Isherwood Associates’ first contract – in 1973 – and my first experience with the firm was for a simple cantilever shoring project on Cumberland Avenue in Toronto. Simple as it was, it showed a characteristic that still marks Isherwood’s approach to shoring: innovation. Isherwood was the first in the Toronto area (1973) to adopt the use of slope indicators to see how supporting piles deflected as excavation progressed. Perhaps the most important is the culture or spirit in the company. Is it that so many are accomplished musicians? There seems to be a happy, free-spirited atmosphere that I’m sure encourages fresh, creative thinking.

When we require a challenging excavation support design or imaginative foundation solution we rely on Isherwood Associates. Isherwood’s experience and expertise are unmatched. Leaders in their field, they have been a part of the introduction of numerous new methods and systems into Canada. Their reputation for quality and practical efficiency facilitate timely approval of designs by our clients and rapid acceptance by the applicable governing body.

There are few streets in Toronto that do not have an Isherwood-designed shoring or foundation system. As a contractor, we value their depth of experience and their ability to develop creative, practical, cost-effective designs. We enjoy the collaborative brainstorming sessions with their team of dedicated engineers and working together with them to develop optimal solutions to challenging soil and site conditions. The Isherwood team are able to handle large complicated projects and are committed to ongoing education for their team members to continually improve their technical expertise. They bring their collaborative approach, integrity, and infectious passion for excellence to all their projects. They are a pleasure to work with.

The hallmarks of success of Isherwood in advancing the state of the art of geostructural engineering are based on two premises: the willingness to innovate and the extensive use of the observational method by monitoring of wall and ground movements. In the past forty years, Isherwood has expanded the design envelope to advance the state of the art of geostructural engineering for deep excavations in difficult soil and rock conditions. With their team of bright, young and motivated engineers under able leadership, great success in their endeavours for excellence may be anticipated in the future.

Brian and Nadir built a modern firm where research, knowledge and experience, hard work and a cohesive, comfortable environment are united under one roof. Our professional collaboration developed beyond successes at work, as we share the same interests in arts, science and technology. This is what makes the Isherwood geostructural culture special and continues to grow relationships that last and extend beyond the work.

The Isherwood Engineering group has always been true to their values, which include not only value engineering, but respect for others and integrity in the day-to-day performance of their teams. We are very grateful for our own association with this dynamic group, as we are not only a better company with each interaction, but as individuals we enjoy the friendships and the examples of each Isherwood virtue in action.

There are very few engineering firms in this industry that strive to understand the entire business and go above and beyond to generate the most value out of their services. Isherwood is one of them. My belief is that their broader understanding of the industry as a whole, coupled with their superior expertise in their field, enables Isherwood to be at the top of their game.