Building
community
Through innovation, collaboration and sustainability
Since 1980, Chandos has grown into one of Canada’s largest employee-owned builders, with more than 750 employees nationwide. Over 80 per cent of our work is delivered through collaborative methods because we know the best results come from teams that combine their skills, ideas, and experience throughout the process.
1980
Where It All Began
Chandos opened its doors. The company was founded by Dan O’Brien and Don Coyne, who first met while working on Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. Inspired by the calm and clarity of Chandos Lake in Ontario, they set out to build a company that valued people just as much as profit.
1981
Our First Build
Our very first project took shape in Edmonton: a 10,000 sq. ft. strip mall at Argyll Road and 99 Street. More than four decades later, it is still standing and still serving the community.
1990
Our Guiding Principle Emerges
Just ten years in, we had completed nearly 350 projects and established our guiding philosophy: Create Value Beyond Price. This mindset shaped the way we built, innovated, and delivered for our clients.
2001
Leadership and our Calgary Office
Tom Redl was appointed President. We opened our Calgary office under Mike Coyne’s leadership. Their first project, a Public Mini-Storage facility in southeast Calgary, set the tone for continued growth. Today, the Chandos Calgary office is a major player in the market, delivering high-quality projects across the region.
2004
Branding and Sustainability Milestones
In 2004, Chandos adopted our current logo, a significant change that we proudly display at our offices, on our projects, and on the clothing our employees wear both at work and in life.
That same year, we built Alberta’s first LEED Silver project, the St. John’s Ambulance building, marking an early milestone in our long-standing commitment to sustainability. From that foundation, we have continuously integrated environmentally responsible practices into our projects, including waste reduction, material circularity, and low-carbon strategies.
Today, these efforts remain central to the way we build, supporting Canada’s NetZero 2050 initiative and delivering meaningful impact for communities and the environment.
2005
Leadership Transition
Our Founder, Dan O’Brien retired and became Chairman of the Board, continuing to guide Chandos’ vision.
2011
Expanding to Red Deer
Chandos opened its Red Deer office to serve central Alberta. Today, Chandos is the largest general contractor in the Red Deer market, delivering projects across multiple sectors and strengthening our presence in the region.
2011
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) Begins
Chandos began using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) with the Mosaic Centre in Edmonton, Alberta’s first net-zero commercial building. This collaborative approach brought owners, architects, and contractors together early, helping deliver a high-performance building and shaping how Chandos approaches complex projects today.
2014
Lean Thinking Takes Root
Chandos began adopting Lean Construction methods in 2014, led by Jen Hancock, VP of Collaborative Construction. The shift was supported by industry experts and rooted in the “2-Second Lean” approach to continuous improvement.
2016
Becoming a B Corp Leader
We became a Certified B Corporation, the first and largest commercial builder in North America to earn this recognition. Our score of 91.1 has since grown to 158, reflecting our ongoing commitment to purpose-driven work.
2017
West Coast Expansion
Our Vancouver office opened with three employees and quickly grew. Today, 95 projects have been completed across Vancouver, Victoria, and the Lower Mainland, supported by a skilled team of project professionals.
2019
Civil Construction Takes Off
The Civil Construction division launched in Edmonton with four employees. Today, we have completed more than 110 civil projects, with many more underway, delivering critical infrastructure, from water and wastewater systems to bridges and open space developments across Canada.
2019
Setting our course to Toronto and Kelowna
After two decades of delivering projects in Ontario for national clients, we opened our Toronto office. It began with five employees and has continued to grow its footprint in the Greater Toronto Area.
We also expanded into the Central Okanagan to better serve clients in the region. The Kelowna office provides local expertise, delivering projects with the same commitment to quality and collaboration that Chandos is known for across Canada.
2019
CNL IPD Joint Venture Award — ANMRC Project
In 2019, Chandos was named managing partner of CBS JV Corp, the joint venture selected to deliver the Advanced Nuclear Materials Research Centre (ANMRC) for CNL — one of the largest and most complex research‑facilities undertakings in Canada. The project is structured under a full Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) model, reflecting Chandos’ leadership in collaborative, high‑performance construction.
2020
Expanding into the Nation’s Capital
Our expansion into eastern Canada continued with the opening of our Ottawa office. The team delivered its first project, the Brittany Drive Pumping Station, in 2021, marking a strong start in the region.
2024
New Leadership for a New Chapter
Sean Penn became Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than two decades of experience at Chandos and guiding the next stage of our national growth.
2025
A Coast-to-Coast Technical Builder
By 2025, Chandos has grown into a national technical builder with more than 380 employee owners and over 750 employees across eight regions: Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Kelowna, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Chalk River. We continue to expand into new territories, delivering projects that create lasting value for communities across Canada.
Our missions
Company
We are determined to be a great technical builder, powered by exceptional and courageous people. Through employee ownership, we create opportunity and prosperity for everyone on our team.
Community
We seek out meaningful projects that strengthen inclusion and diversity, empower Indigenous voices, and help build equitable communities across Canada.
Planet
We are committed to a sustainable future by working with project partners to reduce impact, embrace
Our values
Courageous.
We do the hard things.
When a company experiences success, it takes courage to change the way things have always been done. We’ve never been satisfied with simply falling back on what worked last time. We analyze, learn, and build on past success to benefit our customers, employees, and communities.
Inclusive.
We all belong.
We recognize that our differences are our greatest strengths. We uncover talent. We nurture talent. And then we give people the tools they need to use their talent to create a positive impact.
Collaboration.
We learn from each other.
It’s not just on the job, it’s in the community. Collaboration is in our DNA—from the way we build to the way we work together to solve problems and look for opportunities to make the world a better place.
Innovation.
We see things differently.
We know a spark of genius can come from anyone, any time. That’s why we believe in bringing together diverse perspectives in a supportive and open environment. Our best ideas come from working together across teams, with our customers and our partners.
Meet our
Team
Learn more about the people behind the company.
