Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The City of Brockville has begun construction on a new pavilion and boardwalk at Reynolds Park, with the waterfront structure named in honour of former mayor Ben TeKamp.

The TeKamp family joined officials for a sod-turning and naming ceremony on Oct. 9.

“I can think of no more fitting tribute to a man whose leadership helped secure these lands for public use, whose passion for rowing connected him so closely to the waterfront, and whose vision helped make projects like Reynolds Park possible,” Wren said.

The large Reynolds Park project also includes construction of a pavilion and boardwalk along the St. Lawrence River, providing additional space for residents and visitors to gather along Brockville’s waterfront.

Kehoe Construction was awarded the construction contract for the project. Construction is expected to continue into spring 2027.

TeKamp served as Brockville mayor from 1997 to 2006 and advocated for public access to the waterfront. He was involved in early discussions and negotiations that led to the city acquiring the Reynolds Park property.

Brockville Rotary Club has contributed more than $75,000 to the project through an engraved brick fundraising campaign. The club’s contribution will also be recognized with the display of the Rotary gear inside the new pavilion.

More information about the project is available at brockville.com/cityprojects.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa City Council has ratified planning permissions for two major residential developments that will add nearly 750 new homes to the city’s housing supply.

The approvals, initially recommended by the city’s Planning and Housing Committee on Oct. 7, were formally endorsed by City Council on Oct. 8. The projects include a 30-storey mixed-use tower in Overbrook and a new subdivision in Stittsville.

In Overbrook, council approved an Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment for an amalgamated site at 1052, 1060, and 1064 St. Laurent Blvd., north of Queen Mary Street. The development, spearheaded by 1001182489 Ontario with designs by Project1 Studio, will feature a 30-storey building providing 401 residential units and ground-floor commercial space. The project replaces existing single-storey commercial structures with a high-density, transit-oriented development within walking distance of St. Laurent Station. Specific project values and general contractors have not been publicly disclosed.

In Stittsville, council approved a zoning amendment for a new subdivision at 560 Hazeldean Rd. near Mantra Street, on the current site of the Kevin Haime Golf Centre. The proponent, Regional Group and EQ Homes, plans to build 347 new units, offering a mix of detached homes, townhomes, and apartment-style housing.

Construction on the Hazeldean Road subdivision cannot begin until required site work is completed and floodplain mapping for the Carp River area is updated. The development plan also includes protecting open space along the river and supporting future pathways to connect nearby neighbourhoods.

In a separate move to support community infrastructure, council approved a motion to waive demolition fees for three homes on Pamilla Street in Little Italy. The demolition will facilitate a planned land exchange between the property owner and the city to expand the adjacent McCann Park, delivering more public greenspace to area residents.

According to the City of Ottawa, these latest approvals support the municipality’s broader goal of building 151,000 homes by 2031. Since tracking began in January 2023, the city has approved applications for more than 74,000 new homes. Since the start of 2026 alone, the Planning and Housing Committee has recommended approvals supporting nearly 4,200 units.

The city noted in a recent release that homebuilding remains strong in Ottawa, with construction starting on more than 4,100 homes in the first half of 2026.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) showcased the city’s top residential designs and construction innovations on Oct. 18 during the 2026 RenoTour Parade of Homes.

The self-guided event opened the doors to some of Ottawa’s most impressive custom homes and renovations, while introducing a new feature this year: exclusive access to the showrooms of local RenoMark suppliers.

The annual event connects the public directly with local builders, designers, and suppliers to experience their craftsmanship firsthand. Participating builders included Amsted Design-Build, Lagois Design-Build-Renovate, RND Construction, and ARTium Design Build.

For industry professionals, the tour served as an interactive portfolio.

“The RenoTour is a great opportunity to experience exceptional homes in person,” a representative from Amsted Design-Build shared with All Things Home in the lead-up to the event. “While photos are inspiring, nothing compares to walking through a space, seeing the craftsmanship up close, and experiencing how the layout, natural light and design come together. … And for us, it’s a fun way to show off the craftsmanship, creativity and care that our team puts into every project.”

Amsted featured two properties on the tour, including a forever custom home designed for future accessibility. “While it’s brand new, it already feels warm, lived in and uniquely personal,” the builder noted. They also showcased a split-level home transformation, which a company spokesperson, Haw, described as demonstrating a “balance between luxury and livability, with thoughtful details, quality craftsmanship and functionality considered throughout.”

Sustainability was a major theme at RND Construction’s tour stop, an all-electric, Net Zero-certified contemporary custom home that maximizes a narrow urban lot. The project is a multiple finalist in this fall’s Ottawa Housing Design Awards, including the All Things Home People’s Choice Award.

“As a certified net zero, all-electric custom home, it demonstrates that exceptional energy performance can be achieved without sacrificing comfort, style or livability,” RND Construction told All Things Home, which also published an edited version of their coverage in the Ottawa Citizen on Oct. 2.

Meanwhile, Lagois Design-Build-Renovate showcased a home featuring a seamless primary suite addition. “We chose this project because it beautifully demonstrates how a thoughtfully designed addition can blend seamlessly with an existing home, making it feel as though it has always been there,” the company stated. The Lagois project is also a finalist in the upcoming Housing Design Awards.

ARTium Design Build rounded out the residential stops with a sophisticated kitchen renovation featuring premium finishes and thoughtful aging-in-place integrations.

The addition of supplier showrooms this year gave tourgoers a hands-on look at the materials and manufacturing processes behind the homes. Participating showrooms included Accurate Stairs and Rails, Spectrum Kitchen & Bath Design, and Laurysen Kitchens.

Laurysen Kitchens opened its extensive design centre, which recently won a National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) innovation award. Spectrum Kitchen & Bath Design showcased fully built kitchens and bathrooms, noting its team’s dedication to “delivering elevated spaces that honour your vision.”

Accurate Stairs and Railings used the event to open their milling and production facility, inviting visitors to see how their custom components are made. Billing themselves as “your real-life Pinterest board for custom stairs and railings,” the company also used the tour as an opportunity to support the community by collecting non-perishable donations for the Ottawa Food Bank on-site.

While the in-person event has wrapped up, GOHBA is ensuring the projects remain accessible. The association has launched 3D virtual tours of most of the homes and showrooms on its website for those who missed the event.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Navigating the gap between laboratory acoustic ratings and real-world construction conditions was the central focus of a technical presentation at the Construction Specifications Canada (CSC) Ottawa chapter event on Oct. 15.

Andrew Schmidt, building science lead and acoustics subject-matter expert for USG/CGC, guided local architects, specifiers, engineers, and suppliers through the intricacies of room sound absorption, transmission metrics, and evolving building materials.

A significant portion of the presentation highlighted the natural variability in established acoustic testing. Schmidt referenced a 14-lab round-robin test conducted by the ASTM E33 acoustics committee. Testing the exact same wall assembly — featuring 5/8-inch Type X gypsum board on both sides, 24-inch-on-center lightweight studs, and 3.5-inch fiberglass insulation — yielded Sound Transmission Class (STC) results ranging from 47 to 51 across the different accredited laboratories.

“There’s quite a bit of laboratory variance in the ASTM E90 test method,” Schmidt said, explaining that repeated tests in a single lab can also vary by roughly one decibel at individual frequencies. Furthermore, field conditions typically reduce performance by another three to five points. This gap underscores the importance of incorporating safety margins during the design phase, particularly when striving to meet specific code requirements.

Under the Canadian Building Code, field-tested or calculated assemblies generally require an Apparent Sound Transmission Class (ASTC) of 47, while laboratory-tested assemblies require an STC of 50. Construction separating dwelling units from elevator or refuse shafts must meet an STC of 55.

Beyond sound transmission, Schmidt addressed room acoustics and reverberation time, which are heavily influenced by total surface absorption and room volume. He noted that standards like LEED v4.1 mandate a maximum reverberation time of 0.8 seconds for open-plan offices. Achieving these targets in spaces with higher ceilings often requires higher-NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) ceiling tiles or additional absorptive treatments to offset the increased volume.

He also cautioned attendees about the complex mathematics behind spaced sound absorbers, such as hanging baffles. A baffle’s Array NRC rating depends heavily on the element’s size and spacing. Closer spacing generally increases the Array NRC, while suspension height has a smaller, frequency-dependent effect. Schmidt advised that published baffle ratings may sometimes use inconsistent calculation methods, which can artificially inflate the numbers.

Modern construction methods, notably mass timber and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), present new acoustical hurdles. Low-frequency sound is particularly difficult to control, and CLT structures often lack the necessary mass and decoupling found in traditional concrete assemblies, complicating both airborne and impact sound control.

To address the uncertainties surrounding sound flanking in structural timber, a research project led by acoustical consulting firm HGC, in collaboration with USG and competitors, is planned to test structural paths and floor treatments.

To maintain acoustical integrity in any structure, Schmidt emphasized strict adherence to field best practices. Because sound will find the path of least resistance, he noted that unsealed gaps, duct crosstalk, open-back light fixtures, and back-to-back electrical penetrations easily undermine sound isolation.

He advised offsetting penetrations by at least one stud bay, using moldable putty pads on back boxes, and applying a single bead of non-hardening elastomeric acoustical sealant at the partition perimeter to prevent sound leakage.

For ceiling plenums where walls do not extend full height to the deck, Schmidt recommended ensuring the ceiling’s Ceiling Attenuation Class (CAC) is matched within five points of the wall’s STC rating. Additionally, he warned against short-circuiting resilient channels or sandwiching them between panel layers, which effectively neutralizes their sound-isolating benefits.

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Utilities Kingston has received a Gold Award from OHS Canada in the Contractor Safety Management category, recognizing efforts to buld safety partnerships with contractors working in the community.

The award recognizes a safety program that has evolved over more than a decade, from a focus on compliance and documentation to an approach built on “trust, communication and shared accountability,” officials said in a news release.

“Winning Gold in the Contractor Safety Management category is an incredible honour for Utilities Kingston and for everyone who has contributed to our contractor safety program over the years,” said Scott Robinson, supervisor of health and safety at Utilities Kingston.

The organization’s annual Contractor Safety Days bring contractors and staff together before construction season to discuss risks, safety leadership and lessons learned.

The program has contributed to more than 13 years without a critical injury or fatality across the organization and more than 10 years without a high-energy, high-consequence incident, Utilities Kingston said.

“We never take those results for granted,” Robinson said. “Because behind every safety statistic is a person with family, friends, and people who care about them, and that’s who we’re ultimately trying to protect.”

The organization’s previous safety recognition include being named one of Canada’s Best Safety Cultures in the Workplace in 2025, receiving the Public Safety Excellence Award sponsored by the Electrical Safety Authority earlier this year, and earning a Silver Award from OHS Canada for contractor safety management.

“Most importantly, this award reinforces something we believe strongly at Utilities Kingston, that every worker deserves to go home safe at the end of the day,” Robinson said.

Utilities Kingston provides water, wastewater, natural gas, electricity and telecommunications services through a single utility structure. The organization has been serving customers for more than 150 years.

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The October 2026 issue of Ottawa Construction News has been published.

You can view it in page turning software here.

Stories in the current issue include:

• • • • City Council approves Campinale Campus heritage plan, including 1,100 new homes on Heron Road;
      • Ottawa new home sales rise 55% in August, GOHBA report finds;
      • Ottawa Council approves Kanata water park and Hintonburg high-rise developments;
      • Court orders general contractor to release $703,000 holdback to Ottawa LRT subcontractor;
      • Construction community delivers big rigs, nearly $27,000 for families at sixth annual CHEO parade; and
      • Brigil to start construction on massive three-tower project at former Ottawa Greyhound terminal.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

An Ontario Superior Court of Justice judge has ordered general contractor AtkinsRéalis to release $703,000 in statutory holdback funds to local subcontractor Bradley-Kelly Construction Ltd., establishing critical guidance on how the province’s Construction Act defines an “improvement” across complex, multi-site transit infrastructure projects.

The summary judgment endorsement, delivered by Associate Judge Karen Perron, resolves a key issue in ongoing lien litigation surrounding the City of Ottawa’s $1.6-billion Stage 2 Trillium Line light rail extension.

The dispute arose between Bradley-Kelly, sub-general contractor GIP Construction Ontario East Ltd. (formerly Aecon Construction Ontario East Limited), and AtkinsRéalis Construction (Pacific) Inc. (formerly SNC-Lavalin), the prime construction partner operating through TransitNext General Partnership.

In March 2019, the City of Ottawa awarded TransitNext the design, build, finance, and maintenance contract to expand the north-south diesel commuter rail line. As part of the civil and electrical works, sub-general contractor GIP hired Nepean-based Bradley-Kelly to construct roadway lighting, duct banks, and utility infrastructure. The subcontracts encompassed two primary work areas: the realignment and park-and-ride facility at Earl Armstrong and Bowesville roads, and the New Walkley Yard rail maintenance facility.

Relations between AtkinsRéalis and GIP soured in late 2023 over unpaid invoices and project delays, leading GIP to suspend work and AtkinsRéalis to terminate its contract. Caught downstream in the supply chain, Bradley-Kelly preserved two separate construction liens in February 2024 to protect unpaid contract balances and statutory holdbacks.

While AtkinsRéalis subsequently settled the New Walkley Yard lien by paying $615,000 in holdback funds, the contractor refused to release the remaining $703,000 holdback on the Earl Armstrong Road project. AtkinsRéalis brought a cross-motion arguing the Earl Armstrong lien was invalid.

The general contractor contended that the Earl Armstrong and Walkley Yard scopes constituted two separate and distinct “improvements” under Ontario’s Construction Act. Because Bradley-Kelly concluded its field operations at Earl Armstrong on Dec. 27, 2023, AtkinsRéalis argued the statutory 45-day deadline to preserve that lien had expired on Feb. 13, 2024—rendering the subcontractor’s February 2024 filing late. Bradley-Kelly did not complete its work at the Walkley facility until Jan. 25, 2024.

Represented by construction law litigators Daniel Leduc and Chelsea Packman, Bradley-Kelly argued that the work across both locations was interconnected and formed a single, unified improvement for the public transit extension. GIP was represented by Jay Nathwani, while Nathan Lean at Gowling WLG represented AtkinsRéalis.

Justice Perron ruled entirely in favor of Bradley-Kelly.

“Somewhat surprisingly … there are no factual issues in dispute on this motion except for the underlying determination on whether Bradley-Kelly did work on a single improvement or multiple improvements,” Perron noted in the endorsement.

Rejecting AtkinsRéalis’ position that geographic division created separate legal improvements, the court concluded that the infrastructure components could not be severed from the public system’s collective function.

According to the ruling, the subcontracts shared an overarching operational purpose, as the light rail expansion could not open without both the Earl Armstrong road adjustments and the Walkley maintenance operations. Perron wrote that she had “no difficulty” concluding the subcontract work was undertaken toward a unified project goal and met the legal standard of a single improvement, confirming that Bradley-Kelly preserved the lien in a timely manner.

The court ordered AtkinsRéalis to release the full $703,000 holdback to the subcontractor.

The ruling arrives as AtkinsRéalis navigates more than $100 million in cumulative claims filed by various Trillium Line subcontractors—including OWS and Pomerleau—over inflation adjustments, design revisions, and contract administration. In court pleadings, AtkinsRéalis has asserted that project contracts were fixed-price arrangements not subject to cost escalation.

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Ottawa’s mayoral candidates squared off Thursday morning over how best to partner with the construction industry to address the city’s housing crisis, tackling contentious issues including the urban boundary, development charges and permitting delays.

The debate was co-hosted by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) and the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf and OREB CEO Nicole Christy moderated the debate.

For the construction and development sectors, the stakes of the 2026 municipal election were brought into sharp focus as candidates Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo and incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe pitched their visions for the city’s growth.

Alex Lawson, a framing contractor, painted a stark picture of the current business climate for the local construction industry. He noted that smaller and medium-sized builders are leaving Ottawa for municipalities like Brockville, where approvals are easier to secure and development charges are less financially prohibitive.

“It’s going to be that builders and businesses feel good about doing business in Ottawa again,” Lawson said when asked how his success should be measured. He also highlighted the need for transit networks that serve construction sites, pointing out that tradespeople currently need a vehicle just to access their jobs.

Incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe defended his record, arguing that he is fighting to keep the dream of homeownership alive by making it easier and more affordable to build homes in Ottawa. Sutcliffe pledged to put the industry in a position to build 75,000 more homes by the end of the decade. He emphasized the need to improve the elements the municipality can control, specifically citing the speed of the approval process, fees, land supply and property taxes.

The debate also exposed sharp divides on where and how the city should grow.

Jeff Leiper pushed strongly for intensification over suburban expansion, warning that urban boundary expansions impose massive environmental and economic costs on future generations, primarily through long-term infrastructure maintenance. To facilitate infill and density, Leiper promised to implement correct zoning with “as of right permissions” so builders can bypass lengthy secondary plan changes and rezonings, allowing them to proceed directly to site plans.

Neil Saravanamuttoo agreed that the city cannot afford the future liability of expanding the urban boundary, pointing out the existing infrastructure gap. To speed up construction and assist the industry, Saravanamuttoo proposed modernizing City Hall’s highly manual administrative processes. He advocated for using artificial intelligence for automated code and zoning compliance, alongside a public real-time tracking dashboard for development applications.

While Sutcliffe noted that no urban boundary expansion had been approved during his last term, he cautioned that a balanced approach is necessary. Not every new resident wants to live in a downtown apartment, Sutcliffe said, adding that many families will still want space and a backyard in the suburbs.

Lawson echoed this sentiment, arguing that the city must evaluate urban boundary extensions based on the lifestyle preferences of its growing population.

Election Day is Oct. 26.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa’s mayoral candidates squared off on Sept. 24 over how best to partner with the construction industry to address the city’s housing crisis, tackling contentious issues including the urban boundary, development charges and permitting delays.

The debate ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election was co-hosted by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) and the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf and OREB CEO Nicole Christy moderated the debate.

For the construction and development sectors, the stakes of the 2026 municipal election were brought into sharp focus as candidates Alex Lawson, Jeff Leiper, Neil Saravanamuttoo and incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe pitched their visions for the city’s growth.

Alex Lawson, a framing contractor, painted a stark picture of the current business climate for the local construction industry. He noted that smaller and medium-sized builders are leaving Ottawa for municipalities like Brockville, where approvals are easier to secure and development charges are less financially prohibitive.

“It’s going to be that builders and businesses feel good about doing business in Ottawa again,” Lawson said when asked how his success should be measured. He also highlighted the need for transit networks that serve construction sites, pointing out that tradespeople currently need a vehicle just to access their jobs.

Incumbent Mayor Mark Sutcliffe defended his record, arguing that he is fighting to keep the dream of homeownership alive by making it easier and more affordable to build homes in Ottawa. Sutcliffe pledged to put the industry in a position to build 75,000 more homes by the end of the decade. He emphasized the need to improve the elements the municipality can control, specifically citing the speed of the approval process, fees, land supply and property taxes.

The debate also exposed sharp divides on where and how the city should grow.

Jeff Leiper pushed strongly for intensification over suburban expansion, warning that urban boundary expansions impose massive environmental and economic costs on future generations, primarily through long-term infrastructure maintenance. To facilitate infill and density, Leiper promised to implement correct zoning with “as of right permissions” so builders can bypass lengthy secondary plan changes and rezonings, allowing them to proceed directly to site plans.

Neil Saravanamuttoo agreed that the city cannot afford the future liability of expanding the urban boundary, pointing out the existing infrastructure gap. To speed up construction and assist the industry, Saravanamuttoo proposed modernizing City Hall’s highly manual administrative processes. He advocated for using artificial intelligence for automated code and zoning compliance, alongside a public real-time tracking dashboard for development applications.

While Sutcliffe noted that no urban boundary expansion had been approved during his last term, he cautioned that a balanced approach is necessary. Not every new resident wants to live in a downtown apartment, Sutcliffe said, adding that many families will still want space and a backyard in the suburbs.

Lawson echoed this sentiment, arguing that the city must evaluate urban boundary extensions based on the lifestyle preferences of its growing population.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Gatineau-based real estate developer Brigil is poised to begin construction “shortly” on a major mixed-use development at the site of Ottawa’s former Greyhound bus terminal, according to recent media reports and City of Ottawa planning documents.

The 2.8-acre property at 265 Catherine St. will be transformed into a high-density residential and commercial hub. According to recently updated city planning records, the approved project features 1,164 residential units spread across three high-rise towers of 32, 34 and 36 storeys, anchored by two six-storey podiums and a block of three-storey townhouses facing Arlington Avenue.

The Ottawa Business Journal reported recently that the developer plans to break ground on the site shortly. Planning documents outline that the project will be built in two phases, starting with a 32-storey tower fronting Catherine Street that will deliver roughly 423 apartments.

Phase two will follow with the construction of the 34- and 36-storey towers, alongside seven townhouse units, adding the remaining 741 residential units. Suite layouts across the development will range from bachelors to three-bedroom units, with Brigil indicating an intention to designate 100 units as affordable housing.

In keeping with Ottawa’s push for transit-oriented, 15-minute neighbourhoods, the project relies heavily on active transportation infrastructure. The site will feature a two-level underground garage with a total of 667 vehicle parking spaces — a ratio well below previous historical zoning maximums — while providing 1,193 bicycle parking spaces, which is more than double the city’s minimum requirement.

According to the city’s site plan approval report, the development will include a minimum of 20 per cent privately owned public space. This will take the form of woonerf-style lanes, patios, gardens and an approximately 1,000-sq. m. public plaza at the northeast corner of the site, complete with a public washroom facility. The ground-floor commercial component is expected to house retail, restaurants and cafes to animate the streetscape.

Brigil purchased the site in early 2021 and demolished the vacant bus station, which had operated there since the 1970s, the following year.

Brigil vice-president of development Jessy Desjardins has long highlighted the location’s potential to act as a bridge between the downtown core and the Glebe neighbourhood. He told the Ottawa Business Journal during the planning stages that pursuing higher density allows for more economically viable commercial spaces.

“When we look at the post-pandemic economic revival, it’s going to be important that developers have a vision of encouraging local businesses to establish themselves,” Desjardins said. “By having a bit more density, it allows us to reduce the rents for those commercial spaces.”

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