All the best, The Editorial Team We will keep adding business units that enhance our offering and separate us from our competition. “ ” Editor From The Dear Reader, Welcome to the latest issue of Construction Source Canada, the magazine that highlights the best in building and building products across the country. This time out, we’ve taken a look at a wide variety of industry players – we talked to industry-leading designers, architects, builders, window and door manufacturers, concrete solutions providers, HVAC solutions providers, and much more. Post Architecture, the company on our cover, is example of an industry-leading architecture firm. From their home base in downtown Toronto, they specialize in custom home designs that bridge the gap between traditional architecture and contemporary living. Gloria Apostolou, the principal architect, founded the firm over 10 years ago with the goal of developing “a new language of design” that “reflected how we live today.” We spoke to Gloria about that language, and how their homes can be sensitive to neighbourhood context while still feeling modern and cutting-edge. We also highlighted recent projects in Prince Edward County and Seaton Village where their team utilized some unique courtyard strategies to make the homes feel welcoming on all sides. Brecon Construction, meanwhile, is specialty contracting and carpentry company located in Everett, Ontario. They specialize in the supply and installation of a wide range of wood and metal architectural products, and over the years have contributed to a wide variety of project sizes and typologies. Brent O’Quinn, the company’s owner and field supervisor, talked to us about that versatility, and about why Brecon has become a trusted name in the residential, industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors alike. We also discussed some of their most notable and challenging projects – including the acclaimed AlpenFury at Canada’s Wonderland, a record-breaking, multi-launch steel coaster regarded as one of the largest of its kind in North America. Also in this issue McK Architecture – another well-established and industry-acclaimed architectural firm, but in their case based in Calgary. To tell their story, we caught up with Scott McKay, the firm’s eponymous founder and principal. We talked about the company’s 20-plus-year history, their legacy of work in the healthcare sector, and their love of taking on new challenges. As an example, we highlighted their work on the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary, where they worked throughout the pandemic on a $100-millionplus renovation and expansion that included a new emergency department, two new mental health units, a new lab, and a new operating area. For those stories – and a lot more like them, about more industry leaders across the construction spectrum – just keep reading.
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THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA With a readership exceeding 145,000 senior executives, The Construction Source takes immense pride in providing an enticing platform to amplify your message to the most pivotal audience – your valued customers. Whether your aim is to promote an exciting new condo development, attract crucial financial investments for upcoming projects, or establish a commanding brand presence, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. To explore opportunities for featuring your company or showcasing your latest project in The Construction Source, please reach out to our Group Publisher. Jermaine Poulsen e: info@theconstructionsource.ca The Costruction Source Canada Suite 202 to 1201 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5R 2A5 E: info@theconstructionsource.ca Executive Publisher Jermaine Poulsen COO Alexandra Box Editor in Chief Zach Janes Director of Operations Jacqueline Van Belois Business Development Managers Catherine Ditchburn Production Manager Brennan Midghall Digital Strategist Pranim Thapa
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A NE
EW LANGUAGE
Post Architecture Inc. is a boutique architecture firm based in downtown Toronto, specializing in custom home designs that bridge the gap between traditional architecture and contemporary living. Gloria Apostolou, the principal architect, founded the firm over 10 years ago with the vision of creating spaces that honour the heritage of their surroundings while still supporting the modern needs and lifestyles of their clients. “I wanted to develop a new language of design,” Gloria says. “I wanted to do work that wasn’t just a representation of the past – I wanted to do something was a little bit more nuanced and reflected how we live today. That’s why I started Post Architecture.” Gloria developed her design philosophy over a long career in architecture, starting from when she graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies Degree. From there, she interned in offices in Greece, Italy, and Finland, before returning to Toronto where she worked with a well-known firm for about 10 years. During that time, she earned a lot of valuable experience, but the homes she was designing tended to be “very traditional.” She ended up taking on some work on the side that better aligned with her vision, and her success on those projects inspired her to start her own practice. Since launching in 2013, Post Architecture has grown steadily in response to increasing client demand. They have gone from a solo practice to a team of five to six people, and the scale of their work has also evolved – their earlier projects were typically large-scale renovations, undertaken when the market for substantial residential work was robust. As the firm has matured, their JUNE 2026
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projects have grown to include new build homes and cottages, and have become more nuanced in terms of design and the level of detail required. “As we’ve grown, we’ve seen a steady increase of clients and scale of projects,” Gloria says. “Our designs have become more and more sophisticated as we’ve improved and pushed forward.” These days, the company generates leads through a variety of channels. Many people find the firm through Google searches, while a couple have been referred by AI – Gloria says last fall they had two people within a month say that they learned of Post Architecture from ChatGPT. Even more people encounter the firm on social media, where they have plenty of followers, or from reading about them in industry publications and articles. Regardless of the source, by the time potential clients make contact, they have typically done substantial research. “A potential client can find so much information online,” Gloria explains. “By the time they do reach out, they’re usually pretty committed.” According to Gloria, one of the main reasons clients are drawn to their firm is the way they balance sensitivity to context with modern design flourishes. She believes when most people think of “modern architecture,” they imagine stainless steel and floating stairs, but Post Architecture’s interpretation of the term is very different. “For me, modern architecture is more about the quality of light,” Gloria explains, “and about getting JUNE 2026
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more daylight into the home. We can afford glass now; we can have wide spans; we can do a lot of things that weren’t possible 150 years ago when some of these traditional homes were first built.” “At the same time,” she adds, “the homes don’t need to look cold, which people associate with modern architecture. They don’t need to look like anything in particular. They can still be sensitive to neighborhood context. They can still compliment the landscape and use natural materials and age well. They can still be designed and built with longevity in mind.” To achieve that balance, Post Architecture takes pride in being flexible stylistically rather than adhering strictly to any single design movement. Gloria believes that clients really respond to that refusal to be pigeonholed. “What is different about us is that it’s really hard to say that we are strict modernists or traditionalists,” she says. “For us, it’s about walking that line between keeping what works in the old homes and changing the parts that don’t work or could work better.” This philosophy extends beyond the architectural shell to the intimate details of how people actually live. Gloria and her team invest considerable time understanding their clients’ daily routines, entertaining habits, and family dynamics. This deep knowledge informs every decision, from the placement of light fixtures to the integration of landscape views. Gloria describes taking care to ensure that ceiling treatments, wall finishes, and material selections go well beyond drywall – details that many architects might overlook but JUNE 2026
that she believes fundamentally change how a home feels. Landscape design is also woven into nearly every project and approached with similar thoughtfulness. Gloria encourages clients to think about all the surfaces surrounding their homes, including how nature can be brought into the interior spaces. Post Architecture then handles everything from the approach to the front porch to planting strategies and focal points in rear yards, always working to frame important views and maximize natural light. Post Architecture also strives to design as much as possible of the interior of their homes. To that end, Gloria is currently pursuing her interior design certification through ARIDO – which she hopes will help clients feel more confident that they don’t need to hire a separate interior designer. “As much as we can, we try to design the home holistically, inside and out,” Gloria says. “At the end of the day, we believe this makes the home feel more streamlined and coordinated and generally more liveable.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
JUNE 2026 Trust and confidence Over the years, Post Architecture has built some remarkably deep relationships with their clients. While nearing the end of a project, Gloria says she often hears clients say that they are going to miss their Friday meetings with the design team. Many of those relationships have also evolved into friendships – Gloria’s daughter now babysits for one former client’s young children, for example. “We don’t need to be best friends with clients during the whole process,” Gloria says. “I think it’s important that we’re able to be critical and challenge each other, too – I think that back and forth makes a project better – but we have to be able to relate to them and communicate, and they have to trust that we’re going to hear them. That kind of trust naturally leads to good relationships.” Internally, Post Architecture also strives to nurture that kind of
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA trust and confidence. They operate as a small, tightly knit team that works in close proximity, all present in the office five days a week. Rather than adopting an assembly-line model where one person handles design, another handles permitting, and a third manages construction administration, Gloria has structured the firm so that each team member develops a project from inception through completion, maintaining continuity with clients throughout. This approach demands more from staff – they must be skilled in design, technically proficient, and excellent communicators – but it creates a deeply personal investment in the outcome of the project, as well as more engagement and satisfaction at the end of the day. Post Architecture’s relationships with the builders and contractors executing their designs are approached just as thoughtfully. Gloria considers those partners essential to the firm’s success. “I would say one of the main drivers of our growth and success is the great relationships we have with contractors,” she says. Because the firm’s designs are intricate and detailed, Gloria says that they need builders who are not just technically skilled but intellectually engaged. She seeks contractors who embrace the experimental nature of each project – Gloria notes that every project involves some element of invention, some first-time approach they’re trying, and they need builders who are up for the challenge.
JUNE 2026 Fortunately, Post Architecture has developed a core group of five or so contractors with whom they work repeatedly. Gloria and her team refer their clients to those trusted builders with confidence, and the builders reciprocate by making time for Post Architecture projects, holding spots in their schedules, and providing budgeting assistance for the clients. Gloria believes the builders in that group enjoy the “interesting, meaningful, and challenging work” that Post Architecture gives them, and they appreciate as the quality of the drawings and the consistency of the communication they receive. Gloria further credits Post Architecture’s growth to the strong ties they have formed with key suppliers and subcontractors throughout their history. For example, they have built a particularly close relationship with Blackwood Siding, a premium Ontario-based manufacturer that specializes in custom charred wood cladding. Starting with tree species native to the region, they apply traditional burning and brushing techniques to create highly durable, insect-resistant, and distinctively textured black wood siding. Blackwood siding is heavily favoured by modern builders and architects for high-end and sustainable – the kind that Post Architecture specializes in. Another example is Miele Canada, the Canadian subsidiary of the premium German-engineered home appliance and equipment manufacturer. Miele as a whole was established in Europe all the way back 1899, and Miele Canada has been headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario since 1989. Over their long history, they have become known for the outstanding performance and enduring quality of their products. They have also become known for their fast and efficient aftersales service operation. That combination gives their customers – and gives specifiers like Post Architecture – complete confidence and peace of mind, knowing that their appliances will endure and that the manufacturer will stand behind them if issues arise.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA Efficiency and expertise Currently, Post Architecture is working on a variety of projects that showcase the firm’s founding vision. Among the most exciting is a new courtyard-plan residence in Prince Edward County, a new build on 78 acres where the clients rejected conventional front-andback orientations in favour of making all sides of the house equally welcoming. The design wraps four walls around a 60-by-60-foot courtyard, with every room opening to either the private courtyard or the expansive landscape beyond. The project features stone walls and cedar shake roofs – materials chosen for their longevity and ability to blend with the natural setting. Simultaneously, the firm is completing a more compact urban project in Seaton Village that also employs a courtyard strategy, though at a smaller scale. In this row house, a narrow eight-by-fifteen-foot courtyard carved into the heart of the long, skinny footprint, brings
JUNE 2026 daylight deep into the home, avoiding what would otherwise have been a dark interior. Moving forward, Gloria’s vision for Post Architecture is to do more unique and challenging projects like those examples. She also wants to continue growing and adding to the firm’s capabilities and efficiency. To that end, she says they are actively working to bring additional specialists onto the team – such as an interior designer and a landscape architect – in order to deepen their integrated approach. At the same time, the firm is implementing workflow automation tools like Airtable to manage the mounting complexity of their projects. Gloria is very excited about the potential of those programs. As projects grow become more intricate, and specification of product materials and fixtures multiply with variations on each one, Airtable will allow the team to manage information with precision, track purchases and deliveries, and create instant mood boards and visual references. The platform also generates client websites where owners can access current drawings, selections, and reference their choices at any time. “We don’t need to grow in terms of numbers,” Gloria concludes. “I think we just want to grow in terms of efficiency and expertise, and we want to keep improving the service that we offer. That’s how we measure our success – not by how many employees we have, or how many projects we do, but by how well we’re servicing our clients.”
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Post Architecture, their services, industry awards, and past projects – and to get in touch with Gloria and her expert team – visit www.postarchitecture.com/
BETTER TOGETHER
Brecon Construction Inc. is a specialty contracting and carpentry company located in Everett, Ontario. They specialize in the supply and installation of a wide range of wood and metal architectural products, including finished carpentry and rough carpentry. Over their more-than-20-year history they have worked for a wide range of residential, industrial, commercial and institutional sectors, and they have brought the same exceptional capability and sophistication to all projects, no matter the size, scope or complexity. “We take pride in our work and we’re not satisfied until projects meet our own standards,” says Brent O’Quinn, owner and field supervisor. “We listen to make sure every project is a success. We have excellent customer support. We build high value, long term relationships, with 90 per cent of our clients being return customers. We believe all things work better when we work together.” Brent personally developed that belief at a young age. His father’s side of the family is rooted in a small farm and his mother’s side is grounded in carpentry, and he started working at the farm as a kid, where that belief served him well. It continued to serve him he got into carpentry in the early 2000s, and when he struck out on his own and founded his company in 2004. Over two decades later, guided by that belief, Brecon Construction has grown into a trusted name in specialty contracting across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Today, Brecon Construction operates primarily within the GTA, though they have begun expanding their reach into northern areas of Ontario as well, carefully and deliberately testing new ground. Their work spans a variety of typologies and project sizes, giving them a versatile portfolio that few specialty contractors can match. Whether the JUNE 2026
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project calls for precision architectural carpentry, structural formwork, or civil foundation support, Brecon Construction brings the same level of craft and commitment to every engagement. The scope of the company’s work is perhaps best illustrated by their involvement at Canada’s Wonderland, one of the most prominent theme park destinations in the country. Brecon Construction has contributed to multiple highprofile attractions at the park, each one presenting its own technical demands. “We’ve had the opportunity to work on several high-profile, technically demanding projects recently, including multiple attractions at Canada’s Wonderland,” Brent says. “These require a combination of civil work, structural formwork, and precision carpentry – and they highlight our ability to operate in complex, high-traffic environments.” Among the most notable of these projects was the AlpenFury, a record-breaking, multi-launch steel roster that’s widely regarded as one of the largest of its kind in North America. For that project, Brecon Construction supported the civil foundation work, structural concrete elements, and selected architectural components integral to the coaster’s design and theme. They also contributed to Snoopy’s Racing Railway, where the team’s carpentry and installation work was focused on safety, accessibility, and visual appeal, as well as the Tundra Twister, where they provided a similar scope. JUNE 2026
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According to Brent, what sets Brecon Construction apart when it comes to challenging projects like those is not just the company’s technical capability, but also their ability to problem-solve under pressure. That means clients and project partners know they can rely on Brecon to keep things moving even when circumstances are difficult. “We’re good at organizing and getting the job done when there are problems,” Brent explains. “We’re good at finding a solution and acting on it – making it happen.” Much of Brecon’s success can also be traced to the way they build and sustain relationships – and that starts with how they find new clients. For Brent, the approach is refreshingly straightforward. New relationships are built through word of mouth and direct, honest communication. There are no elaborate marketing campaigns or social media funnels. Instead, Brent connects with clients personally, letting the quality of past work do the talking. “Much of our success comes from repeat business, strong relationships, and consistent feedback on the quality of our work and our safety performance,” he says. As previously mentioned, that consistency has translated into a remarkable client retention rate, with approximately 90 per cent of Brecon’s clients returning for future projects. When it comes to employees, the company’s JUNE 2026
retention rate is also very strong. Currently, Brecon Construction employs eight people directly, and Brent describes their internal culture as “tightknit” and “loyal.” He says many of the members of the crew have been with the company for 10-to-12 years – which is a testament to the environment the company has created and the meaning that employees feel in their work. That sense of continuity extends to how Brecon works with subcontractors and suppliers as well. The company draws from a preferred network of tradespeople and vendors they have developed relationships with over many years. These are not transactional arrangements – they are trusted partnerships. “A lot of our clients know our subcontractors,” Brent notes, “and they like that they keep seeing the same ones over and over. It lets them know they’re in good hands.” According to Brett, Brecon has built strong relationships with a core group of subcontractors and suppliers over the years, including partners like G.ROCK, Elite Rebar for rebar supply and installation, and Alliston Home Hardware. He says all of those partners provide reliable service and day-to-day support. “Between concrete, reinforcement, pumping, and materials, these partners play a key role across our projects. Whether it’s a large industrial job or a residential foundation, having the right team in place allows us to maintain consistency, quality, and efficiency from start to finish.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
G.ROCK, for example, is a GTA-based provider of ready-mix concrete, mobile volumetric mixing, and concrete pumping truck services for clients across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Like Brecon, they work on a variety of projects, from industrial high-rises to sturdy home foundations, and they always bring the same level of dedication and precision no matter the project. Also like Brecon, they are dedicated to building lasting relationships with all stakeholders – and they build those relationships by delivering results that ensure the safety, durability and longevity of every structure they touch. Moving forward, in collaboration with their likeminded and longstanding partners, Brecon Construction aims to continue taking on largescale and challenging projects, and they aim to continue growing – but not too quickly. Brent’s vision is not about rapid expansion for its own sake, but deliberate, sustainable growth that preserves everything that has made the company successful. “Over the next five years, we plan to continue expanding our civil works and structural formwork capabilities,” he concludes. “We want to grow our team and increase our capacity for larger ICI projects – but with a focus on steady and sustainable growth, while maintaining the quality, reliability, and relationships that have gotten us to where we are today.” JUNE 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Brecon Construction, their story, their points of difference, and their past projects – and to get in touch with Brent and his team – visit https://breconconstruction.com/
REALIZING THE CLIENT’S VISION
McK Architecture is a well-established and industry-acclaimed architectural firm based in Calgary, Alberta. Backed by a team of experienced architects and designers, they offer a wide range of design services tailored to meet clients’ specific needs and preferences, and they take pride in delivering innovative and functional design solutions. Since forming almost 20 years ago, they have delivered a long list of successful projects for a variety of public and private clients, with values ranging from $50,000 to $100 million. On every project – no matter the typology, size, or scope – they provide a very personalized service and they strive to deliver results that reflect the specific and individual vision of the client. “We have clients that we’ve worked with for 20plus years, and the primary reason is we’re all about achieving their vision,” says Scott McKay, the company’s eponymous founder and principal. “It’s not about our vision – it’s about the client’s vision. We’re not here to fulfill our own egos. We’re here to figure out and understand exactly what the client needs, and then we find a way to give it to them.” Scott has been personally working in architecture for decades, and first started his own shop back in 2002. Five years later, he teamed up with his long-time friend and colleague Bob Hlavecek to form McKay Hlavecek Architects, which they ran together until Bob retired. Following Bob’s retirement, the firm rebranded to McK Architecture earlier this year. Throughout their history, McKay Hlavecek Architects focused primarily on government work, and their main clients have included Alberta Health services, Alberta Infrastructure, the University of Calgary, and the Calgary Board JUNE 2026
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of Education. Moving forward, under the banner of McK Architecture, the firm intends to maintain that focus – as government work is both consistent and rewarding. “There’s always lots of work going on within the healthcare industry because of the rapidly changing dynamics of how healthcare is delivered,” Scott explains. “The methodologies evolve, the equipment evolves, so there’s always something happening.” “Because it’s an ever-evolving industry, it’s also very interesting work,” he adds. “Some of the stuff we did back in the day that was cutting-edge now feels almost archaic. So we’re constantly learning and trying new things. That keeps our team motivated.” Within their healthcare niche, Scott believes what sets McK Architecture apart is both the experience of their staff – he’s personally been designing healthcare facilities for over 30 years – and the size of their staff. “We’re a smaller firm, so the people with the most experience are heavily involved in all the projects,” he says. “And we’ve had really, really good employee retention – people here who have been with us for 19 years, 15 years, many who have been here 10 years. So the depth of experience travels well past the senior staff. All of us are very adept to the requirements for healthcare architecture and the work we do at the university.” GENERAL CONTRACTING | PROJECT MANAGEMENT | CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT | DESIGN BUILD | DESIGN BUILD FINANCE Transforming Visions into Buildings.® Buttcon is a proudly Canadian, employee-owned construction company with offices in Toronto, Ottawa, and Calgary. Backed by hands-on leadership and a commitment to safety, quality, and innovation, we deliver complex, schedule-sensitive projects across a wide range of sectors nationwide. CALGARY: (403) 456-9050 TORONTO: (905) 907-4242 OTTAWA: (613) 383-0505 JUNE 2026
Scott credits the loyalty of the firm’s employees to the culture they have instilled in the office. He describes that culture as being rooted in ownership, respect, and genuine support. “We make sure that our staff gets the support they need and the training they need, and we also make sure that they feel that the projects they’re working on are their own so they feel invested,” he says. “We’re all about making sure that everybody feels like they’re a part of the process – that what they’re drawing, designing, and ultimately seeing constructed is a reflection of their ideas as well as the firm as a whole.” That same philosophy of communication, respect, and collaboration extends to the firm’s relationships with contractors. Scott says McK Architecture works with everyone from major national contractors to smaller local builders and views them all equally. “A lot of it is about that open line of communication and listening,” he explains. “We can draw way A, and they might want to build it way B – but that doesn’t necessarily mean way B is incorrect. It’s just a different way to get there.” “We make sure that we’re being collaborative and that everybody on the team – whether it’s the contractor, the owner, us, our subconsultants – everyone has a voice, and everybody’s is important,” he adds. “It’s about communication. If there’s an issue, we want to talk about it and get it resolved and move forward rather than make it a big paperwork headache.” THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
JUNE 2026 Rewarding work As a result of McK Architecture’s collaborative, they have been able to form some very longstanding relationships with clients – some of which, as previously mentioned, go back over 20 years. Together with those clients, they have also been a part of some highly significant landmark projects in the region. One of the firm’s most significant undertakings, for example, was was a seven-part, $100-million-plus project at Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary – a multi-year engagement that began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and wrapped up just months ago. The scope included a new emergency department, two new mental health units, a new lab, and a new operating area. Delivered in partnership with EllisDon, the project required the firm to navigate the unique infection control challenges and shifting care delivery models that
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JUNE 2026 COVID introduced. “We were deemed essential, and it gave us the opportunity to look at healthcare through a different lens,” Scott says. “Social distancing, infection control – all of those things had a real impact on how we approached the design.” The goal throughout that project was to make the spaces feel less institutional and more human. “We were trying to keep it so that patient care felt like you were in a hospital, of course, but without that cold, typical feeling that can actually be scarier for people,” Scott says. “The feedback we received is that the colors and the spaces we created have made the environments more pleasant for patients and families – and also for the staff.” Achieving that outcome required extensive collaboration. Some of these projects involved user teams of up to 50 people, ensuring that everyone with a stake in the space had a voice. “When it was complete, the feedback was that it was working really well,” Scott says. “We’re not here to look for accolades. If the user teams and the ownership and the management say we hit all the marks we should have, then we know we’ve done our job – and that’s what leapfrogs us to the next one.” At roughly the same time, McK Architecture also completed a $50-million-plus project at Rockyview
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA General Hospital, delivering a new 34,000-squarefoot ICU wing and a new GI unit – both of which replaced spaces dating back to the 1980s. The ICU work was particularly meaningful given the emotional weight of the environment. “An ICU is tough for everyone in it – patients, families, staff,” Scott says. “We tried to deliver as comforting a space as we possibly could.” In the GI unit, careful attention was paid to the layout of procedure rooms, ensuring that every operating room was configured identically so that staff could move between them without disorientation. “Sometimes it’s not about reinventing the wheel to a high degree,” Scott explains. “It’s about taking that original wheel, massaging it, making it better – but always starting from the basics.” By all accounts, the firm’s approach was the correct one. According to Scott recent feedback from Rockyview has been very positive, with staff and patients alike responding well to the upgraded environments. Moving forward, Scott says the firm’s goal is to continue operating within the healthcare and institutional sectors, and to continue taking on challenging and rewarding projects like the above examples. They also want to keep giving their team members the opportunity to learn and grow – Scott says that’s probably the best part of his job.
JUNE 2026 “Where I get the most joy seeing the team here evolve, learn more, and build their own experience,” he says. “I love that we give our people the opportunity to be creative, to deliver projects of a high calibre, and to keep pushing to deliver to even higher standards. That’s what makes this job rewarding. That’s what I want to keep doing.” To date, McK Architecture has operated largely under the radar, with no aggressive marketing and minimal online presence. Instead, they have relied on the kind of word-of-mouth reputation that only comes from doing consistently excellent work over a very long time. For Scott, that’s not an approach that needs to change. “We like being old school,” he says. “We like growing the traditional way, through word of mouth and referrals. It’s worked out well so far.” After nearly a quarter century in practice and with a deeply experienced team behind him, Scott is not looking to reinvent his firm – he is simply looking to keep building on the reputation they already have.
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INTEGRITY MEETS TECHNOLOGY
Integral Air Furnace and Ventilation is an Edmonton-based, Indigenous-owned HVAC and indoor air quality company specializing in residential and commercial heating, cooling, and ventilation services. They service a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial clients, and they offer a comprehensive range of services, including: furnace installation, emergency repair, and maintenance; air conditioning installation, repair, and maintenance; vent inspection, robotic duct cleaning, and commercial duct cleaning; and 24/7 emergency repairs for both homes and businesses. In all service areas, their goal is to improve the lives and wellbeing of their clients, and they use the latest technology to make that happen. “We’re not just about air quality – we’re about enhancing the quality of life for our Edmonton neighbours,” says Chad Osmond, founder and president of the company. “We were founded on the principles of education and professionalism, and our team is dedicated to ensuring our customer’s environment is not just comfortable, but healthy too.” Chad personally comes from a highly diverse professional background. In his previous career, he did geological laboratory work for companies out of the oil sands – he started with himself and a truck, and he ended up building a $60 million company with 160 employees within five years. Personal circumstances then compelled him to move to Edmonton, where he helped launch a new branch for a company based out of Montreal – once again, that branch started with nothing and now does upwards of $200 million per year. From there, Chad was head-hunted by someone who wanted to start an automated refuelling JUNE 2026
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business for the fracking industry. After some convincing, Chad took on the challenge and started again from the ground up, with just himself, his employer, and an accountant. That company went public in 2020 doing about $450 million per year. Then COVID hit, and the downtime gave Chad an opportunity to sit back and reflect on what he wanted to do next. “I had the chance to think about where I stood and what I wanted to do,” he recalls. “At that point I had done three start-ups for other people, so I decided I wanted to do one for myself. I didn’t know what it was going to be at first, so I started looking around and I came across an opportunity with this business.” Initially, Chad hesitated from diving in – HVAC was out of his wheelhouse, and he thought it would be slightly odd to go from a vice president of a large oil and gas company to operating a duct cleaning company. But the more he researched the industry, the more he saw an opening. Traditional methods had dominated the space for decades, and no one was meaningfully applying the kind of technology and operational rigour he had spent his career refining. COVID had made indoor air quality a mainstream concern, and Chad saw a clear path into an underserved market – particularly in healthcare. “I came up with the idea to use robotics,” he says. “No one else was really doing that. The technology was out there, but no one was really utilizing it. Because of COVID, air quality was a big issue. So my focus became using this robotic technology to JUNE 2026
break into the market with hospitals. And that’s where we really got our foot in the door, with emergency rooms and medical centres.” The company’s footprint has grown steadily in the years since. Today, Integral Air operates with eight employees running four units – at that size, Chad says they have the ability to remain highly selective about whom they work with and to maintain the exacting standards that set them apart. Their client roster includes Alberta Health Services, the City of Calgary, the Department of Defense, and a range of large mechanical contractors. The City of Calgary alone accounts for 640 buildings under their care over a five-year contract – a volume of work that keeps the team consistently at capacity. According to Chad, Integral Air is able to win those contracts, and then hold to them, partly due to their utilization of advanced technology. Integral Air uses a custom-adapted robotic system that travels through ductwork, capturing 4K video and allowing operators to manage everything from the ground. That technology improves safety by eliminating the need to work from heights while also providing verifiable proof that the work was done to a high standard. “There’s no other way of doing it where at the end you can honestly tell the client that their whole system is entirely clean,” Chad says. “Doing it this way, not only can we honestly tell the client that that their system is clean, but we can show them that is.” Complementing the robotics, Integral Air also deploys dry ice blasting technology – another THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
innovation rarely used in their sector. Dry ice pellets are fired directly inside HVAC systems, disintegrating contaminants and converting them to gas without leaving any residue. It’s a technology particularly well-suited to food processing environments, which is a market the company is eyeing for future expansion. Furthermore, Integral Air operates with a level of procedural discipline that most competitors in the HVAC industry simply can’t match. Chad credits that to starting out in starting out in the healthcare field, which set the highest standards for air quality in the industry. Integral Air now lives up to those standards on all their projects, no matter who they are working for. “Every company we work for, that’s the standard we perform,” he says. “That’s what’s really separated us from everybody else in the industry.” Yet one more point of difference for Integral Air is the detailed reporting that accompanies each job. Chad comes from an oil and gas background and has managed companies with 600-plus employees. In those environments, documentation, scheduling, and accountability are non-negotiable, and he brought those systems and processes with him to the HVAC world. “We’re providing comprehensive reports that most people in our industry aren’t able to provide, whether they have a technical background or not,” he says. “I think that’s something else that separates us from everybody else.” JUNE 2026
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA More than just employees Over the past few years, Integral Air has been able to earn the loyalty of a number of clients, both public and private. Chad credits that loyalty to all their aforementioned points of difference, but he also credits their clear communication. He says that communication is the “foundation” everything else is built on, and it starts from the very conversation they have with clients, where they get to know the client, explain their procedures, and make expectations explicit on both sides. As part of that emphasis on communication, Integral Air always makes it clear before making an agreement that their work with Alberta Health Services takes priority of everything else. If an operating room needs urgent service, every other client on the schedule is informed and rescheduled accordingly.
JUNE 2026 “We let clients know that up front,” Chad explains. “And we tell them, it’s not because they’re better than you, but because of the healthcare situation in our province. We don’t have enough operating rooms, we don’t have enough physicians – so if an operating room is down, I don’t want that falling on us.” Internally, Integral Air has strived to foster a similar culture of communication and expectationsetting. Additionally, they have worked hard to create a genuine sense of shared ownership in the company in order to keep their younger workforce motivated and engaged. To that end, they allocate 15 percent of all net profits to employees at the end of every year, distributed through a formula that accounts for seniority and tenure. They also have a benefit scheme that was designed by the team themselves – Chad laid out the options and let his people decide collectively what worked best for them. The result of those initiatives, Chad says, is a very close team that cares a lot about the business and each other. That closeness is often displayed when the team is travelling between Edmonton and Calgary for work, and employees usually choose to stay at Chad’s home – where they are served home-cooked Greek meals and given their own space – rather than opt for a hotel and a per diem. “We’re a tight-knit group,” Chad says. “We all get along and support each other. The people
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JUNE 2026 who work here are more than just employees, especially to me.” Moving forward, powered by the hard work of their team, Integral Air has big plans to grow. Within the next year, the company aims to double their team and expand geographically, with moves into Saskatchewan and British Columbia already mapped out. Soon after entering those markets, they intend to expand again into Ontario, where Department of Defense contracts at CFB Borden and CFB Trenton are already under discussion. Further down the road, Chad envisions a push into other provincial health jurisdictions, stretching from British Columbia to Ontario. Chad acknowledges, however, that rapid growth can make it difficult to sustain the internal culture that they have worked so hard to nurture. In order to mitigate that challenge, he says they are focusing on finding the right people to grow. He explains that when evaluating new hires, he’s looking more at character than credentials. “We can train anybody,” he says. “We want people who are driven and have flexibility – because we can be working all over the province, all over Western Canada at times. We’re also looking for someone that wants to be a part of something that’s different – not just from what they’ve done before, but different from what’s typical done in this industry.” Additionally, Chad says, they are looking for people who are innovative and technicallyminded – and they empower those people to bring ideas to the table. He points to the dry ice blasting system as a direct product of that kind of internal innovation, born from someone on the team seeing a possibility and being given the space to pursue it. Looking ahead, he intends to continue giving employees that space, and he’s confident that Integral Air will continue to grow as a result.
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on Integral Air Furnace and Ventilation, their wide range of services, the many benefits of duct cleaning, and answers to their most frequently-asked questions – and to get in touch with Chad and his expert team – visit https://integralair.ca
700 UNITS AND COUNTING: HELPING SOLVE ONTARIO’S HOUSING CRISIS ONE CONVERSION AT A TIME
Rojas Empire of Design Inc. is an architectural design and drafting firm based in Mississauga, Ontario, specializing in multi-unit property conversions. Over the past eight years, founder and owner Henry Rojas and his expert team have completed over 700 unit conversions across the province, ranging from duplexes to high-rise apartment buildings of 100 units or more, and they have over 140 more units in the pipeline. Henry credits that quick and sustained success to the company’s transparency, responsiveness, and their deep well of knowledge – all of which starts at the top, with him as the leader. Henry has personally been working in the building industry almost all his life, as he says almost his “entire family” is in construction and he’s been working with them since he was a child. Growing up, he gravitated to the design and architecture side of the industry. He started his career specializing in custom homes and extensive home additions while working on apartment buildings with investors as a side hustle, but his focus shifted as he realized he could make more of an impact working at scale. “There’s only so much you can accomplish with just one home,” Henry says. “I wanted to provide solutions for more than just one person or one family at a time. I saw there was a need out there for more housing, I identified some opportunities to meet that need, so I slowly made the transition.” That transition mostly occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when housing prices fell and investors were looking for ways to maximize their lot potential for the highest and best use. The economics of the moment created a compelling case. Property was more affordable than it had been in years, and savvy investors quickly realized JUNE 2026
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that buying a single-family home at a depressed price was only the beginning of the opportunity. Converting that property into a duplex, triplex, or fourplex meant they could recover their investment while also putting more rental units into an already supply-starved market – and Henry and his team were perfectly positioned to help them. The passage of Bill 23 in January 2023 accelerated things further. The provincial legislation allowed up to three units on every property within urban boundaries as of right, cutting through much of the red tape that had previously slowed conversion projects. “Suddenly we could add more units without cutting through so much red tape,” Henry recalls. “Our investors started saying, ‘Let’s do this – let’s start building.’” From there, Rojas Empire of Design’s projects grew steadily in size, from three- and four-unit conversions to projects of five, 10, 15, 20 units and beyond. Scaling up wasn’t difficult, Henry explains, because their formula remained largely the same regardless of scale. “Once you get to about five units, it’s sort of the same recipe – it’s just a bigger shell of a building.” Today, Rojas Empire of Design works across the full spectrum of multi-unit residential, from modest basement suite additions all the way up to large-scale building conversions. Henry remains highly active in the field, traveling across Ontario – from Windsor to Ottawa – serving one of the broadest service territories of any architectural JUNE 2026
design firm specializing in multi-unit conversions in the province. He travels not only solely to seek out new business, but to connect with investors and stay current on what different markets are experiencing. He says that personal engagement is what’s powered the company’s growth and generated most of their leads. “Most of our clients these days come from referrals. We’ve been intentional about growth – prioritizing the quality of our client relationships over volume marketing.” Henry’s approach to building client relationships involves making himself personally accessible. Investors often come to him with questions months before they’re ready to commit to a project, and Henry makes a point of meeting with them – virtually or in person – and sharing his expertise freely. “There are times where new clients come to us with questions over two or three months, and we don’t charge anything,” he explains. “We like to help them out and get as much information as possible to them. These are multimillion-dollar projects and they want to make sure they have the right answers before moving forward.” That time investment up-front pays dividends. Even prospective clients who ultimately don’t retain the firm come away with a positive impression, and many of them refer friends or colleagues who do. It’s a long-game approach that reflects Henry’s broader philosophy: help people first, and the business follows. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
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