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Construction Projects

January 2022 – Edmonton & Alberta Construction Digest

January 2022 – Edmonton & Alberta Construction Digest

January 2022 Construction Digest

New Commercial Permits over $1M

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News Headlines

New Projects in Alberta

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Construction Projects

December 2021 – Alberta Construction Digest

December 2021 Construction Digest

New Commercial Permits over $1M

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News Headlines

New Projects in Alberta

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Construction Projects

November 2021 – Alberta Construction Digest

November 2021 Alberta Construction Digest

New Commercial Permits over $1M

News Headlines

New Projects in Alberta

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Construction Projects

October 2021 – Alberta Construction Data & News

October 2021 – Alberta Construction Data & News

New Project Updates

Project Name
St. Michael’s Supportive Living Centre (Fenwyck Project)

Value
$52M

Area
Spruce Grove

Schedule
2021 – 2023

Developer
St. Michael’s Health Group

Notes
Construction of a five-storey supporting living facility by the St. Michael’s Health Group in the Fenwyck area of Spruce Grove. The project is phase one of the development.

Project Name
The Jameson Residential Tower

Value
$34M

Area
Edmonton

Schedule
2021 – 2023

Developer
Open Sky Developments

Notes
Construction of a 17 storey residential apartment complex in the Oliver neighbourhood of Edmonton. Upon completion, the building will contain 140 residential units, ground floor retail, and an underground parkade.  Construction began on September 7, 2021.

Project Name
Kate Andrews High School Replacement

Value
$36.6M

Area
Lethbridge County

Schedule
Commencing 2021

Developer
The Palliser School Division

Notes
The Kate Andrews High School will be replace with a new school with an attached municipal recreation centre. The new school will be able to accommodate up to 855 students in grades 7 to 12.

Project Name
Sora Condos – Building C

Value
$19.3M

Area
Edmonton

Schedule
2021 – 2022

Developer
Carrington Communities

Notes
Sora Condos, Building C will feature 98 condos built above an underground parkade. A building permit was issued by the City of Edmonton on September 20, 2021.

Project Name
Newberry Condominiums

Value
$17.9M

Area
Calgary

Schedule
N/A

Developer
Truman Homes

Notes
Proposed construction of a 78 unit apartment complex located in West Springs, Calgary.  The proponent has applied for a building permit with the City of Calgary on September 21, 2021.  

Project Name
Sierra Place Building Redevelopment

Value
$28.5M

Area
Calgary

Schedule
2021 – 2022

Developer
HomeSpace Calgary

Notes
The Sierra Place Office Building will be redeveloped into an affordable housing development that will contain 82 units and have space for up to 180 individuals. 

Project Name
Uxborough Office Building

Value
$30M

Area
Calgary

Schedule
2021 – 2023

Developer
Western Securities

Notes
The Uxborough Office Building will be an 11 storey complex featuring 146,000 square feet of space. Construction on the building began on September 17, 2021. The project is part of the broader $400M Uxborough Master Redevelopment. 

News Headlines

New Construction Permits in Edmonton

garneau towers

Permit Type
Major Development Permit
Permit Date
Aug 24, 2021
Status
Approved
Description of Development
To construct a 217 Dwelling Multi-unit Housing building, with main floor Specialty Food Service (less than 100 occupants / 120sq.m. of Public Space) and Health Service Uses, and an underground parkade.
Address
8327 – 112 STREET NW


10303 98 Avenue NW

Permit Type
Major Development Permit
Permit Date
Aug 27, 2021
Status
Approved
Description of Development
To construct a 68 Dwelling Multi-unit Housing building with an underground parkade.
Address
10303 – 98 AVENUE NW


churchill square development

Permit Type
Major Development Permit
Permit Date
Sep 27, 2021
Status
Approved
Description of Development
To construct exterior alterations to the Site to redevelop the south outdoor plaza area and exterior alterations to the east and west pavilions that are Accessory and adjacent to the Public Libraries and Cultural Exhibits Use (Stanley A. Milner Library); to include re-development and re-design of the Post Office Clock Tower Plaza Site and Judy Padua Way (Road-Right-of-Way); and to construct exterior alterations and to change the Use to Child Care Services to the existing stage and amphitheater on top of the Parkade Exit Ramp on 101A Avenue NW to support the required rooftop outdoor play space for the Child Care Services Use Accessory to the Stanley A. Milner Library; and exterior alterations to the Entry Ramp and Pedestrian Stairwell on 100 Street and some tree removals and new trees on Road-Right-Of-Way. This includes the raising of Judy Padua Way to become a shared roadway and removal of the turning loop from 99 Street North. (Centennial Plaza)
Address
7 – SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL SQUARE NW


mec lot developments

Permit Type
Major Development Permit
Description of Development
The construct and operate a a mixed-Use building with Commercial Uses on the ground level with two (2) Specialty Food Services (Public Space of 64.4 m2 and 64.4 m2) and four (4) Restaurants (89.6 m2 of Public Space and 86.8 m2 of Public Space and 55.3 m2 of Public Space and 125.3 m2 of Public Space), and four (4) General Retail Stores; with 6 Storeys of Multi-unit Housing (158 Dwelling units); and three levels of underground parkade with 190 vehicular parking stalls consisting of 62 vehicular parking stalls as Vehicle Parking Use and 128 Accessory vehicular parking stalls for Multi-unit Housing Use; and a rooftop patio; and to construct an internal courtyard public space framed by Commercial tenant bays with connectivity to both 102 Avenue and 123 Street; and to construct exterior alterations to the Site.
Address
10204 – 123 STREET NW
Applicant
HODGSON SCHILF EVANS ARCHITECTS


hyatt house hotel

Permit Type
Major Development Permit
Permit Date
Sep 27, 2021
Status
Approved
Description of Development
To change the Use from a Hotel (175 units) and Apartment Hotel (139 Dwelling units) to a Multi-unit Housing with 262 Dwellings, General Retail Store in the Basement, 2 Restaurants on the main floor (CRU 110: 637m2 of public space with 237 seats and CRU 113: 454m2 of public space with 163 seats), and General Retail Stores and Professional, Financial and Office Support Services on the second floor.
Address
10201 – JASPER AVENUE NW

Alberta Construction Data Totals YTD

alberta construction chart

Alberta Construction Data Totals YTD by Sector

alberta construction chart

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Categories
Construction Projects Analytics & Dashboarding

Guide to Construction Estimating & Takeoff Software

Construction Projects

The construction estimating process is critical to the success of every project.
Modeling the costs and productivity requirements of a construction project requires contractors to create detailed cost estimates, project and delivery schedules, and construction plans.

Many software firms have attempted to create a seamless estimating experience and provide the tools to create a comprehensive estimating and takeoff process. This guide will cover the options that are available to contractors to allow quick, precise, and accurate cost & delivery estimates for their projects.

Let’s start with a brief review of the overall construction estimating, takeoff, and bidding process.

If you’re an estimating professional, and you just want to see our recommendations, click here.

Understanding Construction Estimating for Contractors

Construction estimating is part of the bid process, during which contractors and builders will typically compile a group of documents, known as the bid package, which summarizes the project details and key information. These bids aggregate the costs that the contractor expects to pay for the sourcing of materials and construction of the project.

The process begins with the project owner creating the bid package.

The bid package contains all of the information the contractors will need to create an accurate cost estimate, schedule, and delivery method.

The documents included in the bid package typically include the Invitation For Bid (IFB), project blueprints, location and schedule constraints, detailed specifications of the contract, which include general standards, contract terms, insurance requirements, and other information about the bid and contract.

Traditional Bidding Process

TAKEOFF

A takeoff (sometimes referred to as material takeoff or quantity takeoff) is the first step in the bidding process. This step involves examining the blueprints and bid documents in order to extract the required materials and labor required for the project.

The information produced from the takeoff is what is used to build the cost estimate and project schedule.

For a General Contractor, some examples of takeoff items may include:

  • Unit counts: E.g. Counts of light fixtures, concrete barriers, pipe fittings, doors, beams, trusses, etc. Anything that needs to be calculated in unit quantities.
  • Linear length: E.g. Total lengths of cable, lumber, wiring, trim, rebar, piping, etc. Anything that needs to be calculated in lengths.
  • Surface area: E.g. Counts of areas that require painting, drywall, roofing materials. Anything that needs to be calculated by its length times its width.
  • Cubic volume: E.g. Concrete pours, earthworks, insulation, asphalt, etc. Anything that needs to be calculated by length times width times height.
  • Physical weight: E.g. Gravel, sand, shipping requirements, waste disposal, etc. Weight calculations are often a byproduct of other takeoffs, and are useful when planning transportation and logistics.
ESTIMATE COSTS & TIMELINES

Once a takeoff has been completed, we compile the data to create the cost estimates required for materials, labour, and supplies.

The process typically follows this schedule:

  1. Review Project Scope and Requirements
  2. Create a project schedule with deadlines and milestones.
  3. Identify in-house work and work that needs to be subcontracted.
  4. Determine labour and material costs.
  5. Include risk factors, contingencies, and profit margins.
  6. List project inclusions and exclusions.
  7. Submit bid to Business Development or to the client.

There are several tools available to estimators to help them build their cost estimate.

  • Estimating & Takeoff software – Manual takeoffs are resource-intense and prone to error. software creates a seamless process from takeoff to bid, with minimal chance for human error and several integrated checks and balances to ensure you have completed the takeoff and estimate accurately. 
  • Subcontractor database – It’s critical to have a good network of subcontractors that you can rely on for expertise and cost estimates. Some companies that provide takeoff software also provide a database of material pricing and general costs associated with a construction project, which can provide a helpful overview into the cost of the project before going out to source local pricing.
  • Pre-built estimate templates – Pre-built templates are critical to efficient takeoff and estimating processes, and they help you capture details that the IFB may have missed. Most estimating software providers have multiple pre-built templates for GC’s and larger sub-trades.
  • Item specifications – Many software suites will allow you to store item specs and useful data about materials and components. The information may include things like cost to purchase, cost to install, ANSI specifications, and local distributors.
BID PROCESS

The most common way of bidding is to prepare a hard bid (AKA competitive bid, hard dollar, fixed price, and others).

The GC sources material and subcontractor pricing, and then adds costs for their own supervision, site requirements (such as offices, sanitary facilities, dumpsters), contingencies, and profit.

Contractors with the most competitive bid, along with the best strategy and history/reputation, will likely earn the work. In the case of public projects (owned by government), the contractor with the most competitive bid is required to be awarded the project by law, provided their bid fully meets the requirements of the project.

Software Tools for Estimating & Takeoff Automation

Takeoff and estimating software refers to programs that help estimators extract useful material data from blueprints and IFB files. Some software will assist with generating material cost and labour estimates.

Typically, the software will support most file types for blueprints, such as PDF, DWG, SVG, DXF, XLSX, PNG, and other types of files.

With the suite of tools offered by the software, estimators can measure, calculate, and compile information quickly with fewer errors.

Features & Functionality
TAKEOFF
  • Tools for Counts, Areas, Lengths, and Volumes – The essential utility of takeoff software is the ability to extract materials, quantities, and requirements from digital files supplied by the project owner.
  • Collaborative & Team Takeoff – Having your takeoffs and estimates synchronized to allow for collaborative work is crucial for a large team where conflicting edits may happen. Most cloud-based services offer collaborative takeoff features.
  • RFI Creation & Management– In the event that insufficient information has been supplied or there are conflicting requirements in the project, an RFI will need to be issued to rectify the conflict. Some programs allow you to create, store, and compare RFI’s in a useful layout and dashboard.
ESTIMATING
  •  Activity Tracking – Knowing who did what on which bid is critical to a good estimating management process.
  •  Audit Trail – An audit trail is a step-by-step record which provides evidence of the history of document changes to its source and is useful to see who made changes to a document.
  •  BIM – Some advanced estimating software suites include BIM (Building Information Modelling). The purpose of BIM is to provide both a high-level overview of the project, as well as critical details, to ensure that the right information is included in the estimate.
  •  Cost Database – Most estimating software allows you to import your database of supplier costs, which is critical in building an accurate estimate that is suited for your local market.
  •  Customizable Reports – Management wants to see not only the results of a bid, but how you got there. You can build reports that compare similar projects, subcontractor pricing, typical amounts spent on previous projects vs current, and just about anything else you can imagine.
  •  Historical Database – Having a database of past projects that you can refer to and learn from is an estimating best practice, especially when you can compare estimated vs actual costs with the job cost report of the project you are comparing your current bid with.
  •  Project Templates – Pre-built project templates are useful when you are estimating projects that are similar to ones you have completed before. A 50,000 sq. ft. 3-storey CRU may have similar project requirements as a 60,000 sq. ft. 2-storey CRU, and you can save hours of work by reusing the template (with careful consideration of the project’s differences).
  •  Project Workflow & Schedule – Project scheduling is the process of listing tasks, milestones, critical path items, and subcontractor requirements with a planned start and finish date.
    Scheduling is often the most critical component of a project where you need to work closely with the operations team to ensure you are setting realistic deadlines and building optimal process flows. Proper scheduling ensures the project is completed on time and within budget.
  •  Projections & Forecasting – Estimating software helps you improve budgeting and forecasting estimates by aggregating cost requirements, benchmarking, and project forecasting.  Proposal Generation
  •  Subcontractor Management – During the bidding phase of a project, the GC needs to source a multitude of estimates from subcontractors. The more subcontractors and suppliers you involve in the process, the more risk and exposure the bid gets to failing specifications, inaccurate scope coverage, and inability to perform. Knowing which subcontractors are right for the project (not too large, not too small) is critical to the success of the project.
  •  Task Management Software – Historical task data can help you with process control and productivity when estimating new projects. When you have a reliable track record of successful estimates and bids, you can build new processes and analyze the historical information to help you create better estimates and more accurately predict resource requirements during the estimating process.
  •  What-if Analysis – A What-If analysis can be a time-consuming process of creating variations of the original project and analyzing the effects those variations have on the total project cost & construction time.
    What-If analysis replaces the painful process of learning by trial and error. If a predictable process or critical path breaks down during construction, the cost to fix, reorganize, or rebuild can carry additional costs and impact the schedule of the project. Using What-If analysis, you can create scenarios in which your operational team can quickly adjust to changes in the construction process or schedule, keeping the project within budget and scheduling requirements.
 
BIDDING
  •  Approval Process Control – Estimating software should allow you to customize and control the information each user can see and edit depending on their role in the organization. After the bid is completed, there should be an approval process that triggers it for review and submission to the client.
  •  Automated Quoting & Proposal Generation – Manual quoting processes are slow and inefficient in today’s world. Having a time-consuming quoting process scales poorly with your business, as the time it takes to produce winning bids is increased with each additional estimating hire. Using automation allows you to send out more bids in less time, keep track of incoming requests, and update data.
  •  Bid Management – Managing the different versions of your bids often includes making revisions to your takeoffs and estimates. Keeping track of changes and how they impact linked tasks helps you modify bids in an optimal way.
  •  Calendar Management – Everyone needs a calendar to track deadlines, milestones, and submission dates. The integrated bid calendar should show you which projects are due on what date, bid priority in the case of opportunities exceeding the bidding capacity of the estimating department, and tasks remaining until bid completion.
  •  Contact Management – Contractors submitting multiple bids to different clients will find a contact management system incredibly useful. 
  •  Customer History – Seeing the past projects that you have bid to a client is useful, especially if the Business Development team has made notes on successful or unsuccessful bids with actionable items that may improve your chances of winning the next bid.
  •  Customizable Reports – Some estimating software comes with integrated sales features that include useful reporting for operations and BD, such as insights into the sales funnel, characteristics and data on winning bids, and estimated times to complete bids.
  •  Digital Signature Software – In today’s world, people want low-friction and easy-to-use ways of doing business. The old way of printing off documents, taking them to the client, and having them sign is being phased out. Digital signature features often includes add ons such as open-tracking (being notified when your client opens the bid) and use-analysis (how long they had the document open, where they dropped off, where they spent the most time, etc.)
  •  Projections – Creating projections for the project schedule and budget is essential for the operations team to stay on track and understand how delays and cost-increases impact the project further down the schedule.
  •  Subcontractor Portal –  A subcontractor portal helps you communicate essential information, share project documents, and manage bid revisions with trades that are invited to bid on the project.

The Best Construction Estimating & Takeoff Software

ProEst

2021 06 10 07 34 44 proest home page.png 1024×768 We create high-performing websites for the construction industry.

PRICING: US$5,000.00/year

FREE VERSION?: No. Free Trial.

FEATURES:
  •  Accounting Integration
  •  Activity Dashboard
  •  Bid Management
  •  Bidder Management
  •  Building Product Database
  •  Change Order Management
  •  Collaboration Tools
  •  Cost Database
  •  Customizable Reports
  •  Customizable Templates
  •  Job Costing Software
  •  Multiple User Accounts
  •  Proposal Generation
  •  Reporting & Statistics
  •  Subcontractor Management
  •  Takeoff Software
  •  Third Party Integrations (Procore, Acumatica, Foundation, RSMeans Data)

PROS: 

  • Extensive list of features
  • Full takeoff-to-bid process integrated
  • Builds your estimate while doing takeoffs
  • Lots of pre-defined templates and reports
CONS:
  • Expensive for smaller contractors
  • Some find the scheduling feature to be lacking
  • Difficult learning curve for inexperienced users
BOTTOM LINE:

ProEst is a great option for midsize to large contractors. The system is cloud-based. This carries both pros and cons. If you don’t have an internet connection, you cannot access the suite. However, you will be able to access it on any computer with internet access, providing great flexibility.


 

PlanSwift

Takeoff Software for Construction Estimating | PlanSwift

PRICING: US$1,595.00/year

FREE VERSION?: No. Free Trial.

FEATURES:
  • Overlays
  • Quick Estimating
  • Calculate Measurements Instantly
  • Create custom assemblies
  • Import Excel Items
  • Calculate Labor, Material, & Taxes
  • Create custom formulas
  • Includes standard reports
  • Create unlimited number of custom reports
  • Takeoff Templates
  • Assemblies and Parts
  • Point and Click
  • Takeoff Templates
  • Share Estimates
  • Drag and Drop
  • Import Blueprints, Projects, and Jobs
  • Integrations: QuickBooks, UDA Construction Suite, databases like Excel, SQL Server, and MS Access

PROS: 

  • Extensive list of features
  • Detailed and customizable budgeting information
  • Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • Lots of pre-defined templates and reports
CONS:
  • No built-in cloud syncing between computers limits collaborative work
  • Price changes in database do not change pricing for current jobs. Needs to be manually added.
  • Only PDF is acceptable.
  • No API for web integrations
BOTTOM LINE:

PlanSwift is best for smaller teams, where collaborative work features are not required. The software runs on your PC, and stores files locally. PlanSwift can be custom-tailored to fit all trades from finish paint to earthwork.


 

Stack

STACK Software - 2021 Reviews, Pricing & Demo

PRICING:

$1,999.00 / YEAR – 1 User

$4,999.00 / YEAR – 3 Users

FREE VERSION?: Yes.

FEATURES:
  • Aerial Measurement
  • Assembly Takeoff
  • Audit Trail
  • Bid Management
  • Building Product Database
  • Cost Database
  • Data Import/Export
  • Electrical Estimating
  • Electronic Plans
  • Historical Database
  • HVAC Estimating
  • Job Costing
  • Job Management
  • Overhead Costs Estimating
  • Plumbing Estimating
  • Prebuilt Assembly
  • Project Management
  • Quotes/Estimates
  • Reporting/Analytics

PROS: 

  • Pre-built database that include in-depth lists of equipment, labor, and materials.
  • Easy-to-use scheduling features.
  • Fully cloud-based.
  • Fast loading of projects files.
CONS:
  • Expensive for smaller contractors
  • Few accounting and project management integrations.
  • Rates increase as team add new features.
  • Cloud-based user interface has limitations
BOTTOM LINE:

Stack is a growing company in the SaaS space. They implement new features quickly, have an active online community, and are constantly releasing new versions.
Cloud service is an essential feature for larger teams requiring collaborative tools. The user interface is intuitive and easy to use.

While still in its infancy, Stack is a fantastic tool for estimating teams and is currently our favorite.

CONCLUSION:

The market for construction estimating software is growing at a staggering rate, and there are new options being released frequently.

Many estimating suites come with integrations that allow you to connect to your sales CRM and KPI dashboards. However, most of the options with modern integrations are hosted in the cloud.

To ensure everyone in the organization is in the loop on new projects, you need to ensure there is cross-compatibility with other software suites that may be used for sales and operational processes.

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Construction Projects

Edmonton Scaffolding Pipe Bridge

Edmonton Scaffolding Pipe Bridge

Impressive system scaffolding build in Edmonton, AB in Whitemud Creek near Whitemud Park.
The build appears to be for a pipe bridge under restoration by EPCOR services, and includes public overhead protection, debris netting and plywood enclosures, and an aluminum beam & plywood support and work platform. The scaffold is U-shaped as they have ravine slopes on both sides of the valley. 

General Contractor is Whitson Contracting, an Edmonton-based general contractor.

Owner is EPCOR Utilities Inc., a utility company based in Edmonton, Alberta. EPCOR manages water, wastewater, natural gas, and electricity distribution systems in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario

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