< PreviousAccording to Build North’s Financial Controller Arielle Mup- fasoni, this is very much part of the company’s plan. “We are very much involved in the community; we are dedicated to projects that benefit our community by providing employ- ment for local trades and service people, as well as acquiring our material and tools from local suppliers.” The idea of a company that is rooted in the local community is one that many businesses across the country aspire to. However, the proof can invariably be seen in the work being done and the projects being completed. At Build North, the evidence is clear. In recent years it has developed a lasting and successful relationship with the hospital in Sudbury, Ontario. By demonstrating an ability to meet its clients demands, it has worked on three significant projects for the local hospital, such as the building of the HSN Research Institute on Wal- ford Road that was completed in 2018, the addition of a HSN PET Scanner in Sudbury, and the new HSN Learners Center. Excitingly, the latter project will facilitate 2000 future doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers every year. In addition to this ongoing partnership, Build North has also worked closely with other pillars of its community. In 2015, the company renovated the Greater Sudbury Airport and has overseen the construction of several schools in and around the city, most notably the new joint Catholic, Holy Cross and New East schools that was completed in 2012. These com- munity links can also be seen in its ongoing membership of local associations the Ontario General Contractors Associa- tion and Northeastern Ontario Construction Association. The shift towards energy efficient construction has been an important development in the building industry in recent years. In fact, the Canadian government is committed to investing $182 million to increase energy efficiency and address climate change by improving how homes and buildings are designed, renovated, and constructed. Unsurprisingly for a company that is so community-minded, Build North is a committed advocate of these plans and has implemented its own design and build format. Under this format the company assumes responsibility for costing, design, and the entire completion of a project through design-build client/contractor partnership. By operating in such a seamless manner, Build North believes that it can eliminate unnecessary waste and provide additional environmental and cost savings to its clients. This approach also works in sync with its construction management service which offers the client a preliminary planning stage and design stage service, including development of a detailed Work Safe HSN Learners Center Sudbury, ON | 40 APRIL 2023evanshomebuildingcentre.com Evans HBC (#1748-9) 172 Pine Street, Sudbury, Ontario Canada, P3E 4R8 (705) 674-1921 ar@evanslumber.ca Program, to ensure that the work site is organized, coordinated and safe at all times throughout the construction stage. Despite these positive endeavors and the company’s con- tinued success, Mupfasoni acknowledges that the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is still having an effect on the progress of business, highlighting supply chain issues and skilled labor shortages as problems the company has had to overcome. “2022 has been quiet. We have had issues with our supply chain. Also, sourcing and holding onto qualified and skilled carpenters has proven difficult.” Despite this, she explains that it is the success of ongoing partnerships that have seen Build North navigate the challenging industry turbulence. “We have managed to overcome these issues by using the local suppliers we have dealt with for decades and also by offering apprenticeships.” Build North has shown a tremendous amount of resolve and determination in difficult times. Despite obstacles and the difficulty in sourcing quality tradesmen, the company was an industry outlier by managing to retain the entirety of its staff throughout the pandemic. When most corners of the world, including Northern Ontario, were under stringent lockdowns, all its employees continued to work. Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School Sudbury, ON “The future looks bright for Sudbury’s own Build North.”Burling Ranger Burling Ranger Company Inc. has been providing masonry services for new construction, renovations, additions and repairs in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors for over 50 years. Our project portfolio is extensive and includes, but is not limited to, educational complexes for public, private and catholic school boards, condominiums, water and wastewater treatment plants, water towers, retirement Proudly servicing the ICI Sector since 1952. Our focus on reliability, attention-to-detail and dedication to customer satisfaction is the key to the successful completion of a high-quality product on schedule and budget. 78 Morrow Rd, Barrie, ON L4N 3V8 | 705-436-2186 | info@burlingranger.com | burlingranger.com and long-term care facilities, as well as municipal and provincial buildings. Our team boasts a collective 200 years of experience in the construction and project management industry. We take pride in our flexibility and understanding that all projects are unique. Our commitment to building mutual trust and strong work relationships is reflected in our successful enterprise and strong loyal workforce. So, what does the future hold for Build North? Given the aforementioned obstacles and issues facing companies of this size in the post pandemic world, it is no surprise that the company believes that pragmatism is a key component in achieving future success and securing contracts for future projects. “There are several other projects that we will con- sider for later this year. Being successful also means that we must be pragmatic in our bid practices, however we are currently preparing tender packages for a local rehabilitation center, a local bank, and a local welding company.” With a number of projects in the pipeline for Build North, the future seems secure. However, one project in particular is causing great excitement within the company. The Yes The- atre project is arguably the most interesting of Build North’s current ventures. Described as “a cultural cornerstone” in the local community, the theatre managers wanted to enlist a local firm to extend their premises. Unsurprisingly, Build North was the ideal fit. The building of an outdoor theatre is something of a boon for the company. The project allows Build North to demon- strate its ability in delivering detail, skill, and results to an | 42 APRIL 2023exacting standard. “The Refettorio, an open-air space, was commissioned. What is most interesting about this project is that the stage is a platform in the center of the rectan- gular building. It is elevated only slightly higher than the seating area that forms around sides of the stage. Unlike traditional theaters, there are no curtains, and the per- formers are only a couple of feet away from the audience.” Despite the widespread delays the construction industry experienced from COVID-19 restrictions, the project is very much under way and is expected to be open for its first show in June of this year. Proud of its roots and very much ingrained in its local community, the future looks bright for Sudbury’s own Build North. After navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown that went with it relatively unblemished, some exciting projects are on the horizon. “Quality, Integrity and Customer Satisfaction” were the words used to describe the ethos of the company when I posed the question to Mupfasoni. Having been a valued member of the local community for over three decades, it is evident that this ethos has been an integral part of its ongoing success and will be for many years to come. | 43 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY JAMES O’NOLAN C anada is in the midst of its biggest construction boom since the 1970s. Toronto’s famous skyline is now awash with cranes all busily completing existing and beginning exciting new building projects. Migration, increased demand for housing and facilities coupled with an increase in investment is the catalyst for the boom. While the large national and international construction companies are able to secure the most lucrative contracts, there is certainly room for small and mid-sized family run companies to get in on the action and find a niche in the market. | 44 APRIL 2023The Local Church of the Saints Toronto, ON | 45 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONSINCE 1977 VINCE MONOPOLI OWNER, MONOPOLI ELECTRIC LTD. 164 BOURBON ST. WOODBRIDGE ON L4L 6Y9 905 738 5729 INFOMONOPOLIELECTRIC.CA monopoli_electric RETAIL SERVICE AND INTERIOR FIT-UPS Including projects with No Frills, Real Canadian Wholesale, T&T Supermarkets, Canadian Tire, Sportcheck, Starbucks, LCBO, Scotiabank, Futureshop, Danish Pastry House, Sporting Life, 5 guys Burgers & Fries, and more! COMMERCIAL WORK • Churches • Office Space (new & renovations) • Manufacturing Facilities • Car Dealerships • Developments (shopping centers/multi-tenant building) INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS • City of Toronto (Transfer Stations/Pumping Station/Waste Management) • Daycares • Paramedic & Fire Stations • Shelters & Community Housing RESIDENTIAL WORK • Custom Homes • Electrical Additions • Renovations MEMBERS OF IBEW #353 Within a growing market, the ability to adapt, embrace change and move forward are integral components to ensuring success. Shifting trends and ideas in the construction world means that any company in the industry has to have its finger on the pulse when it comes to adapting to customer’s needs. Within this environment, there is an important emphasis on management organization and planning. Understandably, in order to give them a chance of competing with their better funded counterparts, this very much applies to the smaller construction companies. Based in the former city of Etobicoke on the banks of the Humber River, now a suburb in Toronto’s West End, is Berkim Construction. Established in 1966 by a newly arrived immi- grant to Canada in the basement of his home, the company was originally called Kim Construction. Following shortly thereafter, the firm partnered with another family turning the name from Kim to Berkim. Many years later, Jonas Birket entered the firm, growing into a partner. Berkim specializes in pre-construction management and construction manage- ment, using the wealth of knowledge it has acquired over half a century to ensure its clients are well supported by a team of experienced employees. In addition to its focus on Construction Management, Berkim also offers General Contracting and Design Build services. This allows the company to have input and overview of the most vital steps of any building process. Crucially, this expe- rience leads to a greater level of service for its clients. With close business relationships forged over its fifty-seven years in business in the province of Ontario, Berkim is able to offer the most competitive prices, with financial viability being an important factor. For those at Berkim Construction, working hard to ensure that a cost-effective design is provided to its customers is paramount. Berkim CEO, Jonas Birket believes that, as well as trying to meet their client’s financial needs, a transparent and honest approach is key to maintaining the good relationships they have forged. “With any client I divulge information they may want, transparency is very important to us, we show our clients everything, if they ask to see an invoice for a particular thing we show it to them straight away, we show them the cost report and welcome any ques- tions they may have.” In 2021, in the midst of the COVID pandemic –a time where the construction industry was massively affected—Jonas & Silvia Birket became the sole owners of Berkim Construc- tion. It was a long arduous process which spanned almost | 46 APRIL 2023a decade and although Birket admits that the timing was unfortunate, it was a positive development for the company. “It probably wasn’t the best time to do it, but we had been waiting for a long time.” With a rich history and an exciting new chapter beginning, it was important that Berkim Construction had an identity, something that would allow it to grow and develop even fur- ther. For the Birket’s, it was evident that the company should continue with what had brought it so much success and when you delve into the history of its projects across Ontario, there is a recurring theme. The company had found its niche. While Berkim Construction can work on projects across the industry, from automotive dealerships for multinational companies such as Ford and Toyota, to restaurants such as Taco Bell and Tim Hortons, it is most well-known for the con- struction and renovation of churches and Christian organiza- tions. Currently working on two churches in a construction management process, the company’s connection to its faith goes back a long way. Its founder was a born-again Chris- tian which, according to Birket, helped the firm cement its’ reputation among the Christian community. He explains that “churches tend to approach them,” thus cementing its niche within the industry. | 47 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONBerkim Construction’s most unique project to date was The People’s Christian Academy. This project, completed in 2011, involved the conversion of a 63,000 square foot office and warehouse to a private Christian school with classrooms, gymnasiums, and a fully functioning kitchen. The project was such a success that Berkim was invited back again in 2013 to add three more classrooms to the school. However, it was in 2020 where Berkim really left its mark on The People’s Christian Academy site. The company returned for a third time to implement the “raising the roof” project, an inimitable and complex undertaking which saw it remove the middle of the building, literally raising the roof to its new 20 ft height, to create a FIBA regulation gymnasium complete with a run- ning track, performance stage, bleacher seating and four new classrooms. This project was unique because it was carried out while the school was open. Incredibly, teachers worked in their classroom’s as reinforced steel was put in over their heads and new columns were inserted through the existing roof. In a testimonial written by The People’s Christian Acad- emy, Berkim Construction was praised for its sophisticated approach as well as its “flawless” attention to detail. Unique projects such as this has bolstered its reputation as a highly skilled and innovative firm in the local community, particularly amongst Christian organizations. However, within the construction world, challenges will always remain and there have been obstacles for Birket and his wife Silvia to overcome since acquiring full ownership of “Berkim Construction was praised for its sophisticated approach as well as its ‘flawless’ attention to detail.” The People’s Christian Academy Markham, ON | 48 APRIL 2023the company. Purchasing the company during a pandemic was never going to be easy, and the recent escalation of costs due to inflation has been a challenge for the Birket’s. While he acknowledges that these rising costs can be a challenge, it is one that can be overcome through hard work and maintain- ing positive relationships with its clients. Despite these com- plications the future looks bright for Berkim Construction. The recent relocation of the business from an old site in Willowdale twenty miles across the city to a larger modern premises on Jutland Road is a positive move according to Birket. The hope and expectation is that it will enable Berkim Construction to grow further. With expansion, Berkim Con- struction can maintain the highest level of performance across existing projects and also expand its niche into new markets such as upscale restaurants, dealerships and new home builds. Clearly, it is an exciting time for the company. Next >