Reaching Net Zero Will Take A Top-to-Bottom Makeover of How Buildings Are Constructed and Operated

/in , /by

That’s where you’ll find Mohawk College’s Joyce Centre for Partnership & Innovation, a rare example of a net-zero energy institutional building that is currently under construction for a 2018 opening. Boasting a 500-kilowatt solar array, 24 geothermal wells and numerous efficiency features, the project will serve as a living laboratory for students to learn about sustainability, with live data from the building systems easily accessible to support hands-on education. Read more

Crowdfunding the Skyscraper

/in , /by

The commercial real estate developer Rodrigo Niño has a problem with commercial real estate development. The immense amount of wealth it generates, he argues, falls into the hands of too few people. Read more

Life Cycle Assessment an Essential Tool in Sustainable Design

/in , /by

A new study by the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute pinpoints the need for public policy initiatives to increase the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) as an essential tool in the sustainable design of buildings. Read more

Company Believes Bubble Inspired Buildings Can Change the Construction Industry

/in , /by

Binishells are flowing, domed concrete buildings that utilize air as their formwork. Once the slab-on-grade foundation is laid, an air filled bubble, called a pneumoform, is inflated and rebar is placed around it accordingly.  Concrete is then sprayed on the form and rebar to create the exterior shell.  When hardened, the form is deflated and ready to use on the next project. Read more

Microsoft Is Testing Two New Construction Technologies for Hololens

/in , /by

Backed by the powerful construction technology company Trimble and in a partnership with the University of Cambridge, the Hololens is getting tested with 2 new concepts specifically for the construction industry: Automated Progress Monitoring and Automated Bridge Damage Detection. Read more

New Hard Hat Attachment Senses when Workers Are Fatigued

/in , /by

A company out of Australia has been developing a smart hard hat that sensors when mental fatigue has set in. The Life Band, as the technology is known, is a headband that can be affixed to a hard hat, or worn separately, and measures the brain activity of the wearer.  The band connects wirelessly to the “Life” app, which is available for both iOS and Android, sends a warning signal if signs of fatigue are shown.  Read more

Making the Link Between Innovation and CSR

/in , /by

There is a large body of evidence that demonstrates companies do well by doing good. For example, attracting and retaining skilled, technologically-savvy millennials means that your company must be cooler, friendlier, and more passionate about what you do than the competition. Read more

AMIR Compactor to Disrupt Asphalt Paving

/in , /by

A Carleton University professor’s research indicates the design of heavy steel rollers has not been the salvation of roads, but the cause of premature cracking in asphalt pavement for well over a century. Enter the Asphalt Multi-Integrated Roller (AMIR), a different type of asphalt compactor Halim believes will revolutionize road paving and result in roads with a much longer design life. Read more

Lean Construction Puts Down Roots in Canada

/in , /by

The new Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw, Sask., serves the Five Hills Health Region, an area containing 54,000 people in the south-central portion of the province. Open since late 2015, the facility is considered the first major construction project in Canada designed and built to “lean” principles. Read more

Liberal infrastructure spending not likely to grow economy: Fraser Institute study

/in , /by

A new study by the Fraser Institute finds the vast majority of new government infrastructure spending is unlikely to grow the economy. Read more