Bird Fall Winter 2014 Newsletter

s t . a l b e r t tel 780.470.7100

e d m o n t o n tel 780.452.8770

c a l g a r y tel 403.319.0470

w i n n i p e g tel 204.775.7141

t o r o n t o tel 905.602.4122

w a b u s h tel 709.282.5633

m o n t r e a l tel 514.426.1333

s a i n t j o h n tel 506.849.2473

h a l i f a x tel 902.835.8205

st. john’s hjo tel 709.726.9095

Bird Construction is a leading general contractor in Canada with offices coast to coast and has been providing construction services to a long list of new and repeat clients for decades. The company also provides pre-construction services and has acted as a key member on many public-private partnerships. With its wide scope, Bird’s clients include pre-eminent firms in the commercial, institutional, retail, multi-tenant residential, industrial, mining, water and wastewater, energy and civil sectors.

Let us know what you think of this newsletter. Drop us a line at: [email protected]

8

F A L L | W I N T E R 2 0 1 4

v a n c o u v e r tel 604.271.4600

Since his appointment in 2010, Tim has served Bird as its president and CEO, seeing the company through its record 2012 year and two company

acquisitions. Over the last 33 years, Tim has experienced many challenging moments throughout his career, stating “I never imagined being where I am now

professionally. I just wanted to do a good job and let life take me where it would.”

Tim began his career in his hometown, Edmonton, where the company’s lean times were experienced through the 80s recession. Tim recalls his time spent on the Red Deer

Remand Centre as one of the most challenging and unforgettable projects of his career, “...it was a tough job and nothing seemed to run smoothly.” As a young employee on a complex job, he wasted no time showing the team what he could do. By the end of the project, he was a project manager and was commended by the client for his hard work and effective management, which lead to the project’s successful completion.

Throughout his career, Tim has progressed through a wide variety of positions including project manager, production manager, district manager, vice president,

senior vice president and executive vice president and chief operating officer. In all these roles, Tim has exemplified the Bird values. He is honest, fair, always professional and full of integrity. Early in his career, Tim established a sense of urgency as an effective tool to manage projects and later, larger company operations. Now, as he prepares to leave the company, his well established tenet “Do it now” resonates throughout Bird and will act as a lasting legacy.

Tim has been one of the company’s biggest ambassadors for safety leadership. He has created a culture within the company, promoting safety as a moral obligation. With a safety philosophy now well-entrenched at Bird, it is his expectation and challenge to all employees to maintain safety as a leading value both at work and at home.

As Tim passes the torch, we thank him for his dedication and service to the company, in particular, his leadership over the last five years.

SAFETY AWARD 25 YEAR CLUB CELEBRATIONS

Dan Brown, safety manager for Bird’s Halifax district, has received the safety partner award from the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association. Dan was selected for the award for his exceptional contribution to health and safety in the workplace. He has been an integral player for the company by working to achieve Bird’s goal to become a recognized safety leader within our industry.

Alongside the company, Dan is committed to raising awareness, better educating and training workers, and ensuring that the appropriate controls are in place to eliminate or reduce injury risks.

st. john’s bird tel 709.579.4747

RECENT AWARDS ONGOING PROJECTSCanon Canada Headquarters

Brampton, ON

North West Redwater Refinery Redwater, AB $58 million

Langara College Science & Technology Building

Vancouver, BC $42 million

Front Street Medical Building Calgary, AB $31 million

Moose Haven Lodge Janvier, AB $20 million

Dalhousie University Collaborative Health Education Building

Halifax, NS $17 million

Torngasok Cultural Centre Nain, NL

$16 million

FedEx Freight Terminal Winnipeg, MB

$8 million

Iron Ore Company of Canada Wall Scaling

Labrador City, NL $2 million

Fundy Honda Renovation Saint John, NB

$2 million

88 Scott Condominium Toronto, ON

Royal Inland Hospital Clinical Services Building

Kamloops, BC $49 million

Quarry Park Recreation Centre Calgary, AB $41 million

Soldier’s Pond Earthworks St. John’s, NL $30 million

Seven Oaks Arena Winnipeg, MB $16 million

Cabela’s Retail Store Moncton, NB $12 million

Brunswick Street Residential Building Redevelopment


Shell Albian Sands Mine Recovery Compliance 1 Project

Fort McMurray, AB $12 million

Suncor Skid Site Installation Fort McMurray, AB

$1 million

Two new employees have been inducted into Bird’s 25 Year Club, bringing the total to date to 179 members.

Ian Reid began his career with Bird as a superintendent in 1989 before moving to the office as a project coordinator to project manager. In 2004, Ian became the district manager of Calgary operations, a role he has held for the past 10 years.

Superintendent John Davidson joined Bird’s Vancouver office in 1981. After completing the Expo 86 project, the office closed and he relocated to Toronto for a few years before returning to B.C. John rejoined Bird in 1991 after a brief hiatus and has been with us ever since.

Congratulations, Ian (top left) and John (right)!

TIM TALBOTT SAYS FAREWELL AS HE PLANS HIS RETIREMENT

Ian Boyd will become Bird’s President and CEO, effective January 2015. Ian joined Bird

through the acquisition of Rideau Construction in 2008. He has over 18 years of construction

experience and lead Bird as a project director through its first public-private partnership, the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement I. Later, Ian was instrumental in the acquisition and integration of H.J. O’Connell, expanding Bird’s geographic and market sector reach.

Over the past 18 months, Ian has been responsible for the company’s operational functions as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He has proved himself as a leader, well-suited for any challenges with his effective people management skills and commitment to the success of the company.

MARTINS POINT LODGE E-HOUSE

LOCATION Lac La Biche, AB

CLIENT Cenovus Energy

CONSULTANT WSP Canada Inc.

CONTRACT TYPE Stipulated Sum

CONSTRUCTION VALUE $600,000

PROJECT DURATION 2 months

72

The former Citadel Halifax Hotel has been demolished and the site has been redeveloped with two new 15-storey hotels, a Hampton Inn and a Homewood Suites, and 18-storey apartment, 19twenty at Brunswick Heights. The exterior façade of the buildings contain traditional building materials such as brick, stone and curtain wall tying these new builds into the historic surrounding buildings. Attached to the developments is a new shared 240-car parkade.

Logistical challenges, such as scheduling deliveries, concrete pours and multiple crane operations, were among the complexities of this site’s tight building footprint. Coordination of the three schedules were paramount to the success of these projects. Due to the small labour pool in the city, Bird shared many of the same subcontractors among the projects. Whenever a change in the any of the schedules occurred, Bird rescheduled its resources appropriately to ensure no negative impact occured on any of the buildings.

Bird worked closely with both clients to refine the design of the buildings and interior layouts in tandem with construction. While this method often produces a better result for the client and end users, it often leads to schedule slippage. However, Bird’s unwavering ability to lead its team through significant changes ensured all three buildings were completed on time and on budget.

LOCATION Halifax, NS

CLIENT Silver Birch Hotels &

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

CONSULTANT Chamberlain & IBI Architects

CONTRACT TYPE Stipulated Sum &

Construction Management

CONSTRUCTION VALUE $76,500,000

PROJECT SIZE 36,420 m2


HAMPTON INN & HOMEWOOD SUITES AND BRUNSWICK HEIGHTS APARTMENTS

The new 600-square-metre wellness centre features a centering space, examination and health service rooms and office space. Adjacent to the centre is a 725-square-metre arbour for traditional dances. The arbour is an open-air circular log post and beam ceremonial structure where drum dances and many workshops will take place to ensure the community’s traditions are carried on by its youth.

Bird was committed to working with the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) to build a project that exceeded expectations and emphasized the local culture. During the tender call, Bird made it evident to all potential contractors that the local workforce was to be used whenever possible. In order to expedite the schedule despite the harsh winter climate, Bird self-performed all concrete, rebar, formwork, framing, siding and soffit work alongside many local carpenters and apprentices. During construction, Bird’s priority was to mentor and train local workers. While many of the local workers excelled at their tasks, two local workers in particular received a youth in trade and a best role model award from the North East Advancing Society.

As we continue to work in the small Fort Nelson community, rejuvenating the area with wellness and recreational facilities, including the Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre and FNFN lands building, Bird looks forward to future construction opportunities.

Fort Hills is the largest open pit mine currently under construction in Alberta. Bird is completing the piling, foundations, earthworks, underground piping and electrical systems for the ore preparation plant (OPP) and the extraction and tailings plant (E&T).

At the OPP site, Bird performed the largest mass pour at Fort Hills to-date, placing 3,670 m3 of concrete for the surge bin over 16 hours. This pour involved over 80 people and 367 truck loads from four concrete batch plants. Bird is also installing some of the largest steel-driven piles used in the oilsands. The 30-inch diameter piles have a one-inch wall thickness and are driven 36-metres into the ground. At the end of this project, over the course of 445,000 labour hours, 20,000 m3 of concrete will be poured, 180,000 m3 of earthworks completed and 1,800 piles driven.

For the E&T project, Bird has successfully completed two mass pours for the foundations to support the thickener tanks, totalling 6,600 m3 and two mass pours for the primary separation cells, totalling 2,800 m3. Recognized by Suncor, Bird’s safe execution of the separation cell mass pours were nominated for Suncor’s President’s Operational Excellence Award. Upon completion at the site, civil works will include 20,000 m3 of poured concrete, 90,000 m3 of earthworks and 1,900 driven piles — all completed with over 325,000 labour hours. Despite the challenging logistics and complexity of this project, Bird is on track to complete this project according to its original schedule.

FORT HILLS CIVIL WORKS

LOCATION Fort McMurray, AB

CLIENT Fort Hills Energy (operated by Suncor)

CONSULTANT Fort Hills Energy

CONTRACT TYPE Unit Price

PROJECT SIZE 40,000 m3 of concrete 270,000 m3 of earthworks


Housing 23 separate user groups, Bird and its team have consolidated the region’s superior court and provincial court into one courthouse. Targeting LEED® Silver certification, the new building consists of 15 courtrooms, underground parking for judiciary and senior staff, a sally port to receive in-custody accused, segregated holdings cells and a space for regional and provincial police personnel.

Atypical to many large courthouses, structural steel was used to allow the crew to work through the winters, adding to the building’s acoustic complexities. Bird employed acoustic management systems and rigorous testing throughout to ensure the performance of each courtroom. A unique feature of the facility is Ontario’s first Aboriginal Conference/Settlement Room. The circular design of the millwork surrounds a stone hearth that is used for smudging ceremonies before the start of proceedings.

One of the greatest challenges during the project was incorporating three internal circulation systems that meet in the courtrooms, but never overlap. An easy to navigate public circulation system was devised for visitors, while two separate secure paths were created for the safe transport of prisoners and the judiciary staff.

Nason Contracting Group Ltd., a subsidiary of Bird, has completed the fabrication of a 3.6-metre by 12-metre pre-assembled skid-mounted e-house (electrical building), delivered to Cenovus Energy’s Christina Lake project site near Lac La Biche, Alberta.

Nason was awarded the contract by leveraging its ability to self-perform all major components with its in-house trade capabilities. The team manufactured the e-house by completing all of the structural steel, cladding, electrical and mechanical systems with its full-service assembly yard and fabrication shop. By performing the work in their own shop, Nason and the client both benefit from tighter production controls, higher quality standards and quicker construction turnaround. In addition, Nason also offers HVAC services in its modular facilities, delivering the most complete steel structure construction service.

The production facility is certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau for the welding of structural steel and the skid-mounted buildings are constructed to the Canadian Standards Association’s Certification of Manufacturers of Steel Building Systems.

THUNDER BAY CONSOLIDATED COURTHOUSELOCATION Thunder Bay, ON

CLIENT Ministry of the Attorney General

CONSULTANT Adamson Associates Architects

CONTRACT TYPE Public-Private Partnership




The over 100-year-old Misericordia Health Centre required tactical coordination to demolish and replace portions of the multi-building medical campus on a confined site as the hospital remained operational. The mechanical and electrical systems required extensive reconfiguration that spanned close to a year to ensure service continuance throughout the campus. Following demolition of the four-storey Maryland building and two-storey chapel, Bird constructed a new two-storey building housing eye care, ambulatory diagnostic and senior health centres. The final and ongoing stage of this project is an extensive renovation to accommodate a new ophthalmology program, patient registration and ambulatory clinic.

Challenged by the scheduling and interfacing the demolition and construction while maintaining the hospital operations, timely processing of information was critical. Bird worked off-hours to execute the new service connections, while maintaining a rigorous infection control program and its redundancies, including negative room pressure and managed access between the operating facility and construction site.

Bird has been awarded an additional contract with the client to build a fifth floor to the existing parkade, adding 100 parking spaces. Renovations to the 30-year-old parkade also include a new elevator, stairwell and drainage lines throughout the structure.

MISERICORDIA HEALTH CENTRE REDEVELOPMENTLOCATION

Winnipeg, MB

CLIENT Misericordia Health Centre

CONSULTANT Number TEN

Architectural Group





FORT NELSON FIRST NATION’S WELLNESS CENTRE

LOCATION Fort Nelson, BC

CLIENT Fort Nelson First Nation

CONSULTANT David Nairne and

Associates Ltd.





6 3

Wing Kei Greenview is a 95-bed senior supportive living centre located in Calgary’s Greenview community. Over 10 years ago Bird completed the first Wing Kei Care Centre, a five-storey 123-bed nursing home. As a repeat client, Bird continues to foster a great rapport with the client to ensure every building exceeds their expectations.

Engaged early in the design process, Bird offered many value engineering solutions to maximize the client’s return on investment. This included incorporating various retaining wall designs, such as secant wall and cast-in-place L-beams with precast lagging. The cost of the retaining wall was reduced without losing any of its aesthetic qualities. Also, a unique composite metal deck system was used on the third floor and roof slab construction, reducing the amount of steel required, yet allowing for large spans and uninterrupted interior grids with fewer beams. This provided a cost savings and maximized space. However, this system required careful coordination at the rough-in stage as all of the mechanical and electrical equipment had to fit into an extremely tight ceiling cavity in order to comply with building height restrictions.

Additionally challenged by the site’s high water table and poor soil conditions, Bird had to elevate the entire site with one-metre of gravel and geogrid, a geosynthetic material used to reinforce soils, in order for the team to begin construction of the concrete piles with drilling rigs.

As the building opens its doors this November, the residents will be able to enjoy the main features of the building including the three-storey greenhouse, mezzanine and chapel.

LOCATION Calgary, AB

CLIENT Chinese Christian Wing Kei Nursing Home Association

CONSULTANT IBI Group Inc.





WING KEI SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING CENTRE

MONCTON HOSPITAL’S ONCOLOGY CLINIC & UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL’S BREAST HEALTH CLINIC

LOCATION Moncton, NB

CLIENT Province of New

Brunswick

CONSULTANT Guy LeBlanc Architecture

Inc. & Architects 4





4 5

To accommodate the new oncology unit at the Moncton Hospital, construction of a new wing in place of the former laboratory and X-ray wings was required. Renovations were also completed in the adjoining area to the new clinic, providing new office space. Bird was engaged early during the design phase and worked closely with the design team and the equipment providers to ensure seamless coordination throughout the project.

As an additional contract, Bird renovated the angiology suite operating room. As all existing operating rooms remained operational, stringent infectious control measures were exercised. Noise levels and vibration levels had to remain at a minimum and cease during surgeries, often leaving the team to complete work during the night. Negative air pressure machines, HEPA filters and fans were used to maintain clean air flow and prevent contaminated air from being released into the surgical areas.

Concurrently, Bird also completed the new breast health centre at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital, which consisted of a new two-storey facility and the renovation of the former boiler plant. The centre is equipped with mammography rooms, biopsy rooms, office space and a teaching space for medical students. The team strategically removed the walls and roof of the boiler room to not disturb the services within, including water and steam lines and medical gas. Bird relocated these services and constructed a new shell for the boiler room, necessitating a number of service disruptions for both water and medical gas. Due to the impact on the operating hospital, Bird closely managed its schedule and coordinated with staff to ensure the care of the 650 resident patients remained paramount.

w

Since 2006, les Entreprises de Construction de Québec (LECQ), a division of Bird, has been continuously operating the Fire Lake iron ore mine for ArcelorMittal. The scope of work includes the drilling, blasting, hauling and loading of the ore into railcars to be transported to Mont-Wright, 55-kilometres north. There is only one track between the two sites and it is LECQ’s job to ensure that there is a continuous flow of ore from one to the other. For over the past eight years, the supply of ore to Mont-Wright has not been disrupted.

Due to the remote location of Fire Lake, LECQ also operates and maintains the worker’s camp as part of the scope of work. The Fire Lake site is an important contributor to ArcelorMittal’s total iron ore production in the area and represents 10 to 15% of their total iron production in the region annually. Production targets for 2014 are the highest since the mine went into operation — 6,200,000 tonnes of iron ore, 840,000 tonnes of waste rock and 600,000 tonnes of overburden material are forecast for 2014. Historically, the mine has used nine-cubic-yard excavators with 70-ton trucks. However, to achieve the increased 2014 quantities, LECQ has mobilized a 15-cubic-yard excavator and 100-ton trucks.

FIRE LAKE MINING

LOCATION Fire Lake, QC

CLIENT ArcelorMittal


PROJECT DURATION Annually since 2006

Wing Kei Greenview is a 95-bed senior supportive living centre located in Calgary’s Greenview community. Over 10 years ago Bird completed the first Wing Kei Care Centre, a five-storey 123-bed nursing home. As a repeat client, Bird continues to foster a great rapport with the client to ensure every building exceeds their expectations.

Engaged early in the design process, Bird offered many value engineering solutions to maximize the client’s return on investment. This included incorporating various retaining wall designs, such as secant wall and cast-in-place L-beams with precast lagging. The cost of the retaining wall was reduced without losing any of its aesthetic qualities. Also, a unique composite metal deck system was used on the third floor and roof slab construction, reducing the amount of steel required, yet allowing for large spans and uninterrupted interior grids with fewer beams. This provided a cost savings and maximized space. However, this system required careful coordination at the rough-in stage as all of the mechanical and electrical equipment had to fit into an extremely tight ceiling cavity in order to comply with building height restrictions.

Additionally challenged by the site’s high water table and poor soil conditions, Bird had to elevate the entire site with one-metre of gravel and geogrid, a geosynthetic material used to reinforce soils, in order for the team to begin construction of the concrete piles with drilling rigs.

As the building opens its doors this November, the residents will be able to enjoy the main features of the building including the three-storey greenhouse, mezzanine and chapel.

LOCATION Calgary, AB

CLIENT Chinese Christian Wing Kei Nursing Home Association

CONSULTANT IBI Group Inc.





WING KEI SENIOR SUPPORTIVE LIVING CENTRE

MONCTON HOSPITAL’S ONCOLOGY CLINIC & UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL’S BREAST HEALTH CLINIC

LOCATION Moncton, NB

CLIENT Province of New

Brunswick

CONSULTANT Guy LeBlanc Architecture

Inc. & Architects 4





4 5

To accommodate the new oncology unit at the Moncton Hospital, construction of a new wing in place of the former laboratory and X-ray wings was required. Renovations were also completed in the adjoining area to the new clinic, providing new office space. Bird was engaged early during the design phase and worked closely with the design team and the equipment providers to ensure seamless coordination throughout the project.

As an additional contract, Bird renovated the angiology suite operating room. As all existing operating rooms remained operational, stringent infectious control measures were exercised. Noise levels and vibration levels had to remain at a minimum and cease during surgeries, often leaving the team to complete work during the night. Negative air pressure machines, HEPA filters and fans were used to maintain clean air flow and prevent contaminated air from being released into the surgical areas.

Concurrently, Bird also completed the new breast health centre at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital, which consisted of a new two-storey facility and the renovation of the former boiler plant. The centre is equipped with mammography rooms, biopsy rooms, office space and a teaching space for medical students. The team strategically removed the walls and roof of the boiler room to not disturb the services within, including water and steam lines and medical gas. Bird relocated these services and constructed a new shell for the boiler room, necessitating a number of service disruptions for both water and medical gas. Due to the impact on the operating hospital, Bird closely managed its schedule and coordinated with staff to ensure the care of the 650 resident patients remained paramount.

w

Since 2006, les Entreprises de Construction de Québec (LECQ), a division of Bird, has been continuously operating the Fire Lake iron ore mine for ArcelorMittal. The scope of work includes the drilling, blasting, hauling and loading of the ore into railcars to be transported to Mont-Wright, 55-kilometres north. There is only one track between the two sites and it is LECQ’s job to ensure that there is a continuous flow of ore from one to the other. For over the past eight years, the supply of ore to Mont-Wright has not been disrupted.

Due to the remote location of Fire Lake, LECQ also operates and maintains the worker’s camp as part of the scope of work. The Fire Lake site is an important contributor to ArcelorMittal’s total iron ore production in the area and represents 10 to 15% of their total iron production in the region annually. Production targets for 2014 are the highest since the mine went into operation — 6,200,000 tonnes of iron ore, 840,000 tonnes of waste rock and 600,000 tonnes of overburden material are forecast for 2014. Historically, the mine has used nine-cubic-yard excavators with 70-ton trucks. However, to achieve the increased 2014 quantities, LECQ has mobilized a 15-cubic-yard excavator and 100-ton trucks.

FIRE LAKE MINING

LOCATION Fire Lake, QC

CLIENT ArcelorMittal


PROJECT DURATION Annually since 2006

Housing 23 separate user groups, Bird and its team have consolidated the region’s superior court and provincial court into one courthouse. Targeting LEED® Silver certification, the new building consists of 15 courtrooms, underground parking for judiciary and senior staff, a sally port to receive in-custody accused, segregated holdings cells and a space for regional and provincial police personnel.

Atypical to many large courthouses, structural steel was used to allow the crew to work through the winters, adding to the building’s acoustic complexities. Bird employed acoustic management systems and rigorous testing throughout to ensure the performance of each courtroom. A unique feature of the facility is Ontario’s first Aboriginal Conference/Settlement Room. The circular design of the millwork surrounds a stone hearth that is used for smudging ceremonies before the start of proceedings.

One of the greatest challenges during the project was incorporating three internal circulation systems that meet in the courtrooms, but never overlap. An easy to navigate public circulation system was devised for visitors, while two separate secure paths were created for the safe transport of prisoners and the judiciary staff.

Nason Contracting Group Ltd., a subsidiary of Bird, has completed the fabrication of a 3.6-metre by 12-metre pre-assembled skid-mounted e-house (electrical building), delivered to Cenovus Energy’s Christina Lake project site near Lac La Biche, Alberta.

Nason was awarded the contract by leveraging its ability to self-perform all major components with its in-house trade capabilities. The team manufactured the e-house by completing all of the structural steel, cladding, electrical and mechanical systems with its full-service assembly yard and fabrication shop. By performing the work in their own shop, Nason and the client both benefit from tighter production controls, higher quality standards and quicker construction turnaround. In addition, Nason also offers HVAC services in its modular facilities, delivering the most complete steel structure construction service.

The production facility is certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau for the welding of structural steel and the skid-mounted buildings are constructed to the Canadian Standards Association’s Certification of Manufacturers of Steel Building Systems.

THUNDER BAY CONSOLIDATED COURTHOUSELOCATION Thunder Bay, ON

CLIENT Ministry of the Attorney General

CONSULTANT Adamson Associates Architects

CONTRACT TYPE Public-Private Partnership




The over 100-year-old Misericordia Health Centre required tactical coordination to demolish and replace portions of the multi-building medical campus on a confined site as the hospital remained operational. The mechanical and electrical systems required extensive reconfiguration that spanned close to a year to ensure service continuance throughout the campus. Following demolition of the four-storey Maryland building and two-storey chapel, Bird constructed a new two-storey building housing eye care, ambulatory diagnostic and senior health centres. The final and ongoing stage of this project is an extensive renovation to accommodate a new ophthalmology program, patient registration and ambulatory clinic.

Challenged by the scheduling and interfacing the demolition and construction while maintaining the hospital operations, timely processing of information was critical. Bird worked off-hours to execute the new service connections, while maintaining a rigorous infection control program and its redundancies, including negative room pressure and managed access between the operating facility and construction site.

Bird has been awarded an additional contract with the client to build a fifth floor to the existing parkade, adding 100 parking spaces. Renovations to the 30-year-old parkade also include a new elevator, stairwell and drainage lines throughout the structure.

MISERICORDIA HEALTH CENTRE REDEVELOPMENTLOCATION

Winnipeg, MB

CLIENT Misericordia Health Centre

CONSULTANT Number TEN

Architectural Group





FORT NELSON FIRST NATION’S WELLNESS CENTRE

LOCATION Fort Nelson, BC

CLIENT Fort Nelson First Nation

CONSULTANT David Nairne and

Associates Ltd.





6 3

MARTINS POINT LODGE E-HOUSE

LOCATION Lac La Biche, AB

CLIENT Cenovus Energy

CONSULTANT WSP Canada Inc.


CONSTRUCTION VALUE $600,000


72

The former Citadel Halifax Hotel has been demolished and the site has been redeveloped with two new 15-storey hotels, a Hampton Inn and a Homewood Suites, and 18-storey apartment, 19twenty at Brunswick Heights. The exterior façade of the buildings contain traditional building materials such as brick, stone and curtain wall tying these new builds into the historic surrounding buildings. Attached to the developments is a new shared 240-car parkade.

Logistical challenges, such as scheduling deliveries, concrete pours and multiple crane operations, were among the complexities of this site’s tight building footprint. Coordination of the three schedules were paramount to the success of these projects. Due to the small labour pool in the city, Bird shared many of the same subcontractors among the projects. Whenever a change in the any of the schedules occurred, Bird rescheduled its resources appropriately to ensure no negative impact occured on any of the buildings.

Bird worked closely with both clients to refine the design of the buildings and interior layouts in tandem with construction. While this method often produces a better result for the client and end users, it often leads to schedule slippage. However, Bird’s unwavering ability to lead its team through significant changes ensured all three buildings were completed on time and on budget.

LOCATION Halifax, NS

CLIENT Silver Birch Hotels &

GWL Realty Advisors Inc.

CONSULTANT Chamberlain & IBI Architects

CONTRACT TYPE Stipulated Sum &

Construction Management




HAMPTON INN & HOMEWOOD SUITES AND BRUNSWICK HEIGHTS APARTMENTS

The new 600-square-metre wellness centre features a centering space, examination and health service rooms and office space. Adjacent to the centre is a 725-square-metre arbour for traditional dances. The arbour is an open-air circular log post and beam ceremonial structure where drum dances and many workshops will take place to ensure the community’s traditions are carried on by its youth.

Bird was committed to working with the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) to build a project that exceeded expectations and emphasized the local culture. During the tender call, Bird made it evident to all potential contractors that the local workforce was to be used whenever possible. In order to expedite the schedule despite the harsh winter climate, Bird self-performed all concrete, rebar, formwork, framing, siding and soffit work alongside many local carpenters and apprentices. During construction, Bird’s priority was to mentor and train local workers. While many of the local workers excelled at their tasks, two local workers in particular received a youth in trade and a best role model award from the North East Advancing Society.

As we continue to work in the small Fort Nelson community, rejuvenating the area with wellness and recreational facilities, including the Northern Rockies Regional Recreation Centre and FNFN lands building, Bird looks forward to future construction opportunities.

Fort Hills is the largest open pit mine currently under construction in Alberta. Bird is completing the piling, foundations, earthworks, underground piping and electrical systems for the ore preparation plant (OPP) and the extraction and tailings plant (E&T).

At the OPP site, Bird performed the largest mass pour at Fort Hills to-date, placing 3,670 m3 of concrete for the surge bin over 16 hours. This pour involved over 80 people and 367 truck loads from four concrete batch plants. Bird is also installing some of the largest steel-driven piles used in the oilsands. The 30-inch diameter piles have a one-inch wall thickness and are driven 36-metres into the ground. At the end of this project, over the course of 445,000 labour hours, 20,000 m3 of concrete will be poured, 180,000 m3 of earthworks completed and 1,800 piles driven.

For the E&T project, Bird has successfully completed two mass pours for the foundations to support the thickener tanks, totalling 6,600 m3 and two mass pours for the primary separation cells, totalling 2,800 m3. Recognized by Suncor, Bird’s safe execution of the separation cell mass pours were nominated for Suncor’s President’s Operational Excellence Award. Upon completion at the site, civil works will include 20,000 m3 of poured concrete, 90,000 m3 of earthworks and 1,900 driven piles — all completed with over 325,000 labour hours. Despite the challenging logistics and complexity of this project, Bird is on track to complete this project according to its original schedule.

FORT HILLS CIVIL WORKS

LOCATION Fort McMurray, AB

CLIENT Fort Hills Energy (operated by Suncor)

CONSULTANT Fort Hills Energy


PROJECT SIZE 40,000 m3 of concrete 270,000 m3 of earthworks


s t . a l b e r t tel 780.470.7100

e d m o n t o n tel 780.452.8770

c a l g a r y tel 403.319.0470

w i n n i p e g tel 204.775.7141

t o r o n t o tel 905.602.4122

w a b u s h tel 709.282.5633

m o n t r e a l tel 514.426.1333

s a i n t j o h n tel 506.849.2473

h a l i f a x tel 902.835.8205

st. john’s hjo tel 709.726.9095

Bird Construction is a leading general contractor in Canada with offices coast to coast and has been providing construction services to a long list of new and repeat clients for decades. The company also provides pre-construction services and has acted as a key member on many public-private partnerships. With its wide scope, Bird’s clients include pre-eminent firms in the commercial, institutional, retail, multi-tenant residential, industrial, mining, water and wastewater, energy and civil sectors.

Let us know what you think of this newsletter. Drop us a line at: [email protected]

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F A L L | W I N T E R 2 0 1 4

v a n c o u v e r tel 604.271.4600

Since his appointment in 2010, Tim has served Bird as its president and CEO, seeing the company through its record 2012 year and two company

acquisitions. Over the last 33 years, Tim has experienced many challenging moments throughout his career, stating “I never imagined being where I am now

professionally. I just wanted to do a good job and let life take me where it would.”

Tim began his career in his hometown, Edmonton, where the company’s lean times were experienced through the 80s recession. Tim recalls his time spent on the Red Deer

Remand Centre as one of the most challenging and unforgettable projects of his career, “...it was a tough job and nothing seemed to run smoothly.” As a young employee on a complex job, he wasted no time showing the team what he could do. By the end of the project, he was a project manager and was commended by the client for his hard work and effective management, which lead to the project’s successful completion.

Throughout his career, Tim has progressed through a wide variety of positions including project manager, production manager, district manager, vice president,

senior vice president and executive vice president and chief operating officer. In all these roles, Tim has exemplified the Bird values. He is honest, fair, always professional and full of integrity. Early in his career, Tim established a sense of urgency as an effective tool to manage projects and later, larger company operations. Now, as he prepares to leave the company, his well established tenet “Do it now” resonates throughout Bird and will act as a lasting legacy.

Tim has been one of the company’s biggest ambassadors for safety leadership. He has created a culture within the company, promoting safety as a moral obligation. With a safety philosophy now well-entrenched at Bird, it is his expectation and challenge to all employees to maintain safety as a leading value both at work and at home.

As Tim passes the torch, we thank him for his dedication and service to the company, in particular, his leadership over the last five years.

SAFETY AWARD 25 YEAR CLUB CELEBRATIONS

Dan Brown, safety manager for Bird’s Halifax district, has received the safety partner award from the Nova Scotia Construction Safety Association. Dan was selected for the award for his exceptional contribution to health and safety in the workplace. He has been an integral player for the company by working to achieve Bird’s goal to become a recognized safety leader within our industry.

Alongside the company, Dan is committed to raising awareness, better educating and training workers, and ensuring that the appropriate controls are in place to eliminate or reduce injury risks.

st. john’s bird tel 709.579.4747

RECENT AWARDS ONGOING PROJECTSCanon Canada Headquarters

Brampton, ON

North West Redwater Refinery Redwater, AB $58 million

Langara College Science & Technology Building

Vancouver, BC $42 million

Front Street Medical Building Calgary, AB $31 million

Moose Haven Lodge Janvier, AB $20 million

Dalhousie University Collaborative Health Education Building


Torngasok Cultural Centre Nain, NL

$16 million

FedEx Freight Terminal Winnipeg, MB

$8 million

Iron Ore Company of Canada Wall Scaling

Labrador City, NL $2 million

Fundy Honda Renovation Saint John, NB

$2 million

88 Scott Condominium Toronto, ON

Royal Inland Hospital Clinical Services Building

Kamloops, BC $49 million

Quarry Park Recreation Centre Calgary, AB $41 million

Soldier’s Pond Earthworks St. John’s, NL $30 million

Seven Oaks Arena Winnipeg, MB $16 million

Cabela’s Retail Store Moncton, NB $12 million

Brunswick Street Residential Building Redevelopment


Shell Albian Sands Mine Recovery Compliance 1 Project

Fort McMurray, AB $12 million

Suncor Skid Site Installation Fort McMurray, AB

$1 million

Two new employees have been inducted into Bird’s 25 Year Club, bringing the total to date to 179 members.

Ian Reid began his career with Bird as a superintendent in 1989 before moving to the office as a project coordinator to project manager. In 2004, Ian became the district manager of Calgary operations, a role he has held for the past 10 years.

Superintendent John Davidson joined Bird’s Vancouver office in 1981. After completing the Expo 86 project, the office closed and he relocated to Toronto for a few years before returning to B.C. John rejoined Bird in 1991 after a brief hiatus and has been with us ever since.

Congratulations, Ian (top left) and John (right)!

TIM TALBOTT SAYS FAREWELL AS HE PLANS HIS RETIREMENT

Ian Boyd will become Bird’s President and CEO, effective January 2015. Ian joined Bird

through the acquisition of Rideau Construction in 2008. He has over 18 years of construction

experience and lead Bird as a project director through its first public-private partnership, the Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement I. Later, Ian was instrumental in the acquisition and integration of H.J. O’Connell, expanding Bird’s geographic and market sector reach.

Over the past 18 months, Ian has been responsible for the company’s operational functions as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He has proved himself as a leader, well-suited for any challenges with his effective people management skills and commitment to the success of the company.

Documents

Bird Fall Winter 2014 Newsletter