Maple Ridge mechanical contractor wins gold for $68M Vancouver energy project

A Maple Ridge-based mechanical contractor has earned a major industry award for its work on one of Vancouver’s largest low-carbon energy infrastructure projects.

Pitt Meadows Plumbing & Mechanical Systems (PMP), headquartered in Maple Ridge’s Port Hammond industrial complex, received a Gold Award of Excellence from the Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) for its work on the Oakridge District Energy System Phase 1.

The company won in the Mechanical Contractor Over $20 Million category at the VRCA’s 37th annual Awards of Excellence Gala, held Oct. 16 at Parq Vancouver.

It marks PMP’s fourth gold award since 2020, following its recognition in 2025 for the Gilmore Place development.

The award recognizes the company’s role in delivering a $68.3-million mechanical contract for the district energy system at Vancouver’s massive Oakridge redevelopment.

Unlike conventional heating and cooling systems serving individual buildings, the Oakridge system is designed to supply an entire mixed-use community with heating and cooling through infrastructure incorporating renewable geo-exchange technology.

Working alongside general contractor Maple Reinders, PMP was responsible for complex mechanical installations requiring extensive coordination, advanced digital modelling and offsite fabrication.

The project presented significant challenges, including tight construction schedules, congested work areas and overlapping activity between trades.

To overcome those obstacles, the company used prefabrication techniques, including assembling 12 energy transfer station rooms offsite before installation. One large mechanical room was completed in just nine days.

At peak construction, the project employed more than 110 workers, including pipefitters, welders, managers and subcontractors.

According to PMP, the project recorded zero lost-time incidents across more than 236,000 working hours, while all welds underwent inspection as part of its quality assurance program.

“Oakridge DEU was an incredibly complex project, and we faced significant challenges together as a team,” said PMP president Steve Robinson. “To see the quality of our work recognized at this level is a tremendous honour. I’m especially proud of the people who worked through those challenges and delivered something that will serve this community for decades.”

Construction manager Conor Radley and senior project coordinator James Keating accepted the award on behalf of the company.

The project’s general contractor, Maple Reinders, also received a VRCA Silver Award in the General Contractor $100 Million to $300 Million category.

In supporting PMP’s award nomination, Maple Reinders construction manager Danuta Wojtowicz credited the company’s leadership and ability to solve problems throughout construction.

“Their leadership, communication, and problem-solving approach helped maintain alignment across disciplines and contributed significantly to the overall success of the project,” Wojtowicz said.

The latest recognition adds to PMP’s growing list of industry honours for major mechanical construction projects across Metro Vancouver.

For the Maple Ridge company, the award also highlights the role local industrial businesses play in delivering major infrastructure projects beyond the community, particularly as demand grows for large-scale, low-carbon heating and cooling systems.