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People At Its Core—Success in Commercial Construction

January 2024

People At Its Core—Success in Commercial Construction

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Kelowna’s Airport Business Centre

Kelowna’s Airport Business Centre

Plan B Contractors Inc., based in British Columbia, is gearing up to mark its 20th anniversary in 2024 with a strong commitment to a people-first approach. Our company’s motto, “People come first,” encapsulates our belief in prioritizing individuals, as emphasized by our Project Manager and Partner, Brandon Westgate. Our team’s dedication extends beyond our internal dynamics to encourage close working relationships with sub-trades and industry partners, contributing to the success of our commercial and residential projects.

Westgate highlights the company’s consistent growth, attributing it to a focus on organic growth and meaningful relationships. Plan B’s design-build program, marked by openness and transparency, has become one of the most sought-after services, enhancing our ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.

To read further on Plan B’s noteworthy projects and how attention to detail, commitment to honesty, and integrity have earned us praise over the last two decades (and counting), check out our latest feature in Business Examiner’s digital space.


Building a Legacy: Celebrating Two Decades of Heart, Passion and Excellence!

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As Plan B Contractors marks its 20th anniversary, it’s not just a celebration of time but a toast to the spirit of a team that has consistently delivered excellence. Founded in 2004, Plan B has become synonymous with cutting-edge construction and project management, creating a lasting impact on the industry. This milestone is a testament to our endurance and a showcase of the exceptional leadership, diverse services, and iconic projects that have defined who we are over the years.

Leading With Excellence

Our dedicated crew and visionary leadership are at the heart of Plan B’s success story. The company’s leadership, spearheaded by founder and CEO Bryan Murray, has been instrumental in steering the company through two decades of success. He is an inspiring mentor who values organic growth over numbers and constantly challenges his team to uphold standards of continuous learning. All while putting their best foot forward to ensure satisfied clients every step of the way. At the end of the day, the goal is to leave with a big, pearly smile and a sense of fulfillment from delivering exceptional service. 

A light with her own shine, Maintenance Manager and Partner Robyn Kline brings her people and problem-solving skills to the table, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring smooth operations and strong client relations. Armed with over 25 years of experience in the industry, CFO and Partner Mike Seeley is the man behind all the number-crunching necessary to set Plan B up for success. He plays an admirable part in paving the way for Plan B to reach new frontiers and always encourages open discussions with Plan B’s customers and trade partners. 

Project Managers and Partners Rob Kline and Brandon Westgate bring their wealth of experience, hands-on skills, and community industry-focused knowledge. They also possess the determination to build strong, long-lasting relationships with clients and partners alike through effective communication, ensuring the delivery of quality services every single time.

Our leadership would be nothing without people to lead; we couldn’t have achieved success to this measure (and counting) without our team’s unwavering commitment and support. We work with pride and a strong sense of integrity for ourselves, the team, and our clients. Our combined experience has equipped us to deliver only the best, and we stop at nothing less.

Our Diverse Services

Plan B Contractors is not just a construction company; we are a one-stop solution for a myriad of construction-related services. From project conception to completion, our comprehensive suite of services covers everything from pre-construction services, design, and planning to construction and project management and even maintenance—be it commercial or residential construction. Our commitment to versatility is reflected in our ability to adapt to varying client needs; whatever the ask, we do our best to fulfill as innovators, collaborators and solution seekers.

Our services extend to retail, hospitality, healthcare, multi-family complexes and more. Plan B’s services are not just about construction; we are about creating memorable, functional spaces that seamlessly integrate with the community. Beyond construction, we place utmost importance on ongoing building maintenance to safeguard investments and ensure the safety of every individual. Recognizing the importance of a safe workplace, we commit to creating and maintaining a secure environment. This involves effective leadership, worker education and training, and benchmarking standards to ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC Regulations. Every team member is accountable for upholding these principles, from contract awards to site orientations. We prioritize safety, efficiency, and excellence in every aspect of our operations.

You Dreamt It, We Delivered.

We pride ourselves on an extensive portfolio of successful projects that highlight our commitment to delivering quality results, no matter the blood, sweat, or tears it takes. Plan B as a team focuses on showing up for our clients and vendors—our people—in every way possible. The results? Magic. We helped create commercial spaces for big names in the community, and while we can’t pick favourites, some deserve honourable mentions.

Erica Jane Restaurant

Dine in luxury at this city-centre eatery

Dine in luxury at this city-centre eatery.

This build allowed us to explore our creative strengths regarding unconventional architecture and stunning design. If finesse could be described as an image, the Erica Jane Restaurant would be a strong contender! With details like a sleek wine wall and specially curated art, this restaurant adds a touch of elegance to our bustling Downtown Kelowna area.

Airport Business Centre

As the Okanagan is seeing vast growth in the business and industrial sectors, we were ecstatic to take on the project of building the Airport Business Centre—a hub for industrial operations. This 17,000-square-foot space across Kelowna’s International Airport houses offices, warehouses, and storage solutions.

Hexagon Purus Base Building – 2150 Matrix

Innovation par excellence

Innovation par excellence

The Hexagon Purus Facility is another feather added to our hat, boasting innovation and modern design elements at their finest. We included contemporary structural features such as expansive windows, skylights, and a breathtaking rooftop patio. This facility transcends ordinary workspaces, inspires productivity, and represents Hexagon Purus’s beliefs in novel ideas and forward thinking.

With two decades behind us, we strive to keep pushing forward, rooted in our people-centric approach. Our successes are only a result of our relentless hard work and passion for all things construction, keeping top-notch quality and personalized service at the forefront. If you’d like Plan B Contractors to be your trusted partner, contact us to get things started. Here’s to many more decades of planning, building, and being better!


5 Must-Ask Questions When Considering a Commercial Construction Contractor

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Start your commercial construction project by asking the right questions.

Start your commercial construction project by asking the right questions.

If you’ve got a commercial construction project in future plans and are unsure where to start, this list might help you gain some perspective. With the growing economy in the Okanagan region comes increased competition, and amidst several competitive offerings from commercial contractors, making the right choice can seem overwhelming. However, it all starts with asking the right questions, and we’re here to guide you!

Listed below are important questions you should be asking potential contractors for your commercial project; this will help you weed out companies that may not be a good fit and reveal top contenders.

1. What type of professional designations and experience does your team have? 

Contractors that are reputed and have established themselves in the market in terms of their expertise will have a proven track record, such as several years in business, positive Google reviews, plenty of completed projects, etc. Such companies will provide their services at a fair market rate because their experience allows them to offer competitive prices. 

However, companies just starting out and still learning the ropes may offer lower rates to ‘attract’ business but end up either not providing the best value for your money or hiking up your invoice in the end due to severe underestimation of costs. 

Another point to pay heed to is the kind of projects in the contractors’ belt; some specifically focus on common commercial builds such as offices and stores. You should ensure the contractor has sufficient experience with projects similar to yours so both of you are on the same page regarding expectations before the get-go.

2. What are some of your notable past projects?

Companies with significant experience in the commercial construction industry would be more than willing to share their past accomplishments with you as a nod toward their workmanship and expertise in the field. This will help highlight whether they’ve completed projects similar to yours, how satisfied their past clients were, and whether they’ve had clients return for more business.

It is also expected to check their current standing in the industry for online reviews and ask for references. Don’t shy away from doing your homework! Here are some of our commercial projects so far.

3. What kind of timeline would you plan out for our project?

Commercial construction companies will generally have a basic timeline from the initial conception or design phase of a project until construction completion. This timeline needs to be realistic, with enough flexibility to account for weather changes, vendor hiccups, or any other unforeseen circumstances. If a contractor offers a suspiciously short timeline, they might have to cut corners to keep the project on track, or it will not be delivered on time; this is not a good sign and is a vital aspect to pay attention to. 

Another way of doing your due diligence would be contacting the references provided to check for successful projects completed on time, communication styles, and whether customer expectations were met.

4. What is your safety record?

Businesses that have the required safety protocol, equipment, and processes in place will be transparent with you about it. It is a testament to their priority towards safety and protecting everyone involved in a project. Workplace hazards at construction sites are not uncommon, so it is imperative that a commercial builder understands and takes accountability for having set safety precautions. Companies that do not follow strict safety policies indicate dangerous working conditions and lack contingency planning. This may also mean lax attitudes in other areas of project completion, which is a detail to watch out for. 

Plan B Contractors Inc. recognizes the right to work in a safe and healthy workplace, and we are committed to providing such a workplace for our employees, sub-contractors, and clients. 

5. Are your cost projections estimated or fixed?   

An experienced contractor can provide you with reasonable estimates of fixed and variable costs for your project. They can easily factor in certain fixed costs as they have established relationships with their vendors/ sub-traders. In addition, they will be able to account for some variability in costs that may arise due to shipping delays, changes in labour requirements, changes in raw material requirements or pricing. They should be able to provide you with an official invoice detailing fixed costs and variable costs that could fluctuate so that there are no surprises in the future. This way, all the major details will be covered before any contracts are signed.

Plan B Contractors has over 20 years of experience in the industry; your commercial construction project will be in good hands from conception to completion. If you’re looking for a reliable contractor, contact us, and we’d love to help you get closer to your goals!