EllisDon

EllisDon is an employee-owned construction services company that was founded and incorporated in 1951 in London, Ontario, Canada by brothers Don and David Ellis Smith.^[1] Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, EllisDon's revenues are currently approximately $3.5 billion.^[2]

History

EllisDon construction crane at York University.

Founding

Don Smith was born March 23, 1924 in Provost, Alberta, to Donald Bennett and Florence Smith.^[3]

At age 27, Don quit a construction job to start his own company with his brother David Ellis Smith. On April 1, 1951, EllisDon was launched. Their first project was a small home renovation followed by Northdale Public School, a three room schoolhouse located in London, Ontario.^[1] David left the company shortly after inception.^[3]

1951-1989

Between 1956 and 1968, EllisDon computerized its accounting and cost control systems, and operated a purchased tower crane – the first construction company in Canada to do both.^[4] In 1971, EllisDon launched a Corporate Safety Strategy to improve job site safety.^[5] Between 1974 and 1976, EllisDon expanded, establishing operations in Edmonton, Alberta and in Saudi Arabia.^[4][6][7] In 1978, and in the next three years that followed, EllisDon took on local projects that included the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario; Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta; a Bank of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario; and Peel Regional Police Headquarters and 22 Division in Brampton, Ontario.

Once EllisDon was awarded the Construction Management Contract for the Metro Toronto Convention Centre project in 1982,^[1] it moved on to build the Rogers Centre (formerly, the SkyDome).^[8] This project was completed in 1989, and was the world's first retractable rooftop stadium.^[9]

1990-2003

In 1990, EllisDon established the construction industry's first freestanding Research and Development Department.^[4] Following that, EllisDon in 1993 became the first Canadian company to build in Latvia and Lithuania following the removal of the Iron Curtain in the USSR.^[10][11] A year later, EllisDon was awarded the Lump Sum Contract to build the Athlete's Village for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.^[11] In 1997, EllisDon completed its first project in Malaysia.^[4]

In 1996, Don Smith's son, Geoff Smith– who joined the company as a full-time employee in 1982– became EllisDon's President and CEO.^[12][13]

2004-Present

In 2004, EllisDon participated in a new hospital funding model, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the $450 million William Osler Health Centre in Brampton, Ontario.^[10] Later, EllisDon delivered Toronto's MaRS (Medical and Related Services) Convergence Centre (Building B) in 2005.^[14]

In 2008, EllisDon completed construction and installation work in the Dubai Waterfront, the largest waterfront development of its kind in the world.^[15]

In 2010, EllisDon completed Winnipeg International Airport Terminal Building, Canada's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified airport terminal.^[16]

In 2012, EllisDon was awarded its first Managed Services Contract for the PwC Tower by the British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (bcIMC).^[4]

In 2013, EllisDon's founder, Don Smith, died at 89 years old.^[1]

Selected projects

The Halifax Central Library, completed 2014.

Alternative Energy

• Alberta Children's Hospital - Calgary, Alberta ^[17]
• Toronto South Detention for Mimico Correctional Centre - Toronto, Ontario ^[18]

Civil & Transportation

• Ottawa Light Rail Transit (LRT) Confederation Line - Ottawa, Ontario ^[19]
• Union Station Improvements - Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)- Toronto, Ontario ^[20]
• Highway 7 East Rapidway (H3)- Vivanext - York Region, Ontario ^[21]

Culture & Recreation

• The Remai Art Gallery of Saskatchewan - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ^[22]
• Rogers Centre (formerly Skydome) - Toronto, Ontario ^[23]
• Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport - Toronto, Ontario ^[24]
• Halifax Central Library - Halifax, Nova Scotia ^[25]

Education

• Western University, Richard Ivey School of Business - London, Ontario ^[26]
• Nova Scotia Community College, Centre for the Built Environment - Dartmouth, Nova Scotia ^[27]

Healthcare & Research

• South Health Campus, Phase 1 - Calgary, Alberta ^[28]
• University of British Columbia, Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory (ARIEL) - Vancouver, B.C.^[29]
• Surrey Memorial Hospital - Surrey, B.C ^[30]
• Alberta Children's Hospital - Calgary, Alberta ^[31]

Public & Government

• Parliament Hill, West Block Demolition & Abatement - Ottawa, Ontario ^[32]
• Hamilton City Hall Renovations - Hamilton, Ontario ^[33]

Residential & Hospitality

• Ritz Carlton Residential Tower - Toronto, Ontario ^[34]
• Windjammer Landing Beach Resort - St. Lucia ^[35]

Retail & Commercial Offices

• Yorkdale Shopping Centre - Toronto, Ontario ^[36]
• Markville Shopping Centre - Markham, Ontario ^[37]
• Fairview Mall - Toronto, Ontario ^[38]
• Brentwood Town Centre Redevelopment - Burnaby, B.C ^[39]

Industrial & Automotive

• DENSO Manufacturing - Guelph, Ontario ^[40]
• Palm District Cooling Plant - Dubai, United Arab Emirates^[41]

Judicial & Correctional

• Saskatoon Police Service Headquarters Building - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ^[42]
• Miami Federal Courthouse - Miami, Florida ^[43]

References

External links

• EllisDon
• EllisDon Corporation at Eluta
• Building on a foundation of entrepreneurship at the Toronto Star