Defense Construction Canada

PMQ Deconstruction, CFB Greenwood
Greenwood, Nova Scotia

One of Canada’s biggest deconstruction champions is Defence Construction Canada. Between 2001 and 2007, the crown corporation deconstructed 500 units of permanent married quarters (PMQ) at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Greenwood in the Annapolis Valley. “Our idea was to keep as much stuff out of the landfill as possible”, said Joseph Colp of Defence Construction Canada. The project achieved a diversion rate of 80% by weight.

CFB Greenwood’s PMQs were constructed in the 1960s for base personnel. Some were duplexes but most were row houses. Over time mould became a concern and asbestos was discovered so the decision was made to remove the units. Deconstruction was selected as the first option.

Mid Valley Construction headed up much of the project. This led to the company opening Happy Joe’s, a building materials reuse store through which many of the salvaged building materials and fixtures were sold. Other materials were recycled through a local C&D processing site and some aggregates were stored and reused at the base.