Introduction
Founded in 1952, the Master Group is now Canada's largest independent distributor of HVAC-R products, with more than 85 branches and seven distribution centres across North America. As the company expanded, its Boucherville facility could no longer meet its needs. The site included two separate warehouses, an aging building, low ceilings, and too few garage doors to support shipping and receiving at full capacity. The company needed a new foundation for its growth.
After a four-year search, Master found its new home at Écoparc Saint-Bruno, MONTONI's industrial park located near Autoroutes 30 and 116. Completed in 2023, the LEED-certified building offers 445,434 square feet of industrial space, a 40-foot clear height, up to 45 loading doors, and nearly 800 parking spaces, on a site spanning almost 4.3 million square feet. Master was the first tenant to sign a lease.
Béatrice Monette, Director, Real Estate, at the Master Group, worked directly with MONTONI's teams to lead the project. She reflected on the decisions, discussions, and results that made this move a turning point in Master's history.
A Strategic Move: Much More Than a Question of Square Footage
This wasn't about taking the first available option. Master was looking for the right location for its employees, the right transportation access for its trucks, and the right clear height to support its operations.
Master had reached a point where staying put was no longer an option. The Boucherville facility could not adequately support the needs of a rapidly growing company. With 24-foot ceilings, the site limited inventory density and prevented full optimization of its racking systems. Too few garage doors were slowing the flow of inbound and outbound shipments. There was also very little natural light, which fell short of employees’ expectations.
The facility was becoming a constraint on growth rather than an enabler of it.
As a result, the search was guided by three priorities: remaining close to the existing site, securing enough space to consolidate operations, and bringing both distribution and corporate offices together under one roof.
Employee Retention as a Top Priority
For Master, location wasn't just one consideration among many. It was an operational risk that needed to be carefully managed.
A distribution centre's workforce is central to its day-to-day operations. Each trained employee represents years of experience and expertise, and a significant portion of the team relies on public transit to commute to work. Relocating too far away could have put employee retention at risk and disrupted operations.
Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville emerged as the ideal choice. Located just minutes from the previous headquarters, the site provides direct access to Autoroutes 30 and 116 while remaining close to the residential neighbourhoods where many employees live.
Proximity was an absolutely essential criterion. Many employees at our distribution centre rely on public transit. Moving too far away would simply have made their commute unmanageable.
What Drove the Choice of MONTONI and Écoparc Saint-Bruno
Écoparc Saint-Bruno stood out to Master for two reasons. First, the quality of the building: LEED-certified, designed to meet today's operational requirements, and strategically located on the South Shore. Second, the existing relationship of trust between the leadership teams at the two organizations.
For Master, the project was an opportunity to modernize its facilities, strengthen its teams, and create a foundation for future growth. This wasn't simply a relocation; it was a strategic move to position the company for its next phase of expansion.
A Partnership Built on Mutual Trust
The partnership began taking shape as soon as the lease was signed in 2023. As the first tenant to commit to Écoparc Saint-Bruno, Master supplied all of the building's roof-mounted HVAC equipment as part of the agreement. The rationale was straightforward: as a Quebec-based distributor of HVAC-R products, the company supplied the same equipment MONTONI was installing in the building.
That spirit of collaboration has had a lasting impact. Today, the agreement between Master and MONTONI remains a strong example of how strategic partnerships can create value for both organizations.
We reached an agreement that delivered real value for both sides. That collaborative approach has since become our benchmark for working with partners.
The Relocation Process: A Complex Project, Managed with Precision
When Béatrice Monette reflects on the project, the first thing she points to is the support provided by MONTONI. From pre-construction through to completion, the project was led by a dedicated team: a project manager overseeing the technical aspects, a site superintendent coordinating day-to-day activities on site, and a designer responsible for planning the office spaces.
For a company that doesn't relocate its headquarters every year, that level of support made all the difference.
It was the most complex project in Master's history, but also one of the best managed. The MONTONI team supported us every step of the way. Even today, when I run into the project managers, we speak to each other like colleagues.
When Budget Pressures Emerge, Flexibility Makes the Difference
Like any large-scale project, Master's relocation reached a point where its original ambitions had to align with budget realities. When the initial cost estimates came in above budget, MONTONI did not respond with blanket cuts. Instead, the team focused on preserving what mattered most to Master: the look and feel of the spaces, the functionality of the mechanical room, and the comfort of the offices.
Adjustments were made where they would have the least impact on the end-user experience. Quartz was replaced with Corian without compromising the overall aesthetic. Mechanical and electrical scopes were revisited in consultation with suppliers already involved in the project. As a result, costs were brought back in line with budget expectations without compromising quality.
Managing the Unexpected with Agility
No construction project unfolds exactly as planned, and Master's was no exception.
Some newly introduced equipment supplied by Master for the mechanical room came with lead times that proved difficult to predict. The move also took place while neighbouring buildings in the park were still under construction, resulting in occasional water service interruptions and requiring moving crews to adapt.
What stands out to Béatrice Monette is how those challenges were managed. The MONTONI teams continuously adapted the project schedule while keeping Master informed throughout the process. Despite these unforeseen events, the project stayed on track: the occupancy date established when the lease was signed became the actual move-in date.
As the project moved forward, teams from both organizations gradually began operating as one. That human dimension, combined with technical discipline, transformed a complex relocation into a benchmark for future projects.
Tangible Benefits for Operations, Logistics, and Workplace Experience
A Step Change in Logistics Efficiency
One year after the move, Béatrice Monette's assessment is clear: the project has delivered on its operational objectives and gone beyond expectations.
By increasing its clear height from 24 to 40 feet and doubling its footprint, Master has significantly expanded its capacity. The new facility accommodates more pallets, supports greater inventory density, and improves operational efficiency, all while maintaining clear and accessible aisles. The large outdoor yard, designed to accommodate semi-trailers, has transformed truck circulation across the site: shipping and receiving operations now run more smoothly, while direct access to Autoroutes 30 and 116 improves carrier turnaround times.
Beyond the additional space, the gains in reliability have been just as significant. The recurring breakdowns and maintenance issues that once affected operations in Boucherville have almost disappeared, thanks to new high-efficiency equipment selected as part of the building's LEED-certified design. A rainwater recovery system also helps reduce operating costs.
After one year, Master is not yet in a position to quantify all of the energy savings precisely, but the impact is already visible in utility costs and maintenance records.
More broadly, the move became a catalyst for organizational change. Master used the transition as an opportunity to review its operating processes, redesign its layout, and strengthen integration between its distribution centre and corporate offices.
This move gave us the opportunity to completely rethink how we work. We couldn't have done that in our old space.
An Environment Designed Around People
The other benefit, less measurable but just as tangible, is reflected in employees' day-to-day experience. At Écoparc Saint-Bruno, people were placed at the centre of the design process. Safe bike paths lead directly to the park entrance. An outdoor terrace and landscaped areas encourage employees to spend time outside. A walking club even formed organically among employees. Inside the offices, abundant natural light allows plants to thrive, a simple detail that says a great deal about the quality of the workplace.
Since the move, Master has seen a noticeable improvement in employee morale and engagement. Pride in the workplace has become a powerful driver of retention.
Our employees are proud of their workplace. Whenever clients or suppliers visit, the reaction is always the same: they're impressed. And honestly, we still are too.
A Landmark Project in the Master Group's History
Looking back, Béatrice Monette is clear: this was not simply another phase of growth, but a strategic repositioning that will shape the company's future.
Écoparc Saint-Bruno offers a combination rarely found in Quebec's industrial market: premium office space comparable to a downtown office tower, integrated with a high-performance distribution centre designed to support growth while remaining accessible for employees.
The most visible impact has been internal. Bringing distribution and office teams together under one roof has strengthened day-to-day collaboration and closer alignment between operations and strategy. Conversations happen naturally. Decisions are made face to face. Organizational cohesion has been restored in ways that were difficult to achieve when teams were split between buildings.
For Béatrice Monette, this combination makes Écoparc Saint-Bruno a compelling choice for any company looking to combine operational performance with an exceptional workplace experience.
It feels like we're working in a premium downtown office environment while still being close to home, local services, and our distribution team. It's a combination you simply won't find elsewhere, and one I would recommend without hesitation.
Building Industrial Parks That Create Lasting Value
A successful industrial park is about more than maximizing square footage. It should give companies the space to grow without losing what makes them successful: their people, momentum, operational efficiency, and identity.
This is what Master found at Écoparc Saint-Bruno: a successful consolidation with no loss of staff, a LEED-certified building designed to support operational needs, end-to-end project support, and a workplace employees are proud to be part of.
These results reflect MONTONI's approach, not simply as a real estate developer, but as a long-term partner involved in both strategic decisions and the disciplined execution of each project.
That vision continues to shape the MONTONI Écoparcs currently under development across Quebec. Several spaces remain available at the Écoparcs in Laval, Châteauguay, and Saint-Bruno for Quebec companies looking, like Master, to support growth in a way that is sustainable, people-focused, and built to last.