Data from the International Energy Agency suggests that the construction industry is responsible for up to 40% of global C02 emissions.
Back in 2023, we first reported on ZS2 Technologies, a Calgary-based innovator of building materials that launched to help address this concern.
By early 2025, ZS2 Technologies had unveiled $9.9 million in grant funding and the second generation of its magnesium cement building materials as the Alberta entity was named a finalist for Venture of the Year: Scaleup at the 2025 Alberta Cleantech Awards.
The new product line from ZS2 promised a more durable, fire-resistant, and low-carbon alternative to traditional construction materials—and at least some of those claims have proven to be true in the face of a real test.
The Split Lake region of northern Manitoba declared a state of emergency in late May in response to a wildfire burning just one kilometre outside of the community.
By July, the province was enduring one of its worst wildfire seasons in decades, and an evacuation order was issued for Split Lake as local flames persisted.
Manitoba Hydro reported damage to poles, power lines, and equipment, causing community-wide power outages.
But one notable silver lining was the fully intact survival of the Tataskweyak Transition Centre.
The short-term living facility was in the final stages of being built by SEKO Construction with ZS2 Technologies’ fire-resilient prefabricated TechPanel system.
Despite the wildfire burning everything else around, before-and-after footage shows the building virtually unscathed in the otherwise apocalyptic aftermath.
“We chose ZS2’s panels for their durability, speed of installation, and climate resilience,” stated Peter Shoulak, Vice President at SEKO Construction. “In this case, that decision helped protect a critical piece of infrastructure—and more importantly, our crew.”
Scott Jenkins, cofounder and chief executive officer of ZS2, suggests that “this is what climate resilience actually looks like.”
And as far as the effectiveness of his product is concerned, the proof is now in the pudding.
“The footage speaks louder than anything we could ever say,” he commented. “It is one thing to evaluate in a lab; it is another to survive a wildfire.”
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