Once the ink dries on new investment deals, HPA’s Design & Construction team helps turn plans into reality
Last year was the Hamilton Port Authority’s biggest year ever for investment attraction, with more than $100 million in new developments announced, including a new grain terminal and flour mill.
Once the initial excitement subsides, the work on the ground begins, and that’s where HPA’s in-house Design and Construction team comes in. Overseeing an annual capital budget of $10-$20 million, HPA’s six-person team of engineers and technologists works closely with tenants on a wide range of development projects.
Working within a five-year planning horizon, it’s the team’s job to ensure the port’s network of shared infrastructure is safe, secure, and supports the efficient movement, storage and transloading of goods.
“Businesses want to set up shop at the Port of Hamilton for the great location, exceptional transportation infrastructure, and also our approach to doing business,” said Bill Fitzgerald, HPA’s Vice President of Operations. “When it comes to new developments or expansions, we work closely with our tenants, contractors and local utilities to complete HPA’s portion of development projects expertly and on-time.”
At numerous job sites across Hamilton’s port lands, the 2016 construction season is well underway:
Pier 10
Work is wrapping up on a facility at the far western end of the port lands that houses a new craft brewery and a liquid sugar refinery. More than $10 million has been invested in this re-energized new space at the gateway to Hamilton’s redeveloping waterfront district. New energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems will save the port and its tenants an estimated 65,000 kw/h per year.
The redevelopment of Pier 10 continues with the construction of a new flour mill by Canadian grain company Parrish and Heimbecker. This new, $50 million investment is the first new-build flour mill in Ontario in 75 years, and is well-positioned to serve southern Ontario’s burgeoning agri-food sector. The new mill will be closely integrated with the company’s existing grain handling facility next door on Pier 10. Work on the new mill site began with the demolition of aging transit sheds, and pile driving for the new seven-storey facility. The redevelopment will also include new grain storage bins, additional rail sidings, site works and security infrastructure.
Pier 15
HPA’s Design & Construction team is overseeing the construction of a brand-new recreational boat storage and maintenance facility on behalf of the HPA-run Harbour West Marina.
In 2014, HPA completed an agreement with the City of Hamilton to free up land for new residential and recreational developments. As part of the transition, Harbour West Marina will move its winter boat storage to the new facility at Pier 15.
At a cost of $9.1 million, the new boat storage will feature 40,000 sq.ft of indoor heated boat storage, with room for more and larger boats, giving Harbour West room to grow its customer base. The new Pier 15 development will also include 8,000 sq.ft of office space and a 12,000 sq.ft maintenance shop. The new facility is on-track for completion in time for the winter boat storage season in the fall of 2016. The office and shop space will be complete in November of 2016.
Randle Reef
HPA is a partner in the remediation of one of the largest contaminated sediment sites in the Great Lakes. Three levels of government, industry partners and HPA have begun implementing a solution to contain this area of contaminated sediment within an engineered containment facility (ECF). The project is anticipated to take eight years to complete, comprising three stages: construction of the ECF; dredging of contaminated sediments; dewatering and capping of the ECF. Once complete, the ECF will become a functional shipping pier for the port.
HPA’s in-house expertise and resources have been instrumental in completing the initial stages of the project, with HPA overseeing the contract to rebuild a dockwall adjacent to the new ECF. This contribution is part of HPA’s $14 million commitment to the $138.9 million project.
Cleaning up Randle Reef is the last major step remaining to remove Hamilton Harbour from the list of Areas of Concern in the Great Lakes. Restoring water quality in Hamilton Harbour will have positive impacts on the community and the entire Great Lakes ecosystem.
Pier 25
As a Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway port, HPA maintains shipping berths to Seaway depth, with regular monitoring and maintenance dredging as required. This summer, HPA will focus dredging efforts on the area of Hamilton Harbour adjacent to Pier 25, removing approximately 50,000 cubic metres of sediment.
Pier 26
A new grain export terminal is sprouting up on the port’s Pier 26. Canadian grain company G3 Canada Ltd., headquartered in Winnipeg, announced last year that it would be investing $50 million in a new 50,000 MT lake terminal as part of its cross-Canada expansion. The new terminal is the third located at the Port of Hamilton, and provides Canadian farmers with new options to get their grain to market.
The project features the ability to receive and ship grain by truck, rail and vessel; grain drying and corn cleaning capacity; four 12,500 MT grain storage bins; and room for future expansion. Construction at the Eastport site is already well underway, with HPA responsible for upgrading high voltage electrical distribution, enhanced port security, and a multi-user rail yard.
The new G3 facility is due for completion in time for the 2017 harvest season.