February 20, 2008

BRADLEY FEHR

The CEO Breakfast kicked off the B.C. Construction Show, but the main attraction of the construction expo was the vendors and their products. Duane Rose with Cansel looks through an auto leveler, which was one of the products featured at his company’s booth.

B.C. Construction Show

Construction industry leaders learn about EcoDensity initiative

BRIAN MARTIN

correspondent

Brent Toderain needs the skills of a high-wire acrobat.

As the relatively new Vancouver director of planning, Toderain is performing a balancing act.

On one hand, he is dedicated to the city’s well-publicized goal of “EcoDensity” when it comes to residential development. On the other hand, he is sympathetic to the concerns of traditional neighbourhoods, which can be reluctant to embrace densification.

On Feb. 13, he spoke to more than 200 leading members of the Vancouver construction industry at the CEO Breakfast kicking off the B.C. Construction Show.

Toderain has been described as a passionate advocate for creative city building and at the meeting his passion showed through.

“We’ve come a long way in defining EcoDensity,” he said. “Now it is necessary to move towards sustainability. Density done well is our friend.”

Toderain said that Vancouver is more prepared for a full discussion on EcoDensity than any other city in North America. He pointed out that Vancouver is an exception when it comes to this subject.

“Few politicians have been willing to discuss it,” he said.

Increased urban density, he claimed, will lead to: reduced energy use; less urban sprawl; more affordable housing choices; new green design options; improved public health and increased urban vitality, diversity and safety.

To make EcoDensity work, Toderain said, requires a marriage between density zoning and green construction.

While warning that the city’s move toward increased density “will not necessarily make everybody happy”, he pledged to continue the public dialogue that has been ongoing for about a year.

The density changes in Vancouver will not happen overnight.

“Changes should be gradual, not sudden. There will always be tensions,” he said adding that the city must consider the needs of future residents as well as the needs of existing residents.

His description of density was broad.

It included everything from back alley developments such as coach houses to high rise towers.

It also included discussion about secondary suites in single family homes.

Toderain claimed that Vancouver has no intention of imposing high rise towers on traditional single family neighbourhoods. On the other hand, he explained, people shouldn’t expect to see the city zone areas around transit stations for coach houses.

When it comes to green construction, the city will be depending on standards based on the LEED system with different certification such as gold and silver demanded for different types of construction. These types of green building designs will be required.

“Whether it happens today or tomorrow it is coming and it is coming more quickly in Vancouver than in the rest of the Lower Mainland,” he said.

Toderain echoed many others in the design and construction industries when he told the meeting that green construction does not need to be notably more expensive than traditional methods.

“I’ve been told it might cost only one per cent more,” he said.

“Others have put the figure up to 20 per cent.”

The difference, Toderain said, is in knowing what you’re doing.

Contractors, he said will have to become skilled and knowledgeable in green construction methods to remain competitive.

Toderain added that densification can benefit the construction industry.

It will mean that opportunities for new residential construction remain available in Vancouver.

Under traditional density levels, he said, the city will become fully built out before too many more years have passed.

Toderain was appointed city planner 18 months ago following a career as manager of city centre planning and design in Calgary.

He spoke at the kick off to the B.C. Construction Show, which is a two-day event that annually attracts more than 10,000 people.

Additional photos from the show can be viewed on the JOC website at www.journalofcommerce.com

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