Latest news with #ModernMethodsofConstruction
Toronto Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Valhalla Village uses latest in construction techniques
At Valhalla Village, Phase 1 involves the construction of 494 units, 40 per cent of which will be affordable housing. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. New approach will help twin-tower rental project to be built faster and more affordably This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Valhalla Village, an environmentally friendly, twin-tower rental property now being built at Bloor St. and The East Mall in Etobicoke, is not your traditional construction project. Led by private equity real estate investment firm Kingsett Capital and the architectural firm of BDP Quadrangle, the goal is to take modern building techniques to new heights through an approach first developed in the U.K. in the early 2000s called Modern Methods of Construction or MMC. MMC contains different categories that range from off-site pre-manufacturing, 3D structural systems or pre-manufactured elements, with the ultimate goal to build a structure not only quicker, but also reduce construction waste. According to a posting from Zurich Insurance, 'modular, factory-based production of component parts can result in a more consistent quality of construction. Proponents of MMC say this can reduce the risk of defects. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Off-site construction can also lead to more reliable timescales for construction projects, as factors such as adverse weather have less impact. The need for on-site labour is also considerably reduced.' In the case of Valhalla, Phase One involves the construction of 494 units, 40 per cent of which will be affordable housing, in a 11-storey structure known as Tower D that is being built using MMC methods and a 30-storey building known as Tower A being built using traditional concrete construction. Michelle Xuereb, innovation director with BDP, said the reason for that is the current 'sweet spot' for MMC currently is a building that is no higher than 14-storeys. 'One of the differences with modern methods of construction is that you want to start collaborating with your manufacturers very early on, so that you can get into the manufacturing queue,' she says. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You really want to have a certain percentage of the pieces fabricated before you start bringing them to site, so that you can you don't lose the flow.' A Kingsett-BDP fact sheet states that Tower D uses a modular precast system consisting of structural columns, beams, floors, and exterior cladding panels with preinstalled windows. With an occupation date of March 2026 scheduled to take place, Xuereb says the MMC initiative is going smoothly. 'You learn a lot when you use a system for the first time. It started out working out the logistics, the trucking, the fabricating, getting the pieces in place. Sometimes you have a little more precast than you have Windows. Sometimes have more windows than precast, but they were installing the windows into precast panels at the precast manufacturers facility.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Once we got the rhythm up and functioning, they (the installers) can put up a floor with structure and full-in closure in nine days and they think they'll eventually be able to speed up that cycle. But for now, that's where they are at.' Among the government organizations involved in Valhalla Village is the City of Toronto, which stated in a release issued last year that the 'new affordable rental homes at 300-304 The East Mall will remain affordable for a minimum of 40 years and be part of a larger mixed-income and mixed-use development. 'Affordable rents will be set at 100 per cent of the Average Market Rent as reported annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), providing much-needed affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income households.' NHL Sunshine Girls Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto Raptors
Irish Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
New plan revealed to modernise construction sector in Ireland
A NATIONAL plan has been launched in Ireland which is designed to modernise the construction industry. The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Action Plan provides a framework to support the adoption of modern, innovative tools that can improve the sector among the firms that work within it. It was revealed at an event held at the National Construction Training Campus in Offaly's Mount Lucas where work to build a new National Demonstration Park has now begun. "I am delighted to publish this landmark Action Plan which will assist in the accelerated adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), a significant representation of my Department's and the Government's commitment to meeting national skills needs,' Ireland's Further Education Minister James Lawless said. Minister Jim Lawless addresses the event in Mount Lucas "In addition, the National Demonstration Park will be Ireland's flagship centre for MMC showcasing, learning, and innovation. 'It will build industry and public confidence, technical expertise, and a national ecosystem around MMC." The MMC Action Plan, which has been developed by the Department of Further and Higher Education in partnership with industry and education providers, sets out 58 targeted actions across eight themes to scale the adoption of MMC across Ireland. The Demonstration Park, which is co-funded by three government departments, will be operated by the Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). Work has begun to build the National Demonstration Park It is designed to 'showcase leading MMC techniques, provide immersive learning, and support the growth of a national innovation ecosystem', it was confirmed this week. 'The National Demonstration Park for MMC at Mount Lucas represents a pivotal moment for construction education and training in Ireland,' Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB, said. 'This isn't just about showcasing cutting-edge building techniques; it's about creating a living classroom where trainees and students, apprentices and professionals can experience, hands-on, the future of the industry.' He added: "The educational value of this park lies in its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing immersive learning opportunities that will equip our workforce with the vital skills needed to deliver on national housing and sustainability targets." The Demonstration Park will house live examples of MMC across a variety of MMC technologies. It will also serve as a research and training space for new entrants, upskilling professionals, and MMC innovators. The first units in the Demonstration Park are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with training and industry and public engagement activity scaling throughout 2026.
Irish Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Ireland reveals new plan to modernise construction sector
A NATIONAL plan has been launched in Ireland which is designed to modernise the construction industry. The Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) Action Plan provides a framework to support the adoption of modern, innovative tools that can improve the sector among the firms that work within it. It was revealed at an event held at the National Construction Training Campus in Offaly's Mount Lucas where work to build a new National Demonstration Park has now begun. "I am delighted to publish this landmark Action Plan which will assist in the accelerated adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), a significant representation of my Department's and the Government's commitment to meeting national skills needs,' Ireland's Further Education Minister James Lawless said. Minister Jim Lawless addresses the event in Mount Lucas "In addition, the National Demonstration Park will be Ireland's flagship centre for MMC showcasing, learning, and innovation. 'It will build industry and public confidence, technical expertise, and a national ecosystem around MMC." The MMC Action Plan, which has been developed by the Department of Further and Higher Education in partnership with industry and education providers, sets out 58 targeted actions across eight themes to scale the adoption of MMC across Ireland. The Demonstration Park, which is co-funded by three government departments, will be operated by the Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB). Work has begun to build the National Demonstration Park It is designed to 'showcase leading MMC techniques, provide immersive learning, and support the growth of a national innovation ecosystem', it was confirmed this week. 'The National Demonstration Park for MMC at Mount Lucas represents a pivotal moment for construction education and training in Ireland,' Joe Cunningham, Chief Executive of LOETB, said. 'This isn't just about showcasing cutting-edge building techniques; it's about creating a living classroom where trainees and students, apprentices and professionals can experience, hands-on, the future of the industry.' He added: "The educational value of this park lies in its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing immersive learning opportunities that will equip our workforce with the vital skills needed to deliver on national housing and sustainability targets." The Demonstration Park will house live examples of MMC across a variety of MMC technologies. It will also serve as a research and training space for new entrants, upskilling professionals, and MMC innovators. The first units in the Demonstration Park are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with training and industry and public engagement activity scaling throughout 2026.
Irish Independent
13-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Major extension of Clare secondary school to host first students in September
St Flannan's College campus in Ennis recently became Munster's largest school Today at 06:02 The first phase of a significant expansion of St Flannan's College campus, the historic school in County Clare and Munster's largest school, will be completed in time for the beginning of the next school semester in September. The expansion of St. Flannan's College campus in Ennis comprises special educational needs (SEN) facilities and general educational spaces, including classrooms, science rooms, and a construction studies room. The 2,500 sqm development is supported by the Department of Education and is regarded as a prototype rapid build project, which could be replicated elsewhere throughout Ireland. Appointed in September 2024, contractor Lidan Designs and the award-winning design team at Healy Partners Architects were tasked with delivering a fully completed school within a 12-month period. Construction began in January 2025, with prefabricated elements arriving on site by April. The building will be delivered in phases from July, with full completion scheduled for December. At the end of the first phase, 297 students of Knockanean National School will be accommodated at the new St. Flannan's development from September until their approved new national school is delivered. Fr Iggy McCormack, Principal of St. Flannan's College, said the completion of the new facilities will significantly enhance the secondary school's capacity to support its growing student population, which increased to 1,280 for the current school year. He explained: 'Our enrolment numbers are expected to grow further in the coming years, which is why investment is needed in our infrastructure to support a modern, proactive, welcoming, and inclusive 21st-century educational environment. Most importantly, the addition of new SEN classrooms comes at a critical time, addressing the severe shortage of such spaces in the greater Ennis area." 'On behalf of the Board of Management, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Minister for Education Helen McEntee, her predecessor Norma Foley, and the staff of the Planning and Building Unit in the Department for supporting the educational needs of our school and those of our 34 feeder schools. The completion of these new facilities will be warmly welcomed by parents, teachers, and students alike." Aran Healy, Architect and Director of Healy Partners Architects, explained that the project has been designated as an exemplar scheme by the Department of Education. From the outset, he said, a commitment was made to deliver the building using Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to achieve efficiency, speed, and quality. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Healy said: 'The new development includes six SEN classroom bases, along with a suite of dedicated support spaces – central activity zones, practical skills areas, indoor and outdoor breakout spaces, and accessible play areas. 87% of the building is prefabricated off-site by Lidan Designs in Roscommon, a national leader in sustainable and bespoke timber construction. This off-site approach has enabled tighter quality control, reduced environmental impact, and faster on-site assembly.' 'What sets this project apart is its ability to act as both a contemporary educational facility and a respectful architectural response to a cherished historic setting,' added Mr Healy.
