Industry Partners
The people we worked with were integral to our construction research and development activities. The NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Strategic Construction Modeling and Delivery collaborated closely with industry partners in working toward our goal of using advanced modeling techniques to deliver effective solutions to practical industry problems.
The Chair strove to meet the needs of partner organizations with specialized solutions designed for individual parties, as well as joint collaborative projects involving multiple partners. We were proud to count construction owners, owner associations, contractors, contractor associations, labour associations, and labour unions as our industry partners. Each partner organization from our last two IRC terms (2013–2016 and 2017–2022) is profiled below.*
* (Note that most information presented on this page was last updated between 2016 and 2019. Organizations’ membership numbers, brands/icons, and other information may have changed.)
Collaborative Relationships
Our industry partners have been true collaborators. Representatives from our partner organizations provided oversight and guidance for the Chair's research program through the Management Advisory Committee, which defined research directions, provided strategic support, and managed financial contributions from our partner organizations. Members of the Technical Advisory Committee worked closely with our researchers to investigate and implement the specific details of each research project, and to transfer discoveries and new technologies from their research and development phase to their industrial application.
Our partner organizations provided us with extensive in-kind support in the form of facilities, training, data, and personnel time. These close working relationships were the key to our success: the high level of partner support we enjoy results in informed research, innovative development, and effective solutions that can be applied directly within our industry partner organizations.
Industry Partner Organizations
Capital Power
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Christian Labour Association of Canada
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Construction Owners Association of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
COAA engages with owners, construction and engineering contractors, government, labour groups, and other construction industry associations, and provides leadership to enable its members’ successful pursuit of safe, effective, and productive project execution in the construction industry. Through partnerships with BuildForce Canada (national forecast) and the Government of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ (provincial projection), COAA serves as a major information base for project and policy decisions regarding workforce supply and demand. COAA also provides important benchmarking services in collecting and analysing confidential data for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ major construction projects. With 30± best practices issued in safety, workforce development, construction performance, and contracts, COAA plays a major role in creating and championing practices to improve the construction industry. They have fostered long-standing research and training partnerships with various industry and academic groups including the Construction Industry Institute, the Construction Innovation Centre, and the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥'s Hole School of Construction Engineering. Since 1993, COAA has held its annual Best Practices Conference, attended by more than 500 delegates from across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Canada. COAA contributes to improved industry leadership by providing new ideas company and government group leaders, including notable publications such as “Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace.” COAA is a respected advocate for industry initiatives and government policies and has developed a solid working relationship with various government departments. Furthermore, COAA is a strong champion for construction safety, the apprenticeship system, stable labour relations, interprovincial workforce mobility, and the appropriate use of skilled temporary foreign workers. Further, COAA places a strong focus on talent development and has more than 200 volunteers on active committees. They are dedicated to broadening perspectives for key leaders and rising stars; establishing growth opportunities via committee chairs, workshop presenters, and industry ambassadors; and helping to develop networking and leadership skills for your team members. |
Electrical Contractors Association of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
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Progressive Contractors Association of Canada
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Suncor
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¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association
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Merit Contractors Association
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Aecon Industrial Western
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Building Trades of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥
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TransAlta Corporation
TransAlta has a strong commitment to sustainability, as seen by its ongoing efforts to diversify its fuel sources. The company has acquired world-class development and operational expertise in wind, geothermal heat, hydro, coal, and natural gas. At the end of 2010, TransAlta became the first company to own and operate more than 1,000 MW of installed wind capacity in Canada. The company has been recognized for its leadership on sustainability by the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index, the FTSE4Good Index, and the Jantzi Social Index. It was also named as one of the 15 Carbon Disclosure Leaders in Canada. TransAlta believes in developing strong relationships with the communities in which it operates. The company sees its role as not just supplying power, but also serving as a large source of employment, providing work for area contractors and suppliers, and supporting local initiatives. Its community programs have included projects involving the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede, Centralia College, the Edmonton International Fringe Festival, Hull Child & Family Services, and United Way. As of 2011, TransAlta expected to dedicate the majority of its planned growth capacity to renewable power sources, maintain its singular focus on power generation in order to satisfy the growing demand for clean, reliable, and competitively priced electricity, and continue to build on over a century of history and experience. |
Funding
The Industrial Research Chair in Strategic Construction Modeling and Delivery was funded jointly by the , the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, and the construction industry partners profiled on this page.
