CLIENT: City of Kawartha Lakes
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering was retained by the City of Kawartha Lakes to peer review the geotechnical, environmental and civil design work for the redevelopment of Bobcaygeon Beach Park — a roughly 7.25-acre waterfront municipal park on a former rail maintenance yard adjacent to Big Bob Channel. PRI delivered earthworks and paving recommendations, a supplementary topsoil sampling and TCLP waste-classification program, risk-based management of contaminated soils, dewatering and construction groundwater guidance, and support for the Parks Canada permit and Indigenous consultation.
CHALLENGE:
The public waterfront park sat on a contaminated former rail maintenance yard directly adjacent to the Bobcaygeon River, requiring cost-effective on-site management of impacted soils without risk to human health or aquatic and terrestrial receptors. PRI also had to reconcile multiple prior consultants’ reports and navigate shoreline works that triggered Parks Canada permitting, Indigenous consultation and archaeological review.
APPROACH:
PRI peer-reviewed the existing geotechnical, environmental and civil design packages and supplemented them with an 18-test-pit topsoil sampling and TCLP waste-classification program. A risk-based soil-management strategy (hard and soft caps) was adopted from the Screening-Level Risk Assessment, fill reuse was benchmarked against OPSS 1010 Select Subgrade Material, and dewatering, construction groundwater monitoring and excess-soil screening were addressed alongside Parks Canada permit support.
OUTCOME:
PRI confirmed the contaminants of concern could be safely managed on-site beneath hard and soft caps, and classified the excess topsoil as solid non-hazardous waste suitable for the City landfill — avoiding costly hazardous disposal. Final earthworks, paving, dewatering and excess-soil recommendations were issued, and the City was supported through groundwater sampling, a cost-savings review, and the Parks Canada RSCP permit and Indigenous consultation process.
CLIENT: Zero E Global Assets
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering provided comprehensive geotechnical investigation and foundation design services for a 278 MWDC solar farm in Mossleigh, Alberta — one of the largest-scale renewable energy projects in the province. The scope covered full subsurface characterization, detailed geotechnical assessment, and foundation design recommendations for both driven and helical pile foundations to support the project through design and construction.
CHALLENGE:
A project of this scale demanded a thorough and reliable understanding of subsurface conditions across a large site to underpin confident foundation design decisions. With both driven and helical pile systems under consideration, geotechnical findings needed to support a cost-effective foundation selection while addressing a broad range of site preparation and construction considerations — from groundwater control and frost protection to seismic classification and access road design.
APPROACH:
PRI advanced 30 boreholes and excavated one test pit to characterize subsurface conditions across the site. The geotechnical assessment delivered detailed recommendations spanning site preparation, excavation, groundwater control, backfill and compaction, frost protection, seismic site classification, access road design, and inspection and testing requirements. PRI recommended a pre-production testing program to verify soil capacity and support an issued-for-construction foundation design, including settlement analysis and foundation design parameters. Findings from the investigation informed tailored recommendations for both driven and helical foundation systems.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a comprehensive geotechnical investigation and foundation design package that gave the project team the technical confidence to move forward at scale. The dual-system foundation recommendations — balancing performance, site conditions, and cost-effectiveness — provided a strong and practical basis for construction of one of Alberta’s most significant solar energy developments.
CLIENT: Mckinley Beach Corporation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
North American Group retained PRI for the structural design of the new Mckinley Beach Pool and Amenity Building in Kelowna. The facility features an indoor leisure pool with changing rooms, a large glazed gymnasium, second-level administration offices and boardrooms, and an external hot tub at the south entrance of the pool area.
CHALLENGE:
The project presented multiple structural complexities, including snow drift loads, heavy mechanical equipment on the roof, and a sloping site. The client’s desire for extensive glazing on the south face of the building significantly reduced available shear wall length, requiring an innovative approach to lateral load resistance. Additionally, the long internal spans required for the pool and gymnasium spaces, combined with mixed steel, timber, and concrete construction, demanded careful coordination across all structural systems.
APPROACH:
PRI designed a structural system combining glue-laminated beams and columns with conventional timber construction and shear walls to achieve the required spans and lateral stability. To accommodate the client’s vision for unobstructed south-facing glazing, the upper and lower roofs were designed as cantilevered diaphragm ceilings, eliminating the need for columns or shear walls along the glazed elevation. Roof structures were engineered to carry heavy mechanical equipment loads alongside snow drift demands, and all systems were carefully coordinated across the sloping site and mixed construction materials.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a fully integrated structural design that balanced the facility’s complex technical demands with the client’s architectural vision. The McKinley Beach Pool and Amenity Building was on track for completion in July 2024, providing the Kelowna community with a modern recreational facility featuring open, light-filled spaces and unobstructed views to the south.
CLIENT: Chandos Construction / District of Lake Country
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI was hired by our clients, Chandos, the contractor, to perform environmental management and monitoring for Year 1/Phase 1: coffer dam construction and Year 2/Phase 2: dam remediation. We liaised with the environmental auditor, project engineers, Indigenous archaeological monitors, the District of Lake Country, contractors and sub-trades. We assisted the project team with obtaining permits and troubleshooting project issues and incidents.
CHALLENGE:
Wildlife presence on the site was very high and included salvaging 1000s of amphibians, fish and crayfish, for each year of the project. This was something that was not anticipated during project planning and required PRI’s guidance, contractor training and education, increased compliance monitoring, significant adaptation to mitigation designs and additional resourcing to successfully achieve compliance with permits.
APPROACH:
PRI collaborated with all project participants and undertook a high degree of responsive communications so that environmental mitigation measures were performed in a timely manner to avoid impacts to the construction schedule and maintain project compliance.
OUTCOME:
Successful, compliant and on time completion of the dam remediation, while maintaining positive working relationships with project participants and addressing emergent mitigation challenges.
CLIENT: Dominium Inc./Integra Architecture
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Zara at Lakestone is a 6-storey mixed-use development comprising 86 residential units, main-level retail space, and a two-level underground parkade, located in the District of Lake Country. The project commenced in 2020 and progressed through to near construction completion. PRI provided civil engineering services for the project, including site servicing upgrades, road redesign, and construction-phase field review and closeout services.
CHALLENGE:
The urban infill nature of the development created significant complexity around maintaining safe and functional access for both residents and heavy construction traffic throughout the duration of the build. Upgrading existing site services within a constrained corridor, redesigning the road carriageway and sidewalk, and securing approvals for a road closure and detour route from the District of Lake Country proved particularly demanding, with the approval process for the detour and closure alone spanning several months due to the competing interests of the surrounding community and utility providers.
APPROACH:
PRI worked closely with the developer, project consultants, and shallow utility providers to navigate the municipal approvals process with the District of Lake Country. A detailed road closure and detour route design was developed to safely accommodate both residential traffic and heavy construction vehicles for the full duration of the build. Civil works included the upgrading of existing site services and the redesign of the road carriageway and sidewalk to meet current standards and support the scale of the development. PRI also provided field review services for the contractor covering both offsite works and onsite servicing upgrades, and carried the project through to closeout.
OUTCOME:
PRI’s sustained coordination with municipal staff, utility providers, and the project team successfully secured the necessary approvals to allow construction to proceed without significant disruption to the surrounding area. The detailed detour and road closure design ensured safe site access was maintained throughout the build. With field review and closeout services provided through to project completion, PRI delivered consistent civil oversight from design through to the final stages of this complex urban residential development.
CLIENT: Tzeachten First Nation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Tzeachten First Nation retained PRI for the structural design of a 9,188 sq. ft. Longhouse. The facility comprises a main hall with bleachers, a single-storey side wing housing washroom and kitchen facilities, and a covered entryway — serving as a cultural gathering space for the Tzeachten First Nations Community.
CHALLENGE:
The project required a structural design that could honor the cultural and aesthetic significance of the Longhouse while meeting modern engineering standards. Incorporating traditional cedar log columns and exposed heavy timber elements as both structural and architectural features demanded careful coordination between engineering performance and cultural expression across three distinct building forms.
APPROACH:
PRI designed a mixed heavy timber structural system tailored to each area of the facility. The main hall roof was framed with traditional timber roof joists carried on heavy mass timber glulam beams supported by steel columns, creating an open and dignified gathering space. The single-storey side wing was designed with prefabricated timber roof trusses on timber stud walls for an efficient and functional enclosure. The covered entryway was designed with traditional timber rafters on heavy mass timber beams carried by cedar log columns, directly incorporating Indigenous heritage materials into the structure. Throughout, exposed structural elements were treated as aesthetic features, bringing a warm wood tone atmosphere to the interior.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a structurally sound Longhouse that successfully integrates modern engineering with the cultural identity of the Tzeachten First Nation. The completed facility provides a dignified and functional community gathering space where traditional cedar and heavy timber craftsmanship are celebrated as central design elements.
CLIENT: Blueberry River First Nation
PROJECT DECRIPTION:
From 2015 to 2023, PRI delivered a range of GIS and environmental assessment services to Blueberry River First Nation, providing ongoing technical support on an as-needed basis and contributing to the Regional Strategic Environmental Initiative (RSEA) — a collaboration between seven Treaty 8 Nations and the Province of BC aimed at understanding and managing the cumulative impacts of resource development within Treaty 8 territory.
CHALLENGE:
Supporting Blueberry River First Nation required a flexible and responsive engagement model that could address evolving technical needs over an extended multi-year period. The RSEA work demanded rigorous data analysis across a broad range of land and resource categories — including oil and gas infrastructure, old growth management areas, riparian areas, and crown and private land — within a politically and culturally significant context centered on the protection of Indigenous treaty rights.
APPROACH:
PRI provided sustained GIS support to Blueberry River First Nation across multiple years, adapting to the Nation’s priorities as they evolved. In 2022 and 2023, PRI contributed to the RSEA process through comprehensive data summary reviews covering oil and gas infrastructure, old growth management areas, riparian areas, and crown and private land. This work was carried out in alignment with the broader RSEA framework, which seeks to build trusted, evidence-based information on cumulative resource development impacts to inform meaningful recommendations for managing effects on treaty rights.
OUTCOME:
PRI’s long-term technical partnership with Blueberry River First Nation delivered consistent and reliable GIS support across nearly a decade, culminating in substantive contributions to the RSEA process. The data summary reviews provided the Nation with a stronger evidentiary foundation to participate in treaty rights discussions and support the development of culturally and environmentally informed land management recommendations within Treaty 8 territory.
CLIENT: Elemental Energy
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering provided geotechnical engineering services in support of the Brooks II Solar Project, a 32.8 MWp (26.5 MWac) utility-scale solar farm developed by Elemental Energy in Newell County, Alberta. Located adjacent to the existing Brooks I facility, the project spans 88 hectares and comprises 73,268 bifacial solar panels on a ground-mounted single-axis tracking system, connecting to the local distribution network via two 25 kV Fortis interconnections. PRI’s engineering scope supported the successful delivery of a facility that has been supplying clean, renewable electricity to the Alberta grid since 2022.
CHALLENGE:
Engineering a foundation solution across a 220-acre solar installation in the Alberta prairie environment presented a demanding set of technical challenges. The sheer scale of the project, with nearly 73,000 panel foundations distributed across privately owned agricultural land, required a thorough understanding of subsurface conditions to inform a foundation approach that was both structurally reliable and constructible at volume. Alberta’s climate introduced a further critical constraint: the region’s freeze-thaw cycles and susceptibility to frost heave in native soils posed a direct risk to foundation stability, panel alignment, and long-term structural performance. Any foundation system would need to resist seasonal ground movement across the full footprint and over the operational life of the asset.
APPROACH:
PRI conducted geotechnical investigations to characterize subsurface soil conditions across the project site, providing the data necessary to underpin sound foundation design decisions. Drawing on those findings, PRI developed specialized foundation designs specifically configured to mitigate frost heave risk in Alberta’s native soils, ensuring that the racking and panel support structures would maintain structural integrity and alignment through repeated seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. PRI’s engineering work was closely coordinated with the overall project layout, accounting for the single-axis tracking system’s load and geometry requirements across the full 88-hectare footprint.
OUTCOME:
PRI’s geotechnical and foundation engineering contributed to the successful construction and commissioning of Brooks II, which has been operational since 2022. The frost-resistant foundation solution delivered by PRI provides long-term confidence in structural performance across one of Alberta’s larger utility-scale solar installations. The project builds on PRI’s established expertise in prairie solar development and reinforces the firm’s capacity to deliver practical, site-specific engineering solutions at utility scale in the Canadian prairie context.
CLIENT: Mosaic Forest Management
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Mosaic Forest Management contracted PRI to complete landcover classification and terrain indices for 700,000 ha on their private and crown chart areas Vancouver Island and coastal mainland BC.
Land cover prediction modeling identified treed/non-treed, roads, and more detailed non-treed land cover/land use classes (snow, avalanche chutes, shrub, transmission lines, roads, wetlands, rock, etc.). The was done in a condensed timeframe, in a semi-automated fashion, with machine learning and then reviewed by photo-interpreters. This information was used in a subsequent remote sensing-based forest inventory.
APPROACH & OUTCOME:
A complex set of terrain indices, examining terrain and slope position at a range of scales (5m to 50m kernels) and neighborhood sizes (25m to 2000m neighbourhoods). These were used to make better predictions of site productivity and species compositions.
We also reviewed sample ground plot locations in a 3D environment to ensure that the calls made on the ground were consistent with what we could see in the lidar and imagery – this was done to confirm the GPS positional accuracy of the ground plots and move the plot to a representative location if it looked like there were issues with the GPS coordinates.
CLIENT: PCL Construction Canada Inc.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering provided supplementary geotechnical investigation, foundation design field investigation, and racking adaptor design services for a 55 MW AC solar project in Claresholm, AB. The scope included an extensive field program, laboratory testing, and full foundation design through to issued-for-tender drawings.
CHALLENGE:
The scale of the project demanded a high-volume geotechnical program to characterize subsurface conditions across a large site. Laboratory analysis revealed corrosive soil conditions, introducing a durability risk that required careful consideration in foundation selection and design. Ensuring the helical pile foundations could reliably handle axial and lateral loads — while resisting long-term deterioration — was critical to the structural integrity of the solar racking system.
APPROACH:
PRI mobilized an extensive field investigation program comprising 40 boreholes, 2,150 helical probes, and the installation and testing of 175 helical foundations. Axial and lateral load testing (175 and 25 tests respectively) provided robust data to validate pile performance. Laboratory results informed corrosion risk mitigation, with protective coatings recommended to ensure long-term durability. Pile depth, load capacity, and stability against bending and shifting were all assessed and optimized through the design process. The foundation design was structured to allow final verification against construction drawings.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a comprehensive geotechnical investigation and foundation design package, including issued-for-tender drawings. The design provided a site-specific, corrosion-resistant helical foundation solution validated by one of the most extensive field testing programs on a solar project of this scale in the region.
