ReNew Canada recently published its annual Top 100 Projects Report which showcases the 100 largest public sector infrastructure projects under development across Canada. Once again, HH Angus is involved in several projects in this list – 14 to be exact! We have a long history of involvement in designing and building key infrastructure in this country. Coast to coast, from hospitals to correctional facilities to transit and a range of project delivery models, we’ve almost done it all. Healthcare continues to be a busy sector with HH Angus involved in nearly 60% of the ranked projects.

Here’s a quick glance of the projects we are proud to be involved with from the 2025 Top 100 list.

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Eglinton Crosstown LRT

This new Light Rail Transit (LRT) line, when completed, will be 19km long with 25 stations and stops and will move approximately 15,000 passengers per hour in arch direction. HH Angus provided mechanical, electrical and communications/security design services for three stations – Mt. Pleasant, Leaside (Bayview) and Laird.

Image courtesy of Metrolinx

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South Niagara Hospital

The new South Niagara Hospital will be a full acute care hospital with 24/7 Emergency Department, diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical services. The latter will include medical, surgical, and intensive care inpatient beds. Also included will be ambulatory services; post-acute Complex Continuing Care (CCC) Inpatient services; and Centres of Excellence specializing in stroke, complex care, geriatric/psychogeriatrics, and wellness in aging. The facility is targeting LEED Silver certification and is being designed to be Canada’s first WELL-certified healthcare facility. HH Angus is providing mechanical engineering and conveyance systems (AGVs, AMRs and vertical transportation) consulting services.

Image courtesy of Niagara Health

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Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre

The New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre will provide 168 hospital beds and 55 Emergency Department treatment spaces in a state-of-the-art facility to improve health services in the region. Leading BC's first generation of smart hospitals, the new hospital will embed data insights and new technologies into both the design of the facility and delivery of clinical care – the first of its kind in BC. HH Angus is providing a full spectrum of ICAT/IMIT design and AGV consulting, and our Vertical Transportation team is designing the elevator systems.

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The Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus Development

Being delivered using the Progressive Design Build approach, the new campus development will be one of the largest and most modern teaching hospitals in Canada. HH Angus is providing mechanical engineering and conveyance systems (AGVs and vertical transportation) consulting services.

Image credits © HDR Architecture Associates, master architects (preliminary designs) NCD-Home-Page-Hero-Image-NO-TEXT

Image Courtesy of HDR

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New Hospital for Sick Children

SickKids’ Project Horizon is a three-phase redevelopment project to rebuild and rehabilitate their existing downtown Toronto healthcare campus. Angus Connect, a division of HH Angus, was engaged to develop a comprehensive digital strategy and ICAT roadmap to support Project Horizon and help SickKids understand their organizational and technology needs today and those anticipated for the future.

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Burnaby Hospital Redevelopment

Burnaby Hospital is currently undergoing a massive redevelopment taking place through two phases. HH Angus is providing electrical and IMIT design consulting services for Phase 2 of the redevelopment which involves a new inpatient tower, medical imaging department, renovations to emergency and endoscopy departments and a new integrated BC Cancer Centre. It is being delivered through an Alliance model.

Image courtesy of Fraser Health Authority

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St. Paul’s Hospital Redevelopment

The new St. Paul’s Hospital redevelopment, located in downtown Vancouver, will provide 548 beds and include an emergency department, critical care and surgical suites, mental health and addition facilities, maternity, rehabilitation, and inpatient care facilities. Angus Connect, a division of HH Angus, provided AGV consulting services as part of the compliance component of this project.

Image Courtesy of Providence Health Care

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THP Redevelopment – Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital

Also being delivered as a Progressive Design Build, the new Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital will be a full replacement of the existing facility, span 22 floors and approximately 2.8 million ft2 and include over 950 beds, 23 operating rooms, a new and expanded Emergency Department, advanced diagnostic imaging facilities, new pharmacy and a new clinical laboratory. HH Angus is providing mechanical engineering consulting services.

Image Courtesy of Infrastructure Ontario

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QEII Health Sciences Centre Redevelopment

This redevelopment is a multi-phase project that involves the renovation of Hants Community Hospital in Windsor, renovation of Dartmouth general Hospital, a new Community Outpatient Centre in Bayers Lake, expansion of the Halifax Infirmary site, a new hospice residence, and relocation of the QEII Cancer centre to the new Infirmary site. HH Angus provided mechanical engineering consulting services for the Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre which opened in 2023.

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Royal Columbian Hospital

The Royal Columbian Hospital is the oldest hospital in the province of B.C. The three-phase redevelopment project will see a major expansion of the acute care campus, with upgrades to critical infrastructure, increasing the hospital’s capacity by 50%. HH Angus is providing mechanical and electrical engineering and vertical transportation consulting services for all three phases in a compliance role.

Image courtesy of Fraser Health Authority

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Cowichan Hospital Redevelopment

Being delivered through an Alliance approach, the project involves replacement of the existing community acute care hospital with a new 607,000 ft2, 204-bed facility that will also include mental health facilities featuring an inpatient unit and dedicated ICU, culturally safe services and spaces, 7 operating rooms, increased CT scanning capacity, and built-in MRI facilities. It will also be the first fully electric hospital in BC and Canada’s first CaGBC Net Zero Carbon hospital. HH Angus is providing mechanical and electrical consulting engineering services. It is being delivered through an Alliance model.

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Thunder Bay Correctional Complex

This new correctional facility is 450,000 ft2 in size and includes 345 beds, allow ample natural light and features dedicated Indigenous cultural spaces, such as smudging space and sweat and teaching lodges. It is targeting LEED Silver and LEED Resilient Design certification. HH Angus is providing mechanical engineering and vertical transportation consulting services.

Image Courtesy of Infrastructure Ontario

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Toronto Western Hospital Patient & Surgical Tower

University Health Network’s (UHN) new $1 billion, 15-storey patient care and surgical tower will be built on Toronto Western Hospital’s (TWH) campus in downtown Toronto and enhance UHN’s capabilities caring for complex neurological and orthopedic cases. The new facility will be over 380,000 ft2 in size over 15-storeys and include 11 clinical program floors, 82 beds, and 20 operating rooms of which three will be hybrid ORs with cutting-edge imaging capabilities as well as featuring many of the latest healthcare technological advancements. HH Angus is providing mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and ICAT/IMIT consulting services.

Image Courtesy of DIALOG

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Cape Breton Regional Hospital Expansion

The Cape Breton Regional Hospital is undergoing its first major expansion since it was first built and is part of Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s comprehensive upgrade of healthcare facilities in the wider Sidney area. The project involves a new 320,000 ft2 clinical services building that will house a new and larger emergency department, critical care department, additional inpatient beds, surgical suites, maternity ward and a cardiac catheterization lab. There will also be a new 96,000 ft2 cancer centre and a new energy centre. HH Angus is providing Master Systems Integration services.

We’re delighted to introduce Krigh Bachmann, who has joined our Knowledge Management group in the role of Design Technology Leader. Digital technologies continue to drive change in how we design and construct buildings. We are increasingly able to provide more informed and better engineering solutions to our clients, potentially reduce costs and deliver higher performance for the buildings in which we live, work and play.

With over 20 years of design experience and technical expertise, Krigh brings passion and a compelling vision for integrating technology into our processes to successfully design and deliver infrastructure. Working in Canada and the UK for design and engineering firms ranging from 20 to 4000 employees, Krigh has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of emerging technologies combined with the ability to turn complex systems into practical solutions that drive tangible results for clients.

Krigh has worked on a wide variety of projects, incorporating into the design process concepts such as smart buildings, digital delivery contract language, generative artificial intelligence, and digital twins. He has gained a reputation for working closely with clients to help them achieve their digital information objectives; for example, his most recent initiative focused on developing a new Intelligent Building Integration service.

Some of Krigh’s project highlights include managing a Design Technology support team that coordinated BIM on major projects, including the Calgary Cancer Centre. In 2021, he contributed to the Digital Campus strategy for the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, working with our Angus Connect team. In Europe and the Middle East, he served as Digital Design Leader on projects such as Goldman Sachs’ 1.2 million square foot office fitout, data centres for Microsoft and Facebook, a 190,000 square foot fitout for Aon London, as well as malls in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

An in-demand speaker at AEC industry events, Krigh frequently shares his expertise on topics such as building intelligence in the retail sector, use of AI in design, how AI can accelerate results in the real estate sector, and various challenges facing AEC firms, among many other subjects.

We’re excited to have Krigh join our firm and continue our journey of digital transformation. He will collaborate across all our divisions, including our well-established Digital Service Division comprised of mechanical and electrical engineers, software developers, data scientists, Amazon Web Services (AWS) certified specialists, BIM technologists, and project and product managers who specialize in a range of technology for the built environment.

If you would like to get in touch with Krigh and learn more about how HH Angus can utilize digital technologies for better project outcomes, please contact:

Krigh Bachmann
Design Technology Leader

krigh.bachmann@hhangus.com

This article was originally published in District Energy Magazine, Q4 2024.

As the world races the clock to meet climate targets, communities are proving to be vital players.

Utility master planning and climate action plans are guiding the way, and community engagement is emerging as a pivotal force in helping both deliver. UMP and CAP plans touch everywhere we work and live – from busy urban streets to rural settings.

The district energy sector is becoming better versed in the technicalities of the energy transition. However, technology is just one side of the coin. The other equally crucial side is community willpower.

In my opinion, there are no significant technology challenges to reaching our climate targets. The solutions exist today.

Much is yet to be done on the community engagement front, however, and this is not as easy as it sounds.

Communities that stand united and act on plans to achieve common goals will be the ones that adjust best and benefit most from the transition. A greenhouse gas reduction project might look perfect on paper. However, it may well face unforeseen challenges without community support. On the bright side, we’ve witnessed projects fast-tracked and costs reduced when the community is genuinely involved. This proves to us – the technical crowd – the value of community engagement.

“A sense of ownership among stakeholders is crucial to long-term success."

I see community engagement in sustainable energy planning facing three primary categories of challenges.

First, social and cultural barriers. These include general resistance to change, especially where large infrastructure projects are required, and equity concerns, which can hinder progress and create skepticism;
Second, technical and economic hurdles, such as the novelty and complexity of modern energy systems, financial constraints and the difficulty of communicating long-term benefits;
Third, institutional and logistical obstacles, including regulatory barriers, coordination difficulties, and the need to attend to diverse and competing interests.

All of the above can slow effective engagement and delay sustainable energy initiatives. Overcoming these challenges requires a comprehensive approach that addresses social, technical and institutional factors simultaneously. That is an effective community engagement strategy.

Effective community engagements tap the combined power of several interconnected strategies. Tailored approaches – customized by site and place – recognize each community’s unique characteristics, ensuring that energy and climate action plans resonate within local and project specific contexts.

The concept of "co-creation" taps into local knowledge and fosters a sense of ownership among stakeholders, crucial for long-term success. This approach can be supported by using interactive platforms and technology that democratize the planning process, allowing for diverse participation.

Transparency and continuous communication build trust and maintain community interest, while establishing robust feedback mechanisms creates a dynamic dialogue between project developers, users, regulators, financiers and other stakeholders. Capacity building and education help communities make informed decisions, which in turn demystifies complex concepts and helps highlight long-term benefits.

We know of real-world examples that show the transformative power of effective community engagement. Projects such as Rethink Glasgow and the 3NE solar farm in Alberta showcase how inclusive approaches and active participation can lead to sustainable outcomes.

The Rethink Glasgow initiative exemplifies how using robust digital technology can succeed in community engagement aimed at creating a greener urban environment. The Glasgow project sought to gather input from residents on sustainable urban development post-pandemic. It utilized an interactive online map where residents could drop pins and offer suggestions about making various city areas more sustainable. And it allowed over 1,300 residents to actively contribute ideas to the city’s climate action plan, democratizing the planning process and ensuring that diverse voices and ideas were considered.

“Rethink Glasgow used digital technology to collect input. The map here shows a pattern of feedback that included 1,300 residents." Rethink Glasgow

Engagement was straightforward and accessible, allowing residents to participate at any time and from anywhere. The result was a community-driven climate action plan that reflected the actual needs and aspirations of residents. Insights gathered from this engagement have shaped the city’s strategies for a more resilient and sustainable future, and the project has been recognized for its innovative approach to civic participation.

Development of the 3NE solar farm project in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, serves as another powerful example of effective community engagement. Owned by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation and the Fort Chipewyan Metis Association, the project involved indigenous stakeholders at every decision-making stage. This strategy ensured that the project not only aligned with the community’s energy needs but also enhanced its understanding of renewable energy technologies.

“Communicating in a way that transcends mere consultation."

Community members engaged through consultations and participatory decision-making, which improved energy literacy and gave residents an ownership point of view. This involvement also helped developers manage the project efficiently, allowing it to be completed on time and under budget, enabling the community to reinvest savings into other sustainability initiatives, such as a wood-fuel business, further promoting local economic development and energy resiliency.

The 3NE solar farm now supplies over 25% of Fort Chipewyan’s annual electricity needs, reducing reliance on diesel fuel by more than 200,000 gallons per year and cutting annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2,535 tons. The project demonstrates the environmental and economic benefits of community-engaged renewable energy initiatives and highlights the critical role of local community leadership in advancing sustainable energy solutions.

In essence, the power of community engagement strategies lies in its ability to transform residents from passive observers to active participants in shaping their futures.

That said, it’s important to understand that the role of community engagement transcends mere consultation. It’s about co-creating a future where voices are heard, concerns are addressed and more potential solutions are considered.

By adopting these strategies, communities and project developers can create resilient, sustainable communities that are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of climate change. As we move forward, embracing community engagement as a fundamental component of sustainable energy planning will be crucial in driving us toward our climate goals.

For find out how an integration strategy can help your building’s technology transition, contact us at connectconsulting@hhangus.com.

Image of 14 ways to encourage project support

This table illustrates the multifaceted nature of effective community engagement in sustainable energy planning, particularly
for district energy systems. At its core, successful engagement relies on a comprehensive strategy that combines various approaches

Mike Hassaballa, MA.Sc., P.Eng., is Manager, Decarbonization, at HH Angus and Associates, where he focuses on advancing sustainable solutions for project design and operation and on decarbonizing heating and cooling systems and promoting eco-friendly construction practices.

Mike Hassaballa
MA.Sc., P.Eng.

E: mike.hassaballa@hhangus.com

Our Toronto office has moved just a couple of kilometers east to great new space in the Crosstown Place office development at the corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road.

Our new address is:

H.H. Angus and Associates Limited
1176 Eglinton Avenue East
Suite 800
Toronto, ON M3C 0S1

All other contact information remains the same.
We invite all of our clients to drop by for visit anytime you are in the neighbourhood.

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Image of ARMS and AWS logos with buildings in the background

HH Angus Digital Services is pleased to announce our graduation with the AWS Partner Acceleration Team. Over the past several months, we worked with AWS Partner Management resources to achieve Select Tier Status, joined the AWS Public Sector Program, and achieve technical differentiation through a Foundational Technical Review of both our ARMS Platform and our AWS Cloud Consulting service offering. Working with this team helped us to accelerate our AWS journey and continue to build out our AWS cloud practice to deliver our ARMS platform. ARMS is focused on asset management and our Cloud Consulting service offering is focused on IoT and Smart Buildings Implementation for public and private sector customers.

To learn more about our ARMS platform, click here:

Angus Remote Management Systems (ARMS) – H.H. Angus and Associates Ltd. (hhangus.com)

Author: Lucas Carmona

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