Stó:lō First Nation I Research and Resource Management Centre

Expertise Environmental
Market Earth & Environment
Location First Nations

CLIENT: Stó:lō First Nation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Gill Bar project is a multi-year restoration and management planning initiative on the Fraser River focused on protecting sensitive aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The work integrates Indigenous knowledge and stewardship and is delivered through collaboration between multiple First Nations, agencies, and technical teams.

CHALLENGE:

The site faced significant ecological pressure from heavy recreational use, impacting endangered and threatened species. The project required balancing environmental protection with community access and cultural use, while coordinating multiple Nations, partnerships, and knowledge systems. At the same time, limited baseline data meant that study, monitoring, and planning had to occur concurrently.

APPROACH:

The project was structured around five coordinated pillars, including aquatic habitat assessment, terrestrial studies using both scientific and traditional knowledge, access and land management planning, Indigenous stewardship through youth and community engagement, and communications and outreach. Strong project governance was maintained through regular reporting, facilitated coordination, and integrated collaboration. A Two-Eyed Seeing approach was applied to blend Indigenous and western science.

OUTCOME:

The project delivered key outputs including environmental baseline reports, a monitoring framework, and draft access, management, and habitat restoration plans. It strengthened Indigenous stewardship and community engagement, improved protection of critical habitats, and established a clear path toward an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (PCA) designation.

Stocking Lake Dam Replacement

Expertise Hydrotechnical
Market Transportation & Infrastructure
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Town of Ladysmith

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Stocking Lake Dam supplies drinking water to the Town of Ladysmith (ToL) and the Saltair Water Improvement District within the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD). In response to anticipated growth-driven increases in water demand, ToL retained PRI to investigate the feasibility of increasing reservoir storage capacity while addressing remediation items identified in the 2018 Dam Safety Review — which was also completed by PRI. The project has progressed through feasibility, conceptual, and preliminary design phases, and is currently advancing through detailed design, with construction anticipated to begin in Spring or Summer 2027.

CHALLENGE:

The project presented a complex intersection of aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and future servicing demands. Remediation needs identified through the Dam Safety Review, combined with the requirement to increase storage capacity, ultimately determined that a completely new dam structure was required rather than modifications to the existing facility. This elevated the scope and complexity of the assignment considerably, requiring a phased design process to evaluate options, establish an optimal solution, and advance through the full regulatory and permitting pathway, including a new water license application and environmental studies, while coordinating the interests of multiple water utility stakeholders.

APPROACH:

PRI led the project through a structured, multi-phase design program. The conceptual design phase developed and evaluated design concepts with associated cost estimates to support informed decision-making by ToL and the CVRD. A preliminary design phase followed, assessing the chosen optimal design solution in greater detail. PRI is currently completing the detailed design and plan submission report for submission to the Dam Safety Office (DSO), incorporating associated environmental studies and required permitting, including a new water license. Upon finalization of the design, PRI will complete dam breach inundation mapping using HEC-RAS 2D and a revised consequence classification assessment. PRI will also support ToL and the CVRD through tendering and contract administration, and will provide engineering services during and post-construction.

OUTCOME:

PRI’s continuous involvement — from the original 2018 Dam Safety Review through to detailed design and forthcoming construction support — has provided ToL and the CVRD with consistent, informed engineering leadership across the full lifecycle of this critical water supply asset. The structured phased approach has enabled stakeholders to make well-supported decisions at each milestone, culminating in a detailed design that addresses both the regulatory remediation requirements and the long-term storage needs of a growing region. Construction is anticipated to commence in Spring or Summer 2027, at which point PRI will continue to provide engineering oversight through to project completion.

Chilliwack Park & Trail Bridge Structural Assessment

Expertise Structural Egineering
Market Earth & Environment
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: City of Chilliwack

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The City of Chilliwack retained PRI to conduct a structural integrity assessment of 55 existing timber and steel bridges located across various parks and trails within the municipality.

CHALLENGE:

With 55 bridges of varying construction types spread across the municipality, the City required a thorough and consistent evaluation to identify public safety risks, determine remaining service life, and establish a prioritized plan for repairs — all within a framework that could guide long-term infrastructure budgeting.

APPROACH:

PRI assessed all 55 bridges for structural integrity, public safety hazards, estimated lifespan, and repair requirements. Each structure was evaluated individually, culminating in a complete assessment package that included a detailed repair plan and cost estimates.

OUTCOME:

The City of Chilliwack was satisfied with the findings and adopted the assessment as the guiding framework for their 5-year parks and trail bridge repair program.

BCH Apartments I 3788 Brown Road

Expertise Structural Egineering
Market Property & Buildings
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Cover Architectural Collaborative Inc.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

PRI provided structural design and construction services for a four-story wood-frame apartment building, commissioned by Cover Architectural Collaborative Inc. The building features four levels of wood-frame construction above one level of underground parking.

CHALLENGE:

The project required iterative engineering design through multiple revisions to support cost estimation, general coordination, and building permit application — demanding close collaboration with the architectural team throughout the design process.

APPROACH & OUTCOME:

PRI delivered a full-service structural solution encompassing comprehensive engineering design and active construction support, including extensive field reviews. The project was successfully carried through to construction, with expected completion in October 2022 to welcome its first residents.

Halfway River Web Map Application

Expertise GIS & Geomatics
Market Earth & Environment
Location First Nations

CLIENT: Halfway River First Nation

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

PRI collaborated with Halfway River First Nation (HRFN) to design and implement a web-based mapping and data management system near Fort St. John, British Columbia. The tool supports land referral assessments and the visualization of Traditional Use Study (TUS) data and First Nations knowledge collected by community members.

CHALLENGE:

HRFN required a practical and accessible digital tool capable of integrating complex, multi-layered spatial data to support timely and informed responses to proposed development referrals, including LNG facilities and agricultural developments, within their territory. Equally important was the need to incorporate and protect sensitive First Nations knowledge, including culturally significant locations collected directly by community members, within the same platform.

APPROACH:

PRI designed and built a web-based mapping application that enables HRFN Land Managers to upload proposed development applications and analyze buffered areas around project sites to identify overlapping TUS or First Nations priority areas and assess potential impacts. The platform was integrated with Survey123 applications to support the collection, visualization, and analysis of community-sourced First Nations knowledge, including wildlife camera observations, medicinal plant locations, burial sites, and fishing areas — bringing community voices directly into the land management and referral process.

OUTCOME:

HRFN gained a powerful, integrated mapping and referral tool that strengthens their capacity to assess and respond to development proposals within their territory. The platform supports both rigorous spatial analysis and the meaningful incorporation of First Nations knowledge, providing Land Managers with a comprehensive and culturally grounded resource for informed, rights-based land use decision-making.

Gagetown Solar Project

Expertise Geotechnical
Market Renewable Energy
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Collins Construction

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

PRI Engineering provided preliminary foundation design and pre-production field investigation services, including Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) testing, for an 8.911 MW DC solar project in Oromocto, NB. The scope encompassed subsurface investigation, comparative foundation testing, full foundation design, and production-phase mechanical verification. Deliverables included a comprehensive Geotechnical Investigation Report, a Foundation Design Report, two issued-for-construction foundation drawings (driven and remediation micropile foundations), and a General Conformance Letter.

CHALLENGE:

Establishing an appropriate foundation system required a thorough understanding of subsurface conditions before committing to a design. With both helical and driven foundation types under consideration, rigorous pre-production testing was needed to determine which system would perform best on-site. Ensuring long-term foundation durability and structural stability — including resistance to movement under load — was essential for a reliable, construction-ready solution.

APPROACH:

PRI advanced 40 helical probes and excavated 7 test pits to characterize subsurface conditions across the site. To evaluate foundation performance, 15 helical foundations and 40 driven foundations were installed, each with associated axial and lateral pre-production load tests. Although soils were found to be non-corrosive, protective coatings or increased material thickness were recommended as a precautionary durability measure. Specific embedment depths were determined based on test results, and load and stability checks were completed to confirm long-term strength and resistance to movement. The design was refined accordingly, and production mechanical axial testing was completed on 87 foundations to verify compliance and support QC/QA objectives.

OUTCOME:

PRI delivered a complete foundation design package — including issued-for-construction drawings for driven and remediation micropile foundations and a General Conformance Letter — supported by one of the most thorough pre-production testing programs for a project of this scale. The data-driven design gave the project team clear confidence in foundation performance through construction and beyond.

Metro Vancouver I Contaminated Sites Services

Expertise Environmental
Market Earth & Environment
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Larco Investments

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

PRI’s contaminated Sites Team performed a range of environmental site investigation and remediation programs to support redevelopment initiatives across Metro Vancouver. These works included Stage 1 & 2 Preliminary Site Investigations (PSIs), Detailed Site Investigations (DSIs), and full-scale remediation activities, ensuring compliance with BC Ministry of Environment regulations

CHALLENGE:

The main challenge was the complexity of contamination present onsite. PRI’s team successfully overcame that with structured, step-by-step environmental risk management process and obtained necessary approvals from the Ministry.

APPROACH:

Close coordination with regulatory agencies, resulting in timely approval of Ministry instruments (Approval in Principle and Certificate of Compliance)

OUTCOME:

Comprehensive site characterization across multiple Metro Vancouver locations, Successful implementation of remediation strategies to support redevelopment

Eckhardt Avenue West Mixed Use Development

Expertise Civil Engineering
Market Transportation & Infrastructure
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Mundi Construction Ltd.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

650 Eckhardt Avenue is a six-storey mixed-use development in Penticton, BC, featuring ground-floor commercial units, residential units above, and an integrated parkade. The site is situated between Eckhardt Avenue West and Pacific Crescent. PRI provided comprehensive civil engineering services for the project, including on-site and off-site design in accordance with the City of Penticton Subdivision and Development Bylaw, supported by in-house geotechnical, survey, materials testing, and field review capabilities.

CHALLENGE:

The project required coordinated civil design across a constrained urban site bounded by two roads, with both on-site and off-site works needing to satisfy municipal standards. The mixed-use nature of the development introduced layered servicing demands, requiring utility coordination across multiple shallow utility providers alongside municipal water, sanitary, and drainage systems. Foundation and drainage planning also required geotechnical input to address site-specific subsurface conditions.

APPROACH:

PRI delivered a fully integrated civil design package covering all on-site and off-site components. On-site works included site grading, stormwater management, access and parking layout, and utility servicing for water, sanitary, and shallow utilities serving Penticton Electrical Utility, TELUS, SHAW, and FortisBC Gas. Off-site design addressed road, curb, and sidewalk improvements on both Pacific Crescent and Eckhardt Avenue West, including associated drainage and connections to municipal systems. PRI’s in-house geotechnical team completed a site assessment to inform foundation and drainage design. Additional services included a topographic survey, laboratory materials testing, and field reviews during construction to verify compliance with the approved civil design drawings.

OUTCOME:

PRI’s multi-discipline, in-house delivery model provided the project team with seamless coordination across civil design, geotechnical assessment, survey, and construction-phase services. The completed civil works successfully satisfied the City of Penticton’s development requirements, supporting the advancement of a prominent mixed-use infill development on one of Penticton’s key arterial corridors.

Southside Church in Chilliwack

Expertise Structural Egineering
Market Property & Buildings
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: Southside Church

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

PRI provided structural design and construction engineering services for a 36,000 sq. ft. church facility. The building includes a large primary auditorium with a 1,038-person capacity, a secondary auditorium, a two-storey office, classrooms, and a large foyer.

CHALLENGE:

The scale and complexity of the facility demanded the integration of multiple structural systems across distinctly different functional spaces — from a large-capacity assembly auditorium to intimate classroom and office environments — each with its own structural and load requirements. Coordinating tilt concrete, structural steel, and timber construction within a single cohesive building presented significant design and construction coordination challenges.

APPROACH:

PRI designed a mixed structural system tailored to the demands of each space within the facility. Tilt concrete walls were used in the primary auditorium to handle the large spans and assembly loads of the high-capacity space. Structural steel was employed in the secondary auditorium and foyer to achieve the open, column-free areas suited to those gathering spaces. Timber construction was specified for the classroom and office areas, providing an efficient and appropriate solution for the smaller-scale occupied spaces.

OUTCOME:

PRI successfully delivered a structurally sound and fully integrated facility that meets the diverse functional needs of a large community church. The completed building accommodates over 1,000 occupants in the primary auditorium while providing flexible, well-supported spaces for offices, classrooms, and secondary assembly areas across all three structural systems.

Forty Mile Solar Project

Expertise Geotechnical
Market Renewable Energy
Location Western Canada

CLIENT: PCL Solar Constructors Canada Inc.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Forty Mile Solar Project – Forty Mile County No. 8, Alberta. PRI completed geotechnical investigation, field and laboratory testing, helical pile probing, pre-production axial and lateral load testing, and foundation design recommendations for an approximately 220 MWAC PV ground-mount solar facility located on agricultural land near Bow Island, Alberta.

CHALLENGE:

The project required a practical foundation design for a large fixed-tilt racking system across a broad rural site with variable glacial till soils, potential cobbles/boulders, frost uplift considerations, corrosive soil conditions, wetland access constraints, and the need to confirm pile performance prior to production installation.

APPROACH:

PRI advanced a comprehensive subsurface investigation consisting of 44 boreholes, 14 test pits, piezometer installations, field electrical resistivity testing, and laboratory testing including grain size, Atterberg limits, Proctor, corrosivity, thermal resistivity, CBR, unconfined compressive strength, and hydraulic conductivity testing. PRI also completed 2,431 helical probes, installed 130 axial test piles and 35 lateral test piles, and used the results to develop site-specific helical pile design recommendations.

OUTCOME:

PRI provided design recommendations for the solar racking foundations, including site-specific torque/capacity relationships, frost uplift considerations, lateral capacity assessment, corrosion design considerations, production testing requirements, and construction recommendations. The testing confirmed that helical piles were a viable preferred foundation option for much of the site, with additional recommendations for areas not accessible during the investigation, including designated wetland areas.