Graham Design & Construction

What Graham Design & Construction does

Graham Design & Construction, operating under the legal name Clarence H. Graham Design & Construction Ltd., is a fourth-generation family-owned construction firm headquartered in Owen Sound, Ontario. Founded in 1956 by Clarence Graham and tracing its construction roots to William Hicks' stonemason work in the early 1900s, the company delivers design-build and Single Source Design & Construction services across healthcare, commercial, industrial, municipal, and institutional sectors in the Grey Bruce and southern Georgian Bay region. Its service portfolio spans site approvals, architectural design, estimating, scheduling, construction, renovations, re-roofs, and accessibility retrofits, anchored by an exclusive dealer relationship with Butler Manufacturing for pre-engineered metal buildings since 1971.

The firm's revenue is generated primarily through project contracts (design-build, general contracting, Butler pre-engineered building sales and installation, and maintenance/retrofit work) on a quote-based, project-by-project pricing model with no disclosed standard rates. It operates a vertically integrated subsidiary, Sound Lifestyles Ltd., which develops, manages, and sells 55+ retirement housing communities in Owen Sound. The go-to-market is a sales-led, direct-engagement model with no intermediary channel partners: GDC works directly with owners, developers, municipalities, and healthcare operators.

Operationally, GDC uses a proprietary web-based Construction Service Management System (CSM) that integrates estimates, meeting minutes, schedules, subtrade information, purchase orders, drawings, and documents, with iPad-connected access for field superintendents. Core office headcount is approximately 12 staff, scaling to 50-60 workers on site during large project execution such as the $30M Southbridge Owen Sound long-term care home completed in 2023, the firm's largest single contract to date.

Name

Graham Design & Construction

Legal name

Clarence H. Graham Design & Construction Ltd.

Website

https://grahamconstruction.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Graham Design & Construction is a fourth-generation, family-owned design-build construction firm in Owen Sound, Ontario, delivering Single Source Design & Construction, Butler pre-engineered buildings, renovations, and accessibility retrofits for healthcare, commercial, industrial, municipal, and 55+ retirement housing clients across the Grey Bruce region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design-Build Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Residential Building Construction (23611), Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Office & Corporate Building Construction (IMAFACAA)

Keywords

• Design-build construction
• Pre-engineered buildings
• Commercial construction
• Metal roof installation
• Accessibility retrofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Owen Sound

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design-Build Construction Services: Full-service design and construction from planning through completion. Includes site approvals, building design, estimating, scheduling, and construction management. Revenue generated through project contracts for both new construction and renovations.
2. Single Source Design & Construction: Building delivery method blending design, management, and construction services into single-source responsibility. Combines design-build with tendering advantages.
3. Pre-Engineered Building Sales & Installation: Sales and installation of Butler pre-engineered metal buildings with cost efficiency up to 40% compared to conventional steel buildings.
4. Maintenance, Renovations & Re-Roofs: Building envelope maintenance services including roof and wall system inspections and repairs, pre-engineered metal roof installations.
5. Accessibility Retrofit Services: Cost-effective solutions for buildings not meeting current accessibility requirements, including architectural, structural, and construction services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Graham Design & Construction is a fourth-generation family-owned general contractor providing full-service design-build construction for institutional, municipal, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and residential clients in the Owen Sound and Grey Bruce region. Core offerings include Single Source Design & Construction, Butler pre-engineered metal building sales and installation, pre-engineered metal roof installation, maintenance/renovations/re-roofs, and accessibility retrofit services.

Product overview

Graham Design & Construction is a fourth-generation family-owned construction company (established 1956) offering a comprehensive suite of construction services. The core offering includes Design-Build and Single Source Design & Construction delivery methods, supplemented by Butler Pre-Engineered Buildings systems and Pre-Engineered Metal Roof installation services. The company also operates Sound Lifestyles, a subsidiary brand providing 55+ housing communities with fully accessible layouts. The portfolio is completed by an Accessibility Retrofit Service for bringing buildings up to code. Projects span institutional, municipal, recreational, commercial, industrial, and residential sectors throughout the Owen Sound and Grey Bruce region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sound Lifestyles: A subsidiary focusing specifically on providing quality housing for people aged 55+, offering 1, 2, and 3 bedroom layouts in communities in Owen Sound. Provides rightsizing solutions and fully accessible housing for retirees.

Products and services

• Design-Build Construction Services Full-service construction from planning through completion, including site approvals, building design, estimating, scheduling, and construction management. Revenue generated through project contracts for new construction and renovations across institutional, municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential sectors.
• Single Source Design & Construction A building delivery method that blends design, management, and construction services into single-source responsibility, combining the advantages of Design-Build with added tendering flexibility for cost-effectiveness.
• Butler Pre-Engineered Building Sales & Installation Sales and installation of Butler pre-engineered metal buildings with cost efficiency up to 40% compared to conventional steel buildings and 33% less time to erect. Offered for commercial, industrial, office, and community applications.
• Pre-Engineered Metal Roof Installation Roof replacement and overlay services using pre-engineered metal roof systems. Company personnel have installed over 1,500,000 square feet of metal roofs over four decades; metal roofing systems can last past 40 years and a new pre-engineered roof can increase insulation 7x.
• Maintenance, Renovations & Re-Roofs Building envelope maintenance services including roof and wall system inspections and repairs, and re-roofing for commercial and industrial facilities.
• Accessibility Retrofit Services Consulting and construction services to help buildings meet current and future accessibility requirements, including architectural, structural, and construction solutions for buildings not meeting current codes.
• Sound Lifestyles 55+ Housing Communities Subsidiary brand providing quality housing for people aged 55+ in Owen Sound, including Marina View Heights, Ninth Avenue Estates, Pottawatomi Gardens, and Bayshore Terrace. Offers 1, 2, and 3 bedroom layouts that are fully wheelchair accessible, with rightsizing and aging-in-place solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pre-engineered buildings save up to 40% compared to conventional steel buildings
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Sound Lifestyles Ltd.coreOthersSound Lifestyles is Graham Design & Construction's housing division focused on 55+ lifestyle communities. Founded as a separate entity to develop, manage, and sell retirement housing. Operates communities including Pottawatomi Gardens, Ninth Avenue Estates, Marina View Heights, and Bayshore Terrace. Katie Graham serves as property manager, marketing, and sales contact.
• Southbridge Care HomesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouthbridge Capital acquired Maple View, Georgian Heights, and Country Lane LTC homes. Graham Design & Construction has worked with Southbridge since 2013 on redevelopment plans. Completed $30M, 160-bed Southbridge Owen Sound LTC in 2023 - the largest project a local Owen Sound firm has ever completed. GDC designed and built Georgian Heights (1975) and Maple View (1979).
• Butler ManufacturingcoreTechnology or IntegrationGraham Design & Construction has been an active Butler Pre-Engineered Buildings dealer since 1971, with over 50 years in the metal building industry. First Pre-Eng building sold in 1969. Offers cost-effective pre-engineered building solutions for commercial, industrial, office, and community applications.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• PCL Constructors: Major Canadian-headquartered general contractor with design-build capabilities across commercial, institutional, healthcare, and civil projects. A broad incumbent whose presence in Ontario institutional/healthcare RFPs overlaps GDC's market.
• EllisDon Corporation: One of Canada's largest employee-owned construction services firms offering design-build, construction management, and facility services. Operates as a broad incumbent across institutional and commercial segments where GDC competes for larger projects.
• Bird Construction: Canadian general contractor with design-build execution across commercial, institutional, and industrial sectors, including healthcare. Overlaps GDC in institutional and healthcare project competitions nationally.
• Aecon Group Inc. Major Canadian construction and infrastructure development company operating across buildings, civil, and industrial markets. Competes for large institutional and municipal projects in Ontario similar to those GDC executes.

Direct peers

• Traugott Building Contractors: Regional Ontario general contractor and construction manager offering design-build and construction management for institutional, commercial, and industrial clients. Comparable as a mid-sized Ontario design-build peer.
• Maple Reinders: Ontario-based design-build general contractor with similar integrated design-build delivery model, serving commercial, institutional, and industrial clients. Comparable in size, geography, and service breadth to Graham Design & Construction.
• Revera Inc. Major Canadian owner/operator of retirement residences, long-term care homes, and senior living. Comparable as a senior-living operator/developer peer to GDC's Sound Lifestyles 55+ housing business.
• Chartwell Retirement Residences: One of Canada's largest operators of senior living residences, comparable to GDC's Sound Lifestyles subsidiary. Operates retirement communities with similar resident demographics and accessible housing design focus.
• Aveiro Constructors Limited: Ontario-based design-build general contractor focused on commercial, industrial, and institutional projects. Operates with similar service model and regional Ontario footprint, making it a comparable peer.

Others

• Robertson Building Systems: Canadian manufacturer/supplier of pre-engineered steel building systems and metal roofing. A direct adjacent technology peer to GDC's Butler Pre-Engineered Buildings offering and installed metal roofing business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clarence-h-graham-design-&-construction-ltd-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Graham Design & Construction