New Living Laboratory at the University of British Columbia

 Green Building  Comments Off
Nov 092011
 

The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability opened at the University of British Columbia.

The CIRS is a $37 million “living laboratory” which is built to exceed LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge standards. Built from wood killed by pine beetles, The centre powers itself and a neighboring building with renewable energy, as well as collecting rain water and treating waste water on site.

The building’s functions will be constantly monitored to evaluate the green technologies and design techniques used, and researchers will study users’ interactions with the building in order to improve its performance.

Read more at EcoSeed

 Posted by at 12:30 am  Tagged with: ,

Red Deer P3 Seminar November 8

 Industry Initiatives  Comments Off
Nov 082011
 

ACA thanks presenters Scott Matheson (PCL) and Faye McCann (Alberta Treasury Board) for their comprehensive presentation to 35 members and guests of the Red Deer Construction Association.

 Posted by at 8:31 pm

Alberta Labour Market Survey – Urgent Please Comment by November 15

 Labour Market Information  Comments Off
Nov 082011
 

The AB Labour Market Information Committee is collecting feedback on recent and anticipated labour market conditions for construction trades and occupations in Alberta. The focus is on trades tracked by the Construction Sector Council.

Below you will find a link to a brief survey that should take no longer than five (5) minutes to complete. All responses will be confidential; no individual respondent will be identified or reported.

To access the survey, click on the link below or copy the link to your web browser.

http://lml.csc-ca.org/survey/?g=9cc52413

We ask that you attend to this survey as soon as possible. The results will be used to help identify potential human resource challenges.

CSC trade definitions are available at: http://www.constructionforecasts.ca/reference/trades

For more information on the CSC’s labour market information program and the outlook for construction, please visit www.constructionforecasts.ca.

 Posted by at 11:38 am

P3 Lunch and Learn Seminars Start

 Uncategorized  Comments Off
Nov 022011
 

Hosted by the Lethbridge Construction Association, more than 40 members, design consultants, and owner representatives were set to participate November 2nd in ACA’s inaugural P3 educational seminar. ACA developed the seminar in partnership with Alberta Infrastructure to assist members and partners to learn more about the P3 process, and the implications of bidding for work procured through a P3 process. Speakers for the Lethbridge seminar include John Gibson, responsible for the ASAP P3 schools procurement for Alberta Infrastructure, and former ACA Chair Kees Cusveller of Graham Construction Group, successful contractor participating in a number of P3 projects.

A second seminar is set for Red Deer for November 8th, hosted by the Red Deer Construction Association.

 Posted by at 12:25 am

ACA Asked to Provide Input to RFQ / RFP Debriefing Process

 Government Advocacy, Standard Practices  Comments Off
Nov 022011
 

At the October 24th meeting of the Institutional Infrastructure Partners Committee, Alberta Infrastructure requested ACA provide an association response to proposed new Debriefing Guidelines.

Alberta Infrastructure indicated that while it currently provides an opportunity to all unsuccessful respondent/proponents on RFPs and RFQs to meet with the Department to help both parties how to improve, they have found that the level of respondent/proponent expectations of this dialogue varies significantly, which can lead to high degrees of frustration at times.

Consequently, Alberta Infrastructure has requested the input of ACA and the design consultant associations belonging to the Institutional Infrastructure Partners Committee in developing a standard, clear process to place on Infrastructure’s website so that individual firm’s expectations and needs and Infrastructure’s approach can be better aligned, and debriefings can be more valuable and consistent.

Further discussion is planned for the December 1st meeting of the Committee.

 Posted by at 12:23 am

ACA Opposes Non-Refundable Deposits

 Standard Practices  Comments Off
Nov 012011
 

ACA continues to advocate on behalf of members opposition to non-refundable deposits. ACA wrote a letter to the City of Red Deer and to Stantec to express concerns regarding the waste water treatment plant phase 4 upgrades contract 4c.

Members are asked to alert their Local Construction Association of any non-standard tender practices they encounter. ACA Public Policies provide guidance to tender authorities, design consultants, and members and may be accessed here.

 Posted by at 12:24 am
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