Berkim Construction is on the cusp of a major milestone: its 60th anniversary. For nearly six decades, the Ontario-based firm has delivered full-service construction solutions, spanning tendering, budgeting, value engineering, and execution, through a steadfast commitment to quality and transparency. As Berkim prepares to celebrate this legacy, the company’s leadership is doubling down on a clear strategy: honor the past, elevate the present, and grow with purpose. At the helm are Executive Leaders Silvia & Jonas Birket, who, acquired the company in 2021. Under their leadership, Berkim is expanding its reach, forging new partnerships, and embracing specialized contracting models that position the company for sustainable growth in an evolving construction market.
Berkim’s reputation is anchored in its full-service, turnkey model. Depending on the contract, this can mean managing projects as a general contractor or under a construction management system; an approach Jonas Birket strongly advocates. “We offer construction management and general contracting services; it really depends on who the client is and what the work is,” said Birket. “We really encourage people to go into construction management because it’s the most balanced, favorable and unbiased approach and with Berkim includes fully transparent accounting.”
In a construction management setup, Berkim works closely with clients through budget iterations until a final, mutually accepted figure is reached. That budget then forms the basis of the contract. The advantage? A cooperative process that minimizes surprises and promotes shared accountability. “Any other version of the work, whether it’s under a purchase order or a lump sum type contract, certainly there is more risk to us. However, there is also larger reward on our side.” he explained.
Founded in 1966 by Walter Kimmerle, Berkim originally operated under the name Kim Construction. After a partnership formed, the name was changed to Berkim, a brand that has endured for nearly 60 years. In 2021, Silvia and Jonas took over the company from Walter’s son, choosing to maintain the Berkim name while ushering in a new era of leadership. “We figured that the history of the name is a good one,” Jonas said. “We’re getting prepared to celebrate our 60th anniversary next year. Since we’ve taken over the business, we’ve entered into some new relationships which I think are worthwhile.”
Those relationships, along with a company-wide dedication to doing things right the first time, are what Jonas sees as Berkim’s competitive edge. “Our biggest key successes is our focus on excellence and our people; our people have been with us for a long time, and we produce very high-quality projects,” he said. “We instill in our people the importance of building well, doing it right the first time. The objective is to minimize the requirement for ongoing maintenance from the client. Build it right and there will be less maintenance.”
One of Berkim’s most impactful developments in recent years has been its partnership with Gordian Group in the U.S., a move that opened doors to public-sector work in Canada. Gordian, through its ties with Kinetic Group Purchasing and Canoe Procurement Group, enables pre-qualified contractors like Berkim to engage directly with public agencies, skipping traditional design-bid processes. “We were the first full service contractor in the mix for Gordian here,” said Jonas. “It allows public agencies to work directly with us on a transparent basis, issue a purchase order and get going on the work without going through the process of design, documents and tendering.”
This streamlined model, known as job order contracting (JOC), is becoming a strategic focus for Berkim. Though many JOC projects are smaller in scope, they align perfectly with Berkim’s commitment to quality and flexibility. From tennis court refits to flooring replacements in arenas, Berkim is showing that scale doesn’t dictate standard.
Berkim’s entry into job order contracting came about almost by chance, when a Gordian representative contacted Berkim out of the blue. An example of some of the unique projects that Berkim has untaken is when they were asked whether the company handled line painting, Berkim responded affirmatively. Soon after, it was negotiating a contract with the Township of Norfolk to repaint every town’s road markings. “It’s an opportunity that we not have ever seen before, which was very interesting,” Jonas noted.
Since then, Berkim has taken on diverse public-sector projects including work at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital and the Ontario College of Design. These unique jobs often involve unconventional elements that challenge the team’s adaptability and resourcefulness. “We get involved in all these unique projects, so that makes an added complication,” Jonas said. “It’s quite nice, the opportunities that this has presented to us and the type of work that it’s brought forth.”
Importantly, Gordian’s pre-qualification process, covering capabilities, staffing, bonding, and more, removes friction for agencies seeking reliable contractors. By combining this vetting with purchasing group networks, clients can bypass the full design and tender cycle, fast-tracking smaller projects with confidence. “They can simply meet with us, talk with us about what they want, Berkim can do up a sketch, put together the budget and they can put a purchase order together and get it done,” Jonas explained.
“They can simply meet with us, talk with us about what they want, Berkim can do up a sketch, put together the budget and they can put a purchase order together and get it done.”
As Berkim approaches its 60th year, its focus remains clear: deliberate, sustainable growth. While economic uncertainty continues to cast a shadow, driven by tariffs and a slow-moving contracting market, Jonas sees signs of recovery ahead. “My general feeling for 2025 is that the market is going to get better as we get later into summer,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to finish strong; we should start seeing an uptick in projects later in the summer and that should allow 2025 to finish strong.”
That cautious optimism reflects the company’s leadership style. Silvia and Jonas bought Berkim during the height of the pandemic, with a bold vision for expansion. But ambition has always been balanced with strategic patience. “We bought this company in 2021 with the intention of growth but coming out of the pandemic has been difficult, and as a result, it means slow growth,” Jonas said. “I want to make sure that we grow in a sustainable way so that we’re not just reacting to certain demands, but we’re purposefully growing.”
That growth will be guided by an emphasis on niche markets and specialized projects, areas where Berkim excels and where competition is limited. “It’s important as a construction firm that you adapt to the climate of the economy around you,” Jonas emphasized. “We are one of a few companies that do JOC projects. We do them well and we pride ourselves on that.”
As Berkim Construction heads into its 60th year, the company stands as a testament to how legacy, adaptability, and precision can coexist. Under the Birket’s leadership, Berkim is navigating new sectors, strengthening its client base, and investing in methods that prioritize trust, quality, and efficiency. With a sharp eye on the future and deep respect for the past, Berkim is not just surviving the challenges of a complex market, it’s building a blueprint for long-term success.
