< PreviousIt was there that the team developed its ground improvement techniques with the help of French engineer Louis Ménard. This collaboration eventually led to Menard purchasing the company, changing the name to Menard Canada in 2017. According to Scache and Simon Bunieski, P. Engineer at Menard Canada, the groundbreaking company was one of the first to acquire licenses for its dynamic compaction tech- nique, along with the pressuremeter. Menard Canada provides an extensive range of products and techniques to the market. As a design/build contracting com- pany, the team answers bids in an effort to provide clients with a “global solution” for their foundations. As Scache explains, this covers the full spectrum in addition to ground improvement, including development and remediation. When all this is taken into account, up to 15 techniques can be applied, depending on the type of structure that is being built and what kind of ground they are building on. Scache says, “By combining those techniques, we can solve most of the issues that we have. For example, there could be some liquefaction problems because of earthquakes, and at the same time, very poor ground, so we need to have a bearing capacity for the foundation. It really depends on what kind of problem we try to solve. We try to use one or a couple of different techniques.”Our Cat® rental machines are reliable, well-maintained, and many models come with integrated Cat technology for superior efficiency. 1900+ TECHNICIANS 24/7 SERVICEBRANCHES 451300+ WORKTOOLS 500+ MACHINES toromontcat.com |1 877-887-5335 SCAN TO FIND THE EQUIPMENT THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU RENT ON DEMAND NEED EQUIPMENT? Over time, Menard Canada has demonstrated an ability to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the market. The company was reorganized around four years ago to expand into local markets. Since then, Menard Canada has seen a large uptick in growth. Its number of offices has almost dou- bled, for example. This is especially true in Ontario, an area that represents 40 percent of the country’s GDP but where Menard had previously been conducting less than 10 percent of its activity. These statistics were evidence of a challenge. The team focused on expanding and developing historical, and by now obsolete, techniques that the company had pre- viously used on the West Coast. To overcome this, the team adapted its fleet, modernizing its offerings and delivering modern techniques in the location. Speaking about what sets Menard Canada apart from other companies, Scache says that its building capabilities are second to none. “Design and build. I would say that most of our competitors are able to do the design element, but they are not promoting the design and build the way we are promoting it. I think it's our capability to design everything in-house, especially within Canada, and not relying too much on other experts or expertise. I think that makes a huge dif- ference. Also, our capability to take leadership on a job site, to take most of the responsibility regarding [probability] of earthquakes or bearing capacity or even settlement.” The team is currently working on projects with two clients under the same owner in Hamilton, in Southern Ontario. These individual developments are being created with Menard's main technique, the Controlled Modulus Columns (CMC)®, which is a concrete-based ground-improving technique. In order to be as environmentally friendly as possible, the team is working to reduce not only the volume and cost but also the carbon impact of both projects. Bunieski explained: “The extra step was done by the team on-site to go for the low-carbon option for both projects. By having a discussion with the local suppliers in advance and making sure we were able to use low-carbon concrete for the entire production of the project. Right now, we have three machines running every day on-site.” | 51 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThese sustainability efforts are bolstered further by the ongo- ing relationship the company has with 4Refuel as its provider for mobile on-site refuelling. This partnership explores ways to ensure that low-carbon fuel and energy solutions are used where possible. For Bunieski, the relationship is a hugely pos- itive one. “We work with 4Refuel on most of our job sites in Ontario, looking at the availability of alternative fuels in order to reduce our carbon footprint. We have a very close relation- ship with them as they help us meet our sustainability goals.” To reduce its carbon footprint even further, Menard Canada is now working on rethinking their techniques to operate at an even more sustainable level. “Ground improvement is by nature an optimized version of traditional techniques to support structures. For the same structure on top, ground improvement solutions require less material and are faster to install than traditional foundation support techniques. It means they are less expensive and less carbon-intensive solutions almost every time. Our first step was to assess the impact of our techniques, and our goal is to be able to share the carbon impact of our proposed solution with our clients for each and every project.” With this in mind, the company set out to identify key aspects that could be improved upon, most notably with regard to concrete. First, the team measured the techniques being used, giving it a baseline to work from. Low-carbon alterna- tive solutions were then identified. Now, when Menard Can- ada looks at new projects, the team uses this information to find the most cost-efficient, low-carbon impact solution for the client. Scache explained, “What we want to do is reduce the energy we are using on projects by 40% by 2030 (Scope 2). We are also targeting to reduce our indirect emissions (Scope 3) - which is the concrete [and] the steel that we use on-site for the most part - by 20% [before] 2030. That's the challenge. We are leveraging all the information we already track on projects to have benchmarks, and with this benchmark, we know how much we decrease with time.” He explained that the current challenge is in trying to achieve this while growing at the same time. “[It’s] pretty challenging because we could say we are going to reduce by 20 or 40% depending on the scope. But when you are growing at the same time, it's a very hard challenge because if the turnover of the company increases, unfortunately, there is probably a risk that the ton equivalent CO2 [is] going to increase, and in this concept, how we manage to still have a significant decrease. Learn more LEADER IN MOBILE ON-SITE REFUELLING 4Refuel.com “Our goal is to be able to share the carbon impact of our proposed solution with our clients for each and every project.” | 52 FEBRUARY 2024That's exactly what we are trying to do on a daily basis by try- ing to have our team coming on board internally first - that is a subject which is really important - and after to try to find new ways with different types of fuel, different types of concrete and how we can optimize our design to put less in the ground compared to what would be normally needed.” The team holds regular awareness events and training sem- inars to ensure each employee knows about the company initiatives and is aware of the latest environment-related news. As Bunieski explains, the company also creates activities and webinars to provide additional knowledge to all stakeholders. “Talking to clients and bringing them these numbers, but also Engineers that we talk to who are becoming more and more aware of the topic. We want to provide them with these num- bers so that they can use them to compare with other solutions on their end. The last avenue for us is to have open discussions with our key suppliers to look at alternate solutions. Concrete is one example; fuel or steel will be another one”. Sales | Rentals | Parts & Service | Training Solutions that add to your bottom line. ecanet.com 1 800 PILE USA MORE THAN MACHINES… SOLUTIONS. When asked what the reason for the company’s success is, Scache described the answer as “easy,” putting it down to the team. He explained: “Menard Canada's success depends on its employees. Their commitment and professionalism are remarkable, and I see it every day. Our activity varies through- out the year, with more intense periods and sometimes more challenging projects. I can always count on our teams. That's Menard Canada's strength.” Going forward, Menard Canada is working on the reduction of its carbon impact, ensuring it has enough tools to manage the decrease in terms of the equivalent CO2. The company hopes to develop even further in terms of expansion and growth. With this in mind, Scache foresees a “very good year” next year for the company, despite the global atmosphere and economy. “Exciting times ahead,” he concludes. By incorporating innovation, dedication, and an industry-driving desire for positive change, it goes without saying that the future is bright at Menard Canada. | 53 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN T he construction industry relies on building relationships and cre- ating partnerships. While talent and skill are of course important traits, at the heart of every business are clients. Knowing how to foster great customer service is a skill that can help propel any company to success, and no one knows this better than owner of both Central Painting and Industrial Floor Systems, Dave Graham. Having worked in construction since he was 10 years old, Graham is no stranger to the industry. His father worked as a mechanical contractor which he believes led to him growing up more blue collar than white collar. Graham went on to graduate with a degree in finance, all while running a college professional painters’ franchise. After graduation, Gra- ham was drawn fully into the construction industry as it felt like a natural progression to him at the time. In 1994, Central Painting was started and Graham’s journey truly began. “I moved to Barrie with my girlfriend at the time—my wife now—and never looked back. We got in with some chains very early on and started working all over Ontario. Then one of our clients, Loblaws, came to us and said, we have a big program out West, would you consider working on it? That's how our western expan- sion started back in 2007/2008. We opened the first office in Calgary and we had offices in Saskatchewan. A lot of our expansion has been very much customer driven because customers liked our service. They’d often ask if we could do more, and that's how we got into flooring. Our locations have grown because of that and our services like flooring and roof coatings all progressed through client demand.” | 54 FEBRUARY 2024| 55 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWWW.HTGNORTHAMERICA.COM 1-866-430-1331 INFO@HTGNORTHAMERICA.COM CONTACTUS CSAANDULCERTIFIED 3YEARWARRANTY CONCRETEFLOORPREPARATIONEQUIPMENT SURFACEPREPARATION,OUREXPERTISE, YOURSATISFACTION:OURGUARANTEE. ©2024 The Sherwin-Williams Company Proud to Partner with Central Painting Supporting your business is our business. Pros Need Pros. While Graham initially set out in business with a painting company, he soon became aware of a gap in the market that his team could cover. While working on time sensitive and complicated shutdowns, the coordination never worked out as well as any of the parties would have liked. Wanting to serve his clients better and offer the best service possible, Graham decided to setup Industrial Floor Systems. Now, Graham can offer the whole package when it comes to com- mercial or industrial institutional work. What does this mean for clients? Well, it means clients no longer have to manage two separate trades or worry about the complexities to schedule. The project is now taken by both Central Painting and Industrial Floor Systems — who operate independently to each other — and brought back to their offices to be shared amongst project managers. By creating a one-stop-shop, Graham is able to reduce the amount of time projects take to complete and provide the ultimate customer service that both Central Painting and Industrial Floor Systems have become known for. Recently, both teams worked on a very large project in Edmonton which was a painting project that happened to coincide with a very large flooring project. The project was a two and a half mil- lion square foot robotics warehouse facility for Amazon that included floor remediation, which ultimately left the clients incredibly satisfied. “We just did a couple of big remediations this year, 100,000 square foot plus buildings where we did flooring and painting. We also sandblasted the buildings which really showcased what our guys can do. This involved working very closely with the client and our own project managers to shorten schedules and get the buildings in operation as quickly as possible. We've got great teams and the thing about it is as much as they are two separate companies and two separate sets of employees, these guys meet weekly. These operations managers work very closely together on these projects to make sure that it's as pain free for the client as possible.” Customer service is a huge part of both businesses and one that Graham is increasingly proud of. While customer satisfaction is of the utmost importance, Graham also gets satisfaction from the repeat client base that comes with it. “These operations managers work very closely together on these projects to make sure that it’s as pain free for the client as possible.” | 56 FEBRUARY 2024PPG FLOORING Wear Resistance Chemical Resistance Electrostatic Protection Urethane Cement Mechanical Equipment Room Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) PPG Flooring systems deliver protection to a wide range of environments. No matter what the application, count on PPG Flooring systems for the right chemistry, dependable performance and comprehensive technical support. www.ppgpmc.com | 1-888-9PPGPMC | PMCMarketing@ppg.com The PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. PPG Flooring is a trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. Find out more at www.ppgpmc.com/flooring Reflecting on how Industrial Floor Systems flourished, Gra- ham is now asking himself, what is the next service he can add on? Graham recently added roof coatings, which have been great for building owners. This means that rather than tear off a roof, a roof coating can be put on it, saving both time and money. Also, great warranty can be provided with the rubberized coating which is even better for owners. With the customer in mind once again, both companies have decided to invest in elevating their training programs to increaser their service level to an even higher standard—if that is even possible. Graham has clients he has worked with for 20 to 25 years, who still prioritize Central Painting and Industrial Floor Systems as their main choice, and he would like this to continue. By focus- ing on their own people and training, both companies have the opportunity to excel at service by working from the inside and then outwards. The training will involve making field staff more efficient in order to help the client better and create a more seamless project completion. “Well-trained people are always happier in their job and the clients are happier when you have well trained people on site. We have somebody now that was a full-time trainer, building these programs, implementing them, and going around the different offices training. We already see where it's paying off and it's not just on how do you execute your job? It's how do you serve the client? How do you interact with the client? We want to be known as those guys that are great to work with. In our business there's always things that come up and the best people are the ones who figure out solu- tions and work with the other trades for the client in order to make the path as smooth as possible.” Central Painting and Industrial Floor Systems are not a ‘one and done’ company. Both companies pride themselves on repeat business, and that fight to become the number one choice for clients is what motivates them to keep pushing the limits on what can be offered. Graham built both companies with the mindset that clients can reach them whenever it may be to find a solution for something, even if that means calling on a Saturday evening. There is no time Central Painting and Industrial Floor Sys- tems will not be there for the client, which is what serving customers the right way is all about. | 57 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY RAQUEL FARRINGTON D BI Projects empowers clients to make informed proj- ect decisions. Founded in 2002, the United States- based owner’s representative firm has made a name for itself in planning, real estate advisory, and project man- agement on a global scale. From non-profit and educational developments to commercial and public work, DBI has spent the last 22 years building its business and earning the trust of organizations and parties all over the world by doing the difficult work — bridging the gap between the diverse stake- holders involved in complex projects in the real estate and construction space and delivering projects that matter. DBI’s team of 65 is comprised of dedicated individuals with diverse backgrounds, all of whom embody the company’s values of hungry, humble, and smart. DBI has established a strong reputation thanks to a solutions-based approach to project management and a ‘whatever-it-takes’ attitude. As real estate and construction experts, DBI provides planning and management expertise for clients around the world, across numerous different sectors. Backed by a national presence with offices across the U.S., DBI provides a robust set of specialized, in-house practices that range from proj- ect planning and capital project execution to ongoing asset management. In a complex industry, rife with potential chal- lenges, DBI’s mission is to deliver their client’s vision, leading the building process with clarity, commitment, and care. “Our intention is to drive complex projects forward on behalf of everybody involved,” says Partner and Senior Director of DBI, Chris Tomlan. “So, if there's a conflict in the field between the architect and the contractor, DBI is there to help communicate, streamline processes and ultimately resolve issues.” Tomlan has been with the company since 2011, starting his career as a project manager, armed with a master's degree in architecture and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. Internal promotion, professional development and growth are another set of core values that Tomlan believes differentiates DBI from the rest. “Our model of management is very hands-on, which stems from the fact that no matter what level you’re at [in the company], we all went through the same training process and therefore approach problems the same way.” Newlab Brooklyn Navy Yard Brooklyn, NY | 58 FEBRUARY 2024Chris Tomlan Partner and Senior Director of DBI DREAM Mott Haven Campus Photo by James Wang | 59 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >