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Prefabricated construction methods are gaining renewed attention across Canada as developers look for ways to maintain building timelines through the country’s long winter months. Among the firms advancing this approach is TMS Prefabricated Buildings, a company specializing in integrated prefabricated structural systems for residential and hospitality projects. With more than two decades of experience, the company manufactures and installs coordinated building components designed to accelerate construction while maintaining high-performance standards.
Founded more than two decades ago, TMS has built its reputation on a proven system that combines the manufacturing and installation of prefabricated structural components. Vertically integrated, TMS produces elements off-site and assembles them on location as part of a coordinated construction approach. The manufacturer's work spans a range of residential and hospitality projects, including rental apartments, condominiums, hotels, and retirement residences. At the centre of its process is what the company refers to internally as the 'TMS recipe,' a set of prefabricated components that includes wall panels, composite concrete floor assemblies, prefabricated shear walls, structural steel framing, and precast balconies.
Compared with conventional cast-in-place concrete construction, the TMS's prefabricated structural system is intended to streamline the early phases of a building’s assembly while maintaining performance standards expected in mid-rise residential projects. Structural components manufactured off-site arrive ready for installation, allowing the building frame and enclosure to advance quickly. The system is designed to deliver strong acoustic separation between units and high fire-resistance ratings, while the use of durable structural materials supports long-term building performance.
Cold-weather construction presents familiar challenges across much of Canada, where low temperatures and snowfall can slow site operations. TMS’s approach is designed to mitigate these constraints by advancing enclosure earlier in the construction sequence. Wall assemblies arrive with insulation already embedded and incorporate air barrier systems that help seal the structure as it rises, allowing heat to be retained. Temporary coverings can be installed at window openings so that interior spaces remain protected while glazing is pending. With the structure enclosed and heated sooner, interior trades can begin work on lower floors while the prefabricated structural system continues upward. This progression allows construction activity to continue through the winter months.
One project demonstrating this approach is Casa Casselman, a purpose-built rental building located at 32 Richer Close in the village of Casselman, east of Ottawa. Designed by BBB Architects for Devcore Group, its construction has primarily taken place during the winter, rising seven storeys to a height of 19.86m and containing 97 market-rate rental apartments. TMS provided the prefabricated structural system for the project, including the steel-based framework and coordinated building components assembled on site.
The completed building is designed as a full-service rental community. Residents have access to shared amenities including a fitness centre, meeting and remote work areas, a games room, a cinema room, lounges, and a golf simulator, along with outdoor features such as a pool and whirlpool. A number of service-oriented amenities include a restaurant, hair salon, massage therapy room, pet grooming facility, and a medical clinic. The building incorporates 1VALET smart-building technology, allowing residents to manage features such as temperature control, visitor access, and package delivery.
Casselman is positioned between Ottawa and Montreal along Highway 417. The village offers a quiet residential environment while maintaining connections to larger urban centres through both road access and VIA Rail service.
Another project illustrating TMS’s involvement in purpose-built rental housing is Vill by Junic, a residential community located in Gatineau’s Plateau district. The development is organized as a gated rental complex with controlled entry and round-the-clock on-site security. At the centre of the site is Espace V, a shared amenity zone encompassing more than 52,000 ft² of indoor and outdoor facilities that include a pool, fitness areas, pickleball courts, and a residents’ club.
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