Skip to content
Join our Newsletter
Sponsored Content

Orion Construction: Innovating in B.C.'s industrial landscape

Streamlined construction, endless efficiency and forward-thinking are the advantages of this industry leading design-build contractor
orion-coastal-heights
Coastal Heights Distribution Centre, a 428,000 square feet light industrial project in Campbell Heights, Surrey. Now home to the Skechers’ first Distribution Centre in Canada.

Consider the numbers and upward trajectory alone as signposts for Orion Construction’s success.

Founded in 2018 with just four employees, the company now boasts over 80 industry professionals and counting. And in looking ahead, the Orion team will head up over  three million square feet of construction projects in the next 24 months across Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan.

What was once considered a startup in a crowded field is now being lauded nationwide for its growth and evolution.

Orion Construction has been ranked #14 in Business in Vancouver’s 100 Fastest Growing Companies in B.C. 2024 report, and garnered the second spot in last year’s rankings.

“This is a testament to our consistent growth and expanding influence in the construction industry, and it is an honour to be recognized alongside other leaders in Metro Vancouver,” says Cameron Archer, Orion’s Director of Sales and Marketing.

orion-construction-team
Orion Construction's dedicated team grew from 4 to over 80 employees in the last six years. Photo via Orion Construction

Led by Joshua Gaglardi, the Orion team offers an end-to-end design-build process that streamlines construction and increases efficiency for its wide variety of clients: prominent developers in the industrial, commercial and multi-family sectors, as well as companies such as manufacturers of natural health products and food producers.

And it’s Orion’s innovative approaches to industrial amenities that are revolutionizing the idea of the industrial park.

Industrial projects are increasingly taking employee well-being into account and this is translating into amenities that would typically be seen in office or residential projects: childcare spaces, gyms and more discussions around the inclusion of food and beverage businesses. Not only does this benefit employees but works to future-proof projects by offering multiple uses.

Orion is actively engaged in two projects that will feature childcare spaces: a light industrial development serving as a production facility for Nanak Foods, and a logistics center for Pollyco Group of Companies.

Revolutionizing industry norms has also been a foundational win for the company, a point that’s most notably seen in Orion’s Building Information Modelling (BIM).

As pioneers in this field, Orion became the first design-build industrial contractor to harness the capabilities of BIM for warehouse construction, streamlining their processes and enhancing project outcomes. This is especially important in Vancouver’s competitive commercial real estate market, where new regulations and standards are regularly introduced.

“This has not only helped us stay competitive but also prioritized safety on construction sites, as we can leverage that information to make informed decisions and comply with new regulations and standards,” Archer says. “In addition, this has streamlined our workflow, minimized rework, and reduced costly setbacks.” 

Another Orion ace in the hole lies in its unique design-build process, which integrates solutions-based operations with advanced technologies to deliver a superior finished product. By consolidating the preconstruction and construction phases with one point of contact, Orion streamlines communication, eliminates rework, and accelerates project timelines. This approach ensures that potential design conflicts are identified early, keeping projects on schedule and within budget leading to an impressive 100% on-time project completion rate in 2024.

In the Metro Vancouver industrial market, where developable land is scarce and complex, Orion excels in navigating environmental challenges and municipal relations, ensuring a smooth permitting process.

“At Orion, collaboration is key – our cohesive team ensures fewer plan changes, errors that cause construction delays and consistently higher delivery of on-time, on-budget completion,” Archer says. “By fostering teamwork and communication, Orion produces high-quality buildings, showcasing our commitment to efficient and effective construction.”

For more information, visit orionconstruction.ca