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When a homeowner is considering the purchase of a steel roof a common question is whether it will increase the risk of a lightning strike. After all, steel is highly conductive, just like the materials used in lightning rods, so doesn’t it stand to reason that the steel roof will attract lightning? The short answer is, NO, steel roofing will NOT increase the risk of a lightning strike in any way. For all intents and purposes, nothing ‘attracts’ lightning. Lightning occurs on too large of a scale to be influenced by small objects on the ground, including steel roofs. The location of the thunderstorm overhead alone determines where lightning will hit the ground. A lightning bolt that is several miles long, generated by a cloud that is more than 6 to 10 miles high, is not going to be influenced by an object the size of your house. 652 Bishop St. N., Unit 2A, Cambridge, Ontario N3H 4V6 • Tel.: (519) 650-1285 • Fax: (519) 650-8081 • www.cssbi.ca The descending stepped leader of a lightning bolt doesn’t ‘decide what to strike’ until it is very close to the ground. When a cloud-to-ground lightning channel is forming, it is going to strike the ground where the opposing charges are greatest, directly underneath the storm’s most electrically active region. If you are standing at that exact location, you will be hit, even if there’s no metal within miles! Conversely, if you are farther than 500 feet from that location, you could wave your golf club or umbrella high in the air, but you won’t draw the lightning away, even slightly, from striking where it’s going to strike. Steel does conduct electricity, but steel roofs don’t attract lightning or increase the probability of a lightning strike. Four factors affect the probability of a lightning strike: • Topography: a structure located on a mountain or hill has a higher probability of a strike than one in a field. • Structure size and height: a tall structure or one that covers a great deal of ground has a higher probability of a strike than a short or small building. • Relative location in relation to taller structures: a small, short building near a taller structure has a lower probability of strike than the taller structure. • Severity and frequency of thunderstorms in the structure’s vicinity. However, on occasion, lightning does strike a house. If your home were hit, the steel roofing would disperse the energy safely through the structure. Since steel roofing isn’t combustible or flammable, it’s a low risk and desirable roofing option where severe weather is concerned -- especially for lightning. For More Information For additional information on steel roofing or other sheet steel building products, visit our website at www.cssbi.ca.

What is Oil-Canning? Oil-canning is associated with all thin sheet metal products and occurs in the wide flat portions of the cladding profile. It is seen as a series of standing waves, or regular bumps and hollows alternating along the flat length of the panel. This waviness, when viewed under certain conditions, can be undesirable aesthetically and may not meet with the owner’s expectations. The CSSBI wants to help avoid this situation. The cladding manufacturers are aware of the potential for oil-canning in the cladding profiles and can help minimize the effect. It is important for the proper steps to be taken during manufacturing and installation to produce a quality finished product; therefore, specifiers should insist on product from a reliable, experienced cladding manufacturer, like a CSSBI member company. Quality control, however, cannot end on the shop floor. The building project needs the cooperation and knowledge of everyone involved to enhance the quality of the finished job. Oil-canning is a phenomenon that can be managed if the following factors are considered at the beginning of a project.

PREFACE One of the objectives of the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute is the development of product standards to promote safety and sound construction practices. This Standard is intended to assist specifiers, designers, buyers, manufacturers, and erectors of sheet steel cladding by providing information which can be adopted by reference where desired. This Standard replaces the previous edition dated November 2015. The requirements contained herein are in accordance with sound engineering principles, augmented by experience. They include recommended minimum requirements for such factors as grade of steel, thickness, metallic coating designation, loading and deflections, as well as design, fabrication and erection in general. While the material is believed to be technically correct and in accordance with recognized practice at the time of publication it does not obviate the need to determine its suitability for a given situation. Neither the Canadian Sheet Steel Building Institute nor its members warrant or assume liability for the suitability of the material for any general or particular application.

One of the most common questions asked by homeowners about the installation of their steel roof is whether an underlayment is needed. The answer to this question is “yes” in most situations. The underlayment plays a critical role in controlling the migration of condensation that might develop on the underside of the steel sheet thereby preventing accumulated water entering the building resulting in costly damage.

The new San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Headquarters combines maximum daylighting and fire safety with a multi-story, fire rated glass stairwell from SAFTI FIRST. Dubbed as the "greenest building in North America," this Class A LEED Platinum office building features a transparent, 2-hour fire rated stairwell, situated prominently near the main entrance. SAFTI FIRST supplied SuperLite II-XL 120 in GPX Architectural Series Wall Framing and SuperLite II-XL 90 in GPX Builders Series Temperature Rise Door starting from the lobby all the way to the topmost floor.

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.

The Merced 2020 Project, an ambitious, $1.2B, extensive expansion of the UC Merced campus, is “the largest public-private partnership social infrastructure project completed in U.S. history,” according to the university’s website. This includes new facilities used for academic, administration, laboratories, housing and recreation. This was truly exciting, and it struck a chord with SAFTI FIRST® because Merced is home to our manufacturing facilities.

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.

Who hasn’t uttered the words or at least heard of a “Target run”? What started out as a marketing campaign to get more foot traffic in their brick and mortar stores has become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon. Aside from being a call-to-action, #TargetRun is a trending hashtag used by shoppers to share their in-store shopping experience on social media.

The Joint School of Nanoscience & Nanoengineering within the Gateway University Research Park in Greensboro, North Carolina is a new 105,000 sf interdisciplinary research facility dedicated to academic and industrial research. To create an open, transparent lab design, SAFTI FIRST® provided SuperLite® II-XL 60 in GPX® Architectural Series Frames for the 60 minute walls.

The new 10-story “Center for Care and Discovery” building in the University of Chicago Medical Center’s campus is dubbed as the “hospital of the future” for its high-tech design and groundbreaking scientific work. At 1.2 million square feet, it is one of the largest buildings at the campus and has already transformed the skyline of Chicago’s south side.

The Salt Lake City Public Safety Building in Utah is the first U.S. Public Safety Building to achieve both a net-zero rating and LEED Platinum status and designed to survive a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and remain fully functional afterwards. This ensures that the city’s emergency operations center can survive and help the city recover in the event of an earthquake or a similar disaster. Fire rated glass contributes to achieving sustainable design goals by maximizing daylight penetration deep within a building and shared artificial lighting between spaces. It also ensures that occupants can exit the building safely in the event of an earthquake, which can damage sprinkler systems and render them ineffective.

IntroductionSheet Steel Roong and SidingLightweight Steel FramingIsolate the Steel and Wood ComponentsAvoid Use of Pressure Treated WoodFastenersMany buildings will include wood members in applicationssuch as sill plates, splash boards, strapping, purlins, door orwindow bucks, and posts. In some of these end-uses it is arequirement that the wood be chemically treated (pressuretreated) to extend the service life.Designers and builders need to be aware that changes in theavailable wood perservatives may impact the durability ofany connected steel components or fasteners.Eective January 1, 2004 the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) banned the use of Chromated CopperArsenate (CCA) as a preservative in treated lumber forresidential construction. This was done in an eort to reducethe use of chromate and arsenic thereby mitigating thepotential health and environmental problems. The woodpreservative industry has been switching to alternativewaterborne compounds including Sodium Borate (SBX),Alkaline Copper Quat (ACQ), Copper Azole (CBA-A and CA-B),and Ammoniacal Copper Zinc Arsenate (ACZA).Unfortunately, research has indicated that ACQ, CBA-A, CA-Band ACZA, the new generation copper-based products, aremore corrosive to galvanized steel than the former CCA.Since ACQ is becoming the predominant preservative in use,the discussions in this paper will refer to it exclusively.The purpose of this Fact Sheet is to convey the recommendations of the sheet steel industry for the application of steelproducts with ACQ pressure treated wood.

Steel: unparalleled fire safety Life safety, and specifically fire protection, has been a primary concern of the building codes. Steel is a non-combustible material and consequently does not burn, provide an ignition source or add fuel load that would enable a fire to spread or grow into a catastrophic event. Steel does not melt at temperatures typically encountered in a building fire. Its non-combustibility and assembly fire ratings do not degrade over the lifecycle of a building. This provides a reduced fire risk, to workers and occupants, minimizes the impact on municipal fire services, decreases the reliance on sprinklers, and results in less property damage and collateral damage to adjacent buildings if a fire should ever occur. • Steel has a melting point of approximately 1,500ºC (2,700ºF). In a typical fire, such as in an office, residential or retail occupancy, the maximum temperature of a fully developed fire will not likely exceed a range of 800ºC to 900ºC (1,500ºF to 1,650ºF), though it could reach a peak of 1,100ºC (2,000ºF) for a short duration. • Building codes recognize the fact that buildings, designed with non-combustible materials like steel, pose less of a fire risk to the public than combustible systems, which are limited to six storeys in height in Canada and 25.9m (85 ft.) in the US. STEEL IS A NON-COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL AND CONSEQUENTLY DOES NOT BURN, nor does it provide an ignition source or add fuel load that would enable a fire to spread or grow into a catastrophic event. “Changes in the building codes that allow combustible framing in taller and larger buildings have gone too far and it’s created a perfect storm that can quickly overwhelm the ability of the fire service to respond.” CHIEF STEVE LOHR, HAGERSTOWN (MD) FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fastener Guide for Sheet Steel Building Products

CSSBI Position Paper on CGSB Standards for Prefinished Sheet Steel Cladding The National Building Code of Canada 2010 includes references to two documents published by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) dealing with prefinished sheet steel cladding. These documents are: • CAN/CGSB-93.3–M91 Prefinished Galvanized and Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Steel Sheet for Residential Use • CAN/CGSB-93.4–92 Galvanized Steel and Aluminum-Zinc Alloy Coated Steel Siding, Soffits and Fascia, Prefinished, Residential It is important to realize that there are no sheet steel products currently manufactured in Canada that meet the requirements contained in these CGSB standards. 

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.

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

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. 

About the ProjectA new educational hub in the heart of Kuwait, the College of Business is known for its impeccable design and breathtaking facade. A part of Kuwait’s much larger Sabah Al Salem University complex, the college building is an interactive teaching and research space where students hone their business skills. The building’s unique architecture, with vertical louvre shades and expansive rooflines, was created to maximise the natural airflow while minimising solar penetration The ChallengeThe building had a roof of approx 4,000 sq. m., which would allow a large amount of heat to enter through the skylight. This posed a big challenge to the architects in order to manage the cooling loads for the building. Our brief was to make the building as energy-efficient as possible, which called for us to find a way to keep heat transmission to a minimum while also maximising light transmission. Finding the appropriate build-up for the skylight was key for the success of the project completion in the short term and for the operation of the building in the long term to ensure sufficient light disbursement and reduction of solar heat gain. The glass make up had to protect the interiors from the harsh sunlight while also ensuring that the sun’s movement did not leave parts of the building in darkness. The idea was to ensure uniform dispersion of sunlight so as to reduce the occurrence of shadows and contrasts within the space. 

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.

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.

About the ProjectThe Qatar National Library covers over 42,000 sq. metres and houses millions of books, e-books, historic texts, manuscripts, periodicals and more. The entire building has been envisioned to look like a single room with clear views of the surrounding areas. Tying into the entire project’s overarching theme, the architect designed the building to resemble a diamond. A sunken patio in the heart of the building provides light to the office spaces while also serving as a transition space between the harsh outdoors and the sanctuary of books inside.The ChallengeThe customer’s vision for the library required panels that offered clear views with minimal to no reflection.

Scope of WorkProcess and deliver double-glazed triangle-shaped units with a dotted frit ceramic design with 50% coverage providing shading to the internal areas. The mall's skylight required 6,000 individual units in multiple configurations with a total area of ….m2Build Up39.52 mm ecoTHERM (IGU) consisting of ecoSHIELD (T) 10 mm COOL-LITE SKN 144, 16 mm spacer, ecoSHIELD (T) 6 mm clear (Guardian), 1.52 mm clear PVB (Trosifol), ecoSHIELD (T) 6 mm clear (Guardian), U-insert (Silicon Dow Corning – 3362)Triangle Glass – 29.52 mm ecoTHERM (IGU + LAMI) consisting of ecoSHIELD (T) 6 mm COOL-LITE SKN 144, 12 mm spacer, ecoSHIELD (T) 5 mm clear, 1.52 mm clear PVB (Trosifol), ecoSHIELD (T) 5 mm clear, U-insert (Silicon Dow Corning – C-3362)Project DetailsThe Lulu Group, known predominantly for its hypermarkets spread across Dubai, decided to create a mall in the heart of the Silicon Oasis Smart City. Silicon Central was designed with sustainability at the forefront, populated by plants, water and natural light.Given Dubai’s harsh summers, we had to ensure the skylight allowed light to pass while filtering heat and minimising glare to ensure shoppers had a comfortable experience. Only 50% of the skylight is transparent, while the rest is opaque. We achieved the shading effect by using dotted ceramic frit in the panels. The main atrium skylight comprised triangle-shaped panels, which complicated the processing due to sharp corners. To ensure the delivery of all 6,000 panels seamlessly, we set up a multi-glass management system to easily track and handle the different glass sizes and codes.The skylight was installed successfully, and Silicon Central has become an integral part of the sustainable Silicon Oasis neighbourhood.

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.

Project DescriptionOne of the most awe-inspiring pavilions at the Expo 2020, was the Korean Pavilion embodying the theme “Smart Korea, Moving the World Forward.” It was the fifth-largest exhibit at the Expo, and the entire pavilion was shaped like an octagon. The unique pyramid structure ensured enough light entered the pavilion, while the north façade had rotating cubes that displayed myriad images and colours. To truly revel in the beauty of the pavilion, visitors could walk through the spiral aisles to admire the exhibits inside while still catching glimpses of the extraordinary view.About the ClientEstablished in 1962, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) helps expand small and medium local businesses in overseas markets. They also work to attract foreign investment and develop international trade relations. KOTRA is known for spearheading innovative businesses and successfully building mutually beneficial partnerships. They sustain their growth through 127 offices worldwide, with over 15 offices in West Asia, including one in Dubai Media City.The BriefThe client wanted to truly showcase Korea’s forward-thinking vision. They designed a unique façade for the pavilion, with a steep slope on the south to let in adequate light and warmth. On the opposite side, a rotating cube protrudes from the basic slope, creating a dynamic façade that changes with

Nestled in the heart of a revitalized West London neighborhood, White City Living offers a unique residential experience. Built on a formerly isolated industrial site, the property boasts stunning views of a serene stream winding through elegant lawns and low-hanging trees. The second phase, launched in 2020, introduces 427 affordable homes with 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom multi-tenured apartments, featuring expansive open spaces and world-class amenities designed for modern living.About the ClientSt. James, a proud member of the Berkeley Group, is renowned for pioneering urban regeneration across the UK. Known for transforming industrial areas along London's riverside into thriving residential and commercial spaces, St. James leads this project with their visionary approach. Collaborating with SKONTO PLAN and BOYER, they are reimagining this neighborhood into a vibrant hub of activity and tranquility.Our Innovative SolutionTo align with the client’s vision, initial designs considered stick-on stainless steel elements. However, these panels posed challenges, such as frequent maintenance needs and complex installation processes. Our team developed an alternative solution, ensuring durability, ease of maintenance, and seamless integration into the project’s design.

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

Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival castle-style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a historic house museum and landmark. It was constructed from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt.Part of the renovations carried out was improving the water management on the exterior terrace located at the back of the building. The requirement was for the stormwater to be collected and disposed of efficiently without creating an unsightly 3D grading of the terrace surface. Linear drainage was the natural selection.ACO KlassikDrain KS100 was chosen for its robustness and ability to withstand Canadian weather conditions. The perforated stainless steel grate will resist corrosion and it is AODA and heelproof compliant, important requirements for this public venue.

Rose Rocket, a Canadian software company, established their head office in the heart of downtown Toronto in 2020. They chose a heritage site featuring a three-story atrium surrounded by a ‘U’-shaped office space. Ray Architecture Studio partnered with Hush Acoustics to bring their interior design vision to life, which included smaller meeting rooms, larger boardrooms, and an open office concept.

As part of Conestoga College’s campus expansion, several new rooms and spaces required acoustic solutions to enhance quietness for the large student population. The Brantford and College 1 Young buildings were particularly in need of such materials. Hush Acoustics collaborated with the college to provide innovative acoustic products for these areas, effectively addressing their specific needs.

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.

Since 2020, Hush Acoustics has been collaborating with Staples on a nationwide project to enhance the acoustic environment across their North American stores. The goal was to replace conventional materials with those offering superior acoustic properties, all while preserving Staples’ iconic brand look and feel. This ambitious project spans across the nation, aiming to transform the auditory experience in Staples stores without compromising on aesthetics.

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.

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

St. Augustine’s Church is a magnificent Gothic-style church constructed in 1863. It was built to satisfy the needs of a small but ever-expanding congregation in Dundas, Ontario, after a spectacular fire destroyed the church of 1827. To protect the structural integrity of the construction, MAPEI products were used to waterproof the front foyer and provide crack isolation.