At Lopez Contracting, we pride ourselves on rising to the occasion, no matter what challenges come our way. From the end of February through early April, we were contracted by 090 Builder's Group for a truly unique opportunity; to work on a large-scale project at Victoria’s University Heights.

This whole project was a great highlight for the Lopez crew and for this one, we had to push ourselves physically and mentally. But we also experienced some moments so picturesque that they will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

The story begins with a subcontracting opportunity from 090. We were asked to take on some substantial commercial framing work, and naturally, we enlisted the help of the one and only framing “Superman”, Cody Clarke. Cody and I go way back. We first met playing basketball on the "Nash Courts", located next to Crystal Pool. Both of us are athletes by nature, and competitive as can be on the ball court. As Cody explained to me in those early days of getting to know one another, his approach to choosing team members for construction projects was heavily influenced by his experiences on the basketball court. 

Cody firmly believes that the agility, discipline, and teamwork developed through playing defense in basketball perfectly embody a true team player in the framing game. As it were, I’ve always had a strong defensive game in basketball, and when Cody and our team partnered up in the field again, we fell into the old routine quickly. We're a dynamic team in construction, where precision, speed, and team coordination make for a triple win.

In fact, this sense of teamwork was crucial, as our crew worked alongside dozens of other tradespeople from all over the world. The field was a mix of local and international players, including workers from South America, Central Asia, and Eastern Canada. On a commercial project this big, the teamwork aspect was integral to ensuring that everything ran smoothly. One of the first challenges we faced was the height of the buildings we were working on. 

Unlike residential framing work, where the focus is on interiors at more standard heights, this commercial project required us to frame and sheath the structure four floors and up. This is where our fall arrest certification came into play, which the 090 team generously provided through their safety officer and instructor, Sebastien Lebarge.

This training proved critical, and we soon found the actual experience of working these heights was a completely different ballgame. Fall arrest training helped prepare us for the physical and psychological challenges of working on elevated platforms. The simple act of walking on scaffolding and beams can feel unnerving at the start, but when you’re doing it day in and day out, you get used to it quick. Working at such heights requires a high state of awareness, and it is essential that all workers on the building closely follow the strict safety protocols at all times.

Beyond the challenge of working at University Heights, we also had to account for the elements themselves. On a typical sunny workday, we’d face direct sunlight that could lead to heat exhaustion, dehydration, and fatigue. Then there's the intense gusts of wind that often whip through the site. These winds are so powerful that they can even tear sheets of plywood right out of one's hands. We are proud to say that with good preparation and frequent check-ins, we mitigated these risks. 

It's not just the physical strain of the work; it's the unpredictability of nature itself that makes the job uncertain and difficult. The wind would sometimes cause cranes to halt their operations due to the risk of swinging loads, and on several occasions, we found ourselves even holding off on certain tasks until the wind died down. We humans strive to scrape the sky, but being left at the mercy of the elements was very humbling indeed.

Our team was tasked with completing 2,500 square feet of joisting and capping each day in order to keep pace with the other crews who followed behind us with wall packs, which is certainly a good challenge. This was a game of serious precision, speed, and synergy. We fell into routine like clockwork, and the stakes were high (five storeys now to be precise!) All crews had to hustle to avoid every possible delay, as every delay meant potentially pushing back the timeline for the entire project. 

It really does feel like a race against time, but despite the pressure we had to remain focused on the quality of the work. Soon the pressure eased into a familiar, almost meditative flow. We worked six days a week from 6:45 AM to 5:45 PM (with an hour for lunch), which for us was a good change of pace from residential work, but we were inspired by 090's veteran staff.

Mind you, these buildings aren't just your typical office spaces. The units vary in size from bachelor suites to larger family apartments. The dynamic nature of the work kept things interesting, but it also meant that we had to be adaptive and precise. As we moved from one floor to the next, we had to adjust our approach to ensure that each unit met the unique requirements, to eventually take form into what they are now.

One aspect that’s easy to overlook in the organized chaos of construction is the importance of local businesses. At times parking for labour staff was sparse, it became a bit of a side quest each day to find the best parking spots.

We soon became reacquainted with the whole complex and many of the local businesses. We mapped out the best places to purchase lunch, snacks, refreshments, safety gear, and tools from nearby stores. It was poetic that what began as parking troubles led us to many memorable lunches at Lee’s House, Popeyes Chicken, or Local Pizza. We often had quick drop-ins at Home Depot to restock on PPE. We hope these small acts of patronage build goodwill with the project and it's neighbourhood.

Safety, as always, is a top priority. Every morning, we participated in hazard assessments and tool-box meetings where we discussed potential risks and shared stories of past incidents to help us avoid accidents. The entire site adhered to the COR safety program, which meant regular audits and constant vigilance to ensure that safety standards were being met. If breakfast is most important meal of the day, then our morning meetings were the most important part of the job!

Despite the grueling schedule and physical demands, there were moments that made everything worthwhile. As we worked our way up the building, the views from the top were just breathtaking. By the time we reached the fourth and fifth stories, who knew we would catch the best views of the city? To the east, we had a clear view all the way to the lush gardens of the University of Victoria (Go Vikes!). To the north, Mount Douglas stood tall against the skyline, with the majestic peaks of Mount Rainier often visible on the clear days. But it wasn’t just the daytime views that took our breath away. 

The sunsets were something else. After a long day of hard work, there was nothing more rewarding than standing on the rooftop, watching the sun dip below the horizon with the Olympic Mountains silhouetted against the fading light. It was a moment of peace amidst the chaos, a reminder that the hard work we were doing had a greater purpose in the grand scheme of things.

We wrapped up the project with the final roof framing and a celebration of 090’s senior staff member Art, who turned 60. We shared pizza and cake to honor his big milestone. It was a small gesture, but one that highlighted the syergy and respect we had developed for the fine people we worked with.

Reminiscing now, we would like to take a moment to express our deepest thanks to a few very special team players. First, a huge thank you to 090 for their consideration, leadership, safety practices, and their commitment to delivering top-notch workmanship. Special thanks also to our own Carlos Garza, a steadfast member of our crew, who we affectionately know as El Torro ("The Bull"). Carlos showed unwavering commitment and work ethic before returning to Mexico to marry his fiancé. 

And finally, we must offer the highest praise to our MVP, a local framing legend, Cody Clarke. Cody's work ethic is second to none; he outpaces, outworks, and out-hustles everyone around him. His silent determination, along with his leadership, patience, and positive attitude, made him a true asset to our team. Cody’s headstrong leadership was invaluable throughout the project.

This was a project that tested us in every way possible, but it was also one of the most rewarding as well. Here is to the University Heights crew, an all-star team that made it all possible!

Thank you so much for following along!