Geert Van Zanten was born in the Westland region of the Netherlands. The son of a greenhouse grower in this area famous for its horticulture, Geert gained many years of experience and knowledge constructing greenhouses in Europe. In 1995, Geert established Westland Greenhouse Solutions Inc. in St. Catharines, Ontario, which later expanded and moved to Jordan Station.
Geert realized that the innovation and cost-effectiveness of building greenhouses for more than 25 years could be adapted and utilized to construct housing units. After seeing the quality and flexibility in the design of steel structural insulated panels, Geert was motivated to launch Smart Home Designs Niagara, offering affordable design and build options for quality housing for seasonal farmworkers and as a solution for manufactured and assembled Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or tiny homes in Niagara and beyond.
In establishing Smart Home Designs Niagara, Geert wanted it to be more than just a design and build company. He believes in giving back to his local community and vulnerable communities around the world. Geert’s vision is to support the housing needs of those living in poverty through the work of Smart Home Designs Niagara.
