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Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village/Canary District
DPM Energy | Utility Engineering Consultants | Know. How.™
It’s November 2009 and the City has just been awarded the 2015 Pan AM/ Para Pan AM Games. Where will 10,000 athletes and coaches live during the games?
The Pan AM Games Athletes’ Village
Waterfront Toronto had been working on plans to redevelop the West Don Lands precinct since 2006. With the awarding of the Games, the precinct was the logical spot to host the athletes. Planning was well underway and the precinct had ample room for all of the new guests. The Games would provide the push needed to move the development along quickly.
With a fixed, unmoveable deadline, everyone working on the project had to shift from concept development to execution. The site had many significant challenges that needed to be resolved in order to permit the Games to proceed. The biggest being how to deal with the potential flooding from the Don River and the removal of thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil left behind by the heavy industries that used to call this area home.
Everyone was up to the challenge.
Given our history with the early stages of the West Don Lands, DPM was a logical addition to the development team. We were the lead contributor to the roadway, pedestrian and utility infrastructure components of this complex development project. The project required DPM’s technical know-how in order to provide new chambers, duct banks and primary cables needed to supply current and proposed buildings.
Not only were we building for the immediate needs of the Pan Am Games, but we also had to bear in mind the long-term vision for the overall development. This meant three different designs — (1) the facilities that were to be converted to condos after the Games, (2) the temporary facilities used only during the Games, and (3) the future phases of the site after the Games were over.
Master planning for the three different aspects of the development
Creating preliminary civil and electrical design
Creating detailed civil and electrical design
Coordinating with utilities (gas, telecommunications and municipal) for the initial needs plus future
needs of the development
Coordinating with the City of Toronto in order to incorporate their soil management system
Coordinating with Toronto Hydro to finalize new connections
Gaining approval and permits from the city
Preparing the work order package and drawings for construction
Providing support during construction