WESTERN BUILT The voice of the construction industry in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba Spring 2025 | Issue #18 Canada Post Publications Agreement Number: 40609661 Thermal Breaks on Balconies: Small Change, Big ImpactWESTERN BUILT Spring 2025 3 WESTERNBUILT The voice of the construction industry in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba OPENING REMARKS 07 British Columbia To Build B.C.’s Future, We Need to Prioritize Growth and Support Construction Now FEATURES 12 TWIN-TOWER COMPLEX IN EDMONTON’S GARNEAU DISTRICT: SAVING ENERGY USING STRUCTURAL THERMAL BREAKS 16 EMPOWHERING THE FUTURE: SHOWING WOMEN THE OPPORTUNITIES IN CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING 20 REIMAGINING WORKSPACES TODAY: DESIGNING FOR PEOPLE, PURPOSE, AND FLEXIBILITY 23 BRING TRADES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM: INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED TRADES WORKERS 27 THE RISE OF TINY AND MODULAR HOMES IN WESTERN CANADA: PRIORITIZING SAFETY WITH FIRE-RETARDANT MATERIALS 25 ADVANCING ENERGY- EFFICIENT MURBS: EXPLORING RETROFITS AND LOW-CARBON SOLUTIONS COVER DETAILS 09 Alberta Less Talk, More Action: Why Alberta’s Construction Industry Can’t Afford Distractions 10 Saskatchewan Building Saskatchewan Stronger Together 11 Manitoba Building a Stronger Future: Advancing Women in the Construction Industry 30 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS4 http://westernbuiltmagazine.ca Check out the January 22, 2025 guest blog from Effie Argyropoulos, Level Up Project Lead at Digital Public Square, who shared about the disproportionate rate of substance use in Canada’s construction industry. The Level Up website includes a list of harm reduction services and withdrawal management and treatment services at https://levelupcanada.com. If you’d like to connect with Digital Public Square to have your services added, reach out to levelup@digitalpublicsquare.org. WESTERNBUILT CONNECT WITH HTTPS://WESTERNBUILTMAGAZINE.CA HTTPS:/.FACEBOOK.COM/WESTERN.BUILT.MAGAZINE HTTPS://X.COM/MAGAZINEWESTERN YOUR PHOTOS PUBLISHED Western Built wants to showcase construction projects that are going up across western Canada, as well as the teams that make them happen. Your photos could be included in an upcoming issue and – who knows – it might even end up on the cover! Email editor Shannon Savory at ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net with a sentence or two describing the shot, where it was taken, who we’re seeing, and the person/company that needs photo credit. This is a great way to appreciate your staff and showcase your company in a magazine that is mailed to construction leaders across western Canada. YOUR ARTICLES PUBLISHED If you have a story idea, email ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net.WESTERN BUILT Spring 2025 5 Spring 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, Helaina Van Dommelen, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Chad Morris, Lynn Murphy, Wilma Gray-Rose, Monique Simons, Joseph Ukaoha 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. MEET OUR EXPERTS Thank you to the team of experts who shared their knowledge in this issue of Western Built. If you’re interested in writing for a future issue of the magazine, please reach out to editor Shannon Savory at ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net.WESTERN BUILT Spring 2025 7 OPENING REMARKS BRITISH COLUMBIA To Build B.C.’s Future, We Need to Prioritize Growth and Support Construction Now From enabling interprovincial trade to passing Prompt Payment legislation, there is no shortage of real and tangible measures the provincial government can take to protect and strengthen industry here at home, even amidst tariffs and turmoil.WESTERN BUILT Spring 2025 9 OPENING REMARKS Less Talk, More Action: Why Alberta’s Construction Industry Can’t Afford Distractions ALBERTANext >