SEPTEMBER 2018CONSTRUCTIONINFOCUS.COMCANADA’S BIGGEST AND SOON TO BE BEST SOURCE FOR CONCRETE ACCESSORIES CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF PRIDE & QUALITY CREATING LIVING SPACES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME CWF Inc. was founded as Custom Wood Furniture in 1989 by John K. Kweselait. What separates CWF Inc. from the rest of the industry? Experience and great attention to details. CWF Inc is providing you a full package which combines, the pthe process of designing, managing, and executing a project. An important advantage of doing business with CWF Inc. is its full commitment to our customer. PPart of CWF Inc.’s design process is fully understanding the needs, desires, and dreams of our clients. An example is our collaboration with a leading General Contractor like Mc Gowan Builders. CWF Inc. will make sure you always get the best value of your investment with a high-quality product.Our wide range of experience in such areas as medical, hospitality, residential and liturgical arenas with such mediums as metal, acrylics, stone, glass, fabric and, of course, our specialty wood, is a great resource and asset to all architects, interior designers, and other design professionals. The passion we bring to every prproject is infused into the heart of our work. Dramatic and elegant details are the signature of our unique interiors. “Inspired by the Dreams of our Clients”. What this means to us is that we draw our inspiration for your design directly from the source of your desires, your passion.CUSTOM WOOD FURNITURE INC.PO Box 3034, 60 Water Street, Newton, NJ 07860P: 973-579-4880 / F: 973-579-0070reception@cwfinc.biz / info@cwfinc.biz www.cwfinc.bizEDITOR’S CORNERWelcome to a new issue of Construction in Focus. This month we turn our attention toward the field of marine-based construc-tion, a sector that sees its share of big structures – and even bigger stakes.The sheer size and scale of marine construction projects, combined with the relative vulnerabil-ity of their surroundings, makes them particularly challenging. Marine structures must not only be built with longevity and environmental sensitivity in mind, they must take into account numerous factors that structures on land need never consider. From design considerations, to site preparation, to the con-struction process itself, working on water is a game-changer. As Nicholas Parker writes in this issue, “While structures funda-mentally behave the same whether built on land or in water, the specialized knowledge required to design and build struc-tures for the marine environment is quite unique in the con-struction world.”“From design considerations, to site preparation, to the construction process itself, working on water is a game-changer.”In Under the Sea – Challenges and Opportunities in Marine Construction, Nick sits down with Kasey Gignac, P. Eng, to find out more about this challenging and rewarding field. A native of Nova Scotia currently based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Ms. Gignac shared her experiences working on the expansion of the Irving Oil Terminal in St. John’s, Newfoundland – a project which saw the use of some unique design elements – and her thoughts on the future of the industry as a whole.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 WRITERSMargaret Eaton | Ryan Cartner | Jessica Ferlaino Laura McHargue | Jen Hocken | Karen Hawthorne Mark Golombek | Pauline Müller | Samita Sarkar Nate Hendley | William Young Robert Hoshowsky | Nicholas ParkerREGIONAL MANAGER OF RESEARCHNate Selig | Ciaran DunneSENIOR CONTENT MANAGERSBrad Mike | Tom England | Peter SwaleCONTENT MANAGERSMehul Jagawat | Melissa McIsaac | Simon Lisowiec Peter Swale | Alan Keogh | Aaron Conway James Corbett | Evan Broussard | Ashley MacDonald Scott Forbes | Whitney McCoySALES & MARKETING MANAGERLuke SimmsSALES TEAMPamela Taylor | Dean Lucas | Lucy Palmer Kayla Brown | Shawn Clarke | Joshuwa Amero Sam Desjardins | Earl FergussonPRODUCTION 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 HockenCWF Inc. was founded as Custom Wood Furniture in 1989 by John K. Kweselait. What separates CWF Inc. from the rest of the industry? Experience and great attention to details. CWF Inc is providing you a full package which combines, the pthe process of designing, managing, and executing a project. An important advantage of doing business with CWF Inc. is its full commitment to our customer. PPart of CWF Inc.’s design process is fully understanding the needs, desires, and dreams of our clients. An example is our collaboration with a leading General Contractor like Mc Gowan Builders. CWF Inc. will make sure you always get the best value of your investment with a high-quality product.Our wide range of experience in such areas as medical, hospitality, residential and liturgical arenas with such mediums as metal, acrylics, stone, glass, fabric and, of course, our specialty wood, is a great resource and asset to all architects, interior designers, and other design professionals. The passion we bring to every prproject is infused into the heart of our work. Dramatic and elegant details are the signature of our unique interiors. “Inspired by the Dreams of our Clients”. What this means to us is that we draw our inspiration for your design directly from the source of your desires, your passion.CUSTOM WOOD FURNITURE INC.PO Box 3034, 60 Water Street, Newton, NJ 07860P: 973-579-4880 / F: 973-579-0070reception@cwfinc.biz / info@cwfinc.biz www.cwfinc.biz3INSIDE SEPTEMBER03 EDITOR’S CORNER06 INDUSTRY EVENTS07 INDUSTRY NEWSFOCUS ON: THE AMERICAN SUBCONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION (ASA) SPECIALTY CONTRACTINGGENERAL CONSTRUCTION & CONTRACTING CONSTRUCTION SERVICES 410 COVER STORYUNDER THE SEA Marine construction – a combination of harsh environment and special considerations. North America has plenty of coastline and the demand for construction in the marine environment isn’t going away any time soon. Yet we don’t often consider or even think about what goes into the design and construction of the structures that bridge our waterways, line our shores and allow the docking of our largest cargo ships.ARCHITECTURE & ENGINEERING CONCRETE & STEEL PRODUCTS, EQUIPMENT, & MATERIALS 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 1-647-479-2163REALTRENDS13 September, Toronto, ONThis year sees the Real Estate Leasing and Strategy Conference rebranded to RealTrends, a conference for leaders in the Canadian real estate market who embrace the importance of being informed and keeping ahead of the curve with technological advancements and innovative value creation strategies. This conference program will include speakers with knowledge in the commercial real estate management, technol-ogy, leasing and legal sectors. Opportunities for networking will also be available throughout the conference.For more information IDS – INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW20 – 23 September, Vancouver, BCDubbed, ‘the Pacific platform for all things design,’ this expo will welcome individual designers, artists, makers and design-centric brands who have come together to showcase their current works, concepts and products. In addition to experiencing installations and features, there will also be opportunities to hear from some of the design world’s most notable and talented personalities and connect with a long list of world-class designers that either call Vancouver home, or call on Vancouver for inspiration.For more information CONSTRUCT3 – 5 October, Long Beach, CACONSTRUCT is the national show dedicated to bringing together all disciplines in the AEC industry. The three-day conference and expo provides Architecture, Engineering, and Construction professionals with real-world, practical knowledge for improved building success. CONSTRUCT offers a variety of solutions-driven learning opportunities for attendees to stay up-to-date on the latest trends, work smarter, boost your career, and earn continuing education credits.For more information REMODELING SHOW CO-LOCATED WITH DECK EXPO9 – 11 October, Baltimore, MDRemodeling Show, co-located with DeckExpo, brings together residential remodeling and building professionals from all over the country to experience the hottest products, learn the newest building techniques, and build their professional reach through fun networking events. The in-depth education program includes hands-on training and business education through live building clinics, on-floor demonstrations, and conference sessions with industry experts. Connect with industry experts and learn new skills to elevate your craft!For more information OTTAWA REAL ESTATE FORUM16 October, Ottawa, ONThe 24th annual Ottawa Real Estate Forum will continue the tradition of providing valuable insights on the market trends, issues, strategies, and opportunities in Canada’s National Capital Region. The forum will offer a range of panel discussions and sessions on the office market in the National Capital Region; the federal government’s real estate strategies in this market; the increasing range of development activity; how the retail, industrial, apartment and condominium markets are performing; and what smaller landlords and entrepreneurs are doing to grow and maintain the value of their assets.For more information INDUSTRY EVENTS6INDUSTRY NEWSSAN FRANCISCO’S GROWTH NOT EARTHQUAKE-PROOFSustainable growth continues to be a popular topic across industries, especially construction, but San Francisco is putting the need for discussions like these into greater perspective. As the city experiences a building boom and real estate growth, there is serious concern that it will not be able to sustain the next big seismic event that is coming its way. A new report published by the US Geological Survey shows that San Francisco has more than a 70 percent chance of having a 6.7 magnitude earthquake or stronger hit the area in the next 30 years, activity that can be caused by any one of the many active fault lines below the city. In 1906, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake caused damage to 80 percent of the buildings in the city and resulted in 3000 deaths and left 300 000 homeless. In 1989, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake left 60 people dead. While lessons were learned, more needs to be done as the city is clearly susceptible to these extreme events.According to the US Geological Survey, some of the city’s sky-scrapers are not seismically sound due to the outdated con-struction techniques used when built, leaving the city vulnera-ble to earthquakes. Many buildings were built on landfill which can cause soil liquefaction during an earthquake. What is more, only one in ten people have earthquake insurance coverage. More needs to be done to mitigate risk. While some skyscrap-ers are a concern, they are not the biggest potential risk. One of the major areas of concern are the soft story homes that have three to four levels of apartments over a parking garage that require retrofitting. Until completed it leaves people and the city vulnerable. LAFARGE HOLCIM TO EXPAND U.S. FOOTPRINTIn accordance with its Strategy 2022, major building materi-als player Lafarge Holcim has entered into an agreement with Texas-based Tarrant Concrete, an acquisition which will see contracting asphalt and ready mix added to its already expan-sive range of cement and aggregate solutions. With three production facilities and 90 employees, Tarrant Concrete will complement Lafarge Holcim’s existing business which includes 7000 employees across 43 states and 80 000 employees globally in 80 countries. Tarrant predominantly supplies major construction projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a rapidly growing market Lafarge can take advantage of. 7INDUSTRY NEWSQUEBEC CLUSTER SET TO MODERNIZE INDUSTRYThe Quebec government has announced plans to launch a cluster to help modernize the construction industry, a sector that employs 230 000 people in the province. The govern-ment will work with the Conseil du Patronat du Quebec to launch the cluster and will work with employers and unions to achieve success.The new program being launched is aimed at making the construction industry in the province more competitive, as it is composed of many smaller players that require the support and resources to adapt to and integrate innovation. The cluster will officially launch in early 2019 and will provide a platform for members and the industry to discuss sector-wide issues and work together to avoid conflicts and improve optimal industry practices. There will be stakeholder meetings in Quebec City and Montreal in October, November and December and a study will be done before launch to prove how the industry can benefit from modernization to overcome the challenges of cyclicality, including the volatility that comes along with it. It will also help to combat growing competition from major international players. MISSISSAUGA DEVELOPMENT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTA new development in Mississauga is demonstrating how affordable housing and community support programs for people with mental and physical disabilities can coexist as the focus of a project. Indwell, a not-for-profit organization, was chosen by the Region of Peel for the project. In July, $21.5 million in capital funding was approved and the project was given the go-ahead.An auto service centre that has long sat idle on Lakeshore Road East and is set to be repurposed into a four-story, 66-unit mixed-use development will provide much-needed help for many people in the community struggling to find affordable housing. Currently, 13 597 people in Brampton, Mississauga and Caledon are waiting for subsidized housing, wait times that can average six years. Though there are many on existing waiting lists, Indwell is a registered charity and not tied into the established lists. Because Indwell is not a social housing provider, applications have to be made directly to the organization. Applicants will be assessed based on the organization’s ability to meet the needs of the individual and Indwell will work with community partners to do so. This is the first of Indwell’s plans to achieve its goal of creating 150 new supported affordable housing units over the next five years in the city at the cost of $66 million. It has various levels of funding including rent from tenants, donors, fundraising and capital funding sources. 8INDUSTRY NEWSCONSTRUCTION ROBOT MARKET WILL CONTINUE TO GROW INTO 2023The construction robot market is projected to reach USD$166.4 million by 2023, according to the 2023 Construction Robot Market Report, which includes sta-tistics and information correlated to construction robot type, automation, function, application, etc. This shows significant growth over the 2018 numbers which value the market at $77.6 million. Construction robots improve productivity, quality and safety and therefore are in high demand. The technol-ogy is still relatively costly but has come down in price and given the return on investment, more and more people are seeing its worth.The market is being dominated by Swedish Brokk and Husqvarna, U.S. Esko Bionis and Construction Robotics, and Japan’s Komatsu and Fujita, though there are many more players in contention to be leaders. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE STEEL DUMPINGDespite the urging of the Canadian steel industry for years, the federal government is finally going to investigate claims of steel dumping in the market, a move prompted by the institution of U.S. tariffs, which are having serious implications for the steel industry. The government plans on opening a dialogue, consulting industry and union stakeholders to see how best to address their concerns that cheaper foreign steel is entering the Canadian market. The consultation period will last for just over two weeks and the findings will be studied before a decision is made. A decision is expected to take weeks. When American tariffs took effect against steel and aluminum in June, they targeted Canada and other allies in a move that attempted to strong arm them into addressing the world’s overproduction and overcapacity of steel. Throughout the entire ordeal, Canada has insisted it had introduced stronger safeguards on steel even before the U.S. imposed the tariffs, but agrees that more needs to be done to prevent cheaper foreign materials that often lack in quality from saturating the market. While it is a welcomed move by some, there are coalitions of stakeholders that are urging the government not to proceed with actions, claiming that jobs are at risk. Amongst those against any action are those who believe that retaliatory tariffs already in place are effectively addressing the situa-tion and urge that the government proceed with caution if action is taken. 9Next >