Sunday, May 12, 2024 
These robots might build your house
Self-driving trench diggers. Drones that digitally re-create buildings. Roomba-like devices that outline where every beam on a floor should go. The construction site of the future is already here as homes, office buildings and industrial sites go up around the country.…
These building materials are made out of grass
While launching a sustainable furniture startup during the pandemic, serial entrepreneur Josh Dorfman watched as the price of wood skyrocketed. It got harder to find high-quality lumber, and he started wondering what alternative materials might be possible to use. At the…
Eyesore or gem? The fight to save Stratford’s historic hospital from the wrecking ball
Preservationists are drawing a line in the sand in defence of Stratford’s historic first hospital, demanding a reprieve for the yellow-brick Victorian building hospital administrators want to flatten to make way for new development. Built in 1891, the building was designed…
Contractors’ group asks competition bureau to investigate labour deal to build Ottawa hospital’s new civic campus
A group that represents construction companies has asked the Competition Bureau to investigate an agreement between The Ottawa Hospital and a labour organization to build the new $2.8 billion Civic campus. Karen Renkema, vice president of the Ontario region with the…
Ontario home builders urge faster approvals, harmonized green building standards
Ontario should speed up new housing approvals, increase skilled trade immigration, and “rein in” municipalities introducing varying green building standards, a residential builders’ group is telling the government. The province is sifting through a mountain of requests for funding and policy changes as…
American nonresidential construction spending dips 0.5% in December
National nonresidential construction spending decreased by 0.5% in December, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data published by the U.S. Census Bureau. On a seasonally adjusted annualized basis, nonresidential spending totaled $943.5 billion for the month. Spending fell…
Homeowners left with unfinished projects after Ottawa construction company suddenly closes
Homeowners and employees have been left reeling after an Orléans construction company suddenly closed its doors, walking away from half-built houses and projects worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now, those who relied on the company, Highbridge Construction, are left wondering…
Fanshawe announces $2 million donation from Crich family
Fanshawe College is pleased to announce a donation of $2 million from London’s Crich family. This is the largest individual donation in the College’s history, and will create the new Don Crich Skilled Trades Accelerator, housed at Fanshawe’s London Campus. The Don Crich Skilled Trades Accelerator…
Construction Links Network partners with New York’s leading construction & design show
Construction Links Network is pleased to announce our partnership with New York Build – expanding our brand presence into the United States. Officially supported by the Mayor of New York, New York Build (March 8-9, Javits Center) is the largest construction,…
HCRA begins to impose financial penalties on unethical and illegal home builders
As it marks its second year of operations, the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) may now impose administrative penalties on Ontario home builders or vendors who breach their legal and ethical obligations. A new regulation now in effect adds administrative penalties…
Contractor ‘pays it forward’ with outdoor ice rink
Henry Knelsen learned how to skate a couple years ago. And he loves it. In December, Knelsen, a local concrete contractor who runs Handy Henry in Simcoe, decided to build a temporary outdoor ice rink on the property the business leases…
Alberta firm donates to U of C to grow indigenous presence in design-based careers
This year, Edmonton architecture firm Rockliff Pierzchajlo Kroman Architects (RPK) donated $25,000 to the University of Calgary School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape (SAPL). The gift is to be used for the Indigenous Pathways Program initiated by the school to grow…
Bird Agrees to Acquire Ontario Telecommunications and Utility Contractor
Bird Construction recently announced that it has agreed to acquire Trinity Communication Services, a diversified telecommunication and utility infrastructure contractor. Based in Ontario, Trinity provides services to major national and regional telecommunication, utilities, power, and internet service providers. The total consideration for…
Mattamy homes breaks ground on three GTA projects in one week
Mattamy Homes, North America’s largest privately owned homebuilder, broke ground on three communities across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) last week, continuing to help address the region’s ongoing housing shortage with thoughtfully designed multi-residential communities in key markets. Ceremonies to mark the start of construction…
Leading geospatial and built world technology expo and conference in Denver next week
Geo Week features sold-out exhibit floor and 2,500+ registrants Organizers of Geo Week, the premier event that champions the coming together of geospatial technologies and the built world, are anticipating that more than 2,500 industry professionals will attend next week’s event.…
