⚡Rebuilding faster

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Good morning! 🏠 Old homes can still learn new tricks. A 115-year-old residence in Vancouver is getting a net-zero energy retrofit, making it the first of its age in Canada to be fully revitalized for energy efficiency. The owners plan to turn their home into a case study for green construction.

⏰ Today’s read: 5 minutes

MARKETS

*Stock data as of last market close; currency, oil and crypto data as of 8:00 PM ET Oct. 21st, 2024.

Economy: A recent Statistics Canada survey revealed that it would take $356.7B to replace Canada's deteriorating road and water infrastructure classified as "poor" or "very poor," a significant increase from $100 billion in 2020. The survey highlighted that infrastructure in "very poor" condition poses public health or safety risks and requires urgent replacement, while "poor" infrastructure needs major repairs.

THE BIG STORY

Rapid resilience: Leveraging modular for recovery

Alberta has begun a $112-million effort to support wildfire rebuilding efforts in Jasper, with the primary focus on constructing hundreds of modular interim housing units for displaced residents. While various contractors may be brought in, the province will act as the sole builder with the hopes that will further streamline the development process.

It’s just the latest example of how modular construction technology can help when the worst occurs. 

Assessing the damage: The wildfire destroyed about 30% of the town, with the west side sustaining the most destruction. Notable losses include the historic St. Mary & St. George Anglican Church and the Maligne Lodge hotel. As of late August 2024, insured losses were estimated at over $880 million, making it the second-costliest wildfire in Alberta's history.

Disaster response: Modular builders have been used to rapidly create buildings following some of earth’s worst natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Maria (2017), the Turkish earthquake (2023) and the Paradise, California wildfires (2018) just to name a few. 

Why it works: The biggest advantage is time. Researchers found that modular construction's rapid build time makes it an ideal solution for disaster victims. McKinsey analysis suggests that modular techniques could accelerate end-to-end project timelines by 20 to 50%. However, researchers also found that barriers such as complex stakeholder involvement, regulatory differences, and lack of awareness among owners about modular construction hinder widespread adoption.

Why it’s needed: Fires, floods, extreme storms and more aren’t going anywhere. Scientists have found that the number of natural disasters has increased tenfold since the 1960s, from 39 incidents in 1960 to 396 in 2019. Researchers have also found these incidents are getting more intense, meaning we will need rapid building responses more than ever going forward. 

Going further: The province called these modular homes “interim” housing but why not dream big? Modular projects across the country have shown that large, permanent modular buildings can be constructed for long-term use. Prior to the fire Jasper was facing a housing shortage and limitations due to its remote site and limited labour availability. Why not use it to showcase the full power of what modular can do?

NEED TO KNOW

The week's headlines

🛢️Oil boom: The Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which began operating in May 2024, has boosted Canada’s oil export capacity by adding 590,000 barrels per day. The expansion has already driven record oil production, but the project’s massive cost overruns, which ballooned to $34 billion, have led to disputes over who will cover the increased costs.

🚿Filling up: The City of Calgary is accelerating major water infrastructure projects to address the growing needs of its expanding population and aging systems. Following a major water main failure earlier this year that led to widespread water restrictions, the city plans to improve infrastructure robustness and redundancy. Key projects include the North Calgary Water Servicing project and the South Calgary Water Servicing project.

🧑‍⚕️Grand opening: The Government of Alberta announced the opening of the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, a state-of-the-art facility focused on cancer treatment, research, prevention, and early detection. Starting on October 28, the centre will begin welcoming patients, marking one of the province's largest infrastructure projects.

 🏫 School’s out: Manitoba's NDP government has axed a plan initiated by the former Progressive Conservative government to build nine schools through a P3 model. The previous government proposed hiring private contractors to design, build, and maintain the schools under a 30-year funding deal, claiming it would save money. However, the NDP halted the project, stating that no funds were allocated under the plan and that they prefer the traditional government-funded construction approach.

TOGETHER WITH TIMESCAPES

Don’t get left in the dust by choosing the wrong tech

Picking technology for your construction business can be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. The experts at Timescapes, a leading timelapse and job site analytics technology specifically designed for the construction industry, have released a new eBook detailing their strategies for sifting through solutions for ones that will achieve your business goals. We recently spoke with Timescapes about their views on tech adoption and some common mistakes companies make.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Road to Valhalla

Construction has begun on Valhalla Village, a Toronto housing development that aims to provide affordable housing while utilizing sustainable infrastructure. Developed by KingSett Capital with Geosource Energy, the project features two towers and will deliver 172 affordable rental units out of 494 total units. The project is powered by a geothermal heating and cooling system, setting it up for Zero Carbon Building certification. The project’s first phase will be completed by 2026, with plans for a second phase already underway.

PROJECT UPDATES

Ontario breaks ground on long-term care home in Brantford

14-storey mixed-used project proposed for Mount Pleasant

Toronto picks team to reimagine the Bentway Traffic Islands

Falcon One in Edmonton has achieved substantial completion

Three new buildings bring UBC’s workforce housing to nearly 1,400 homes

Cedar Coast kicks off large strata industrial build near Vancouver airport

Want more? Check out the latest full edition of Project Pulse in the link below.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

WATCH: 🏠 How to fit 7 floors into a 645-square foot home

READ: ⏳Hamilton delays ‘use it or lose it’ policy

VIDEO: 🌊 Anti-run pavers tested on Calgary streets

READ: 🚔 U.S. concrete bosses jailed for price-fixing scam

READ: ⚱️ Surrey considers building pier for scattering ashes

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Here’s to a great rest of the week!

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