Rising profile: Canada honoured for tilt-up concrete projects

In addition to featuring outstanding tilt-up concrete construction, Vancouver's Sunset Community Centre incorporates passive daylighting and in-slab geothermal heating, which helped earn its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating.

Photo courtesy Tilt-Up Concrete Association

A B.C. and an Ontario project were each recognized at the Tilt-up Concrete Association's (TCA's) 2009 Achievement Awards. In its 18^th year, the program honours projects using site-cast tilt-up to introduce new building types and advance technology.

Lecture series added to Toronto Chapter's No Frills Show

Construction Specifications Canada's (CSC's) Toronto Chapter has added a lecture series to its annual No Frills Trade Show. The event, held on March 2, allows architects, engineers, interior designers, and specifiers to get all the latest manufacturer information and network with colleagues in a single afternoon.

New green act for Ontario

Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced plans to make conservation and energy efficiency a more critical component of the Ontario Building Code (OBC). By introducing a new 'Green Energy Act' into the province's legislature later this month, McGuinty hopes to boost the ailing economy.

Outlook grim for Canadian construction CEOs

Amidst the current economic crisis, CEOs in the engineering/ construction industry are less confident about growth prospects, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC's) 12^th Annual Global CEO Survey. A mere 18 per cent of company leaders in the industry feel very confident about increasing revenues over the next year, compared to 56 per cent in last year's study.

ASTM meetings in Vancouver to discuss building performance

In April, two ASTM International meetings will take place in Vancouver. Committee E06 on Performance of Buildings will hold its biannual meeting April 19 to 22 at the Hyatt Regency. At this gathering, which is open to all interested individuals, a diverse range of topics will be covered.

Worldwide demand for cement and concrete additives to increase

Global demand for cement and concrete additives is expected to increase six per cent annually to $16.2 billion by 2012. The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland, Ohio-based market research firm notes this projection represents a modest deceleration from gains posted between 2002 and 2007, a period in which a worldwide construction boom drove increasing demand for cement and associated additives.