An Economic Powerhouse Going Beyond Expectations DRILL TECH DRILLING & SHORING INC. apeiron-construction.com | MAY 2024 20/20 Vision BLUE DOT READI-MIXWe create boundless opportunity With a wealth of experience in reporting, content creation and publishing, Apeiron Media, Inc – publisher of Apeiron Construction – was set up with a clear vision to shine a light on pioneering organizations and professionals throughout the construction industry. We take a nuanced approach to storytelling and our clients benefit from a comprehensive integrated marketing opportunity through our detailed suite of online media. Apeiron Construction delivers stories from across the industry to offer high-end, thought provoking content to our readers. Conducting fascinating in-depth interviews with industry leading Executives, Managers, Presidents and CEOs allows us to gain insight and perspective while having the privilege of telling impactful stories. Our unique approach to content creation allows us to gain expert commentary on an ever-changing industry, from the people that know it best. As a media platform, we believe that our world is boundless. We want to share this world with our clients. W elcome to the May issue of Apeiron Construction. We approach the summer months with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation. The rising tem- peratures and sunlight have pushed through, and it is easy to feel a greater appreciation for the positive impact the con- struction industry brings. While it goes without saying that the industry is undergoing a period of grange, it seems as though this is cause for optimism, rather than pessimism. The construction industry is, above all else, a resilient one. Its cyclical nature is the only real constant and despite the problems we face, it is important to remember that we have beaten them before and will beat them again. From SMART building materials to the benefits of recy- cled glass, the level of innovation and forward-thinking is relentless. Alongside that, we look at the ways EVs can be repurposed to provide a more circular economy and share glimpses of some truly groundbreaking construction plans that go further than anything we have seen on earth. We are delighted to bring stories from across the industry, sharing successes and inspiration in equal measures. The construc- tion industry is one that needs to be looked at on a macro level. Its peaks and troughs are omnipresent. We are bringing you something a little more detailed, however. The stories of the people within the industry. Thanks for reading! | 3 APEIRON CONSTRUCTION A note from our Chief Editor APEIRON-CONSTRUCTION.COM APEIRONMEDIAINC.COM CHIEF EDITOR SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPERS CONTENT DEVELOPERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DIRECTOR OF SALES CREATIVE DIRECTOR DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER DAVID O’NEILL COLIN O’NEILL | PETER SWALE | MARK PETERS DARAGH KIERNAN | MARCO GUANNUE PRINCE ANTHONY | AARON HORGAN RAQUEL FARRINGTON | MEGHAN BARTON | AOIFE CHANEY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN | EMMA KILCAWLEY HEMANI KAYLA BROWN LINDSAY BAILEY ALEX MULVEYAccording to the Canadian Construction Associa- tion, the industry contributes about $151 billion to the economy annually. This figure accounts for 7.4 percent of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). Furthermore, the CCA states that society enjoys a number of auxiliary benefits as a result of the work being done in construction. “The construction industry is an economic powerhouse, driving job creation, strengthening supply chains, support- ing investment, and feeding the growth of other economic sectors. Construction employs over 1.6 million people in Canada, creating an employment creation ripple effect in other sectors like engineer- ing, manufacturing, technology, and retail.” 8 An Economic Powerhouse 6 3 Positive News Stories 7 Industry Events 12 20/20 Vision BLUE DOT READI-MIX 20 Going Beyond Expectations DRILL TECH DRILLING & SHORING INC. 26 Coffee Concrete 30 Building Enriched Living Experiences CCS BUILDING GROUP 36 Constructing Culture: the EDA Way EDA CONTRACTORS 42 Sustainable Practices - A Collaborative Approach 46 Concrete Pioneers METAL FORMS CORP. 52 Building the Community MKE IRON ERECTORS 58 Growth and Giving Back TORO CONSTRUCTION 64 50 Years of Roofing Excellence INSULATED ROOFING CONTRACTORS 70 Origami Structures 5 | APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWith all that is happening around us, it can be easy to miss some of the advancements that are being made in the construction industry. Let’s shine a light on some positive news stories that are making our world a little better. Accessible Infrastructure with NaviLens While much money is spent developing infrastructure net- works across North America that are fit for purpose, noth- ing is ever truly perfect. Rail, road and pedestrian networks are being overhauled through massive tranches of public funding giving residents services that meet the needs of modern society. However, elements of our communities can be left isolated, unable to access the services required for independent living. As anyone who has visited a foreign city can attest to, navigating a space can be challenging. For those with sight loss or impaired vision, these chal- lenges can be insurmountable. NaviLens is a tech company based in Murcia, Spain. It has developed an infrastructure collaborating app that uses haptic and audio supports to assist navigators to safely make their journeys. The app detects images —similar to QR codes— without using GPS or requiring access to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. NaviLens explains that these codes can be read almost instantaneously and at a great distance, making it ideal for navigating. TransLink, the Metro operator in Vancou- ver, recently trialled the technology to great success. Accord- ing to Thor Diakow, spokesperson for TransLink, the trial was a high priority. “Despite it being not a huge percentage of our ridership, it’s very important to make sure that we provide accessibility for people experiencing partial or full sight loss.” www.navilens.com/en | 6 MAY 2024Land Development Conference: Canada’s Largest CRE Event MAY 28, 2024 METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE, ON informaconnect.com/land-development NeoCon 2024: Design Takes Shape JUNE 10-12, 2024 THE MART, CHICAGO, IL neocon.com Natural Batteries The batteries we produce and consume are developed with one thing in mind; size. From phones to EVs, computers to appliances, small batteries are the key to success. They bring portability, efficiency and ease of use to a sector that prides itself on its reliability. But what would happen if we looked to other sources of power storage? Large scale natural objects that could charge, generate and store power. What we might lose in portability, we may gain massively in efficiency and power. Large scale batteries that use the world around us as storage could just be the key to unlocking the cyclical nature of solar and wind farms, for instance. Canadian company Hydrostor is working to develop the world’s largest advanced compressed air energy storage (ACAES) system in Kern County, California. The project will see two football field sized caverns excavated 2000 feet under the earth. Using surplus renewable energy to run air compressors that heat and squeeze air to a smaller volume, the system works by releasing the air when needed to spin electricity generating turbines, effectively making it an underground energy storage system. hydrostor.ca/technology Recyclable Homes In the midst of a housing crisis, there are many factors that are vying for attention. Speed, cost, environmental consid- erations, not to mention the growing number of homeless people and families. It is an ever-growing challenge that seems to be getting worse, rather than better. Oftentimes, by using technology such as 3D printing to prioritise speed and cost, environmental elements are overlooked. Concrete, due to its cost and ease of use, becomes the go-to material. A project in Maine, however, is viewing the situation through a different lens. Its aim is to produce a community of 600-sq-ft, 3D-Printed, bio-based houses for those experiencing home- lessness. The truly remarkable element of this project is that the houses themselves will be 100 percent recyclable. BioHome 3D is the world’s first 3D-Printed house made entirely from bio-based, recyclable materials. The prototype was developed at the University of Maine Advanced Struc- tures and Composites Centre (ASCC) through funding from the U.S. Dept. of Energy. Speaking about the innovation, Gov. Janey Mills said: “Our state is facing the perfect storm of a housing crisis and labor shortage, but the University of Maine is stepping up once again to show that we can address these serious challenges with trademark Maine ingenuity.” composites.umaine.edu/biohome3d Build Expo USA AUSTIN, TX: MAY 22-23, 2024 HOUSTON, TX: JUNE 26-27, 2024 buildexpousa.com BOMA 2024 Conference & Expo JULY 13-16, 2024 PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA bomaconvention.org/BOMA2024 | 7 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY DAVID O’NEILL A ccording to the Canadian Construction Association, the industry contributes about $151 billion to the economy annually. This figure accounts for 7.4 percent of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). Furthermore, the CCA states that society enjoys a number of auxiliary benefits as a result of the work being done in construction. “The construction industry is an economic powerhouse, driving job creation, strengthening supply chains, supporting investment, and feeding the growth of other economic sectors. Construction employs over 1.6 million people in Canada, creating an employment creation ripple effect in other sectors like engi- neering, manufacturing, technology, and retail.” This behemoth of an industry is one of the key forces driving Canadian life. Road and travel networks, internet and connectivity, housing, and retail; these sectors are all deeply reliant on the work being done on jobsites around the country. It is no surprise, therefore, to see that when the federal government recently announced its budget, construction investment was given high priority. Thankfully for those within the industry, billions will be invested in construction over the coming months and years. | 8 MAY 2024| 9 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONNext >