About this video: a Toro Steel Buildings review from the CEO of Modular Precast
In this Toro Steel Buildings review, Glen Pestrin, CEO of Modular Precast, talks about building his company's 200x525 industrial steel building north of Toronto, from the first meeting to a finished facility. He covers why steel was the only option for his timeline, how Toro planned around equipment from Germany, and what the build was like day to day.
It's the same building you can see going up in our 200x525 precast facility video. This time it's finished, and the customer gives his verdict.
- "It was the only solution." Conventional construction couldn't meet Modular Precast's time frame. The project went from design to completion in under six months.
- Planning before steel. Budget, timeline and constructability were set in the first meeting, with barriers flagged early and a plan for each.
- "The IKEA of buildings." Clear drawings, a precise delivery schedule and assembly by piece count kept the build easy to follow.
Key moments in the video
Each moment matches a chapter in the YouTube video. Select a time to jump to it on YouTube.
- Why steel was the only solutionGlen Pestrin, CEO of Modular Precast, explains why conventional construction wouldn't have met his timeline.
- How Modular Precast found ToroWord of mouth from friends, architects and engineers, and a portfolio of large, multinational projects.
- The first sit-downBudget, timeline and constructability, with barriers flagged early and a plan for each one.
- Coordinating equipment from GermanyToro worked with the overseas engineers so the specialized equipment would fit the space.
- Beating expectations, with an envelope consultantAn independent envelope consultant suggested tweaks, and Toro made them.
- A schedule you could set a stopwatch toTrailer counts, crane positions, site layout and drawings for the site and footings.
- "The IKEA of buildings"Structure, siding, then roof, tracked by piece count so progress is easy to follow.
- Would he recommend Toro?Cost, speed, organization and quality, and a team that put the client's success first.
Read the video transcript
Why steel was the only solution
It was the only solution. Period. Full stop. Conventional construction would not have worked in the time frame that we needed it.
My name is Glen Pestrin and I'm the CEO of Modular Precast. We're sitting on 20 acres. Our building is approximately 110,000 square feet.
How Modular Precast found Toro
[We were] investigating various manufacturers. Toro's name kept popping up, not only through references of friends but through architects and engineers. So, it was pretty well through word of mouth, I would say.
When we finally had a chance to meet Toro face to face and review their portfolio, it was incredibly impressive. The size of buildings that they've done, the locations, multinational building, understanding building codes, and the ability to translate all those requirements to a final product was really impressive in their portfolio.
The first sit-down
The overall experience was excellent. And what I really enjoyed the most was that first sit down and the time that they took to understand my expectations on all levels: budget, timewise, constructibility. And they were very forthcoming with any barriers that they could have encountered, and they already had a plan in place on how to deal with them. So that really was sort of the icing on the cake for us.
Coordinating equipment from Germany
We had very specific equipment requirements coming in from Germany, and Toro coordinated with the overseas engineers to ensure that everything would fit within the space.
And again, having that first meeting together, setting all those expectations, it didn't really start off as a venture. It was more like a bunch of guys getting together at a pub for a beer. And that same energy kept going. Yeah, there were problems, there were tense moments. Everybody kept coming back to the table for a solution, and I think it's because the intention was there to give us a quality product.
Beating expectations
No, they exceeded expectations: timeline, product, delivery. I cannot believe how open they were. We actually brought an envelope consultant in to make sure we had designed things properly. They were very open to understanding our needs and to constructive criticism. There were some areas where the consultant pointed out a few little tweaks that needed to be done. Toro was there, no questions asked, and got it done because they knew it was a better way to build.
Schedules, site plans and drawings
The date they gave us, you could have set your stopwatch on it. They told us how many trailers were going to set up in a day, where their cranes were going to be. They even put an X on where their job shack and office was going to be and made sure they cleared it with us. [They] gave me a laid-out drawing of what members were going to go where, where all the miscellaneous equipment was going to go, their crane, their forklifts. It was excellent.
The drawings are absolutely crystal clear, that any layman can pick up and understand them. They were very clear on the drawings that they gave us to prepare the site and the footings. Clear, concise, and this clear, logical process was followed all the way through.
The IKEA of buildings
It's really simple. Structure goes up, siding goes up, roof goes up, and it's a real simple thing to follow. Open book, you can see how fast production is going. They have an assembly by piece count. It's like the IKEA of buildings. If you know, you'll know there's a problem right away. There's no black magic in this. It's super, super simple and easy.
Would he recommend Toro?
Extremely satisfied with our Toro building. I would recommend Toro. As I said before, cost, speed, organization and quality, it's all there. It's all there. And having that team effort and putting your interpretations of success before theirs is what really differentiates them.
The five stages, as Modular Precast saw them
Glen's review touches every stage of the build, from the first meeting to the roof going on.
- 1
Design
Toro · in this videoA first sit-down on budget, timeline and constructability, with barriers planned for up front.
- 2
Engineer
Toro · in this videoCoordinated with overseas engineers so equipment from Germany would fit, and reviewed by an envelope consultant.
- 3
Manufacture
ToroCut, drilled and labeled in our 30+ facilities, so assembly can follow a piece count.
- 4
Deliver
Toro · in this videoA delivery date "you could have set your stopwatch on," with trailer counts and a site layout plan.
- 5
Assemble
Erection crew · in this videoStructure, siding, then roof. Nuvocon Ltd. erected the steel on this project.
Our facilities are certified to fabrication and welding standards including CSA A660, CWB, AISC and AWS D1.1. Engineering is led by Noah Sinclair, our in-house structural engineer. New to steel buildings? Start with our pre-engineered metal building guide.
Questions about the Modular Precast build
Planning an industrial building? Price your building and a building specialist will walk you through it.
Which building is the CEO talking about?
It's the Modular Precast facility north of Toronto: a 200 ft by 525 ft by 46 ft Toro steel building on a 20-acre site, which Glen describes as approximately 110,000 square feet. You can watch it going up in our 200x525 precast facility video.
Why did Modular Precast choose a steel building?
Speed. Glen says conventional construction wouldn't have worked in the time frame they needed. According to the YouTube description, the project went from design concept to completion in under six months.
How did Modular Precast find Toro Steel Buildings?
Mostly by word of mouth. Toro's name kept coming up through friends, architects and engineers. After meeting the team and reviewing Toro's portfolio of large, multinational projects, Modular Precast chose Toro.
Can Toro work around specialized equipment from overseas?
Yes. Modular Precast had specific equipment requirements coming from Germany, and Toro coordinated with the overseas engineers to make sure everything would fit within the building.
What were the drawings and site plans like?
Glen calls them crystal clear. Toro's drawings showed how to prepare the site and the footings, and a layout drawing showed where each member, the cranes, the forklifts and the job site office would go.
Does Toro supply the foundation?
No. Toro provides the structural reactions and clear drawings so a local contractor can build the site and footings to spec. You also get engineer-stamped drawings for your location to use for your building permit.
Would the CEO recommend Toro Steel Buildings?
Yes. Glen says he's extremely satisfied and would recommend Toro for cost, speed, organization and quality.
