MARCHES MOSSES—England, U.K.
Biodiversity protection and restoration has become an important part of infrastructure development around the world. As we grow the volume of our built assets, there is a need to take environmental considerations in hand, including carbon sequestration and emissions reduction.
At the same time, there is a realization that the preservation and rehabilitation of natural assets must be a priority for project development.
In North Shropshire, along the Wales/England border southwest of Whitchurch, lies the Marches Mosses. These 2,500 acres of lowland-raised peat bog represents one of the world’s rarest habitats, which prevents and mitigates the effects of climate change. Acting like a giant sponge, these ‘mires’ slow the flow of water from hills, as well as storing twice as much carbon, acre-for-acre, than woodland. However, around 96 per cent of the world’s peat bogs have been destroyed through peat cutting, agriculture and drainage.
Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and Shropshire Wildlife Trust are behind the Marches Mosses BogLIFE Project which aims to revive this important peatland. WSP, working with partners WM Longreach and RAB Consultants, were asked to manage two projects to improve hydrology (water management) within two highly sensitive parts of the March Mosses. Both are part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).
WSP’s role involved its specialist water engineers managing the sites and contractors, ensuring a collaborative approach that delivered value. Responsible for worker and public health, safety, and welfare during the projects, WSP also needed to ensure that restoration work did not adversely affect neighbouring agricultural land or increase flood risk to properties in the area.
WSP’s work around the northern edge of Fenn’s Moss centered on diverting a major watercourse carrying unsuitable enriched water, called the Bronington Manor Drain, to enable peatland in this area to be restored.
Works were successfully completed in this four-month project despite the wettest winter in 30 years with 400 metres culverted and 1 kilometre of open channel works. Specialist equipment—low ground pressure long reach machines which run on bio-oil—minimized impact on the soft ground of the SSSI/SAC area.
Throughout these works, WSP sought to minimize any impact on the fragile peatbog landscape and the wildlife it hosts, while also managing existing drainage systems, including exclusion zones around badger setts and measures taken to ensure the protection of water courses. Bridleways and footpaths crossing the site required respectful dialogue with the public and client to ensure safe passage throughout the duration of the works.
The Mosses now have a more naturally functioning water management, which will enable their delicate ecosystem to regenerate. In turn this means the bog is more resilient with its amazing store of carbon safeguarded and it is able to play its role in flood risk reduction.
FIS HEADQUARTERS—Florida, U.S.
Situated on the St. Johns River, in Jacksonville, Florida, the 12-storey building world headquarters for Fidelity National Information Services (FIS) was recently awarded LEED Platinum certification. The new 300,000 square-foot office space features a dynamic design offering modern workspaces, outdoor terraces, and ample amenities, such as cafés, fitness and wellness facilities, and an adjacent six-storey parkade attached by a connector building and bridge.
The headquarters were built with sustainability, resilience, and adaptability in mind, given that Jacksonville is especially challenged with frequent hurricanes and tropical storms. In addition to the building’s energy efficiency measures, the project team sought to protect the site from rising sea levels for the next 50 to 100 years. This included strengthening the walls at the edge of the Riverwalk, adding a concrete curb at the perimeter of the building, raising the finished floor an additional foot, and building up the landscape with permeable surface and vegetation to delay the impacts of rising sea levels.
Entuitive was engaged by Hines and Gensler to serve as the Building Envelope (BE) consultant and Building Enclosure Commissioning (BECx) consultant. As the BE consultant, Entuitive provided options for the daylighting design and high-performance envelope systems. As the BECx consultant, Entuitive verifie d that the quality and execution of all the envelope systems functioned as intended.
LEED, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence. Through design, construction, and operations practices that improve environmental and human health, LEED-certified buildings are helping make the world more sustainable.
“The project team was committed to achieving a high standard in environmental performance through the LEED Platinum certification, choosing to optimize and commission the building enclosure was a key early decision to demonstrate the performance of the whole building and validate that it was designed and managed in an effective manner by avoiding conflicts between trades as well as providing significant field testing and verification as the shell was completed,” said Entuitive’s Building Envelope specialist Timothy Wong.
CRUACHAN HYDROPOWER STATION—Scotland, U.K.
Earlier this year, Stantec supported Drax in gaining approval from the Scottish Government to boost the generating capacity of the existing Cruachan pumped storage hydropower station.
Deep inside Ben Cruachan Mountain in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, the power station’s turbine hall houses four generating units. The power station was originally commissioned in 1965, with Unit 1 and Unit 2 undergoing upgrades in the early 2000s. Now, the final two units (3 and 4), will also be upgraded. These efforts are expected to boost the generating capacity of the plant by more than 40 megawatts (MW) to a total of 480MW.
“This project will enable the units to not only generate more power but also increase their operating flexibility and efficiency,” says John Ord, Stantec’s UK and Ireland business director for energy. “This is a vital futureproofing scheme supporting the UK’s energy transition, and we’re delighted to be so deeply involved with the future of Cruachan.”
Stantec’s environmental and consenting teams worked closely with Drax to prepare a comprehensive application for Section 36 consent. This took the environmental constraints of the location into account, as well as its unique heritage.
As the turbine hall is an A-Listed building, Stantec coordinated an application for Listed Building Consent which was granted by Argyll and Bute Council. Stantec’s planning and heritage teams engaged thoroughly with Historic Environment Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council ensuring that the submitted proposals were acceptable to both bodies. The firm also hosted a public consultation event to present the proposals for the upgrade project to local communities.
“The plans were met with a resoundingly positive reaction,” adds Lynsey Fraser, planning director at Stantec. “People were very pleased to learn Drax is investing in the future of the power station and increasing efforts to generate and provide more flexible, sustainable power to tens of thousands of homes.
In 2023, Stantec supported Drax in gaining consent for the separate Cruachan Expansion Project. The planned new underground pumped storage hydropower station will be adjacent to the existing station. Stantec’s interdisciplinary teams provided the full range of technical, environmental, planning and consenting, and design services in support of the application.
JIJI & MULEMBWE HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT—Burundi, Africa
As owner’s engineer to Régie de Production et de Distribution d’Eau et d’Électricité (REGIDESO) AECOM is playing a pivotal role in the development of the Jiji and Mulembwe hydropower project in Burundi. REGIDESO’s mission is the collection, treatment and distribution of water, the production and distribution of electricity and the marketing of these products in urban centres and centres deemed important by its Board of Directors. This project is a significant step towards enhancing the country’s renewable energy capacity and reducing its reliance on thermal power generation. The Jiji and Mulembwe Rivers are harnessed to generate a combined capacity of approximately 50 MW, which is a substantial contribution to the national grid.
The project includes the construction of two separate hydropower plants on the Jiji and Mulembwe Rivers. Each plant features a dam, and a powerhouse equipped with modern turbines and generators. The infrastructure also includes intake structures, penstocks, and spillways designed to manage water flow efficiently and ensure the safety and longevity of the facilities.
AECOM is providing a comprehensive range of services through project development and execution. The team is overseeing the entire project execution planning process including design review on the plants, substations and transmission lines, and monitoring equipment supply and system operation.
A critical aspect of AECOM’s role is monitoring the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plans and Environmental and Social Management Plans. This involves working closely with local communities to address their concerns and provide tangible benefits to the region, such as improved infrastructure and job opportunities.
In addition, AECOM is supervising and controlling construction works, ensuring material conformity and quality control, and overseeing performance testing both on individual units and the overall project prior to commissioning—making sure that all installations meet the required standards. The scope also involves providing client support during the warranty period, including staff training to ensure smooth project operation.
AECOM’s comprehensive approach to project management includes regular monitoring and reporting to track progress and deliver all aspects of the project on time and within budget.
The Jiji and Mulembwe hydropower project will provide Burundians with affordable, clean and reliable energy. This project will not only boost Burundi’s energy capacity but also set a precedent for future hydropower developments in the region.
POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT—District of Columbia, U.S.
The Potomac River Tunnel project, a landmark initiative under the Clean Rivers Project, has commenced with the combined expertise of CBNA, Halmar, COWI, and Hatch. This formidable partnership has secured an $819 million design-build contract from DC Water, marking the largest contract ever awarded by the authority.
The project aims to construct a nearly nine-kilometre-long tunnel beneath the Potomac River, serving as a critical infrastructure element to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs). This effort will significantly enhance the water quality of the Potomac River, aligning with broader goals to improve the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and Rock Creek while bolstering the sewer system’s capacity.
“COWI will lead the design of the tunnel and adits and provide geotechnical support for the entire project. We leverage our domestic and global personnel to bring experts in multiple disciplines,” said Steven Kramer, COWI’s senior project director.
“Our team began working in late 2023 and has already delivered several key early lead items which has enabled the design and build team to begin construction. Working with CBNA-Halmar through the tender process and now the actual project has been very exciting and gratifying for our engineers. In a design and build project, it is always rewarding to see our design being implemented especially on such a critical project as the Potomac River Tunnel.”
As the co-designer, Hatch is responsible for design management of all underground engineering work and design of tunnel access shafts, drop shafts, and near surface structures including flow diversion structures, intakes, emergency overflow structures, and associated support of excavation. Traversing beneath iconic landmarks such as the Georgetown waterfront, West Potomac Park, and the National Mall, the 5.5-metre-diameter tunnel will extend to Hains Point, ultimately linking with the existing Anacostia River Tunnel. The construction process has begun and will utilize advanced tunnel boring machines to navigate diverse ground conditions, requiring innovative engineering and construction solutions from all partners involved.
Once operational, the Potomac River Tunnel is expected to reduce CSOs into the Potomac River by an impressive 93 per cent during typical rainfall years, underscoring its significance in promoting environmental sustainability in the District of Columbia.
TREASURE ISLAND WATER RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY—California, U.S.
PCL Construction is building the new Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility design-build project in San Francisco, California which replaces aging infrastructure and meets the island’s wastewater and recycled water needs of the future. Originally constructed in 1961, the existing plant has become outdated and undersized. The new facility will have an annual average wastewater treatment capacity of 1.3 million gallons per day for Treasure Island and adjacent Yerba Buena Island, California. It will also have an annual average recycled water treatment capacity of 0.4 million gallons per day for Treasure Island.
The significance of this San Francisco Public Utilities Commission project extends beyond the immediate need for upgraded infrastructure. The island is projected to gain 20,000 residents by 2036—eight times its current population, and this new facility will play a crucial role in meeting the wastewater treatment demands of this expanded community. Half of the treated wastewater produced by the facility will be recycled for irrigation, lawns, landscaping and community parks.
This state-of-the-art facility will replace the existing plant and include a range of advanced processes to ensure efficient and effective treatment. Project scope elements for the new treatment facility include a liquid and solid stream comprised of coarse screens, grit removal, fine screens, biological nutrient feed, a membrane bioreactor and ultraviolet disinfection. Additional features in support of the facility include recycled water pumping, wetlands, stormwater pipe discharge, aerated solids holding tank, solids thickening, an onsite recycled water dispenser and an administration and maintenance building. Emphasizing both functionality and security, the project also features a perimeter security fence, stormwater handling measures and site security enhancements.
Aligned with the Envision Sustainable Infrastructure Framework, this project sets ambitious goals related to neighborhood outreach, waste reduction, habitat restoration, and emissions and energy reduction. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission aims to achieve Envision Gold Verification for the new facility, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices and community stewardship.
“The Treasure Island Water Resource Recovery Facility represents a significant stride towards a greener future, with improved aesthetics, increased capacity and advanced treatment processes,” said Richard Hewitt, vice president and district manager of PCL’s Civil Infrastructure division. “The upgraded facility will offer reliable, high-quality service to all who live, work, and play on Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island, ensuring a sustainable water future for generations to come.”
SIZEWELL C ENABLING WORKS—England, U.K.
The scale and complexity of major construction programs create a web of interconnected workstreams: coordinating the requirements for resource and materials is vital to keep project schedules on track and deliver efficiently. At Sizewell C, a 3.2GW nuclear plant planned for the South East of England, specialised software is helping to take a data-led approach to planning and delivery.
Engineering and nuclear company AtkinsRéalis has been working with Sizewell C throughout its planning and development phases, and its purpose-built ‘Mass Balances’ system is being deployed to integrate data and information around the main sources of demand to proactively inform decision-making and site activities.
The enabling works required to prepare the site ahead of the construction phase of a new nuclear plant is a significant project in its own right: alongside preparation of the site of the power station itself, the site requires utilities, telecoms, warehouses, rail and access roads, carparks and the ability to accommodate up to 7,900 workers at peak construction: the equivalent of building a small town from scratch.
The ability to make decisions and effectively coordinate on-site activity based on reliable information is paramount with programs of this scale. The Mass Balances system was developed to integrate datasets to show demand and resource over time, from earthwork volumes and power usage to workforce on site. These are collated into one simple dashboard, helping to pinpoint potential clashes or opportunities to streamline activity and coordinate the needs of workstreams better as the program evolves.
At the heart of the centralized platform is seamless data exchange to produce a real-time view of predicted demand, capacities, and actual on-site demand. Project managers can identify inadequate supply early, reducing risk of delays and identifying opportunities to bring forward other activities to stick to schedule.
Mass Balances has already been used to optimize the movement of excavated earth around site and plan the utility strategy.
This ability to proactively mitigate the risk of clashes and ensure flexibility will be used throughout the construction phase of the program—understanding the sources of key demand and providing project teams with the reliable insight to make informed decisions, faster.
Data collation and automation also frees up project teams to focus on strategic decision-making: by providing advanced analytics within minutes, program change can be planned and implemented swiftly compared to the several days that would have previously been required to calculate and communicate changes across disciplines.
[This article appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of ReNew Canada.]
Featured image: Cruachan pumped storage hydropower station. (Stantec)
