WESTERN BUILT Fall 2025 | Issue #19 Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Raising the Green Roof The voice of the construction industry in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and ManitobaWESTERN BUILT Fall 2025 3 WESTERNBUILT The voice of the construction industry in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba FEATURES 11 Embodied Carbon: How the “Wilden Hemp House” is Changing the Game 14 Creating Accessible Spaces Through Universal Design: With Insights from Marco Pasqua 18 Designing for the Future: Using Climate Data to Enhance Building Resilience in Canada 29 Are You Tired of the Workforce Problem Yet? Yes? Then Let’s Build a Solution. 34 Challenging the Status Quo: How Learning and Sharing Drive Sustainable Construction 31 Constructing Partnerships: Building Authentic Indigenous Relations the Construction Industry OPENING REMARKS 05 British Columbia BCCA: Leadership and Collaboration in Construction’s National Moment 07 Alberta Kicking “The Way We’ve Always Done It” to the Curb COVER DETAILS 08 Saskatchewan Resilience, Adaptability, and Progress 09 Manitoba MCSC Gives Construction Sector an Aerial Advantage with Two Key Investment 38 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Fall 2025 Published by Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return Undeliverable Addresses to 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, MB R2H 2S9 Toll Free Phone: (866) 999-1299 Toll Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net Canada Post Mail Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Publishers Julie Welsh, Christine Scarisbrick Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Editors/Social Media Managers Jenna Collignon, Paul Adair, Kaitlin Vitt Finance/Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Marketing & Circulation Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager Jeff Cash jcash@matrixgroupinc.net Account Executives Colleen Bell, Jackie Casburn, Chandler Cousins, Rich Cowan, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Chad Morris, Lynn Murphy, Wilma Gray-Rose, Monique Simons Layout & Design Kayti McDonald Advertising Design James Robinson ©2025 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. To receive Western Built digitally-only moving forward, email distribution@matrixgroupinc.net. Subscribe to receive a digital alert as each new issue is available: http://westernbuiltmagazine.ca/subscribe To receive a Media Kit and learn about advertising in the next issue, email jcash@matrixgroupinc.net. 22 Engineering Resilient Green Roofs: Future Proofing for Climate Adaptation 24 Modular Momentum: The Future of Residential Construction is Already Here 26 The Invisible Key to Building Integrity: Air Tightness 36 Fenestration Performance Strategies: Achieving BC Energy Step Code ComplianceWESTERN BUILT Fall 2025 5 OPENING REMARKS BRITISH COLUMBIA BCCA: Leadership and Collaboration in Construction’s National Moment The Attorney General has directed Ministry staff to develop Prompt Payment legislation. This represents a major step forward to making payment certainty a reality for construction companies and workers in B.C.WESTERN BUILT Fall 2025 7 OPENING REMARKS Kicking “The Way We’ve Always Done It” to the Curb ALBERTA Future workforce challenge Visit more high schools – hold more trade fairs.High school is too late. Get into elementary and junior high schools. Create high profile events and start holding educators and government accountable. Construction’s social stigma Enough are getting it – we get our share.Industry needs to be a better employer – we are already well behind others, and we live in a world that will not tolerate old behaviours. Culture is not something we need to worry about – we are construction. Industries get the culture they deserve and ours is not good. Industry mental healthI only worry about my guys when they are on the clock, it is not my job to worry about them 24/7. The current mental health stats on drug-related deaths and suicide are frightening. Our industry must step up and stop being the problem. Supply chain collapsePretty reliable and we have a quote from the supplier. Forever fragile. Be careful what you sign. Cost escalation5% material increase every year – special project pricing when we need it. 50% with no notice because of an ice storm in Texas – be careful what you sign. TariffsPainful, but short-term.The global economic trade balance has been broken forever. How can you protect yourself? Climate changeI do not have to agree with it.A significant portion of society, investors, and regulators do agree with it – swallow your pride and become an expert. I will do it if they spec it.Learn about it now and become an expert ahead of the owners. The role of the built environment in a climate change strategy is the best business development opportunity our industry has been handed in 40 years! Global conflictIt will sort itself out.If the U.S. and China are shifting to more self-centred politics and are removing their influence, what happens in that vacuum? High competition for workRace to the bottom – need to keep crews busy.We are already at the bottom – stop digging. Increasing risk – owners trying to protect themselves Stick it in the contract – they need the work.Do not sign contracts that are company killers. Someone will always sign it, so we need to do it too. Let them. It is better to survive. They have told us that it is take it or leave it.Leave it. The fastest way to get fairer terms is to refuse to bid bad ones. Government policies – public procurement Demanding and sometimes difficult, but generally workable. There is virtually no one in government with actual industry background or context. We need to lobby hard against every unfair, untenable, or out of line policy, practice, or behaviour.8 http://westernbuiltmagazine.ca OPENING REMARKS Resilience, Adaptability, and Progress SASKATCHEWAN The people working on job sites across the province are building more than projects… they are building homes for families, classrooms for students, and facilities that keep our communities strong. It will be the largest event to date, that we’ve hosted! Learn more at www.conexsask.com. Join the Construction Association of Saskatchewan at ConEx 2026, February 12, in Saskatoon.WESTERN BUILT Fall 2025 9 OPENING REMARKS MCSC Gives Construction Sector an Aerial Advantage with Two Key Investments MANITOBANext >