Regina Construction IV

[one_brick_at_a_time]

Brandt says new CNIB building delayed due to pandemic
The president and CEO of the Brandt Group of Companies says construction on the new CNIB building has been delayed due to COVID-19, but hopes to move forward as restrictions ease.

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...ue-to-pandemic

[TechnicalRecession]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

You are wrong. Everyone has their own anecdotal evidence but as I said before, I have seen the numbers myself and heard it straight from mangers and executives and have been following industry trends. Workers who are happy are productive. Some may be happier in the office but overall, WFH has been a success where I am and in a lot more other places than not. I’m not sure what industries you naysayers work in but I guarantee that people who want to work from home in IT will be able to negotiate that moving forward. This pandemic revealed a lot of employment bullshit from this office stuff to showing just how meaningless a lot of low paid work is and it’s not going to be easy to take these things away from workers and make people go back to the way things were.

How am I wrong? I've stated an opinion that differs from yours and you are convinced that working from home is more productive because you've seen some mystery numbers? What numbers, share them with the group. And yes my opinion is based on antidotal evidence and common sense. What specifically makes working from home more productive, convince me cause I don't see it?

By the way, I work in the exact same industry as you do, IT, and I have seen industry trends come and go, they are just that industry trends, perhaps this one will stick, I make no predictions on that one. And for the record I am not saying businesses shouldn't allow working from home, for some companies that will work and others will choose not to do that. I personally don't care either way, I just don't agree with the argument working from home makes you more productive. I am also not saying you can't do your job from home, people have been doing their jobs from home successfully for over the past year, I agree with you there.

If I interpret what you are saying correctly you may be referring to developers who like to work from home. And that makes sense, these guys basically want to cut code all day, many of them aren't particularly social or enjoy working in groups so yeah I can see how a developer likes it but that is a small portion of a work force. For an IT start up, makes sense but bigger organizations maybe not.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

Brandt says new CNIB building delayed due to pandemic
The president and CEO of the Brandt Group of Companies says construction on the new CNIB building has been delayed due to COVID-19, but hopes to move forward as restrictions ease.

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...ue-to-pandemic

They most likely are gathering their thoughts on not building on the Wascana Park lands and are looking to build downtown

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

No shit. So what are we even arguing about lol. Just because I feel a certain way about people doesn’t mean I don’t think they should have a choice to work in the office again if they want. Geez there’s a lot of sensitive people on here.

Btw it’s not just friends. It’s people I work with too. Things are going to change. Anyone would be naive to not think so.

No one said things won’t change. There are a lot of people who work well from home and a lot who don’t. That is all I am saying. A lot of companies have strict requirements for WFH, particularly those with sensitive personal information. You insinuated that those who have difficulty separating work and home aren’t disciplined. I provided examples from my own life that have nothing to do with discipline. You said it was sad that some people need a barrier between work and home. There is nothing sad about it, that’s the way some (a lot) of people are. You keep telling people their opinions are wrong then wonder why they get defensive.

Things like this (and there is a lot of it from a lot of people, I am not pointing my finger at you) make it difficult to have discussions here. It’s why I don’t post often.

[LittleBoy]

Originally Posted by The mayor

They most likely are gathering their thoughts on not building on the Wascana Park lands and are looking to build downtown

I’ve actually heard that Brandt has no intention of building downtown, and the building in the park was the most central that they would go. The reasoning that I’ve heard is that they want to appease their consumer base, and building a fancy downtown tower makes them appear as if they’re no longer “humble” (LOL).

I had heard a rumour that if the building in the park got shut down, their plan was to just expand their current office on the edge of the city. Again, the above is just rumours that I’ve heard so nobody should put too much stock in what I said.

I really wish that the 1800 Rose tower would’ve gone ahead, and especially in a time like this, a new Brandt tower downtown is likely to be the only development we will see. But I also despise them for their shady tactics trying to get Wascana project pushed through and in my eyes they’ve lost any sort of goodwill that they may have had in our community.

[jigglysquishy]

Brandt not wanting to build downtown has nothing to do with that. Like 90% of it is because they want to avoid City taxes. It's why all of their buildings are in the RM.

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by LittleBoy

I’ve actually heard that Brandt has no intention of building downtown, and the building in the park was the most central that they would go. The reasoning that I’ve heard is that they want to appease their consumer base, and building a fancy downtown tower makes them appear as if they’re no longer “humble” (LOL).

I had heard a rumour that if the building in the park got shut down, their plan was to just expand their current office on the edge of the city. Again, the above is just rumours that I’ve heard so nobody should put too much stock in what I said.

I really wish that the 1800 Rose tower would’ve gone ahead, and especially in a time like this, a new Brandt tower downtown is likely to be the only development we will see. But I also despise them for their shady tactics trying to get Wascana project pushed through and in my eyes they’ve lost any sort of goodwill that they may have had in our community.

Lol we’ve all seen Semple’s house and there’s nothing humble about it. I don’t know if there’s any truth to that rumour you heard, but using your influence and friends to bypass the rules is anything but humble. They’re out to lunch if they think people will buy it. Everyone knows Brandt is a huge company. Investing in your community (and not being shady and greedy about it) is the best way to create goodwill. Some humble pie is just what they need.

[BrannyMuffin]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

Fair enough. If it means anything, I'm the same in person lol. But I'm just one stranger online so I wouldn't put much stock in what I say on a personal level. I'm a lot harder on myself, if that means anything as well.

Already over it. 👌

[one_brick_at_a_time]

To be honest, I want Brandt to puke all over downtown with a giant in your face office tower. We all know how big they are and how much money they make.

[The mayor]

Originally Posted by one_brick_at_a_time

To be honest, I want Brandt to puke all over downtown with a giant in your face office tower. We all know how big they are and how much money they make.

With Any luck they will build a new office building attached to their new arena wouldn’t that be grand one never knows downtown needs all the help I can get

[TechnicalRecession]

So I think you've complicated this debate. I will state again that I don't see any issues with companies allowing working from home and yes I understand that it is a trend and I agree with you it will likely continue and some companies will move more strongly in that direction, not all companies but some will. So I think we can agree on that point. I also agree that the technology is there to support this and that people can effectively function working from a home office space.

My point of contention is that working from home makes individuals more productive than working from within an office building. There is nothing unique in my home office that makes me or my colleagues more productive. I still have the same meetings and do the same work, the tools and mediums are different but the productivity is not. You've indicated that velocity and work completed has risen at your place of work. Ok fair enough I'll take that point, but it hasn't where I work. I also know of individuals who totally take advantage or working from home. In any event, I think we can agree to disagree about the productivity piece of this and leave it at that.

Edit: You indicated your company has reduced floor space, which will reduce expenses, a valid WFH benefit for the company, but that is not productivity induced that is cost reduction. Again I agree with you on this, companies can save money with WFH.

Edit 2: The problem with your second edit is your condescending approach, you're right because you know better, others are wrong because they are wrong, living in a bubble and trying to justify their lazy government jobs where distrust and spying on employees is required, everyone on this blog but you are a bunch of luddites. I can't speak for others but in my case none of your statements are true. I'm very good at what I do, have been a top performer at various places of work and take accountability and producing high quality work very seriously. So I suggest you save the condescending for people you actually know. I believe you've accused Brutally Dishonest for posting in a similar manner and yet here you are doing the same.

I am sure the blog is getting tired of this discussion so this will be my last post on this topic.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by Draftsman

From CBC today:

"The City of Regina has given Brandt Construction until the end of the month to fill in and clean up the site of the former CNIB building in Regina's Wascana Park."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saska...site-1.6061371

I'm sure they will be asking for another extension after all this rain we are presently receiving

FTR: the City handles permits & the like on Wascana's behalf... but the PCC doesn't need any permits/approval from the City. The PCC Act (nee Wascana Centre Authority Act) has legislative authority to supercede (or ignore) all municipal bylaws & requirements.

Of course, it makes sense to align, and to leave permitting & inspections to the City - but if the PCC/Brandt chose to ignore the City's request to clean-up/fill... or even if the PCC chose to green-light construction, the City has no hammer in this situation. Doubly-so because this parcel is owned by the Province.

[Drofmab]

Re the WFH conversation - the pendulum has swung to WFH, it will gradually swing back, of course. But I cannot imagine it fully swinging back to its previous position - having people schlep into downtown cores simply to sit in cubicles doing work that they could do elsewhere makes little sense (aside from optics, or weak management).

Yes - there are absolutely roles and industries where being physically together is either necessary, or makes a lot of sense (creative functions like art, design, brand, marketing, etc) - but does that mean 100% of the time, or regularly coming in, or coming in for specific functions?

There are also plenty of roles - large swaths of the federal government, for example - where the workforce is geographically distributed across the country or world. The people they share a physical office environment with may not work on the same teams, or even within the same division/department.

Managers who think they need to see their cubicle-based employees to 'manage' their performance are simply bad at their job. Their employees shouldn't have to go back to the office to compensate for inept managers... but we know this will be a reason that a portion of these people end up working in an office again - weak managers.

Over the past decade (with about 10 different managers), I've only had one who was in the same province as me. Similar for the teams I've managed over that period - vast majority were based in other parts of Canada (90%). I like being in an office, with people I've come to know - but it's more social than it is necessary to get my job (or that of my team) done.

Prov gov't will end up back in offices for optics, not because they need to be there (just as the prov govt mandated huge groups of employees who were fully-enabled to work remotely back to the office during the summer & fall of 2020... until the govt was unable to suppress the stories about outbreaks in provincial buildings, and their hand was forced).

What I'm saying is that I expect the pendulum to swing back... but there will be a lot of people who end up full-time WFH (or, they're at least given the option to maintain WFH FT, PT, or return to the office).

[BrutallyDishonest2]

My argument is that we should get rid of cubical and open office to and give everyone an office. A big part of the reason people hate offices is because organizations and consultants have convinced themselves that people like to work in a school-cafeteria like environment.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by BrutallyDishonest2

My argument is that we should get rid of cubical and open office to and give everyone an office. A big part of the reason people hate offices is because organizations and consultants have convinced themselves that people like to work in a school-cafeteria like environment.

I agree. The smaller cubes get, and the more cookie-cutter spaces get, the less appealing they are to most people I know. The model that was in-place, or taking root just before COVID was essentially unworkable for most everyone.

I envision that progressive employers will use office space to accommodate those who can’t/don’t want to WFH, as well as provide space for employees to touchdown when the need/want to be in the office (think co-working facilities, but owned by your employer).

Employers who suck at managing people, will maintain cubevilles, will mandate in-office presence, and will constantly complain about turnover (and the associated cost of hiring/training). They’ll be confused why they can’t retain.

This being said, I do t think any of us has a crustal ball - but I bet we can agree that the model of work has changed permanently. Not that what we’re doing today is the end state, just that the model that existed pre-March 2020 is dead.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by djforsberg

It’s weird that the Sask government cares a lot more about optics than the BC or federal government, for example. Would be nice if the Sask Party kept politics out of our Crowns (pretty sure they accused the NDP of doing the same) but here we are.

Sask govt is politicized. Has been for decades - under PCs, NDP & SaskParty.

Clearing out public servants when a new party takes office (and then settling wrongful dismissal suits out-of-court) is not normal in any other province or the feds. It’s bizarre.

Rather than “fierce advice, loyal implementation,” the SK govt bureaucracy consistently aims to please politicians. That’s not how the Westminster System works.

The SK public service is beyond repair. I worked in it, and people on the inside honestly believe that seeking Ministerial approval to apply legislation is normal. It’s not. If a politician wants to do something that doesn’t align with legislation, they have the power to change the legislation.

[StealthGirl]

Part of the resistance to WFH for the Crowns is that those workers are too key to the downtown businesses. There was a big lobby by Regina Downtown last summer to get Crown workers back in the offices. The restaurants and other businesses need those employees' spending. When SGI was talking a few years ago about building new office space outside of downtown, the city rejected it and said they wouldn't issue permits or sell them land to go elsewhere. Without Crowns, the downtown would likely die.

[Drofmab]

Originally Posted by StealthGirl

Part of the resistance to WFH for the Crowns is that those workers are too key to the downtown businesses. There was a big lobby by Regina Downtown last summer to get Crown workers back in the offices. The restaurants and other businesses need those employees' spending. When SGI was talking a few years ago about building new office space outside of downtown, the city rejected it and said they wouldn't issue permits or sell them land to go elsewhere. Without Crowns, the downtown would likely die.

Yeah. This is what I meant about optics. I know dozens who were fully enabled to work remotely, who were ordered back to the office in the summer/fall… no changes to the physical layout/distancing/HVAC, and most hadn’t been vaccinated. No capacity limits, and no mask mandate indoors (unlike other businesses).
But the orders from the executives were to get people back downtown -

(Related: City’s policy on this is shortsighted)

[one_brick_at_a_time]

REAL looking to renovate Canada Centre to accommodate court sports, skateboarding

https://www.620ckrm.com/2021/06/17/r...skateboarding/





https://regina.ctvnews.ca/mobile/rea...ntre-1.5475242

[The mayor]

https://leaderpost.com/news/local-ne...es-development

Remediation work to begin on former railyard lands as City of Regina eyes development
There are three locations where the soil must be excavated and backfilled with new, clean soil, a precursor to development of the area.