The importance of public spending in British Columbia non-residential construction was underscored when awards were presented last month for the leading building projects across the province.
Ten of the 12 awards in the 25th annual Vancouver Regional Construction Association Awards of Excellence were for government buildings. The only private project awarded was a new food court at Richmond Centre mall, which took two awards.
In this year's competition, there were 42 total entrants and 38 projects considered. The total value of projects considered this year represented $1.1 billion of construction throughout B.C.
This year's award in the category of General Contractor over $40 million went to an Acciona-Stuart Olson joint venture for its work on the Fort St. John Hospital and Residential Care Facility. The project also took home the Chairman's Trade Award, awarded to Flynn Canada Ltd.
In the first nine months of 2013, institutional and government construction permits totaled $672 million, well ahead of the industrial sector, at $384 million. Total commercial construction in the same period was $1.36 billion, down 26% from a year earlier, according to Statistics Canada.
