Building the Barrie STEM Hub Took Vision and Grit

Civil engineering alum Danny Carlos (BEng'11) has just helped Lakehead University take a giant leap forward.
He led the construction of the newly opened Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub in the City of Barrie's bustling waterfront district.

"Lakehead's civil engineering program offered an excellent balance of practical and theoretical knowledge that allowed me to succeed in the construction industry," Danny says. "The university produces top talent, and our grads easily compete with anyone." (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)

Danny is the Vice President of Operations of Rutherford Contracting Ltd.—the company chosen to undertake this transformative project.

"We completely overhauled more than 26,000 square feet of space on time and on budget," he says.

This week, the STEM Hub began offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, mechatronics, and computer science in a location that's easily accessible to students from the GTA.

It's also allowing Barrie residents to earn a university degree and be career ready without leaving home.

Engineering in Stone, Concrete, and Steel

Deciding what he wanted to be when he grew up was easy for Danny.

"I knew I was a problem solver, and I knew that was what civil engineers did," he says.

"They also create the infrastructure that keeps communities running smoothly—whether it's utility networks, housing, schools, or skyscrapers."

The STEM Hub opened its doors this week to students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. They will graduate with in-demand skills valued by employers. Above, an April 2026 tour of the STEM Hub's 24 Maple Avenue site during the construction phase. (Photo Credit: Juicebox Studios)

This led Danny to complete a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma at Seneca College's Newnham campus in North York before transferring to Lakehead's civil engineering program in Thunder Bay.

"I thought that having both a college and a university background would give me the comprehensive knowledge to excel in the construction sector," he says.

Danny traces his professional aspirations to his father.

"As a new immigrant to Canada from Portugal, my dad worked as a carpenter. I loved watching him build the city of Toronto."

Danny launched his career with the Dufferin Construction Company based in Oakville, Ontario. He spent 13 years with them building roads and bridges across southern Ontario, rising to the position of District Manager.

Then, in 2019, he accepted the role of Vice President of Operations with Rutherford Contracting Ltd. in Toronto, which specializes in the field of Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional (I.C.I) construction.

At the 5 Ross Street site, above, students will immerse themselves in an exciting learning and research environment. (Photo Credit: Juicebox Studios)

He was attracted by Rutherford's reputation for executing complex projects—including sports facilities, public parks, and office buildings—and by the prospect of pushing his engineering skills in a new direction.

"It's been great helping clients fulfil their vision and being able to mentor new talent," Danny says.

He's known as a very hands-on VP who regularly visits the company's construction sites to check on progress and to see if crews are having any issues.

"Having face-to-face interaction with our workers is one of the most important things that I do. They have to be out there in the cold of winter and the blistering heat of summer, so I can't ask them to do anything I wouldn't do myself."

A Memorable Homecoming

For the past year, Danny's construction-site visits have been reconnecting him with his alma mater. He was responsible for ensuring that the Barrie STEM Hub's two locations were built to the highest standards possible.

"It was a pleasure to work with Barrie and Lakehead, especially as a Lakehead alum and someone trained in the STEM field," he says.

"Building Lakehead's Barrie STEM Hub was a great opportunity," Danny says. "My project manager told me that if the STEM HUB had been around when he was going to school, he would have gone to Lakehead." Above, a view of the Instrumentation Lab at the STEM Hub's 24 Maple Avenue site. (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)

He oversaw the building of the Electronic Motors and Robotics Lab, Mechatronics Lab, Machine Lab, and Instrumentation Lab at 24 Maple Avenue.

At the 5 Ross Street site, he guided the construction of classrooms and active learning spaces as well as collaborative research spaces for interdisciplinary projects.

Danny was able to celebrate this achievement as one of the guests at the official opening of the STEM Hub on August 20, 2026.

"I had opportunities my parents never had, and I wanted to make sure that I lived up to their sacrifices," Danny says of his career in civil engineering. Above, a view of the STEM Hub Instrumentation Lab. (Photo Credit: Justin Dadswell Photography)

"I'm really happy to see that the university is building new education spaces, and I hope it keeps growing," Danny says.

"My parents were extremely proud that I graduated from Lakehead in the engineering field," he adds.

He urges anyone who wants to be challenged and who likes being on collaborative teams to consider civil engineering at Lakehead University. "It's a profession that will never be replaced."