brilliant art and design - Toronto Construction Association

Successbreeds confidenceSince our early days, owners, general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, corporations and individualsalike have come to rely on the special abilities of Goldman Sloan Nash & Haber in Construction Law. Over acentury of combined experience in this highly-specialized discipline, and our track record as one of the leadingfirms in construction matters, gives our clients the confidence they need, when the stakes are high. In contractnegotiation, project management, dispute resolution, structuring of partnerships, regulatory approvals and a hostof other related affairs, you can rest assured, GSNH will keep you at the top of your game.Specialized and detailed familiarity with Construction Law and the ways in which it plays out in day-to-daybusiness dealings - is critical to the success of your undertaking. Our Construction Law Team is acknowledgednationally for its permanence in this practise area. We have the experience and the know-how to represent yourinterests successfully. Why not find out more about what we can do for you?Stanley Naftolin, J.D., J.D., Q.C. Q.C.Certified Specialist in Construction Lawnaftolin@gsnh.com(416) 597-3388Leonard Finegoldfinegold@gsnh.com(416) 597-3376Jeffrey A. A. Armelarmel@gsnh.com(416) 597-6477Irwin D. D. Ozierozier@gsnh.com(416) 597-3381Robert D. Malen Charlie Changmalen@gsnh.com chang@gsnh.com(416) 597-3386(416) 597-6490Robert D. Malen Robert D. Malen Shane E. Kazushner Shane E. Kazushnermalen@gsnh.com malen@gsnh.comkazushner@gsnh.comkazushner@gsnh.com(416) 597-3386(416) 597-3386 (416) 597-3383(416) 597-3383

LANDMARKSOne of the more strikingfeatures of BrookfieldPlace in downtownToronto is the AllenLambert Galleria,designed bySantiago CalatravaLandmarks Past,Photo courtesy ofMilan SchramekPresent and FutureToronto has a long and distinguished history of innovation inconstruction, and is now one of the pre-eminent cities in NorthAmerica thanks to its combination of well-preserved heritagestructures and leading-edge designBy Andrew Brooks10 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

FOUNDED IN 1867, six months before Confederation,the Toronto Construction Association has a longand proud history as a forum and representativebody for the construction industry in what is nowthe Greater Toronto Area. Today the TCA canproudly take its place as one of the preeminentorganizations of its kind anywhere in NorthAmerica. The TCA’s own history has paralleledand reflected that of the construction industry,as the organization has fostered and participatedin many of the groundbreaking constructionprojects that have made Toronto one of theindustry’s worldwide showcases.First established under the name of TheToronto General Builders' Society, the TorontoConstruction Association name was adopted in1962 when the association accumulated an almostcentury-old portfolio of construction landmarksthat helped to define the character of the city itself.One such landmark is the Gooderham Building atFront and Wellington Streets. While it is popularlyknown as the Flatiron Building, the structure datesback to 1891 and thus predates New York’s famousFlatiron Building by ten years.The turn of the century saw the Toronto constructionindustry and the TCA embark on a trulyhistorical era of construction in the city. Whileimpacted by wars, economic uncertainties and adepression, the 1900s had boom times too, andwitnessed the construction of such city-definingToronto’s new City Hall was designed by Finnisharchitect Viljo RevellMaple Leaf Gardens:erected in just undersix months in 1931 tothe delight of sportsfans in the cityPhoto courtesy of Milan SchramekBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 11

ATTENTIONARCHITECTS * ENGINEERS * DEVELOPERS * BUILDERSINTRODUCINGTOLL FREE: 1-866-216-0977

The construction instituteHands Across the WaterNew reciprocity deals put education atThe Construction Institute on a global footingThe ConstructionInstituteToronto • CanadaBy Andrew BrooksWHEN THE 19TH ANNUAL CONSTRUCT CANADA SHOWTOOK PLACE IN TORONTO NOVEMBER 28-30, ithosted a landmark event with the signingof a reciprocity agreement between TheConstruction Institute and the AmericanInstitute of Constructors (AIC). Theagreement represents the culminationof a year-long process whose first successcame with the signing of a protocol atAIC’s annual meeting in Dallas last April.“This is a milestone event,” says TheConstruction Institute’s chancellor KeithGillam, who played a pivotal role in reachingthe agreement.Gillam notes that the Canadian constructionindustry is already well regardedinternationally, with Canadian constructionprofessionals at work all over theworld. However, as he points out, it’s atwo–way street. While many Canadianconstruction professionals work overseas,those from other countries expect theircredentials to be honoured here. Andwith the number of Canadians involvedin construction globally, broadening theinternational recognition of their training,“qualifies an existing state of affairs.”The new agreement should also speedup the process of gaining broader globalrecognition for the Canadian trade. Thesigning event in November adds significancewith the presence at the ceremonyof representatives of the U.K.’s CharteredInstitute of Building (CIOB). The Institutehopes to soon achieve a similar agreementwith the British organization. The CIOBhas established a network of relationshipswith construction organizations in some100 countries, making it a valuable globalentry point for Canadian credentials.EVOLUTION BY DEGREESThe founding of The Construction Institutein 2003 in a sense had these betweenequalsagreements as its ultimate goal, butthat doesn’t mean all the other pieces werein place. The CI’s first task was to to speedup the development of the CanadianSylvain Côté, President,Construction L.J.P. Inc.:“The PERI systems are safe,require less manpower, areeasily transportable betweenjobsites and allow us tocomplete our projects faster.”CDN PERI/7.103Bell North Point, MontrealCost-Effective Formwork and ShoringSystems for Every Concrete ProjectFormworkScaffoldingEngineeringwww.peri.ca16 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

COVER STORYOne of the main goalsof the redesign was toprovide more viewing spacesfor the AGO's artworkThe AGO:BrilliantArt andDesignBy Nestor GulaPhotos courtesy of the AGOToronto’s AGO promises tobring a sophisticated blendof contemporary design andbeautiful artwork to the city’sculture enthusiasts when itopens its doors in 200820 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO HAS BEEN A TORONTO INSTITUTIONFOR NEARLY 100 YEARS, and the building has continuouslyevolved throughout its history. But now it is perched onthe edge of superstardom. On the cusp of its centenary,Toronto’s AGO is undergoing a complete redesign thatwill put it in the same league as any leading art gallery inthe world. This is, after all, a $254-million-dollar project.Sparking this recent makeover were two primary catalysts.The first was the donation of a large and significantart collection by Canadian businessman and philanthropist,the late Kenneth Thomson. His contribution of wellover 2,000 pieces of artwork placed the institution at acrossroads. It would need to significantly expand andalter its premises to properly display the new works andits existing collection. Failing to do so “would have meanthaving to put away into storage a significant part of theexisting collection,” says Mike Mahoney, senior projectmanager for the AGO.The redesign of the building, however, does not centreon size alone. There are many additional changes beingimplemented to raise the calibre of its display space. “Weare increasing the building size by only 20 per cent fromhalf a million to about 600,000 square feet. But we areincreasing the square footage for viewing art by 47 percent,” says Mahoney.Another important factor in launching the project wasfunding that became available through the Ontario government’sSuperBuild program, as well as federal funds.“There was a combination of both federal and provincialmonies,” says Mahoney. “We were granted $48 million—$24 million from each of the two levels of governmentto kick-start the project.”This access to funding, as well as the sizeable gift ofartwork from Thomson, came together at about thesame time, around late 2000, early 2001. The private sectoralso pitched in to help bring the project to fruition.Thomson, for instance, contributed towards the capitaldevelopment of the project, as did a group of Italianbusinessmen in Toronto who donated half a million dollarseach. The main hall, the Galleria Italia, was namedin honour of their gift.“We are well over 90 per cent funded right now,” saysMahoney. “The private sector has stepped up in a verybig way to almost complete the funding for the entireproject. It was a very important step by the governmentstowards a successful public-private partnership.”GEHRY COMES ON BOARDOnce the resources were available, world-renownedarchitect Frank Gehry was brought in for the design.Construction on the new AGO is expected to be completed in 2008Builders' Digest Winter 2007 | 21

COVER STORYGehry’s innovative design work had already made itsmark in a number of world capitals—the GuggenheimMuseum in Bilbao, Spain; the Walt Disney Concert Hallin Los Angeles; and the Dancing House in Prague in theCzech Republic to name but a few. Now the Toronto-bornarchitect would put his unique stamp on his hometown.As with any project, the design had to work within thecontext of the space. An important goal was the displayof the gallery’s art collection. “The design has to respondto the context of the collection inside,” explains JeffreyWauer, project architect for the AGO Transformationand a senior associate with Gehry Partners LLP. “Inthis case a significant portion of the work was beingdone in relation to the Thomson collection that wasbeing donated to the gallery. Mr. Thomson was directlyinvolved in the design process… We even had smallmock-ups of all the paintings and the installations withinthe model as we were developing it.”Because of its tight downtown location, the AGO simplydid not have much room for the gallery to expand.This posed its own challenges. “The site itself is built outso we had to work within the constraints of the existingbuilding,” says Wauer. “We wanted to develop somethingthat would represent a significant transformation to thegallery itself and do it in a way that would fit into theneighbourhood context.”In the forefront, says AGO’s Mahoney, was the need toretain transparency in the design and construction of thenew spaces. This, in turn, posed another vital question:how do you open up a museum? “Traditionally this hasnot been very successful. We have tried to introduce artto the streetscape, to the neighbourhood. We have freeThe new building aims to bridge the gap between theoutside world and the artwork within22 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

contemporary gallery space that you can look into fromDundas Street. At Galleria Italia, we have sculptures thatpeople will be able to see from the outside. For people inthe gallery space, you will be able to look out and see theart in the context of the neighbourhood.”The Galleria Italia, a sculpture promenade, is one ofthe more notable new elements of the redesigned AGO.“It will be one of the great civic spaces/gallery spaces anywhere,”says Mahoney. “It has very warm materials — it’sall wood. Wood floor, the back wall going up 50 feet is allwood. The basic structure is glulam timber, all the radialsand mullion grid. And then glass is applied over that. It’sjust a wonderful space.”Designed to be a warm building, rather than a coldantiseptic space, bringing in wood helps keep the spacewarm, while using lots of glass ties it directly back to thecity. “A visitor to the museum can be viewing the art andhave opportunity, as they move through the gallery, tore-experience the city and see the city itself,” says projectarchitect Jeffrey Wauer.It was also decided that some iconic rooms, such as thespace housing the Henry Moore collection, would be preserved.“The only change for that room will be an openingin the north wall, the northwest corner, which permitsyou to travel out onto Galleria Italia,” says Mahoney.The AGO's new sculpture gallery, Galleria Italia©2007 Gehry International, Architects, Inc.building a masterpiecefrom the ground upWWW.ELLISDON.COMCONSTRUCTION MANAGERBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 23

Superbly engineeredenvelope constructioSuperbly engineered sosenvelope constructionenvelope construction aABOUT US…TheThe IntegraSpec® wallwall systemsystem waswaswascreated with the the input of of structuralcreated with the input of structuralengineers, computer assisted design, and andengineers, computer assisted design, andmore than 75 75 years of of field field experience in inmore the than 75 years of field experience inresidential/commercial concrete forms formsthe and residential/commercial concrete formsgeneral construction industries, the theand IntegraSpec® general construction industries, thewall wall system system delivers delivers the theIntegraSpec® StructuralStructuralintegrityintegritywall of systemofsteelsteelreinforced, deliversreinforced,theStructural monolithic, integrity moist-cured of steel concrete reinforced, wallsmonolithic, moist-cured concrete wallsmonolithic, with the convenience moist-cured of one-step concrete framingwith the convenience of one-step walls framingwith and insulation.and the insulation. convenience of one-step framingand insulation.DESIGN FEATURES…DESIGN FEATURES…The IntegraSpec® Insulating ConcreteDESIGN FEATURES…FormThe IntegraSpec®system consistsInsulatingof stay-in-placeConcreteThe expanded Form IntegraSpec® system polystyrene consists Insulating foam of stay-in-place panels ConcreteForm installed expanded system in polystyrene courses consists and of spaced foam stay-in-place panels withexpanded various installed sized polystyrene in courses patented and interlocking foam spaced panels withinstalled spacers. various The in sized courses patented and form interlocking spaced units are with bidirectionalspacers. sized The and patented reversible, form interlocking allowing units are the bi-variousspacers. panels directional to The be and laid patented no reversible, matter form which allowing units way are the bidirectionalgrooves to hold commercial fire coderequired grooves steel to channels. hold commercial fire codeEPS foam. Panel exterior has visible 1”cut lines EPS and foam. drainage Panel grooves exterior giving has visible 1”they panels are to placed. be and laid reversible, no matter allowing which way the required grooves steel to hold channels. commercial fire code rise to cut a EPS water lines foam. and air drainage Panel tight exterior insulation grooves has giving visible 1”panels they are to be placed. laid no matter which way Panelrequiredinteriorsteelis dovetailedchannels.for proper barrier. rise Rapidcut to lines a wall water andset and drainageup, air easy tight alignmentgrooves insulation givingThe spacers are available in 4”, 6”, 8”,they are placed.concrete Panel placement interior is guaranteeing dovetailed for a proper and concrete barrier. placementrise to Rapid a water wall resultand set air up, in solidtight easy insulation alignment10”, The and spacers 12” widths are available that can in be 4”, combined 6”, 8”, mechanical concrete bondPanel interiorplacement to insertis dovetailedguaranteeing channels andfor propera monolithic andbarrier. concreteRapidplacement structures readywall setresult forup, easyin solid afor alignmentThe10”, increasedspacersand 12” concretearewidthsavailablethat core can thicknessin 4”,be6”,combined8”, mechanical bond to insert channels and wide monolithic variety of exterior/interior concrete structures finishes. ready for aup concrete placement guaranteeing a and concrete placement result in solidfor to increased 64 inches. concrete Any wall core thickness thickness canSpecialized10”, and 12” widths that can be combinedwide variety cast in of place, exterior/interior pre-installed finishes.be mechanical bond to insert channels and monolithic concrete structures ready for aupachievedto 64 inches.by simplyAny wallchangingthicknessthecanhardwarefor increased concrete core thicknessSpecializedallows thecastuseinofplace,variouspre-installedwallspacers. Spacers are designed for fastbe achieved by simply changing thecladding wide and glass variety curtain of exterior/interior systems. finishes.up to 64 inches. Any wall thickness canhardware allows the use of various wallsnap-in-place rebar placement and canspacers. Spacers are designed for fastSpecialized cast in place, pre-installedbe accommodate achieved by any simply rebar changing spacing vertically thecladding and glass curtain systems.snap-in-place rebar placement and canADVANTAGES… hardware allows the use of various wallspacers. and horizontally. Spacers are designed for fastSuperioraccommodate any rebar spacing verticallyADVANTAGES…cladding Design: Integrates and glass formwork, curtain systems.snap-in-placeand horizontally.rebar placement and canconcrete, drainage, insulation, studs/Superior Design: Integrates formwork,accommodateHigh impact polystyreneany rebarfurringsspacingstripsverticallystrapping,concrete, ADVANTAGES…vapor barriers, air barriers,are molded into the IntegraSpec® panelsdrainage, insulation, studs/and High horizontally.and sheathing into one cost and timeevery 8” impact on center polystyrene and provide furrings easy strips tostrapping, Superior vapor Design: barriers, Integrates air barriers, formwork,efficient building system, for yearidentify are molded 1 5/8” into studs the as IntegraSpec® well as deep panelsand concrete, sheathing drainage, into one insulation, cost and time studs/round construction.High every impact 8” on polystyrene center and provide furrings easy strips toefficient strapping, building vapor system, barriers, for air year barriers,are identify molded 1 5/8” into studs the IntegraSpec® as well as deep panelsround and construction. sheathing into one cost and timeevery 8” on center and provide easy toefficient building system, for yearidentify 1 5/8” studs as well as deepround construction.Concomandrequflotaelimsystereinfandspacformthe nIntegwithsimithe pin onuniqchanclumDessecuthe uwithis co

solution for for buildingn and design.Concrete Concrete Pour: IntegraSpec® Pour: IntegraSpec® is is is effort on site, effort less on waste on site, site, and less less offering waste waste and and offeringcompatible compatible with most with ICF most alignment ICF alignmentflexibility to flexibility any design. to to any Ourany design. Product Our isOur Product Product is isand scaffolding and scaffolding systems. Bracing systems. is Bracing notis Durableis not andnot Durable fire resistance and and fire whichfire resistance meanswhich which means meansrequired required for walls for up to walls 4 feet. up Formto to 4 feet. Form lower insurance lower premiumslower insurance andinsurance premiums greaterpremiums and and greater greaterflotation, flotation, compression compression and blowouts and areand blowouts personal are safety.are personal An IntegraSpec®personal safety. safety. An An IntegraSpec® panelIntegraSpec® paneleliminatedpaneleliminatedby the patented by theinterlockingthepatentedpatentedinterlockingprovides superiorinterlockingprovidessoundprovidessuperiorproofingsuperiorsoundandsoundproofingproofingandsystem. PIC Phil-Insul Corporation inserts energy savings of up to 60% heating, and andsystem.system.PICPIC Phil-InsulPhil-InsulCorporationCorporationinsertsinsertsenergyenergysavingssavingsofofupuptoto60%60%heating,heating,andreinforcement against form unit bulging 80% cooling cost.andreinforcementreinforcement againstagainstformformunitunitbulgingbulging80%80%coolingcoolingcost.INTEGRATION…and the connection easy slide into placecost.INTEGRATION…and the connection for easy slide into placeINTEGRATION…spacers for and desired the connection wall thickness. for easy When slide into After place Pour: They are Professional,spacers for desired wall thickness. When After Pour: They are Professional, Our system is very adaptable andforming spacers a wall, one for insert desired channel wall thickness. fits into When straight, true After walls Pour: that had They form are unit Professional,Our system is very adaptable andreadily integrates Our with: system is very adaptable andthe nextformingforming to eliminatea wall, wall, formoneone compression.insert channel fitsinsert channel fits bulgingintointo eliminatedstraight,straight, bytruetrue thewallswalls patentedthat had form unitthat had form unit • Traditionalreadilywood readily floorsintegrates with:the next to eliminate form compression.integrates with:the next to eliminate form compression. panel bulgingbulging design. eliminatedeliminated Fully insulated by the patentedby the patented • Hollow core • floor Traditional• Traditional systemswood floorswood floorswall structure panelpanelis ready design.design.for Fully insulatedFully insulated • Cast-in-Place • Hollow concrete core floors: floor systemsany exterior wall or interior structure finish. is ready for• Hollow core floor systemswall structure is ready for (Hambro®,• Pan Cast-in-Place Deck, concrete floors:IntegraSpec® any provides exterior stronger, or interior finish.• Cast-in-Place concrete floors:any exterior or interior finish. Thermo-deck®, (Hambro®, Speed Deck®) Pan Deck,more durable, IntegraSpec® better insulated, provides stronger,(Hambro®, Pan Deck,IntegraSpec® provides stronger, Innovative and Thermo-deck®, patented 90 o Speed Deck®)quicker to build more and durable, less better insulated,Thermo-deck®, Speed Deck®)corner panels,more durable, better insulated,Innovative 45 o panels, and patented 90 ocostly building quicker to construct to build and less T-connections, Innovative and patented 90corner brick-ledge, panels, 45 oquicker to build and lesso panels,than alternative costly construction building to construct and taper-tops T-connections, provide corner a panels,brick-ledge,45 o panels,methods can than costly provide. alternative building construction to constructlimitless range and of T-connections, building taper-tops providebrick-ledge,amethods than alternative can provide. constructiondesign solutions. limitless and taper-tops range of building provide aThe IntegraSpec® methods patented can provide.design limitless solutions. range of buildingfrictional/mechanicalThe IntegraSpec® patented At Ultimateicf we provide design full solutions. crewsIntegraSpec® panelized design can interlocking design eliminatesfrictional/mechanicalThe IntegraSpec® the patented for installation and technical supportwithstand higher hydrostatic pressures than problems that most ICFIntegraSpec® panelized design can interlocking frictional/mechanicalsystemsAt Ultimateicf we provide full crewsdesign eliminates the for any of our customersAt Ultimateicfthat entailsimilar other ICF systems easily allowing encounter: blowouts, form unit flotation/for installation and we technical provide support full crewsIntegraSpec® withstand higher panelized hydrostatic design pressures can than problems interlocking that design most ICF eliminates systems the onsite training and certificationsthe pour of a 6” slump concrete mixture lift, bulging, wall compression and wavyfor for any installation of our customers and technical that entail supportwithstand similar other higher ICF hydrostatic systems easily pressures allowing than encounter: problems that blowouts, most ICF form systems unit flotation/ according to the IntegraSpec® headin one continuous 10 ft lift. IntegraSpec® walls.onsite for any training of our and customers certifications that entailsimilar the pour other of a 6” ICF slump systems concrete easily mixture allowing lift, encounter: bulging, blowouts, wall compression form unit and flotation/ office guidelines.unique design greatly eliminates anywavy according onsite training to the IntegraSpec® and certifications headchance ofthe in concrete one pour continuous ofhoneycombinga 6” slump 10 ft concrete lift. or IntegraSpec® mixtureIntegraSpec® walls. lift,wasbulging,also designedwall compressiontoand wavyoffice according guidelines. to the IntegraSpec® headclumping in unique within one continuous design the form. greatly 10 ft eliminates lift. IntegraSpec® any dramatically walls. reduce waste, set up/bracing,office guidelines.unique chance design of concrete greatly honeycombing eliminates any or labor costs IntegraSpec® and shipping costs. was also Light designed toDesign: chance clumping Ultimateicf of within concrete has 8 the unique honeycombing form. panels or weight, user dramatically IntegraSpec® friendly panels reduce was decrease waste, also designed set up/bracing, tosecured clumping with variable within size the spacers form. allow construction labor dramatically time costs and crew and reduce shipping size even waste, costs. in set Light up/bracing,the user Design: to build an Ultimateicf upper insulated has 8 wall unique panels the winter. weight, All labor Weather costs user Installation and friendly shipping panels with costs. decrease Lightwith any Design: secured concrete with Ultimateicf thickness. variable Each has size 8 panel spacers unique panels allow EPS Foam construction allows weight, concert user time friendly to cure and under crew panels size decrease even inis completely secured the user reversible with to build variable requiring an upper size less insulated spacers any allow wall weather the construction condition. winter. All ntime Weather and Installation crew size even with inthe with user any to concrete build an thickness. upper insulated Each panel wall EPS the winter. Foam allows All Weather concert Installation to cure under withwith is completely any concrete reversible thickness. requiring Each less panel any EPS weather Foam allows condition. concert n to cure underULTIMATEis completely reversible requiring less any weather condition. n ICF SYSTEMSTel: 905.898.8506 Fax: 905.836.0432Email: ultimateicf@sympatico.caULTIMATE ICF SYSTEMSTel: 905.898.8506 ULTIMATE Fax: ICF 905.836.0432 SYSTEMSTel: Email: 905.898.8506 ultimateicf@sympatico.caFax: 905.836.0432Email: ultimateicf@sympatico.ca

COVER STORYA unique sculptural staircasestands out among many of thebuilding's unique design featuresY O U R T O T A L SE R V I C E C O M P A N YRADAR SCANNING & X-RAYA N Y W H E R E / A N Y T I M E1 888 457-8120www.graffconcrete.com26 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

“We were interestedin seeing thatthe transformed AGOrelated well to the historiccontext of the site”Andrew Pruss, ERA Architects IncERA Architects, retained as the heritage consultantson the project, were involved in identifying keyheritage aspects of the AGO building that needed tobe conserved. These included the above-mentionedMoore Gallery, as well as the Walker Court and theGrange. “We were interested in seeing that the transformedAGO related well to the historic context ofthe site,” says Andrew Pruss, associate with ERA ArchitectsInc. “The major modifications to the heritagefabric on the site have been the changes to WalkerCourt, and they have allowed this historic centre ofthe AGO to regain its rightful role.”CHALLENGING CONSTRUCTIONThe Galleria’s design, although beautiful, was challengingto put together, according to Jack Stelpstra,construction manager from EllisDon ConstructionLtd, the project’s main contractor. “The glulampieces in the Galleria Italia are all different,” saysStelpstra. “They are made by Structurlam ProductsLtd. The beams are actually made at their facility inPenticton, B.C. and shipped to Toronto. On the frontfacade, the one that is on Dundas Street, all the elementsare different. There are no two pieces alike.”In traditional galleries natural light is shut out;the transformed AGO, however, will let the light in.Throughout most of its operating hours, it will belit by natural light as much as possible, rather thanrelying on artificial light. “Much of the art can beviewed under natural daylight conditions that can becontrolled with shades on the skylight so that you areable to reduce the amount of light on really brightdays and then open the skylight more on cloudydays,” says Wauer. “You will be able to modulate theamount of light that is appropriate to the art. Therewill not be any direct sunlight but indirect ambientlight. This will eliminate the harmful UV light thatdamages paintings.”To further preserve the artwork, near laboratoryconditions are maintained in the building.Builders' Digest Winter 2007 | 27

COVER STORYToronto’s transformed AGO was designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry“We are allowed one degree variance in temperature,”says Mahoney. “We are allowed two-and-a-half per centvariance in relative humidity in the space. We have verysophisticated automation systems to achieve that.”“We are pushing technology,” adds Wauer. “DigitalProject, a three-dimensional modeling software program,is a tool we use in construction. We encouragethe contractors to become involved with this to expeditethe construction and detailing of the building. It allowsconstructing the building in a three-dimensional digitalform and you can analyze and log all the detailed connectionin the software.”Additional intriguing elements include the feature staircase,which cantilevers off the north face of the south towerstarting at the second floor and reaching the fifth floor.There are multiple curves and radiuses—no two piecesare alike. The stairway and the structure are made byMariani Metals from Toronto. The stairway extendsthrough the Walker’s court, where it is clad in stainlesssteel and glazing. The subcontractor for the stainlesssteel cladding is Flynn Canada Ltd, while the subcontractorfor the glazing is Antamex International Inc.It all adds up to a major transformation for Toronto’sbeloved art gallery. So far, everything is on time and onbudget, with a scheduled opening for 2008, when thecity will welcome its newest world-class landmark. |BD28 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

Critical Power Specialist OTTAWA1-800-619-4219MONTREAL1-800-708-1242www.galpower.comTORONTO1-888-230-5489

ENVIROnmentWindows at St. Gabriel’s aretriple-glazed, with thermallybroken aluminum frames andwarm-edge spacersGoingGreenBy Nestor GulaThe construction industry adapts toa sustainable development modelthat is environmentally friendly30 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

St. Gabriel’s church in Toronto is a certified LEED project thatcuts energy consumption by 51 per centTHERE IS A TENDENCY AMONG THE general population to dismiss theconcept of green buildings as no more than marketing fluffaimed at a gullible public.While this may once have been true, today there is a concertedeffort to establish criteria for green buildings and to educate theconstruction industry, developers and general public on environmentally-friendlyconstruction options.Going green is not a trivial matter. The process can be timeconsuming and add considerable cost. “Anytime you go greenit will add to the construction costs,” says Romeo Milano, chairmanof the TCA’s Environment Committee and principalwith Safetech Environmental Limited. “For most constructionprojects you need to look at the big picture: will it save moneyin the long term? However, cost is increased. You will see a 15 to40 per cent increase in construction cost— both in labour andmaterial costs.”To take on these extra costs, the industry needs to understandthe environmental benefits of making some tough decisions.This, says Milano, requires a major readjustment in how theindustry approaches projects. “There needs to be a change inattitude,” he says. “Now is the time to go green. The problem forthe industry and the customers is the cost—cheaper is usuallymore profitable for the developer.”Milano adds that change is nonetheless taking place and moreinstitutional and residential buildings are adopting the Leadershipin Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Createdin 1998, LEED is a green building rating system developed by theU.S. Green Building Council. It gives the construction industry anBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 31

ENVIROnmentestablished standard for environmentallysustainable construction and is currentlyused in more than 30 countries.In Canada, the Canadian GreenBuilding Council (CaGBC) is “the soleorganization that licenses the product,”according to Nancy Grenier, manager ofcommunication and marketing for theCaGBC. The CaGBC is a non-governmental,non-profit, industry-based andsupported body that receives very littlegovernment funding, says Grenier. Itworks with councils all over the world.AN EVOLVING CONCEPTLEED is evolving as new global realitiestake shape. “The whole LEED frameworkis undergoing a complete reorganizationunder the LEED Complete initiative,” saysGrenier. “This will involve changing froma one-time intervention to a building lifecycleinspection system.”LEED standards currently cover newconstruction projects, major renovationprojects, interior work and Multiple UnitResidential Buildings (MURB). Privatesingle-family home standards are stillbeing developed.The LEED rating system was created todefine the concept of a “green building”through the establishment of commonstandards for the construction industry tofollow. It stresses integrated, whole-buildingdesign practices and environmentalleadership in the building industry. Italso stimulates green competition, raisesconsumer awareness of green buildingbenefits and seeks to transform the buildingmarket.The rating system focuses on six areasof concern: sustainable site development,water efficiency, energy and atmosphere,materials and resources, indoor environmentalquality and innovation and designprocess. The process is transparent: all technicalcriteria proposed by the LEED committeesare publicly reviewed for approval.There are different levels of certificationfor buildings meeting various degreesof compliance based on the six establishedcategories. To qualify for the base level, forinstance, a building would have to complyin the range of 37 to 46 per cent, while atthe top ranking ‘platinum’ level it musthave over 75 per cent compliance.To qualify for LEED certification, developersmust first register, providing detailsof the work in question and specifyingthe certification level they are trying toachieve. Upon completion of the project,32 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007The Operations Centre, Gulf Islands National ParkReserve, is the first project in Canada to achievethe LEED® Platinum certification levelthe CaGBC has the site independentlyaudited and then issues the certification.THE FINE PRINT“There’s a big difference between theregistration for LEED and certification,”stresses Chris Welch, chairman of theTCA’s Green Building Subcommittee anda senior consultant at Jacques Whitford,an environmental consulting firm.Whitford notes that there is quite aprocess involved, which includes costs andpaperwork for registration and certification.If developers register for LEED certificationwithout intending to comply orget certified, this could lead to complications.“Problems can arise if a corporationwith a green agenda/policy buy or lease abuilding that was supposed to be built to acertain LEED category and it is not,” saysWhitford.According to Sheila Brown, the practicedirector of sustainable building solutionsat Jacques Whitford, building a commercialproperty that is not in some way greenis now a liability. “Any building that is notbuilt to some green standards now willbe a poor cousin to those that are,” shesays. “Public Works Government ServicesCanada has decreed that any project overthe value of ten million dollars has to meetthe LEED Gold standard.”Today, there are 72 certified LEEDprojects in Canada: 23 in Ontario, 17 inthe GTA alone. One such building is St.Gabriel’s Passionist Parish on SheppardAvenue E., which has a Gold certificate.The green features of this project includecutting energy consumption by 51 per centthrough an energy recovery unit on the airhandler, a significantly high thermal resistancein the walls and roof, and triple-glazedwindows with thermally broken aluminumframes and warm-edge spacers.The St. Gabriel’s project also incorporatesa reduction of indoor potablewater use with dual flush toilets, waterlessurinals and low flow faucets, as wellas highly efficient irrigation technologyand drought tolerant plants. Indoor environmentalquality was further enhancedthrough indoor air quality managementand low-emitting materials. As well, a LivingWall was created to improve air qualitythrough bio-filtration.Companies involved in the projectincluded Enermodal Engineering Ltd,Larkin Architect Ltd., Stantec Inc., IanGray & Associates Ltd. and ConestogaRovers & Associates. |BDThe Gulf Islands OperationsCentre features materialsthat respond to the localmicroclimate.Gulf Islands Centre photos courtesy of Ron Kato,McFarland Architects.

ENVIROnmentHazardous Materials,Occupational Hygieneand the Construction SiteSimplified hazardous materials procedures can save time and money.Environmental health and safety expert Don Pinchin explains whyBy Don PinchinNOT MANY YEARS AGO, ‘CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY’ REFERRED SOLELY TO the protection of workersfrom accidents or hazards. Ladder and scaffold safety, trips and falls, confined spaces,trench collapses and so on were the primary focus of site safety.Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) in the late 1980sbegan to increase awareness of chronic hazards caused by chemical exposure. ButWHMIS legislation was much more rapidly embraced at fixed industrial sites than onmost construction sites.Today, this situation has begun to change. The awareness of hazardous materialson construction sites has become a major issue, with significant cost implications.Regulation of hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, silica and mercury—the mostcommon designated substances encountered in buildings—is more difficult in thetransient construction workplace than in industrial settings. Air monitoring of workersBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 33

ENVIROnmenton a routine basis is much more complexand costly.The construction industry has arguedagainst the inclusion of routine worker airmonitoring in construction regulations.The Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL)has accommodated this by producingregulations or codes of practice based oncompliance with regulated procedureswhich do not require worker monitoring.O. Reg. 278/05 (Regulation respectingAsbestos on Construction Projects and inBuildings and Repair Operations) is themost significant of these standards.The codes of practice (Guidelines forLead and Silica published in 2004) areextremely similar in structure and wording.Each of these relies on establishingappropriate measures and proceduresfor specific operations, commonly classifiedas Type 1, 2 and 3 Operations. Therisk, the complexity of the measuresand procedures, the worker protectionand ultimately the costs increase withthe increasing numerical value (i.e. thecontrols required by Type 3 Operationsare more onerous than Type 1 work).Each of these standards—asbestos, leadand silica—also allows variation from themeasures and procedures as long as theyprovide equivalent worker protection.HOW WELL DO THESE “REGULATIONS” WORK?The short answer: very well when followed.But there are many sites, oftensmaller projects, where the proceduresare not followed. This is often because of alack of appropriate pre-project testing andcontractor notification by the owner and alack of awareness on the contractor’s part.When an appropriate Designated SubstanceSurvey Report is performed priorto tendering, and the contractors areprovided with it, the work practices aremore-or-less appropriately followed.In spite of the effectiveness of the regulation,Pinchin Environmental has recentlybeen involved in a number of projectswhere the “one-size-fits-all” approach ofthese regulations by procedure are, in ouropinion, clearly inappropriate. This hasseriously disrupted work at some majorprojects and resulted in needless concernsand costs.WHY THE CONCERN?It appears that the MOL, in an attemptto simplify the regulations, has groupedmaterials with extremely different potentialto cause worker exposure into one categoryof operation. Two obvious examplesof this are asbestos and paint. First, asphaltor tar-based roofing mastics, floor tileadhesives and road asphalts contain a verylow asbestos content (0.5 – 5 per cent). Airtesting has shown that the fine embeddedfibres used in these products are impregnatedwith tar and few, if any, respirablefibres are released even when the materialis power cut, ground or abraded. On theother hand, cement-based flat or corrugatedsheets (transite) contained around20 per cent asbestos. These materials havebeen shown to readily release airborneasbestos when the same power cutting orabrading occurs on these materials. However,the regulated procedures for thesetwo quite different classes of asbestos-containingmaterial (ACM) are identical.Second, the MOL has recently notifieda committee of the Environmental AbatementCouncil of Ontario that a paintcontaining any measurable concentrationof lead is subject to the lead guidelines.Demolition of walls, even if theyare painted with paint containing a fewparts per million (ppm) of lead would besubject to the same precautions as a veryhigh lead content structural paint. Thiswill result in huge additional costs if theministry enforces this guidance.The potential cost impact of strictcompliance with these regulations andguidelines for asbestos and lead can beenormous. For example, if it is necessaryto remove flooring adhesive or a built uproofing membrane using power tools,the cost premium to follow Type 3 procedureswill be at least several dollars persquare foot. This will create work for theabatement contractor, but based on ourtest results this level of precautions is notneeded for worker health and safety.ENSURING WORKER SAFETYWhat can owners, contractors, or consultantsdo to determine if procedurescan be simplified and to assure workersof their safety? The answer lies in the useof the basic procedures used in occupationalhygiene in non-construction settings.Occupational hygiene in industrialsettings meets performance standards bynormally relying on representative personalair monitoring of work operationsto evaluate compliance and determineappropriate work practices and workerprotection procedures.This is the method used by the MOLoriginally when developing the proceduralregulations. With asbestos for example,air monitoring can be performedduring specific operations and thenapplied to determine if simplified workpractices can provide equivalent workerprotection.To demonstrate the fact that simplifiedprocedures are effective, the projectmanager or consultant should determinewhat a typical work practice would be.This must be done in cooperation withthe trades on site and the Joint Health andSafety Committee (JHSC).Prior to performing the testing, allparties involved should agree upon anacceptable exposure level. Typically this is10 per cent of the industrial OccupationalExposure Limit (OEL) to provide a largemargin of safety. Then the workers undertakethe operation under controlled andpossibly worse-case scenarios while airmonitoring is conducted during the taskto confirm and document that the establishedprocedures are effective at controllingexposures.If the results of the monitoring indicatethat simplified procedures meet thisexceedingly conservative exposure limit,the JHSC or representative can be notifiedand work can proceed under these simplifiedprocedures. This may be appropriatefor the use of power tools on most asphaltor tar based materials; the use of powershears to break or cut non-friable asbestosmaterials; the demolition of drywall withasbestos containing joint compound; andthe demolition of walls or ceilings with lowlevels of lead in the paint.It is extremely important for all partiesinvolved to understand that this testing isbeing performed to firstly ensure workersafety and secondly to simplify and speedup the work with significant cost savings.Occupational testing of specific tasksis a method not to sidestep the necessaryprocedures for handling hazardous materialson a construction site, but to workwithin the regulation and the basic principlesof occupational hygiene to protectworkers effectively.Dr. Donald Pinchin is president and founderof Pinchin Environmental and the authorof “Asbestos in Buildings,” published by theOntario Royal Commission on Asbestos. |BD34 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

ConstruCt CanadaSweepstakesTCA is so excited about thenew features and provincialdirection of the EPR,we’re giving away great prizes!November 28, 2007 through January 31, 2008Join our seminarNew Developments in E-Plans RoomNovember 28, 2007, 9:00-10:15amat Construct Canada.Visit our ‘new age’ booth (#714)to find out more!grand prize2ndprizeEnter for your chance to wina Sharp Aquos 1080p 46” LCD TV,an iPod Classic 80gb + Bose dockingstation, or an iPod Touch 8gb3rd prize

CommunityYoung ExecutivesSwing the HammerRepresentatives of TCA’s Young ConstructionExecutives Club help build homes for Toronto’s needywith Habitat for HumanityBy Nestor GulaPhotos courtesy of Milan SchramekMore than 20 members ofTCA’s Young ConstructionExecutives Club came out tohelp Habitat for Humanitybuild homes in Toronto36 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

IT IS RARE TO SEE NORMALLY DESK-BOUNDEXECUTIVES AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE.It is rarer still to see them donninghardhats and constructionboots, swinging hammers, wieldingpaintbrushes and performing themanual labour involved in erectinga building.Yet such was the scene on August9 at a Habitat for Humanity constructionsite on Kingston Road inScarborough, Ontario. More than20 members TCA’s Young ConstructionExecutives Club (YCEC) cameout in full force to volunteer theirtime and labour at the latest Habitatfor Humanity project in the east endof Toronto.Habitat for Humanity is acharitable organization that constructshomes for the needy. Toqualify for one of their houses, applicantsmust meet a number of criteria,including holding down a job andcommitting to a set number of volunteerhours on the construction site.The homes are then sold to approvedindividuals at favourable rates.On the summer day in question,an eager group of YCECmembers—all under 35 and fromvarious sectors of the constructionindustry—came out to help. “TheYCEC is a very dynamic group,” saidJohn Mollenhauer, the presidentand CEO of TCA who was also onsite to lend a hand.For many of the YCEC volunteers, it was time they put on a hard hat and worked on an actual construction siteAttention:HVAC Engineers & ContractorsSelecting a Duplex Pump Set for Fuel Oil has never been easierViking Pump now brings you aSELECTOR PROGRAM that letsyou select, specify, even customizefactory built Duplex Fuel Oil Setsand Control Panels in8 Easy StepsOver 25 years experienceengineering & manufacturingof Duplex Fuel Oil SetsViking ® Selector Program gives you:• Customized Duplex pump set with ordering part numbers• CSA and UL Control Panels with ordering part numbers• Specifi cation sheets for each skid and control panel• Illustration drawingsSpecify your DFO Pump Sets the EASY WAY:Request your FREE CD on-line today!Go to: http://go.vikingpump.com/dfocdNationwide Toll Free: 1-888-VIK-PUMPwww.vikingpumpcanada.com vpcmarketing@idexcorp.comMississauga • Windsor • London • Montreal • Quebec • Sussex, NBWinnipeg • Calgary • Edmonton • VancouverCanadian Manufacturers & Distributors ofFluid Handling Equipment Since 1924DFO-HPV4C-4625x7000.indd 1Builders' Digest Winter 2007 | 377/17/2007 1:08:56 PM

CommunityTCA presidentJohn Mollenhauerwas on hand toshow his supportand help out withthe hard work38 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

Mollenhauer foresees more cooperationbetween TCA and Habitatfor Humanity in the future. “It’s givingsomething back,” he said. “Thisis important, particularly comingfrom the construction industry.”FIRST TIME EXPERIENCEFor most of the YCEC volunteers,this was their first experience workingon a construction site. LeaNebel, an attorney with BlaneyMcMurty LLP, which specializes inconstruction litigation, came withher friend and colleague MariaKotsopolous, a labour law attorneyat the same firm.“This is my first time working at aconstruction site,” emphasized Nebelwith a big smile. “I’m with a groupthat is cleaning out the homes, gettingrid of the construction debris,and we’ll be painting later.”Along with the altruistic elementof volunteering time and labour tohelp those in need, Nebel also seesthe event as an excellent opportunityto meet like-minded professionals.“What I like about this particularevent is that I’m getting a chanceto get out and network with otheryoung executives in the constructionindustry,” said Nebel, who is onthe executive of YCEC. “We are ableto work together on a project andget to know each other better.”Nebel added that getting involvedin the nitty gritty of constructionwork will also help her gain a betterunderstanding of what happens at aconstruction site, which in turn willgive her an added edge in findingeffective solutions for her clients.THE BIGGER PICTURECharles Lau, an architect at KasianInterior Design and Planning LTD.,is another young professional whorarely gets to construction sites.While he admits to some basicbuilding experience renovating hishome, at the Habitat project he wasable to see and experience the biggerpicture.“Coming here, to a constructionsite, helps me see how things areput together and understand theproblems of actually assembling adesign,” said Lau, who was closingout the building framing, putting inBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 39

Communitysheathing boards and doing other generalcarpentry work. The work obviouslyagreed with him: Lau said he would definitelybe ready to volunteer again.As a project manager for EllisDonCorporation, Chris Pollard certainlyknows his way around a building site, buthe rarely if ever works on one. “I rarelyswing the hammer—I’m an office guy,”he said. “Today I’m working on the skillsaws and on the foundation.”Although Pollard spends a considerableamount of time at construction sitesas part of his work, volunteering for Habitatfor Humanity helps him understandeven the minute details of constructionwork, which in turn helps him understandhis industry better. As he puts it,“Getting to know how long things take tomake—like putting up a wall or anythingelse—is important.”As the day wore on, the enthusiasmamong the young volunteers didn’twane. There may have been a few soremuscles, but the feeling of accomplishmentand of giving something to thecommunity took the edge off any discomfort.Overall, the feeling amongthe construction professionals was thatYCEC would be back to help on otherHabitat for Humanity home-buildingprojects in the future. |BDHKMB’sCanWellInsurance andFinancial Services Inc.On the job and readyto work for you…Yourbestalternative!Surety BondsConstructionInsuranceRisk ManagementConsulting ServicesEmployee BenefitsExperienced brokers willing to work and grow with small andmedium size contractors and tradesmen.We have strong and stable insurance markets for most trades.We offer: • business insurance • commercial auto• professional liability • contract surety bondsGet us working for you:416 597 0008 • 1 800 232 2024Toronto, Ontario • www.HKMB.comNorman Ritchie, BA, CIPCANWEll INsuRANCE ANd FINANCIAl sERvICEs INC.80 Acadia Ave, ste. 306, Markham, ON l3R 9v1Tel: (905) 513-9802 ext. 228 Fax: (905) 513-9830Email: nritchie@canwell.ca40 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

EYE ON THE WORLDScrapingthe SkyBy Laura PrattMore and morebuildings acrossthe globe defythe odds asthey reachnew heightsKuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers—the towers include 36,910 tonsof steel and stand at 452 metresBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 41

EYE ON THE WORLDThe Burj Dubai,currently underconstruction,is home to theArmani Hotel inthe UAELEAP THEM IN A SINGLE BOUND IF YOU DARE, butthe world’s tallest buildings are on therise as architects and designers scrambleto outdo each other at every turn. Hereare the current seven frontrunners, somecompleted, others under construction,but all reaching for new heights.The city of Dubai in the United ArabEmirates is a growing metropolis, witha number of skyscrapers making theirmark. For starters, there is the EmiratesOffice Tower, the 12th-tallest fully-habitablebuilding in the world, which perforatesthe sky spectacularly above the city’sbusiness and commercial district. This54-floor office building rises dramaticallyfrom Sheikh Zayed Road, alongside the56-floor Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel,to which Tower One is connected by a9,000-square-metre retail boulevard.Together, the two buildings form “theEmirates Towers complex,” an architecturalmarvel with a total structural heightof 354.6 metres. Set against a backdropof landscaped gardens and ornamentallakes, this elegant tribute to steel and glassis renowned for its trademark equilateraltriangle design that celebrates the earth,sun and moon, the three heavenly bodiesof Islam.Hong Kong skyline in the afternoonDubai’s construction boom continuesA nighttime view of Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers—thetowers include 36,910 tons of steel and stand at 452 metresPhoto copyright Adrian Lindley42 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

But in the race to scrape the sky at itshighest point, the Burj Dubai—Arabic forDubai Tower—may just have the rest ofthe buildings beat. As of August 20, 2007,the tower’s developers reported its heightas 536 metres, with 146 completed floors.Currently under construction, this toweringspectacle is home to the decadentArmani Hotel and is set to be the tallestman-made structure in the world whenfinished late 2008.A TRIBUTE TO LIFEOn this side of the Atlantic, the WorldTrade Center Tower 1, or Freedom Tower,is as much a tribute to life as it is to architecture.Following the destruction of theWorld Trade Center towers on September11, 2001, the centerpiece building ofthe new World Trade Center complexcurrently planned for Lower Manhattanwill be the jewel in a four-tower crownthat includes a residential complex anda museum.Freedom Tower, with its final designformally unveiled in June 2006, is the victorin a contest launched soon after theoriginal tower was destroyed. The designersdescribe it as a “monolithic glass structurereflecting the sky and topped by asculpted antenna.” The new tower will liftfrom the New York skyline with a centralspire that will be an intense beam of lightvisible over 305 metres above the tower atnight. The site will also feature the ReflectingAbsence memorial, which will honourthe 2,986 victims of the terrorist attacks.At 541 metres (including its spire andantenna) Freedom Tower will qualify asthe tallest office building in the world.The US$3 billion building is expected tobe completed by 2012.In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the twinskyscrapers—Petronas Towers—werethe world’s tallest twin towers until 2004.Completed in 1997, the US$1.6-billionpair amount to 36,910 tons of steel, standat 452 metres and are named after thegovernment-owned oil company locatedwithin their soaring walls.The 88-storey steel and glass phenomenaborder one edge of the MalaysiaMultimedia Supercorridor and theirexistence is courtesy of a constructionIn Taiwan, the Taipei 101 holds top honours as thetallest completed skyscraper in the world with101 stories above groundPhoto copyright Christophe NamurSALIT STEELNIAGARA FALLSRONCO STEELBURLINGTONYOUR PARTNER IN THE CONSTRUCTIONINDUSTRY FOR OVER 100 YEARSREINFORCING STEELSALIT STEELBOWMANVILLEBLACK• EPOXY COATED • GALVANIZED• STAINLESS• WIRE MESHESTIMATING • CAD DETAILING • FABRICATION• PLACINGREBAR SALES OFFICE79 MAIN STREET EAST, GRIMSBY, ON, L3M 1N7PH: 866-725-4878 FX: 905-309-0344www.salitsteel.com OR www.stainlessrebar.comBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 43

EYE ON THE WORLDboom in the 1990s. The Petronas Towersare built over an abandoned racetrackand are connected at levels 41 and 42by a double-decker flexible pedestriansky bridge. They sport an eight-pointstar design based on geometric patternsthat originate in ancient Islam. They alsofeature a concert hall that is home to theMalaysian Philharmonic, a mosque and abusiness reference library.THE WORLD’S TALLEST BUILDINGIn Taiwan, the three-year-old Taipei101 holds top honours as the tallestcompleted skyscraper in the world. With101 stories above ground, the 449-metrebuilding is a technological masterpiece. Itshould also be noted that various sources,including the building’s owners, list itsheight as 508 metres. The building featuresfantastically sophisticated fibre-opticand satellite Internet connections, as wellas the world’s fastest double-decker elevators,running at a speed of 16.83 metresper second.The Emirates Towers complex is known for its equilateraltriangle design, celebrating the earth, sun and moonMeanwhile, when construction of theShanghai World Financial Center is completedin 2008, the skies above the financialdistrict of this “vertical city” will bepierced by a vast new skyscraper featuring31 elevators, 33 escalators, an abundanceof sophisticated office space, observationdecks—including the world’s highest—retail outlets and a handsome five-starhotel. At last count, this towering US$850-million newcomer, which is financed byseveral multinational firms, measured 435metres or 96 stories, but it is expected toclock in at some 492 metres.In Hong Kong, Two InternationalFinance Centre, an impressive new skyscraperon the waterfront of the centraldistrict, is almost 416 metres at its highestpoint, making its second tower’s 88floors the seventh-tallest office buildingin the world. All told, this simple, strongobelisk consists of two skyscrapers, whichare home to the ifc mall, a who’s who ofprominent financial firms and the 55-storeyFour Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. |BDNeed Fill,Have Fill?Post it on theontariofillexchange.comSales: Jeffrey RobertsonOffice & 24hr. Dispatch1-800-334-6621416-751-2843FAX 416-751-758491 Crockford Blvd., Scarborough, Ont. M1R 3B7jeff@cwsmithcraneservice.com44 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

Upcoming EventsToronto Construction AssociationConstruct Canada 2007 November 28 - 30, 2007Metro Toronto Convention CentreChristmas Lunch Friday, November 30, 2007Metro Toronto Convention CentreTickets now on saleAn Evening in Camelot Gala Saturday, February 2, 2008The Old Mill InnSki Day Friday, February 22, 2008Alpine Ski Club, CollingwoodTickets go on sale January 2Golf Tournament Thursday, May 22, 2008The Club at Bond Head and Copper Creek Golf ClubTickets go on sale April 1For further information, please contact: Mary Thorburn or Barbara Bryon • Tel: (416) 499-4000, Ext. 14/57Email: mthorburn@tcanetworks.com; bbryon@tcanetworks.com • www.tcanetworks.comYoung Construction Executives ClubPub Night November 2007Madison PubFor further information, please contact: Evelyn Kilcullen • Tel: (416) 499-4000, Ext. 18Email: ekilcullen@tcanetworks.com • www.tcanetworks.comThe Construction InstituteSeminar: Construction Liens Thursday, November 15, 20078:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.Seminar: LEED for Construction Thursday, November 15, 20072:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.Program: The Leadership Challenge October 2008, February 2009Course: Blueprint Reading andEstimating Level ICourse: Blueprint Reading andEstimating Level IIWorkshop: The Pitfalls of Biddingand TenderingTuesday, January 8, 20087:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.Tuesday, April 8, 20087:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.May 2008For further information, please contact: Roxanne Drisdelle • Tel: (416) 499-4000, Ext. 15Email: rdrisdelle@tcanetworks.com • www.theconstructioninstitute.comBuilders' Digest Winter 2007 | 45

index to advertisersBelmont Rose Granite Corp...... 44Markham, ONDymin Steel Inc......................... 17Brampton, ONMaestro Technologies........INSERTVarennes, QCToromont Industries Ltd.............. 9Concord, ONBender Sealhard ECS Inc........... 44Mississauga, ONEllisDon Corporation................. 23Mississauga, ONMagest Inc................................. 15Stratford, ONTrailerline Sales Inc................... 46Whitby, ONBenson Steel Limited................ 27Bolton, ONGAL Power Systems.................. 29Nepean, ONMBS Steel.................................. 46Brampton, ONUltimate ICF Inc................ 24 & 25Newmarket, ONBFI Canada Inc........................... 46Concord, ONBondfield ConstructionCompany Ltd............................. 39Concord, ONCanwell Insurance & FinancialServices...................................... 40Markham, ONCapannelli Law ProfessionalCorporation................................. 8Toronto, ONCedarcrest ArchitecturalSpecialist................................... 46Courtland, ONC. W. Smith Crane Service Ltd... 44Scarborough, ONGeo. A. Kelson CompanyLimited....................................... 26Newmarket, ONGoldman, Sloan & Nash.............. 7Toronto, ONThe Graff Company Limited...... 26Brampton, ONThe Guarantee Companyof North America....................... 39Toronto, ONHertz Equipment RentalCorporation............................... 19Park Ridge, NJHKMB Insurance........................ 40Toronto, ONOntario ConstructionSecretariat................................... 3Etobicoke, ONOntario Fill Exchange Inc.......... 44Newmarket, ONPeri Formwork Systems Inc....... 16Bolton, ONPermacon..........Inside Back CoverMilton, ONPriestly Demolition Inc.............. 28Aurora, ONSalit Steel Ltd............................ 43Grimsby, ONUnited Rentals SharedService Centre............................. 4Mississauga, ONVanbots ConstructionCorporation.....Inside Front CoverMarkham, ONViking Pump of Canada Inc....... 37Mississauga, ONWeirFoulds LLP.......................Outside Back CoverToronto, ONW.H. Brady................................. 13Markham, ON• Highway trailers• Storage vans• Flats and drops1-888-452-5018John McDougallTrailerline Sales Inc.www.trailerlinesales.comjohn@trailerlinesales.comDARRYL STEENSuppliers of Door & Wall Protection,Cubical Track & Curtains, Expansion Joints& Washroom Accessories & Partitions.CEDARCREST ARCHITECTURAL SPECIALTIES LTD.525 Hwy #3, RR#2, Courtland, Ontario NOJ 1EOTel: 519-688-0269 • 866-705-4451Fax: 519-688-0174MBS Steel Ltd.ManUfactURER of opEn cUStoMwEB StEEL joiStS anD tRUSSESDEREK MRUSEKSales Manager62 Progress Court Tel.: (905) 799-9922Brampton, ON L6S 5X2 Fax: (905) 799-9923Email: dmrusek@mbssteel.com Cell: (416) 434-4128 46 | Builders' Digest Winter 2007

“WeirFoulds has serviced ourcorporate, real estate, leasing,design-build, construction,consulting and other legal needsfor more than 35 years, as weexpanded from a single location to amulti-faceted complex of companieswith offices throughout the world.”Michael LeGresley & Victor Smith,Co-CEOs, Giffels, An Integrated Consulting,Design-Build and Asset Management Companygrew up with WeirFoulds.To find out more, call Glenn Ackerleyat 416.947.5008 or email him atackerley@weirfoulds.com.Protect your future. Gain a competitive advantage. WeirFoulds LLP.416.365.1110www.weirfoulds.com