A Growing Construction Pipeline
Revelstoke's commercial construction market is expanding. The Karl Hotel is under construction at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The Cabot Pacific championship golf course is also in development at the resort, with staff housing and additional resort real estate phases underway. The City of Revelstoke has a large pipeline of multi-unit residential applications in the approvals process following the April 2025 zoning bylaw rewrite.
That volume of development requires commercial builders with demonstrated experience in commercial code requirements, multi-stakeholder project management, and the specific construction conditions of this market.
Commercial Projects We Have Built
We have been doing commercial construction in Revelstoke since 2005. The projects below are a representative sample of that work.
Revelation Day Lodge, Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The base lodge at RMR, built in 2007. A commercial building at a ski resort, designed and built for extreme structural loads, high occupancy, heavy foot traffic, and four-season resort operations. Straight Up served as the primary general subcontractor on the project, delivering the building in six months.
Mackenzie Village. A 46-unit medium-density multi-unit residential development built in 2017, comprising seven buildings with basements and over 45,000 sq ft of total floor area. Our team came onto the project as a subcontractor and ended up in a leading role through the final phase of the build, coordinating a combined crew of over 100 workers across the site. The project was commercial in every dimension: scale, code requirements, and project management.
Gateway Inn. Hospitality construction across multiple projects from 2008 to 2014. Accessibility compliance, fire separation, commercial mechanical systems, and finishes rated for daily guest use.
Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre (flood restoration). After RPAC was severely damaged in the 2017 flood, Straight Up was brought in to rebuild the stage from the floor up and restore the entire lower section of the building.
RMR Guest Services and Retail. Commercial retail construction within an operating resort environment. Tenant improvement standards, commercial HVAC, retail-grade electrical, and public accessibility requirements.
What Separates Commercial from Residential Construction
Many builders in Revelstoke list both residential and commercial services. In practice, most commercial claims are not supported by a commercial portfolio. There are structural reasons for this.
The codes are different. BC Building Code Part 3 governs commercial buildings (generally more than three storeys, or a footprint over 600 square metres, or certain occupancy types). Part 9 covers smaller residential and small commercial buildings. Part 3 carries more complex requirements for fire separation, accessibility, structural engineering, and mechanical and electrical systems.
The project management is different. A custom home has one client and a relatively linear construction sequence. A commercial project may involve an owner, a developer, a property manager, an architect of record, and multiple tenant stakeholders. Coordination points multiply. Inspections are more frequent and more detailed.
The accountability is different. A commercial building serves the public. The liability profile, warranty requirements, and insurance obligations differ from residential work.
We have been doing commercial projects for two decades alongside our residential work. The two disciplines inform each other. Residential keeps the team focused on craftsmanship and client experience. Commercial keeps us sharp on code compliance, project management systems, and complex coordination.
Project Types We Handle
- Hospitality. Hotels, lodges, resort properties. Guest room layouts, sound separation, commercial kitchens, accessibility, and MEP systems for high-occupancy loads.
- Retail and mixed-use. Commercial retail spaces, standalone or part of mixed-use developments. Balancing landlord standards with tenant flexibility.
- Municipal and institutional. Community buildings, civic infrastructure. Public funding means different procurement, reporting, and accountability structures.
- Multi-unit residential. Duplexes, townhomes, small apartment buildings. The April 2025 zoning bylaw rewrite (allowing up to 4 units per residential lot) is creating increased demand for this project type. Commercial-scale project management with residential-quality finishes.
How Commercial Projects Work With Us
Our commercial process follows the same integrated design principles as our residential work, scaled for commercial complexity.
Pre-construction includes site assessment, design development, engineering (structural, mechanical, electrical), code analysis (Part 3 vs Part 9 applicability), accessibility review, permitting through the City of Revelstoke and provincial authorities, coordination with third-party consultants, and detailed budgeting.
Construction is managed through JobTread, giving stakeholders real-time visibility into schedule, budget, and progress. Commercial projects run year-round, with winter conditions and associated costs factored into the schedule and budget from the pre-construction stage. Commercial projects receive the same single-point-of-contact approach as residential work. One team, one contract, one company accountable for the outcome.
Close-out includes all permits, inspection certificates, warranty documentation, as-built drawings, and equipment manuals delivered in a complete project package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Part 3 and Part 9 of the BC Building Code?
Part 9 covers small residential and small commercial buildings: generally three storeys or fewer, with a building footprint of 600 square metres or less. Part 3 covers larger or more complex buildings over that threshold, with more stringent requirements for fire separation, accessibility, structural engineering, and mechanical/electrical systems. We have experience with both.
Do you build hotels and lodges?
Yes. We built the Revelation Day Lodge at Revelstoke Mountain Resort and completed multiple projects at the Gateway Inn. Hospitality construction has specific requirements around guest layouts, sound separation, commercial kitchens, accessibility, and high-occupancy MEP systems.
Can you handle multi-unit residential development?
Yes. Our largest multi-unit involvement was Mackenzie Village in 2017, a 46-unit development across 7 buildings totalling over 45,000 sq ft. We came onto the project as a subcontractor and ended up in a leading role through the final phase. With the April 2025 zoning bylaw rewrite, we expect multi-unit demand to increase significantly.
How do commercial timelines differ from residential?
Commercial projects typically have longer pre-construction phases (more complex permitting, more stakeholders, more engineering) but can have similar or shorter construction timelines depending on scale. Unlike residential custom builds, commercial projects generally run year-round, with winter conditions and costs factored in from the start.
Do you work with developers and investors from outside Revelstoke?
Yes. The development pipeline is attracting capital from across BC and beyond. Our single-point-of-contact model works the same for commercial as residential, with real-time reporting through JobTread so stakeholders have visibility regardless of location.
Client Testimonials
"Straight Up Construction came on board for our emerging resort to build our first Day Lodge in 6 months. During a time when market conditions were vibrant and very active, their delivery was efficient, seamless and delivered on time. The effort was monumental in every way."
— Chief Operating Officer, Revelstoke Mountain Resort
"Straight Up Construction provided leadership roles and helped manage many aspects of the build. Straight Up Construction was on hand to build 7 buildings with basements, over 45,000 sq. feet in total. We would not hesitate to use Straight Up Construction again."
— David & Shelley Evans, Mackenzie Village
"Throughout my tenure as Senior Building Inspector, Straight Up Construction has completed a substantial portfolio. Their projects have ranged from small staircases, to large scale commercial buildings from start to finish."
— Senior Building Inspector, City of Revelstoke
