AS IWCD APPROACHES ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026, THE COMPANY STANDS AS ONE OF VANCOUVER ISLAND’S MOST INFLUENTIAL CONSTRUCTION FIRMS, WHOSE EVOLUTION MIRRORS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE REGION ITSELF.
IWCD CELEBRATES 40 YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT MANAGED BY: DECLAN JONES
Founded in 1986 by Greg and Troy-Anne Constable operating as a small family-run homebuilder, IWCD has grown into a diversified, design-build business with over 140 employees, two offices, and an impressive portfolio that spans automotive, commercial, industrial, and multi-residential construction. Its trajectory over four decades is a story of strategic reinvention, disciplined process, and a deep-rooted belief in long-term relationships.
Founded in 1986 by Greg and Troy-Anne Constable operating as a small family-run homebuilder, IWCD has grown into a diversified, design-build business with over 140 employees, two offices, and an impressive portfolio that spans automotive, commercial, industrial, and multi-residential construction. Its trajectory over four decades is a story of strategic reinvention, disciplined process, and a deep-rooted belief in long-term relationships.
Vice President Patrick Brandreth reflects on the company’s origins with pride.
“IWCD is a family-owned company, and we’re coming up on 40 years in business. My mother and father-in-law founded the company back in 1986 and what started as a single-family homebuilder quickly transitioned into a
leading commercial General Contractor on Vancouver Island and now our work extends much beyond that.”
He explains that in the early days his father-in-law Greg Constable was successful in establishing some key relationships with local developers and businessmen that were willing to take a chance on him letting him get his feet wet in commercial construction on projects such as strip malls and warehouses – projects that in hindsight, broadened IWCD’s capabilities and laid the foundation for larger, more specialised opportunities. The major turning point, however, came when entering a new field.
“Things really started to ramp up for us once we found our inroads into the automotive sector, constructing new car dealerships. It was the exposure we got on these
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types of projects that really developed our pre-construction capabilities on the front end of our projects and ultimately positioned IWCD for the success we are seeing today,” Brandreth says. “It forced us to take the lead on design and drive that design to the budget we had established for our client. Today, heavy involvement from the General Contractor in the design phase is the primary delivery method owners are using. Our experience and processes are just 30 years ahead of our competition.”
But the automotive sector did more for IWCD than just build out their pre-construction division, it taught them the importance of putting their client’s interests first and how repeat business as well as maintaining an exceptional reputation is the key to longevity in the construction game. “Our focus from day one has always been servicing our client” says Brandreth. “I was fortunate to walk into a company with an already incredible reputation so
I wanted to make sure that as we continued to grow, we didn’t lose sight of the important things that got us here in the first place.”
BUILDING ON PARTNERSHIPS
He further reflects that when he joined IWCD 12 years ago, the company already had a strong portfolio in commercial and automotive construction. Yet there was a new opportunity emerging – the multi-residential sector, a market gaining momentum as migration to Vancouver Island accelerated.
“Back then, we didn’t have a multi-residential experience but we knew we needed to compete in that sector or we were going to miss out on major opportunities for growth,” he recalls. “We worked hard to find the right expertise from a project management and site supervision perspective and then once onboard, we developed our internal processes while working to make the necessary inroads with developers. That shift in focus has allowed us
to amass a sizeable multiresidential portfolio to date and has been the main contributor to our growth over the last decade or so. “
Today, IWCD’s multi-residential experience includes numerous purpose-built rental and condominium developments, as well as a substantial portfolio of publicly funded supportive housing projects. This diversification has strengthened the company’s resilience in a cyclical regional market. “It’s imperative to have a balanced portfolio in a market such as Vancouver Island,” he notes. “It provides that much more flexibility when things slow down .”
Throughout its evolution, IWCD has remained anchored to a guiding principle: build longterm relationships, as opposed to just focusing on one-off projects. “We don’t have the mindset of ‘one project and done.’ It’s about how we can grow with our clients,” Brandreth affirms. “With some of our automotive clients we’re on our third or fourth
building. With our private multiresidential developers, it might be five or six projects. That’s what has given us longevity. We like to position ourselves alongside clients that have a strong interest in Vancouver Island and a long-term vision to operate or grow their real estate portfolio here.”
PEOPLE AND PROCESSES
He emphasises that the same relationship-driven approach extends to IWCD’s network of subcontractors. In a market the size of Vancouver Island, long-standing partnerships are essential for project success. “We’re working with the same sub-trades time and time again. It’s important to support them and make sure they’re successful. Their success is our success, and ultimately our client’s success.”
How does a company scale from a small family operation to a large, multifaceted construction firm without losing its identity?
For IWCD, the answer lies in
process discipline and a strong internal culture. “It sounds cliché, but our focus really is how to best serve our client. We’ve also had to be very careful about our growth and make sure we are doing that in a responsible manner which means sticking to the processes that have made us successful,” Brandreth explains. “Not all processes are perfect—there’s always room for refinement— but maintaining consistency is the key, then it is more or less repetition after that.”
Equally important is developing and retaining a skilled, dedicated workforce. “For us, it’s not necessarily about getting a whole lot larger in size. It’s about focusing on the growth of our people. We want to be the number one
employer on Vancouver Island. If we’re investing in people, we want those investments to last. We want people to be proud working for IWCD. Creating that type of culture is the best way to motivate an individual to excel at their job.”
This focus on people and process is the underlying framework of what built the reputation of IWCD today. “The internal drive for continued improvement is what will further propel the company into the future. We’re constantly trying to get better. For every job we mandate ourselves to ask the simple questions - What went well? What didn’t? Why? It’s this reflection that helps us learn to do things better and become more efficient.”
SUCCESSFUL SUCCESSION, CONFIDENT FUTURE
Looking back at the time of the company’s important anniversary, Brandreth affirms that a significant milestone in IWCD’s 40-year journey has been its generational transition.
Over the last few years the founders Greg and Troy-Anne Constable have taken a step back, and leadership has passed to the next generation – a shift executed with care and pride.
“My wife Savanna and I have been with the company for 12 years now, and over that time we have worked closely with Greg and Troy-Anne and outside professionals to put a succession plan in place that we felt would work for the company and our staff. These types of transitions can sometimes be tricky with so many moving parts, so we wanted to make sure we got it right and up until this point at least, I feel like we have.”
As IWCD prepares to celebrate four decades in business, the company stands strong – rooted in family values, powered by a skilled team, and guided by a leadership approach focused on relationships, process, and a long-term vision. Its story is not just one of growth but of evolution, adaptability, and a consistent dedication to doing things right.
