In just five years, Con-Steel has become a powerhouse in the concrete and steel construction industry of Western Canada, earning a reputation for safety, productivity, and seamless project execution. Its success isn’t a story of chance—it’s the product of opportunity meeting vision and the ironworking and welding experience of two cousins from Southern Alberta. Business partners, Curtis and Drew Carriere, were actively seeking to buy or build their own business when the closure of a local precast company presented the ideal possibility. With deep industry connections and a passion for building lasting relationships, Con-Steel has thrived where others have stumbled. As the cousins celebrate this 5th-anniversary milestone, it’s clear that Con-Steel isn’t just another player in the construction field. So, what does it take to achieve this level of success in such a short time?
Con-Steel’s story is one of seizing opportunity and building on a legacy of enterprise and hard work. Founders Curtis and Drew grew up immersed in a practical, resourceful family atmosphere. Their entrepreneurial fathers and three uncles inspired this duo to carve their own path in the business world. After spending 17 years working as an ironworker for Armtec, a precast company in Calgary, Curtis found himself facing an unexpected opportunity when the company announced its closure. With a major player in the precast industry shutting its doors, a significant gap emerged in the market. Curtis and Drew saw this void as a chance to create something new, and Con-Steel was born.
Con-Steel provides specialized construction services, offering project management, surveying, installation, repair/removal, mobile welding, and finishing work for general contractors and precast concrete/steel fabricators. From design to completion, Con-Steel takes on the full scope of a project or supports specific services while maintaining a strong focus on safety, meeting productivity goals, and staying within budget. Known for its unparalleled field construction and installation expertise, Con-Steel prioritizes building efficient and collaborative relationships with clients and contractors. With extensive industry experience and long-term connections forged when the original business, Armtec, was operational, the company provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities of the construction process.
Curtis Carriere was uniquely positioned to take advantage of the opportunity to transition from tradesman to business owner with the skills and experience he gained at Armtec. While working as an ironworker, he seized every chance for professional development, attending night classes in AutoCAD and survey courses, and gaining leadership training. His hands-on experience as a field supervisor, managing crews, and assisting with estimating and safety programs gave him the foundation he needed to run a business. Drew Carriere had already established himself as a business owner, leveraging his background re-tipping drill bits and welding experience to run multiple rig trucks. The cousins had over 5 years working together on projects through Armtec and the local Iron Workers Union. The company quickly established itself, with several former Armtec employees joining the ranks. “We were fortunate to be able to continue with some of our colleagues from Armtec,” says Curtis. “We knew that the better the team we would build, the better the services we can offer.”
What sets Con-Steel apart from its industry competitors is an unwavering commitment to reliability, professionalism, and added value. But even for the most committed businesses, reality can hit with unforeseen challenges. With just a few months of operations under its belt, the company, still effectively in its infancy, was faced with navigating a global pandemic.
The “Warehouse Boom,” catalyzed by the stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, played a key role in Con-Steel’s early success and reputation in the construction industry. As online shopping surged, the demand for logistics centers skyrocketed. “Despite the initial challenges of operating during the pandemic, in many ways, the need for the rapid construction of warehouse space pushed our early success,” says Curtis. “Over the past several years, Con-Steel has constructed dozens of warehouses and millions of square feet of warehouse space.”
The Amazon Violin Warehouse project stands as Con-Steel’s most significant warehouse construction to date, showcasing its expertise in managing large-scale, complex projects. Spanning an impressive 1,000,000 square feet, this facility required the installation of 666 load-bearing wall panels, each larger and heavier than standard panels. The project’s tight schedule highlighted Amazon’s priority of timely delivery over budget constraints. Starting in November 2021, Con-Steel worked diligently to erect the majority of the structure, completing this phase by May 2022 and ensuring the team were off-site by June of the same year. This swift turnaround underscored Con-Steel’s operational efficiency and its ability to adapt to the rapidly changing demands of the warehouse sector, solidifying its reputation in an industry characterized by high expectations and tight deadlines. The success of the Amazon Violin Warehouse exemplifies Con-Steel’s commitment to quality and reliability, positioning it as a leader in the construction of logistics centers.
As the early wave of the warehouse boom begins to stabilize, Con-Steel is strategically pivoting to address the evolving challenges presented by the current housing crisis in Western Canada. “We are looking to refocus on multi-family residential projects, building on our success completing a 6-story residential senior complex,” says Curtis. “With our expertise in precast, speed and efficiency are our aces-in-the-hole.” This shift includes a commitment to developing housing solutions that meet the growing demand for affordable living spaces. Con-Steel is also expanding its scope to encompass structural steel repair and removal to diversify its offerings and reach a broader customer base as the company celebrates five years with a look back at a few exceptional project successes.
Palliser One stands as a flagship project for Con-Steel, highlighting its capacity to tackle large-scale challenges. Initially in the bidding process with Armtec, the project’s trajectory changed dramatically when Armtec announced its closure, leaving the general contractor, EllisDon, in a difficult position. Recognizing this opportunity, Curtis reached out to the project lead to propose Con-Steel as a new contractor for the project. Palliser One, a 27-story iconic high-rise located adjacent to and built at the same time as the Calgary Tower, required extensive work, including the removal and refurbishment of its precast concrete envelope. Con-Steel executed the removal of approximately 1,400 precast panels, totaling around 4 million pounds of concrete. This operation not only showcased Con-Steel’s capabilities in managing substantial demolition tasks but also emphasized its commitment to sustainability through collaboration with Knelson Sand & Gravel Ltd. for recycling efforts. Winning this competitive bid against five other firms established Con-Steel’s reputation as a serious player in the construction industry and marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey.
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Another recently completed project, the BMO Expansion, highlights Con-Steel’s ability to deliver on high-profile and complex developments. Officially unveiled during the 2024 Calgary Stampede, this innovative building showcases the advanced capabilities of precast concrete construction. Unlike typical precast designs often perceived as bland, the BMO Expansion features textured, colored brick inlay patterns that elevate its aesthetic appeal, demonstrating that precast can be both functional and visually remarkable. Over multiple mobilizations, Con-Steel expertly installed the wall panels, capstones, and feature stairs, completing the project in phases from December 2021 to May 2024. A unique aspect of this project was the incorporation of etched historical Calgary Stampede posters into the concrete, transforming the walkway into a piece of public art. The BMO Expansion elevates Calgary’s sport and entertainment district and exemplifies Con-Steel’s commitment to quality, innovation, and community engagement.
Con-Steel is celebrating its 5th anniversary by reflecting on these early years of the company’s journey. According to Curtis, the first five years are crucial for establishing a foothold in the industry, and surviving this period is a significant achievement in itself. With a corporate restructuring complete, Con-Steel views this anniversary as a stepping stone toward future growth and opportunities. This moment is an opportunity to acknowledge the company’s achievements and to set the stage for the next chapter in its evolution within the construction industry. “At this five-year mark, we are looking backwards, and we are looking forwards,” says Curtis. “Our first years were sometimes more reactive than proactive. We were just looking to get the work, make sure we completed the work successfully, and that we made a buck doing it. Now we’ve established ourselves. We have the right people in place. We have the right equipment. We’ve made it past five years and now we can focus on what’s next. We can focus on the future of Con-Steel.”
“We have the right people in place. We have the right equipment. We’ve made it past five years and now we can focus on what’s next. We can focus on the future of Con-Steel.”
The future of Con-Steel looks promising as the company expands its services with two new divisions: sealant and small-scale fabrication. The sealant division will allow the company to handle watertight installations in-house, streamlining operations and improving client satisfaction. The fabrication division aims to enhance Con-Steel’s offerings by providing essential components for precast wall panels. Curtis is also exploring ways to integrate operational elements from the American construction market, aiming to change how large-scale projects are managed in Canada. He envisions a system where installers can bid directly on large projects, such as arenas, and coordinate with local fabricators to streamline the process. By shifting the dynamics of pricing and collaboration, Con-Steel hopes to foster better relationships with manufacturers and general contractors, creating a more efficient and interconnected market in Western Canada. As it focuses on establishing these new services and processes, Con-Steel is committed to building upon its strengths while exploring future opportunities for growth within its local region.
