November 21, 2011

Awards recognize Edmonton's best

The Art Gallery of Alberta earned Awards of Excellence for Ledcor Construction and Flynn Canada.

BRADLEY FEHR

editor

To celebrate 80 years of operations, the Edmonton Construction Association (ECA) handed out Awards of Excellence to deserving members.

At the gala, nine different Awards of Excellence were presented.

A&B Concrete Pumping (2007) Ltd. was the big winner on the night. The company picked up a pair of awards.

The concrete pumping firm won the Sustainable Construction and Innovation Award for introducing a pumping concrete washout program, where concrete waste is removed from project sites and recycled.

“This firm was the first to introduce the program in the Edmonton construction industry and has contributed to a number of LEED projects in the region,” said the awards committee.

A&B Concrete Pumping (2007) Ltd. also earned the Manufacturer & Supplier of the Year Award.

Jen-Col Construction Ltd. was named General Contractor of the Year.

The awards jury said that the firm demonstrated unparalleled commitment to working through incredibly complex projects, while managing complicated logistics that would make heads spin.

Two of their projects were singled out.

The St. Francis Xavier Sports Centre in Edmonton and the St. Jean Baptiste Sewepagaham School in Fox Lake were highlighted as examples of fine workmanship.

The Award of Excellence for General Contractor Project over $15 million went to Ledcor Construction Ltd. for their work on the Art Gallery of Alberta.

The jury noted that they worked with a highly unique design and construction challenges, and an owner that required rigid specifications be met.

Another contractor working on the art gallery also earned kudos.

Flynn Canada Ltd. took home the hardware for Trade Project over $1 million for their contribution to the Art Gallery of Alberta.

“(They earned it) for their outstanding workmanship, perseverance in working through complicated issues, and dedication to getting things right on incredibly complex building envelope scopes of work,” the jury said.

The General Contractor Project up to $15 million went to Clark Builders for the ATCO Gas North Operations Centre.

This project also included unique challenges.

“(They won) for their success in constructing what might have looked like a shed into a professional looking building, with added daylight and an innovative heating system,” the awards panel commented.

Priority Mechanical Ltd. won the Award of Excellence for a Trade Project up to $1 million for its work on the Ormed Headquarters.

The jury said they won for their fine workmanship and dealing with the intricacies of installing a geothermal clean energy system, as well as meeting exacting specifications.

Two individual awards were also presented. The Educator of the Year went to Paul Paridaen of Fillmore Construction Management Inc.

He has served on the professional development committee of the Alberta Society of Engineering Technologists and is currently an instructor of a construction supervisor training program.

“This individual was involved in creating a pretrades academic upgrading program for First Nations individuals seeking to enter a trades career – and inspires confidence and enthusiasm through his passion for life and learning,” the jury said.

Patricia Long of Storage Solutions of Alberta Ltd. was named the Outstanding Woman in Construction.

Her career has covered many facets of the industry including millwork, general contracting, commercial furnishings and storage.

In 1995, she was the first woman elected to the board of the Edmonton Construction Association.

”She exemplifies dedication, fairness, excellence and a commitment to serving as a volunteer by helping people at risk in the Edmonton area,” the jury said.

The association also took the time at the gala to recognize companies that helped them get to where they are today.

Out of the association’s original 43 founding firms, three companies are still members.

Each firm was presented with a Recognition of Founding Member Award. Carlson Construction Ltd., Freeze Maxwell, a division of Freemax Holdings Ltd. and PCL Construction Management Inc. each got the award.

At the gala Alberta Deputy Premier Doug Horner and Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel were on hand, as was the Canadian Construction Association’s incoming president, John Schubert.

In addition to the industry kudos, Edmonton’s mayor proclaimed the day Edmonton Construction Association Day.

Clark Builders earned an award for the ATCO Gas Operations Centre.

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