Aecon is bringing its construction expertise to the new headquarters of Corus Entertainment, an integrated media and entertainment firm based in Toronto.

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After nearly 100 years, Aecon stands as the “largest publicly traded construction firm in Canada,” Senior Project Manger Jamie Robertson says. Based in Toronto, the company also specializes in design, financing, procurement and project management.

The company is now bringing its construction expertise to a new eight-story office building for the Toronto Economic Development Corp. (TEDCO), a subsidiary of the city of Toronto. The building will be the new headquarters of Corus Entertainment, an integrated media and entertainment firm.

When finished, the building will cover 560,000 square feet and stand on the shores of Lake Ontario.

According to Aecon, its scope of work on the project includes the base building, an above-grade building and a 70,000-square-foot below-grade parking garage on one level.

With Corus’ specialties in television and radio, the new building will also house studios, Robertson says. Although Aecon is only building the base of the building right now, it is incorporating elements for the studios, he says.

“It’s a LEED accredited building as well,” Robertson adds, noting that the building will feature a high-efficiency energy plant and a green roof.

In addition, Aecon is using a high percentage of recycled materials.

“Most of our jobs now are LEED-type projects,” he says, adding that the company employs many LEED-accredited associates. “As [LEED has] come along, we’ve gained a lot of experience [in] it.”

Overcoming Obstacles
The TEDCO building is scheduled for completion in February 2010, Robertson says. “There [have] been some late starts and late design submittals, but the schedule right now is on track,” he says.

This is due to the project and consultant teams’ ability “to work together to avoid log jams as much as possible,” Robertson says. He notes that the building’s location has also presented its share of challenges for the company.

With its location little more than 30 meters away from Lake Ontario, “We’re actually going below the water table,” he says. In addition, there is a 50-year-old dock wall six feet away from the ex­cavated site, which Aecon has taken great care not to disturb.

The building is also located on a brownfield site, Robertson says. “We had to remediate the excavation portion of that and work around that, in terms of getting it above grade,” he says.

Safe and On Track
Maintaining a safe work site is a high priority for Aecon, Robertson says. “Aecon has an extremely strong safety policy and program,” he says.

“It’s something that all of the subtrades buy into at the start of the project,” Robertson adds.

In addition to employing an on-site safety manager, the company arranges worker and manager joint health and safety meetings bi-weekly.

“We also probably have one of the strongest safety departments of any of the commercial contractors in the area,” Robertson says.

To continue staying on track, it will be critical for subtrades behind the superstructure to be “prepared and ready to go,” Robertson says.

“Obviously, closing off the last few facets of the design phase is going to be the next critical item, as well.”

Never Been Stronger
Founded in 1910, Aecon says it and its predecessor companies have participated in the construction of several of its home country’s infrastructure landmarks, including the Calgary Olympic Oval and the Halifax Shipyards.

In addition, Aecon’s work has included factories, roads, sewers, bookstores, power plants, offices, hotels and gas distribution networks.

“Aecon’s record for innovation and our ability to handle complex construction challenges is matched by our commitment to quality and safety,” the company explains.

“Aligning these elements is what drives us to constantly find new ways to bring added value to our clients across the country and around the world,” the company adds.

Aecon’s diversity, Robertson says, also gives the company an edge in its market.     “Our multifaceted abilities [allow] us to group our divisions together for a single-source solution for many customers,” Robertson explains.

In addition, the company says that its diversity allows it to give clients the most state-of-the-art technologies and methods. “Regardless of the project, delivering quality work on time and on budget is the hallmark of every Aecon project, no matter how large or small the assignment,” the company says.

Robertson says Aecon expects to prosper. “According to our chairman, [John M. Beck], the future of Aecon’s never been stronger,” he says, noting that the company intends to expand in its core markets of Ontario and western Canada.

“The amount of infrastructure spending nationally will definitely fit into Aecon’s key business model,” he adds.