Student Research Helps Dementia-Friendly Renovation
Student researchers at OCAD University partnered with Toronto Rehab’s Specialized Dementia Unit to redesign a shower room, using wood and natural colours to create a calmer space for residents with dementia. The project, guided by professors Maya Mahgoub‑Desai, Bruce Hinds and Dr. Kate Sellen, employed an evidence‑informed, human‑centered design process. Kasian Architecture executed the renovation, collaborating closely with UHN, family members, and a caregiver community group. The redesign aims to reduce disorientation and stress during bathing, a common challenge for dementia patients.
Can Baffle Ceilings Improve Both Acoustics and Architectural Unity?
Modern open‑plan buildings demand interiors that are both visually seamless and acoustically comfortable. Ceiling baffle systems have emerged as a dual‑purpose solution, delivering sound absorption while establishing a rhythmic visual language across large, flexible spaces. From atriums to educational facilities,...
Adaptive Reuse Is an Overlooked Housing Strategy: New Report
A new report from the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals argues that adaptive reuse of existing buildings can speed up housing delivery while cutting carbon emissions. Examining retrofit projects in Halifax, Montréal and Vancouver, the study finds reuse lowers both...
Can Mass Timber Deliver Acoustic Comfort?
Canada’s push for taller, concrete‑free buildings is spotlighting mass timber’s acoustic performance. Architects and engineers are confronting the challenge of maintaining sound comfort in schools, offices and residential towers where exposed timber surfaces dominate. Recent research highlights innovative wall assemblies,...
A Residential Building that Honours Its Industrial Past
Vivre 2, a new residential tower in Montreal’s Outremont borough, repurposes a former industrial site into modern housing while honoring the area’s warehouse heritage. Designed by ACDF Architecture, the building uses a dual‑tone clay‑brick façade that mirrors historic structural grids and...
Conservatory Restoration Recognized by Lieutenant Governor
The $11 million CAD ($8 million USD) restoration of Toronto’s Allan Gardens Palm House was completed in May 2025 and earned the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards Excellence in Conservation honor. Led by the City’s Parks, Forestry & Recreation division with Zeidler Architecture as...
Infrastructure Push Tests Canada’s Build Capacity
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Build Communities Strong Fund, unveiled in the 2025 budget, aims to fast‑track hospitals, schools, universities and bridges across Canada. Industry leaders warn a stark capacity gap: annual housing starts target 480,000 units while completions hover around...
Can Ceilings Be Both Quiet and Low-Carbon?
The article examines sustainable ceiling choices for high‑performance buildings, weighing perforated metal panels that excel at acoustic control against stone‑wool systems prized for low embodied carbon and natural sound absorption. It highlights that each material offers distinct benefits, but a...
Quebec Set to Get Its Tallest Wooden Building
JCB Construction Canada has broken ground on a 12‑storey mass‑timber rental tower in Terrebonne, Quebec, backed by Fonds de solidarité FTQ. The development initially offers 164 units but could expand to over 400 units across two towers of 12 and...
Inside Waterfront Toronto’s New Mass-Timber Office
Waterfront Toronto opened a new office inside the T3 Bayside building on Queens Quay East. Designed by WZMH Architects, the space showcases mass‑timber construction and earned LEED Gold and WiredScore Platinum certifications. Flexible work zones, a retractable boardroom partition, and...
How Green Is Your Concrete IQ?
Construction Canada’s latest quiz tests readers on the rapid evolution of eco‑friendly concrete. The underlying article highlights innovations such as recycled aggregates, precision‑engineered mixes, and low‑carbon masonry that slash waste and emissions without sacrificing strength. These advances are reshaping how...
Ask the Expert – Bilco
Construction Canada’s April 23, 2026 issue features an Ask the Expert interview with Steve Weyel, senior executive at Bilco. The conversation spotlights Bilco’s newest water‑storage systems and its sustainability roadmap for the AEC sector. The newsletter, which curates the latest...
Ask the Expert – Ännt Bollards
Construction Canada’s Ask the Expert segment features an interview with Shawn Lowry of Ännt Bollards. Lowry outlines the company’s modular, impact‑rated bollard systems designed for both safety and visual appeal. The discussion highlights rapid installation, compliance with European crash standards,...
Exclusive: Commemorating Earth Day
Construction Canada highlighted CGC Inc.'s proprietary Take‑Back program, which recycles clean drywall scrap into new gypsum board without sacrificing performance. In Montreal, the initiative diverted over 40 tonnes of gypsum—equivalent to about 1,800 lightweight sheets—and avoided roughly 4,860 kg of CO₂e...
Design Team Selected for New Event Park
Architecture firms DIALOG and HNTB have been chosen to design downtown Edmonton’s new Event Park, a world‑class indoor‑outdoor entertainment destination. The selection follows an RFP led by OEG Sports & Entertainment and the City of Edmonton, replacing the current Fan...