Theme: Net-Zero and High-Performance Buildings

This seminar will discuss the fire-related national building and fire code changes related to a new construction type called Encapsulated Mass Timber Construction (EMTC) to be used for wood buildings up to twelve storeys. Attendees of this seminar will have an overview of ongoing fire research into various performance aspects of mass timber construction and tall wood buildings.

Speakers:

Marc Alam, Senior Manager, Codes and Standards in Fire and Acoustics, Canadian Wood Council

Noah Fetterly, Technical Specialist, Codes and Standards in the Fire division, Canadian Wood Council

Theme: Workforce Solutions

Human capital management and labour shortage have been ongoing issues for the construction industry. The industry will continue facing an extensive skilled labour shortage unless we start changing the perceptions about a construction career and address the significant challenges of hiring new employees, particularly amongst youth, women, and diverse groups. Several reports and studies have highlighted gaps in EDI (equality, diversity, and inclusion) within the construction sector. Some of that can be attributed to the persistent misconceptions and stereotypes about the construction industry to be unsafe, unsophisticated, and very physically demanding.

So how can we make our industry more appealing to young professionals? Applied education aimed at preparing students and trainees to be job ready with a breadth of skills and competencies – from problem solving and teamwork organizational skills, to technology tools and proficiencies – can help support the transition of the future construction workforce and ensure that the industry continues to attract bright and diverse talents.

This interactive seminar will encourage attendees to actively participate and will include a short presentation about the role of applied education and a panel discussion with construction industry professionals. This seminar will address the following areas and attendees will learn to:
• Recognize trends in construction
• Identify key construction skill gaps and human capital challenges
• Review the role and importance of applied education in construction
• Define a path to ensure applied education and construction attract new diverse talent

Speakers:
Reva Bond, Dean, SAIT - School of Construction

Azzeddine Oudjehane, Academic Chair, Construction Project Management and GIS Programs, SAIT - School of Construction

Theme: Workforce Solutions

Campuses, civic buildings, and public spaces are increasingly seeking to provide a sense of welcome to users from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences, including important perspectives from Indigenous people. Design teams, however, often do not represent the same diversity. How then, can a project’s creators integrate perspectives and cultural themes to make less-represented groups feel welcome?

This seminar describes an example of how a design team seeking to create welcoming space can work collaboratively with diverse users to provide safe and culturally appropriate space for Indigenous communities.

Speakers:

Tai Ziola, Architect & Partner, DIALOG

Robert Sabulka, Associate Vice President, Infrastructure, Planning and Management, MacEwan University

Jaycee Meneen, Student Advisor, kihêw waciston Indigenous Centre, MacEwan University

Theme: Workforce Solutions

The pandemic exposed shortcomings across the global economy and impacted every industry. In the construction industry, the pandemic wreaked havoc with the supply chain resulting in price escalation of construction materials across the board. The effects were felt from multi-billion-dollar projects down to DIY projects. In Canada, hardly any contracts contain mechanisms to address price escalation, but this is not the case globally. Price escalation clauses have been used internationally for decades and provide lessons on what our industry should consider adopting going forward.

In this seminar, the speakers will review lessons learned and consider tips for dealing with price escalation in a changing world, from contract negotiation to negotiating extra compensation in the context of disputes.

Speaker: 

Tom Wagner, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Richard Bell, Partner, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Theme: Workforce Solutions

In this seminar, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Prompt Payment and Construction Lien Act (PPCLA) and its accompanying regulation, which replaced the Builders’ Lien Act on August 29, 2022. Attendees will learn about the significant changes brought about by the new law, including new rules on invoicing, payment deadlines, lien registration timelines, and dispute resolution during ongoing projects. The seminar will also cover the specific types of construction projects to which the PPCLA applies, the creation of a strict payment cycle, new obligations for disputing invoices, how to use the new adjudication process, and the impact of the PPCLA on pay-when-paid clauses. By the end of the seminar, attendees will be well-equipped to adapt their internal processes to comply with the PPCLA’s requirements and navigate the changes affecting the construction industry.

Speakers:

Alex Norris, Associate, Carbert Waite LLP

Michael Bokhaut, Lawyer & Partner, Carbert Waite LLP

Theme: Net-Zero and High-Performance Buildings

Deep Energy Retrofits have caught on as a hot topic for building owners looking to decarbonize their assets, but entry costs are perceived as high, and many are struggling to take the first step. This seminar will outline the process for building owners to initiate the process of reducing emissions and energy in their existing buildings. Using their experience in retrofits from building envelope and sustainability perspectives, the speakers will describe how to create a pathway to decarbonization that is intimately linked with capital planning, tenant occupancy, and upcoming regulatory policy.

Speakers:

Sam Lane, Associate, Sustainable Performance, Entuitive

Heather Elliot, Senior Associate, Building Envelope, Entuitive

Theme: Retrofits & Repurposing Assets

In a panel discussion, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) and the Calgary Stampede, alongside members of the project team, will explore the design and delivery of the $500M, 565,000 sq. ft. BMO Centre Expansion – western Canada’s largest convention centre. From assembling a world-class team of architects and developing a landmark design that puts Calgary on the map as a convention destination, to installing 9,000 metric tonnes of steel in under a year and delivering this city-changing project through challenging market conditions, the BMO Centre Expansion is a case study in city-building, partnership, and innovation.

Speakers:

Georgette McGrath- Jucic, Director, Special Projects, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation

Geoff Kallweit, Associate, Structural Engineering, RJC Engineers

Kerri Souriol, Director, Park Development, Calgary Stampede

Nichola Sinclair-Foreman, Project Director, M3 Development Management

Theme: Workforce Solutions

The National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) has evolved to meet the changing demands of safe structures, occupant health and wellness, and sustainability. This seminar will address the impacts of the most significant NECB changes pertaining to Part 3 Buildings in Alberta.

The session will focus on whether the current code sufficiently addresses the requirements for the diverse range of structures in today’s cities, from mid-rise to super tall towers, or whether greater flexibility is needed to balance the demand for safe, accessible, climate-resilient structures that still remain affordable to build. Discussion will also cover the increased energy efficiency requirements that came into effect with Tiered Energy Codes, and how these changes will impact building operations.

Speakers:

Mohammad Al Masri, Senior Project Manager, Footprint