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VANCOUVER — Mechanical Contractors Association of British Columbia (MCABC) CEO Kim Barbero and board chair Kyle Wisniewski recently took B.C. Premier David Eby on an informative tour, showcasing how mechanical contractors are advancing traditional construction practices in the province.

He was shown the concept of Virtual Design ��������ion technology and given an overview of the pre-construction process, including Building Information Modelling and off-site prefabrication, states a release.

He then took a tour of a data centre currently under construction in the Spencer Building in downtown Vancouver.

Black & McDonald, an MCABC member, is heavily involved in the first phase of the project, which involves the installation of three large chillers and a network of interior piping to support the data centre’s cooling system.

Inside the future data centre Wisniewski demonstrated virtual design tools that were used to model and pre-fabricate the installations.

As the group moved on, visiting the chillers and other installations, Wisniewski stressed the need for modernization in trades training and education to reflect and support the changing industry landscape, the release reads.

“This project is a prime example of how the mechanical contracting industry is innovating to meet B.C.’s present and future infrastructure needs,” said Barbero in a statement. “MCABC and its members are at the forefront of this new wave, where tools like BIM are redefining the way traditional trades operate.”

“But,” she cautioned, “to keep delivering on these projects, mechanical contractors need access to a workforce that meets the rapidly advancing technological demands of the industry. That’s why the training and education piece is so critical.”

The tour concluded at one of the building’s completed data centres, where the group discussed the future of construction and infrastructure in B.C.

Some key asks that Barbero brought before B.C. Standing Committee in June were reiterated.

These included modernizing trades training in B.C. to align with industry advancements and

funding programs that introduce and promote the mechanical trades to K-12 students.