Buildings are expected to be more energy efficient, more resilient to extreme weather, and more affordable for the people who live and work in them. To help meet that demand, Okanagan College in British Columbia has launched two new programs focused on sustainable building practices: a one-year Sustainable Construction Management certificate and a two-year Sustainable Design and Construction Management diploma.
These programs are designed to train future-ready construction leaders who can plan and deliver projects that perform better in the long term. That includes everything from smarter building materials and energy-saving systems to better construction methods and strategies for retrofitting existing buildings.
Two new sustainable construction programs built for modern building
The first option is the Sustainable Construction Management certificate. This one-year program teaches learners to manage sustainable building projects and deliver results that are safer, more comfortable, more affordable, and more energy-efficient.
Students looking to go deeper can continue into the Sustainable Design and Construction Management diploma, a two-year program that builds stronger skills in sustainable design thinking and construction delivery, with a focus on practical, real-world outcomes.
Both programs are offered primarily online and in the evenings, a realistic option for working professionals who want to upgrade their skills without stepping away from their careers.
“As construction projects become more complex, today’s leaders need to not only understand energy-efficient design, but also how to deliver safe, resilient, and affordable buildings that perform over time,” said Ashley Lubyk, program chair. “Our graduates will know how to deliver buildings that balance these priorities while standing up to changes in our environment and keeping long-term costs down. This applies as much to new construction as it does the retrofitting of millions of existing buildings across Canada.”
Why this matters right now
Canada’s construction workforce is under pressure from several directions at once: housing demand, climate adaptation needs, aging infrastructure, and stricter energy performance expectations. At the same time, the industry needs more qualified project managers to lead complex builds and retrofits.
According to projections cited in the B.C. Labour Market Outlook, there will be a need for more than 17,000 new construction managers by 2030, including about 2,200 in the Thompson-Okanagan region. That’s a big signal: the industry needs leaders who understand sustainable construction from planning to completion.
“The construction industry is evolving rapidly. We’ve designed these programs to meet that shift,” said Dr. Samantha Lenci, Provost and Vice President, Academic, Okanagan College.
What this means for workforce development in Canada
These programs help close an important skills gap: the need for construction managers and technologists who can balance energy efficiency, resilience, safety, and affordability. That skill mix is becoming a baseline requirement for modern building across Canada, especially as governments and owners push for better-performing buildings.
Okanagan College also notes that the programs were developed with support from a $495,000 grant from FortisBC, helping expand access through flexible learning options and ultimately supporting a workforce that can build the future of Canadian construction.
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