-evolving design and construction industry for 25 years, Congress is where the Lean community comes together for unparalleled knowledge-sharing across disciplines. Join more than 1,400 colleagues and industry leaders for the Lean event of the year, and gain the opportunity to earn continuing education credits, engage in cutting-edge Lean methods, and network with peers and leaders. For more information KITCHEN + BATH CANADA / STONETECH CANADA 25 – 27 October, Toronto, ON Canada’s only trade show dedicated to the Kitchen & Bath industry, Kitchen + Bath Canada is the gateway to this growing sector. KBC gathers the highest-quality products and services, making it the destination for exhibitors and attendees to learn about current industry trends and discover showcased products. The national and international kitchen and bath industry will gather under one roof, providing traders and buyers the ideal platform to learn, network, and share market insights. Co-located with StoneTech Canada, a specialized tradeshow for the Stone and Technology industry aimed at sharing expertise, products, and services and making connections with like-minded professionals in the industry. For more information or INTERNATIONAL POOL | SPA | PATIO EXPO™ / DECK EXPO 13 – 15 November, Las Vegas, NV The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo™, co-located with Deck Expo (PSP/Deck Expo) is where all segments of the industry (pool, spa, patio, decking, and outdoor living) gather to stay well-informed of the latest trends, market directions, and technology. The event offers industry pro- fessionals a broad selection of educational sessions, an expo hall, and various networking opportunities. Interact with industry leaders, speak with top manufacturers, and learn about how to thrive in today’s pool, spa, and outdoor living industry. For more information THE BUILDINGS SHOW 29 November – 1 December, Toronto, ON For 35 years, The Buildings Show has delivered the most cutting-edge, expert-led seminars, best-in-class continuing education opportunities, informative panels, thought-provoking roundtables, more than 100 conference sessions, and a tradeshow experience that can’t be missed. Now, experience four events with one ticket: Construct Canada, PM Expo, Homebuilder & Renovator Expo, and the World of Concrete Toronto Pavilion—every angle of the Canadian building industry under one roof! For more information 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 1-647-479-2163INDUSTRY NEWS REPORT FINDS U.S. BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION CAUSED DAMAGE TO BURIAL SITE A 72-page government report released to the public by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the first indepen- dent effort by the nonpartisan government research agency to assess the destruction caused by the border wall, and it found that expedited construction along a section of the border in the state of Arizona caused damage to sensitive ecosystems and Indigenous cultural sites, including a burial ground. The report focused on a period from 2017 to January 2021 and found that federal authorities at the time utilized national security provisions to bypass existing protections including federal environmental and other laws. Certainly, construction efforts were challenged by the geog- raphy and topography of the area, which is marked by rugged desert, mountainous regions, and coastal beaches; however, to overcome these challenges, laws and regulations were overlooked or waived. Blasting during barrier construction was found to have caused damage to a sacred Indigenous burial ground, altering water flows and leaving a mountain- side in danger of collapse, and thus, further risking cultural and natural resources including wildlife and biological diversity. The report also found that of the 485 miles of border crossing that was constructed during the Trump Administration, 81 percent of it replaced or overlapped with existing barriers rather than breaking new ground. Border wall construc- tion was halted under President Biden, but this also paused or cancelled necessary restoration work including water drainage and reseeding native vegetation. Work may also be required to reverse the damage that has been caused by the wall in some areas. Rebekah Zemansky / shutterstock.com 7INDUSTRY NEWS RENTAL APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION REACHES 50-YEAR HIGH According to a report by RentCafe, new rental apartment con- struction in the U.S. is slated to exceed a 50-year high in 2023, with nearly 461,000 units expected across the country. Analysis of Yardi Matrix data found that the number is expected to remain high until 2025, when it is believed that the impact of the current economic uncertainty will be felt by the construc- tion industry, as there is typically a lag. Tighter lending, higher interest rates, and rising costs of labour, materials, and property will eventually slow the market, but it will take time for the ripple effects to make their way through the sector to have a notable impact. Over the past three years, 1.2 million units have been built. The New York Metropolitan area is leading the way nationally with the expectation that 33,000 units will come on the market in 2023. Nearly one-third will be in Brooklyn. The Dallas Metro area is the second most active market, with just under 24,000 new rental units expected to come to market this year. This region has seen the greatest number of new apartments opened over the last three years in all of the U.S. ARGOS NORTH AMERICA AND SUMMIT MATERIALS TO BECOME ONE A definitive agreement has been reached between Cementos Argos and Summit Materials, Inc. under which the U.S. operations of Cementos Argos, Argos North America Corp., will combine its operations with Summit to become one of the largest suppliers of cement and ready mix in the U.S. construction materials industry. The cash and stock transaction valued at $3.2 billion will accelerate the strategic growth plans of both companies through efforts to identify synergies (estimated to be valued at $100 million in savings per year). Synergies include operational efficiencies, integrated best practices, aggregated resources, infrastructure, and sourcing to expand the geographic market reach and visibility across the U.S., particularly in major urban markets spanning 30 states. Cementos Argos will acquire a substantial equity stake in a New York Stock Exchange listed company with its 31 percent owner- ship stake in Summit. The transaction is subject to antitrust reg- ulatory approval, approval of Summit shareholders, and other conditions of closing. Until it is approved, both companies will continue to operate independently. 8INDUSTRY NEWS CHINA’S EVERGRANDE FILES FOR U.S. BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION Chinese property giant, Evergrande Group, has filed for Chapter 15 bankruptcy protection in a New York City courtroom, a ripple effect from the real estate crisis and deflationary environ- ment in China that continues to deepen. The move will protect the company’s American assets as it establishes a multi-billion dollar restructuring agreement with its creditors. Filing for bankruptcy protection follows Evergrande’s 2021 default, which had major implications for global markets. As the world’s most heavily indebted property developer, with more than $300 billion in debt, it has lost a combined $80 billion over the last two years, plagued by delayed and unfinished projects. CONSTRUCTION STOPS ON $2B SCOUT EV PLANT Construction has been temporarily halted on the $2 billion Volkswagen-backed Scout Motors electric SUV plant located near Columbia, South Carolina, as state and local officials require more time to collect public comments on the potential environmental impacts of the project and to get the necessary wetland permits in place for land-clearing activities to continue at the 1,600-acre Blythewood site. The pause is not expected to delay the expected opening of the plant in 2026. The project is anticipated to create 4,000 or more permanent jobs with hopes that it will revive a brand that was a forerunner to today’s SUVs. MIGHTY BUILDINGS GETS MIGHTY BACKING FROM SAUDI ARAMCO The venture capital arm of Saudi’s Aramco, Wa’ed Ventures, is leading the funding charge to the tune of $52 million to support Oakland, California-based firm Mighty Buildings in expanding its factory footprint in North America, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The goal is to maximize its global impact by transforming housing construction with more sustainable, climate-resilient housing designed to meet the global housing shortage. Mighty Buildings’ patented Lumus material is regarded as being five times stronger than concrete, resistant to hurricanes and seismic events. With additional support from BOLD Capital Partners, a U.S.- focused firm, Khosla Ventures, KB-Badgers, and others, Mighty Buildings, a 3D-printing construction technology firm that manufactures prefabricated, environmentally-friendly, and climate-resistant homes, can accelerate development and scale production to meet rising demand in the U.S. market while also establishing manufacturing operations in the Middle East, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two of the fastest growing construction markets in the world. 9Next >