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The Infrastructure Bill Construction Waits at a Crossroads Modernizing Through Stability ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION Skyline Building Blocks RC STRUCTURES apeiron-construction.com | NOVEMBER 2021 THE POWER OF TOGETHER December 1 - 3, 2021 Metro Toronto Convention Centre #TBS21 www.thebuildingsshow.com W elcome to the fall edition of Apeiron Construction. As the seasons change once more and we edge ever closer to a new year, it is time to look across the industry, to take stock, to evaluate how far we have come. 2021 has been a year of further turbulence where our industry continues its recovery from difficult times. Problems remain, however. Materials are in short supply and lead times are throwing unexpected challenges to even the most carefully planned projects. How can the construc- tion world respond? Like innovation, hope too comes in many forms. As I write, Capitol Hill is buzzing with negotiations and late nights in an effort to push through an infrastructure bill that will bring a much needed boost to the construction world. Additionally, our industry continues to do what it does best; design, create and build. From community-minded projects and green energy to life-saving structures and bioconstruction, we have found it all. This issue, we are delighted to bring some of the most ground-breaking and exciting stories from around the construction industry. The seasons may be changing, but our industry continues to keep its high standards. Thanks for reading! | 3 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION A note from the Editor APEIRON-CONSTRUCTION.COM APEIRONMEDIAINC.COM CHIEF EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER DIRECTOR OF SALES DAVID O’NEILL LINDSAY BAILEY MARK PETERS | PETER SWALE | DARRAGH GILLIGAN JOANNE KELTER | DAN SCANLON | MARTIN FORAN ERIC O’CALLAGHAN | EMMA KILCAWLEY HEMANI ANTHONY O’KEEFFE | ROSS WALSH GEORGIE DOWNES | AOIFE CHANEY ALEX MULVEY COLIN O’NEILLThe United States is approaching its tenth month of the Biden Administration and, given the fanfare that surrounded the mission to Build Back Better under the extensive and ambitious Infrastructure Bill, it is somewhat disappointing that the finer details of this bill are yet to be agreed. In fact, the cornerstone of the presidency hinges on the ability of government to push through a suite of funding measures that would rejuvenate and modernize the American landscape in more ways than one. 54 The Infrastructure Bill – Construction Waits at a Crossroads 6 3 Positive News Stories 10 Skyline Building Blocks RC STRUCTURES 20 Just Getting On With It HADY CONSTRUCTION 26 Modernizing Through Stability ONTARIO GENERAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION 30 Innovative Building Solutions, Ultimately Redefined RENOKREW 34 Growth Within the Community PEGAH CONSTRUCTION 38 Building Communities, One Relationship at a Time AVEIRO CONSTRUCTORS 44 The Personal Touch From Big-Thinking Luxton LUXTON CONSTRUCTION 50 Bridges to Prosperity 58 Built on Family Values J.C. STEEL 64 Construction in the Crucible JGM 70 Gimme Shelter PRESERVATION SERVICES 74 Trusting in Experience M CON PRODUCTS 78 Staying Ahead Through Innovation EWING FABRICATORS 82 Water, Cement, Aggregate and Alchemy RAINBOW CONCRETE INDUSTRIES 86 Tilt-Up’s Northern Exposure TILT WALL ONTARIO 92 Passionate About Natural Stone SELECT STONE SUPPLY 98 Family Foundations FERNANDES MASONRY, INC. 102 The People are the Business COOLING TOWER MAINTENANCE 106 In the Trenches Together CHICAGO FIRE PROTECTION 110 Bioconstruction – Building the Natural Way 114 Every Great Piece of Art Needs Its Frame U.S. FRAMING 118 Passive House – Innovation with Comfort 122 Breaking New Ground with HDPE Pipe PIPELINE PLASTICS 5 | APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWith all that is happening around us, it can be easy to miss some of the advancements that are being made in the construction industry. Let’s shine a light on some good news stories that are making our world a little better. Construction for Change It goes without saying that the COVID-19 Pandemic has stretched the resources of every nation around the world. For almost two years, governments, health care workers and communities have reached the point of exhaustion as they try to manage and cope with spiralling levels of infection and death. Similarly, scientists have been racing to produce vaccinations while the world watches expectedly over their shoulders. It is almost impossible however, to try to balance these pressures within the context of a health care system that simply does not work; to expect positive outcomes when a country is bankrupt. The plight of low resource countries in dealing with COVID must surely be exponentially more diffi- cult than ourselves. In these countries, resources, sanitation and access to healthcare infrastructure are all compromised. This has led to devastation. It is encouraging that, in times such as these, there are organizations working towards a more equitable response. Construction for Change has partnered with Adaptiv Architec- ture and HDR’s Design 4 Others to develop an “open-source COVID-19 Response Unit Resource Guide.” The guide acts as a roadmap for organizations to assist with the retrofitting or construction of COVID-19 clinics. According to CfC, “The focus of the guide is to provide layout of spaces as well as patient and staff flows to provide optimal care and safety in the reduction of the spread of the virus.” Constructionforchange.org | 6 NOVEMBER 2021Diversity in Construction The construction industry is a hot bed of talent, innovation and hard work. It is also, unfortunately, one of the more homoge- nous industries. In comparison to most other areas of work, construction is still largely dominated by white males. This is even more prevalent when looking at management and execu- tive positions. While attempts are being made throughout the industry to promote diversity and inclusion such as October’s Construction Inclusion Week, the industry is seriously lacking. It seems as though the answer may well come from the inside. Companies such as Turner and Townsend are notic- ing that, rather than diversity mandates coming from public funding streams, it is private clients that are driving things forward. Many of these companies have specifics goals of 20% participation from underrepresented firms. The Hudson Yards mega-project is a recent example of how this plays out to a positive outcome. The $3 billion project in Manhattan resulted in 49% participation from minority and women-owned companies. Linda Foggie at Turner and Townsend identified one major factors in driving this change; engagement and partnership. "We'll actually hire a firm to reach out to groups like the Women's Business Enterprise National Council, the National Hispanic Business Group and other organizations to publicize that this project is happening. You've got to create that awareness, because a lot of times, these deals get done on the golf course. But not everybody plays golf." The Buildings Show DECEMBER 1-3, 2021 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE, ON informaconnect.com/the-buildings-show 71 st Annual MRCA Conference and Expo NOVEMBER 9-11, 2021 MILWAUKEE, WI www.mrca.org/aws/MRCA/pt/sp/conference International Roofing Expo FEBRUARY 1-3, 2022 NEW ORLEANS, LA www.theroofingexpo.com BUILDEX Amplified FEBRUARY 16-17, 2022 VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE WEST, BC informaconnect.com/buildex-vancouver | 7 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONReflective Streets As global leaders try to adapt and manage the increasing effects of climate change, the problems continue to grow. As a planet, our responses are much too slow and it seems as though innovation is almost obsolete before it has reached the market. Well-meaning ideas are not capable of making the required levels of change and we find ourselves back to square one. While the Bureau of Street Services in Los Angeles may not stop climate change all by itself, it has developed a strikingly innovative method for cooling the local area. While it has been a well-known strategy, and something that both New York City and Greek islands have in common, to paint walls and roofs white as a means of cooling a heavily built up area, the LA Bureau has developed a novel method. By painting a specially designed, reflective coating on the pave- ment, the area has seen a noticeable heat reduction that has even been visible on thermal cameras from the International Space Station. Given that Los Angeles is one of the hottest areas in the U.S., coupled with the fact that built up, urban areas can be, on average, 20 degrees Fahrenheit hotter, this is a genuine health project with real world benefits. A recent UCLA study has shown that high temperatures already cause about 15,000 injuries per year in California. By reflecting the heat, thus cooling the neighborhood, summer might just be a little bit safer for LA residents. | 8 NOVEMBER 2021| 9 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >