J.L. Richards: Partners in Project Delivery from Conception to Completion

J.L. RICHARDS & ASSOCIATES LIMITED’S (JLR) story began in 1955 with three young entrepreneurs in some rented space on MacLaren Street in downtown Ottawa. Since then, JLR has grown into a fully integrated employee-owned firm of engineers, architects, and planners, with over 450 employees working in eight offices across Ontario. Providing an extensive range of technical services in focused market areas, JLR has helped numerous local clients with their project challenges, including the Ottawa International Airport, the Canadian Tire Centre, and various projects for the City of Ottawa and surrounding municipalities.

JLR prides itself on our approach to multidisciplinary design delivery offering our clients in-house access to all engineering design disciplines in addition to significant architecture and planning resources. We provide our clients with an integrated project from conception to completion.

Seeing opportunities rather than setbacks

As the world stopped in March 2020, so did JLR’s plans to construct a five-storey 50,000 ft2 office in Ottawa. After two years of planning and one week away from breaking ground, instead of excitement, disappointment was felt throughout the firm. However, like many businesses, we adapted to and embraced many changes, seeing the crisis as an opportunity rather than a setback. The pause of our new build allowed us to revisit what our future work might look like. JLR’s Board of Directors made the bold decision to cancel the new build, sell our 60+ year-old home on Lady Ellen Place (the site of the new build) in favour of 40,000 ft2 of leased space on Preston Street. Operating as architect, engineer, and the client tenant, the JLR team worked together to create a custom-built space, supporting how employees wanted to work. Bringing our staff back to a hybrid work week (60% office/40% home) in conjunction with an activity-based work (no assigned workspace) environment resulted in less required floorspace than originally intended, while presenting our staff with a modern workspace as well as desired flexibility.

What sets JLR apart?

We work as a broadly based employee-owned company that focuses on employing exceptional people. JLR’s ownership structure is unique in structure and inclusivity, and we are proud to be a 100% employee-owned Canadian firm. All our employees can benefit from the opportunity to invest in the firm. This ownership program results in over 70% of the entire staff currently owning shares in the company, producing a community which empowers employees to actively contribute to the entrepreneurial culture and overall success of the company. This unique defining element of JLR means employees are invested in the success and operational practices of the company and in the delivery of quality work for our clients. Our structure, client-centric approach, and ownership focus contributes to project success, and is a primary reason that more than 80% of our business is from repeat clients.

Our employee-ownership structure also helps explain the long average tenure of our employees and serves as a significant contributing factor in attracting new talent. Our staff continuity ranges from new interns to people who have spent their whole careers with us—our current longest tenured staff has been with JLR for 48 years. Staff continuity significantly streamlines interdisciplinary communication and coordination, enabling stable, long-term support for our clients. Our Associates have an average tenure of 17 years, reflecting our emphasis on maintaining our significant resource of experienced professionals.

Over the last few years, we have increased our focus on staff engagement in addition to technical excellence, reinforced the values and culture of employee ownership, and maintained our focus on long-term sustainable growth and profitability. Examples of staff engagement initiatives include Individual Training Plans to complement annual reviews; a formal Career Mentorship Program; an ongoing Leadership Development Series; improved and expanded project management tools and training; and grassroots committees working on topics ranging from diversity, equity and inclusion to sustainability to the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan.

JLR is dedicated to ensuring sustainability and being a responsible corporate steward. The establishment of the Environmental Sustainability Committee plays a crucial role in setting goals, monitoring and communicating progress, and providing policy recommendations. These changes include a transition to hybrid work models, increased remote work practices, alternative modes of business travel, widespread adoption of virtual meetings, reduced vehicle transport emissions, and a consolidation in the number of leased office buildings and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) and electricity consumptions. JLR has reduced our absolute GHG emissions by 28% since 2018 with a corporate goal to achieve a 46% reduction by 2030.

Live, work, and thrive in the communities we build

From our humble beginnings in Ottawa almost seven decades ago, we have embodied the attitude that we live, work, and thrive in the communities we build. As a result, JLR has been honoured to win numerous awards from various organizations, including recent recognition:

• Platinum Club status member with Canada’s Best Managed Companies program (ongoing).
• Manotick Watermain Link, Phase 1 and North Island Watermain Link project presented by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Ontario (2023).
• Graham Creek Storm Infrastructure Renewal in the Environmental Sustainability category and Casselman Wastewater System Upgrade in the Small Municipalities category presented by the Ontario Public Works Association (2024).
• Keystone Award for job creation in the Ottawa Centre/South region (2024).

Looking ahead, JLR leadership is focused on investment in our company and people to enable continued project success with current and new clients, positively impacting the communities in which we live and work. We remain committed to providing positive career opportunities for our employee owners, while solving our clients toughest project challenges.

For more information contact: ottawa@jlrichards.ca