Colony Construction self-performs steel erection across Canada with our own in-house ironworkers, riggers, and crane crews. With 40+ years and 700+ projects, our self-perform model gives owners a single accountable team for fabrication, delivery, and field installation – no subbed-out erection scope, no schedule gaps, no finger-pointing.
What Are Self-Perform Erection Services?
Self-perform erection means Colony’s own crews lift, plumb, bolt, and weld the steel we fabricate – not a subcontractor’s. From pre-engineered metal building packages to heavy industrial superstructures, our ironworkers, equipment operators, and project supervisors arrive on site as a single Colony team. This single-source delivery model eliminates the scope gaps that traditionally separate fabrication from field installation.
Colony has been self-performing erection since 1985, from coastal BC to the Arctic. We maintain a permanent core crew of certified welders, accredited ironworkers, and licensed mobile-crane operators. Whether the job is a 40,000 sq ft warehouse or a 30-storey process structure, the same Colony team that engineered and fabricated the steel installs it – which is one of the main reasons mining, oil and gas, and aviation clients keep returning to us for self-perform steel erection across Canada.
Erection rates, crane plans, and safety procedures are owned by Colony and committed to in the contract. There is no second tier of subcontractors to coordinate, schedule, or chase down for change-order pricing.
Key Benefits of Self-Perform Erection
- Schedule Control: When Colony fabricates AND erects, our project manager controls both ends of the schedule – no waiting for a sub’s crew to free up or for a separate mobilization window.
- Single Accountability: Steel that does not fit in the field is a Colony problem, not a sub vs. fabricator finger-point. We own the design through erection scope as one chain of accountability.
- Predictable Safety Culture: Our crews work to Colony’s safety program every day, not a different sub’s per project. This translates into lower TRIR, fewer near-misses, and zero learning curve on Colony-managed sites.
- Faster Mobilization: Colony crews are already mobilized for other Colony jobs across BC, Alberta, and the North. We can shift staff to your site in days, not weeks.
- Tighter Cost: No sub markup on the erection scope – the rate you see is the rate Colony charges to do the work, including crane, rigging, and supervision.
Industries That Rely on Self-Perform Erection
Self-perform erection is the workhorse of Colony’s industrial practice. We have erected steel on every type of heavy resource and infrastructure site across Canada:
- Mining – process buildings, crusher enclosures, conveyor support steel, and remote camp structures at open-pit and underground sites.
- Oil & Gas – module assembly, modular pipe-rack erection, and process plant work.
- Hydroelectric – powerhouse and intake structure erection on independent power projects.
- Manufacturing & Warehousing – high-bay distribution buildings, production halls, and integrated crane-runway erection.
- Aviation – hangar primary frames, big-door header steel, and apron-side maintenance facilities.
Featured Projects
Imperial Oil Kearl Lake
Colony self-erected the structural-steel and PEB packages for this Alberta oil sands operation. Our crews managed crane logistics in sub-arctic winter conditions and held the schedule on a high-tempo turnover.
Antamina Copper Mine
Colony erected the process and concentrator-area steel at this remote high-altitude copper mine. Our self-perform erectors integrated with local labor under one Colony field supervisor.
Conair Hangar
Colony self-erected the primary clear-span steel and integrated the custom hangar door framing for this Abbotsford, BC aviation facility.
Our Steel Erection Process
- Step 1 – Erection Planning: Our field supervisors review the fabrication drawings, develop the crane plan, sequence the picks, and finalize the rigging and safety package before any steel ships.
- Step 2 – Site Mobilization: Colony’s crew, cranes, and rigging arrive on site as a turn-key package. Our project manager coordinates with the general contractor or owner from day one.
- Step 3 – Erection & Closeout: Colony erects, plumbs, bolts, welds, and inspects the steel to CSA S16 and AISC standards, then turns the structure over for follow-on trades with full QA documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "self-perform erection" actually mean?
Self-perform erection means Colony’s own ironworkers, riggers, and crane operators install the steel – not a subcontracted erector. Colony owns the schedule, safety, and quality of the field installation as a continuous extension of our fabrication scope.
Does Colony self-perform on every project?
Colony self-performs erection on the great majority of our Canadian projects. On a small number of remote or specialty jobs we partner with a vetted local erector under Colony supervision – but on those projects we still own the safety program, quality control, and schedule.
What size of steel can Colony erect?
Colony’s erection crews regularly handle pick weights up to 50 tons on standard mobile cranes and larger picks with bigger crawler cranes engaged on contract. We have erected everything from 30 ft warehouse frames up to 250 ft clear-span hangar primary trusses.
What certifications do Colony erection crews hold?
Our welders are certified to CSA W47.1, our ironworkers are accredited per local trade standards, and our crane operators are licensed to local requirements. Colony is a member of the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction and works to CSA S16 and AISC erection standards.
Can Colony erect steel fabricated by other vendors?
Yes. While Colony’s specialty is single-source fabrication-plus-erection, our crews are regularly engaged to erect steel fabricated by other qualified fabricators on Colony-managed projects.
Ready to Start Your Steel Erection Project?
Send us your scope, schedule, and site details. A Colony estimator will review your project and reply within one business day.