Mid-Year Momentum: 2025 In Motion
- agascon0
- Jun 27
- 11 min read
Can you believe we’re already halfway through 2025?! It’s been a fast-paced start to the year here at Sierra, and we couldn’t be more proud of what our teams have accomplished so far. From breaking ground on exciting new builds to hitting major milestones on long-term projects, it’s been a season of momentum, collaboration, and progress. Whether you’ve been following along on-site, online, or as one of our trusted partners, we wanted to take a moment to share a look at what we’ve built together this year, and what’s still ahead as we head into the second half of 2025!
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS: MILESTONES & MAJOR PROGRESS
General Contracting
Maple Villa Long Term Care Centre – Burlington, ON
One project that’s been steadily progressing this year is the Maple Villa Long Term Care Centre in Burlington. Working with Better Life Management Inc., we officially broke ground on this impactful project back in October 2023, and 2025 has marked some major milestones in the build! So far in 2025, the roof has been installed, interior finishing is underway, and our teams are now focused on completing the parking garage and other site services.
This five-storey, 256-bed facility is being built using ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) and pre-cast floor panels (supplied by our friend’s at Stubbe’s). ICF construction is a method that combines reinforced concrete with insulating foam panels to create strong, energy-efficient walls, and is ideal for projects like this one as it offers excellent thermal performance, soundproofing, and fire resistance – all critical features in a long-term care environment where comfort, durability, and safety are key! To date, the structure spans an impressive 186,690 sq. ft., supported by more than 10,453 m³ of concrete poured.
What truly sets the Maple Villa project apart though is its deep connection to the community. From the very beginning, this project has been about more than just construction, it’s been about becoming part of the neighbourhood! Located right next door to the Halton Courthouse and local police detachment, Maple Villa has given us the chance to truly connect with the surrounding community. So much so that when we hosted a site-wide BBQ this month, both courthouse staff and police joined our team and trades to celebrate key project milestones! Over the past year and a half, we’ve also hosted visits from Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Angelo Benivegna, as well as a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Minister of Long-Term Care Stan Cho and MPPs Natalie Pierre and Effie J. Triantafilopoulos. The support from local and provincial leaders in the community has been incredible and truly shows just how important this project is to the people it will serve!
But it’s not just the leadership or plans that make this project special. Ultimately, it’s the people building it every day. We’re proud to work alongside trade partners like BCON Concrete, Arthur Electric, CJ’s Express, Maxum Drywall, and Schindler Elevator, who bring not only skill but a real sense of pride and purpose to the job. Everyone on site knows this build matters, and that energy is reflected in the quality of work displayed on site daily.
The Terraces of King George – Brantford, ON
Towering over downtown Brantford, the Terraces of King George project is shaping up to be one of our most ambitious builds to date, and also the tallest! With the full 11-storey precast structure now complete (pending the capping of the mechanical penthouse), this 211-unit residential building is well on its way to becoming a modern landmark in the city.
So far this year, our crews have been pushing progress forward with interior framing and mechanical/electrical rough-ins, while preparing for key next steps like main equipment deliveries to the roof, completion of the penthouse, and starting the roofing and drywall boarding that will kick off the next phase of interior finishing. Once the tower crane is dismantled, we’ll move onto the parking garage structure and complete the exterior painting and staining that will bring the whole project together.
This project isn’t just significant in scale; it also makes a real impact in the community. With 211 rental units, and premium amenities like a golf simulator, coworking space, pickleball court, gym, and a rooftop terrace, the Terraces of King George are built to elevate the rental experience. The west-facing units overlook a nearby park, and the building’s proximity to Highway 403, grocery stores, and a community centre make it an ideal home base for commuters and families alike.
We’re equally proud of the way our teams have tackled every project challenge head-on with creativity, coordination, and determination. A harsh winter required extensive hoarding and heating to keep the schedule moving, especially on the lower floors, and our field teams kept momentum going by completing rough-ins and pouring the slab on grade during the coldest months. When faced with tariffs and supply chain disruptions, we worked closely with our client and trades to verify impacts, explore alternatives, and even lock in materials ahead of anticipated tariffs to minimize cost increases.
Special thanks to our trusted partners at Stubbe’s, Pro Electric, and CDS, and to the many site and office team members behind the scenes helping to deliver this milestone build. With 337,500 square feet constructed and over 6,000 m³ of concrete poured, this project is a standout in every sense, and one we’re excited to see completed later this year!
Infrastructure
Fischer Hallman Road Widening & Urbanization – Waterloo, ON
For our Infrastructure division, a major project that’s seen impressive momentum this year is our Fischer Hallman Road Widening & Urbanization project in Waterloo. This multi-stage infrastructure project has been moving at a steady pace since we broke ground last year, thanks to the hard work and coordination of our site teams and partners! So far this year, we’ve completed Stages 1A and 1B, including all surface restorations, and fully reopened the road to traffic! This was no small feat considering the size of this job and the busy city roads it runs through. We’ve also completed the underground infrastructure across all stages, and our crews are now preparing for surface restorations in Stage 2.
With over 3km of street to work with (down Bearinger and Westmount to the project end at Fischer Hallman and Columbia), the scope of this work is massive! In May alone, over 17,000 tonnes of granular road base was placed, and to date we’ve laid down approximately 4,000 meters of storm sewer and watermain! Through all of this, one of the biggest successes we’ve had for this project has been maintaining the traffic flow at the high-traffic intersection of Westmount and Bearinger Roads. Keeping the project moving while keeping our crews and those in the area safe is always a challenge on a project of this size, as you’ll never be able to see everyone at all times. By relying on our team and crews, this project has been handled with professionalism and care from day one.
This kind of progress doesn’t happen without a strong team on the ground, and we want to give a shoutout to Dave Ross and Karl Ziegenbalg, two foremen on this project who’ve shown tireless commitment to keeping this complex project on track. With multiple crews and subcontractors working simultaneously, scheduling and coordination are everything, and thanks to their strong leadership and collaboration, we’ve been able to stay ahead of schedule and push progress forward.
As we head into Stage 2 of the project, the team has curb pours, asphalt, and landscaping coming up – working hard to transform this stretch of road into something that serves the community better, both now and in the future!
Becker Street, Fife & Ann Road Reconstruction – Kitchener, ON
Sierra Infrastructure is also making strong headway in Kitchener, where our Becker Street, Fife & Ann Road Reconstruction project is tackling some highly technical work (and our teams are rising to the challenge!). So far this year, we’ve completed Stage 1 servicing, concrete, and asphalt, including the full restoration of the Ann Street/Frederick Street intersection. With the intersection now reopened and running smoothly, crews have shifted their focus to the next phase: Stage 2 Forcemain Installation.
This upcoming stage has been one of the most technically complex parts of the project. Our team is installing approximately 200 meters of fused 600mm diameter pipe (at a depth of 5 meters), working around existing utilities and under tight constraints. This level of work takes significant planning, precision, and coordination, and we’re excited about the progress being made.
Looking ahead for the rest of 2025, our crews will continue with Stage 2 servicing, followed by a critical next step – the live tap of the existing forcemain! A “live tap” is the process of connecting the forcemain to an active pressurized pipe without shutting down the system, allowing surrounding infrastructure to stay functional throughout the connection. It requires specialized equipment and careful coordination to complete safely and effectively. Once that’s in place, we’ll move on to the installation of a bypass section of fused pipe, approximately 500mm in diameter, ensuring uninterrupted flow and system redundancy as we prepare for future infrastructure demands.
What makes this project especially unique is the constant preparation and the project’s connection to future infrastructure development. We are working closely with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) to reroute servicing that would otherwise conflict with their upcoming Frederick Street/Highway 7 overpass project. It’s a great example of long-term planning and collaboration at work!
To date, we’ve installed about 1km of mainline pipe, poured 260 meters of curb and 320 square meters of sidewalk, and placed 400 tonnes of asphalt! Huge credit for this project’s success goes to Sierra foreman Pete Altmayer and his whole crew on-site, who worked under a tight road closure schedule from the Region to complete everything on time and ensure the popular intersection was ready for concrete and asphalt exactly when the City needed it to be.
Like many large-scale civil projects, this one hasn’t been without its challenges – from weaving through dense underground utilities to tackling deep, technically demanding installations. But it’s in these moments that our team’s resilience, adaptability, and attention to detail shine through. Thanks to strong collaboration and steady leadership in the field, we’ve been able to stay on track and keep delivering exceptional work. This project is a clear example of the technical skill and teamwork that set Sierra apart.
Bridge
Ava Rd. Bridge Reconstruction – Brantford, ON
From the bridge division, a major standout project is the Ava Road Bridge Reconstruction in Brantford! This bridge is a complex, high-impact build that has delivered major progress this year thanks to exceptional coordination across our field and office teams. This project reached a major milestone in 2025, with the successful pour of the bridge deck, followed by the commissioning of a new watermain, road grading and asphalt paving, and most notably, the official reopening of the bridge to the public!
The Ava Road Bridge serves as a vital connector in the community, and the upgrades made so far go beyond just structural improvements. We’ve incorporated a new traffic signal system and sidewalk enhancements that significantly improve pedestrian safety. The project also includes CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) wrapping of the bridge pier columns, which provides a unique solution that blends aesthetic considerations with long-term structural reinforcement. In addition, the upgraded water service installed benefits both area residents and nearby institutions like the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind.
So far, our teams have completed over 400 meters of road, poured 500 cubic meters of concrete and 1,500 tonnes of asphalt, all while logging more than 2,380 hours worked safely under the vigilant guidance of our HSE team, HSE Field Manager Harry Moraitis and Coordinator Sarah Banville. A huge shoutout goes to Sierra General Superintendent Phil Elliott, Foreman Teague Murphy and the entire field team, as well as our Project Coordinator Dimeji Dixon and Project Manager Calvin McGrogan, whose leadership and oversight have kept the project on track and up to standard every step of the way. We're also proud to recognize trade partners who consistently upheld Sierra's high standards, including Heidelberg Materials, AllSteel, Parlan, Mansteel Rebar, Royal Fence, Capital Paving, KGM Engineering, L82 (formerly Beech), Monte Metals, London Caulking, Irelands Bros and D&D.
In addition to the work performed by our crews and trades, what makes this project especially impressive is how our team has navigated challenges behind the scenes. From managing complex CN Rail permits and approvals, to proactively advancing concrete repairs ahead of the official start date, we’ve kept the project moving efficiently despite tight review windows and regulatory constraints. When faced with supply chain pressures, we leaned into our supplier relationships to secure early production orders for critical long-lead items. And with changing field conditions and evolving design specs, our Sierra Bridge team continuously proposed cost-effective, constructable solutions to maintain schedule and quality without compromising safety.
Next up for this build is the construction of two crash walls located near active rail lines – a technically sensitive task that will demand continued precision, planning, and coordination.
This is a project that truly shows the best of what Sierra brings to infrastructure work: strong leadership, adaptable teams, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to community outcomes!
WHAT'S STILL TO COME IN 2025
As we look ahead to the rest of 2025, there’s no shortage of exciting things on the horizon, both on and off the sites!
If you’ve been following along on social, you already know that one of our most exciting milestones is the upcoming completion of our brand-new Sierra HQ – and things are moving quickly! At the end of 2024, we were still erecting steel, and now, just halfway through 2025, we’re looking at a fully completed 38,000 sq. ft. warehouse!
And while this job had its fair share of weather-related challenges, our teams and trade partners pushed through with real grit. Even on the coldest days of the year, crews like Igloo were out wrapping trims and finishing exteriors when few others would. That kind of commitment made it possible to hit major milestones on time and with quality intact! Phase two, which will include our office space, is set to begin later this year, and we can’t wait to bring that vision to life next!
This first phase of our new HQ isn’t just a major achievement for our team; it’s also a great opportunity for businesses looking to grow! The ground floor space is now available for lease, offering a high-visibility, easily accessible location. Plus, our current Dundas Street office will also be available for lease starting January 2026. To learn more about either space, contact our Development team at development@sierraconstruction.ca.
But it’s not just our physical footprint that is growing – our team is as well! We’re continuing to welcome new hires across all divisions, bringing in fresh talent and expertise that help push our work, our culture, and our standards even further every day. If you think you’d be a great addition to our team, get in touch with our HR team today by sending your resume to careers@sierraconstruction.ca.
Outside the office and job sites, we’re just as committed to making an impact in 2025. From sponsoring youth sports teams and partnering with organizations like the Canadian Institute of Safety, Wellness and Performance (CISWP) on their DOSE Research Study to participating in community events like the Woodstock Dragon Boat Festival, we love finding ways to give back and stay connected to the places we build in and the industry we love. This fall, we’re proud to once again partner with United Way Oxford for Novemburger, the deliciously creative fundraiser that blends community support with some seriously good eats. We also take time to celebrate the people who make it all happen, with summer BBQs, Halloween fun, and our annual Christmas party bringing everyone together. These are the moments that remind us we’re not just building great projects; we’re constructing something bigger – together.
There’s still plenty to accomplish before year-end, and we’re heading into the second half of 2025 with momentum, purpose, and a whole lot to look forward to!
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