Author: Liana Michina

Retrofitting aging commercial buildings to improve insulation, energy use, and digital management is driving growth in energy-efficient buildings. Global investment in energy efficiency is projected to reach $800 billion by 2025, growing 6% annually. Market value is expected to rise from $35 billion in 2025 to $51 billion by 2031, driven by regulations, rising utility costs, and sustainability commitments. Challenges include high upfront costs and split incentives. Trends include increased heat pump use and AI-driven energy management.

Commercial property risks evolve due to factors like severe weather, rising repair costs, renovations, and changes in use. Insurance coverage should be regularly reassessed to reflect current rebuilding costs, property condition, and operational changes. Key areas to review include business interruption, equipment breakdown, renovations, and liability. Maintaining records of upgrades and maintenance supports risk management and helps identify coverage gaps, ensuring protection aligns with today's risks.

L’immobilier commercial regroupe les biens destinés à un usage professionnel, tels que bureaux, commerces, locaux industriels et établissements de santé. Les baux sont généralement de longue durée et les responsabilités varient selon les locataires. Ces investissements offrent des revenus stables et une diversification, mais nécessitent un capital important et une expertise approfondie. Les défis incluent une réglementation complexe, le coût du renouvellement des locataires et le manque de liquidité. Malgré la montée du télétravail, la demande progresse dans les secteurs des bureaux, du commerce, de l’industrie et du résidentiel collectif.

The value of Canadian building permits rose 8.8% in August to $13.6 billion, driven by an increase in multi-unit construction permits, which reached $5.8 billion. Residential permits rose by $1.1 billion to $8.5 billion, with single-family permits steady at $2.6 billion. Ontario led the multi-unit growth, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. Despite the monthly rise, the 12-month total home authorizations declined to 299,500 from 305,500.

Data centre construction in Canada reached $4.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $8.6 billion by 2031, with projects often exceeding $5 billion to $15 billion. Large-scale projects require early, engineered insurance placement approaches, including detailed risk analysis and partial self-funding due to limited full-value coverage. Labour shortages risk construction quality, impacting operational uptime and increasing long-term exposure. Transitioning coverage from construction to operations remains a critical challenge.

Commercial insurance rates in Canada fell 7% in Q2 2026 after a 6% drop in Q1, driven by increased capacity and lower reinsurance costs. Property rates declined 8%, casualty rates fell 4%, and financial/professional lines dropped 7%. Commercial auto remains challenged due to rising costs and litigation. Cyber insurance rates decreased 6%, with expanded coverage and more capacity from new market entrants. Some clients reinvested savings to reduce retentions or increase limits.

The global Smart Home and Office Market is projected to grow from USD 44.02 billion in 2025 to USD 138.79 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 12.17%. Growth is driven by demand for security, energy management, convenience, and workplace efficiency. Hardware dominates revenue, while services grow fastest. Smart homes hold 62% of revenue, with smart offices growing rapidly. Wi-Fi leads connectivity; Zigbee grows fastest. North America leads market share; Asia-Pacific grows fastest. Interoperability and AI integration are key trends.

Canada's construction industry is projected to grow 2.6% in 2026, supported by increased residential and non-residential investment. Despite challenges like higher material costs and US trade tariffs, growth from 2027 to 2030 is expected to average 2.8% annually, driven by government investments in renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, and affordable housing, with housing development as a key focus.

La Maison culturelle et communautaire de Montréal-Nord accueillera La 4e dimension, une exposition réunissant Véronique Lépine, Guillaume La Brie et Céline Bianchi. Du 4 septembre au 17 octobre 2026, les visiteurs pourront découvrir des œuvres qui explorent la relation entre l’image et le volume à travers sculptures, estampes, peintures et installations.

Cette exposition propose une expérience visuelle où les formes, les textures et les perspectives se rencontrent. Elle invite le public à ralentir, à observer autrement et à réfléchir à la manière dont une image peut se déployer dans l’espace.

Un rendez-vous avec les artistes aura lieu le 25 septembre. Ce sera l’occasion d’en apprendre davantage sur leurs inspirations, leurs techniques et les idées qui nourrissent cette présentation collective.

Amateurs d’art, résidents de Montréal-Nord et curieux de découvertes locales : ajoutez cette exposition à votre agenda et partagez l’invitation. Pour connaître les heures, les modalités et les informations pratiques, consultez la page officielle de l’événement : https://montreal.ca/evenements/la-4e-dimension-veronique-lepine-guillaume-la-brie-et-celine-bianchi-119374