Jefferson Elora Corporation (JEC) High Bay Expansion
Elora, Ontario
Jefferson Elora Corporation’s industrial expansion in Elora, Ontario is a 40,000 sq.ft. expansion that was designed to support major growth in production capacity for a highly specialized steel stamping operation. While the building reads as a simple single-storey industrial addition from the outside, the true complexity of the project was driven by the heavy manufacturing systems it needed to house. The facility was designed to accommodate a 3000T, 1500T, and 300T stamping press, along with a 1500T spotting press, creating a production environment with significant structural and below-grade demands.
Inside the building, that process equipment translated into an intricate network of press pits, underground tunnels, crane systems, and equipment platforms that formed the core of the facility. These elements required careful integration with the overall building structure and foundations, as well as close coordination between structural and civil design.
The structural system combined conventional industrial framing with major heavy-industrial concrete works. Open Web Steel Joists (OWSJ) and steel deck were supported on steel moment frames and girder trusses, all founded on deep caissons and grade beams. Below grade, reinforced concrete pits and tunnels extended up to 28 feet deep, with wall thicknesses exceeding 3 feet in some areas to support the demanding loading and operational requirements of the equipment.
The project involved several coordinated site and civil works to support the building development and improve site functionality. Key activities included re-directing the existing drainage ditch to maintain effective surface water conveyance and protect adjacent properties, stockpiling all excavated fill from the foundation works for on-site reuse, and re-routing the on-site watermain to accommodate the new building footprint and site layout. In addition, the internal driveway was graded to provide proper drainage, safe vehicle access, and a stable driving surface, resulting in a well-integrated and functional site layout upon project completion.
What makes this project notable is the contrast between its simple exterior form and the complexity contained within it. This was not just an industrial addition, but a highly coordinated manufacturing facility where the building, foundations, site design, and process infrastructure all had to work together to support large-scale stamping operations safely and efficiently.
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