Open your window. If you can hear jackhammers drilling and dump trucks rumbling, count yourself lucky. Construction activity is known to be one of the most accurate measures of economic health. Here in Atlantic Canada, $14.3 billion is being spent this year on megaprojects alone. And that’s just part of the story. Smaller scale commercial and residential construction is also on the rise. In this, our first-ever salute to bricks and mortar, we highlight some of the region’s most interesting and attractive construction projects. Why? Because he who has the most cranes wins (prosperity, that is).

A seasoned sea captain has found safe harbour in a snug 1,500 sq.-ft. condominium in a converted warehouse near the Charlottetown, P.E.I. waterfront. He’ll be surrounded by unique reminders of life at sea in his new home, which he co-designed with architect Chris Jette of architecture 360 inc. Features include special niches for reading and eating, constellations, secret passageways and scenes of the sea. “The place is intricately designed and detailed, with fabulous materials and craftsmanship,” says Jette. “Because of the quality of the workmanship, it’s like living in a piece of furniture.”