What Greenhouse Automation Can Teach Construction About Scalable Construction Systems
- Averey Peter
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
You wouldn't expect the future of construction to come from a lettuce greenhouse, but maybe it's time we start looking sideways.
Cole Mucci, founder of KingsOne Farms, is building a fully automated, six-and-a-half-acre lettuce facility in Southern Ontario. It will eventually produce over 11 million heads of lettuce a year.
That scale isn't just about machines. It's about systems. And construction could take a page from this playbook.
At SCELTA, we work with construction leaders to dial in their brands and operations. Watching how KingsOne is using tech, AI, and Boots on the Ground discipline to scale smartly? It felt familiar.
Designing Scalable Construction Systems from the Ground Up
How do you scale without losing control? That's the pain point in both construction and agriculture: when your business grows, complexity explodes. Systems break. Miscommunication costs. Talent gaps hurt.
Cole's solution? Build for scale from the beginning.
"Even though we haven't started harvesting yet, we already built the full automation system," Cole shared. "Everything from seeding to packaging is mapped. The goal isn't just volume—it's consistency."
That's a mindset every construction leader needs. Before ground breaks, the workflows should already be dialled in.
Start With Systems, Not Just Tools
The KingsOne greenhouse uses a mobile gutter system to transport and grow lettuce from seed to harvest, completely hands-free. This isn't just automation. It's system design. In construction, we see too many tech tools slapped onto old workflows. It doesn't work.
To create truly scalable construction systems, start by:
Mapping out the biggest time wasters in your system
Identifying what the steps are to complete those parts
Leverage technology that automates or eliminates the slogs
Cole talked about using AI for crop health alerts and growth insights, not to replace growers, but to make them smarter. The same is true for superintendents or PMs on site.
"AI doesn't have a green thumb," he joked. "But it can catch disease early or help size heads faster. It's a tool, not a replacement."
That's how SCELTA approaches tech too. From Portal to RealTime, our goal is to make builders more effective, not less human.
Think in Shifts, Not Steps
The greenhouse runs 24/7. That was only possible because Cole's team planned for automation and human support from day one. Many construction firms still run like it's 9 to 5, even when their problems don’t.
Scalability means designing your operation to work across shifts, locations, or teams with the same precision. It means:
Centralized data that supports decentralized teams
Processes that translate from one project to the next
Tech that your team will actually use
This isn’t a pipe dream. Building better construction workflows is entirely possible.
Takeaway: Systematize What You Want to Scale
Cole Mucci is feeding a continent with a greenhouse. You're building homes, towers, and infrastructure. But the question is the same: how do you keep quality high as you grow?
The answer isn't more tech or more people. It's better systems. And that starts with clear design, consistent data, and the curiosity to ask: what can we learn from outside our industry?
If you’re ready to reimagine how your business grows, SCELTA is here to help. DIAL IN your operation with tools that respect your expertise and scale with you.
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