Ten Canadian projects have landed in a new report to be released Thursday that showcases 100 innovative infrastructure projects from around the world.
Ranging from unique hospital projects in Central Canada, to border-crossing infrastructure work linking Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, to public transit, new schools and construction in Western Canada, the Canadian investments are sharing the spotlight with dozens of other high-profile initiatives around the world.
The Infrastructure100, published by the Infrastructure Journal and Emap Ltd. in association with KPMG International, a network of financial-services firms, was developed by a global panel of judges that selected projects based on their capacity to answer challenges such as energy security, sustainable development, urbanization and an aging population.
"Canada, in certain specific areas, really understands how infrastructure can work to solve some of the greater challenges we’re facing," said Stephen Beatty, the Americas leader for global infrastructure at KPMG.
For example, in Ontario, the Cape Wind Hydro One Smart Grid and the Wind and Solar Clusters projects stood out as major investments that promote sustainable energy. A new University of Calgary project, the Energy Environment Experiential Learning Building, was also praised by the panel of judges.
"The project’s outstanding feature is the architects’ use of the sun as a pillar of their illumination design whereby the building’s facade redirects rays," said the report.
"The manipulation allows for the maximum amount of natural light to reach within the building’s hub while dramatically improving energy efficiency."
Vancouver’s Canada Line rapid transit project was also recognized for being completed ahead of schedule and under budget, as well as two projects in the Windsor area to improve traffic to the border: The Windsor-Essex Parkway and the Detroit River International Crossing.
"I think we’re seeing governments on both sides of the river and both sides of the (Ontario/Michigan) border coming to terms with the need to do it and then finding the will to act, and I think it’s actually a success story because it’s multi-jurisdictional and multi-functional," said Beatty.
Meanwhile, he said the 19.2-kilometre rapid transit line with 16 stations in Vancouver could become a new standard in the world.
"It shows a real commitment to transit and, interestingly, I think you’ll see a number of other large municipalities try to pattern their experience (on) the experience of the Canada Line," he said.
In Quebec, a proposed Universite de Montreal teaching super hospital beat out its counterpart from McGill University to make it into the report because of its focus on research in bringing together 1,000 academics and health professionals in the same complex, Beatty explained.
"This project will bring all medical specialties, teaching and research facilities under (a) single roof in a modern, state of the art facility," said the report.
Beatty added the report is designed to draw attention to the importance of infrastructure that will shape the world in the future.
"I think one of the things that we don’t do enough is talk about really innovative, game-changing projects," said Beatty. "I think this is needed if we’re to get infrastructure to the place it needs to be so that the person on the street realizes the importance of it."
The other Canadian projects that were highlighted in the report were:
– The Bridgepoint Hospital P3 in Toronto
– Alberta Schools Alternative Procurement (ASAP) New Schools
– Keystone Oil Pipeline Extension – Canada/USA
"We are living through an age of unprecedented investment in infrastructure around the world," said the report.
"It is vital to long-term economic growth and to some of the greatest global challenges of today, such as meeting energy demand, coping with the impact of urbanization, and providing for an aging population. In many ways, the infrastructure projects of today are shaping the world of future generations."
Around the world, other major projects that were highlighted in the report include a major high-speed rail project in China, which has announced $100 billion in rail infrastructure investments over the next two years; The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia, supported by a $10-billion U.S. endowment, and the proposed $11-billion Project Mthombo oil refinery in South Africa.
The Green Power Express, a Midwest U.S. energy-transmission network over several thousands kilometres, estimated to cost as much as $12 billion, is also prominently featured in the report.
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