For more than three-quarters of a century, Gordon Barr Limited has been a cornerstone of Kingston’s construction landscape. Founded in 1949 by Gordon Barr and still family-owned today, the company has steadily expanded its reach while remaining deeply connected to its roots in heavy civil work. Now in its 76th year, the business operates across three complementary divisions, Barr Homes, Gordon Barr Limited, and Barr Developments, delivering projects that span from subdivision housing to large-scale infrastructure and long-term holdings.
This dual focus has positioned the firm as both a trusted developer and a versatile civil contractor, able to handle everything from subdivision site servicing to custom home builds and complex downtown reconstructions. “We’re true developers for the last six or seven years,” explains Jordan Barr, Operations Manager. “We’re buying farms now and doing all the engineering and rezoning. We buy the farm and sell the house.”
The company’s expansion into homebuilding has been underway for more than two decades, with 24 years of residential construction in Kingston. Barr Homes offers a diverse product line, including semi-detached units, townhouses, single-family homes, bungalows, and full subdivisions. The company also completes one or two custom builds annually, adding flexibility and variety to its output.
On the heavy civil side, the range is equally broad. Services cover excavation, reconstruction, and greenfield projects, with particular expertise in industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) work. As Jordan explains, “It includes ICI stuff where you’re digging foundations for a new industrial or commercial building and putting in all the storm-water infrastructure in the parking lots, building the parking lots, running the servicing in for the water and sanitary.”
This capability allows Gordon Barr Limited to service both its own residential projects and those of other developers across Ontario, strengthening its reputation as a partner that can deliver reliable results at scale.
The Canadian construction industry has evolved significantly in recent years, shaped by inflationary pressures, supply chain volatility, and a persistent shortage of skilled labor. A 2025 BuildForce Canada report projects that nearly 270,000 workers, 20% of the construction workforce, will retire by 2034, intensifying the need for firms to recruit, train, and retain talent. Against this backdrop, the ability of long-standing contractors to adapt has become a differentiator.
“The industry has changed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years,” Jordan observes. “We haven’t done a ton to our field operations, but we’ve added a lot more admin staff in the office. Our office staff is growing; you need project teams, you need project managers, you need project coordinators. From an administrative standpoint, we’ve definitely grown up a lot.”
“The industry has changed a lot over the last 10 to 15 years.”
Another factor reshaping the industry is technology. Like many contractors, Gordon Barr Limited has embraced digital tools and advanced equipment to boost efficiency and precision. Jordan points to GPS-enabled machinery and hydraulic quick couplers as game changers.
“There are some technologies that have changed the game in our industry,” he says. “We’ve got quick oils, which is a hydraulic quick coupler. You can take a bucket off of a shovel and put a whole ram on in a matter of seconds. Before, you had to get out of the machine and hook up hoses, and it was a 15-minute process. Now it’s seconds. We’re purchasing GPS for our dozers and our shovels, so technology has definitely helped change the way we operate in the field.”
These investments reduce downtime, improve accuracy, and lessen reliance on manual surveying. They also reflect a broader industry trend. According to a 2025 Dodge Construction Network survey, 72% of contractors in North America now use GPS-enabled equipment or digital layout tools, up from less than 50% five years ago.
Despite technological advances, Jordan emphasizes that people remain the foundation of success. “It’s a lot of big players now; there’s less room for the little guys to operate,” he notes. “In order to really compete, you need to have the processes in place in the office to make your margins. You need to invest in your project teams and admin staff because the paperwork is astounding compared to what it was 15 years ago. You really need to invest in that human capital.” This philosophy is evident in the company’s recent shop and office upgrades. The Duff Street facility was expanded with a 60 ft x 110 ft addition, complete with a 10-ton crane, and the office underwent a full renovation to support a growing project management staff. These investments in infrastructure reflect a long-term commitment to operational excellence.
Reaching 75 years in business was a proud moment for the Barr family. “Seventy-five years in business is not a simple accomplishment,” Jordan says. “Every year we keep saying, ‘holy smokes, how did we get to this volume,’ and every year we seem to beat it again. Year over year for the last five years, we’ve steadily been increasing our revenue and share in the market.”
The company’s project portfolio tells the story of that growth. Recently completed work includes more than 40 kilometers of water mains on a reserve in Shannonville, providing servicing to 700 homes. The project spanned four consecutive contracts and was described by Jordan as “a game changer.”
Another landmark job was the completion of Front Road in Kingston, a project inherited after another contractor failed to finish it. The site’s location, with Lake Ontario on both sides of an 800-meter stretch, created complex water control challenges. “It’s a very interesting job, because there’s a huge risk there. You’ll likely never encounter the same methodologies again,” Jordan recalls.
Other projects highlight the company’s technical capabilities, such as the Marathon underground in Ottawa, where the team is constructing a self-supporting concrete wall out of caissons. Similarly, the firm contributed to the Nappanee generating station, installing a battery storage system designed to capture off-peak electricity and release it during peak demand. “If you can create enough of these battery farms where that energy that’s being wasted off peak hours can be stored and reused during peak times when the grid is potentially going to overload, it’s beneficial to a growing population that’s using more electricity with electric vehicles and in a hotter climate,” Jordan explains.
In addition to infrastructure, Gordon Barr Limited is expanding its residential development pipeline. Current projects include Lakeside, a modern subdivision acquired mid-development, and Odessa, a 300-acre parcel with 60 acres moving through rezoning. “The Lakeside subdivision is cool. It’s an interesting build; nobody’s really done anything like it in our area. The concept definitely came from Toronto. It’s very modern,” Jordan notes.
Looking forward, the company is preparing to launch a major apartment complex consisting of two buildings, one four-storey and one six-storey, with a combined 150 units. “That’s going to be a big milestone for us once we get that one in the ground. We’re going to go from 30 units to almost 200 when that one’s finished.” The company is also embracing sustainability through its 100-acre recycling site, where concrete, rock, and asphalt from jobsites are processed into reusable material. This approach not only reduces landfill waste but also lowers costs and supports circular economy practices that are increasingly important in Canadian construction.
The outlook for 2025 and beyond remains positive. “We’ve got a good season ahead of us, we’re almost where we want to be revenue-wise,” Jordan says. “There’s lots of projects out, we’re anticipating some more good years ahead. We’ve seen a little bit of an uptick in the last couple of months with house sales, and we’re optimistic that the market’s going to go back to normal over the next 12 to 18 months.” With a growing project pipeline, a diversified business model, and investments in people and technology, Gordon Barr Limited is building on its 76-year legacy with confidence. The firm’s resilience is grounded in its ability to balance tradition with innovation, ensuring it remains competitive in an industry where both continuity and adaptability are essential.
