Global Acclaim Given to Canadian Infrastructure Projects

Six infrastructure projects in Canada have been given global acclaim as they made it to Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition, a report that showcases 100 of the most innovative and inspiring urban infrastructure projects from around the world. Prepared by KPMG, the projects were judged on the basis of feasibility, social impact, innovation, technical or financial complexity, and scale.

With the majority of the world’s population concentrated in cities, the pressure to develop sustainable urban infrastructure mounts. Brad Watson, Partner and Head of KPMG’s Global Infrastructure Advisory practice in Canada, puts it this way: “The worldwide demand for infrastructure is expected to require the investment of tens of trillions of dollars over the next four decades. A focus on innovative infrastructure solutions that drive economic renewal, create jobs, and deliver tangible long-term impact is critical when balancing the needs of the population, the economy, and the environment.”  

Here are the six Canadian infrastructure projects that have made it to the illustrious list:

1.       SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) Polytechnic’s Trades and Technology Complex. Set to be completed this year, the Trades and Technology Complex is expected to provide 740,000 square feet of additional space for this school that specializes in giving students training in energy, construction and manufacturing.

2.       Calgary International Airport Development. Featuring the country’s longest runway, central de-icing facility, and an international concourse that features sustainable design principles, this $1.95-billion expansion more than doubles the size of the current airport to meet current and future passenger growth.

3.       University of British Columbia’s Bioenergy Research and Demonstration Facility. A top performer in the “urban energy” category, this clean energy project is set to be the world's first biomass-fueled, heat-and-power generation system that will operate on a scale suitable for communities. A renewable material called cross-laminate timber and not steel or concrete will be used to construct the building.

4.       Harvest’s Energy Garden. Located in Richmond, British Columbia, this is Canada’s first high-efficiency system for producing renewable energy from food scraps and yard trimmings. It also generates energy for up to 700 homes in the Lower Mainland area.

5.       Durham York Energy Centre. This new center in Courtice, Ontario is set to process as much as 140,000 tons of residential waste annually. It is also expected to recover metals and energy.

6.       Waterfront Toronto. Dubbed as one of the largest regeneration projects in North America, this is now the tenth year of this 25-year plan. Focusing on 800 hectares of underused land, this comprehensive project includes 40,000 new residences, 20 percent of which will be devoted to affordable housing; the generation of 40,000 new jobs; new transit infrastructure; and 300 hectares of parks and public spaces.

Toronto Wayfinding System Strategy Underway

In its thrust to create a "legible" city that will give residents and tourists the opportunity to confidently move around, the Toronto Wayfinding System Strategy was launched. With the first phase of the program already initiated in October last year, Wayfinding aims to decrease traffic congestion, enhance the functionality of city streets, define Torontos character, and encourage economic vibrancy and competitiveness. The City hopes that trips become easier for commuters as the system is designed to encompass transportation modes and electronic devices. This is especially timely as Toronto expects an influx of guests in the 2015 Pan-Am Games.

The strategy combines coordinated signs, apps, pocket maps, and urban design to conveniently direct people to where they are going. Signs will be placed in strategic areas, which include transit exits, intersections, pedestrian, and cyclist routes. The appropriate placement of subtle signals like lighting, landscaping, and public art will also help in pointing out directions and city attractions. There will also be signs that will indicate the length of walking time it would take to get to a nearby attraction. Apps on smartphones will not only give directions but other useful information on the destination as well.

The initial plan has been drafted and is in front of the public works committee in September and to the council after that. Once approved, the second phase will involve refining the design options and site testing. The two pilot testing sites for the Wayfinding System Strategy are Pan-Am Games venues. The first is in east downtown and the second is located around the Scarborough Campus of the University of Toronto.

For the project to be implemented across Toronto, the final phase is expected to cost $7.2 million. But with the city being a major tourism destination, investing in the strategy is bound to generate returns. Andrew Weir, vice president of communications for Tourism Toronto which helped develop Wayfinding, believes that the system can encourage tourists to "consume more of the destination." Knowledge of how to navigate the urban maze can make them more comfortable in spending more time and consequently, more dollars in the City. Toronto is fast becoming a destination for visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom and Chinese and Indian tourists as well, prompting the Wayfinding team to include the languages of these visitors when planning the signs.

The Wayfinding System Strategy is developed by the team of Steer Davies Gleave and DIALOG. They are working closely with a Steering Committee and group of Stakeholders that include City staff and representatives such as the TTC, Metrolinx, Tourism Toronto, Pan Am Games, The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario, and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas.

Deep Geologic Repository Project

Managing nuclear waste has been a growing issue in the recent years. These issues are being addressed and the NWMO (Nuclear Waster Management Organization) and OPG (Ontario Power Generation) are attempting to create and operate a Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for the long-term management of low and intermediate level nuclear waste. This project is estimated to become a 14 year long process.

This deep geological disposal facility would operate on the Bruce Nuclear Site within the municipality of Kincardine, Ontario. The DGR would manage about 200,000 cubic metres of waste produced from the continued operation of OPG-owned nuclear generations at Bruce, Pickering and Darlington, Ontario.

Having made their original proposition in 2005, the organizations have already submitted the Project for and Environmental Assessment (EA) assessment and are now undergoing a Public Comment Period. Expecting to receive permission from the EA to build the DGR in 2014, and anticipating another 5 to 7 years to construct the facility, the NWMO and OPG are hoping to start receiving waste, earliest in 2019.