Luckily, adaptive reuse has the capacity to replace demolition and new construction as a viable alternative that promotes sustainability, cost savings, and a slew of other advantages.

A Canadian case study examining life-cycle assessments for existing buildings showed that adaptive reuse can achieve whole-life carbon reductions of nearly 30 to 70 percent or more compared with demolition and new construction on the same site, which will be key to achieving sustainability targets. This means that adaptive reuse can no longer be a niche offering, but instead it must become a core competency for those companies looking to make their mark on the industry moving forward.

What is adaptive reuse?
Adaptive reuse is an approach that takes what is old and makes it new again. When the conditions are right, the results are spectacular. However, they are not without their challenges.

Adaptive reuse comes in many forms, with countless examples of exceptional design and execution. And, while many sites hold historical significance that are preserved through this approach, adaptive reuse isn’t reserved for that application alone.

From commercial and industrial spaces like old factories and warehouses, to cultural or heritage spaces like churches and schools, these spaces can find new life with secondary purpose as residential, retail, hospitality, or even tech campuses. The structural simplicity and staying power of these buildings, paired with high ceiling heights, often make them a viable choice. In many cases, these structures were built to last.

While historic preservation and restoration is a big part of adaptive reuse, repurposing and urban infill are other ways the approach is being leveraged to promote sustainability and optimize available space and existing infrastructure to meet the needs of a community. Repurposing existing or obsolete buildings preserves their heritage and architectural character, but it also presents an opportunity to reduce construction costs, maintain the unique identity of a neighbourhood or a community, and craft exceptional projects that set the standard for beauty and function.

The World Economic Forum sees adaptive reuse as a critical component of community revitalization, particularly in densely populated urban centers. Not only can these structures work to breathe new life into communities, but they can also serve to create circular economies by eliminating waste and reusing, repairing, and recycling what already exists. These projects preserve embodied carbon within the building’s existing structure and materials, in addition to avoiding demolition and transportation of the refuse materials, as well as the carbon emissions attributable to the new construction. According to the American Institute of Architects, the avoidance of demolition and new construction can save anywhere between 50 and 75 percent of the carbon emissions that an identical building built new would generate.

With no demolition costs or land acquisition costs, as well as the common provision of tax breaks or grants to support these kinds of developments which utilize existing infrastructure, there are certainly advantages to be had.

Not all that glitters is gold
More than 30 percent of buildings are demolished for reasons that have nothing to do with the physical state of the building, but rather the land itself, and it can take up to 80 years for a new energy-efficient building to offset the impacts of its construction. And, to top it off, residential rehabilitation creates 50 percent more jobs than new construction. But there are many other considerations that need to be made before moving forward with adaptive reuse.

Many of these advantages, particularly the financial savings, depend greatly on the building itself, the condition it is in, and the contingencies that are uncovered during construction. Not every structure is suitable for adaptive reuse and those that are selected are not without their challenges. In many cases, the outcomes are impressive, but the costs of remediation are high, especially where problems are hidden beneath the surface.

Adaptive reuse can also come with a great deal of unpredictability during the construction process, with challenges emerging like lead, asbestos, information gaps throughout the years, and the need for specialized labour to complete complex retrofits, among others. This means that any costs that were saved during demolition can manifest in the form of discovery costs.

Further, from an architectural standpoint, older structures often come with their share of spatial compromises, as well as the potential for zoning, regulatory, or building code compliance issues, though many of these can be mitigated on the front end.

To ensure the success of an adaptive reuse project, work must be done to gauge the degree of risk associated with a project. While not every challenge can be foreseen or anticipated, early structural assessments are worth the time and investment.

Successful adaptive reuse projects also depend on a design that respects the existing structure, function, and history, while embodying modern designs and materials that complement that character. By creating harmony and interplay between the historic and modern components, staying true to the space and not manufacturing authenticity, but rather letting the space shine for itself, these projects bring value to the market that cannot be achieved by new construction alone.

Giving structures a second chance
If governments hope to achieve emissions reduction targets and meet the needs of their growing populations and communities, particularly in urban areas where land and resources are at a premium, adaptive reuse will have to remain a part of the conversation.

If sustainability is a priority, the focus cannot solely be on the construction of new state-of-the-art buildings, but rather, a sustainable overall approach to construction, which includes considering adaptive reuse and giving existing properties a chance to shine, particularly those that were built to last.

While not all projects are suited for this approach, there is a growing acknowledgement of its economic and environmental impacts. Even building standards like LEED v5 are increasingly supporting its adoption through rewards for embodied carbon reduction and efforts to decouple building reuse credits from new construction, as well as other changes that encourage the use of the approach where it makes sense to do so.

As American architect Carl Elefante is credited as saying, “The greenest building is the one that already exists,” which means that via adaptive reuse, the foundation for success is already there; it just needs a creative and visionary team to bring it back to life.

The post Reimagining the Past Through Adaptive Reuse<p class="company">A Historic Twist on Modern Construction</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

According to content created by Armada Design & Build of Bellevue, Washington, investing in universal design is the best long-term approach to future-proofing spaces. With the soaring cost of construction, such buildings benefit from consistently low-maintenance, single-floor designs which help avoid the expense and inconvenience of major retrofitting later. If a single-floor design is impossible, adding an elevator or stair lift, or planning for later installation of same from the outset, is advisable, as is ensuring that access points are step-free and at least 32 to 36 inches wide.

Other important considerations include choosing lever handles over doorknobs, creating amply lit walkways enhanced by motion sensors, and incorporating safe, suitable flooring. Moreover, ensuring that non-slip, heated bathrooms and barrier-free showers are sufficiently spacious to allow for assistants, Zimmer frames, and wheelchair access, perhaps even with benches, alongside installing or planning the future installation of adjustable shower heads and suitable, higher-than-usual toilets with an easy flush function, flanked by support bars that double up as rails, are all advisable.

When it comes to kitchens, further advice counsels in favour of carefully planning eye-level oven elevations, as wheelchair heights can impact convenience. Future-proofing universally designed homes typically also means storage that is easily accessible from a lower height. An often lesser-considered element is acoustics, where spaces are designed in ways that support hearing impairment by holding sound in a way that makes it easy to converse without having to raise one’s voice. The same goes for adaptive technologies that enable people with hearing difficulties to register smoke and other alarms.

As the construction industry continuously strives to adapt to end-user needs, it comes as good news that mental and behavioural health design in architecture is becoming a recognized discipline that complements and supports designing for greater accessibility. That is because neurodiversity and poor mental health are considered physical impairments that are to be carefully considered if universal design—or design that does not need adaptation for safer navigation later—and social equity are to be fully achieved.

To this end, while well-considered, homey interior design, noise control, privacy, good natural daylight, layered lighting, and HVAC with voice activation or app control all contribute to the sound physical health of inhabitants, the powerful mental and physical health-enhancing powers of Nature in modern environments also cannot be denied, especially as increasing volumes of research support the notion that forest environments contribute significantly to mental and physical health. This is not only in terms of physical exercise, either.

Research shows that the impact of natural woodlands and forests is so remarkable that the construction, development, and design industries would do well to incorporate these considerations into their design ethos. According to global thought leader in forest medicine and immunology, Doctor Qing Li (MD, PhD), a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine and clinical professor at Nippon Medical School, Japan, access to forests provides significant benefits for long-term health and overall well-being.

Dr. Li’s research proves that forest bathing promotes neurological health and immune modulation through phytoncides, volatile oils released by trees that enter the human organism through breathing. It also improves neurocognitive resilience alongside regulating the body’s stress response. Furthermore, these compounds boost natural killer cells which protect against tumours and viruses. The evidence of the significant benefits provided by forest access is so undeniable that it is now recognized and promoted by State Departments such as New York’s.

The implications of these findings on mental and behavioural health design in architecture are such that, to truly provide accessibility for all in the future-forward development of private and public universally designed spaces, city planners and designers would do well to develop strategies alongside subject experts to harness the true superpowers of trees which can only be obtained within the complex natural matrixes of naturally occurring forests. By reverse-engineering the accessibility of the natural surroundings of homes and civic buildings to welcome people of all abilities, the mental and physical health needs of occupants would be safeguarded and taken care of in potentially revolutionary ways. Such an approach would provide significantly improved quality of life for all, in ways that too few humans living with physical impairments in urban areas have access to these days.

For those in doubt of the accessibility to existing forest resources, the good news is that the ADA and Rehabilitation Act, alongside the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines (FSORAG) in the United States, make provision for “legally defined” wheelchair accessibility on all trails where travelling on foot is permitted. The gap that currently exists between direct forest access and universally designed properties could, therefore, be closed by bringing greater awareness to developers and end-users on regenerative design and forest bathing through information provision and proximity to natural systems.

This, in turn, would go a long way to protecting intact or rehabilitated peri-urban ecosystems that link residential and public areas. These areas are also referred to by Herb Hammand, forest ecologist and co-author of Nature-First Cities: Restoring Relationships with Ecosystems and with Each Other, as the natural water movement network, which enables the survival of precious fauna, flora, and forests, arguably among the most precious health-providing mechanisms on the planet.

Once the concept of easy access to health-giving forest bathing as a life-extending necessity is adopted as a crucial and commonly accepted design standard, further developing room-by-room accessibility potentially takes on new meaning as the dialectic relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces is explored and developed. Design details can be informed—and supplemented—by the natural systems that surround us.

While developers and architects navigate the changing tides of human needs from a construction perspective, I, for one, look forward to seeing the world of regenerative design meet universal design in brave new ways where Nature and urban living cohabit in peace, to the benefit of all.

The post Design for Life, Design for All<p class="company">Universal Accessibility Considerations in Architecture</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

At Specialty Technology and Research, Inc., better known as STAR, Inc., licensees are cared for like family and supported at every step. Founded in 1986, Columbus, Ohio-headquartered STAR has long worked on a licensee model. With a web page dedicated to Owning a STAR Seal Plant, the company outlines the many benefits of becoming a licensee. These include the provision of plant layout details, detailed engineering drawings, research and product development, technical support, quality control and assurance, technical training, and even marketing.

“It’s like a big family, and we always value the support of the licensees that we have,” says Girish C. Dubey, STAR Seal’s CEO and Founder. Dubey continues overseeing the company’s success in the pavement preservation industry and today, STAR has about 150 staff members in North America, 15 plants, and three international facilities, in Australia, China, and Mexico.

Designed for success: technology licensing
Compared to conventional franchising, STAR’s unique Technology Licensing program is much more cost-effective and is designed to set up licensees for success. As the company states, “Our sole responsibility is to support our member companies and their customers. STAR’s diversified management capabilities and strategies are highly focused and specifically designed to serve our members ensuring their future growth.” Backed by the strength of STAR, licensees benefit from negotiated prices for equipment and raw materials, connections with suppliers, directions on plant layout, equipment, staffing, and more.

“We always listen intently to all our licensees,” states Dubey of STAR, which holds monthly telephone conferences with all plants, discussing product and process development, equipment and raw material requirements, industry demand, and suggestions for improvement. These meetings are always productive, with plenty of ideas on how to prioritize projects. “There is nothing flowery; it is all meat and potatoes,” says Dubey, which makes sense because STAR licensees are on the front lines. The first to receive customer feedback, they receive full technical support and production processing support. Like a big family, every aspect of the business is discussed openly and honestly.

Built on sealcoating expertise
Long before founding STAR, Dubey studied chemistry, earning Master’s Degrees in Inorganic Chemistry from India’s Upadhyay Gorakhpur University and Polymer Chemistry from Wright State University. This saw him take on the role of technical manager at marine paint specialist Hempel before creating STAR and launching his first basic sealcoatings. These were followed by a line of additives to boost sealcoating performance and other products like STAR Supreme, STAR Aviator, and Better and Best.

“STAR Seal is the basic workhorse of the industry,” explains Dubey. “The Better grade is professional grade with better performance, and then there is Supreme. Our specialty product, STAR Aviator, is designed to meet FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) specifications for airports.”

Today, STAR is behind about three dozen different products, including sealcoatings, color coatings, crack fillers, traffic paint, primers and specialty products, and additives. Knowing its market extremely well, STAR doesn’t sell sundries like brushes, brooms, nozzles, or cleaning compounds. “Our focus is on technologically superior products in coatings and additives. That’s our main business,” states Dubey.

Along with legacy products like STAR Triton, STAR Spectrum, and STAR-Seal Refined Tar Sealers, the company has introduced two exciting products. One of them is Star LTCA, which stands for Low Temperature Cure Additive. This unique product is formulated to optimally cure in cooler temperatures, when sealcoating is usually not done. “With this additive, now you can take it down to 40°F, so that opens these seasons a bit more and gives a couple of weeks on both ends,” says Dubey. “The industry is so seasonal that this gives contractors a big advantage, having more weeks to do work early spring or late fall.”

Last year saw the company introduce STAR MAX-GRIP. An additive, STAR MAX-GRIP is based on specialty polymer latex and bonding agents and “is designed to reduce drying and cure times by 50 percent or more and improve adhesion of sealcoatings. Additionally, STAR MAX-GRIP improves the oil and chemical resistance of the sealcoating.”

As its name implies, STAR MAX-GRIP demonstrably improves the adhesive properties of sealcoating, especially in challenging areas like polished aggregates. Parking lots and driveways are asphalt mixed with aggregates and paved; over time, with age and usage, aggregates in the pavement become polished or slick, and it is hard for coatings to bond to slick surfaces. A polymer latex-based additive fortified with bonding agents, STAR MAX-GRIP is ideal for areas that must be resistant to chemicals and oil.

“It’s like painting a mirror,” Dubey explains. “Nothing will stick to it. This additive is great in those areas and all over, especially in areas experiencing more traffic, like exits and entrances.”

Marketing moves
STAR, Inc. and Girish Dubey have always excelled at marketing. Going back to the beginning, the company presented at industry conventions and shows and had a presence in magazine and print advertising. And as a sealcoating specialist, Dubey has written many technical papers. With marketing shifting largely away from print media, STAR has stepped up its online presence through its blog, which discusses advances in sealcoating, explores new products, and highlights projects completed by licensee plants. “People are talking more about our products, and it is working,” comments Dubey. “We have sharpened our marketing strategy and are putting more focus into certain aspects of that. We are launching a branding campaign for our name, which will be synonymous with quality, service, and integrity.”

As part of the branding program, the company is launching a new website dedicated strictly to persons interested in expanding into manufacturing, https://starsealmanufacturing.com/. People in the sealcoating industry tend to start small, keep growing, and, with the right support, reach a point where they have sufficient volumes of sealcoating and want to manufacture themselves, with STAR’s strong support. Others being approached include companies who do paving and subcontract the sealcoating to others. “So there are two pathways,” says Dubey. “People who do paving maintenance is a natural extension, but with hands-on experience in the industry.”

With considerable international turmoil at present, the company is emphasizing licensing opportunities in the United States instead of overseas, and is targeting locations along the eastern seaboard, the west coast, and the Midwest. There are many U.S. opportunities, and STAR is eyeing areas where it doesn’t currently have representation.

Another way STAR Seal supports its licensees is through its internal online magazine, which is distributed to all plants. The magazine showcases products and licensee activities, and contains articles on technical aspects of sealcoating, plant operations, and equipment. Plants are encouraged to share the magazine with their customers so they know about new products and activities.

At present, about 90 percent of STAR’s business is in commercial products, with the remaining 10 percent residential. Some businesses using STAR sealcoatings include big-box stores, commercial properties, industrial complexes, and homeowners associations. “Our aim is to enhance the performance of sealcoating, with very effective add-on offerings to the sealcoating,” states Dubey. Incorporating the right additives—even comprising just one or two percent of the product—makes the difference between a sealcoating performing and not performing. As Dubey explains, “We are always looking to do things in a different way and take full advantage of the known chemistry of ingredients.”

Proud of STAR Seal’s 40^th anniversary, Dubey and his team are planning promotions and celebrations, which will include recognizing the company’s many plants. “STAR is like a big family, and we always value the support of the licensees that we have, and we definitely want to show our appreciation,” he says. “2025 was one of our best years, and 2026 is tracking to be even better than last year. We are in the process of promoting for new plant locations, so I’m hoping we’ll have a couple of new plants next year.”

The post Protection and Preservation: The Importance of Sealcoating<p class="company">STAR, Inc.</p> appeared first on Construction In Focus.

As a construction management firm specializing in complex infrastructure and technically demanding projects, Harrington & Associates Ltd. has built its reputation on constructability, disciplined execution, and long-term client relationships. Since its founding in 2008, the Richmond Hill, Ontario-based firm has partnered with owners across the Greater Toronto Area to deliver projects where planning, collaboration, and technical expertise are critical to success.

Harrington has deliberately focused on complex assignments where it can provide the greatest value to owners. By understanding each client’s business, operational priorities, and long-term objectives, the company can help guide decisions from early planning through construction.

“Our role extends well beyond managing construction. We become an extension of the owner’s team, taking the time to understand their business, their priorities, and what success looks like for them. That perspective allows us to make better decisions, solve problems earlier, and ultimately deliver the project with confidence,” says Chris Flanagan, Principal.

Harrington’s disciplined strategy has continued to strengthen the firm’s expertise not only in ICI construction but also across district energy, utility infrastructure, mission-critical facilities, and other complex projects, leading to its appointment by Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL) to deliver the Lakeview Village District Energy Centre. As one of the premier integrated energy and residential developments of its kind in North America, the project reflects the confidence sophisticated owners place in Harrington’s ability to successfully manage complex, multi-phase infrastructure projects.

One of the project’s key partners is Enwave, Canada’s leading district energy company and the organization responsible for developing and operating the community’s innovative energy generation system.

Based in Toronto with satellites in Ontario and PEI, Enwave is tasked with the development’s thermal energy generation. Enwave is best known for its decarbonization technology underpinning some of its models, including the Deep Lake Water Cooling (DLWC) system. Buildings connected to Enwave’s DLWC system typically have over 90 percent less electricity usage compared to conventional cooling.

Drawing cold water from 83 metres below Lake Ontario, the system provides highly efficient cooling for hospitals, data centres, commercial buildings, and other critical infrastructure while reducing energy consumption by approximately 80 percent. The same commitment to innovation underpins the Lakeview District Energy Centre, establishing a new benchmark for sustainable community infrastructure.

Shane Ravindranath, Director of Complex Projects at Enwave, credits Harrington’s collaborative approach, technical expertise, and constructability leadership as key factors in the project’s success. “It’s all about big thinking… Harrington was a key partner in helping us develop the plan,” he says. Beyond collaboration, he points to the firm’s ability to simplify highly complex challenges into practical, executable solutions. “[Harrington has] a deep constructability mindset. They take complex problems and are able to simplify them into something that’s tangible. They’re not a common construction management team,” he continues.

Ravindranath also notes that Harrington’s attention extends well beyond the visible elements of the project, recognizing that the critical infrastructure beneath the surface ultimately determines long-term performance. “They know this is the guts and the blood of the system. This is what makes everything work,” he says, highlighting the team’s transparency, flexibility, proactive risk management, and sophisticated planning capabilities.

The 45,000-square-foot Lakeview District Energy Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, is a two-storey, below-grade facility that represents one of the most advanced district energy projects currently under construction in North America. Led by ZAS Architects + Interiors as Architect and Prime Consultant, the facility’s distinctive design brings architectural character to a highly technical piece of infrastructure, including its prominent façade and integration into the surrounding Lakeview Village community. Supporting that vision, LEA Consulting is providing the structural engineering required to accommodate the significant loads of the facility’s heavy operating equipment while supporting the complex building structure and signature façade.

Constructed using more than 12,000 cubic metres of concrete and structural steel, the facility is being built on the former Ontario Power Generation Four Sisters coal-fired generating station site. Beyond its scale, the project’s defining innovation is its ability to transform treated effluent water into a highly efficient heating and cooling source for the surrounding 12,000-unit Lakeview Village community, which will include townhomes, condominiums, and mixed residential development. The adjacent Village Lake Pier neighbourhood will also contribute wastewater to the system, creating a fully integrated, sustainable energy network that establishes a new benchmark for low-carbon community infrastructure.

The development is the culmination of more than eight years of planning, design, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory approvals, reflecting the complexity required to deliver transformative infrastructure at this scale. Construction of the first phase has been underway for four years and remains on schedule, with completion anticipated in approximately 18 months. The next stage will include the installation of high-voltage electrical infrastructure, pump arrays, boilers, and advanced Siemens automation and control systems. Located adjacent to Mississauga’s G.E. Booth Wastewater Treatment Plant, the energy centre will process treated effluent water to provide a significant portion of the heating and cooling requirements for the Lakeview Village community, reducing the need for conventional cooling towers and as well as reducing reliance on natural gas.”

Utilizing a four-pipe distribution network, the system will circulate both hot and chilled water from a central utility plant to every building, creating a resilient, efficient, and low-carbon energy solution designed to serve the community for decades to come.

Built in response to the City of Mississauga’s ambitious 2030 greenhouse gas reduction targets, the 117-acre Lakeview Village development represents a significant investment in resilient, low-carbon community infrastructure. At the heart of the development, the district energy centre will provide a reliable, adaptable, and environmentally responsible energy solution designed to support the community’s long-term growth. “LCPL has made the choice to pursue District Energy (DE)—the optimal approach for enabling the development to achieve its low-carbon energy goals, while focusing on providing the customer with a solution that is reliable and resilient; cost competitive to the market; and adaptable over time,” says Kaid Al-Ani, Associate Vice President, High Performance Building Lead for AECOM, a member of Enwave’s integrated design team.

The energy centre is more than an advanced piece of infrastructure; it has been thoughtfully designed to become a landmark for the emerging Lakeview Village community. Complementing its sophisticated engineering systems, the building’s distinctive aluminum lace façade will create a striking architectural presence, illuminated at night to reflect the project’s innovative character. “Following eight years of evaluation, stakeholder negotiation, land siting, execution of master agreements with the chosen utility operator (Enwave), lease agreement execution, detailed design, and an extensive approval process, we are so excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel as we anticipate plant operation in 2028. This process was a tremendous undertaking for LCPL and their team, and it represents a huge win for the Lakeview Village Community, the City of Mississauga, and the Region of Peel,” David Scott, Professional Engineer and Project Director at the Lakeview Sustainability Centre, said in a statement.

Harrington’s role extends well beyond construction. The project is supported by an experienced team of construction management professionals, consultants, engineers, and technical specialists working in close collaboration with more than 100 trade partners throughout every phase of delivery. This integrated approach enables the team to coordinate complex design, procurement, logistics, and construction activities while maintaining alignment across all project stakeholders. The scale and technical sophistication of the development demand disciplined planning, continuous communication, and a commitment to proactive problem-solving—principles that define Harrington’s approach to project delivery.

As the broader Lakeview Village development has evolved, the energy centre has continued to adapt alongside it, reflecting the flexibility required to successfully deliver a long-term, multi-phase project of this scale. Maintaining alignment between design, construction, and stakeholder objectives requires disciplined planning and continuous coordination to ensure predictable project delivery, construction plans, schedules, logistics strategies, and risk assessments are reviewed and refined on a weekly basis, allowing the team to respond proactively while maintaining momentum across every phase of the project.

“We’re well underway for a successful build-out for phase one for next year—there’s a real team approach to this project. Harrington and the consultant team are in constant communication with BTY and Lakeview Village, working through strategy, planning, constructability, and quality together. That level of collaboration allows us to solve challenges early and keep a very complex project moving forward,” says Cheyenne Boone, Senior Project Manager, emphasizing the importance of disciplined communication, rigorous organization, proactive risk management, and timely resolution of issues as the project continues to advance. The result has been a highly coordinated project environment that has maintained schedule certainty and collaboration despite the complexity and scale typically associated with infrastructure projects of this magnitude.

“There have been a lot of changes, and Harrington has been nimble enough to adjust accordingly. We’re versatile enough to speak to all the elements of the project,” Flanagan adds. That adaptability reflects the firm’s broader philosophy: successful project delivery depends on anticipating change as the design evolves, maintaining alignment among stakeholders, and providing steady leadership throughout every stage of construction. Rather than reacting to complexity, Harrington embraces it through disciplined planning, collaborative decision-making, and an unwavering commitment to the owner’s objectives.

Boone is equally proud of the level of collaboration the team has maintained throughout the project, particularly given its scale and technical complexity. “We all have a similar intent for success. It’s been one of the more well-strategized builds with the consultant team, development team, and stakeholders that we’re working with,” she says. That shared commitment has created an environment where transparency, accountability, and collaboration consistently drive better project outcomes. “It’s a wonderful addition to the community. It’s going to be phenomenal.”

For Harrington, success is measured by far more than the completion of a structure. It is defined by the confidence earned from clients, the strength of long-term partnerships, and the consistency with which projects are delivered. Through transparency, accountability, disciplined processes, and dependable follow-through, the firm has built a reputation for delivering certainty in even the most technically demanding environments. Boone reflects this philosophy well: “Success isn’t measured solely by the structure we deliver, but by the partnerships we build along the way. When every stakeholder shares ownership of the vision, the entire team succeeds together,” she says.

For nearly two decades, Harrington & Associates has remained committed to a simple philosophy: doing the right thing, the right way. Integrity, accountability, and ownership are not simply values—they are the principles that guide every decision, every partnership, and every project the firm undertakes. By combining technical expertise with collaborative leadership and disciplined execution, Harrington continues to earn the confidence of owners delivering some of Ontario’s most complex infrastructure projects. As the Lakeview Village District Energy Centre moves toward completion, it stands as more than an engineering achievement—it reflects what can be accomplished when every stakeholder shares a common vision and a trusted construction management partner is committed to delivering complexity with confidence.

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A leader in the North American geoexchange market, Geosource Energy is a relatively small second-generation Canadian operation that is having a significant market impact by providing Earth Powered Solutions™ to clients across North America and beyond.

Using geothermal energy, which is generated and stored beneath the Earth’s surface, the company’s geoexchange systems provide cost-effective and highly efficient heating, cooling, and hot water for new construction and retrofit projects that seek to set the bar for sustainability and performance.

Backed by proprietary technology and a unique approach, over its 20-plus year history Geosource Energy has drilled over six million linear feet for more than 400 successful projects across Canada and the United States, establishing itself as a leader in the field and a true champion of geothermal.

Why choose geothermal?
An investment in geothermal is an investment in reduced energy use, and thus, lower demand on the grid, fewer emissions, lower life cycle costs, more predictable monthly rates, and optimal year-round comfort; it’s a win for both people and the environment, which is why a greater number of utilities and government entities are doubling down on these investments.

Geothermal systems are proven more sustainable versus conventional HVAC systems, while also being more cost-effective over the long term. In fact, users can experience 25 to 50 percent lower energy costs as a result of the investment, while the underground infrastructure can outlast the structure itself. As CEO Stan Reitsma notes, studies have shown that, “For every dollar that’s saved there, there’s nine dollars saved on the grid.”

In a market marred by volatility and unpredictability, particularly where energy is concerned, the untapped potential of geothermal to add capacity to the grid is something worth exploring. Studies are underway to better understand how geoexchange systems can be used to support the grid as it faces unprecedented demand, particularly in the wake of mass data centre expansion.

Naturally, a big driver in the U.S. is from utilities as they seek to meet this growing demand—more specifically, they are investigating the role of geothermal in cooling storage and demand side power management for data centres as they continue to come online at an impressive pace. “If they can start proving out geothermal for data centres, that’s going to create a whole different type of expansion in the market,” says Vice President Kate Cheng, an area that Geosource Energy is prepared to undertake.

Why choose Geosource?
With more than 20 years of experience offering utility grade construction services and best-in-class drilling and expertise, Geosource Energy is not only a leader in geothermal but also a technology leader who sets the bar and continues to drive the industry forward.

“One of the big differentiators we have is our drill rigs. Geosource has worked with Novamac, our drill manufacturer, for many, many years now and we have only one type of drill rig that we use across our entire company,” says Cheng of the highly flexible dual rotary drill rig which enables work to be done in even the most challenging conditions.

Since 2008, Geosource Energy has been positioning the bore field below a building’s footprint, a proprietary process referred to as At Grade, which allows the drilling to take place before excavation starts (though it can come at any point during new construction or retrofits thanks to angle drilling). Angle drilling enables Geosource Energy to go beneath infrastructure like roadways, buildings, or greenspace without disturbance, using a central location and a concentrated workspace to minimize the impact of its operations.

“When you’re in urban environments drilling next to multifamily buildings with balconies five feet from where you’re drilling, we really limit the acoustic impact of our drill rigs and we’ve developed specialized equipment that allows us to containerize all of our operations so we’re not a big messy site with spoils and grout flying around in the air,” Cheng explains.

This enables the team to get maximum capacity from a limited area, which is particularly useful for retrofit projects like 240 Markland in the Greater Toronto Area, where geoexchange not only improved overall energy efficiency, but also reduced the property’s energy reliance.

“We try to limit the amount of space that we’re actually using to do the geo by putting them very close together at surface and then spreading it out underground,” explains Reitsma, who notes space requirements can be reduced by upwards of 95 percent. “If we had not angle drilled, they would not have been able to retrofit those buildings. They didn’t have enough space.”

This patent-protected process optimizes the trade sequence and drives value from a project’s outset, and to ensure that the benefits of its use are not limited by Geosource’s own capacity, which has been tested by growing demand, the company will license out the technology to other drillers to ensure that industry best practices are being implemented.

This drive to advance geothermal is part of the company’s DNA. According to Cheng, “Our core innovation tenets being equipment innovation, process innovation, and data-driven operations means design improvements based on real performance data, new tools for geothermal field analysis, and intelligence for operational systems,” which enables the company to undertake industry-leading projects that move the needle forward for geothermal and sustainable construction.

Setting the bar
Geosource Energy has a rich portfolio of projects highlighting the value it brings to the market. At the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, Geosource Energy drilled 372 boreholes at 250 meters per borehole (approximately half the height of the CN Tower) to complete the largest operational urban geothermal/geoexchange system in Canada. The project boasts an energy capacity with a storage equivalent of 250,000 electric vehicle batteries and it has cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 17,000 tonnes annually.

The demonstrated value for institutional operations is incredible, which is why more and more such clients are integrating geoexchange into their projects. There is a desire to reap the long-term benefits, deemed worthy of their upfront costs.

This was also the case recently at the new Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador where Geosource designed and installed the geothermal system, which included 375 boreholes spanning 600 feet below the parking lot. Recognized as North America’s largest hospital geothermal system, the geoexchange system provides 100 percent of the hospital’s heating, replacing electric baseboards with a more efficient system that has resulted in a 50 percent reduction in electricity use.

These are the kinds of results Geosource has delivered in Canada over its 20-plus year history, and now it continues to make history south of the border as well. Selected by Lendlease for the 1 Java Street project, a residential development in Brooklyn comprising 834 rental units—30 percent of which are designated as affordable housing—as well as nearly 13,000 square feet of neighbourhood-oriented retail space, Geosource’s expertise and ability to execute is in high demand, and for good reason.

Upon completion, 1 Java Street became the largest geothermal residential project in the United States, thanks to Geosource Energy’s vertical closed loop geoexchange system comprising 321 boreholes at a depth of 500 feet. This system will reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53 percent compared with typical residential systems and as an all-electric building, emissions will be eliminated.

This project also set the stage for additional work in the U.S. and as such, Geosource made the decision to establish a U.S. headquarters in Manhattan to support growth in demand.

For instance, Geosource recently partnered with Honeywell on the John F. Kennedy Elementary School project in Boston, the city’s first geothermal retrofit of a school in the area. Certainly, the geology of the area presents unique challenges, but Geosource was up to the task.

Cheng credits the rigs as “a big part of what makes us so flexible in different geologies because no matter what the geology is, we can tool up to do rotary drilling.”

It’s a good thing, too, because interest is being generated out west with other major projects like Oracle Global Headquarters in Nashville, which means neither geology nor geography is going to stop the company’s success.

The growing push for decarbonization
For clients, geothermal can serve as a component part of achieving net zero/low-carbon outcomes and Geosource Energy, with its acute awareness that only a percentage of the market has been spoken for, continues to push on.

“We all work together trying to decarbonize the industry and we have a solutions mindset related to that,” explains Cheng, which is why Geosource continues to experience growth in demand for its expertise around North America, and even the world.

According to Cheng, “We have the practicality and work ethic of a field-driven construction company but with the analytical approach of an engineering and technology organization.” This is backed by an unmatched depth of experience in the field, actionable data, and technology leadership that enables the company to find success no matter where projects may take it.

With interest even being generated overseas, where there is growing recognition of the potential impact of geoexchange, Geosource Energy is a Canadian company who has become a global authority in geothermal. This is a team that continues to advance the market through exceptional projects and unmatched performance, raising the bar for an entire industry in the process.

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Boasting a fleet of more than 700 units, service assets, and accessories such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, mast forklifts, small dirt equipment, and more, GM leases a variety of aerial and material handling equipment, and offers custom hydraulic hoses, electrical and hydraulic maintenance, and diagnostics. Along with renting out brand-new, well-maintained construction equipment that has undergone a comprehensive inspection and received OSHA approval, and offering timely, trustworthy customer service, GM Equipment also provides repair services on site or at its facilities, with highly skilled service specialists performing boom inspections on a quarterly or annual basis.

Another recent accomplishment was the company’s ability to elevate its Hydraulix offering, a bucket truck repair division established in November 2020 as part of a continuous endeavor to differentiate itself, remain current, and carry on its legacy of variety and advancement. Hydraulix services include DOT inspections, yearly boom inspections, hydraulic repair, electrical diagnostics, lathe and mill work, dielectric testing, and custom hoses of all sizes, in addition to the hydraulic and electrical repair of various boom, bucket, and derrick trucks. Since its inception, the division has grown to serve a wide range of clients with varied needs at offices in Columbus, Ohio and St. Marys, Pennsylvania.

“As of January 1^st this year, we separated that company as its own entity and put a focus on driving that business to newer heights,” says General Manager, Drew Dobson. “So far this year, it’s been a really good story. We’re employing more people for good-paying jobs, expanding our services line, and taking a lot of pride in gaining more customers and performing good work.”

GM still has hurdles to overcome, however, including finding, training, and retaining the skilled personnel required to keep the company running smoothly, an industry-wide concern.

“It’s what I’m hearing in our industry across the board, whether it be from our customers or the contractors performing the work; they’re struggling to find mechanics and truck drivers,” Dobson says. “At the end of the day, what it comes down to is we can only be as successful as those around us. If we get full support from our employees and our vendors, we can be successful.”

While GM has certainly enjoyed success over the past 20 years, there has “definitely been a shift downhill” recently that’s making it tougher, specifically since the onset of the pandemic. GM, however, remains committed to meeting the challenge.

“It’s important for everybody to be accessible and make sure we’re turning things around quickly, because it all hinges on that,” Dobson says. “We still have great partners who help us every single day, whether they be our employees or our vendors, but it’s just been tougher for everybody all around.”

Today’s troubling economy has also served to increase expenses while slowing delivery and progress across the board, compared to pre-COVID times. “Even in the midst of those hurdles, we’re still doing everything in our power to be a top player,” Dobson, says, adding that GM’s reliable workforce plays a large part in that.

GM employees themselves remain committed to ensuring the company continues to thrive despite these challenges. That dedication to quality and service has helped employees find not only success but longevity, unusual in today’s workplace, and truly a testament to what GM is doing right.

“We know we have our share of turnover here and there, but our core group of employees have been here a long time,” Dobson says. “We have employees who have been here for over 15 years now, and in today’s market, we really think that that’s a good testament to how well we try to take care of them.”

What makes GM a great place to work? A combination of factors, with the foremost being good pay and solid benefits. “On top of that, we try to think outside the box and offer our employees some things that other businesses don’t, such as paid time off for birthdays,” says Dobson. Another is being flexible with time, offering every employee the opportunity to work 4/10s in a week in order to take a Friday off once a month, he adds. “As far as I know, there’s nobody else in our industry doing that. We’re constantly working on ways to improve benefits, such as 401(k) with a match, to take good care of our people.”

Additionally, the relationship between management and employees is one of open communication, encouraging everyone to come forward with any issues or problems. “We tell everybody here, we’ve got a job to do,” Dobson says. “This company has turned into a real machine, and it takes a lot of energy to fuel that machine, but at the end of the day, our core principles of being a family-owned company haven’t faltered. We take great pride in it being a laidback workplace, where if an employee has a question or issue, it’s an open-door policy,” he says.

“We take a lot of pride in listening to our employees. Their ideas and thoughts on whatever may be in front of us are valuable,” Dobson says. “Two heads are always better than one, and if we can work to make a better process or situation, or just answer a simple question, that’s always the way that we want to go.”

All of these efforts have successfully created a company that has not only grown for the past 20 years but will continue to do so well into the future. “Moving forward, it’s about looking to the next milestone, like the 25-year or 30-year anniversary,” Dobson says. “There are no direct plans at this moment for a large expansion, but we’re also the type of people who are never going to pass up a good deal or a good opportunity. We’re always open to the next big thing.”

Reaching future milestones will depend on maintaining quality employees, and Dobson reiterates the importance of bringing in skilled and dedicated employees who will help usher in the future of the company. If you’re one of those people, he adds, there is a place for you at GM Equipment Rentals. “If you’re a motivated individual, you want to work hard and be rewarded as such, and you want to have the ability to move up and exceed your goals, this is a good place for you. Our history can attest to that. Our other employees can attest to that, that we’re always looking to grow and expand and do the next big thing, and we need more people to help us do that.”

Finding those types of committed and eager workers shouldn’t be difficult for a company of this stature. “That’s the biggest thing: we tell everybody, it’s not that you have to necessarily be an expert in your position, but we need you to almost be an expert in motivation. We’re willing to teach, and we’re willing to help. You’ve got to be willing to put the work in.”

He adds that encouraging young people to venture into trades out of high school is also a necessary and positive step to help create a solid and secure future in industries that have so much to offer.

“I think we as a society have finally come to that realization here in the past year,” he says. “We’re in this period where everybody was being told, ‘you’ve got to go to college.’ The trades suffered from that, and now we’re realizing it, but it’s going to be a while before the turnaround happens, where we can get back to a more normal distribution of talent.”

With skilled tradespeople retiring at a steady pace, finding those younger, skilled workers will be an ongoing concern, but companies like GM Equipment Rentals provide strong incentives to enter this healthy and lucrative field of employment.

Until then, GM plans to continue on its productive path forward, serving both its loyal customers and skilled employees, to ensure a bright future, banding together to handle any potential challenges the company and the industry may face.

Dobson is assured they will succeed. “There are other factors just plain out of our control already working against us, and if we can do our best to ensure a good working relationship or a good outcome for the customer, that’s what we need to do,” he says.

And that’s where GM Equipment Rentals’ focus has stayed, ensuring success over the past 20 years. “That’s what we’ve been focusing on,” he stresses. “Despite all the other hurdles, we’re focusing hard on making sure the customer is taken care of. We’re trying to take care of our employees, keep them happy, keep them around, and keep them employed here for a long time. Our goal is for every employee to want to retire from our company.”

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