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.