Inside the Field: Civil Engineering Design in Action at DSEL’s 2025 Markham Site Tour

Nov 11, 2025 | Markham, Smart Subdivisions

Each year, DSEL’s Contract Administration (CA) department leads an on-site construction tour for designers, the automation team, and project administration staff. The goal is simple yet invaluable; to bridge the gap between design and field execution, and to give every team member who works on a DSEL drawing the opportunity to see those plans brought to life.

This year’s tour took place across several active projects in the Joshua Creek subdivisions of Oakville, including Coscorp’s Rampen Phase 1, Mattamy’s Joshua Creek Phase 3A &3B, and Dunoak. Participants observed multiple stages of construction from underground servicing to topworks and final asphalt, across four subdivisions representing the full scope of these municipal works.

Understanding Scale and Cost

Seeing an active site in person reinforces how critical accuracy and planning are at every stage of design. It offers perspective that no in office training can replicate. A millimetre on paper can represents a metre in the ground, and with it, a measurable cost. A single millimetre on a drawing represents a full metre in the ground and with that comes real cost and complexity.

“When a millimetre on the drawing equals a metre in the ground and a metre of box culvert costs more than $2,000, you quickly understand that no design change is ever ‘small’. The site tour helps our team appreciate the true scale and cost of every line they draw.”
Todd McNair, Contract Administration manager and Partner, DSEL

This year’s focus included storm and sanitary sewer systems (Rampen and Joshua Creek Phase 3B) and a stormwater management pond at Dunoak. The group reviewed installation sequences, material staging, and construction tolerances gaining context for how design intent translates to field execution.

Seeing Design Decisions in Motion

Among the day’s key takeaways was the cost visibility and scale of major infrastructure components. Standing beside stockpiled maintenance holes and culvert sections, the conversation turned to value. The comparison was light-hearted, but the message was clear – every specification has a price tag. As one team member put it:

“Would you rather buy this storm manhole or a used Toyota Corolla?”

Beyond the technical insights, the tour also served as a chance for cross-departmental connection. Designers, field engineers, and project administrators, many of whom primarily collaborate digitally, spent time together outdoors, seeing the tangible outcomes of their combined efforts.

A Tradition Worth Continuing

Each annual tour showcases different aspects of construction—from earthworks and stormwater management to watermain installation, road construction, and above-ground works. This variety ensures that every participant gains a broader understanding of DSEL’s multidisciplinary expertise and how every detail contributes to project success.

Beyond technical insight, the tour also reinforces collaboration and mutual respect across departments. As Todd McNair shared:

“Our projects go very smoothly, and we don’t say thank you to the design team enough. This meeting gives CA (Contract Administration) a chance to thank the designers in person for the excellent work they produce to make our lives in the field easier.”