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Buildings Sector
edition 1 | Fall 2024
The Resiliency Dividend
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“Our clients are in the business of moving freight such as mined minerals, food products, and building materials that communities depend on. Our number one success metric is safely minimizing disruption to the train schedules, and we gear all of our operations toward that goal.”
Jim Holtje
Civil Area Manager, PCL Construction
Technology in Construction Drives Lean Value to Clients
Market insight
What if Our Buildings Could Talk? With rapid advancements in technology, they can and are! AI supported sensor technology, for example, gathers valuable data through construction and post-completion that – properly analyzed – gives owners, consultants and builders insight into what our buildings are telling us. Through construction, sensors can track such metrics as building temperature, moisture levels, concrete curing time and even flood risk, providing us with real-time data that streamlines project delivery and mitigates risks. Post construction, sensor technology helps measure building performance, from energy consumption to occupant usage, giving owners and operators immediate and actionable information. The challenge now for asset owners is to understand how to leverage all of the data we are able to collect into their business and operational planning. Whether gathering data to inform lean and effective decarbonization strategies and retrofit implementation plans or to build a data foundation for the creation of digital twins, PCL is leading the industry in providing these highly specialized services. We used our proprietary Job Site Insights® (JSI) sensor technology to collect data while building Stantec Tower in Edmonton, Alberta. We installed JSI sensors in the tower to alert the construction team of temperature or humidity shifts that could jeopardize millwork and hardwood. JSI technology saved our client more than $370,000 by reducing gas and electric heater usage, let alone potential re-work costs. Reaching New Heights with Drones Real time, actionable data – collected by drones – helps to streamline project delivery and empowers better decision making for our teams and clients. Drones can travel a project site faster than any human and reach the highest heights and hard-to-access areas during inspections, improving efficiency and safety in the field. Just ask the drone pilots in our Orlando office. They pioneered PCL’s industry-leading drone program, which continues to deliver client cost savings and elevated confidence in our teams on every build. Fast becoming new heroes on the construction site, drones are not just taking nice-looking photos and video; they’re capturing essential data that software synthesizes into virtual building models that bring the work alive for clients and project teams, enhancing the efficient collaboration that is critical to successful project delivery. Returning Dollars to your Budget On the New St. Paul’s hospital site in Vancouver, British Columbia, significant time and client dollars were saved by using drones with geographic information systems (GIS) software to detect a location conflict between a proposed vehicle ramp into the site and crane foundation thereby avoiding potentially significant schedule delays in the delivery of this mission critical infrastructure. The GIS enabled drones also detected massive underground boulders that were clashing with the critical foundation structure. With the ability to detect, map and quantify the location and extent of the boulders, PCL and the rock removal contractors were able to pin point scope, schedule and removal method saving the project close to $25,000. Watch PCL’s presentation at the ESRI conference this year to learn more about how we’re using GIS technology to proactively mitigate risk. On another highly complex project, we implemented an innovative virtual drone envelope inspection program that cut traditional investigation costs by 80%. Traditional envelope inspection using people on swing stages taking selected images of notable building defects is time consuming and fraught with potential safety risks. Replaced by a detailed drone scan of the building, the drone models we created were – at the client’s request –utilized to significantly enhance quality, schedule, budget and safety. See how we merged 9,000 drone photos to create a photorealistic model of the SaskPower Head Office in Regina, Saskatchewan. Better Data for Better BIM Building Information Modeling (BIM) creates a detailed 3D or 4D version of the project in a virtual environment where potential design issues or construction risks can be identified and mitigated before construction commences on site. We leveraged BIM and augmented reality software on Denver’s 16th Street Mall renovations to identify critical infrastructure and to visualize existing conditions, such as potholes and utility locations. This technology improved safety for crews on the job site and reduced the risk of utility strikes. On the 65 King East office tower in Toronto, Ontario, we used BIM to communicate revisions and scheduling details to everyone involved with the project. Enter in the Digital Twin At the outset of this article, we posed the question: What if your buildings could talk? Well, with a digital twin, they can! The creation of ‘simple’ BIM models that enhance risk mitigation and collaboration through the planning and design phases of the project is only one side of the BIM equation. There are significant additional gains for constructors, asset owners and building operators when we springboard from BIM into the realm of the Digital Twin: a fully digitalized virtual yet living ‘mini-me’ of the building integrated into its surroundings and detailed down to the light switch. Digital twins are created by integrating intelligent BIM models with real time systems, sensor and utility meter data into a single platform giving clients, consultants and constructors insight into how a building is performing. With some of our most progressive clients looking to embrace AI ‘aware’ digital twins that can monitor occupant behavior or predict potential weather impacts, PCL is now working to help plan their data strategies as part of our advanced preconstruction services offering. As evidenced on several large scale healthcare projects, client, consultant and constructor collaboration early in project delivery is critical to provide clients with a strong foundation for the development of their digital twins. Dodging the Hype to Focus on Value for Clients Whether PCL pilots are flying drones to enhance project safety and security or to capture data inputs for industry-leading software; or project teams are using BIM models to optimize design and collaboration; or forward-thinking clients are embracing the power of AI enabled digital twins, PCL’s command of leading construction technologies is improving efficiency, productivity and ultimately delivering long term value to our clients.
Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure for Tomorrow
Managing Supply Chain Challenges with Progressive Design-Build Projects
Keeping Freight Moving Across North America
Passion, Purpose and Resilience: The Secret Sauce to Client Success
GSI data mitigates risks
JSI sensors collect actionable data
PCL’s drone pilots in training
BIM technologies enhance project delivery
Mill Woods Transit Centre
edmonton, alberta
Meet PCL’s director of sustainability
learn more
Project Profiles
Integrated Data Center Solutions
Engineering News-Record | enr.com
Drones and GIS derisk major projects
Enhancing Solar Sustainability
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The Resiliency Dividend: From car parks to heritage hotels, sustainable solutions enhance asset values
Whether it’s new construction or the retrofit of an aging asset, resilient and sustainable buildings benefit clients now and in the future. Climate change and extreme weather events have brought resiliency and sustainability to the forefront of discussions about the built environment. Whether a client is considering new construction or a retrofit, whether it is a hospital, school, airport, stadium, residential tower or office building, clients are increasingly demanding projects that mitigate and, if necessary, withstand the potentially severe effects of climate change. That’s where resilient construction comes in. Resilient construction reduces the environmental impact of the construction and operation of buildings and allows for continuity through extreme weather or a public health crisis. Resilient buildings mitigate the impacts of climate change, accelerate adaptation and minimize the potential for a need to rebuild. Resilient Construction for the Future Building options that add resiliency to a project include the use of environmentally friendly construction materials such as low-carbon concrete and mass timber, the integration of renewable energy options such as solar, geothermal and heat exchange, and the construction of state-of-the-art building envelopes. As a leading general contractor, PCL takes our role in the resiliency equation seriously. From the selection of design and trade partners through material procurement and construction to final handover, we advise clients on best-in-class solutions that align with their priorities. We help coordinate owners, consultants, building product manufacturers, engineers and trade contractors to deliver high-performance, low-impact sustainability solutions that provide exceptional performance and the best possible life-cycle cost. The Proof is in the Projects Drive to Net-Zero: As the drive to decarbonize buildings and reduce environmental impacts gains momentum, clients are opting for net-zero or low-carbon facilities, taking advantage of tax breaks and energy-cost savings along the way. In San Diego, the new 65,000-square-foot Southeastern Live Well Center is all-electric and zero net energy. It is designed to offset at least 110% of energy consumption through renewables, reducing operational costs. It is also in a FEMA flood zone and next to a flood channel, so vertical construction was completed above the level of a 100-year flood. Hidden retaining walls were added so water will not get into the building, reducing the risk of damage and the potential for repairs or replacement. Retrofits + Decarbonization: The operation of buildings accounts for roughly 28% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. With energy costs and the demand for sustainability reporting rising and tenants seeking sustainable options, retrofitting older assets can be key for building owners to maintain a competitive, profitable portfolio. To respond to this growing demand, PCL has developed a comprehensive Sustainable Retrofits and Decarbonization (SR&D) services offering. We bring together the right team to streamline everything from asset assessment, data analysis and project planning to construction and operations. One example of this work is Ken Soble Tower, an 18-story, 50-year-old affordable seniors housing complex in Hamilton. The team was able to reduce Ken Soble’s GHG emissions by 94%, proving that sustainability, affordability and occupant comfort can go hand in hand. “If we can get in early and understand what's really driving the client to make these changes, we can provide great value,” says PCL’s SR&D manager, Mark Henderson. “We can conduct a market analysis, perform building condition assessments and take other steps that help the client get the best possible return on investment for the decarbonization project.” Tapping into Alternative Energy: Many clients are seeking to include renewable energy in their projects. Such options, which include hydro, wind, solar and geothermal, can also come with significant financial upside by reducing long-term energy costs. By seeking the right solutions in the right cases, PCL has worked with clients to install the largest geothermal heating and cooling system at a Canadian healthcare project, in Newfoundland and Labrador, an 8,400MW solar panel system on the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility at Los Angeles International Airport and deep water cooling for an iconic heritage hotel in Toronto. The Move to Mass Timber: Mass timber refers to structural building components made from wood, including large panels, posts and beams. As a renewable resource, mass timber has a smaller environmental footprint than concrete or steel. It often costs less, provides excellent thermal performance and offers construction efficiencies including schedule acceleration, waste reduction and enhanced design aesthetics. PCL has built with mass timber for more than 20 years, including having constructed the Burwell Center for Career Achievement in Denver, Colorado and Limberlost Place in Toronto, Ontario, all of which have earned environmental certifications. PCL’s focus on sustainability allows us to support clients and design and engineering partners as we work to support climate goals. We guide clients to the right balance between upfront investments and lifecycle cost savings. By working collaboratively, we develop cost-effective solutions that meet proformance requirements and targets for operational emissions, energy consumption and embodied carbon. “Just as our climate is changing, so is the way we look at investments in a resilient built environment,” says Henderson.
Western Memorial Regional Hospital geothermal system
Burwell Center, mass timber construction
Anatomy of a high performance envelope
Limberlost Place, Ontario’s first mass timber net zero institutional building
As an employee-owned company, every team member at PCL, from field coordinator to CEO has an opportunity to become a shareholder. Through this investment, a sense of personal stake drives a heightened culture of accountability and ignites a deep-seated passion and purpose in our work, transforming every project into a personal mission of success for our clients, partners and communities. This purpose-fueled passion also elevates our standards in safety and sustainability to ensure we’re not just delivering on our business commitments but investing in people from diverse backgrounds for a more sustainable future, together. It’s this unique strength and resilience, born from a blend of passion, diversity and personal investment, that differentiates PCL as industry leaders and resonates with many of our clients and partners. Lifting Up Communities Engaging in support of community members in need comes naturally to many PCL employees including regional vice president, Bruce Sonnenberg. For the last decade, Bruce has joined with business and community leaders in cities across North America, who – as part of an annual executive Sleep Out – give up the comforts of home to sleep on the streets in solidarity with homeless youth to raise awareness and money in support of Covenant House, an organization that provides 24/7 shelter, sanctuary and support to homeless youth and survivors of human trafficking. When the island of Maui was ravaged by wildfires in August 2023, Nordic PCL coordinated with industry partner Hawaiian Cement to collect and barge nonperishable goods to Maui County in support of families who lost everything. And we continue to support this community through annual donations to Maui Food Bank. “Helping my community in their time of need is automatic. Without hesitation, Nordic PCL stepped in with our trade partners to provide emergency services for our community and clients. It is an honor and a duty to have resources available at a moment’s notice to make a difference for one another. My community knows that they can come to us with their needs, and we will always be there to help,” said Grant Anae, superintendent for Nordic PCL. Rooted in an accountable culture of employee ownership and unwilling to turn a blind eye to any problem encountered on a project site, the solution oriented approach of our employees extends even to the animal kingdom as exemplified by the rescue of stray dogs that were frequenting the Rayos del Sol solar project. Clients want to know that their project partners are as committed as they are to supporting the communities in which we live, work and play. As allies and partners in many initiatives, our clients share in the benefits of the community goodwill that empathy and compassion engender. Knowledge that Inspires with Tools to Thrive Other community support is rooted in our understanding that resilience is nurtured from the ground up. By empowering and diversifying the next generation of builders with knowledge, tools and experience we – together with our partners – are helping lay a foundation not only for a hopeful future that allows people and communities to thrive, but also for the long term health of our industry, ensuring we are ready to meet the long term objectives of our clients. ACE Mentor Program of America has provided one avenue of success for PCL to help introduce and encourage the younger generation toward a successful career in construction. Through individual employee involvement in various ACE mentor programs, to the larger ACE national student competition, we’re able to help students grow their knowledge and collect the right tools for potential future lifetime careers in architecture, engineering and construction. In Canada, PCL projects in Indigenous communities are about more than just walls and roofs — they generate benefits like employment, skill development and places to gather. In 2021, PCL joined the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, which works to build the skills and capacity of Indigenous people through business and improve the economic self-reliance of Indigenous communities. “At PCL, we call ourselves community builders, and the Indigenous community is very much a part of our community and our company,” says Josh Girman, PCL’s manager of Indigenous relations. “They’re our clients, our partners, our coworkers. It’s important for PCLers to have awareness and knowledge of the history, and to have the cultural awareness of what people’s lives are like today.” In his role, Josh works with every one of PCL’s Canadian districts, supporting project pursuits and deliveries and developing partnerships with Indigenous communities. Protecting the Whole Person: Mind, Body and Soul According to the World Health Organization, mental illness is the leading cause of disability worldwide. While the human cost is tragic, mental illness is a leading cause of disability and absenteeism at a cost of leave that is almost double the cost of leave due to physical illness. The personal and economic burden of mental illness through lost productivity and diminished quality of life cannot be ignored. In addition to cultivating a purpose driven culture fueled by passion, protecting the mental and physical health of our project teams through stringent and industry leading safety practices is a PCL priority and commitment. Working in an industry with the second highest rate of workplace suicide, PCL took a stand this year to raise awareness about mental health, reduce the stigma surrounding struggles in the workplace and actively contribute to an environment where seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Fostering an environment that supports positive mental health through relationships, education, training, resources and leading with empathy is a PCL commitment that builds resilience and sustainability across a vital industry where – together – clients and constructors are delivering the built fabric of our communities. Leading with Passion to Give Hope And then there are the projects we choose to pursue; projects that inspire the heart and projects that define the heart of our communities. In 2018, PCL passionately pursued the SickKids Patient Support Centre project located in downtown Toronto, as many PCL employees had a deep personal connection to SickKids, Canada’s largest pediatric hospital and a place where their own children had been treated. For PCL employees, consultants, trades, experts and stakeholders alike, the project was an unmatched opportunity to give back and ensure a sustained future of care for others in the community. Over the last 15 years, PCL has been a partner of Judi’s House, a research-based grief organization in the Metro Denver area that is committed to supporting grieving children and their families. PCL not only built the new Judi’s House facility but took the initiative to serve as a community activator to garner financial support for the project by donating PCL funds and coordinating the donation of construction supplies. Our clients tell us that they want to work with construction partners who care as much about their projects as they do. Projects like Judi’s House and SickKids Patient Support Centre are not just construction achievements; they are symbols of hope, recovery and new beginnings for thousands of people. These projects, brought to life through our partnerships, embody our vision to build facilities that have a positive impact on the community by inspiring and supporting those who use them. Building a Better Future, Together In the words of PCL CEO Dave Filipchuk, “At PCL Construction, our strength and resilience are not just the result of our unique culture of ownership, but also the by-product of the meaningful collaboration we cultivate with many partners and clients. Together, we strengthen communities, not only through the enduring structures we build but also through the impactful actions and commitments we collectively undertake. We aren’t just building with passion but with the purpose of building a better future, together. For us, that’s the ultimate definition of success.”
Indigenous engagement is key
Rescue dogs of Rayos del Sol
Sleeping Out for homeless youth
Mental health and safety go hand in hand
