Commercial New Construction
Ground-up commercial buildings delivered by one accountable team, from raw land to keys.
Commercial New Construction in Toronto and across Ontario
When your project starts with an empty lot, new construction is the path. Ground-up work is different from interior construction because the decisions that drive the budget, such as soil conditions, stormwater, structure and servicing, are made long before the building rises.
Harborline Sterling manages the whole sequence: site preparation and servicing, foundations designed for the site's soils and Ontario's frost, the structure and building envelope, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and interior finishes. We coordinate the design team, manage approvals, and sequence trades so the schedule you approve in preconstruction is the schedule the building follows.
Harborline Sterling Construction Inc. is principal-led. One of our co-founders, Mansoor Alam Khan or Maqsood Mohammed, oversees every project, so decisions get made quickly and you always know who is accountable.
What commercial new construction includes
Every project is different, but these are the parts of the work we take responsibility for.
Site due diligence
Before you commit, we help you understand what the site will cost to build on: zoning and site plan requirements, servicing capacity, access, conservation authority constraints, geotechnical conditions and the likely foundation solution.
Site works and servicing
Clearing, grading, excavation, storm and sanitary connections, watermain, stormwater management, paving, curbs and site lighting, coordinated with municipal and regional standards.
Foundations for Ontario conditions
Foundations designed from a geotechnical report, with frost protection, drainage and the GTA's clay and glacial till soils in mind. The right foundation choice is one of the biggest cost drivers on a new building.
Structure and envelope
Structural steel, precast and cast-in-place concrete, masonry and wood systems, plus a building envelope built for freeze-thaw cycles, snow loads and air and vapour control. We treat envelope inspections as a quality gate, not a formality.
Building systems and fit-out
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and life-safety systems coordinated with the design, then interior finishes that get the building ready for occupancy.
How the work runs
The same disciplined backbone we use on every project, adapted for this kind of work.
Preconstruction
Budget, schedule, constructability review and early ordering of long-lead items such as switchgear, rooftop units and structural steel.
Approvals
Site plan, building permit and any regional or conservation authority approvals, filed with the right authority and tracked to completion.
Construction
Daily site leadership, safety management, quality checks and weekly reporting through every phase of the build.
Closeout
Occupancy, commissioning, deficiencies, as-built drawings, operations manuals and warranty handover.
Sectors we serve with commercial new construction
A few of the property types where this service is a common fit. See all 31 on our market sectors page.
Shopping Centres
Shopping centres bring together site development, multiple buildings, anchor tenants and smaller units, parking and traffic.
Learn moreStrip Plazas
Strip plazas are the backbone of neighbourhood retail across the GTA: restaurants, clinics, services and convenience stores side by side.
Learn moreOffice Buildings
New and renovated office buildings have to attract tenants, perform efficiently and stay flexible for decades.
Learn moreWarehouse and Flex Space
The GTA is one of North America's busiest logistics markets.
Learn moreMedical Suites and Clinics
Medical and dental clinics combine the finish quality of professional offices with the technical demands of health care: plumbing at every exam room, specialized equipment, privacy, infection control and barrier-free access.
Learn moreCar Dealerships
A dealership is three businesses under one roof: a showroom that has to sell, a service department that has to be productive, and a parts operation that has to be organized.
Learn moreWhy choose us for new construction
Commercial construction has enough variables without a contractor who goes quiet. Here is how we take them off your plate.
One accountable team
One contract, one point of contact, one builder responsible for the schedule, the budget and every inspection in between.
Principal-led
One of our founding principals oversees every project, so you get senior judgment, quick decisions and a direct line to the people accountable for the result.
Responsive
Calls returned promptly, questions answered the same day where possible, and problems raised early, while they are still cheap to fix.
Other ways we can help
Many projects combine services. Ask us how they fit together for yours.
Also from Harborline Sterling
Related reading
ConstructionBuilding Through an Ontario Winter: What Owners Should Expect
Frost, concrete, heat and daylight: how winter affects cost and schedule, and how good planning keeps projects moving.
Read article
Permits and approvalsCommercial Building Permits in the GTA: What Business Owners Should Know
Who issues permits, what you need before you apply, and how to keep approvals from stalling your project.
Read articleFrequently asked questions
How long does commercial new construction take in the GTA?
It depends on size, complexity and approvals. Site plan approval and permits can take several months on their own, and construction of a small to mid-size commercial building commonly runs from several months to more than a year. We give you a realistic schedule during preconstruction and build it backward from your target opening.
How much does ground-up commercial construction cost?
Cost depends on building type, size, structure, finishes, site conditions and servicing. Rather than quote a generic range, we price your project against real trade numbers during preconstruction so the budget reflects your actual scope.
Do I need site plan approval for a new commercial building?
In most GTA municipalities, yes. Site plan approval covers building placement, access, parking, landscaping, grading and stormwater, and it usually comes before the building permit. We coordinate the process with your designers.
Can you build through the winter?
Yes. Winter construction is routine in Ontario with the right planning: protecting excavations and footings from frost, heating and hoarding for concrete work, and sequencing so the building is closed in before the coldest months where possible.
Do you work with my architect, or can you bring the design team?
Both. We work with your existing design team, or coordinate architects and engineers for you under a design-build approach.
Do you also handle the interior fit-out after the shell is complete?
Yes. We can deliver the base building and the tenant fit-outs, which keeps one team accountable from start to finish. See Tenant and Office Build-Outs.
Get a quote for your new construction project
Put one accountable team in charge: on schedule, on budget, with permits and inspections handled the whole way.
Start your project
Tell us what you are planning. We will set up a straightforward conversation about scope, budget and timeline, with no obligation.