INNOVATION November-December 2012

It might seem amusing in hindsight—and no, the rig didn’t damage the new concession building on the site—but neither Kullmann nor others involved on the project would recommend a similar work schedule to others. As engineering projects go, this one had more than its share of challenges, in less than its proper share of time to tackle them. Full Steam Ahead The Westminster Pier Park project began innocently enough. The City of New West- minster wanted to both revitalize its downtown core and re-connect the community to its waterfront. At the same time, a narrow strip of land squeezed between the Fraser River and three active rail lines was crying out for attention. “We used to be the economic and commercial hub of the Lower Mainland back in the earlier parts of the 1900s” explains Dean Gibson, Director of Parks, Culture and Recreation for the city, “and over time as the suburbs grew up and the city of Van- couver became established, the luster of being that economic hub began to dwindle and so our downtown core has been in the doldrums for the past several decades.” Not only was New Westminster the region’s economic hub for years, it was also— albeit for a shorter time—the provincial capital. Letting prime waterfront property continue to rot wasn’t enhancing New Westminster’s historical image of itself, nor was it attracting new commercial/retail or residential development. But no developer was interested in a site that was burdened with the build-up of contaminants from well over a century of pre-environmentally friendly industrial use. “At the east end of the site there was a machine shop on an isolated building that sat over top of the river and they would dump what would be the day’s cuttings or millings from the machine shop,” explains Kullmann. “They would open up a hatch in the floor and sweep it into the river. That was done for years.” Given the length of time the site sat idle—the better part of 20 years, according to Gibson—its remediation and makeover into an urban park in just two years seems all the more remarkable. But once the City purchased the property and succeeded in getting $25.2 million through the Building Canada Fund, it was full steam ahead. “The city was required to spend the money by March 2012,” says Kullmann. “We needed permits in record time, the city council needing to approve things. You know, a 25 million dollar park development in two months, from a blank sheet of paper to a park master plan in two months with city council approval, is pretty tight.” Advancing your business is our business. Trust a growing team that can handle your needs. Ron Stuber, Stephen Coyle, Ryan Chalmers, Michael Klose, Stephanie Streat, Jennifer Wong

The City of New Westminster wanted to revitalize its downtown core and re-connect the community to its waterfront. Westminster Pier Park provides abundant recreational opportunities, with festival space, playgrounds, a basketball court and a 600-metre long boardwalk.

John Haythorne, P.Eng. Karen Martin EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W | OTTAWA 45°25'15'N 75°41'24'W | VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''N 123°6'47.56''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72''N 73°34'6.32''W | OTTAWA 45° TURING | M&A | ANTITRUST | ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION | REAL ESTATE | ENERGY | INTERNATIONAL NATURAL RESOURCES AND IN CROSS-BORDER | M&A | TRADE | EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR| PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY| CO VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''N 123°6'47.56''W | OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.41'W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.4 TERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION | CONSTRUCTION | INFRASTRUCTURE | P3 | LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTI TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W | VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''N 123°6'47.56''W | CALGARY CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W TIONAL TRADE | EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR | RESTRUCTURING | INSURANCE | P3 | COMMERCIAL| REGULATORY | RESTRUCTURING RESPONSIVE | INNOVATIVE | DIVERSITY | INCLUSIVENESS | EXPERTISE | RESPONSIVE | INNOVATIVE | DIVERSITY | INCLUSIVENESS | EXPERTISE | RESPONSIVE | INN CTURING | TRADE | TAX | EMPLOYMENT & LABOUR | CROSS-BORDER | RESTRUCTURING | TRADE Find out more at fmc-law.com construction Fraser Milner Casgrain llp TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72''N 73°34'6.32''W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72' EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72''N 73°34'6.32''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W | VANCOUVER 49°17'12.03''N 123°6'47.56''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114 EDMONTON 53°32'33.55''N 113°29'39.96''W | CALGARY 51°2'41.87''N 114°4'1.49''W | OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'0.41'W | TORONTO 43°38'52.42''N 79°22'56.54''W | MONTRÉAL 45°30'5.72''N 73°34'6.32''W | OTTAWA 45°25'14.25''N 75°42'

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