Career Options
The art and science of concrete formingAs a 20-year-old immigrant to Canada, Luciano Drigo landed at Toronto's international airport in 1966 with a desire to work hard and to create a good life. |
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 [ 2002-05-08 ] |
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Luciano Drigo, president of Hardrock Forming Company.
Thirty-five years later, he is overseeing construction of one of the largest structures in North America -- a massive parking garage at the very airport that welcomed him to a land of opportunity.
"I arrived on a Saturday and started working on the Monday," says Drigo, 55, who had completed a three-year apprenticeship in carpentry in Italy and brought with him considerable experience in construction.
His brother helped him land his first job with a forming company. His hard work paid off as he rose steadily through the ranks -- from carpenter, layout man and foreman to construction superintendent.
Drigo realized his dream of becoming a concrete forming contractor with the creation of Hardrock Forming Co., established in 1973 with three partners.
Concrete forming is a major component of any construction project, from houses and office buildings to hospitals and bridges.
Early projects included schools and small office buildings. In the 1980s, the team tackled larger projects, including a 24-storey office tower at Madison Square in North York, the second tower on the Toronto Airport Hilton Hotel and many others.
One of the partners moved to the U.S. and Hardrock Forming Co. completed projects in a number of states.
Other projects include Casino Rama in Orillia (both the casino and hotel), shopping malls, hospitals, apartment buildings and residential homes.
"Toronto concrete forming contractors are considered to have the highest technology in the world," says Eddie Thornton, executive director of Carpenters' Local Union 27, of which Drigo has been a member for more than 30 years.
As general superintendent, Drigo works with the architect, structural engineer, consultants and concrete testing labs for each project.
"He has to understand all the other trades' needs, including plumbing, electrical, sheet metal, ventilation, hydro and gas," Thornton says. "He has to ensure 100% that everything is in place before ordering and pouring concrete."
Drigo determines the size and types of cranes needed and the skills required for each task, while considering the health, safety and training of workers.
Traditionally, one of the biggest challenges has been inclement weather. "People like (Drigo) have revolutionized the concrete forming industry," Thornton says. "Thirty or 40 years ago, they would have shut down over the winter. Now, they can construct 12 months of the year. Technology has been developed over the years to enable us to do that."
Drigo is quick to acknowledge his partners for the success he has enjoyed, and is proud of the cooperative spirit among others in the industry.
He gives back to the community through numerous charitable endeavours and welcomes apprentices, including his son, to learn a trade that continues to challenge him.
The parking garage at the airport, for instance, is a joint project with Structform, another concrete forming company.
Each of the seven floors is 10 acres in size. Construction began in late 2000, and is expected to wrap up in June.
It will hold 12,500 vehicles at the new terminal, which will replace Terminals 1 and 2 when it opens next year.
"The opportunities are there," Drigo says. "You have to be strong. You don't give up. You must go ahead -- you never finish learning."
(Linda White is a freelance writer based in Brooklin, Ont., and can be reached at linda.white@rogers.com.)
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