The Insurance Bureau of Canada reports that combined damages from summer 2024 extreme-weather events reached over $7 billion, with flash floods in Toronto accounting for a significant portion of the losses. To address this growing concern, the construction of St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver’s False Creek Flats neighborhood is incorporating climate-resilient design features. The hospital’s entrances will be designed to withstand flood levels up to 2100, and it will have backup systems for power and water, as well as permeable ground and a tree canopy to reduce the heat-island effect. This design is a result of a climate-risk assessment by PCL Construction and environmental consultants at Stantec, who identified coastal flooding, intense rainfall, heat domes, and poor air quality as the most likely risks. This initiative, according to Bruce Norman, project director for PCL Construction, demonstrates a change in how buildings are designed, with a focus on forward-thinking and resilience. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association is also working to incorporate climate adaptation and resilience into new builds and rebuilds, leveraging advanced climate risk modeling and alternative building materials to make homes more resilient without increasing costs.
Building a stronger future: The emergence of climate-resilient construction in Canada
