Standing tall: Renokrew marks 30-years of building up Ontario

With three decades now under its toolbelt, Renokrew has not just survived the ups and downs of a complex and challenging market in Ontario. It has undergone major expansion and helped deliver community-changing projects for some of the region’s biggest clients.

The raw numbers are impressive. It boasts two offices (a head office in Toronto and a satellite office in Ottawa), employs dozens and generates millions in annual revenue.  

But the true legacy has been cemented in the built environments Renokrew has helped create: The hundreds of projects in their portfolio include affordable/supportive housing, long-term care, schools, municipal projects, Indigenous projects, and more which serve thousands of Ontario residents. 

This legacy didn’t happen overnight. The trailblazing company with a visionary leader achieved all of this through a complex transformation. 

A Legacy of Resilience and Growth

Established by Francisco Pinto in 1995, Renokrew started with a handfulof carpenters in a Toronto workshop, specializing in millwork and custom cabinetry for high-end residential renovations. His son, Pedro, learned the trade as a teen and eventually took over day-to-day operations.

“Back in the late 80s into the early 90s, when I first started, my focus was simple: to use the skills I had acquired as a carpenter and cabinetmaker, to provide for my family and do work I could stand behind,” said Francisco. “I never imagined Renokrew would grow to what it is today. Watching my sons take the lead, grow the company, and carry it into new avenues has been one of my proudest moments.” 

He believes they’ve stayed true to the values Renokrew began with – hard work, honesty, respect – and built on that foundation to create something that will last. 

“Even now, I still enjoy being hands-on and working alongside them, seeing how far we’ve come and knowing that what we’re building today will be here for generations to come,” said Francisco.

Transforming the initial carpentry-focused business wasn’t mere ambition. It was a necessity. 

“The market was tough, the industry was very challenging, and the margins just weren’t there,” said Pedro. “No matter how much we outworked the competition, the margins just didn’t make sense.”

The turning point came in 2016 when they were awarded their first significant ICI contract – a $600,000 restoration project for St. Maria Goretti Parish in Scarborough. It was one of the company’s largest projects to date in a sector with which they were unfamiliar. 

“The first thing they asked for was a bond, and I had no idea what that was or where to get it, and quickly enough, I found out that I was not able to get one,” said Pedro. “We ended up securing it through collateral via a third-party lender so we could move forward.”

After 14 months, they delivered the project and gained invaluable experience. By 2017, Renokrew fully transitioned into ICI work, closing their millwork shop and investing heavily in talent and new skills. 

A Culture of Excellence and Respect

Gaining trust was slow. It required years of prequalification and submission of proposals to major Ontario municipalities and government agencies. For every ten they would prepare, perhaps one would pre-qualify them. But the effort worked. As projects picked up, they hired more staff and began curating an experienced team. One of the early key hires was Ali Hajiagha, now Director, Construction & Special Projects.

“I’ve seen the company grow from small commercial renovation jobs to multi-million-dollar institutional projects across Ontario,” he said. “Watching that kind of growth happen from the inside – and knowing I contributed to it – has been incredibly rewarding.”

Our motto is ‘honouring land and building futures’. It is essentially what we do.

Pedro Pinto, Renokrew COO

Today, the family business, led by Francisco and his two sons, Pedro and Lucas, generates millions in annual revenue and employs 40 full-time staff across two Ontario offices. They serve some of the region’s biggest and most sophisticated clients, including the City of Toronto, TTC, Infrastructure Ontario, CAMH, Department of National Defence, and Indigenous communities across the province. They also have gone above and beyond, getting some critical certifications like COR and ISO 45001.

“I believe clients choose to work with us because we continuously pride ourselves on positive stakeholder relations, an impeccable safety record, and quality-assured project delivery,” said Pedro. “Our team of professionals is committed to the success of each project we lead, and we remain focused while providing the experience and professionalism that assists user groups in successful and impactful on-time project delivery.”

For Ali, this culture is a big part of why he has spent nearly a decade with Renokrew.

“It feels like I’m working with family. It’s not just a job or a company, it’s a team where people look out for each other, share knowledge, and support each other’s growth,” he said. “That kind of culture is hard to find, and it’s why I’ve never felt the need to go anywhere else.”

That culture has turned heads: Renokrew is a certified “Great Place to Work”, a WSIB “Health and Safety Excellence Program” member, and a recipient of the “Ontario Builder Award”. Most recently, Pedro Pinto was named one of this year’s Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction – a recognition of the next generation of leadership driving the company forward.

Building for Impact

Among Renokrew’s notable projects are the Anduhyaun Women’s (VAW) Shelter in Toronto, the Mississauga First Nation Community Centre in Missanabie, ON, and the Magnolia Hall at St. Mark’s Church, Hamilton. 

Renokrew believes its team and the relationships the company has formed with stakeholders have helped them stay in business and contributed to its growth. 

“The way you treat people is always remembered, and we treat everyone with the same values and the same respect,” said Pedro. “Our motto is ‘honouring land and building futures’. It is essentially what we do.”

Looking Ahead 

The next chapter of Renokrew’s journey includes the potential expansion into the U.S. market and the eventual development of its affordable housing projects. The leadership team will keep its focus on socially impactful projects – buildings that provide supportive housing, childcare centres, and institutions that meet essential needs. They say each build will be approached with the goal of delivering long-term value, strengthening community connections, and creating spaces that offer stability, care, and opportunity for generations to come.