It’s no surprise that the beautiful prairies of Alberta boast a thriving agricultural sector – a sector that makes a significant contribution to the province's economy each year. In 2020, farms in Alberta reported $22.2 billion in farm operating revenues. This surpassed all other Canadian provinces and accounted for over a quarter (25.5%) of Canada’s $87.0 billion in total farm revenues.

With plenty of fertile land, diverse climatic conditions, and a rich agricultural heritage, Alberta is a hub for various agricultural activities, including crop production, livestock farming, and agribusiness.

Yet, with such a booming economy comes age-old farming challenges like extreme weather fluctuations, market demands, and aging infrastructure.

For over 40 years, as one of the leading design-build construction companies based in Lethbridge and throughout the agricultural corridor, we’ve made it our mission to help our agro clients with their farming infrastructure projects. As keen problem solvers, we use our expertise and experience to power through the unique challenges faced by agro stakeholders.

Let’s discuss the relationship between design-build construction and how it helps transform agricultural challenges into opportunities!

Understanding the Design-Build Approach

Design-build construction is a project delivery method where the design and construction phases are integrated, with a single company or individual responsible for both phases of the project. The SWMW team takes great pride in our expertise in this area.

While traditionally associated with commercial and residential construction, design-build has increasingly gained traction in agricultural projects due to its adaptability and effectiveness in addressing unique challenges. Ultimately, a design-build approach means smoother communication, faster decision-making, and better results for our clients!

Identifying Agricultural Challenges

Alberta's agricultural industry faces several challenges, including eco-concerns like soil health, water quality, and sun exposure. As well as practical issues like aging or outdated infrastructure, and fluctuating market demands.

These challenges pose significant hurdles to a farmer or agro stakeholder’s growth, productivity, and sustainability.

Additionally, these challenges all contribute to one greater issue: scalable growth.

In a world where change is the only constant, at SWMW, we know that finding new ways to tackle old problems isn't just good common sense; it's essential for the survival and growth of Alberta's agriculture sector as a whole and for each of our individual agro partners.

Addressing these challenges requires out-of-the-box thinking that not only mitigates risks but also capitalizes on emerging opportunities. Design-build construction – and the SWMW approach overall – offers a dynamic framework for developing creative, sustainable solutions that enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, and profitability.

The Role of Design-Build Construction

Design-build construction streamlines the project delivery process by integrating design, engineering, and construction services under a single contract.

This collaborative approach fosters communication, coordination, and synergy among project stakeholders, which leads to more efficient project execution and superior project outcomes.

• Single-point responsibility: Design-build contractors assume responsibility for the entire project, from conception to completion, which minimizes coordination issues and reduces project delays.

• Streamlined communication: By consolidating design and construction teams, design-build fosters open communication and collaboration, which enables timely decision-making and proactive problem-solving.

• Enhanced innovation: Design-build encourages innovation by promoting cross-specialty collaboration and leveraging advanced technologies and construction techniques to overcome agricultural challenges.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

By trusting in the integrated expertise of the diverse team at SWMW, our design-build team can develop tailored solutions that optimize resource utilization, minimize environmental impact, and maximize agricultural productivity – while keeping the real-life, day-to-day operations of farming and agricultural organizations top of mind.

From ventilation and storage structures, pre-engineered steel frame buildings, smart irrigation systems, sustainable building materials, and renewable energy solutions – leveraging cutting-edge technologies can revolutionize agricultural practices and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of our agricultural clients’ farming infrastructure.

Get in touch with the SWMW team today!

As an experienced construction company in Lethbridge and throughout Alberta, we’re here to help our agricultural partners with their unique requirements, so they can worry less about older inefficient structures and start focusing on scalable growth!

Consider the SWMW team for an unmatched customer experience and efficient and timely project execution. Get in touch with the Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction team – and we’ll help bring your project to life.

Use our handy online quote request tool or fill out our convenient contact form and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible!