Ground-up commercial construction for retail, office, and mixed-use developments, built to perform.
What's Included
Ground-up retail and office construction
Mixed-use commercial and residential
Design-build and design-assist delivery
Full structural and envelope scope
Site servicing and civil coordination
Occupancy permit and close-out documentation
Serving Greater Vancouver
We complete commercial new builds projects across Richmond, Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and surrounding municipalities. All projects include permit handling, Technical Safety BC inspections, and WorkSafeBC compliance.
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Commercial New Build Contractor in Vancouver and Victoria, BC
Ground-up commercial construction demands a different kind of contractor: one who understands that the project is not just a construction exercise but a financial performance commitment. Every decision from the design stage forward affects the project's cost, schedule, and long-term value. Verterra Builds approaches new commercial construction the way a developer thinks about it, with discipline, transparency, and accountability to the numbers.
What We Build
We construct ground-up commercial buildings across Greater Vancouver and Victoria: freestanding retail and restaurant pads, professional office buildings, mixed-use buildings with ground-floor commercial and upper-floor residential or office, and light industrial and warehouse facilities.
Developer Mindset in Practice
Most contractors are focused on executing the drawings. We are focused on delivering the project the owner needs, which means we flag constructability issues before they become change orders, value-engineer where the cost savings don't compromise quality, and maintain a budget and schedule that are live throughout the project rather than theoretical at the start.
Pre-Construction and Design Coordination
Our involvement often begins during design development. Pre-construction services include design-stage cost estimating, constructability reviews, value engineering analysis, schedule development, and trade procurement. Getting these right before construction starts is how commercial projects stay on budget.
Close-Out and Long-Term Performance
At project close-out, we deliver a complete documentation package: as-built drawings, operating and maintenance manuals for all mechanical and electrical systems, warranty documentation, and the occupancy permit record.
Commercial New Builds frequently asked questions
What types of commercial buildings do you construct in Vancouver?
Verterra Builds constructs freestanding retail and restaurant pads, professional office buildings, mixed-use commercial buildings, light industrial and warehouse facilities, and ground-floor commercial components in mixed-use developments across Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria.
How much does commercial new construction cost per square foot in BC?
Commercial new construction in Greater Vancouver typically runs $350–$600 per square foot for the base building depending on the building type, structural system, and mechanical/electrical complexity. Office and retail: $350–$450/sq ft. Restaurant and food service buildings: $450–$600/sq ft. Mixed-use with residential components: $450–$650/sq ft. These are construction costs before land, design, permits, and financing.
Do you offer design-build for commercial projects?
Yes. Design-build delivery integrates the design and construction process under a single contract, which typically reduces the total project timeline and aligns the design team's decisions with construction cost realities from the start. We work with a network of architects and engineers experienced in commercial design-build delivery.
What is pre-construction and why does it matter?
Pre-construction services, including design-stage cost estimating, constructability reviews, value engineering, and schedule development, happen before construction begins. They are where most commercial project cost and schedule problems are either prevented or locked in. We offer pre-construction services as a standalone engagement or as the first phase of a design-build contract.
How long does a commercial new build take in Vancouver?
A single-storey freestanding commercial building of 3,000–8,000 sq ft typically takes 10–16 months from permit issuance to occupancy. A multi-storey mixed-use building: 18–30 months. City of Vancouver permit timelines for new commercial construction currently run 12–20 weeks for complete applications.
Do you manage the permits for commercial new construction?
Yes. We manage or coordinate all permits required for commercial new construction: development permit (where required), building permit, mechanical permit, electrical permit, plumbing permit, and site servicing permits. We prepare or coordinate the drawings and specifications required by the authority having jurisdiction.
Do you build commercial projects in Victoria BC?
Yes. Verterra Builds serves Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island for commercial new construction. Victoria's commercial construction market is active across the healthcare, tech, and mixed-use residential sectors, and we bring the same project management discipline to Victoria projects as we apply in the Lower Mainland.
