A glycol leak paralyzed three floors of an international entertainment company’s building. Without repairs within 30 days, the client would lose their entire sales season. Several contractors refused to take on the project. Bélisle presented a transparent and precise plan, deployed three rotating teams working around the clock, and completed the repairs a week ahead of schedule. The client regained control of their premises. Sales for the year were preserved. The insurer did not absorb any revenue loss claims.
Type of claim: Glycol leak affecting 3 floors of a commercial building
Sector: Commercial (entertainment company)
Scope: Three floors, including ceilings (30 feet), walls, and floors
Claim value: Several hundred thousand dollars
Critical deadline: 30 days (delivered in 23)
Stake: Loss of an entire season’s revenue if the deadline is not met
Context
A glycol leak in the ceiling is affecting three floors of a performing arts company: 30-foot ceilings, walls, and floors. Operations are completely paralyzed. In 30 days, international buyers are coming to see the shows to plan their purchases for the entire season. If the venue isn’t ready, the year’s sales are lost.
Four other contractors have refused the contract, deeming the deadlines impossible to meet.
The real problem
For the client’s management, the situation is critical: an entire season’s sales depend on the ability to reopen in 30 days. The building is unusable. The other contractors have said no. The pressure is immense.
But that’s not all. The client doesn’t just want someone to say yes. They need to understand how it’s possible before committing. A vague plan, and no one signs. A missed delivery, and the financial loss is catastrophic.
The pressure
The most critical moment: plan approval. Bélisle arrives with a detailed plan outlining the methods, resources, steps, and costs. The insurer and the client must be able to assess the risk before making a decision. Once approved, work begins that same day.
Subsequently, with each workday, the project moves ahead of schedule. The pressure eases as objectives are met.
The intervention
Bélisle deploys three rotating teams during the day, evening, and night shifts on all three floors simultaneously. This is the only way to meet the 30-day deadline. No standard contractor operates this way. It requires readily available manpower, hourly planning, and perfect coordination between the teams.
The 30-foot ceilings necessitate high-reach platforms. Bélisle contacts the engineers on the first day to validate the loads on each floor and secures equipment rentals in parallel with the initial demolition work to eliminate any waiting days.
The client’s employees need access to the premises during the work. Bélisle coordinates this access without interrupting the construction.
Daily progress report each morning: summary of the past 24 hours and objectives for the day. The client and the insurer know exactly where the work stands, thus avoiding any unpleasant surprises.
Unforeseen events
Team members had to be replaced during the project. These changes were absorbed without interrupting work and without impacting the schedule. The client didn’t have to worry about it.
Without a network of specialized labor that could be mobilized in an emergency, a single prolonged stoppage could have derailed the delivery and triggered an annual loss of revenue that no one wanted to absorb.
Result
Delivery: 23 days, one week ahead of schedule
Show Sales: Preserved as international buyers were able to attend as planned
Plan Delivered: Exactly as presented during approval
Progress Report: Daily: Client and insurer informed every morning
Lasting Impact: Trusted supplier for future projects
“The most critical moment was the initial approval. Once we got going, we were ahead of schedule every day.”
— Mathieu Bélisle, President