CLIENT: SEKO Construction
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
SEKO Construction Ltd. retained PRI for the structural design of a 6,000 sq. ft. addition to an existing elementary school serving the Nak’azdli First Nations Community. The addition comprised 18 rooms including classrooms, reading rooms, and administrative offices.
CHALLENGE:
The project presented several structural complexities, including heavy roof snow loads with accompanying drift loads, the need to integrate the new structure with the existing building, and the design of pitched roof connections terminating at a 15-foot tall-wall feature at the north end of the building.
APPROACH:
PRI designed a conventional wood-frame structural system incorporating wood-framed lintels, shear walls, and roof diaphragms suited to the building’s layout and load demands. For the two classroom additions, glue-laminated pitched beams were specified to accommodate the pitched roof geometry and support the signature tall-wall feature. Careful attention was given to the connection details between the new addition and the existing structure to ensure continuity and structural integrity across the combined building.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a structurally sound and cohesive addition that met the community’s educational space needs, successfully addressing the site’s challenging snow load conditions and achieving a seamless integration with the existing school building.
CLIENT: Katzie First Nation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI supported Katzie First Nation beginning in 2019 to develop a Holistic Management Plan for the Upper Pitt River area, within Katzie’s traditional territory. PRI completed forest modeling, provided forestry expertise, coordinated and edited contributions from other specialists, and supported data management, indicators development, and overall analysis.
APPROACH & OUTCOME:
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for managing the area’s natural, cultural, and economic values. It covers the planning context and process, the area’s physical and land-use setting, natural and cultural heritage, wildlife and fisheries, forest resources, and recreation. A central theme is shifting toward a more balanced approach that better protects fish, wildlife, and cultural sites while increasing Katzie’s role in decision-making and access to economic benefits.
Key steps in developing the plan included community engagement, stakeholder consultation, data collection and analysis, objective setting based on Katzie values, and creation of an adaptive monitoring framework to track indicators and support future updates.
CLIENT: Wildstone Construction Group
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI Engineering provided issued-for-construction foundation design and pre-production field investigation services, including Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) testing, for a 5.2 MW DC solar project in Anahim Lake, BC. The scope included subsurface investigation, pre-production foundation testing, and full foundation design. Deliverables included a Geotechnical Investigation Report, a Foundation Design Report, an issued-for-construction groundscrew foundation design, and a General Conformance Letter.
CHALLENGE:
Anahim Lake’s remote location in BC’s interior, combined with corrosive soil conditions identified during investigation, presented meaningful durability and design challenges. Selecting and validating a foundation system capable of supporting the solar structure over the long term — while accounting for soil aggressiveness and the logistical demands of a remote site — required a thorough and well-executed field program.
APPROACH:
PRI advanced 50 groundscrew probes to characterize subsurface conditions across the site. Twelve helical foundations were installed with associated axial and lateral pre-production load tests to evaluate foundation performance and inform design decisions. Corrosion protection measures were recommended based on the corrosive soil findings, along with specific pile strength and embedment depth requirements. Groundscrew foundations were identified as the preferred system to support the structure. Production mechanical testing was then completed on 37 foundations — 21 axial and 16 lateral — to verify design compliance and meet QC/QA requirements.
OUTCOME:
PRI delivered a complete issued-for-construction foundation design package tailored to the site’s remote setting and challenging soil conditions, including a groundscrew foundation design and General Conformance Letter. The extensive production testing program provided strong assurance of foundation performance and set the project up for a confident construction phase.
CLIENT: Gerry Enns Contracting
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
PRI provided structural design services for a 7,700 sq. ft. commercial building in Chilliwack, featuring insulated concrete tilt panels, an interior steel beam and column bearing line, and a wood mezzanine within a portion of the structure.
CHALLENGE:
The design required integrating multiple structural systems — concrete tilt panels, steel framing, and wood mezzanine construction — into a cohesive solution while accommodating a 19-foot ceiling height in the main area, which introduced additional complexity in load management and panel design.
APPROACH:
PRI developed a structural design that combined insulated concrete tilt panels as the primary building envelope with an interior steel beam and column bearing line to support the open, high-ceiling main space. A wood mezzanine was incorporated into a designated portion of the building, requiring careful coordination across the three structural systems.
OUTCOME:
The completed design successfully unified the mixed structural systems into a functional and efficient commercial building, delivering the open 19-foot ceiling height in the main area while accommodating the mezzanine level within the overall structural framework.
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 Indigenous Communities, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Indigenous 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 Indigenous 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 Nations priority areas and assess potential impacts. The platform was integrated with Survey123 applications to support the collection, visualization, and analysis of community-sourced Indigenous 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 Indigenous knowledge, providing Land Managers with a comprehensive and culturally grounded resource for informed, rights-based land use decision-making.
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.
