A new wave of innovative, comfortable, and high performing buildings and developments is sweeping across British Columbia. The provincial government has set a long term goal to significantly increase the energy efficiency performance of all new buildings - and industry members from White Rock to Fort St. John are rolling …
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Tsawwassen Mills scale challenged crews planning skills
A 1.4 million square-foot project which starts essentially like a blank canvas to paint comes with interesting challenges, says the project manager of the award-winning Tsawwassen Mills Mall. "When you start a project like this, you have no idea what it is going to look like inside," said Peter Bond, Ledcor Construct…
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GWL Realty Advisors breaks ground on Vancouver Centre II
GWL Realty Advisors' 33-storey office tower signals eastward shift of Vancouver's core business district; Launches amid heightened demand for downtown office space. GWL Realty Advisors officially broke ground today on Vancouver Centre II, a 33-storey AAA office tower in downtown Vancouver. The 371,000 square foot bu…
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B.C.’s Step Code raising eyebrows among builders
B.C.'s Energy Step Code is turning heads in Canada for its framework of incremental standards that achieve energy-efficient buildings beyond the energy standards in the province's base building code. But despite a focus on energy efficiency, the Step Code's main purpose is to create one set of rules for municipalitie…
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Kinder Morgan announces contractors for controversial Trans Mountain pipeline
CALGARY, ALTA. —Kinder Morgan has announced six contractors it intends to work with on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project in B.C. and Alberta. According to the company, the pipeline construction and associated terminal expansions are expected to take approximately 28 months to complete, with the work dis…
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B.C. pauses Massey bridge project for more review
RICHMOND, B.C. —The province of B.C. has announced it will cancel procurement on the George Massey Tunnel replacement bridge project to investigate other transportation options for the corridor. In a press release issued Wednesday (Sept. 6), the NDP government stated that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastr…
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‘Perfect storm’ of work for Vancouver Island industry
Business is booming on Vancouver Island. Data from the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA) shows increasing residential activity and a surge in commercial permits. "Building permits were higher in four regional districts, led by the Capital Regional District with a 64 per cent jump over the first quarter…
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Vancouver developers face rising costs and fees
Developers could soon face even more costs to build in the red hot Vancouver market. "It is just one thing after another," said Urban Development Institute (UDI) — Pacific Region president Anne McMullin. "It is like a fire hose that comes at you. Tax. Tax. Tax. Restrict. Restrict. Restrict. It is just endless." …
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WorkSafeBC launches youth worker campaign focused on safety awareness
WorkSafeBC has launched a safety campaign aimed at raising awareness among young workers who could be at risk on the job. The Listen to Your Gut campaign encourages young workers to speak up when faced with what they perceive as an unsafe situation. Safety awareness programs have been in place in British Columbia hig…
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Building code means Vancouver highrises avoid Grenfell fate
Don't expect a repeat of the London highrise fire in Vancouver, thanks to strict building codes and fire protection standards. The Grenfell Tower fire in London, England resulted in a tragic loss of life and created international headlines. In the days after the fire it was determined the building's cladding played a part…
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Aging Balmoral Hotel deemed ‘stabilized to the city's satisfaction’
VANCOUVER - Vancouver's Balmoral Hotel was deemed "stabilized to the city's satisfaction" by the chief building official after an inspection was carried out on July 14 to assess the shoring and stability of the aging hotel. A complete review is now underway by a contractor to assess the necessary work to rehabilitate…