Condo being built roof down

A Montreal builder is tackling a project from the top down

Upbrella Construction is using a unique system that sees the roof of a 10-storey condominium project being built first. Once the roof is installed, the construction continues in a weather-protected environment. A cylinder system permits the lifting of the roof and accessibility to the building, floor-by-floor. 

The Upbrella technique permits the construction of tall buildings without the intervention of a tower crane, according to information on the company’s website. 

Construction is facilitated by a high-performance and safe handling system to transport workers and materials. The system includes a vertical handling platform and horizontal handling with a rolling bridge. The project makes extensive use of prefabricated components.

Upbrella Construction President Joël Larouche, who says he thought up the process, believes the construction to be a world-first. “This approach is the future for small lots where there is no place to work,” he said during a recent press conference on the site.

The unusual method is being tested on the Rubic construction site on René-Lévesque Blvd. at Amherst St. in Montreal.