News

The home-building industry, like most, is facing the economic uncertainties of COVID-19 but it is coming into the crisis following a particularly strong start to the year in the GTA. New-build, single-family home sales in Greater Toronto rose to the highest…

A Toronto construction worker and union representative has drawn praise for raising concerns about workplace safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a video showed him addressing workers at a job site in Etobicoke. As the pandemic continues, and…

Due to COVID-19, the past few weeks have presented new challenges for the construction industry. Many construction professionals are adjusting to the evolving landscape by hosting daily check-ins, practicing social distancing, and having office staff work remotely. The women and men…

A Scandinavian construction giant is set to build an energy-efficient, solar-paneled school in Norway. It’s the latest example of the education sector turning to sustainable technologies and construction practices to reduce its environmental impact. Norwegian firm Veidekke has been tasked by…

By Peter DeMarco, The IAPMO Group It’s an understatement to say that dealing with the Coronavirus has presented a new set of challenges to society and particularly to the plumbing industry. Across the globe, social distancing practices are being enforced in…

Construction on the Woodfibre LNG project southwest of Squamish, B.C., on the West Coast has been delayed for a year due in part to affects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Project spokeswoman Rebecca Scott says substantial construction expected to start this summer…

British Columbia’s private construction industry should brace for a complete shutdown, according to industry leaders, following the lead of Quebec which closed all non-essential construction sites at midnight March 24. “It is the inevitable next step,” said Jon Stovell, president and…

American Wood Council (AWC) President & CEO Robert Glowinski issued a statement following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of the draft “Begin Actual Construction” air guidance memo. It clairfies that construction on non-emission elements of a project can begin before…

A local group plans to give recycled plastic a new life by turning it into colourful boards that can be used to build things like lawn furniture and fences. Last week, some members of the Nova Scotia Power Makerspace workshop met to discuss…

As the world looks for sustainable housing solutions to meet the needs of a burgeoning population, Paris-based design firm XTU Architects has unveiled a conceptual design that would convert old oil platforms into plant-covered homes of the future. The project, X_Lands, would not…

In an effort to halt the COVID-19 pandemic and increase the medical capacity, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has stepped in to convert buildings into hospitals to help those in need during these trying times. Their plan is expected to…

While the COVID-19 guidelines and precautions issued Sunday for the B.C. construction industry are “good advice,” Algra Brothers are calling them “too little and too late.” Algra Bros. Developments decided to shut down their construction site completely in downtown Chilliwack, in…

In response to requests from hospitals from across Canada, the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) has asked their provincial and local association partners to reach out to our member firms to collect and donate important protective equipment, if they have not already…

Buildings are not unlike a human body. They have bones and skin; they breathe. Electrified, they consume energy, regulate temperature and generate waste. Buildings are organisms – albeit inanimate ones. But what if buildings – walls, roofs, floors, windows – were…

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is allowing construction work to continue across the province while ordering a broader shutdown of all but essential businesses to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government will order the mandatory closure of non-essential…