< Previous| 20 SEPTEMBER 2023WRITTEN BY ERIC O’CALLAGHAN T he phrase “pushing the envelope” may be a familiar, ubiqui- tous one, but its meaning may come as a surprise. The term itself is not a reference to the stationary letter everyone is familiar with. Instead, pushing the envelope refers to science and the attributes associated with aeronautics. Surpassing standards, breaking barriers, and going beyond the regular limits to exceed expectations is what pushing the envelope truly means, which is why this term is so fitting for Bass Installation. With a team of professionally skilled trades-people from both the Ironworkers and Glaziers unions, Bass Installation provides profes- sional curtainwall and glazing installation services to the commer- cial, residential, institutional, and industrial sector within the Greater Toronto Area. Focusing mainly on the building envelope — a term given to the exterior of a building which includes all the building components that separate the indoors from the outdoors — Bass Installation specializes in curtain wall systems, cable wall systems, skylights, canopies and more. Installation of Curtainwalls, Windows, and Entrance Systems BASS INSTALLATION | 21 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONTrying to continuously create new and innovative methods to install complicated structures could prove difficult to most, but not to the people at Bass Installation; in fact, they thrive on it. Each time Bass Installation takes on a new project, it pushes itself to think of something different. After completing standout project after project, the team finally reach a point where they think they have outdone themselves. That is, how- ever, until the next project comes along. With a catalogue of immensely detailed and highly skilled work under their belt, the team at Bass Installation are not only pushing the glass envelope, they are shattering the creative walls. President of Bass Installation, Stephen Callender, is no stranger to hard work or business. Having moved to Canada from Barbados more than 47 years ago, his first job was in a window factory. Ironically enough, the name of the street Callender first worked on when he arrived in Canada was Barbados Boulevard. Taking this as a sign, he continued on his current trajectory and aimed to differentiate himself form other businesses. With a willingness to succeed in mind, Cal- lender led Bass Installation to success and the company is now celebrating 20 years of business. “We always take a challenge. We have a design or concept and we adhere to that. If you can design it, we can install it. We always pride ourselves in finding ways to get things done. Regardless of the design or complications, there's always a way to getting started. We use technology quite a bit more than a lot of other companies that really help us document information, which gives a lot of value back to the customer. So, when anything is happening on site, they have access to the reports.” It is not only the installation, but the execution of its projects that is most impressive with this company. One project in particular is the canopy at The Well. The unique approach to this body of work is distinctive, emulating a skylight above an open atrium. The fluidity of the structure and manipulation of the materials creates a distinctive finish, adding movement to what could have been an otherwise rigid structure. The finish on the canopy is a testament to the skills of all those at Bass Installation. “The finish on the canopy is a testament to the skills of all those at Bass Installation.” | 22 SEPTEMBER 2023Congratulations Bass Installation on 20 Years of Success! THE BERCON DIFFERENCE When you work with Bercon Rentals, you can “Expect More”... More uptime, more customer service, more integrity and more satisfaction. 1.844.560.LIFT |24/7 Support berconrentals.ca | 23 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONAnother successful project includes the TD Tower on Front Street. The tower is not the usual square or rectangle shape. Instead, the tower is an awkwardly curved structure, which was something of a challenge. Unsurprisingly, Bass used its wealth of knowledge and skill to complete the project to an incredibly high standard. Overcoming challenges and mov- ing with the flow of the industry is something that Natasha Callender, Vice President of Bass Installation, knows a lot about. “I like looking back at the City of Toronto and knowing that we've been a part of its growth and evolution for two decades. I always tell the story that when I go to an airport and I see one of those globes or some skyline figurine, I can almost tell you what year roughly that was taken, depending on the different buildings that are in that Skyline.” Natasha, Stephen’s daughter, has been involved with Bass for 18 years. The experience that comes from a lifetime in the industry cannot be understated. Natasha has been part of many standout projects during her time at the company and has experienced many highlights while on this journey. 24 | SEPTEMBER 2023“A standout project for me would be the TEC bridge. Being a glass structure, there was a unique twist involved at each bracket. It was a very interesting installation and is a different type of project to the ones we typically work on. But it goes to show the range and variety that we can offer, in terms of different buildings and structures that we could install.” Celebrating 20 years in business is a milestone for any com- pany and it gives a chance to reflect on how it got there. At Bass Installation, it is also a chance to recognize the people who helped it reach this milestone. Director of Business Development, Rob Gabriele, mentioned during the interview that outside of himself, Stephen and Natasha, there are so many more people responsible for the successes of Bass Installation. At its core, Bass Installation is a family business and the principles that make up the foundation of this business are those family attributes and morals instilled in Stephen and Natasha. Attributes such as integrity and credibility go a long way at Bass and those are some of the values that hold the company together. The ultimate goal for Stephen is for the employees of Bass to feel part of the Bass family and be proud of the contributions they make. With these goals in mind along with continued success, Bass Installation is looking towards the future. The company has plans to take more of the market share by developing its supply, fabrication, and product offerings. This addition will broaden its range and abilities even further, allowing it to sup- port its clients in a multifaceted way. For the team at Bass, it is important to be recognized as a full-scale glazing con- tractor. Simply put, this is a company that offers much more than installations. With its family values and skilled workers successfully leading the company to success, it is no wonder Bass Installation is continuing to soar. For Rob, the company stands as an outlier across a crowded sector. Bass Installa- tion is a successful combination of ability and heart. By com- bining the attributes that come with growth and development along with the mindset of a family business, the company is positioned for sustained success. “There's a saying that I put on some of my presentations, which kind of sums it all up: we are big enough to make a difference and small enough to care. We've got the people and we've got the skills and that's where we can make the difference. We're small enough that we don't get lost and not know who our employees are. So, we're not lost in your hundreds and thousands of employees and not knowing them by name. We know them by name and we see them and appreciate them.” | 25 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONWRITTEN BY MANUELA ARMINI A lmost fifty years of experience, over seven thousand specialist products, more than fifty awards won, and six offices and warehouses throughout Ontario. These impressive figures are only a small part of what Form and Build Supply contributes to the Ontarian construction industry. The real value that this concrete products supplier brings to its customers is the consistent ability to be a reliable and timely ally. This stems from its owners, management, and staff –a group of people who take great pride in going above and beyond. A second-generation owner, William Ross believes that trustworthy relationships with staff and customers are the core of his company's steady growth. "We've been very fortunate to have a very good team who help the company and our customers mitigate any challenges." | 26 SEPTEMBER 2023| 27 APEIRON CONSTRUCTIONThe company's proactive and collaborative approach over the years has created valuable relationships with its suppli- ers. These connections have enabled Form and Build Sup- ply to establish partnerships with companies such as Dow Chemical (now DuPont) and W.R. Meadows. Form and Build Supply specializes in concrete products and concrete-related accessories, such as admixtures, concrete forming sys- tems, reinforcements, sealers, crack repairs, and insulation products. "The way I sum it up is we kind of sell everything almost below grade," Ross says. "A lot of our customers work on foundations. They do a lot of waterproofing for buildings, which is a big portion of what we do. Our delivery trucks are usually some of the first ones on the job [...] because every- thing that we sell relates to getting a proper foundation built and protected." In addition to these services, the company also caters for customers in the decorative concrete market, providing colors and antiquing agents, countertop mixes and materials, specialty forms and accessories, texture mats, stamps, and skins. The history of the company goes back almost half a century, with the early years proving both challenging and formative. Ross's father launched the business in 1975, visiting vari- ous job sites with a simple pickup truck and from day one, he focused on sourcing innovative specialist construction products and techniques. The first turning point was the part- nership formed with supplier W.R. Meadows which, at that time, didn't have a Canadian footprint. This partnership was successful for both companies, introducing W.R. Meadows' products to the market, while also contributing substantially to Form and Build Supply's early growth and development. Building on this platform, the company has experienced continued growth and now works from six branches in Mis- sissauga, Kitchener, London, Hamilton, Windsor, and Whitby. To survive in the construction industry, it is vital to keep an ear to the ground. Keeping abreast of innovative develop- ments and industry needs is key. At Form and Build Supply, staying ahead of technological changes and ensuring it can offer its customer the most specialized product at any given time is a massive aspect of its success. Meg Spindler, Mar- keting Manager, explains that, by approaching business from a problem-solving approach, the company can consistently meet the client’s needs. "We have a lot of products that don't go into day-to-day kind of things. But when those kinds of technical changes and challenges happen, we like to be there with the solution. We work with different specialized manu- facturers and suppliers [...] to make sure we have anything for any kind of challenge they [our customers] might have." "The company's proactive and collaborative approach over the years has created valuable relationships with its suppliers." | 28 SEPTEMBER 2023W. R. MEADOWS has provided Form & Build Supply with quality construction materials for decades. Since 1926, W. R. MEADOWS has been supplying construction materials for every facet of concrete construction. From air barriers to construction liquids, waterproofing materials to joint sealants, expansion joints to concrete restoration – we’ve been supplying, designing, and manufacturing these products for nearly 100 years. PROUD TO BE A FORM & BUILD TRUSTED SUPPLIER SINCE 1975 #wrmeadows W.R. MEADOWS OF CANADA 70 Hannant Ct., Milton, ON L9T 5C1 – Phone: (905) 878-4122 • Fax: (905) 878-4125 21 Streambank Ave., Sherwood Park, AB T8H 1N1 – Phone: (708) 400-1772 • Fax: (780) 400-7745 Other Plants / Autres Usines: Hampshire, IL • Cartersville, GA • York, PA • Fort Worth, TX • Benicia, CA • Pomona, CA • Goodyear, AZ WRMEADOWS.COMNext >