arlier this summer, renovations to Quinte Health Care Belleville General hospital in Ontario were completed.

Designed by Kasian Architecture Ontario Incorporated, the $32-million renovation and expansion of Belleville General’s ER and lab departments added 7432 m² (80,000 sf) of new space.

Later this year, Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) plans to release Product Category Rules (PCRs). The group has incorporated industry input in developing environmental testing standards.

A PCR is a set of rules, requirements, and guidelines for creating resources such as Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Ontario’s first cable-stayed bridge will be constructed east of Thunder Bay, making travelling for residents and visitors more efficient.

The new four-lane Nipigon River Bridge will replace the current two-lane structure; it will include three towers with cables supporting the bridge deck.

Two surfacing material standards—one revised and one new—from the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) are now in the public comment phase of development.

The existing ISFA 2-01 (2007), Classification and Standards for Solid Surfacing, was updated by industry members and has been republished as ISFA 2-01 (2013), Classification and Standards for Solid Surfacing Material.

A new industry market report suggests the growing demand for sprayed polyurethane foam (SPF) in North America is expected to reach $900 million by 2016.

Conducted by market research firm Principia, “Spray Polyurethane Foam 2013” suggests the growth is due to increased construction as well as the expansion of SPF into other building materials, such as unvented attics and exterior walls.

The plans for the construction of Calgary’s tallest structure have been released by Brookfield Office Properties.

The 56-storey, 130,064-m² (1.4 million-sf) Brookfield Place Calgary’s eastern tower will replace the former site of the Calgary Herald’s building.

A pilot parklet project on Church Street in Toronto may extend to other city streets after positive feedback.

The installation of wood decks with planters and seating has been appearing over parking spaces across a few blocks of the city

Canada’s largest electricity generator, Hydro-Québec, has joined the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) board of directors.

The industry group serves as a source of information, education, and networking that promotes technologies for the automation of homes and buildings.

Calgary International Airport has erected the newest and tallest freestanding control tower in the country.

Standing more than 91.4 m (300 ft) tall, the structure is 41 m (135 ft) higher than the old tower and was constructed as part of the airport’s redevelopment plan.

A biogas plant project that will generate renewable electricity from animal manure and food waste is planned to open at the Toronto Zoo next year.

ZooShare Biogas Co-operative Inc., has received a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) contract offer from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) for North America’s first co-operatively owned biogas plant.