Built strong, built right, built Canadian. Metal Structure Concepts has been helping Canadian business owners thrive for decades using pre-engineered metal buildings.  The secret to MSC’s success stems from its foundation, built on Canadian culture, values, and expertise.

Why Canadian matters

Supporting Canadian businesses is more important than ever, and while the last few months have put Canadian goods in the spotlight, spending at home has always been crucial to maintaining a robust economy.  

Local businesses are far more representative of the economy than most realize. Small and medium-sized businesses make up almost all of Canadian-owned  (seriously, 99 per cent!) businesses, and they employ 64 per cent of our country’s private sector workforce, according to Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada. 

These businesses are a far cry from the mom-and-pop-shop image that may come to mind. From farmers to real estate, law firms to oils and gas companies, Canadian businesses keep the lights on and the economy moving. 

Canadian-Grown: MSC’s History

MSC’s origin story is 100 per cent Canadian and proud of it. Founded in 2002 by Steve Ivanitz and now co-owned with cousin and fellow third-generation steel builder, Corey Ivanitz, the MSC we know today grew from a steel building legacy dating back decades. 

Let’s travel back to the 1960s Saskatchewan when brothers Jim and Sam Ivanitz — Corey and Steve’s fathers — started working on pre-engineered metal buildings with other members of their family. 

Corey and Steve kept with the family tradition, and collectively, the Ivanitz family has erected over 700 metal buildings across the country — from B.C. to Alberta, Saskatchewan, and even as far north as Iqaluit. 

MSC’s deep-rooted history in the Canadian landscape has allowed the family to build strong industry partnerships, foster client relationships and shape the face of Canadian businesses across so many of the country’s most valuable industries — from agriculture to mining and energy. 

At the same time, MSC balances history with innovation by embracing creativity, innovation, and vision. 

MSC’s commitment to Canadian quality and craftsmanship

Right now, almost all of MSC’s projects are with Canadian suppliers. That’s no coincidence — MSC relies on the quality, durability, and expertise that its Canadian supplier can provide. 

Some of the benefits of working with Canadian suppliers include: 

Local knowledge: Canadians understand the needs of other Canadians. When it comes to something like steel buildings, the insight around extreme climates, industry, and geography is invaluable and has lead our partners up north to create the kind of quality and durability required to withstand the realities of Canadian living. 

 Economic stability: Working with other local businesses only helps to bolster our economy by keeping spending within our borders. 

Supply chains: Working with local suppliers creates a more resilient supply chain and less disruption. 

Cost: Working in the same country eliminates exchange rates and allows for dollar-for-dollar business. 

Shipping: With no international borders to cross, shipping is always quick and hassle-free. 

Relationships: One of the greatest benefits of being a long-running Canadian company is the strong partnerships made along the way which help create a more resilient, reliable business for us and our clients. 

More reasons to love local

When we think of buying local, the first things that come to mind are usually foods — like Alberta beef or B.C. fruit. However, the big picture of locality extends far beyond consumables to the products, services, and even industries that make up our robust Canadian economy.

Sustainability: Working with local suppliers lowers your carbon footprint by reducing energy-intensive transportation needs.  

Job growth: Local businesses create local jobs, creating work opportunities within your community — it’s that simple. 

Accountability: Local companies are more likely to pick up the phone and help you out, or — like MSC — get in the truck and drive just to shake your hand and see how we can help. The sense of responsibility to your friends and neighbours creates a higher standard of service and greater investment in client care. 

Our Canadian partners

Our ability to draw on our trusted Canadian suppliers directly impacts our ability to provide the excellent level of service you’ve come to expect from MSC, particularly when the economy throws curveballs. 

That means that — while we’re not immune to supply chain issues, shortages, or other hiccups that can affect the industry — we’re more easily able to adapt and overcome thanks to the strong relationships we’ve built along the way. 

MSC is proud to craft the pre-engineered steel buildings you rely on with the help and materials of our trusted Canadian suppliers including Behlen and CMB Canadian Metal Buildings.

Canadian Metal Buildings
Canadian Metal Buildings has specialized in premium pre-engineered steel structures since 1964. CMB buildings are tough, and designed to withstand Canada's harshest climates. Headquartered in Ontario, CMB tailors steel solutions for a wide range of industries with exceptional quality and durability. 

BEHLEN Steel Buildings
Based in Brandon, Manitoba, BEHLEN is Canada's largest manufacturer of steel building systems with distribution across the globe. The legacy of innovation and excellence at BEHLEN has led to innovative, unique, and creative steel building solutions that continue to raise the bar when it comes to quality. 

The power of Canadian partnerships
When Canadians come together, good things happen (and we’re not just talking about hockey and maple syrup). Here are just a few projects that showcase the versatility and quality of MSC’s partnerships with BEHLEN and CMB. 

BEHLEN Steel Buildings + MSC

1. Mica Heliskiing Revelstoke, BC
One thing is certain — Canadians love snow. When Mica Heliskiing sought our help with an intricate metal building in powder skiing haven, Revelstoke, BC, we brought our A-game to create the perfect structure to withstand the region's heavy snowfall.

The building has custom features, including:

• Insulated metal panel roofing and walls

• Two separate crane systems

• Two independent fire-rated interior walls

• One-foot eave overhangs with soffit

And when Mica Heliskiing is ready to grow, the building will be too, thanks to an expandable end wall, snow bar, and roof ice stoppers on the roof. 

2. Victoria Gold Corp. Whitehorse, YK
Canada’s mining industry is one of the largest globally, bringing in billions of dollars per year. MSC is so proud to be able to support this vital industry, almost as much as we love being dispatched to remote locations. 

When Victoria Gold Corp. needed a new truck shop in Whitehorse, our crews had the privilege of working summer and fall in the beautiful, remote Yukon territory. 

Custom features help set the metal building up to withstand the extreme temperatures and durability required to operate in the north, including: 

• Insulated metal panel roof and walls

• Custom-sealed wash bay with epoxy-coated columns

• Various 2-hour fire-rated walls

• Heavy duty industrial door canopies

• Rubber industrial truck doors

• 25-ton bridge crane

Canadian Metal Buildings + MSC

1. Custom Showcase Building Thorhild, AB 
Not every client has to be a large mining outfit. Custom shops are just as exciting a challenge!

This stunning custom showcase building in Thorhild, AB, is designed to be as beautiful as the custom cars it was made to house. 

The 6,000-square-foot showroom is located on the owner’s farm and features custom touches to really wow visitors, including: 

• A classic red barn look

• Black standing seam roof

• Two-foot overhangs on all roof lines with architectural soffit, connecting edge of roof to house 

• Four internal partition walls with metal sheeting

• Full ceiling and interior wall liner panel

• Custom column flange bracing for a cleaner interior finish

• All steel interior mezzanine for storage

• Front canopy/veranda complete with custom columns

2. Pacific West Systems Supply Ltd. Kelowna, BC
This 3,800 sq. ft. commercial building for construction material suppliers, Pacific West Systems Supply Ltd., was the result of close consultation with the client — from initial concept to completion. That means that Pacific West never had to worry about permit applications, building codes, unexpected delays or surprises as we were with them the whole way. 

MSC provided comprehensive support for this metal storage building, including: 

• Conceptual drawings

• Permit process

• Concrete work

• Building installation 

Metal Structure Concepts has been designing and constructing steel buildings across Canada for over 20 years. From retail spaces to warehouses to wineries and more, we are the experts for your next project. Contact us today for a free quote.