Expanding to accommodate: JDA Oilfield Hauling expands current Grande Prairie location

JDA Oilfield Hauling built their original Grande Prairie office in 2009 and found that the since the company was expanding at such a rapid pace, they were in the need for a larger location.

Expanding to accommodate

JDA Oilfield Hauling expands current Grande Prairie location to meet demand

a local equipment hauling business has recently expanded.

JDa oilfield Hauling, located at 713031 range road 64 in grande Prairie, expanded their office late last year. the business, which is a well-known light and heavy oilfield hauler company who also has a second location in Whitecourt, alta., started in 1994 as a hot-shotting business in the oilfields. they built their original grande Prairie office in 2009 and found that the since the company was expanding at such a rapid pace, they were in the need for a larger location.

“the growth that required the expansion happened prior to 2014, but it didn’t look economically viable to expand. We decided to do it anyways since it didn’t matter

The original shop and office was 14,000 square feet and they added on a little over 11,000 square feet to the existing building. if we spend the money now or two years from now,” says Jarvis Dawson, president of JDa oilfield Hauling. “it was a good time; the trades completed the project on time and were within budget.”

construction on the expansion started in may 2019 and was completed in December of that year. camdon construction were the general contractors on the project. the original shop and office was 14,000 square feet and they added on a little over 11,000 square feet to the existing building to accommodate a lunch room, a couple offices, a parts room, a meeting room on the second floor, and a large shop with a 120-footdeep wash bay.

the addition was made onto the east of the building and Dorrin Diesel, project manager for camdon construction, says that they made an opening in the existing wall, as opposed to tearing it down. camdon construction had actually built the original shop in 2009, so they were quite familiar with the building. Diesel says that they added an architectural feature to make the expansion more pleasing to the eye.

“on the outside of the firewall we had to put up an eight-inch solid-concrete cmu

firewall, so on the exposed edges of the firewall we put a black split-face block to give it an architectural feature,” says Diesel. “We could have gone with a grey standard concrete block, but it didn’t give curb appeal.”

other gPca members that worked on the expansion included northgate electric (GP) Ltd., G & M Plumbing & Heating ltd., iron sun construction ltd., lafarge, atb Drywall grande Prairie ltd., and enviro Home inc.

the project was budgeted at just over $3 million and Diesel says that there was zero time loss with his contractors or his workers. He does add that since the building was operational while they were doing the construction, it was a bit of a challenge to coordinate a safe work area for the expansion.

“it was an active yard and their workers were all around us on all sides of the addition. We set up a safe work area and put a fence around the immediate work area. it was a constant eyes on and we worked with their safety person as well,” says Diesel. “their people stayed in their area and my people stayed in my area.”

now that the expansion is complete, Jarvis says that he is thrilled with the building. He adds that since they have had growth with their equipment in the past few years, this expansion will be able to accommodate and house more cranes for the business. it will also help with their maintenance team since now they will be able to work indoors.

“the drivers are expected to do a bit of maintenance, but they had no space to do it so it put extra pressure on the mechanics,” says Jarvis. “now the operators have more space to come in and tinker with our trucks. We will be able to have pre- and post-trip space and the drivertype inspections will be done inside now” -

Construction on the expansion started in May 2019 and was completed in December of that year.

Since the building was operational while they were doing the construction, it was a bit of a challenge to coordinate a safe work area for the expansion.

Leanne Martin E-mail: Leanne@lan-techservices.ca

P.O. Box 844, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 3R5 www.lan-techservices.ca