State of Construction: Management, Technology and Oversight Manage the Complexities of Construction

FEATURES CONSTRUCTION CONDITION
February 24, 2026 by Rick Muller 54

State of Construction: Management, technology, and oversight address the complexities of construction

Throughout February, UrbanToronto is offering a special editorial series, State of Construction, covering all of the critical issues facing construction in our region.

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It is said that there are two seasons in Toronto – winter and construction season – and since the latter doesn’t stop before the former, generations of Torontonians have had to endure a lot of construction activity throughout the year. Despite a temporary slowdown due to global economic uncertainty and affordability issues, all levels of government are committed to building more housing to accommodate the GTA’s rapidly growing population.

While the large developers can afford to have all management in-house, many other companies turn to outside firms to handle the very complex task of construction management, such as Clark Construction Management of Mississauga. Clark has a diverse client list including residential/commercial developers, non-profit organizations, private organizations such as sports teams, direct utilities, hotels and institutional clients.

A distant view looking north at 8 Elm, image courtesy of Clark Construction Management

“Customers turn to Clark because they want superior customer service, certainty in budget and scheduling, and a construction manager who is equally invested in the success of the project,” said Marlon Bray, executive vice president of Clark. “We care about every single project, are our own biggest critic and demand high quality standards from all our teams. Customers can feel the passion for our work and the pride with which we realize their vision.”

Founded in 2017, Clark positioned itself as an independent alternative to home-grown delivery models. “Our proposition is to be more innovative, more cost-effective and faster than any build-it-yourself developer,” says Bray. “Our goal is also to set the bar by which the performance of all other third-party construction managers can be measured against all key performance metrics, and ultimately to drive change in an industry that is generally stuck in the 1980s.”

Construction crews on the south facade of 8 Elm, looking northeast, image by Skycandy, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

One of the most high-profile projects Clark is currently working on is 8 Elm Street in the heart of downtown, a 69-story residential tower being built by Capital Developments and Reserve Properties. It took many out-of-the-box solutions proposed by Clark to build a 69-story tower on a postage stamp of a site at its location.

8 Elms unveiled historic facade on Yonge Street, looking southwest, image by DarwinP, UrbanToronto Forum contributor

“It is truly spectacular and beyond challenging as it is one of the most logistically complex high-rise residential projects being built in Toronto,” says Bray. “But the best part of the challenges is that it already looks like a truly wonderful building. Arcadis’ historic façade design stands out and enhances the character of the building, which we will complete ahead of schedule and under budget, making it a landmark residential project for the city.”

One of the many innovative tools Clark brings to his work is that it is built on a technology platform largely powered by Procore Technologies Inc., a global leader in construction management software, allowing Clark to focus his time on problem solving and execution.

A bird’s-eye view looking northwest of the construction hoist and tower crane at 8 Elm, image courtesy of Clark Construction Management

“Traditionally, the construction industry has relied on email, spreadsheets, paper drawings and disconnected systems,” says Nolan Frazier, Canadian sales manager at Procore. “The intent behind Procore was to bring all the people and information related to a construction project together on one platform. Our goal was to create software that connects the office and the field, improves communication, and provides visibility into cost, schedule, quality, and safety, all in one place. At its core, Procore is about helping teams deliver projects more predictably and with fewer surprises.”

According to Frazier, users of the Procore software consistently say it helps the most in three key areas: coordination and communication; Financial visibility and; Documentation and accountability. “Canada is facing labor shortages, rising material costs and increased pressure to deliver housing and infrastructure more quickly,” says Frazier. “We can’t solve these challenges with yesterday’s processes. Investing in technology isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about competitiveness. Companies that use modern tools are better able to control costs, attract young talent and deliver projects more reliably.”

Looking northeast toward the angled building in the center of the tower at 8 Elm, image courtesy of Clark Construction Management

Frazier reports that several large mixed-use and condominium projects in the GTA have used Procore to address large-scale complexities, such as The Well led by Tridel, Deltera and RioCan. “It is one of the most ambitious mixed-use communities in downtown Toronto, combining residential, office and retail,” says Frazier. “A project of this size requires hundreds of stakeholders to stay informed. A centralized platform helps ensure everyone is working from the latest drawings, properly tracking changes, and managing inspections and budgets in real time.”

One should never forget, says Frazier, that building is a signpost for a healthy and vibrant city. “Construction is fundamentally about building communities, homes, hospitals, public transportation and jobs, and technology should support that mission, not complicate it,” he says. “When data is connected and transparent, projects become safer, more predictable and more collaborative. This benefits not only the contractors and developers, but also the cities and communities they build for.”

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Marlon Bray of Clark Construction Management will join UrbanToronto’s State of Construction online webinar with Gokul Pisharoty of The Daniels Corporation on Wednesday, February 25 at 1:00 p.m. You can register for the event here!

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UrbanToronto’s research and data service, UTPro, provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe – from proposal to completion. Other services include instant reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, that tracks projects from the first application.​

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Thank you to the companies joining UrbanToronto to celebrate State of Construction Month.