"sherwin-williams high performance flooring"

OverviewSet in the heart of downtown Toronto, the Ontario Court of Justice is the largest courthouse in Ontario and a benchmark for contemporary institutional construction. Completed in 2024, the project brings together 63 courtrooms and 10 conference settlement rooms in a LEED® Gold certified facility that reflects modern civic values—transparency, accessibility, and sustainability.Master Builders Solutions Canada Inc. played a key role in ensuring the structural concrete met the performance demands of this high-profile project.The ChallengeDelivering nearly 48,000 m³ of ready-mixed concrete in a downtown location posed numerous technical challenges. The structural design demanded high compressive strength, consistent workability, and durability to support complex load paths, security zones, and a tall atrium enclosed by a 20-metre glass façade.The project team required concrete solutions that would:Maintain workability over long pumping distances and vertical placements,Ensure strength development for critical structural zones (such as core walls and transfer slabs),Limit thermal cracking during curing in massive pours,Integrate seamlessly with staged slipform and rebar installation schedules.These demands were intensified by the need to meet LEED® Gold sustainability targets, tight construction timelines, and high public visibility.The ResultsMaster Builders Solutions Canada Inc. partnered closely with St Marys CBM to optimize concrete performance across all phases of construction. A suite of high-performance admixtures—including water reducers, retarders, and strength-enhancing additives—was deployed to address the project’s structural and logistical complexities.Key contributions included:Enhanced workability retention for long-distance pumping and complex placements, reducing placement time and labour.Improved early- and long-term strength development, enabling faster formwork cycling and reliable performance in high-load areas.Mitigated thermal buildup in mass pours to control cracking and ensure durability over the structure’s lifecycle.Admixture compatibility with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), aligning with the project’s environmental goals.By tailoring admixture solutions to the precise performance needs of each mix design, Master Builders Solutions supported consistent quality and efficiency throughout the build.The Ontario Court of Justice now stands not only as a civic institution but also as a demonstration of what is possible when modern structural design and advanced concrete technology are brought together. The project exemplifies how Master Builders Solutions helps construction teams deliver on performance, sustainability, and long-term value.

Al Wasl Plaza was the heart of Dubai Expo 2020 and continues to remain the focal point of Expo City. The central dome, surrounded by a decorative garden and five buildings, truly reflects the theme, Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. Working on the Al Wasl Plaza required careful thought and consideration. We had to ensure that the three office buildings and two hotels enjoyed unobstructed views of the garden and dome while maintaining energy efficiency and privacy.  The project was designed by Chicago-based architecture firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill. Since the project was part of Expo 2020, which invited representatives from around the globe, we had to ensure we met and exceeded global glass and glazing standards. We understood that the buildings were the supporting cast for the dome and gardens, yet they played a crucial role in making the entire plaza the focal point of the Expo.

SAFTI FIRST® provided a unique, artistic 2-hour fire resistive glass floor to the new Union Square Station in San Francisco. This glass floor acts as a lightwell and designed to improve wayfinding by welcoming commuters into the concourse level while meeting all the fire rated code requirements. Because SAFTI FIRST®’s products are proudly USA-made, it met the Buy America requirements of the project as well.

Soaring to a height of 1,776 feet (540-meters), the 2.6-million-squarefoot (242,000-square-meter) skyscraper known as One World Trade Center in the lower Manhattan district of New York City is a marvel of design and engineering. Construction of the building, previously called the Freedom Tower, began in April 2006 and at the time was the tallest building in the United States.The Challenge Sustainable design was a central theme to One World Trade Center’s development, with the Port Authority of New York/ New Jersey imposing a strict requirement for the replacement of Portland cement with recycled materials. In addition, extremely high performance concrete was necessary to meet the compressive strength requirements of the steel and concrete structural columns, which ranged from 14,000 psi (97 MPa) to 12,000 psi (83 MPa) for the lower 40 floors and 10,000 psi (69 MPa) to 8,600 psi (59 MPa) for the upper floors. The 12,000 psi (83 MPa) concrete phase of the project was the most challenging, with the engineers, owners and contractors all having their own requirements and specifications.The ResultsThrough Master Builders Solutions‘ Green Sense Concrete mixture optimization service, Eastern Concrete Materials was able to proportion an EF Technology® concrete mixture with 71% cement replacement. The mixture replaced Portland cement with the recycled materials, non-cementitious fillers and specialized admixtures to exceed all the performance targets specified by the One World Trade Center project stakeholders. This EF Technology mixture was used for the 38,000 yd3 (29,000 m3) of concrete needed for the columns through the first 40 floors. To quantify the environmental impact of sustainable concrete for the structure, an Eco-Efficiency Analysis was conducted, using a methodology validated by NSF International, to compare the specialized EF Technology mixture to a reference mixture. Some practical equivalents for these savings are: Water savings equal to 1,177,329 half-liter bottles of waterReduced carbon footprint equal to 1,835,494 gallons of gasolineFossil fuel savings equal to 29,872 barrels of oil

SAFTI FIRST® became aware of the new 21c Museum Hotel project when the design team called looking for an economical option for a unique fire rated application for a boutique hotel in Nashville’s historical Printers Alley neighborhood. The design featured a glass floor on the 2nd level that would also act as a light well. In order to comply with fire rated code requirements, the transparent floor needed to meet a 1-hour fire resistive rating.

A building’s design is very much influenced by the function it performs and the perceived threats that it may face – whether it’s from natural disasters, accidents or terrorist attacks – with the latter being a foremost concern for federal courthouses, embassies, government facilities and other high profile buildings. Because of these security concerns, trade-offs have been made when it comes to daylighting, energy efficiency and aesthetics to name a few. The good news is that today, high-performance security glazing make-ups are available to meet the level of protection needed while continuing to provide natural light and a feeling of openness.

Scope of WorkProcess, deliver and install façade cone glazing for the dome.Build Up12mm FT HST Sunguard Neutral 50 + 16mm Black Warm Edge spacer + 88.4 Clear HSProject DetailsCaspian Waterfront is the reimagined building of the original government congress centre. In 2016, local developer Pasha Construction started transforming the building into a 120,000 sq. m. retail entertainment and leisure complex. Located on the shore of the Caspian Sea, the structure opens onto the waterfront on three sides.The retail centre’s unique structure posed a challenge. The building complex has geometric shapes similar to the Sydney Opera House, with shell roofs that reflect the surrounding water. The central flame tower has an eight-angled glass façade inspired by the country’s emblem, the eight-pointed star. Since the building would resemble a place of pride, we had to ensure that our panels surpassed every quality level. Due to the unique triangular shape of the glass panels extra care had to be taken during production, delivery and installation to prevent injury, breakage and damage.At Future Glass, we always prioritise quality. Our state-of-the-art processing facility enabled us to deliver the panels on time with minimal on-site rejections. Today, Caspian Waterfront has become a national symbol of Azerbaijan.

1.  About the ProjectOne of the most prestigious national pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, The German Pavilion, represented the Federal Republic of Germany's commitment to innovation and sustainability. Designed by renowned Berlin-based LAVA Architects, this 4,600 m² architectural showcase demonstrated Germany's leadership in environmental technology and intelligent building solutions through its unique "forest of steel poles" design.Project Specifications:Location: World Expo 2020 Dubai, UAEBuilding Owner: German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and EnergyArchitect: LAVA Architects, BerlinFacade Contractor: Future Glazing LLC, UAEMain Contractor: ARGE Deutscher Pavilion EXPO 2020 Dubai GbRInstallation Date: June 2021Exhibition Period: 6 months with over 3 million international visitorsTotal Pavilion Area: 4,600 m²FutureX Eclipse™ Intelligent Glazing Area: 113 m²2. The ChallengeFuture Glass was tasked with creating intelligent facade elements that would perform flawlessly in Dubai's extreme desert climate while maintaining perfect environmental control for millions of international visitors. The architects required a building envelope that could respond instantly to rapidly changing conditions including sandstorms, intense solar radiation, and temperatures exceeding 45°C.The project demanded breakthrough glazing technology that could eliminate mechanical shading systems while providing instant environmental adaptation. The design called for individual glass panels to operate independently whilst maintaining overall design coherence across the pavilion's complex geometry. Additionally, the system needed to be maintenance-free, withstand sandstorm conditions, and deliver consistent performance throughout the six-month exhibition period without any mechanical intervention.Given the prestigious nature of this international exhibition space, any failure or performance degradation would have significant reputational impact, making reliability and consistent operation absolutely critical.3. The OutcomeThe FutureX Eclipse™ installation delivered exceptional environmental control, enabling Campus Germany to maintain perfect occupant comfort for international visitors while showcasing German innovation in intelligent building technology. The electropolarization system responded instantly to Dubai's challenging environmental conditions, providing seamless transitions between maximum transparency and sophisticated solar protection in one second or less.The installation demonstrated zero mechanical shading requirements across the entire facade system, with individual 1.5-meter wide rotatable glass elements operating flawlessly throughout the exhibition period. The success of this project established new benchmarks for intelligent glazing performance in extreme climatic conditions and proved that breakthrough electropolarization technology could transform architectural vision into responsive, high-performance building envelopes.The pavilion's environmental control system impressed over 3 million visitors and received international recognition for its innovative integration of intelligent building technology with sophisticated architectural design.4. Products UsedFutureX Eclipse™ Electropolarization Switchable Glass System:Surface Area: 113 m² of intelligent glazing elementsQuantity: 61 individual switching unitsGeometry: Rectangular configurations with rotational capabilityConfiguration: 28 fixed glass panels, 4 standard doors, and 29 intelligent folding door elementsSwitching Speed: ≤1 second response timePerformance: Neutral colour throughout all switching statesTechnology: Eclipse® electropolarization switching layer with controlled electrical field modulationControl System: Individual panel control with building automation integrationEnvironmental Rating: Designed for extreme desert climate operation including sandstorm resistance

Located at the foot of the Cascade mountain range in Chilliwack, the brand-new Molson – Coors was inaugurated in 2019. It has the capacity to produce 300 million litres of beer a year. The brewery is equipped with advanced technologies for operational efficiency, and it is considered Molson’s most modern facility.The plant was designed with optimised equipment layouts that help reduce beer loss and wastage. Hygienic industrial drainage is a major component of the design and ACO drainage was selected for its proven performance.Benefits of ACO StainlessEasy to clean hygienic designStainless steel is highly resistant to corrosionHigh hydraulic efficiency for fast removal of surface waterACO’s experience in drainage for food processing environments

About the ProjectTowering above the Dubai skyline, the Burj Khalifa is symbolic of the city’s emergence as one of the world’s top business and tourist destinations. The magnificent tower houses residences, a hotel and various commercial spaces, but its most popular attractions are the two observation decks located at the 124th and 148th floors. For visitors, the enthralling experience of visiting At The Top starts right from the moment they start to queue up to book their tickets. An extraordinary union of tasteful design, precision engineering and meticulous craftsmanship, the entrance lobby to the observation deck was created to give visitors a small glimpse of the beauty that awaits them a hundred storeys higher.The ChallengeWhile procuring the glass for the lobby to Dubai’s most well-known tourist attraction, we left no stone unturned in sourcing the highest grade materials. The customer had very specific needs regarding the colour of the panels. Achieving the right PVB colour combination was one of the biggest challenges we faced on this project. Further, we had to ensure that the glass used was durable and the coloured films did not fade over time. Working with Seele proved to be both demanding and rewarding. The company, known for developing Apple stores across the world, wanted to inspect every single pane of glass so that it met their high quality requirements. 

When the people of Canada’s capital region seek relief from city life, they often retreat to the serene, natural beauty found in Quebec’s Gatineau hills. Here, where temperatures can drop to -38°F (-39°C) and snow falls seven months out of the year, heated flooring is a practical luxury. To help recreate a Scandinavian-style getaway for the Groupe Nordik Lofts du Village project, specifiers chose one of MAPEI’s Mapeheat floor-heating systems.

For a recent renovation of a stairwell and exit corridors at Ridgewood High School in Illinois, the design team specified SuperLite® II-XL 60 in GPX® Architectural Series Framing for its optical clarity, storefront-like appearance, and high STC ratings. In order to meet the code requirements and maximize the daylight penetrating into the building, the architects decided to use fire rated glass in the one-hour exit corridor. Because the glazing exceeds 25% of the wall area, fire resistive glass and framing assemblies rated equal to the wall had to be used.

AJC Architects of Salt Lake City, Utah looked to SAFTI FIRST® when it came time to renovate the media center and build a new counseling center for North Layton Junior High School. They realized they could take advantage of a clear fire-rated glazing to keep the look of the media center and provide an open, welcoming entrance to the new counseling center.

There is a growing trend in office space design that favors increased opportunities for connectivity and collaboration among its occupants. In buildings with multiple floors, this can be a challenge as the vertical separation between floors makes face-to-face encounters less likely to happen. One way to get around this is by incorporating an atrium. See how fire rated glass helped the designers meet the fire rated requirements for this atrium while providing clear, unobstructed views.

As far as extreme environments go, Wisconsin has some of the most dramatic in North America. During the winter months, temperatures regularly dip well below freezing, and in the summer months the temperatures can reach up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit with significant humidity levels for extended periods of time. Given these dramatic weather conditions, the materials chosen for the building envelope should not only protect building occupants from the elements, but ensure their comfort as well.

1. SCOPE 1.1 The following specifications shall apply to hot-dipped metallic-coated sheet steel prefinished with colours of proven durability and suitable for exterior exposure as delivered from the coil coater. Proven paint systems for building products have been designed for vertical applications whose surfaces are no more than 30° to the vertical and non-vertical applications whose surfaces ranging from 5° up to 60° to the horizontal. It is not recommended for aggressive atmospheric exposure. 1.2 The prefinish system shall consist of a primer and topcoat continuously applied and cured within the paint manufacturer’s specifications on cleaned, pretreated, metallic-coated substrate. The pretreatment specified shall be zinc phosphate for galvanized steel and metal oxide pretreatment for aluminum-zinc alloy-coated steel, applied in accordance with the pretreatment manufacturer’s specifications.

Because the Sapphire Towers' south facing elevation was in close proximity to the adjacent property, code regulations required the south façade to either be solid, which was contrary to the design, or to have openings with a minimum fire protection of 45 minutes. SAFTI FIRST® engineered a system that met the uniform design demands and performance requirements for the windows and balconies in all 32 floors in the south-facing elevation.

Sustainability, durability, fire resistance, structural performance and cost-effectiveness are some of the strongest reasons for using structural steel or cold-formed steel framing in mid-rise building construction. As a dependable, noncombustible material, steel-framed structures provide a wise investment for builders and the occupants who live and work in them. Steel structures provide long-term, consistent performance. • Steel framing will not rot, warp, split, crack or creep. • Steel framing is not vulnerable to termites. • Steel framing does not expand or contract with moisture content. • Steel framing is produced in strict accordance with national standards, with no regional variations. Steel is a noncombustible material and will not contribute to the spread of a fire. • Because steel is noncombustible, it reduces the fire risk to occupants, firefighters and property/business owners. Steel framing improves design efficiency, saves time, and reduces costs. • Steel framing provides a significantly greater strength-to-weight ratio than wood. • Steel framing allows for larger bays and wider frame spacing than wood construction. • Increased flexibility in bay spacing and framing layout maximizes usable floor space for owners and tenants. • Steel is typically fabricated off-site, reducing on-site labor, cycle time and construction waste. • Shorter construction time results in earlier occupancies and lower financing costs. Steel structures perform well during earthquakes and other extreme events. • Steel is a resilient material, with reserve strength and ductility that result in significant advantages in natural disasters such as hurricanes and earth- quakes, and in other extreme events like fire and blast. • Steel construction is engineered to provide a reliable, consistent load path. • Steel construction employs quality control and quality assurance procedures to ensure that the project requirements are met. Steel framing provides environmental benefits and complies with sustainable building standards. • Steel framing results in less scrap and job site waste than lumber. • Structural steel is continually recycled with a current recycling rate of 98 percent, meaning that these steels will still be in use hundreds of years from now, lessening impacts on future generations. • Steel, when recycled, loses none of its inherent properties and can be recycled into different products such as cars, bridges, cans, etc. • Steel can be used to comply with the requirements of sustainable design standards such as the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), ASHRAE Standard 189.1 (Standard for the Design of High-Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings), and the National Green Building Standard (ICC-700). Steel can also provide credit points for green building rating systems like the USGBC’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the Green Building Initiative’s ANSI/GBI-01 (Green Building Assessment Protocol for Commercial Buildings).  

KidsAbility Centre for Childhood Development recently moved to a new location that features a wide, high open ceiling. This architectural design element, while visually appealing, required effective sound absorption to ensure a comfortable and functional environment. Architects from Walter Fedy proposed an innovative solution: creating floating beams with wave patterns to enhance both the acoustic performance and the visual appeal of the space.

Four Key Components Constitute Prefinished Sheet Steel Prefinished sheet steel for construction consists of four major components: the sheet steel itself, a metallic (zinc or aluminum-zinc alloy) coating, chemical pre-treatment and primer, and a top coat. Each performs an important role in providing designers with a high quality, aesthetic, cost competitive and corrosion-resistant material. The backbone of the system is sheet steel, an ideal material for covering large surface areas because of its economy and high strength-toweight ratio. Protection against the demanding Canadian environment is provided by the metallic coating, one of the most effective methods of protecting bare steel from corrosion. Both zinc and aluminum-zinc alloy provide a tough, non-porous coating

Steel has been used in North American construction projects for more than 150 years and still remains one of the strongest, most durable and economical building materials available today. Although steel has been traditionally associated with high-rise buildings, bridge structures and commercial and industrial projects, it is rapidly emerging as the logical material of choice for residential construction. Cold formed sheet steel panels are lightweight, economical, easy to handle and represent a high quality alternative to traditional roofing materials. Environmental and economic considerations have prompted many residential homeowners to investigate alternative building materials and methods, and steel roofing panels have proven technical benefits as well as excellent recycling capabilities which make them an increasingly popular choice. This follows the long-time use of steel roofing in commercial construction where steel has built undisputable quality and performance records. 

The architects at Morris Adjmi wanted large, 11-ft. tall glass walls to highlight the breathtaking views for the reimagined Warehouse in New York City’s growing architectural wonderland of Chelsea. However, the building was on a lot line, mandating 2 hour fire walls. SAFTI FIRST® made this dream a reality by supplying the largest tested and listed 2 hour fire resistive glazing available today. The inclusion of low-iron glass in the fire-resistive glazing units ensured superior clarity and aesthetic continuity with the adjacent non-rated windows. The fire resistive units incorporated high performance glazing and were filled with argon for energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

Introduction Sheet steel roofing and siding (cladding) is available in a wide variety of profiles, colours and paint systems. The modern prepainted systems used on Canadian-made products will provide decades of beautiful performance before there are any visible signs of deterioration of the paint surface. However, an important component of the cladding system is the fastener used to attach it to the structure. This fastener is not simply a screw; it is part of the roof or wall assembly and should be expected to provide the same long-term performance. This performance is not simply the capacity to safely hold the cladding in place, but also to match the colour and durability of the paint system. The selection of the correct screw for the job is the first step in the creation of a cladding system that will provide long-term performance. The next step is the installation. Installing screws in sheet steel cladding is commonplace and can be done very efficiently. The tool manufacturers have developed a wide range of options for installing fasteners into any type of substrate. Selecting the most appropriate tool will help the installation process.

The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Chicago features an incredible, 4-story mural by local artist Eulojio Ortega. The mural, brilliant for conveying the story as visitors go from floor to floor, is interestingly located in an exit stairwell. Traditionally, stairwells are enclosed in opaque walls, leaving them dark, isolated, and rarely utilized unless in an emergency. To allow the mural to be visible through multiple floors, encourage stair usage and meet fire rated code requirements, the architects redesigned the 2- hour stairwell using transparent, floor-to-ceiling butt-glazed glass walls with the largest tested and listed fire resistive glass panels available.

About Galliard HomesHaving serviced London’s real estate market for over a quarter of a century, Galliard Homes is the English capital’s largest privately owned residential developer. Over their years in the business, Galliard has become synonymous with regeneration, rejuvenation and reinvention. About Our CustomerProviding a wide range of façade design and engineering services to real estate companies across Europe, Yuanda has been transforming the continent’s skylines for over a decade. By offering a combination of European system design and Chinese materials and fabrication, Yuanda continues to provide world-class and cost-effective façade solutions to the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. The BriefThe Harbour Central project was conceptualised to transform the London Docklands into an up-and-coming residential area. The project, which comprises 5 residential towers, boasts a total façade area of 63,000 square metres. The façades were designed to superimpose a metal mesh on the shadow box area and showcase the aesthetics of the blocks. Moreover, the team of architects at Rolfe Judd had very precise specialty glazing requirements for the buildings. “We discussed product aesthetics, construction and design considerations. The architect had a specific idea in mind regarding the kind of colour finish they required and Future Glass was able to provide the perfect gold and silver tones that were needed.”- Mr Alain Anthony, Design Director, Yuanda EuropeThe Future Glass SolutionThe search for the perfect glass led us across countries and continents. After an exhaustive search, the silver mesh was procured from Germany while the gold mesh was procured from Italy. Since the glass panels required were of a very large size, an innovative solution was sought by which panels of a maximum size of 1,500 mm x 4,000 mm were created with the metal mesh suspended in the cavity of the IGU. To put concerns about mesh sagging and distortion to rest, a sample panel was provided to the client. For energy efficiency, Climaguard Premium 2T, a high performance Low-E coated glass was procured from Guardian Glass in Europe. The glass itself is made up of a combination of products. The outer-lite is a clear ecoLAM (HS) of 10.76 mm. The expanded metal mesh infill is within a 24 mm black spacer with argon gas. Finally,  the inner lite is a 6 mm clear ecoFACADE (HS). Despite the complicated product combination, the performance specifications were designed to meet the client’s requirements perfectly. A total of about 4,100 square metres of finished insulated glass units with expanded metal mesh were provided for the Harbour Central project.The Future Glass AdvantageAt Future Glass’ state-of-the-art facility in UAE, a dedicated workforce was tasked with ensuring the high-specialty glass was treated in a sterile environment where temperature and humidity could be controlled. Each glass panel is handmade and pieced together under the supervision of qualified engineers. The finished glass panels were placed in IPPC-certified wooden crates for transport. As per local requirements, each piece was individually banded and then shipped to Yuanda’s Shenyani factory. From there, the panels were carefully assembled into a framing system that was delivered to the site in London. Despite the fact that the materials were sourced from various countries, the logistics and operations team took every precaution necessary to ensure zero breakages during the delivery process. In case panels needed to be replaced, we did what was necessary without impacting the timelines, even though it was difficult to procure smaller quantities of mesh from the supplier.

One of the highlights of the SUNY University Hospital’s vertical expansion is the addition of the Golisano Children’s Hospital on the top two floors of the six-story addition. Since the project added new floors, stairwell enclosures were also added. Traditionally, stairwells are relegated to the back of the building, and are usually closed-off, dimly lit and seldom used. Today, stairwells are becoming a prominent design feature and their use is encouraged more and more for the health benefits that stair climbing provides.

MAPEI’s Mapeheat™ radiant floor-heating system adds an extra touch of luxury to a five-star lodge.

Central to the building's design are several simulation labs, practice labs, and mock operating rooms where students can observe instructors and each other as they perform their tasks. Because these labs are in areas where a 1-hour fire rating has to be maintained, the architects chose to combine vision, transparency, and fire safety with SuperLite® II-XL 60 in GPX® Architectural Series framing.

The new Orlando VA Medical Center needed glazing that would not only provide light and transparency, but fire and hurricane protection and improved energy performance. SuperLite® II-XL in GPX® Hurricane Framing from SAFTI FIRST® was installed in exterior fire-rated locations that were exposed to the elements. These assemblies were rigorously tested and certified for fire and radiant heat protection for up to two hours, large missile impact, air and water infiltration, and cyclic wind loading.

Buildings consume one-third of all energy and two-thirds of all electricity generated. Cool metal roofs can help reduce energy consumption by lowering cooling loads with their wide array of finishes, designs and colors.Cool metal roofs are energy-efficient. • The roof can have the greatest impact on the energy use of a building. On a typical summer afternoon, a light-colored, more reflective roof that reflects 80 percent of sunlight will stay about 310C (550F) cooler than a darker roof that reflects only 20 percent of sunlight, as reported by the Heat Island Group of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. • Cool metal roofs are an excellent option for commercial retrofit applications because they can be efficiently installed with above-sheathing ventilation, allowing heat to dissipate through the ridge vent in hot weather while acting as an insulating layer when it is cold. Metal roofs can result in as much as a 30 percent reduction in heat gain through the vented roof. • Metal roofs provide the optimal foundation for photovoltaic installations since the roof can be expected to last longer than the PV system it supports. • Wall and roof solar heat recovery systems can be integrated with steel cladding and used to provide air, water or process heating needs. • Cool metal roofing is available unpainted, with thermosetting coil-applied paint finishes, or with granular-coated surfaces. This family of roofing can achieve solar reflectance of over 70 percent, meeting the EPA Energy Star Roof Products Program performance criteria. • Emittance as high as 90 percent can be achieved for painted and granular-coated metal roofing. • Painted metal roofs retain 95 percent of their initial reflectance and emittance over time. They resist the growth of organic matter and shed dirt more readily than other materials. • Cool metal roofing can help to mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect because of its high reflectance, which can reduce ambient air temperatures. Cool metal roofs are cost-effective. • Metal roofing has low life-cycle costs, making it the choice of many school, government, commercial, industrial and institutional building owners. • Due to its light weight per unit area, structural savings can be realized in a building when compared with heavier non-metal roofing alternatives. • For re-roofing projects, metal roofing can often be applied over the original roof, saving removal and disposal costs. • Metal roofing is fully recyclable when ultimately removed as part of building renovation or demolition, allowing it to credibly claim both recycled content and 100 percent recyclability by recognized definitions. The product’s recyclability also provides significant savings on construction removal and disposal costs.

Crosstown Condos, a landmark development in Toronto’s Don Mills neighbourhood, represents the future of modern urban living, blending quality construction, sustainability, and thoughtful design. Set adjacent to the upcoming Eglinton Crosstown LRT Line 5, the community offers seamless transit connectivity alongside state-of-the-art amenities.At the core of its expansive outdoor terraces and rooftop patios lies Envirospec’s Canadian-made PAVE-EL Pedestal system, a solution that proves smart infrastructure can deliver long-term value.Challenge:The project included large outdoor amenity spaces across multiple residential towers. These spaces required a raised pedestal system that could ensure perfect levelling, long-term durability, effective drainage, and performance in all seasons — all while being cost- and material-efficient.Solution:Envirospec’s PAVE-EL Pedestal system was selected for its precision engineering, durability, and ease of installation. Unlike screwjack systems that require full pedestals throughout, PAVE-EL’s modular approach allowed installers to use half pedestals along patio edges and quarter pedestals in corners, reducing material requirements significantly.This not only cut material waste but also reduced installation time and labour costs, with installation completed in approximately one-third the time compared to traditional systems. Backed by a 40-year track record of zero product failures and a 25-year warranty, PAVE-EL offers peace of mind along with proven long-term performance. Outcome:Material Savings: Smart use of half and quarter pedestal sizes reduced overall pedestal material needs.Cost & Time Reduction: Faster, simpler installation led to lower labour costs and project efficiency, allowing construction teams to move on to the next stage of the project more quickly.Performance: Patios achieved perfect levelling and drainage, enhancing resident comfort, enjoyment and outdoor usability.Sustainability: The polyethylene-based system is designed to last over 100 years, with a 25-year warranty, aligning with the development’s long-term sustainability goals and reducing environmental impact. Withstands all natural temperatures on Earth. Made in Canada: Supporting local innovation and supply chain reliability.By leveraging the versatility and durability of the PAVE-EL system, Crosstown Condos showcases how innovative construction solutions can elevate both form and function in modern developments.

Steel is a major and essential construction material, offering unique value and unmatched performance in many end uses. Steel is strong, safe, durable, versatile, resilient and cost-effective. Steel is sustainable, with the exceptional environmental advantages of being highly recycled and infinitely recyclable. Steel is tough and does not rot, spall, split or absorb moisture and is resistant to pests, unlike other building materials. And from an aesthetic or architectural viewpoint, steel structures can easily deliver creative design options and offer excellent value. Steel is the fabric of life.

MAPEI’s self-leveling underlayment, Novoplan 2, was used to prepare the floors of the Shangri-La Hotel condos to receive stunning oak planks from Italy. The wood was installed using Ultrabond ECO 995 adhesive with built-in sound reduction and moisture barrier characteristics.

Introduction Most cold formed steel building products, whether painted or unpainted, are manufactured from a sheet steel material that has some form of metallic coating applied. This metallic coating can be zinc (galvanized), zinc-iron alloy (galvanneal) or a 55% aluminum-zinc alloy (GalvalumeTM). The metallic coating is available in a range of thicknesses to provide the degree of corrosion protection and service life required. One of the concerns expressed by installers relates to the presence of wet storage staining on the products, how this staining impacts the long term performance, and what can be done to remove it. The purpose of this fact sheet is to address some of these issues, allay some fears, and give guidance on proper storage techniques.

The west-facing elevation of The Kensington in Boston, MA, was in close proximity to the property line, prompting the building official to require part of the curtain wall had to meet ASTM E-119/NFPA 251/UL263 for 60 minutes. SAFTI FIRST® supplied SuperLite® II-XL 60 insulated with Solarban 70XL in GPX® Curtain Wall Framing in a continuous span from the seventh to the tenth floors.

Buildings have a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity. In North America, the built environment accounts for approximately one-third of all greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water and material consumption and generates similiar proportions of pollution. Indoor air quality is regarded as one of the top environmental health risks today, affecting the well-being, productivity and performance of many people. As concerns increase about sustainability in building design and operation, there is a need to develop a framework for assessing and quantifying buildings so that questions such as, “What is sustainable design?” and “How green is this project?” can be addressed. In response to this, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system was developed to provide such a framework for North America. This document explores how the use of steel structures and components can contribute to achieving a LEED certificate for a building.