Archives: 25 Innovators In Construction

Fear of trying new things holds many back. But not JCB. The Quebec-based contractor recently pioneered the use of Urban Umbrella scaffolding in Canada. They also introduced a completely new approach to high-density building envelope refurbishment.They proposed using a sheltered work platform, suspended from the roof and raised by a patented lifting system, instead of traditional elevated working platforms or flying platforms. This has attracted the attention of leading international firms, such as PCL and Kajima, who have visited JCB’s worksite to learn more.

Construction software developer Intelliwave made a splash recently when it was announced that they were being acquired by Procore. It’s for good reason. Their flagship product, SiteSense, is a web and mobile-based software platform designed to improve productivity and efficiency in construction projects. SiteSense offers comprehensive project visibility by tracking materials, inventory, tools, and equipment throughout the construction lifecycle. It utilizes technologies such as RFID, GPS, barcodes, and IoT devices to provide real-time updates on material status, locations, and progress.

Originally, Hoylu wasn’t even intended for the construction industry. But the tool’s intuitive blend of task management, whiteboarding, and collaboration tools—paired with an eclectic expert team that has mastered ease-of-use—caught the attention of contractors looking for something different. Now, Hoylu has become a software solution for some of Canada’s biggest names in construction, like EllisDon and Chandos, on some of the most complex projects in the nation.

Procore, Touchplan, Sage, Autodesk suite, Revizto, cmBuilder—you name it, Kinetic is using it. They have also spent the past ten years implementing lean project delivery. But more than projects, Kinetic delivers for its people. Kinetic exceeds expectations by providing extended health coverage, including often-overlooked necessities like vision care, counselling, and prescription coverage. Notably, the company addresses the pressing issue of B.C.’s toxic drug health crisis by offering 100% coverage for residential addiction treatment.

DOZR.com is the world’s largest online equipment rental marketplace. It enables business owners to earn additional revenue from their idle equipment and connect with new customers.

What makes them an innovator:

• As the first comprehensive online search platform for heavy equipment, DOZR has empowered users with transparent access to suppliers, changing the traditional industry landscape.
• By promoting the rental of heavy equipment, DOZR helps construction companies lower their carbon footprint, contributing to environmental sustainability.

As the world’s first comprehensive online search for heavy equipment, DOZR has changed the digital future of rentals by empowering users with transparent access to suppliers across the continent.

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Paragon Living is one of Winnipeg’s most active full-service real estate developers specializing in affordable luxury rentals.

What makes them an innovator:

• The company has been a pioneer in using Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) for constructing energy-efficient projects, setting new industry standards.
• Paragon Living has integrated Procore with QuickBooks through Smooth Link software, optimizing construction processes and financial management.
• Paragon was among the first to collaborate with First Nations and CMHC in Manitoba, leading to truly affordable, energy-efficient developments fully owned by indigenous communities.

Paragon has been a true pioneer in the construction industry, introducing new concepts, methods, and technologies that have had a significant impact in the field. One notable example is the company’s expertise in Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF), which has been utilized for over 10 years to construct full-height single and multi-family buildings.

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Brickeye IoT (Internet of Things) solutions monitor assets and processes across various industries and generate data and insights for better decision making. Their end-to-end IoT solutions combine the latest technologies of sensors, connectivity, software, and analytics to expand the bounds of innovation among industries.

What makes them an innovator:

• The company is a pioneer in developing an integrated hardware and software platform specifically for construction. They focus on concrete monitoring, water damage mitigation, and environmental risk solutions.
• Brickeye fosters a culture of innovation and creativity among its employees. They assign challenging projects that allow for skill development and maintain a positive work culture.
• Brickeye collaborates closely with the insurance industry, providing real-time visibility and alerts on job site risks, thereby reducing insurance costs and claims.

Great challenges bring great opportunities, and Brickeye is well positioned to help a critical industry build safer, smarter and better. As the construction industry continues to rapidly grow across North America, the need for risk mitigation and modern construction technologies grows with it.

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Chandos is one of North America’s most collaborative and innovative commercial builders. It is 100% employee owned and a strong advocate of collaborative construction.

What makes them an innovator:

• Chandos has committed to procuring at least 5% of their addressable spend with social enterprises and diverse-owned businesses by 2025. They have also developed a nationwide social procurement directory.
• Their team has adopted Building Information Modeling (BIM) and virtual design and construction (VDC), with over 50% of their project portfolio utilizing these technologies. They have also implemented 4D scheduling, which has streamlined construction processes and reduced costs.
• They were the first and largest B Corp Certified commercial builder in North America and remain one of only a tiny handful who hold this certification in the Canadian construction sector.
• They recently launched an environmental, social, and corporate governance dashboard to track their social spending, waste diversion and greenhouse gas emissions, and diversity statistics.

We remain committed to driving industry-wide change by setting standards, sharing knowledge, and collaborating with stakeholders to create a more sustainable future.

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Clark Builders is one of Canada’s top general contractors with extensive experience in commercial, institutional and industrial construction, operating across Western and Northern Canada. Its head office is located in Edmonton with branch offices in Calgary, Vancouver and Yellowknife.

What makes them an innovator:

• Clark’s team leverages advanced tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) and 3D Lidar Laser Scanning to redefine construction projects, delivering unparalleled value to clients.
• They were the first general contractor in Alberta to require safety helmets with chin straps for their workers, significantly reducing the risk of serious injuries.
• Clark Builders is a certified living wage employer and offers comprehensive benefits from day one, emphasizing the physical and mental well-being of their workforce.
• The company employs sophisticated technologies, such as drones with photogrammetry capabilities and mixed reality, to enhance project planning and execution.

At Clark Builders, our commitment to innovation and cutting-edge technology sets us apart in the construction industry. By harnessing the power of advanced tools and processes, we have redefined how construction projects are executed, ultimately delivering unparalleled value to our clients

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CM Labs is the developer of the Vortex simulation platform. The Vortex platform is composed of applications for creating interactive vehicle and mechanical equipment simulations in virtual environments.

What makes them an innovator:

• CM Labs’ patented Smart Training Technology replicates real-world machine behavior, backed by over 20,000 automated daily tests. This results in effective operator training, covering various environmental factors and machine interactions.
• Their simulation offers a safe environment for trainees, preventing the development of negative habits. It also mitigates increased fuel costs and wear and tear that typically result from novice handling.
• CM Labs simulators enable advanced crew training exercises, making it easier to train multiple operators in the same virtual environment. This is especially beneficial for new trainees.

“Simulator training offers a safe haven for failure without consequences. Simulators help ease the transition from theory to practice – trainees run through basic controls and get familiar with the movement of the equipment.

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Crewscope is an app that helps set weekly production targets. When goals are hit, the project stays on schedule, and crews earn rewards for their excellent work.

What makes them an innovator:

• Crewscope has developed software that focuses on objective-based incentive programs for construction crews. It allows site leaders to set and communicate weekly goals, which are then tracked. Achieving these goals earns crews points redeemable for rewards.
• Unlike other software in the sector, Crewscope is designed with the worker in mind. It eliminates the need for passwords, app installations, or company devices, making it highly accessible and popular among workers.
• As a new startup, Crewscope is already collaborating with major heavy civil companies across Canada, aiming to improve the efficiency of infrastructure development.

This has been shown to keep the crew focused on the goal, motivate them, and help build high-efficiency teams which help increase productivity and profits and retain and attract skilled workers.

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A family business founded in 1968 by Fernand Houle and his brother Germain, EBC is active in the building, mining, and major civil engineering sectors. EBC has contributed to some 720 projects totaling about $22 billion. 

What makes them an innovator:

• EBC has been a leader in decarbonizing the construction industry, increasing their involvement in green-certified projects from 1% in 2014 to over 25% of their current revenue.
• Its team self-operates a fleet of over 200 pieces of heavy equipment, each fully monitored in real-time for energy consumption and efficiency.
• EBC has developed an efficient ecosystem of interconnected platforms that address challenges in the construction industry, including 4D animation and cloud-based platforms for project management.

The EBC innovation process is based on the Design Thinking methodology. This process put the stress on the human and emotional factor of every Innovation. Consequently, the creativity at EBC is not only dependent on Innovation teams but also, upstream, on IT development and infrastructures leads and even more interestingly, downstream, on project staff.

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ETRO Construction is one of B.C.’s fastest growing construction management and general contracting firms. it’s long term-goal is to provide diversified construction services to project partners in an ever-changing construction market.

What makes them an innovator:

• ETRO has an in-house Innovation + Technology (I+T) Team that focuses on integrating new technologies to improve construction methodologies.
• ETRO’s People Builder program shows a strong commitment to mentorship and internal growth.
• One of its in-house technologies, the ETRO Milestone Tracker (EMT), won the Procore Groundbreaker Award for Excellence in Innovation.

Now in our eighth year of business, ETRO has become known for our focus on building real relationships and cultivating a culture centered around our incredible people. Bringing our roots in mentorship into the spotlight has impacted the construction industry by attracting up-and-coming talent to the business who are pushing ETRO to new levels of effectiveness, efficiency, and expertise.

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Winnipeg-based Gardon Construction specializes in construction management, general contracting, and concrete restoration and rehabilitation services. It’s team has a wealth of experience in new project construction, comprehensive interior and exterior renovations, and expansions.

What makes them an innovator:

• They were early adopters of Procore and are pioneers in Construction 4.0, focusing on BIM processes and 3D printing of concrete.
• Gardon implements environmental management strategies that have diverted up to 95% of construction waste from landfills.
• Gardon has led the smaller, regional construction sector in Western Canada by being the first to adopt many new technologies, thereby influencing their sub-trades and competitors to begin digital transformations.

Jeff [Olafson] and the Gardon team are on a constant hunt for ways to build better. As we said in the beginning, it’s hard for us as a technology company to keep up with the continuous improvement and high expectations that they set. Gardon Construction is an exemplary small contractor that all other builders in Canada should emulate.

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ITS specializes in and offers unique turn key pipeline construction project delivery. Its services include pipeline installation of high-density polyethylene, steel, fiberglass, and all other composite pipeline material.

What makes them an innovator:

• The ITS team leverages advanced one-pass trenching technologies to revolutionize the installation of fibre optic networks, electrical cables, and pipelines. Their equipment is versatile and can maneuver in most types of soils.
• The company can install over 10 km of underground utilities in one single 10 hour day.
• ITS’ methods are environmentally friendly, combining excavation, utility installation, and backfilling into one step, reducing the environmental impact.
•  Company officials are working with the American Pipeline Association and the fibre optic sensing industry to standardize and improve installation methods.

“ITS’ adoption of specialized equipment designed for efficient and precise plowing of underground utilities really sets ITS apart from other means and methods of installing these types of underground utilities. Our equipment is versatile and can maneuver in most types of soils.”

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Established nearly 100 years ago, Graham is an employee-owned construction solutions partner. It provides general contracting, design-build, construction management and public-private partnership (P3) services to the buildings, industrial, and infrastructure sectors. 

What makes them an innovator:

• Graham is developing a proprietary data platform aimed at transforming data into an enterprise-level asset. This will improve efficiency and deliver better outcomes for project owners.
• Graham is setting up to be head-of-class in the coming years, focusing on machine learning, AI, and handling of unstructured data like field video feeds from drones.
• Employees have access to a variety of professional growth tools, from the Graham Graduate Program to Builders’ Framework and Leadership Development Programs.

“As an employee-owned business our push to innovate, together with our entrepreneurial edge is what moves us forward. We continually examine every part of the business to find better ways to operate.”

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GeoRadar Group is one of Canada’s leading providers of ground penetrating radar services, utility locating, land surveying, shallow geophysical surveys and Xradar Concrete Scanning. It serves clients together with its subsidiary companies, GeoScan and Xradar.
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What makes them an innovator:

• GeoScan was instrumental in developing the Registered Utility Locator Technicians (RULT) program, a first-of-its-kind certification program.
• GeoRadar Group has developed Xradar University and equipment modifications to exceed the imaging capabilities of X-ray with the safety of ground-penetrating radar.
• GeoRadar Group is 100% employee-owned and offers various programs for employee growth, including peer-to-peer recognition and rewards.

 Overall, we aim to be at the forefront of technological development within our industry and to acquire or develop new equipment, software & technology to further advance our services.

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Koroyd’s team engineers advanced impact solutions that keep people safe while on the job or having fun. Originally innovated from aerospace safety research, the company has branched out into industrial, sports, motorsports, industrial safety and other uses.

What makes them an innovator:

• The company is pioneering industrial safety helmets that not only protect from impacts with welded tube structures, but also significantly reduce heat stress, a growing concern in the construction industry.
• The company aims to reduce emissions by 40% per kg of Koroyd produced by 2030, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.
• With headquarters in Monaco and teams across the U.K., North America, and China, Koroyd operates globally, bringing world-class R&D facilities to every partner engagement.

“We pioneer protective solutions that continually advance the industry benchmark, and go beyond safe to define new standards in excellence. We believe when standards advance, life improves. From sending it down the tallest mountain, to driving home from the hospital with your newborn, and all the moments in between, life shouldn’t be limited by fear.”

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Nexii designs and manufactures low carbon buildings and products to address the climate impact of buildings. With its proprietary material Nexiite, Nexii enables rapid project assembly with reduced end-to-end carbon emissions, near zero waste and less community disruption.

What makes them an innovator:

• Nexii has developed Nexiite, a polymer concrete that replaces high-carbon concrete and steel, enabling rapid assembly of sustainable buildings.
• Its team has demonstrated the feasibility of circularity by deconstructing and reassembling an early-design showroom, diverting over 99% of waste from landfills.
• Via Nexii’s Integrated Technology Partner (ITP) program, they combine world-leading technologies from ITPs including Pella, Honeywell, Siemens, Rycom, Modern Niagara and Trane to create net positive buildings that are disaster resilient and generate more energy than they use.

“Our commitment to net zero carbon forms part of our broader corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy, underpinning Nexii’s mission to build a vibrant future for people and the planet.”

– Highlight from the nomination