In the world of construction and installation, one thing is certain: the unexpected is part of everyday life. Tight deadlines, coordination between multiple trades, changing working conditions… everything can change in the blink of an eye.

However, when experts talk to each other and collaborate to find solutions, there is an effective way to turn these challenges into opportunities: be proactive and think several steps ahead.

“Waiting for things to happen is not an option,” explains one of our building envelope installation experts. Being proactive means anticipating challenges, seeing problems coming before they happen, and preparing contingency plans. It’s a bit like a game of chess: you can’t just react to the previous move, you have to plan ahead.

This approach isn’t limited to planning; it also applies in the field. By staying proactive, the team becomes more efficient, inspires customer confidence, and creates a stable and stimulating work environment. For most of Quebec’s top-performing teams, it’s also a concrete way to embody their values: agility, reliability, and enjoyment.

On the PCL2 construction site, a 36-story tower where several hundred workers from different trades crossed paths every day, proactivity made all the difference. The deadlines were extremely tight, particularly during the dismantling of the crane. The Vitralum construction team was able to prioritize certain phases of the work down to the last millimeter, even if it meant making decisions that were not always unanimously supported at the time.

As a result, the project progressed without delay, and the contractor, who was initially skeptical, ultimately recognized the validity of this approach.

Another striking example was the installation of flying scaffolding between crane anchors, a first for several installers who had never seen this type of innovation before. Here again, the initiative made it possible to deliver the facade ahead of schedule, despite the obstacles.

On the Harold Napper project, proactivity manifested itself in another way. Thanks to their experience and planning, Vitralum’s building envelope experts identified issues that went far beyond glazing. They proposed “out of the box” solutions, much to the surprise of the contractor, who was impressed and emphasized that their expertise spoke for itself.

Managing the unexpected is not just about planning and being proactive, but also about team strength. Every goal becomes a collective challenge when façade installation and planning are considered together.

On complex projects such as PCL2, where several trades were “stepping on each other’s toes,” it was the ability to work hand in hand that made it possible to avoid delays despite the enormous pressure.

Being agile means not only knowing how to react quickly, but also knowing how to mobilize the entire team around a common solution. This collaboration creates a stable and dynamic work environment where everyone can thrive, while strengthening the confidence of contractors and partners.

Good planning helps limit unforeseen events, but when they do occur, everything depends on the team’s ability to respond quickly and effectively. An unforeseen event is not necessarily a bad thing: with agility, it can be resolved quickly and without major financial consequences.

As one of our experts sums it up:

“The key is to always stay one step ahead. “

Understanding that unexpected events also represent opportunities is the first step to achieving better results on the job site. Next, we need to work together and try to refine this art (and science!), which takes time and experience.

With over 30 years of experience, our teams of facade and site management experts are able to demonstrate their leadership, assert their expertise, and consolidate trust with our partners.

This is how teams like Vitralum not only build solid, high-performance facades, but also lasting relationships based on reliability and innovation.