Building on a Legacy

Hendriks Construction

Although Hendriks Construction, based in Edmonton, is a thoroughly modern company, offering general contracting, construction management and design-build services, it harkens back to the time in the corporate community when business was conducted on a handshake, and a man’s good name was his best reference.
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Hendricks Construction was founded in 1975 by A. J. (Al) Hendriks Senior who is quoted on the company website as saying: “My name to me is worth everything. This is a tough business, and to defend our name is something we work hard at. Our first priority is looking after our clients.”

Today, those values remain paramount. The company, with forty year-round employees and additional seasonal labour, is led by a management team that includes his three sons John, Perry, Allen, and daughter Angie. “They’re not just superintendents,” according to the site. “They all learned from scratch, and they know what’s involved. They know how to take a project from ground zero and work up from there.”

Their experience and proficiency extend far beyond their supervisory roles as they bring to the job site expertise in excavation, demolition, framing, finish carpentry, surveying, and concrete work, making them truly versatile.

Hendriks offers three distinct services. In the role of construction manager, the company acts on behalf of the owner in the role of agent, while the owner contracts directly with trades and suppliers. It works with the owner and consultants as part of the overall team, from design development, pre-construction, through to construction and completion. Whe working as a general contractor, the owner delivers a scope of work and construction documents that allow Hendriks to provide a cost estimate and full construction management activities. As design-builders, Hendriks can streamline project delivery through a single contract between the owner and the design-build team.

The design-build role provides services that transform “the relationship between designers and builders into an alliance, which fosters collaboration and teamwork.” Since there is unity from the outset of every design-build project, “an integrated team readily works to successfully complete a project faster and more cost effectively.”

The company is an active participant in the Certificate of Recognition (COR) program sponsored by the Alberta Construction Association and follows and enforces all Occupational Health & Safety codes and regulations. The goal, according to the company, is to “make safe practices and safety consciousness a foregone conclusion for every worker on every site, every day.”

When the company was founded in 1975, the population of Edmonton, Alberta’s provincial capital, stood at 451,635 (municipal census). But, by 2016, the population had tripled, reaching 1,321,426 (Statistics Canada), and it has continued to grow. It is now the sixth-largest city in Canada by population and the largest census municipal area at 9,426.73 square kilometers (3,639.68 square miles). Within it are five cities: Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, St. Albert, and Spruce Grove; the special municipality of Strathcona County; three First Nations reservations; and eleven towns.

Among the towns is Beaumont where General Manager Perry Hendriks has lived with his family since 1982 and served as town councillor from 1991 to 2007. He was re-elected in 2013 and 2017. (Beaumont.ab.ca)

There is a time-worn adage that in real estate location is everything. However, in the construction industry it is all about timing. In 1975, as eastern Canadians migrated west seeking employment and as businesses realized the strategic importance of Edmonton as the gateway to the North, there was a need for industrial and institutional complexes, multi-family residences, commercial and retail centres, schools, places of worship, recreational facilities, seniors’ residences, hotels, and motels. Hendriks was ready for them then and continues to keep pace with the growing metropolitan population.

The company lists over 140 completed construction projects which are integral to the community, and the range is quite astounding. There is the Castledowns Electrical Substation and Terr-El Oilfield Welding & Repair Ltd.; there is a health centre, a youth centre, and office buildings; there are churches of all denominations, a synagogue renovation, and a convent; a Marriott Hotel and Holiday Inns; seven shopping malls; schools; a golf club, YMCA with aquatic centre and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village; luxury townhouses and apartments as well as retirement residences, youth and women’s shelters, and affordable housing. All of these attest to the versatility of the company and the types of projects it is prepared to undertake.

An industry leader for forty-three years, Hendriks “takes pride in our ability to design and deliver well thought out, innovative buildings and projects,” while never losing sight of its original goals, “to provide exceptional value and efficient solutions.”

The company also prides itself on having the experience to deliver projects on time and within budget and is committed “to delivering sustainable projects that generate economic prosperity, protect our environment, and give back to our communities.”

“Alberta has been a good place to do business, and we support our community in various ways,” Hendriks Sr. has been quoted as saying. “I think you have to get involved wherever you can.” This is true as well for management and employees who volunteer at their churches, assist their children’s schools and sports teams, and participate regularly with charity fundraising efforts.

Employees participate in the Hockey Helps the Homeless tournaments. Since 2007, the company has been a sponsor and attended the Mac & Cheese Luncheon, organized by the Inner City Agencies Foundation that raises funds for non-profit organizations in the City of Edmonton, and puts together teams to participate in the Habitat for Humanity ‘Frame Game.’ This involves eight teams of volunteer builders from various companies – Hendriks entered two teams – competing against each other to have their half of a duplex framed and ready for the roof to go on. It is a day that brings families one step closer to realizing their dream and a community service of which Hendriks is proud.

According to the website, Hendriks “continues to push the envelope of customer service. It is no secret that the company has worked diligently to provide exceptional results for groups with limited resources.” As proof, it offers testimonials from satisfied customers. Here are three of many:

“Now that the project is nearly complete, it seemed appropriate to write expressing our great appreciation at the excellent service you have provided. Your capacity to cope with the complexities and built a high-quality building is appreciated. We would also like to thank you for your openness to working closely with us and making changes as we went along. Your attention to our very constrained budget was particularly helpful.” -Irma Kerr, Facility Committee for the Boyle McCauley Health Centre.

“The Building Committee of Ellerslie Road Baptist Church would recommend the firm of A. J. Hendriks Construction Management (now known as Hendriks Construction Ltd.) for any project of this nature as we have been very satisfied with the quality and value received in our building project.” -Stan Nelson, Building Committee Chairman, Ellerslie Road Baptist Church.

“We are even now more impressed by your conscientious after-sales service to us. You are still helping us to fine-tune some details of building operation and with some new projects. We appreciate your project management skills. You deserve a medal!” -Dr. David Riske & Dr. Tami Shandro

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