Toronto currently has the greatest number of high-rises and skyscrapers being constructed in North America, significantly surpassing all other major cities.

According to data collected by Emporis, a global building information database, the city currently has 147 high-rise and skyscraper projects being constructed.

Target, the American retail chain, is opening 124 Canadian stores next year, and all are being designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

The chain is one of the first retail organizations to be part of U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Volume Program, which aims to make the certification process for similar buildings smoother.

Reed Construction Data has announced its 2012 list of the best Canadian construction firms from coast-to-coast.

Differing from previous years, Reed opened the “Construction Leader” listing to nominations from clients, project partners, and financiers rather than basing the ranking on revenue alone.

More than 500 people attended the inaugural 7 Facteur D Award ceremony held at the Montréal Convention Centre this week to celebrate this year’s best in architectural design.

The overarching goal of the event is to encourage companies and organizations to understand the economic and social benefits of architecture, design, and urban planning—which is referred to as “the D Factor.”

Young architects and contractors will soon be able to start building at Canada’s first LegoLand Discovery Centre. At a ceremony held last month at a Vaughan, Ont., shopping centre, the ground was broken for the interactive attraction.

The students in attendance were encouraged to build and play in the 50,000 Lego pieces dumped at the event, marking the beginning of the centre’s construction.

The Disraeli Bridges project, the largest bridge rebuilding in Winnipeg’s history, opened last week.

DSC_7045.jpgThe official opening was attended by Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, Minister of State (Transport) Steven Fletcher, and the city’s mayor, Sam Katz.

Canada’s largest office tower, First Canadian Place, celebrated the completion of its large-scale rejuvenation project this week in Toronto.

Owned by Brookfield Canada Office Properties, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), and Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), the three-year redevelopment included recladding of the building’s exterior with glass spandrel panels.

Ryerson University and a condominium development in Toronto will be the first locations in Canada to sport the new Urban Umbrella sidewalk coverings.

First seen in New York City, the arched steel frames and translucent coverings are a stylized alternative to the commonly used scaffoldings that protect pedestrians from falling construction debris.

The American Concrete Institute (ACI) Fall 2012 Convention, hosted by the group’s Ontario Chapter, drew 1400 professionals from around the world to Toronto’s Sheraton Centre.

From October 21 to 25, the world’s most widely used building material was the focus of student competitions, technical tours, committee meetings, and professional development seminars.

At a black-tie event last month, this year’s Hot Firm List was revealed, recognizing the top 100 Canadian and U.S architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firms.

Surveys are conducted by the sponsor, consulting firm ZweigWhite, and ranked by growth of gross revenue over the past three years—50 per cent is based on dollar growth and 50 per cent is based on percentage growth.