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Demolition/Environmental Engineering

February 2, 2012

Ontario 2011 construction fatalities decline, safety improvements made, report shows

The number of workplace fatalities and critical injuries in the Ontario construction sector declined in 2011, compared to the year before, an Ontario Ministry of Labour report says.

January 31, 2012

Toronto to open recycling plant for construction, demolition materials

Toronto’s most technologically advanced recycling plant will process an estimated 87,000 tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) material in its first full year.

January 24, 2012

PCL works on Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto

Exterior work is progressing on the Bridgepoint Health Campus of Care at the Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto, formerly known as Riverdale Hospital. PCL Constructors Canada Inc. have completion of the 10-storey, design-build project with over 500 beds scheduled for March 2013. It was designed by HDR Architecture Associates Inc./Diamond Schmitt Architects Inc.

December 21, 2011

Construct Canada speaker says industry has waste diversion responsibility

Stefanie Dodaro, director of sustainability services for CD Sonter Ltd., made a presentation on solid waste from the construction industry at the Construct Canada tradeshow in Toronto.

December 8, 2011

PCL Constructors continues work at Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto

PCL Constructors Canada Inc. have completion of the Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto, designed by HDR Architecture Associates Inc./Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc., scheduled for March 2013.

November 25, 2011

Demolition of Oakville, Ontario light bulb factory includes asbestos removal

General Electric Corp. (NYSE:GE) is closing GE Consumer & Industrial, an Oakville, Ontario manufacturing facility for incandescent, fluorescent and halogen light bulbs. The contract for the environmental abatement and selective demolition of the 300,000-square-foot facility, known locally as the Oakville Lamp Plant, was awarded to Quantum Murray LP (QMLP). One substance that required special consideration was mercury dust that had accumulated on the rafters and other out-of-the-way locations of the building throughout the years,

November 25, 2011

Cannington Group demolishes Peterborough, Ontario hospital

The Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is currently undergoing the demolition of the Nicholls buildings, the final stage in the site development under the PRHC Hospital Improvement Plan. The demolition project, which includes environmental abatement and removal of the four-storey structure, was awarded to The Cannington Group Inc.

November 23, 2011

Urban Contracting selected to construct Paradise, Newfoundland treatment centre

The Newfoundland and Labrador health and community services department has awarded a contract for the initial phase of construction of a mental health centre in the town of Paradise to Urban Contracting (J.J. Walsh) Ltd.

November 22, 2011

Canadian demolition projects set world records

Among the Canadian record holders for demolition projects are a 1997 blast at the Stelco Steel Plant in Hamilton, Ontario and the 20-building demolition of the Bow Valley Centre of the Calgary General Hospital in Calgary

November 11, 2011

Sudbury, Ontario to demolish water tower

The City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario plans to start $191,500 worth of demolition work on the Ash Street water tower November 8 for an estimated duration of three weeks. About 100 tonnes of scrap metal will be transferred to either Sault Ste Marie or Hamilton.

April 16, 2010

Progreen Demolition tears down two 14-storey Toronto apartment towers

Another block of Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood is vanishing as demolition crews wrap up the takedown of two 14-storey residential towers and nine two- and three-storey townhouses. Ninety per cent of the debris will be recycled.

April 16, 2010

Brokk, Husqvarna and Stanley LaBounty roll out remote-controlled demolition machines

Remote-controlled mechanical demolition is growing in the North American market, spurred by the twin concerns of worker safety and the environment. Vendors include Brokk, Husqvarna AB and Stanley LaBounty. Back injuries and nerve damage are a concern when using jackhammers.

April 16, 2010

Finnish researchers work on robot for sorting demolition waste

The demolition industry is using remote-controlled machines more often in an effort to improve productivity in the face of environmental regulations.For example, The Recycler is a robot being developed by Tuomas J. Lukka and a team of researchers in Finland.

April 16, 2010

Tridel builds new North Toronto Collegiate Institute, incorporating features from original 1904 school

In a deal with the Toronto District School Board, Tridel bought land to build The Republic condominium development plus a new North Toronto Collegiate Institute. In consultations with William Greer, designers CS&P Architects Inc. and Burka Varacalli Architects Inc. architectural features of the old school. REC Demolition is tearing down the old school.

April 16, 2010

Terratechnik Environmental shares details of soil remediation project in Mississauga, Ontario

A former factory in Mississauga, Ontario had contamination across a 1,025-square-metre footprint and ranged in depth from four metres to eight metres below ground surface. How Terratechnik Environmental cleaned it up

April 16, 2010

Kilmer Brownfield aims to preserve history of Guelph, Ontario manufacturing plant

As Priestly Demolition tears down an industrial site in Guelph, Ontario, Kilmer Brownfield Equity Fund has had to work with preservation groups to ensure the heritage components would be saved.

April 16, 2010

Ryerson University architecture professors present at Canada Green Building Council symposium in Toronto

At the recent Canada Green Building Council’s annual symposium in Toronto, Ryerson University architectural science professors Mark Gorgolewski and Vera Straka offered advice on salvaging components from old buildings and reusing them in new ones.

April 16, 2010

Demolition in Newmarket, Ontario is helping build affordable housing

JMX Environmental Inc., Maram, the Cannington Group and Priestly Demolition and tearing down buildings on Davis Drive in Newmarket, Ontario to make way for dedicated bus lanes for York Region Transit. Affordable housing group Habitat for Humanity removed materials such as bathtubs, lumber and cupboards for resale.

April 16, 2010

Wheels Inn now reborn as Chatham, Ontario convention centre

Norlon Builders is general contractor for the Chatham-Kent John D. Bradley Convention Centre, on the site of the Wheels Inn in Chatham, Ontario. The shell of the former entertainment building is being kept intact with the interior walls mostly gutted.

April 16, 2010

West Edmonton Mall job requires careful co-ordination for B&B Demolition

Working demolition at West Edmonton Mall is no easy trip but B&B Demolition Ltd., which must do its job with minimal or no disturbance to the surrounding stores and customers. The largest job inside the mall is converting a Zellers to a Winners.

April 16, 2010

Ferro Canada demolishes St. Catharine, Ontario block to make way for arts centre

The 1860s Passfield and McIntyre mortuary was the last building demolished to make way for the City of St. Catharines’ $54-million St. Paul Street performing arts centre. Architects Diamond and Schmitt advised that retaining its features would negatively impact on the new design. The demolition work included asbestos abatement.