University of Toronto Academic Wood Tower
Educational
Toronto, ON, CA
Exciting Toronto Construction Market Opportunities
Sean Smithson is a huge fan of the positive effect the construction sector can have on society, and that belief fuels his plans for Pomerleau’s Greater Toronto Area (GTA) region.
Industry Experience and Vision for the GTA Market
With nearly 20 years of experience as a sub-trade, Smithson joined Pomerleau in July 2023 as the Regional Vice-President of the Toronto office. Tasked with growing Pomerleau into a top player in the GTA and beyond, Smithson’s enthusiasm is both palpable and infectious.
“I’m passionate about the impact that construction has on the world around us,” he says.
Innovative Building with Community Focus
Building infrastructure with a focus on community needs, sustainability, and innovation is at the core of Smithson’s vision.
“Each project we take on starts with transparency and collaboration. We truly become partners with our clients and trades to deliver amazing work. This, paired with our vast wealth of talent and experience, is our recipe for success,” he explains.
Smithson believes another one of Pomerleau’s strengths is its ability to tackle jobs ranging from complex infrastructure projects to smaller, often retrofit work.
Sean Smithson, Regional Vice-president of Pomerleau's Toronto Office
Key Construction Projects for Growth: The MSF Hamilton Project
A prime example of the former type of project, and one that will have far-reaching benefits for the local community, is the City of Hamilton’s bus maintenance and storage facility (MSF Hamilton project). In response to a tender from the city, the company is helping Hamilton address overcapacity issues at its existing facility and provide space to grow as the transit network develops. This project helps meet the city’s transit goals by employing an expandable design that will allow the city of Hamilton to scale up as its population increases.
The MSF Hamilton project team encountered some unforeseen site conditions that could have created a setback, but by leveraging their extensive experience, they were quick to document the issues transparently and work together with the city, consultants, trades, and testing agencies to address the concerns and keep the project on track. By reclaiming concrete from the demolished warehouse and industrial building structures and using it as backfill in various locations on the project site, the company was able to push its environmentally friendly agenda even further.
“Very early on, we established a sense of trust and collaboration with our clients and partners,” says Nuno DaSilva, Project Director at Pomerleau. “They quickly understood that we were here to work as a team for the project.”
This project is yet another example of how construction can positively impact the community. “With our growing population, transit infrastructure is going to be a major area of growth going forward,” Smithson says. “Having a successful project of this magnitude under our belt will enable us to do more of these projects in the future.”
Hamilton Transit Bus Maintenance Facility Design
Rendering courtesy of Arcadis.
Providing Client-Focused Construction Solutions
Another key component of Smithson’s strategy is to increase the company’s capacity to tackle small- and medium-sized projects in the educational, industrial, healthcare, and commercial sectors.
Special Projects Division in Ontario
Pomerleau’s GTA region recently launched the Special Projects Division (SPD), which provides the company with the agility to take on smaller and shorter timeline projects (18 months or less) such as retrofits and facility upgrades.
“The SPD allows us to be more nimble, broaden our reach, and solidify relationships with existing clients,” Smithson explains. “Shorter project timelines also present an excellent opportunity for our young professionals to gain comprehensive, full-cycle exposure to construction projects, and develop the ability to solve problems quickly by working collaboratively with our clients and partners.”
The University of Toronto: A History of Collaboration with Pomerleau
One such client is the University of Toronto, with which Pomerleau has a long history, having completed Harmony Commons, a certified Passive House student residence, and the Academic Tower, currently under construction and expected to be the tallest academic mass timber structure in Canada.
The SPD is currently involved in the first phase of an eight-stage project to upgrade the University of Toronto’s Hart House over the next decade. Not only is the project a challenge because of the historical nature of the building, but the facility needs to remain open during the renovation.
Working closely with the university, Pomerleau came up with a variety of planning strategies, including safe alternate pedestrian routes and signage, to minimize the impact on student activity while also protecting the integrity of this heritage site.
“Our team works with clients to come up with solutions to restore the beauty of our historical buildings,” says SPD Director Marius Tawembe.
“Our vision is to make the complex simple, reimagine, build, and elevate the experience for clients and partners working with us—and for the people who will work and play in these spaces.”
University of Toronto's Harmony Commons Student Residence and University of Toronto Academic Wood Tower
Building Trust Through Transparency and Collaboration
Smithson says that Pomerleau’s ability to combine comprehensive expertise in constructability, efficient schedule development, tailored design solutions, and a strong trade partner network successfully helps clients with projects of all sizes, not only within the GTA but sometimes even beyond the region’s traditional boundaries.
Weeneebayko Area Health Authority Redevelopment Project
For instance, Pomerleau’s work as a development partner on the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) healthcare campus in Moosonee near James Bay, Ontario, is another example of its ability to tackle large-scale and complex projects, but in this instance, it also shows cultural sensitivity in navigating a planning and contract negotiation process involving five different First Nations communities.
“By prioritizing collaboration at every stage with the local communities, the redevelopment project not only enhances healthcare infrastructure, but it also supports local employment, economic growth, and long-term community development.”
“We’re stewards of what we’re delivering, so we’re proud of our work on this project,” says Magda Sabat, Vice-President - Commercial, Major Projects, who oversaw the pre-construction phase.
Engagement with the community has been a cornerstone of this project. “We really needed to ensure meaningful collaboration, not just from the health authority, but from all of the local communities,” adds Sabat. Through regular in-person consultations up north with Elders, local leaders, and community members, Pomerleau has been able to successfully incorporate their input into the project’s design and execution so that their cultural traditions and values are honored and celebrated.
In addition, ensuring that local communities could participate in the employment opportunities created by this project contributes to increased collaboration efforts. By fostering two-way communication, trust, and transparency, Pomerleau aims to ensure the community feels heard and involved at every stage.
“We are committed to working in true partnership with the First Nations communities to create lasting benefits beyond construction,” explains Paul Kundrat, Vice-President of Operations, who is overseeing construction on the project.
Smithson says that while this job is not in the GTA, it demonstrates Pomerleau’s ability to oversee major projects. “Reputation matters, and that’s what we’re building—and it’s rooted in how we provide value for our clients”.
Design of the Weeneebayko Health Authority Project, in Ontario, from Pomerleau
Achieving Success Through Partnerships
Under Smithson’s leadership, Pomerleau’s GTA region office has transformed into a construction partner that prides itself on its adaptability, expertise, intuitive understanding of client needs, and its ability to collaborate with clients of all sizes.
He firmly believes that Pomerleau is well-positioned to become one of the city’s go-to infrastructure development partners.
“We’ve got the right people here who are engaged and growing. The Toronto market will benefit from the resources and expertise we bring as a national player,” says Smithson. “As Pomerleau sets its sights on the next five years, the positive impact the company will have on community infrastructure and the overall quality of life for GTA residents will become increasingly evident—and I’m honored to be a part of the team that will make it happen.”
Setting Standards in Ontario's Construction Sector
In Ontario, Pomerleau continues to set new standards in the construction sector, reflecting the company’s commitment to excellence and quality. By leveraging its experience in Ontario and across Canada, Pomerleau is well-equipped to tackle future challenges and deliver outstanding projects that benefit communities. The company's expertise extends beyond the Greater Toronto Area, showcasing its prowess as one of Canada's largest construction companies with a proven track record of successful projects throughout Ontario and the rest of the country.
