The City of Winnipeg's Permit Application System

Initial Improvements Announced by City & Industry

Representatives from Winnipeg Construction Association (WCA) and Manitoba Home Builders Association (MHBA), together with The City of Winnipeg held a media conference on April 6, 2004 at Fort Garry Place to provide information on the Permits X-Press Project, a joint initiative of the building industry and the City of Winnipeg, aimed at improving the City's permit application process.

This comprehensive system improvement effort involving the collaboration of all 3 parties, MHBA & WCA along with the City, has been divided into three phases and will extend over a 2-year period. A key deliverable for the first “Quick Wins” phase is a newly renovated customer service area at the Permit Office located at 30 Fort Street . The redesigned space features separate and distinct service counters; one configured to better meet the needs of the experienced, professional applicant; and the other designed to provide service to first-time or more occasional permit applicants.

The WCA's involvement in this project can be tracked to over two years ago and was spearheaded by a group of contractors concerned with the unacceptable delays in permit approval which had resulted in a large amount of work that was proceeding without permits in place. That situation put contractors in a very precarious position and the Permits branch in an adversarial role – certainly not a good start to a big project. As John Bockstael, Vice President of the WCA stated, “It is in everyone's best interest to have a predictable and efficient building permit approval process.”

The first phase of the improvement process, implemented as of March 30, 2004, includes the following:

• A new dedicated customer service area and appointment system for professional applicants
• Appointments within maximum 48 hours, same or next day if possible
• Drop-offs can continue to be made – no appointment required
• New full-time Information Counter, staffed Monday-Friday
• Extra staffing to maintain staffing levels during busy construction period
• Two separate entrance doors, one for “Registered Contractors/Developers ”, one for “Zoning and Permits / General Applications,” ( WCA members are all considered industry professionals and Registered Contractors and will receive a registration card in the mail from the City)
• Computers are now available in both reception areas to enable customers to obtain permit process information and check on-line regarding the status of their applications
• New “Engineered Plans” Pilot Program for New Home applications
• Allows new home permits to be approved within 5 working days
• More design options for existing Master Plan program - increases the number of new home permits that can be approved within 5 working days
• Improved ability to search the status of your permit application on-line
• Automatic emails will notify on-line applicants that an application has been received and when the permit has been issued
• Addition of on-line applications for residential garages (a Garage Masters Pilot Program)
• Introduction of a “File/Work Manager” to proactively manage workflows and address delays
• Improved online information regarding the permit process and who to contact for service

*The project now moves into Phase 2, with the next round of more complex improvements anticipated by year-end.*

ALL members are urged to visit the new Permits webpage that fully describes the improvements AND contains detailed application forms, and printable phone number lists at: www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/permits.stm

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The Rising Price of Steel

A growing concern

Increased international demand for steel scrap is resulting in higher prices. In turn, most North American and some offshore steel mills have imposed a “Raw Materials Surcharge” on all steel related products, including those used in the building industry. Specifically, the demand coming from China has been pinpointed as the main cause for the price surcharges on all items (gauge metal, re-bar, plates, etc).

The overall consensus is that surcharges are continuing to be applied and the price is increasing as supply and demand coincide with a projected shortage warning coming from local steel service centres. However, US mills are currently thought to have the capacity to produce more than the expected domestic market. The Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CSIC) reports that given the price increases in the form of a surcharge, it's anticipated that their effect will be time limited.

Presently, suppliers are not providing firm quotes and there is no industry bidding policy in effect. An alert goes out to owners to look for fast awards and for the design community to look at using W shape members in lieu of HSS members to help keep structural costs down.

There will be a CISC directors meeting forthcoming that will further address this issue.

Information provide by the CISC: www.cisc-icca.ca, & also more information available from the AISC: www.aisc.org .

(by Jackie Petrus, WCA, Construction News Reporter)

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Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Why Winnipeg?  Why Not! 

Three years of planning preceded the late Dr. Israel Asper's official announcement on April 17, 2003 concerning the establishment of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, a partnership of the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, the City of Winnipeg, and the Forks North Portage Partnership.  Much activity and coverage has since surrounded the project that was born from the mouth of the famous Winnipegger, known for his philanthropic ideas and love for his city.

The vision is taking shape as the world awaits the announcement of the final three design competitors on the revised date of April 29, 2004.  Who will be selected from the eight chosen designs from the original thirty invitees?  Will it be the Tower that emerges from a cloud made of Manitoba's own Tyndall limestone, the rumored to be favorite Danish design or one of the other six supreme proposals that promises to put Winnipeg on the international map of 'wow'?

The selection of the museum site itself, which is very well explained on the project's website, www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com, was preferred for its physical location and its significant historical meaning.  Winnipeg is the most geographically centered city in Canada; the world's most multicultural country. The Forks shares a riverfront with St.Boniface, the largest Canadian Francophone community west of Quebec and home to one of the country's largest First Nations peoples population. This national historic site is situated at the crossroads of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg where over 600 years ago, the leaders of nine aboriginal tribes gathered to bring peace to the region. Compared to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, this event brought peaceful cooperation to the entire heart of the continent.

It was decided that an international competition would be conducted to select an architect and designer for the grandiose project. As Asper said in support of this decision, “the vision is to create a distinctive, architecturally exceptional museum…as it will be the largest and perhaps only human rights museum in the world”(*) and should be “presented in a world context.''(*)  The most important defining characteristics of the design will be for it to “express and enact harmony between the human communities and the natural world”(**) and “the design and function of the Museum building will be a landmark in sustainable architecture, preserving the integrity of the surrounding environment and the responsible study of archaeological sites.”(**)

The scope of the project involves a construction area of 22,464.6 m2 (241,815 ft2), with a budget of $82,000,000 CA, including a $10,000,000 CA, allowance for the Tower of Hope. The site area mentioned above is 30,977 m2 (333,445 ft2). The interior of the museum will also boast Signature Architecture in form of The Grand Hall, an Electronic Forum, the Garden of Contemplation, the Tower of Hope, as well as a hostel.  In addition, the Tower of Hope's configuration and expression is open to the interpretation of the design competitor and was not included in the area computation.  The tower must be a special feature and represent a prominent symbolic role in the architectural composition.

The Architectural competition consists of 3 stages before the winner can be announced. First, there was a Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from all eligible competitors in the international community submitted on October 24, 2003 with a deadline of receipt by December 9, 2003. The second stage involved an invitation on December 19, 2003 to up to a possible 30 competitors to register and submit conceptual idea proposals with a deadline for receipt by January 5, 2004. The thirty competitors invited to participate in this stage included firm(s) from Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, El Salvador, Germany, India, Norway, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The next step narrowed the competition down to eight semi-finalists from Stage 2 and their design concepts were put on public display for ten days in March '04 at the Forks site. These eight were also interviewed by the Architectural Review Committee (ARC), who was required to evaluate proposals at all stages of the design competition, before the announcement of the final three competitors.

The project is currently in the third stage of development with the new date of April 29, 2004 set for the announcement of the 3 finalists who will be invited to compete in the limited competition.

What will follow is an information session between ARC and each of the final three competitors individually. By June 30, the committee will have received their proposals, including models.  Until July 16, the Technical Review Committee (TRC) will review the proposals and analyze them for compliance with competition conditions and technical aspects and report to the ARC. From July 26-28, competitors will present their proposals and be evaluated by the ARC.

The ARC will make its recommendation for a design, designer and team to the Friends for the Museum for Human Rights sometime after. The official announcement is anticipated for July 1, 2004, Canada Day.

Next, the winning competitor will interview pre-qualified local architectural firms, (must be resident and registered in Manitoba) and will then select a single firm to act as Associate Architect or Architect of Record , who will also provide direction on the appointment of local engineers. An Exhibition Consultant is also yet to be named.

Funding for the project will be public and private.  Recently, the Government of Canada announced a $30 million commitment to the Canadian Museum For Human Rights to help cover the estimated $200 million cost for the first phase of the project.  Additional support is anticipated from the provincial and municipal governments.  The Asper Foundation, through the Friends of the Canadian Museum For Human Rights is also committed to raising $50 million.

Aside from the wondrous construction that is to take place which is meaningful for the industry, also important as Izzy Asper stated is that "the message that comes out of this work should be 'we have to be vigilant, we cannot rest, in the subject of human rights'."

(*, International Architectural Design Competition for THE CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, Competition Conditions, October 2003, Addenda January 23, 2004, Background, page 1.)

(**, International Architectural Design Competition for THE CANADIAN MUSEUM FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, Competition Conditions, October 2003, Addenda January 23, 2004, The Site, page 3.)

More information available at the web site:

www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com or by contacting Moe Levy @ (204) 989-5537.   

(by Jackie Petrus, WCA, Contruction News Reporter)

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CCA's 86th Annual Conference Business Highlights

March 22-26, 2004 - Live from Las Vegas

For detailed information, follow this link CCAReportMarch04 to the full document provided courtesy of the CCA.

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Scotia Economics "Canadian Construction Outlook"

Summary

In comparison to other national growth activity, the construction industry is expected to remain high on the list of Canada's top performers in 2004. As part of an economy-wide GDP based measurement, construction business has expanded at an inflation-adjusted 5% annualized rate of growth for the past four years. Expectations are so that the overall pace will continue through 2005, expanding by almost 6% this year and 4% next year, about double the average advance rate anticipated by Scotiabank for Canadian output growth.

A study conducted by the Scotiabank Group on national construction activity found that residential building and renovations along with government infrastructure are the two strongholds of the industry at the moment.

Forecasts, facts & figures:

Residential:

• Expected to increase an average of 6% in 2004-2005
• Housing starts hit a 15 year high in 2003
• From 2002-2003, real investment (new construction, renovations & transfer costs) increased by an average annual rate of 9%

• The need for single family housing units is still playing catch-up to supply and demand
• Comparatively, multi-unit family housing is facing an oversupply due to the recent rise in rental market vacancy rates

Government:

• A 5% increase was reported in construction activity in 2004 by all levels of government
• The multi-year spending boom has averaged 8% since 2000
• The reign of government spending is expected to level off or decrease later in 2004 & 2005
• Large scale projects include airport expansions, Trans Canada highway expansion, widening of sea to sky highway for 2010 Winter Olympics in full construction by 2006, improvements to transportation corridor between Edmonton & Calgary through to the US border, etc…
• ON will boost energy related investments to avoid massive blackout again
• Numerous municipal utilities upgrades are planned or underway
• Continued investment to health & education facilities for all provinces as well as more cultural institutions, particularly in urban centres where need is greatest are expected

Business Non-Residential construction forecasts a slow recovery with continued languishing conditions. This will gradually improve up to a 4% annual rate for 2004-2005.  The oil & gas and the metal sector which has previously shown significant expansion, will remain a bright spot in the resource sector with the rising support of shipments and prices.

Industrial quick facts:

• Kyoto agreement will require multi-year investments in a range of private sector areas including building retrofits
• Gas exploration wells drilled are expected to climb 15% (record level)
• 2 major national gas pipelines are in planning phase, to ship Arctic gas to Canadian & US markets
• Mining activity is rising due to the demand from China alongside already tightening global supplies

• National industrial vacancy rate slightly below 5%, ½ the comparable US level
• The need for upgrading buildings and plants to adapt to technology requirements in order to boost operational efficiencies is maintained

• Tepid 3% upward expansion in 2000-2001, with industrial & commercial projects reaching just over 10% contracted in 2002
• Only .7% rise in 2003

Commercial projects are kept alive by big-box retailers who seem to be able to hold their own in the present and future economies.

Commercial digits:

•  The national office vacancy rate remains in double digits at 10.8% in late 2003, slightly lower in central markets which reflect a stronger growth in suburban construction in recent years

•  Stats Canada reports a 1% decline in pubic and private intentions reported for planned retail sector construction expenditures this year after an increase of nearly 10% in 2003

Scotiabank notes that although the construction industry represents just a little more than 11% of the total Canadian economy, for the past three years it has accounted for about ¼ of real GDP growth.  Canada 's current softness in exports is being counterbalanced by the construction industry's sizeable use of domestic labour and product.

For more detailed information regarding this report, visit: www.scotiabank.com, to view the 'Special Report' in full, created by the Scotia Economics team, 'Canadian Construction Outlook,' published April 2, 2004.

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