This story is the second in a three-part series on Star Building Materials’ new 153,000 sq. Ft. expansion, and how it will impact Calgary’s new home construction industry. The first story about the facility’s sustainability benefits was published in June, while the final story on its expected impact on the building industry is slated to appear in August.

Calgary, AB – Nearly 300 employees moved into Star Building Materials’ sprawling new campus in May, marking an exciting new chapter for one of Western Canada’s largest building materials suppliers.

Consisting of five buildings, the 153,000 sq. ft. facility in Balzac — five minutes, north of the Calgary airport — is designed to innovate and streamline Star Building Materials manufacturing of engineered wood product, truss, wall panels, interior finishings and lumber and provide meaningful career opportunities for the next generation of skilled construction workers and trades professionals.

Ken Crockett, Vice-President, Star Building Materials Calgary, said that fostering a culture of innovation and employee engagement is fundamental to the company’s growth and expansion strategy.

“Scaling in this business requires a workforce that is deeply engaged,” said Ken. “We want our team to recognize meaningful opportunities for professional development and envision fulfilling careers in construction that go beyond their initial expectations.”

Star envisioned a more efficient and innovative space that contributes to rewarding employee experience.

“You can sense the momentum of the entire operations simply by looking out the windows of any building on the campus. There is this real sense of cohesion and engagement across the entire site, and every design element was thoughtfully planned with that in mind,” he added.

Each of the five buildings features purpose-built spaces dedicated to Star’s core operations. The facility is designed to boost production capacity, dramatically improve efficiency, and allow Star to meet strong demand and serve the needs of homebuilder companies throughout the Calgary area.

“We believe the new space raises the bar of professionalism in our industry, and we want our staff to feel that this is a place where they are part of something important, a place where they can grow,” said Ken.

Collaboration at its core

Star’s new two-storey office building at the centre of campus includes a striking stairwell, expansive windows for natural light, boardrooms, open collaborative spaces, two cafeterias, and an outdoor BBQ area for staff events.

“Being able to have everybody on one site was key for us,” said Richard Tunnicliffe, Director of Branch Operations.

“Previously, we didn’t have private spaces where you and a colleague could go and have a conversation. Now, we have room to spread things out; and that really helps from an organizational and efficiency perspective,” Richard said.

A large kitchen and dining area is available for staff and packed with microwaves, fridges, tables, video screens and computer workstations for checking email or browsing the internet.

Employees can also use dedicated telephone rooms for private conversations or meet for a coffee in the café. Outside, staff can enjoy picnic tables, social spaces and a basketball court.

“With all these new collaboration areas, additional board rooms and meeting rooms, we find people are getting together more often and we can interact with each other more effectively,” he said.

“All of these things add up and make a big difference in the employee experience, and that’s good for business.”

Room to Grow

Moving to the new location was a massive undertaking. Since welcoming staff in late May, Star employees have been busy ramping up operations, calibrating equipment, and ironing out new processes, all while meeting the heavy demands of Calgary’s bustling home construction industry.

While there have been some anticipated challenges, there is a lot of excitement around Star Building Materials’ growth in the region.

”The industry outlook is positive, and customers are looking forward to the potential of the new facility,” added Richard.

Star has also been working with the Alberta Government and Supply Build Canada to bring awareness about the building materials industry and create internship opportunities for the next generation of skilled construction workers and trades professionals. Recently, students in the program were given a tour of the new facility and showed enthusiasm for an opportunity to gain valuable paid experience at Star Building Materials.

“The feedback we received and the overwhelming response, with many students applying the very next day after touring our space, marked an incredible success for us,” shared Ken, who is a passionate advocate for empowering young people to excel in the skilled trades.

He adds that six interns out of a long list of applicants were hired for paid internships this summer, with more opportunities happening throughout the year.

An additional four trucks were also added to Star’s growing delivery fleet – bringing the total to 36 – and helping ensure materials are delivered on time to construction sites throughout the city.

With the move complete, Star expects to increase production in the coming weeks and aims to double its capacity by year-end.