‘Unexpected honour’
Multi-Family Builder of the Year winner Shane Homes poised to continue growth
Seasoned single-family builder Shane Homes didn’t waste time showing how well it can do on the multi-family end of the market, as well.
Three years ago, the company founded by Cal Wenzel and his then partner Barry Balsillie in 1979, branched out to create a division devoted to multi-family development.
Its work in this area is now being recognized for leading the class. Shane Homes was unveiled as Multi-Family Builder of the Year at the recent BILD (Building Industry and Land Development) Calgary Region Awards.
Finalists for the crown were Jayman Built, Brookfield Residential, and Homes by Avi.
A gala event recognizing the winners of these trophies, which feature a stylized bird, was held on April 14 at the Telus Convention Centre.
“It’s an unexpected honour to receive this award,” says Shane Wenzel, president of Shane Homes Group of Companies. The group’s multi-family division is branded Shane Multi-Family.
“Three years ago, when we started our multi-family division, our intent was to extend the Shane Homes brand of customer service, quality and architectural appeal to Calgarians,” he adds. “In winning this award in our first year entering, it confirms we’ve done things right and we’ll continue to grow and succeed because of it. We knew we had to enter the multi-family space. In fact, I still maintain we were two years behind when we should have, but I needed a champion to lead it.”
That’s what led him to Kevin Taylor, Shane Multi-Family’s general manager.
“After he started, I was immediately impressed by him,” Wenzel says. “What he didn’t know he went out to learn or he’d hire the best experts around.”