At Preston Rentals, we pride ourselves on delivering innovative material handling systems that enhance efficiency, safety, and productivity – especially on complex and constrained construction sites. Our recent collaboration with Leeswood Construction at 1109 Bathurst Street, Toronto, is a perfect example of how our SuperDeck® platforms can be tailored to meet demanding project requirements. 

THE CHALLENGE 

Set to become Canada’s tallest self-storage building, this nine-story, 160,000 sq/ft facility posed significant logistical challenges. With limited ground-level space for staging and a steel-framed structure requiring careful load planning, Leeswood Construction needed a material handling solution that allowed for efficient multi-storey deliveries without disrupting workflow or compromising structural integrity. 

OUR SOLUTION 

To support the build, Preston Rentals supplied and installed two 3.2m SuperDeck® retractable loading platforms, adapting the system to suit the project’s steel-frame design. This custom installation required the use of two 24-foot Aluma beams per deck, allowing each platform to anchor securely to the steel structure and support safe material transfers. 

Our team also developed a custom reshore design to optimise the outboard extension and ensure safety and stability during active use. Over the course of four months, the decks played a key role in loading fit-out materials – including doors, steel studs, and structural steel components for flooring – into the upper levels of the building. 

THE OUTCOME 

By leveraging our flexible SuperDeck® system, we helped Leeswood Construction: 

✔ Improve site logistics by reducing crane time and ground-level congestion
✔ Ensure safe, efficient material handling across multiple floors
✔ Adapt securely to a complex steel-frame structure 

Our SuperDecks were critical during a busy phase of the build, supporting the rapid interior fit-out of this landmark facility. 

Need a Smarter Material Handling Strategy? 

At Preston Rentals, you can COUNT ON US to provide tailored, high-performance solutions for your next project. Call us today on 604 817 DECK (3325) or through our website to discuss how our SuperDeck® platforms can increase efficiency, safety, and site productivity on your next project. 

The post Supporting Canada’s Tallest Self-Storage Building with Our SuperDeck® Solutions first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post Supporting Canada’s Tallest Self-Storage Building with Our SuperDeck® Solutions appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Preston Rentals was engaged by Pomerleau Construction to provide a material handling strategy for their unique project at the University of Toronto. The university’s St. George campus is currently undergoing an expansion, with the construction of an Academic Wood Tower which will house several academic units, including the Munk School of Global Affairs. The tower is a hybrid steel and mass timber structure which, at 14 storeys and 77 metres high, is set to be the tallest mass timber building in Canada. 

 This project follows a growing international trend of implementing more mass timber in construction, with the material being praised for its superior fire safety and low carbon footprint. Pomerleau was looking for an efficient way to load interior materials, including drywall, glass, tiles, plumbing, and electrical fixtures, into the building. Our experience with this material allowed us to navigate the inherent challenges involved when working on hybrid mass timber structures. The angled timber beams forming a cross in the building’s facade meant we could only place the SuperDecks in certain locations. These locations also restricted platform width to a maximum of 2.6m. Accordingly, we supplied Pomerleau with two of our 2.6m SuperDecks for the task.  

A rear bolt down was the chosen installation method for a few reasons. Firstly, the lowest floor of the building comprised a concrete steel reinforced slab. To safely counter the load put into the structure, we had to bolt both SuperDecks to this floor using a threaded rod system. This was necessary because of the lightweight nature of mass timber; we needed something that could take the forces being applied as our equipment was loaded. The ceiling in both installation locations also prevented the use of rear props due to interference from structural beams. On the cross members at the slab edge, we anchored L brackets to accommodate reshoring. Pomerleau wrapped the columns to prevent marking the timber. 

 Preston Rentals accomplished this challenging installation with solid engineering, allowing Pomerleau to safely load materials with minimal impact on their structure. Delighted with our solution, Pomerleau will have our SuperDecks on site for several months as the tower is completed. With plans for our retractable loading platforms to go all the way to the top, our SuperDecks will soon be catching a bird’s eye view of the vibrant city. As the SuperDecks move up the building, we’ll be able to use rear prop installation with the bolt down method as they’ll be no obstruction or hindrances to work around. 

 At Preston Rentals, you can COUNT ON US to provide the perfect material handling solution for your mass timber project. 

The post Reaching New Heights: Our SuperDecks Assist with Canada’s Tallest Mass Timber Building first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post Reaching New Heights: Our SuperDecks Assist with Canada’s Tallest Mass Timber Building appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Preston Rentals was thrilled to assist Ventana Construction with another mass timber project in Vancouver. They required an efficient material handling solution for their work on The Hive, a 10-storey office building at 2150 Keith Drive. The innovative structure will feature 164,000 sq ft of office space which will be entirely leased to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). The building’s unique honeycomb-shaped exterior – from which it gets its name – is an expression of its unique perimeter-braced seismic system. Once completed, The Hive will be the tallest braced frame mass timber project in North America and one of the most seismically advanced timber structures in the world. 

Ventana Construction needed to be able to load curtain wall panels, pipes, HVAC drywall, and scissor lifts into the structure. This was complicated by the challenges of working on a mass timber building which, by the nature of its materials, doesn’t have the same weight or strength as a concrete building. As such, it’s imperative to achieve the right balance between the size of the outrigger, its load capacity, and where it will be installed on the building. The unique engineering reshore design also meant further diligence was required to optimise reshore and building connection.  

Preston Rentals knew that supplying 2 x 3.2m SuperDecks would be the best strategy for the project. Our most popular product, the 3.2m SuperDeck® provides a great balance between usable deck space, the cost of transport, and the weight of the outrigger. With the ability to be vertically stacked, and rolled in and out as needed, our SuperDecks also free up precious crane time. Ventana Construction was delighted with our solution as our SuperDecks enabled the efficient and easy loading and unloading of the required materials into the building.  

Recent changes to the B.C. Building Code afford further possibilities for mass timber construction, driving the momentum for more innovative and sustainable buildings in Canada. You can COUNT ON US to provide the perfect material handling solution for your mass timber project. 

The post The SuperDeck® Delivers Un-BEE-lievable Material Handling Solution for The Hive first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post The SuperDeck® Delivers Un-BEE-lievable Material Handling Solution for The Hive appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Seaspan required a solution to a material handling issue at their Vancouver shipyards. The confined location of where the SuperDeck® was needed, in addition to overhead ductwork and the repair cost of a bolt down all ruled out traditional installation methods. 

Recognising this job would need a fresh approach, Preston Rentals devised a unique solution: Custom brackets would sit over the top of the l-beams and be welded to the ship’s steel deck. This strategy would then enable a SuperDeck® 2.2 to be installed. With Seaspan needing a fast turnaround, we had our bracket design approved by a local engineer, fabricated, and installed all in under 2 weeks.  

Our client was delighted with our customised solution – a first for Preston Rentals Canada. Seaspan now has a 2.2m, 3.2m, and 4.2m SuperDeck® on the same ship. Our 2.2m and 3.2m decks have been on site for nearly two years.  

Our innovative welded installation for Seaspan demonstrates that you can count on Preston Rentals to have a material handling solution for even the most unique scenarios.  

The post Preston Rentals Performs Custom Welded SuperDeck® Installation for Seaspan first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post Preston Rentals Performs Custom Welded SuperDeck® Installation for Seaspan appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Heatherbrae Builders reached out to Preston Rentals for a plan on how to load and unload a unique addition to the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. A hybrid structure comprising of mass timber, structural steel, and concrete, the new Gateway Building is the first of its kind in North America. The project uses mass timber to lower embodied carbon, aligning with the university’s value of sustainability. The choice of mass timber also acknowledges the importance of this material to the traditional owners of the land, the Musqueam Nation. An ambitious venture, once completed, this $180 million dollar project will form a welcoming, academic gateway six storeys high that connects two five-storey wings with a central, daylight-filled atrium.  

With precious crane time being spent on material handling due to the building’s distinctive design, Heatherbrae was seeking a more efficient method. Preston Rentals promptly provided the solution, installing a SuperDeck® 3.2 on each of the three complete levels of the Gateway Building. Heatherbrae could vertically stack and roll in or out these decks as needed. This enabled the efficient and easy loading and unloading of materials on each level. Our solution also facilitated more effective crane time and greatly minimised manual labour hours.  

 The UBC Gateway Building project demonstrates the impressive versatility of the SuperDeck®. Able to be vertically stacked, installed on curved surfaces, and retracted as needed, the SuperDeck® streamlines material handling on even the most unique of building sites.   

The post Preston Rentals Provides Material Handling Solution for UBC’s Gateway Building first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post Preston Rentals Provides Material Handling Solution for UBC’s Gateway Building appeared first on Preston Rentals.

At Preston Rentals, we pride ourselves on our innovative retractable loading platform system, the SuperDeck®. Simple, straight forward, and user friendly, the SuperDeck® has been solving material handling issues on construction sites for decades. Let us share some 2023 installations that really showed that we are the solutions specialists.  

• Cressey discovered they could ‘Count on Us’ to get the job done – SuperDeck® 3.2m

  

We love educating new customers on the versatility, efficiency, and quick installation of the SuperDeck® system. For their project on The Esplanade, North Vancouver, Cressey Development Group had been researching new techniques in the market for material handling on site. Our knowledgeable staff quickly provided the solution to their material handling needs, showing the platform manoeuvre of vertically stacking four SuperDecks, which resulted in Cressey being able to load all their required materials directly into the building. The successful installation highlights our dedication to finding innovative solutions to the problems our customers face. 

• Trouble on the high seas solved for Seaspan – 2.2m, 3.2m, and 4.2m SuperDecks 

Seaspan already knew the Preston Rentals difference which is why we are the preferred supplier for retractable loading platforms. Seaspan called on us to provide a solution to a new issue – how could they quickly load ships that were currently under construction? A key benefit of our SuperDecks is the quick installation, removal, and relocation of our units. Seaspan were thrilled by the speed of our proffered solution, which will save them precious time and money over the course of their project. Being able to rent different sized decks – our 2.2m, 3.2m, and 4.2m SuperDecks – also proved a more efficient way to cater to their differing material handling requirements. 

• The SuperDeck® comes to rescue at B.C.’s oldest hospital – SuperDeck® 4.2m 

One of the largest tier 1 builders in Canada, EllisDon, trusted us to resolve the difficult task of loading large material handling racks into a hospital. 10’ wide x 20’ long, these racks were required for the Royal Columbian Hospital, British Columbia’s oldest and busiest hospital which is currently undergoing redevelopment. Aware of the differing load requirements of builders, we supply our SuperDecks in several sizes. Our experienced staff recommended the largest of
the fleet for the job, the 4.2m SuperDeck®, which facilitated the safe loading of the material
handling the racks without incident and on time.  

• Preston Rentals aids construction of new campus for York University – SuperDeck® 3.2m  

Preston Rentals was approached to assist Stuart Olson, one of Canada’s largest construction companies, with their York University project – the building of Markham Campus. Once completed, the new campus will situate York University in the heart of one of the most dynamic and diverse urban communities in the country. Stuart Olson required assistance in completing the building’s facade. Preston Rentals supplied four 3.2m SuperDecks, stacking them vertically on the building which enabled the successful completion of this task and rendered the facade watertight for the winter. A first-time client, Stuart Olson was delighted with our solution and with our professional customer service.  

• ‘The One’ solution for Mizrahi Developments – SuperDeck® 3.2m 

Once completed, The One, situated at 1 Bloor Street West, Toronto, will be Canada’s tallest building. Mizrahi Developments approached Preston Rentals to help with the installation of a curtain wall on the mechanical levels of the building. High ceilings made the job of loading materials into the building challenging. Our staff recommended a bolt-down assembly – able to be bolted through the floor, the SuperDeck® eliminates the need for rear shores. A maximum outboard of 5250mm allows the easy loading of materials without coming into contact with the formwork system above. This solution resulted in multiple successful installations and a more efficient delivery of building materials. 

To learn more about how the SuperDeck® can benefit your jobsite, please visit our website or call our friendly team of experts on 604 817 3325.  

The post Our SuperDeck® Highlight Installations of 2023 first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post Our SuperDeck® Highlight Installations of 2023 appeared first on Preston Rentals.

At Preston Rentals, we are proud to be used by Canada’s largest developers and contractors. Decades of experience in the construction industry led to the creation of our revolutionary retractable loading system, the SuperDeck®, which has long been the preferred choice in multi-Storey construction projects worldwide.  

Preston Rentals was approached to provide material handling solutions for the Mizrahi Developments tower, The One, situated at 1 Bloor Street West, Toronto. Designed by world-renowned Foster + Partners with acclaimed Core Architects, The One aims to be Canada’s first “supertall” building (a skyscraper with a height of 300 to 599 metres). Situated at the intersection of Yonge and Bloor Street, as well as two major subway lines, the site has been approved as a 91-storey condominium, retail, and hotel tower. A skyscraper well-connected to all the luxuries the city has to offer, The One has been called the address that defines Toronto.  

 A challenge that faced Mirzahi Developments at the site was trying to get materials into the 17th floor of this impressive building due to the high ceiling. The Preston Rentals team provided an ideal solution, performing a bolt-down assembly at 5250mm outboard which allowed the façade to be brought into the building without binding onto the form system above. This solution resulted in multiple successful installations and more efficient delivery of building materials directly to the 17th floor. Mizrahi Developments experienced the simplicity the SuperDeck® retractable loading platform system offers when handling materials, and the improvements it offers to time and costs. To learn more about how the SuperDeck® can benefit your jobsite, please visit our website or call our friendly team of experts on 604 817 3325. 

The post ‘The One’ solution for Mizrahi Developments first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post ‘The One’ solution for Mizrahi Developments appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Whilst Preston Rentals Canada is still relatively new to the market, the impact our product is having on job sites across the country is building rapidly.

Our team are committed to introducing ourselves to the many construction businesses who could benefit from the Preston Rentals SuperDeck and we are taking the time to humbly and appropriately drop by work sites and have a chat to offer our services. Our team have decades of experience and a thorough knowledge of build requirements and the associated challenges many sites can present. In fact, our team are happiest when they are in the trenches and surrounded by construction noise and action!

One such chat in Vancouver, BC led to a fantastic opportunity, installation and ultimately happy customer who experienced a very positive and rewarding encounter with our SuperDeck system.

“I first heard about the SuperDecks when Mark dropped off a brochure at our site,” explained Darragh McAuliffe from the Maple Reinders’ Nationwide Boundary Project.

This particular build is a 4 level storage and car wash facility. It is a structural steel building with high floor to soffit height which required extra long shoring posts and U head jacks. Upon inspection by the Preston Rentals team, it was identified that SuperDecks would be a great solution for the site to improve their materials handling needs. To combat the structural steel build, a unique set-up was created with an additional support beam used to transfer the SuperDeck reaction loads back into the building structure. Whilst this made the install a slightly longer process, it delivered time and rental savings as the project did not have a personnel and materials hoist.

“Our experience with the SuperDecks was really good,” said Darragh. “Being able to place the decks for various floors all in one line vertically minimized the area of the envelope required to be left open. The retractable deck is an awesome feature and quick and easy to pull in and push out. The service from Preston Rentals was great – they were quick to deal with any issues over the phone or on site if necessary.”

A total of four (4) 3.2m SuperDecks were used for the Nationwide Boundary Project.

“I would definitely use the SuperDecks on another project and would recommend to others, especially on a concrete structure where the setup time is super quick. Overall the SuperDeck is a top class cantilever deck system” said Darragh. Music to our ears!

The team in Canada are always ready to introduce themselves, provide more information about our products and offer any suggestions on challenges or hurdles your unique site may have. Why not give the guys a call or invite them to pop by your site – they will be there in a flash!

For more information about Preston Rentals SuperDecks, please visit https://www.prestonrentalsgroup.ca/ or call our friendly team on 604 817 3325.

The post THE POWER OF SAYING HELLO! first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post THE POWER OF SAYING HELLO! appeared first on Preston Rentals.

We regularly promote the versatility of our SuperDeck Retractable Loading platforms and have surprised many customers with their ability to be installed in reinforced concrete, mass timber or structural steel buildings. The simple, yet highly impactful design of this product allows for easy modifications pending your specific requirements. This is just another benefit of the SuperDeck.

Recently, the Preston Rentals Canada team took the SuperDeck’s versatility to a new level … installing a platform in a ship!

Seaspan ULC is currently working at the Vancouver Shipyard completing works on the bridge of one of the vessels in the Royal Canadian Navy. Seaspan were looking for a smart solution for getting materials into the shipbuilding process, so approached Preston Rentals in late 2021 for suggestions. The options available to them at the time were to use a purpose-built platform or a monorail for loads, transferring them using chain blocks. This was going to be both costly and inefficient.

The Preston Rentals team have years of experience and a deep understanding of materials handling practices in the construction industry. Using this knowledge, they worked with Seaspan ULC to provide a more efficient, economical, and safer solution to get materials into their ship during the shipbuilding process.

By using the ships structural beams, the team were able to install one of our 3.2m SuperDecks with U head screw jacks locking the SUPERDECK in position with a 5m (16 feet 4 inch) outboard landing area and a weight handling capacity of 3.2t (7054lbs). The rigging crew at Seaspan ULC were thrilled with the result and impressed at the safety our SuperDeck would provide the team. The ease of using the platform as required was even better!

The ship structure continues to power ahead with the height now at 32.2m above baseline. With only a couple of major block moves remaining this year, the ship will reach its full height in no time at all.

It is incredibly satisfying to know our equipment has played an important role in the build of this vessel, whilst also providing the Seaspan crew with a suitable solution for their needs. No matter what your building challenge may be, or if you need a solution for a crazy materials handling idea that you have, give the team at Preston Rentals Canada a call or visit www.prestonrentalsgroup.ca for more details.

The post SUPERDECK HEADS TO THE HIGH SEAS! first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post SUPERDECK HEADS TO THE HIGH SEAS! appeared first on Preston Rentals.

Every job we work on is a pleasure to be part of, especially when we know the long-term economic benefits that are likely to be gained at its completion. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel has been a long anticipated and much needed addition for the city of Nanaimo, located on the beautiful East side of Vancouver Island. Once built, the complex is expected to boost the local economy by bringing much-needed hotel room space to this harbour city whilst also attracting larger conferences to the neighbouring conference centre.

Working with OMICRON, an industry leader and one of the largest integrated development, design and construction firms in Western Canada, Preston Rentals was approached to provide material handling solutions. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will become a nine-storey, 172-room hotel, thus the need for an efficient, safe and simple means for providing materials to each floor was required.

Our Preston Rental’s SuperDeck Retractable Loading Platforms was the answer!

What sets the SuperDeck apart from other loading bays is they can be stacked vertically, like a set of drawers, rather than being staggered all over the building. This system dramatically increases the efficiency of materials handling by minimizing hindrance to crane ropes, reduces crane movements and therefore saves time and money.

We chatted to Tyler Kovacsik, Senior Site Superintendent of OMICRON about his experience with Preston Rentals and using our SuperDeck system for The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel project.

How did you hear about the Preston Rentals SuperDecks?

I heard about you guys through LinkedIn. I noticed one of your posts and looked into the system.

We love getting this feedback! We regularly post on social media about the benefits and qualities of our products. If you want to follow the jobs we do and learn more about the SuperDeck System, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Facebook.

How was your experience using the SuperDecks?

From start to conclusion the experience was fabulous. Simple, straight forward, and very user friendly. One of the worries I had was crew experience with thrust platforms in general, but with the SuperDecks; and your team coming to give us the first lesson, it was easy to use and the crew built their confidence for install and repositioning immediately.

How did your project benefit from using our Retractable Loading Platforms?

The biggest advantage and benefit is only having to leave one vertical tower open to the elements. With the ability to stack the Superdecks from floor to floor, it minimized our water infiltration and kept it localized to one area per floor. We picked the North West side of our building as the area to install the Superdecks on because they were the most weather protected.

This design feature was at the core of the innovation process when Preston designed the SuperDeck in the early 1990s. We recognised the huge benefit of being able to stack our platforms vertically above each other, allowing builders to streamline their build process whilst still getting materials to each floor. It is a win win for everyone!

How was the service from Preston Rentals?

Service was extraordinary. Mark and Peter both were a huge help whenever they were called upon. I never waited for a response from the team ever, and I always was made to feel like the priority. This led to even more comfortability with the product/service.

Great work team! We take enormous pride in delivering great service to our customers. This is who we are here for and no question is too hard. Our team have decades of experience and can provide a range of solutions or suggestions for challenging tasks. All you need to do is ask!

Would you use the Preston Rentals SuperDecks on another project?

Without a doubt, Yes.

Would you recommend using our SuperDecks to others?

Yes, and I already have.

This is music to our ears! Working with such a reputable and trusted company like OMICRON is a pleasure. To receive such positive feedback is very humbling. We look forward to working with you again and thank you for your trust and acknowledgement of the benefits the SuperDeck system can deliver.

If you would like more information about Preston Rentals or our SuperDeck system, visit our website at www.prestonrentalsgroup.ca or call 604 817 3325 and we will gladly assist.

The post OMICRON THE COURTYARD PROJECT first appeared on Preston Rentals.

The post OMICRON THE COURTYARD PROJECT appeared first on Preston Rentals.