PCL takes 3 at TCA awards

Community Leader Award: Bruce Sonnenberg (middle). (Photo courtesy: Shiraz Ali)

Emergency power upgrades at a Toronto hospital, a stadium to ballpark transformation, and a focus on community fundraising efforts have landed PCL Constructors Canda Inc. (Toronto) three Toronto Construction Association (TCA) Best of the Best Awards for 2023.

Presented during the TCA’s 156th Annual General Meeting in Richmond Hill, Ont., on February 27, PCL received Project Achievement Awards for University Health Network’s (UHN) Critical Infrastructure Reliability project and phase one of the Rogers Centre Renovation project. Bruce Sonnenberg, regional vice-president, Central Canada, was awarded the Community Leader Award.

The TCA Best of the Best Awards acknowledge the outstanding contribution of individuals and companies in the construction industry. The Project Achievement Awards pay tribute to those who raise the bar in terms of professional excellence, unique teamwork, dedication, innovation and leadership.

The UHN Critical Infrastructure Reliability Project was recognized with the Best of the Best Medium Project Achievement Award. The project, said PCL, plays a fundamental role in UHN’s vision to maintain sustainable and safe hospitals for patients, healthcare professionals and families.

Tasked to improve the reliability of the emergency power system at UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital, PCL Toronto’s Special Projects team made needed-upgrades to mission-critical backup power equipment. With the entrance to the construction site adjacent to Toronto Western Hospital’s emergency department, ensuring minimal disruptions to hospital operations was crucial.

With rigorous planning, meticulous design and the collaboration of UHN and PCL’s trade partners, the collaborative team manufactured and installed a 153-foot exhaust stack and two new generators that will support efficient and reliable healthcare infrastructure for years to come.

“As a community builder at heart, being presented with a Best of the Best Award for such an important project like University Health Network’s Toronto Western Hospital brings us so much pride,” stated Monique Buckberger, vice-president and district manager for PCL Toronto. “A sincere thank you goes to University Health Network, our consultants and trade partners who stepped up to the challenge and were dedicated to completing this project.”

Earning the Best of the Best Large Project Achievement Award was PCL’s Rogers Centre Phase One Renovation, which the Toronto Blue Jays officially unveiled in April of 2023. The complex, fast-track renovation was completed in just six months.

On July 28, 2022, the Toronto Blue Jays announced a more than $300 million multi-year renovation that would transform Rogers Centre from a stadium into a ballpark through a series of projects focused on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities. This intricate renovation project involved approximately 14 individual projects rolled into one.

Together, PCL and trade partners executed a six-month accelerated construction schedule to bring the Toronto Blue Jays’ vision and global design firm Populous’ plans to life.

“As I reflect on the journey of this unique project, what consistently comes to mind is simply the pace of construction. Within just six months of construction, the amount of work put in place was incredible,” said Buckberger. “From the unwavering support of the Toronto Blue Jays to the determination of the project team, trade partners and consultants, everyone was invested in the vision and were dedicated to making this project a success. They have truly contributed to the legacy of the Rogers Centre and should be extremely proud of this accomplishment.”

PCL was not only recognized for its projects. Bruce Sonnenberg, PCL’s regional vice-president for Central Canada, received the Community Leader Award, which is presented to a person who seeks to make a genuine difference in their community by contributing their time and/or resources selflessly for the betterment of local neighbourhoods.

Sonnenberg is a second-generation PCL employee who has spent more than 35 years of his professional life setting an example as a leader, constructor and community builder. Following in his father’s footsteps, Sonnenberg joined the PCL family in 1987 as a field engineer in Toronto. Over the years, he took on key leadership roles throughout the company including district leader and mentor in Toronto for nine years.

In his leadership role in Toronto from 2013 to 2022, Sonnenberg was in a position to approve, sponsor and champion district initiatives including, notably, major fundraising campaigns in support of the United Way and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), as well as executive promotion and oversight of PCL’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program.

Introduced to the organization by a PCL colleague, he also spent 10 years participating in Covenant House’s Executive Sleep Out. Through the generous support of industry colleagues, friends and family, Sonnenberg has raised a cumulative total of over $500,000 over a decade in support of the work of Covenant House. He attributes his philanthropic success to the love and support of his friends, family and colleagues in the construction industry.

“While I slept out each year, it was a minor inconvenience compared to the dedicated support of friends, family and colleagues in the construction industry who rallied to help raise the funds over the years. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has shown their support,” stated Sonnenberg. “Without the support of the industry, none of this would have been possible. It is truly just a small example of the pride the construction industry has in supporting the communities in which they live and build.”

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