Commonwealth Construction Limited

Biography

Commonwealth Construction Limited, a full-service industrial Canadian construction firm, began in 1907. Currently owned by CH2M HILL of Denver, Colorado, the company maintains branches across Canada and has been involved in a number of significant Manitoba building projects throughout its long history. The company was particularly active during the post-war years.

Amongst the many commercial, institutional and infrastructure projects that Commonwealth Construction has been responsible for was Winnipeg International Airport’s 1964 modernist terminal building, now demolished (2000 Wellington Avenue; designed by Green Blankstein Russell and Associates). Excavation for the project began in spring 1960, and construction began that August. Notably, the firm had previously worked on the north-west and south-east runways of the previous Stevenson airport. Other works included the S.S. Kresge Company Limited Winnipeg location (368-374 Portage Avenue, 1954) and the Polo Pork Simpson-Sears store (1485 Portage Avenue, 1959).

For many years the company worked out of offices at the Royal Bank Building, Winnipeg. It also at one point operated a large diesel asphalt plant, located at Rosenfeld, which was said to be the largest of its kind in Canada.