Description The construction industry is a vital part of Ontario's economy
As an industry, construction employs almost three times as many Ontario workers as the automobile industry - about 400,000 people or about six percent of Ontario's workforce is employed in the construction industry. Ontario's construction sector is, as the Premier said recently, "vital to the province's growth, job creation, competitiveness and continued prosperity." Looking ahead, the 10-year growth rate for construction in the Toronto area is higher than the estimated growth rates of all industries in Toronto. Careers in construction must remain at home.
The nature of construction and building technology is changing in Ontario and across the rest of North America. Broad societal trends are impacting the nature and focus of the industry in such areas as heritage preservation and building restoration, environmental design and energy conservation. Industry innovation is being driven by the environment, energy costs and economics. The market is demanding more environmentally friendly construction materials and methods and governments are enacting regulations and controls to enforce higher standards in the areas of health and safety. In Ontario and elsewhere, rising energy costs are pushing the need for more energy efficient buildings. At the same time, the economics of the industry are being challenged with the goal of controlling the costs of construction. These external changes are having a fundamental impact on how the industry operates and approaches construction processes. Once a very conservative industry, where innovation was measured incrementally over many years, construction is quickly becoming a technology-driven, specialized and sophisticated business that is demanding a highly trained and educated management team and workforce.
CO-OP AvailableYour Field Study Options An integral component of this applied degree in Construction Science and Management is a mandatory co-op work term in the spring/summer of the third year of the program. Our Industry Liaison Office facilitates this for both our students and prospective employers. Students participate in job preparation courses that cover areas such as resumé writing, job search strategies, interview and practice to enable them to communicate clearly.
Academic Accreditations
Graduates are exempted from all academic requirements toward a Professional Quantity Surveyor (PQS) designation from the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) and Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) designation from the Chartered Institute of Building.
Graduates receive 30 credits toward the Gold Seal certification system offered by the Canadian Construction Association (CCA).
The Industry Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) construction sector drives the launch of the Bachelor of Applied Technology – Construction Science and Management degree.
“The introduction of the new four-year degree program in Construction Science and Management at George Brown College is the next stage of development of professionalism in the construction industry. For the first time the industry has its own degree-specific program which brings together the two most important elements identified by leading construction executives – the science of construction and the science of management.”
Temple Harris(Gillam Group Inc.)
“In order to provide the necessary leadership, we need to staff our projects with construction professionals. Therefore, we believe the establishment of [the] four-year degree program in Construction Science and Management at George Brown College is an important component to ensure our continual requirement for construction professionals will be met.”
Christopher Rick (PCL Constructors, Canada Inc.)
“As the industry expands and continues to change, it is imperative that individuals overseeing and managing construction projects are properly trained in all facets of the business.”
James Zippel (General Manager, Electrical Service & Projects Ainsworth)
“It is a fact that the construction industry is the largest employer in the Greater Toronto Area. Producing future graduates who already have the necessary construction-specific skills as they start their careers will only help strengthen the long-term success of our industry.”
Greg Kozicz (President, Alberici Constructors, Ltd.)
“In our opinion, there continues to be a real need for improved and advanced education and training in the construction sector and an improved method of attracting and retaining the best and brightest of our future generations. We submit that this program will be a significant step in the right direction towards achieving these goals and believe that successful graduates of an effective four-year degree program will help to raise the bar in terms of the knowledge and capabilities of companies involved in the construction industry.”
Michael George (President, Trisura Insurance)
“The urgency for a program of this nature is fuelled by the rapid change in our construction industry and the fact that it is becoming more technology-driven each day. Having graduates of such competency enter the industry with refined skills on both the technical and managerial aspects of construction will not only fill a void that currently exists, but bring immeasurable promise to the future of project managers, site superintendents and construction management in general.”
Mike Van Volsen (Operations Manager, Access Suspended Platforms Inc.)
Educational / Degree Pathway If you are at George Brown College and graduating from the three-year Construction Engineering Technology program (T105) or the three-year Architectural Technology program (T109) or are graduating from a comparable program at another Ontario college, you may be eligible to enter a degree completion pathway to this program. The Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies (CCET) regularly hosts “Diploma-to-Degree” information sessions. You are invited to attend if you wish to learn more about the diploma-to-degree application process and the evaluation criteria. For more information, call 416-415-5000, ext. 4398.Your Career
CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS NEED SPECIALIZED SKILLS TO SUCCEED.
In this rapidly changing and growing industry, more and more highly trained Construction Managers are needed – managers who can successfully function within multidisciplinary teams of project managers, architects, engineers, environmental specialists, compliance authorities, urban planners and trade contractors. In addition, the industry needs Construction Managers with a comprehensive grasp of quality assurance systems and sustainable design principles, who possess a deep and broad technical background that transcends the narrow scope of the disciplines that comprise the rest of the team.
Construction Managers plan, organize, lead and control construction projects from start to finish, according to design, regulations, contracts, specifications, budgets and schedules, with an appreciation for environmental construction techniques and practices.
CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS:
- provide cost planning and budget analysis for building designs
- identify sustainable alternatives for building components and systems
- prepare estimates for project procurement
- prepare construction schedules and milestones for projects
- monitor construction progress and develop time and cost reports
- prepare contracts and negotiate design changes with architects, consultants, clients, suppliers and subcontractors
- develop and implement quality control programs
- direct the purchase of construction materials and equipment
- analyze projects for constructability
- select optimum energy-efficient systems and methods of construction
- contract and manage subcontractors and supervise their activities
- represent their company in union contract negotiations
- manage all documents for project procurement and construction
Contact Us School of Construction Management and Trades
The office hours are 8:00am-4:30pm, room E228
Phone: 416-415-5000, ext. 4398
Email: construction@georgebrown.ca
For more information, call us at 416-415-2000 (TTY 1-877-515-5559) or long distance 1-800-265-2002.
If you are an International Visa student, please contact the International Centre - 416-415-5000 ext. 2115 or by e-mail at international@georgebrown.ca
George Brown College was granted a consent by the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting March 2005. An application for renewal of the consent has been submitted and the current consent remains in effect until a decision on the renewal application is made. George Brown College shall ensure that all students admitted to the Bachelor of Applied Technology (Construction Science and Management) program during the period of consent renewal will have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable time frame.