Ledcor Group – Edmonton performed work for the River Cree and Casino in Enoch, Alberta.

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The growth of downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has led the Ledcor Group to participate in several large, high-profile projects, Manager of Business Development Sean Lazarowich says. “I think, overall, the market has woken up and realized there’s a lot of value downtown,” he says.

For example, the company is building the city’s first downtown office tower in more than 20 years, he says. The 28-story structure for EPCOR, a public utility company, will be completed by 2011. “There’s a lot of value in working downtown and there’s not enough office space,” he explains.

The company is still in the early stages of the $250 million-plus project, Lazarowich says. It is currently excavating the site for the tower and a four-level underground parkade.

“A number of factors have held up the downtown development, but now, we are running on all cylinders,” he says. “The tenants required this space, political influence supports this construction and the economy is very positive.”

As a part of this project, the company will also construct a tunnel for the city’s light rail system that will run underneath the office tower.

Art Gallery of Alberta
The company is also constructing the Art Gallery of Alberta project, also in downtown Edmonton. It is the second-largest commercial project in downtown Edmonton, the first being the EPCOR building, he adds. The $88 million project will be completed in 2009.

“[Downtown Edmonton] is in its rebirth,” Lazarowich says. “The local governments are trying to encourage more people to come downtown and we’re pleased to be involved in the process.”

Employee-Focused
The Ledcor Group was founded in 1947. It performs commercial and light industry work, as well as some residential and warehouse/distribution projects mainly in the Edmonton area.

The company constructs many suburban office buildings, which are usually between four to 10 stories, as well as service shops and maintenance facilities for companies that serve the oil and gas markets.

It has 14 offices in North America and is one of the most diversified general contractors in the continent, Lazarowich adds. “Our straight-forward approach has been the foundation of our business and is the reason why clients come back to us over and over,” the company says.

Core Values
The company is led by its core values, which includes safety, quality, integrity, and success. Its employees are very important to the company, he adds.

“We encourage growth and support our younger generation coming in to the construction market,” he says. “We ensure that they have support from our senior people in their own growth and advancement.

“I think building a strong company means surrounding ourselves with good people, and we will continue to do that,” he says.

The Ledcor Group looks for employees who will work well with the company. “We want you to be the best you can be and provide the service our clients are expecting,” he says.

“Our vision is to have Ledcor be the company our clients prefer to work with, and we instill that in our employees.

“We want to have the best employees and that’s in the field and in the office,” both project management and site superintendents, he says.

The Ledcor Group has 650 employees locally, most of which are long term. “We’ve got a good group and they’re committed to the Ledcor way of business,” he says. “When you have a successful project, it’s a direct result of your people.”

National Safety Award
In March, the company received the Canadian Construction Association’s National Safety Award, sponsored by Vipond Inc.

“The award is presented to the contractor who best exemplifies excellence in health and safety across Canada,” the company says.

Ledcor received this award in 2002, as well. “It emphasizes our commitment to safety,” Lazarowich says. “It is an integral part of our business plan. It’s nice to be recognized by the industry for what we are doing.”

Its health and safety program includes:

• Assigned responsibilities
• Ongoing education and training;
• Safe work practices and procedures;
• Equipment operating and maintenance procedures; and
• Safety guidelines focusing on management, employee and trade contractor awareness, as well as reducing accidents.

“What we are trying to instill is that everyone goes home at the end of the day,” he says. “It is a very detailed and usable safety program.”

Its mentoring program is one of the highlights of the company’s safety program, he says. Ledcor “buddies” new employees with senior workers so they can learn first-hand about the company’s safety procedures. “We do that on an ongoing basis,” he says. “It’s all a part of employee growth.”

Attempt to Overachieve
Growth will be a major part of Ledcor’s future, Lazarowich says. “Our group will continue to grow at a managed pace,” he predicts. “There is a huge amount of opportunity [in Edmonton] and surrounding markets.”

It will also continue to produce excellent projects, he adds. “We are not going to over-promise and underachieve,” he says. “We are committed to overachieve on all our projects.”