Eleven local construction firms proved they have the right stuff at the Grand Valley Construction Association’s (GVCA) 2010 Building Excellence Awards.
Industry accolades
Eleven local construction firms proved they have the right stuff at the Grand Valley Construction Association’s (GVCA) 2010 Building Excellence Awards.
These firms divided up close to two dozen awards of excellence and merit at the association’s semi-annual event, which honours the best in construction in multiple categories.
“It’s important that the construction industry takes the time to recognize their accomplishments and their contribution to our community,” says GVCA president Martha George.
“Construction is a pillar of our economy and it’s obvious by the quality and complexity of these winning buildings that the GVCA members are world class and can easily compete on any level.”
Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc. was the big winner of the night taking home five awards, closely followed by Ball Construction with four awards.
A special GVCA leadership award was given to The Walter Fedy Partnership as well as all the participating builders and trades who contributed labour, materials and financial support to the construction of the Masonry Training Centre at Conestoga College’s Waterloo campus.
Awards of Excellence were presented for the following projects:
•Commercial Less than $750,000: Oracare Dental (RHC Design-Build). Highly specialized interior fittings were required in the Guelph dental office. The office is “a haven” of excellent design, modern finishes and quality workmanship.
•Institutional Less than $750,000: Renison University College Accessibility Upgrades. (Gateman-Milloy Inc.) The project integrated a variety of architectural styles in an existing building while paying painstaking attention to the technical aspects.
•Commercial $750,000-$2,000,000: 260 King Street Exterior Façade. (Collaborative Structures Ltd.) The project transformed a “tired” downtown Kitchener commercial structure into a modern and bright building. It was completed under “exceptionally tight” deadlines.
•Industrial $750,000-$2,000,000: Flynn Canada corporate headquarters. (Ball Construction Ltd.). The project was delivered on a design-build basis by Ball which was responsible for securing necessary approvals as well as a building permit.
• Industrial $2,000,000-$10,000,000: Flanagan Foodservice – Freezer Addition. (Collaborative Structures Ltd.) The massive 70,000-square-foot freezer, cool dock and cooler addition made use of innovative freezer technology never before used in North America.
• Commercial $2,000,000-$10,000,000: MHBC Planning Consultants corporate headquarters. (Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc.) The building combines “unique” design elements that make “bold and adventurous” use of clay brick, galvanized siding and glazed curtainwall.
• Institutional $2,000,000-$10,000,000: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Canada on Strasburg Road. (Nith Valley Construction (2008) Ltd.) The 24,000-square-foot church includes a chapel, 311-seat rostrum, a cultural hall that accommodates 600 as well as classroom, offices and an outdoor recreational pavilion. The building was constructed to withstand floods, tornados and earthquakes.
• Institutional more than $10,000,000: University of Waterloo Health Sciences “A” School of Pharmacy. (Ball Construction Ltd.). The highly innovative, 120,000-square-foot, eight-storey building has “created a stir” as a result of its stunning design and leading-edge lab facilities. The signature curtainwall features artwork of plants that form the basis of many of today’s pharmacological drugs.
• Commercial More than $10,000,000: Upper Canada College, William P. Wilder Arena & Sports Complex. (Ball Construction Ltd.) The “thoroughly modern building” that was built with a classical architectural style includes both Olympic and NHL size ice surfaces as well as a lounge and other community spaces.
In the restoration and conversion category, an Award of Excellence went to The Frank Hasenfratz Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing. The project incorporated advanced energy saving design as well as many recycled materials. Two living walls of vegetation act as a bio-filter. Contractor was Kiwi-Newton Construction Ltd.
In the category of environmental achievement, two Awards of Excellence were presented.
MELLOUL-BLAMEY CONSTRUCTION INC.
Native trees and plants prevent hillside erosion at Enermodal Engineering Ltd.’s Kitchener headquarters. The LEED Platinum project won an environmental achievement award from the Grand Valley Construction Association.
The first went to A Grander View, the headquarters of Enermodal Engineering Ltd., Canada’s largest green building consulting firm. Considered a showcase for the ultimate in environmental design and energy efficiency, the triple LEED Platinum building uses 82 per cent less energy than a conventional office building. Contractor was Melloul-Blamey Construction Inc.
The second went to the Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan Inc. headquarters. The LEED Gold project was built amidst a protected wetland. A total of 80,000 linear feet of geothermal piping was incorporated in the project. In all, 88 per cent of all construction waste was diverted from landfill. Contractor was Nith Valley Construction (2008) Ltd.
The Building Excellence Awards recognize everyone associated with the project from the suppliers to the individual trades. They were presented at a recent gala in Kitchener.
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