Video: Priestly Demolition discusses why Toronto International Airport demo marked ‘turning point’ in company’s history

When Priestly Demolition Inc. (PDI) won the contract to fell the Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 in 2004, it was considered Canada’s largest demolition contract in history, the company says.

Due to the scope and complexity, the job signaled a new era for the Ontario-based company.

“The Terminal 1 job was the job that was a turning point for us in being able to bid larger projects without being afraid of actually doing them. When I found out we won the bid, the next morning I came into the office and said to my father, ‘Geez, I could hardly sleep a wink last night. I was so excited,’ and he said, ‘I didn’t sleep a wink, either,’” PDI President Ryan Priestly says.

The project involved a detailed scope of work involving abatement, demolition and recycling initiatives.

“What we learned from the Terminal 1 project was to come together as a team, for sure, to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time. But also, it was the intimidation factor of that project when we were first awarded it. Once we were done with that project, the intimidation factor kind of went away for other big projects. Every now and again thinking back on that job, it just brings back good memories of working as a team and getting the job done. It’s always a great feeling,” Priestly says.

Watch the video including interviews and archival footage of the demolition project, courtesy of PDI: