The Canadian construction industry is experiencing a notable shift toward more collaborative and outcome-driven project delivery models. At the forefront of this evolution is the Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model—an innovative approach that emphasizes early stakeholder involvement, transparent communication, and the equitable sharing of risks and rewards.

To support this industry shift, in 2018 the Canadian Construction Documents Committee (CCDC) introduced the CCDC 30 – Integrated Project Delivery Contract. In June 2025, the CCDC released its first updated version of the CCDC 30, in response to extensive stakeholder feedback as well as to reflect developing industry practices and recent legislative developments.

This article examines the core principles of the IPD model, outlines the structure and intent of the CCDC 30, and highlights key updates introduced in the 2025 revision. It is intended to give construction industry stakeholders and legal professionals a practical overview of the contract’s maturation and its implications for IPD standards in Canada. Terms defined in the CCDC 30 are used in this article.

Core principles of IPD

IPD represents a significant paradigm shift from traditional construction project delivery models. Unlike conventional methods, where design and construction are often sequential and disconnected, IPD brings together the owner, consultant, contractor, and where appropriate, key trade contractors and suppliers, to collaborate under a single, multi-party agreement from the project’s inception.

This integrated structure aligns participants’ interests, fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and shared accountability. The result is a more transparent and innovative process that aims to deliver enhanced value to the owner by achieving timely and cost-effective project completion, while reducing adversarial dynamics and inefficiencies.

At the core of IPD are several key principles:

  • One single multi-party contract: All key participants sign a single overarching agreement, allowing early involvement of those with key expertise into design and planning, improving constructability, cost control and scheduling.
  • Mutual respect and trust: A cooperative culture that encourages open dialogue and a shared commitment to project success, rather than individual self-interest.
  • Shared risk and reward: A shared profit—and loss—pool ensures financial outcomes are tied to the IPD team’s collective project performance, incentivizing the team to meet or exceed project goals.
  • Collaboration and joint decision-making: Key decisions are made jointly, leveraging the diverse expertise of the entire team from project design through completion.
  • Open communication and transparency: Full visibility into project information, including financials, builds trusts and supports informed, timely decision-making.
  • Big room co-location: All key project participants physically conceive, design and execute the Project from the same workspace—known as the Big Room—stimulating communication, collaboration, real-time problem solving, and innovation.
  • No-fault approach: The IPD team waives claims against one another, allowing them to remain focused on solutions rather than assigning blame when errors or mistakes occur.

Key changes to the CCDC 30

The June 2025 amendments to the CCDC 30 introduce a series of targeted enhancements aimed at improving clarity, flexibility, and alignment with core IPD principles. These updates reflect the lessons learned from practical application, respond directly to stakeholder feedback, and incorporate recent legislative developments. Key changes include:

  1. Clear contract structure and phasing: The CCDC 30 layout has been revised to better reflect the IPD project lifecycle, clearly defining each phase and highlighting the Validation Phase as a formal stage after contract execution. Most notably, the Articles of Agreement have been separated into three segments, as follows:
    • Segment A – Validation Phase: A defining feature of IPD, the Validation Phase involves collaborative project planning to determine project viability within the owner’s budget and schedule, including development of a contract tasks matrix, base target cost, milestone schedule, risk and contingency analysis, and transparent disclosure of profit and cost expectations. This phase allows the IPD team to bond and culminates in the delivery of a comprehensive validation report, upon which the owner and IPD team decide whether to proceed to the Project Execution Phase or terminate the agreement.
    • Segment B – Project Execution Phase: This phase includes finalization of design, procurement, construction, and warranty work. It involves refining the cost structure into a final target cost and applying tools such as target value design to maintain alignment with project goals. The IPD team must continuously collaborate to refine designs and innovate to deliver the project within value and budget thresholds.
    • Segment C – General Articles: These provisions apply across both the Validation and Execution phases, and the contract as a whole. They address contractual documents, added value incentive items (AVIIs), profit pool, reimbursable costs, overhead, payment, interest, and notices in writing.
  2. Explicit requirements of lean principles and tools: The updates mandate the use of lean tools throughout the project, including the Big Room—a central physical workspace for all IPD team members. These practices are intended to foster collaboration, respect and continuous improvement, with the objective of maximizing value by identifying and eliminating inefficiencies across the project lifecycle.
  3. Optional IPD advisor: Parties may now appoint an IPD advisor, either an individual or organization qualified to provide guidance on IPD and lean principles.
  4. Introduction of “Ready-for-Takeover” milestone: Borrowed from the CCDC 2 – 2020 stipulated price contract, this milestone marks the transition into the Warranty Phase, providing a clearer endpoint for construction activities and a structured handover process.
  5. Selection of added value incentive items (AVIIs) during Construction Phase: The contract now allows for the Owner to select AVIIs—enhancements that fall outside the initial budget—during the construction phase, whereas the previous version only allowed this option during the design phase.
  6. Renamed “Profit Pool”: The term “Profit Pool” replaces “Risk Pool,” which more accurately reflects the intent and nature of the funds contained within this pool.
  7. Contract amendments: Changes to the project objectives and any approved adjustments to the base target cost, final target cost, milestone schedule, and profit pool, must be implemented through contract amendments. This replaces the “change order” mechanism in conventional contracts.
  8. Expanded schedule of reimbursable costs: The list of reimbursable costs has been expanded in Schedule B – Reimbursable Costs and now includes the option to designate a cost as either an allowable reimbursable cost or as an overhead cost to be paid.
  9. Enhanced confidentiality and transparency provisions: The contract introduces clearer protocols for accessing design/construction team records, including financials. The project management team (PMT) is also tasked with developing audit procedures and standards, which must be documented in the validation report.
  10. Schedules: Schedules are now provided in an editable standalone Word document. This shift offers users enhanced flexibility and customization of these schedules, eliminating the need to amend them through supplementary conditions.

Best practices when using the CCDC 30

Successfully implementing a project under the CCDC 30 requires more than executing the agreement; it demands a sustained commitment to the principles of IPD and a disciplined approach to its processes.

Signing the contract at the beginning of the relationship, rather than at the conclusion of the Validation Phase, ensures all participants are aligned under the IPD framework from the outset and can fully engage in shaping the project's foundation. The Validation Phase should be approached with the necessary investment of time and resources, as this is where the groundwork for project success is laid.

Fostering a collaborative culture is essential, including actively cultivating an environment involving the cultivation of mutual trust, respect, and open communication. Teams should embrace lean principles and consider engaging an IPD Advisor to support alignment and reinforce collaborative behaviours, especially if the team lacks experience with IPD.

Careful selection of the project governance structure is also crucial to ensure timely and effective execution. Both the PMT and senior management team (SMT) should be composed of individuals with the authority to make decisions and bind their respective organizations.

Throughout the project, parties should make full use of the CCDC 30’s conflict management framework—a structured, tiered approach that prioritizes resolution at the PMT level and escalates to the SMT only when necessary. By addressing disagreements early and collaboratively, the parties can maintain project momentum, preserve the integrity of the IPD Team, and minimize disruptions.

By adhering to these best practices, participants can better position themselves to realize the benefits of the CCDC 30 and increase the likelihood of delivering projects that meet or exceed expectations.

How Gowling WLG can help

Staying current with emerging standards, legislative changes, and market practices is essential. At Gowling WLG, we closely monitor developments across the construction sector, including updates to CCDC contracts, provincial legislation, and relevant case law. Our team brings deep experience in advising clients on the negotiation and implementation of CCDC contracts, as well as in developing tailored construction agreements that reflect the unique needs of each project.

If you have any questions about this article, the new CCDC contracts or any other construction contract matter, please contact the authors or a member of Gowling WLG's Infrastructure and Construction Group, or subscribe to our Building Brief newsletter to stay informed.

For further insights into the changes to the 2025 CCDC construction management contracts, CCDC 5A, 17, and 5B, please refer to the following article: Updates to the 2025 CCDC Construction Management Contracts: What you need to know.