Subscribe to the SABMag monthly e-news to stay informed of news and events in Canadian sustainable design, of new releases of SABMag and the CaGBC FOCUS publications, the Canadian Green Building Awards, and more. It’s only a few minutes of your time every month. Occasionally our e-News may include announcements from our partners who support our mission of advancing Canadian sustainable design.
Hamilton Passive House Modular Housing: factory construction accelerates project timelineThe modular housing project, winner of the Residential (Large) Award in the 2025 SABMag Canadian Green Building Awards, by Montgomery Sisam Architects provides much needed housing by transforming a former surface parking lot into a welcoming and dignified place to call home. The simple building exterior is free from unnecessary jogs or projections, making it easy to detail. The project uses the ThermalWall PH Panel by Legalett Canada which come in R-24, R-28 and R-32 configurations. Sun Glow roller shades in the building feature eco-sustainable technical textiles to filter natural light and moderate indoor temperatures. Ceramic floor tile used in many areas of the interior is by Olympia Tile. Landscaping designed by OMC Landscape Architecture. Ground level cladding between the large windows is board and batten pattern from Marwood Cape Cod Siding.
National Sponsor: Canadian Precast Prestressed Concrete Institute
Category Sponsors: Inline Fiberglass, Mitsubishi Electric Sales Canada, Jeld Wen and Amexon
Bunkie on the Hill: Sensitive design achieves sustainability and comfortA contemporary interpretation of the traditional A-frame shape evokes the quintessential cabin in the woods, differentiated by shifted roof volumes. Reminiscent of the overlapping layers of rock in the landscape, the split roof design features two intersecting gables that create opportunities for window openings where the roof volumes separate.
High-performance aluminum windows, doors and curtainwall, made in Bigfoot Door’s state-of-the-art facility in Mississauga, offer the latest technologies in European fenestration products. Utilizing engineered systems designed by Schuco International KG and high-performance glazing by Guardian Industries, the project achieves Passive House level comfort. See more …
CertainTeed Gypsum Winnipeg cuts water usage, carbon emissions and energy costsThis unique project resulted in reducing water consumption by 3%, decreasing CO2 emissions (scopes 1 and 2) by 5,000 tons per year for the site and decreasing energy consumption by nearly 25 million kWh per year.
Through an iterative process, the Winnipeg team identified a key product line, the CertainTeed 5/8 Type X board, to conduct trials to adjust the water-to-stucco ratio (known as water gauge), make a technology upgrade, reduce dryer evaporation load to decrease energy consumption, and lower processing carbon emissions. Similar water usage reduction initiatives are being explored and deployed at CertainTeed’s facilities in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal.
The 2025 SABMag Directory a quick reference of products for high-performance buildingSABMag’s 2025 Directory of Sustainable Products and Services for Sustainable, High-Performance Building has just been launched. Listings are organized by Product Category and by LEED Category. The Directory also offers a quick view of the structure of LEED and is a quick reference for finding products. Examples of featured listings include:
Alberta Ecotrust: Retrofit Accelerator – We offer support for sustainable buildings in Alberta through: Free deep-retrofit coaching services for building owners via our Retrofit Accelerator program. Access to free resources for better building practices through our Emissions-Neutral Buildings Information Exchange (ENBIX).
Evolve Builders Group Inc. – CLIMATE CONSCIOUS CONSTRUCTION – 25 industry leading years; 35+ knowledgeable staff; 100s of inspiring projects. Passive House. Strawbale. Rammed Earth. Renovations. Test our reputation for expertise with costing, carbon calcs & construction on your next custom, high-performance, low-carbon home. Guelph KW – Grey County – GTA – Greater Sudbury.
Green Building Initiative (GBI) – Start your building on the journey to net zero. Evaluate performance. Implement change.
Jeld-Wen – One of the world’s largest solution providers to the building products industry and one of Canada's most recognized Window and Door brands. We believe a home is more than just shelter, it’s your legacy. So we design and manufacture products that are innovative, energy efficient and of the highest quality to build lasting value for the homeowners and the professionals who use them.
Tempeff – Building on over 20 years of European innovation, Tempeff is pleased to offer air to air Dual Core® energy recovery ventilation equipment with up to 90% energy efficiency in winter without any requirement for an energy robbing defrost strategy. In these times of escalating energy costs, and concern over environmental impact, Tempeff Dual Core® Technology is the highest efficiency solution available for your building ventilation needs.
Forbo’s Marmoleum Modular collection presents sustainable linoleum tiles in various sizes and designs that allows you to create stunning floor designs. The planks and tiles are created around visuals of wood, concrete, stone and marble and can be used to mix and match or on their own, both delivering a beautiful sustainable floor. Explore the Marmoleum Modular designs.
CPCI Learn on Demand Check out CPCI’s Learn on Demand platform for courses on various precast concrete-related topics, including formliners and colour stains, total precast concrete systems, resiliency, passive house, latest code and standard changes, accelerated building construction and much more.
Upon completion of the course, participants receive a certificate that qualifies them for Professional Development Hours (PDH) and/or Continuing Education Units (CEUs)/Continuing Education Credits (CECs).
Learn about precast concrete and earn continuing education credits at the same time!
Lakeridge Logistics Centre by Pure Industrial: a precedent for industrial buildingsWinner of the Commercial Industrial (Large) Award in the 2025 SABMag Canadian Green Building Awards, the Lakeridge Logistics Centre by Pure Industrial sets a precedent for industrial buildings, achieving ZCB (Zero Carbon Building) certification and targeting LEED Gold. Using a holistic sustainable design strategy rarely seen in this building type, the project includes an electrified mechanical system, renewable energy solutions, advanced energy efficiency features and a thoughtful selection of materials to reduce operational and embodied carbon and to support a healthy work environment. The 112,850 m2 industrial building features a 12.2m clear height logistics area, over 200 truck level doors, and more than 250 trailer parking spaces. TriAxis Construction Limited was the construction manager. Read the article …
Ontario FOCUS Summer issue featured …The Ontario FOCUS Summer issue features the TTC McNicoll Bus Garage which has a large SolarWall to reduce fossil fuel heating and a massive vegetated roof. The issue also contains the latest on the ZCB Design standard, the Bunkie House with mechanical and electrical systems completely integrated with passive design strategies, and the six-storey CityHousing Hamilton project which has achieved Passive House certification.
Construction Specialties’ BetterBuilt Studio™ Creates Personalized Solutions for Architectural DesignsThe new BetterBuilt Studio™ from Construction Specialties (CS) offers complete design assistance, partnering with architects to bring a vision to life, crafting blueprints based on design needs. BetterBuilt Studio™ allows designers to go beyond the traditional louver, sunshade, or façade element to explore new configurations like twisting, perforated metal, expanded aluminum, LED lighting, applied graphics, custom colours, and unique extrusions. These options remove creative barriers, unleashing innovation without sacrificing functionality. BetterBuilt Studio™ offers in-house services including structural and mechanical engineering support, custom detailing, comprehensive drawings, advanced test reporting, and installation guidance.
More details. On a related note, Construction Specialties (CS) has named Nick Longman as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2, 2025.