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Demolition/Environmental Engineering

June 25, 2009

Cambridge, Ontario’s city hall renovation preserves the past

Cambridge’s historic City Hall is getting a makeover. Judging by the exterior condition of the 152-year-old building, one might think the project would be a straightforward one. The structure looks solid and the stone façade appears to be in good shape, however the project has posed some challenging surprises for contractors.

June 12, 2009

Judge clears way for demolition of historic Detroit stadium

Tiger Stadium’s brief stay of execution ended Monday when a judge ruled that demolition of the historic ballpark could resume.

June 9, 2009

Kitchener tannery converted to mix of retail, office, studio space

Raw design is helping convert Kitchener’s historic Lang Tanning Co. building into a cutting-edge, mixed-use development that will include a 25,000-square-foot digital media convergence centre.

June 4, 2009

Toronto’s apartment upgrade project will need incentives to fly

Toronto’s Tower Renewal pilot project will need strong political support to encourage building owners to upgrade their properties if it is going to succeed on a large scale.

June 1, 2009

Shift to carbon-neutral design requires new mindset, architecture professor says

The leap to “carbon-neutral” design requires a shift in mindset on the part of design professionals, says Terri Meyer Boake, associate director of the school of architecture at the University of Waterloo.

May 26, 2009

Arrests made after viaduct collapses in China’s Hunan Province

Nine people were arrested and three officials removed from their posts May 20 after a viaduct collapsed in central China’s Hunan Province, killing nine people and injuring 16 others.

April 29, 2009

Poll on non-residential contractors finds recession concerns

As the recession continues to hammer the economy, about 70 per cent of contractors surveyed expect it to negatively impact their 2009 bottom line, according to a recent Ipsos Reid poll.

April 24, 2009

Niagara health complex set to break ground in St. Catharines, Ontario

Construction is scheduled to get under way in May, 2009 on the Niagara Health System’s new health-care complex in St. Catharines, Ont.

April 13, 2009

Tucker Hi-Rise’s X condominium project

Construction progresses at The X Condos on Jarvis Street in Toronto, Ontario.

April 9, 2009

Tridel’s James Cooper Mansion condominiums

Excavating is underway for the James Cooper Mansion condominium project on Sherbourne St. in Toronto.

November 28, 2008

Solution to land slippage problem in West Quesnel district appears imminent

After years of investigation, a practical solution to a serious land slippage problem in West Quesnel, B.C. appears imminent.

November 28, 2008

Plant closures can lead to local employment opportunities

Closing and demolishing an industrial facility or plant that once employed local workers often generates negative feelings toward former employers and, by association, the company chosen to demolish the structure.

November 28, 2008

Ministry of Labour building inspectors take on environmental infractions

Ministry of Labour building inspectors blitzed demolition and retrofit projects this summer, showing just how serious the department is about taking on infractions.

November 28, 2008

Precautions needed to prevent bacteria, illness

If precautions aren’t taken, a demolition or renovation site can be ripe ground for the growth of Legionella pneumophila, a bacterium that can cause pneumonia.

November 28, 2008

Di-Tech International’s specialized cutting equipment creates global demand

When Di-Tech International Inc. was established in Winnipeg 25 years ago, few people had heard of a wire saw — a cutting device that uses aircraft cables studded with diamond beads to slice through concrete and steel.

November 28, 2008

Technology tracks air quality at West Don construction site

The West Don project is a massive undertaking which seeks to turn industrial wasteland and flood plains into a new sustainable community in downtown Toronto.

November 28, 2008

Kentville rail yard demolition uncovers history, spurs growth

The town of Kentville, Nova Scotia had both a problem and an opportunity on its hands. The town needed additional seniors’ housing and saw possibilities at a brownfield site which once housed a CP Rail property. It was used for a century as a railway maintenance, locomotive repair and marshalling yard, back to the days of the Dominion Atlantic Railway.

November 28, 2008

Restoration Environmental Contractors brings due diligence to Phillips Cable facility demolition

Demolition can be a tricky business, but taking the time to completely understand every project detail usually ensures things work out the way you planned.

November 28, 2008

Priestly Demolition brings just the right tool to Automotive Building project

Taking down the roof of the historic and heritage-designated Automotive Building at the Canadian National Exhibition is a little like open heart surgery with the patient’s family peering over your shoulder.