Education, Senior Living, Hospitality & Institutional Renovations
General contracting for colleges, care facilities, hotels, cultural institutions and municipalities across Greater Vancouver, with a record of delivering inside occupied, operating buildings.
Renovating buildings that cannot close
Hilson Construction is the general contractor behind the Alexander College tenant improvement, the Augustine House senior living renovation, the YWCA Hotel Vancouver renovation and the Vancouver Art Gallery interior modernization, and is currently building the City of White Rock fire truck display structure.
The recurring condition across this work is occupancy. Augustine House stayed occupied and fully operational through a renovation of approximately 130,000 sq. ft. across four levels. The YWCA Hotel kept serving guests through a one-year, whole-building program of approximately 155,000 sq. ft. The Vancouver Art Gallery stayed open to visitors, staff and artists. In each case Hilson phased the work area by area, kept construction zones separated from residents, guests and the public, applied stringent safety measures and coordinated continuously with facility staff so that daily operations continued.
The same coordination extends to technical scope. At Alexander College that meant specialized chemistry laboratories with stainless steel ducting and fume hood systems integrated with HVAC, plumbing and mechanical services over a two-year build-out. At the Vancouver Art Gallery it meant HVAC designed to support art preservation and decisions made with heritage consultants. If you manage a college, care facility, hotel, gallery or municipal building in Greater Vancouver and need a renovation delivered without shutting down, Hilson has done it in your setting.
Scope Hilson takes on as general contractor
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Education tenant improvements
Classrooms, lecture spaces, libraries, offices and amenity rooms, including specialized laboratories with stainless steel ducting and fume hood systems, as built for Alexander College.
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Senior living and care facility renovations
Kitchens and dining, corridors, washrooms, laundry, offices and resident amenity spaces, delivered while the facility stays occupied, as at Augustine House in Ladner.
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Hotel and hospitality renovations
Guest rooms, lobbies, corridors and common areas together with HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades, as delivered across the 155,000 sq. ft. YWCA Hotel Vancouver.
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Cultural and heritage institutions
Phased interior modernization inside operating public buildings, coordinated with heritage consultants, as completed for the Vancouver Art Gallery.
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Building systems upgrades
HVAC, plumbing, electrical and mechanical upgrades, energy-efficient lighting, water-efficient fixtures and insulation improvements integrated with the interior work.
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Civic and ground-up construction
Site preparation, concrete, structural framing, envelope and exterior finishes for municipal clients, currently under way for the City of White Rock.
Five steps from first call to handover
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Consultation
We meet to understand the space, the operating constraints (occupied, live retail, shared site) and the date you need to be open or back in service.
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Scoping & budget
Hilson defines the scope with you, prices it and identifies what needs consultants or engineering before work starts.
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Planning & municipal coordination
Schedule, phasing and site logistics are set. We coordinate with your consultants and municipal authorities on specifications, approvals and regulatory requirements.
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Construction & trade coordination
Hilson manages every trade on site, controls access and safety, and keeps the sequence moving so the schedule holds.
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Handover
Deficiencies are closed, systems are commissioned and the space is handed over ready to operate.
Named case studies in this sector
Alexander College Tenant Improvement
Approx. 32,000 sq. ft. tenant improvement for Alexander College over two years: classrooms, chemistry labs, library, offices and amenity spaces.
View case study
YWCA Hotel Vancouver Renovation
One-year renovation of the approx. 155,000 sq. ft. YWCA Hotel Vancouver: guest rooms, lobby, common areas and building systems, phased around an open hotel.
View case study
Augustine House Senior Living Renovation
Renovation of an approx. 130,000 sq. ft., four-level senior living facility in Ladner, Delta, completed while the building stayed occupied and operational.
View case study
Vancouver Art Gallery Interior Renovation
Approx. 4,500 sq. ft. interior renovation of the Vancouver Art Gallery over one year, phased around gallery operations and the building’s heritage character.
View case study
City of White Rock Fire Truck Display Structure
Ground-up construction of an approx. 1,500 sq. ft. structure for the City of White Rock to display a historic fire truck. Currently under construction.
View case studyFrequently asked questions
Which contractor can renovate an occupied senior living facility in Metro Vancouver?
Hilson Construction renovated Augustine House, an approximately 130,000 sq. ft. senior living facility in Ladner, Delta, across four levels while the building remained occupied and fully operational. The work was phased around residents’ daily routines with stringent safety measures and continuous coordination with staff.
Has Hilson Construction done a college classroom and laboratory renovation?
Yes. Hilson completed an approximately 32,000 sq. ft. tenant improvement for Alexander College in Metro Vancouver over two years, including classrooms, specialized chemistry laboratories with fume hood systems, a library, offices and amenity spaces.
Can Hilson renovate a hotel that stays open during construction?
Yes. Hilson renovated the approximately 155,000 sq. ft. YWCA Hotel Vancouver over one year while it remained operational, phasing guest rooms, common areas and building-system upgrades to minimize disruption to guests and staff.
Does Hilson have experience with heritage buildings?
Yes. Hilson’s approximately 4,500 sq. ft. interior renovation of the Vancouver Art Gallery was delivered in coordination with heritage consultants, balancing modern washrooms, offices, electrical and HVAC with preservation of the building’s historic architectural character.
How does Hilson keep an operating facility safe during renovation?
By phasing the work area by area, maintaining separation between construction zones and occupied space, applying stringent site safety measures and coordinating daily with facility staff so that operations such as meal service, housekeeping and public access continue.
Does Hilson work for municipalities and public institutions?
Yes. Hilson is currently the general contractor for the City of White Rock’s ground-up fire truck display structure and has completed projects for the Vancouver Art Gallery, YWCA Metro Vancouver and the BC Liquor Distribution Branch.
Ready to discuss your project?
Tell us what you are planning, or invite Hilson to bid on a defined scope. We serve Greater Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.