< PreviousWRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN A t the heart of Nortex Roofing lies just that, heart. Coming from humble beginnings, Nortex Roofing has grown from a small shop into the large and hugely successful facility it is today. With over 30 years in business and numerous successful projects under their belts, the team at Nortex Roofing have worked hard to create a successful business. What are some of the standout moments in its 30 years of business, or better yet, what is the secret to a suc- cessful business? It seems that, for Darnell Vrban, Business Development Manager at Nortex Roofing, the answer lies in the care and consideration it gives to every aspect of its work. Vrban got into the construction industry over 20 years ago and has also worked in other industries prior to that. For him, something about Nortex is different. “I have never seen an organization where from the top of the organization and throughout, everyone cares and wants to deliver. There’s just no complacency, even with the compa- ny's success. The people here are genuinely involved. I’m on the business development engine which brings a different set of roles and responsibilities, and sometimes I'm amazed, quite frankly of just how well our operations team works. I see them just about every day that I'm in the office and I just see how focused they are.” Having its people as a prominent force in the business is one of the key elements to Nortex Roofing’s success, but another, and something that has helped propel it to success is the craftsmanship of its work and the clients who recognize it. The company’s catalogue of work includes everything from schools to shopping centers to manufacturing facilities. However, there are some standout projects that help differ- entiate Nortex from its competitors, such as its work on the CAMH Health Facility. The facility itself had strict requirements for the roofing component of the project. Not only were Nortex working to a precise timeline, but the work also had to be carried out in the winter months without disruption. While winters may bring their own set of obstacles to Canadian construction projects, the job was a complete success. In an example of where relationships can make all the difference, the project manager setup and maintained an open channel of commu- nication with the facility, allowing the logistics behind the project to run smoothly, and which resulted in another happy client for Nortex Roofing. It goes without saying that environmental alternatives are becoming increasingly prevalent and necessary both in roofing and the construction industry in general. In order to make positive changes, Nortex Roofing has rolled out green roofing to its clients. This involves the roof of a building being partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. Also known as “living roofs”, green roofs serve several purposes for a building, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, creating a habitat for wildlife, and help- ing to lower urban air temperatures and combat the heat island effect. JULY 2023 | 30The company is dedicated to providing roofing services that are environmentally responsible by providing ser- vices such as solar powered roofs which convert sun- light into electricity. With this in mind, it is no surprise to learn that Nortex are currently working on a project with a number of environmental considerations. The project is for a large manufacturing facility and, as Vrban explains, it focuses on providing cutting edge technology with rea- sonable pricing. “Adding rooftop solar to a building involves some special requirements. We came in with a solution for this company and we gave them a very cost-effective roofing that met specific requirements for them, and particularly con- sidering it was a manufacturing facility as well. So, we have to be very cognizant that you know what was under us while we were roofing and once again, timelines were very important.” In addition to the innovation and technology being incorpo- rated into Nortex’s designs, Vrban believes that this particular project highlights the importance of solid working relation- ships. “It’s actually a current project we started not too long ago and there's a third entity involved in it. The solar provider is a fantastic company as well, so you have multiple companies coming together on a large project. The building itself is about 100,000 square feet and we had to work in close contact with the solar company to ensure that from our perspective, we delivered on what they needed in order to facilitate the solar array on the rooftop. It's been a very successful project once again from a coordination and communication perspective. We've done a fantastic job and I'm very proud of that one.” For Nortex, communication is extremely important, espe- cially when it comes to clients. The company tries its hardest to keep communication channels open, not only externally, but internally also. The Vice President of operations works closely on every single project and no stone is left unturned. At Nortex, this inclusive culture ensures that almost everyone is involved in a project in some shape or form, and everyone is rooting for its successful completion. What I refer to as inclusive culture, however, Nortex refer to as family. Even though the company has grown to become one of the larger contractors in the province, it has never reached a point that it forgets about its employees. The company has had foremen that have worked for the com- pany since its inception and its current chief estimator has been there almost 20 years. For any company to have long standing employment like Nortex speaks to the character of the company and the overall environment of the workplace. While Nortex will continue to expand on its success, its approach to growth is somewhat different than other busi- nesses. Nortex Roofing is less concerned with expansion and more interested in maintaining quality. JULY 2023 | 32Vrban believes that by maintaining quality as its primary goal, the company will never veer far from the attributes that have brought it such success already. “We are poised for growth, whether that may be into some different markets or differ- ent aspects of the building envelope. We’re measuring it to ensure wherever we grow or however we grow, that we can bring the same level of quality and best in class. Right now, we are redoing our website. We're redoing our marketing collateral, and we have some strategic plans that are going to align with that. We're not going to overextend ourselves and we're not going to make promises that we can't deliver on. However, we are looking into the next few years and there will be some exciting times for Nortex ahead.” As Nortex continues to push forward, it will do so with its people in mind. At the heart of Nortex Roofing will always be its employees and when I asked Vrban for any last quotes he could not stress that enough. “We really have a team culture and team atmosphere at Nortex, and that's what we try to cultivate. The standout moments are seeing our colleagues, seeing their families grow and having monumental moments in their lives. Our people are everything.” “We really have a team culture and team atmosphere at Nortex, and that’s what we try to cultivate.” | 33 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION| 34 JULY 2023WRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL E cological architecture, the process of preserving and complementing the natural elements within an urban setting, seems like a relatively recent concept. Given the prevalence of environmentally minded planners, archi- tects, and builders, the feeling as that practices are gradually shifting towards a place where sustainable buildings are the norm. The truth is, however, that ecological architecture has been around for as long as dwellings have been constructed. Humans have long been aware of the symbiotic relationship its urban developments have had with the earth and its resources. A prime example of this is Angkor Wat, a UNESCO heritage site in Cambodia and the largest religious structure on the planet. This enormous 12th Century temple uses a complex irrigation system that stores water, heats and cools the structure when necessary, and waters crops. In addition to this, all natural building materials used in its construction were locally sourced meaning that it has a considerably smaller carbon footprint to many structures a fraction of its size. What does this all mean in the context of a growing cli- mate emergency? Despite the clear and obvious need to mit- igate the worst effects of construction and the wider impact of human consumption, we are at a crossroads. While ecological structures may not be as recent as we thought, the fact remains that in order to meet emissions targets, big changes are undoubtedly required. While every industry needs to step up, the construction world is unfortu- nately one of the main offenders. From transport, materials, processes and embodied carbon, buildings and the work needed to produce them, generate enormous amounts of emissions. Concrete and energy usage, for example, rank highly on the list of sectors and materials that need a rethink. A report recently published by the National Institute of Con- struction Management and Research in India makes for stark reading. “Climate emergency is a threat to humankind and future development. Construction sector contributes to 39% of worldwide carbon emissions; with 28% coming from energy usage, and 11% from embodied carbon.” | 35 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONSolutions are being found but they are very much in their infancy. Passive House, captured concrete, SMART build- ings and cities; each are providing successes in the ongoing challenge to reduce emissions but, unfortunately, these are on a small scale. Research is demonstrating that despite these innovative techniques, much more needs to be done. “One can suggest to opt for green building concepts, but it is imperative to acknowledge that the recent growth of sus- tainable ones are insufficient to offset the negative impact of current structures. Pre-existing buildings pose a threat due to the amount of energy they consume. Additionally, about 80% of greenhouse gas emissions are related to energy. Due to the quantum of resources and money required, tearing down existing infrastructures, and establishing new state-of-the-art facilities with cutting-edge products and technology is not an option.” The result of this realization is that, rather than new designs, structures, and techniques being built from scratch, many are looking into the possibility of retrofitting as a means of minimizing disruption. The problem with this however, is that the cost of this work is often prohibitive, and the knowledge required to complete the work to the highest standard can be lacking. BlocPower, founded in New York City by Donnel Baird in 2014, is a cleantech company that has quite an ambitious goal. The company is working towards reducing emissions and fight climate change through a focus on renewable energy. BlocPower describes itself as “a climate technology company that analyzes, finances, and upgrades homes and buildings.” What is different about this company is that, rather than merely being a retrofitting and green technology provider, it aims to achieve this while also removing the financial barrier of retrofitting and assisting lower-income areas. “BlocPower is helping create a world where every home and building | 36 JULY 2023can be an opportunity for progress, an engine for change. A world where communities are connected and upgrading your property from one that pollutes to one that powers the next generation of the green economy.” The rationale and drive behind this company has its roots in Brooklyn, NY, where Baird grew up in a one-bedroom apart- ment. Baird’s experiences of a home being heated during the cold winter months using a gas cooking stove proved formative. For him, BlocPower is a vehicle to tackle climate change while also addressing the inequalities that he and his family lived through. The company offers many technological services and products such as smart, low-cost sensors and thermostats, and updating heating and cooling systems. Not only this, BlocPower hires and trains local vulnerable popu- lations to perform the retrofitting, providing education, skills, and employment to low-income communities. For Baird, this is non-negotiable. ““The challenges of climate change, economic recovery, public health, and racial inequity are all intertwined. Green building technology offers scalable solu- tions for all of them.” So, how does it work? BlocPower works with the homeowner to identify their needs, upgrade wish-list and a timeline. From there, the company provides financing options with no upfront costs and takes on the project management to ensure that things run smoothly. “We handle the contractors, permits and incentives needed to get your project done right and at the best price.” By offering this bespoke, one-stop-shop for green home and energy upgrades, the company assists those for whom retrofitting was previously unattainable. “BlocPower uses proprietary technology to analyze, finance and upgrade homes and buildings with the latest in energy-efficient, elec- tric technology and appliances. In this way, we reduce soft costs, shorten project timelines, and make the benefits of these upgrades accessible to all.” Unsurprisingly, there are many people eager to work with the company and contribute to creating an equitable and effective climate solution. Since its founding in 2014, the company has completed 5,000+ energy efficiency projects nationwide. By utilizing its own software program, BlocMaps, it has assisted municipalities, utility companies, and sustainability experts to plan, manage, finance, and implement equitable decarbonization strategies. The road to carbon neutral, or indeed carbon negative, building structures may be some way off. Education and financial considerations are still very real barriers that pre- clude the most vulnerable communities to the conversation. BlocPower is changing that. By offering advice, funding sup- ports and training, it is working with communities to ensure that the pivot to sustainable buildings is an equitable one. For too long now, the ability to make energy savings has been reserved for those who need it least. BlocPower is trying to change that, one home at a time. For Baird, it is not about his own company. He believes that it goes much, much further than that. “I went to Glasgow, I went to the climate negotia- tions for the first time, and it was amazing to get there and see people from all over the world that had devoted their entire career, their lives to climate. They were there to push forward a global deal—but what was needed, then and now, was for the Americans to set the tempo on what’s possible to achieve in this moment. I’m so excited about the opportunity we have as Americans to really lead the world and lead this nation forward on climate change.” www.blocpower.io | 37 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN N ew York has become a progressive state, striving to represent the interests of every person within its vicinity. Leaders on the city council are addressing multiple issues currently facing the city of New York and, as always, one of the most important of these is housing. However, while the issue of housing short- ages has been factored into the equation, support for the construction of new houses has not, leading to no solution. With this in mind, Building Trades Employers Associa- tion (BTEA) is on a mission to jump start the market and get projects moving. By reducing red tape and bureaucracy, BTEA aims to upgrade its workforce and create a prosperous environment to help pave the way to an even more progressive city. BTEA is New York’s largest Contractor Association and serves as the construction contractor’s unified advocate for con- struction safety standards, professional development, government advocacy and communications. In working with real estate owners, city and state public agencies, building trade unions and the public, BTEA continues to steward the next generation of solutions for a vital, sustainable and safer construction industry. | 38 JULY 2023| 39 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >