Our Projects
Raising the Bar at Every Turn
Engineering Design and Innovation
Every project that Harbourside undertakes is backed by our commitment to engineering excellence. Our work is characterized by thorough communication and comprehensive design. We see the whole picture. At every step, Harbourside redefines the meaning of quality engineering. With seasoned professionals from every sector of the industry, we are able to solve even the most technically challenging projects. Both throughout Atlantic Canada, and on the international stage, our work has been recognized by highest supervising bodies. The award-winning projects below are a testament to the calibre of the engineering performed at Harbourside.
Margaree Wharf Reconstruction
Harbourside Engineering was engaged by Small Craft Harbours, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (SCH) to develop the detailed design for the reconstruction of the finger pier wharf in Margaree, Newfoundland following damages during hurricane Fiona in the fall of 2022. The replacement design provides shore power and lighting along the length of the new pier and improvements to the facility to make it more resilient to extreme surge and wave events in the future.
Highway 102/107 Overpass
The Highway 107/102 Southbound Overpass creates a link between Highways 107 and 102 near Rocky Lake and the Bedford Commons in Nova Scotia. Harbourside Engineering provided the preliminary and detailed structural bridge and geotechnical design services for this project, as well as erection engineering. The project was awarded the 2025 Steel Design Award for Excellence by the CISC in the category of Bridge Projects. This overpass and the improvements to Highway 107/102 help to improve transportation throughout HRM.
CCG SAR Geotechnical & Servicing Study
The Canadian Coast Guard engaged Harbourside to support the planning and design of a newly proposed CCG Search and Rescue Station (CCG-SAR) at the Freeport (South Cove) Small Craft Harbour on Long Island, Digby County, Nova Scotia. Along with allowing for larger vessels, the new SAR station will offer upgraded services and a larger dedicated berth. The placement of a new facility within Freeport also helps to make the station more accessible.
Blandford-Tancook Ferry Engineering Services
Harbourside was engaged by Nova Scotia Public Works to act as the prime consultant in the design and construction of three new ferry wharf facilities for the new Blandford-Tancook Roll-On-Roll-Off (Ro-Ro) vehicle and passenger ferry. These would serve to connect Big Tancook Island and Little Tancook Island to Mainland Nova Scotia at Blandford. These ferries allow for greater connectivity within the province and help to provide more reliable transportation services for Chester, Tancook, and Blandford.
Little Harbour (L’Ardoise) Reconstruction
Harbourside Engineering was engaged as the prime consultant for the reconstruction of the existing timber cribwork marginal wharf on the west side of Little Harbour (L’Ardoise) in Richmond County, Nova Scotia. The services provided can be broken down into distinct phases: pre-design services, design services, tender support, contract administration, and construction services. Design work for this project was completed in February 2020, and construction finished in November 2023.
Cabot Shores: Malpeque Harbour Development
Malpeque Cove Harbour, Prince Edward Island, is a critical area for fisheries and aquaculture, yet accessing the cove through the Damley Channel has proven dangerous for boat passage for many years. Harbourside Engineering Consultants and MRSB Consulting Services Inc. were engaged to conduct an Economic Impact Study and New Wharf Design for the Malpeque Harbour Authority in 2019. The new Cabot Shores Harbour design will help boost the local economy, increase efficiency, and make life easier for local fishing boats and leisure craft.
Université Sainte-Anne Track and Field Facility
Harbourside was retained by Tate Engineering as part of the design of the Université Sainte-Anne track and field facility in Church Point, Nova Scotia. Harbourside provided recommendations and construction supervision to limit settlements and meet the strict track requirements despite the poor native soil conditions and low-quality fills on the site at the start of the work. Harbourside’s scope of work included carrying out a geotechnical test pit investigation, site inspection, and engineering recommendations for soft soil conditions.
Peggy’s Cove Infrastructure Improvements
Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic tourist attractions, drawing approximately 700,000 visitors annually. In recent years, the popularity of Peggy’s Cove has created issues in relation to crowds, traffic, servicing, and vehicular and pedestrian infrastructure. To address this, Develop Nova Scotia commissioned the Peggy’s Cove Master Plan, where Harbourside led the design, tendering and construction management of a variety of infrastructure improvements at Peggy’s Cove. Harbourside, in collaboration with Englobe Corporation, was named the 2023 recipient of the Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering for this project.
Canada Border Services Agency Warehouse
Harbourside carried out a geotechnical investigation for the new Canada Border Services Agency container examination facility in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The project required multiple specializations, and Harbourside handled the project management in conjunction with the Halifax Port Authority. Harbourside Project Management acted as the owner representative for this project, the associated developments at the PSA maintenance garage, and the South End Container Crane Stowage Foundations, all of which were completed by 2023.
Burgoyne Bridge Erection
The Burgoyne bridge is one of three crossings that span Twelve Mile Creek. It is an important transportation artery for the Niagara area, Ontario. By 2010, it was recommended that the bridge be replaced, and Harbourside was contacted by Pomerleau and Structal as a subconsultant to handle construction phasing and unique launch and design approaches, which began in 2014. After completion in 2016, Harbourside was awarded the Award of Excellence at the Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Gala for the project in 2017.
Rocky Barachois Bridge Replacement Approach
Gros Morne, Newfoundland, continued its series of bridge replacement projects with a focus on the Rocky Barachois Bridge in 2016. Harbourside was contracted to provide detailed concept, design, and tender documents. Harbourside Transportation Consultants completed the design of the vertical and horizontal alignments, while Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants investigated the approaches at this site. The design of the new bridge was undertaken by Harbourside Engineering Consultants, making this project a truly comprehensive endeavour for the group.
Maritime Link
The Maritime Link Project involved the construction of hundreds of kilometers of power transmission infrastructure in 2017 to allow Nova Scotia to import renewable energy from Muskrat Falls in Labrador. Harbourside worked on several phases of the Maritime Link Project, with involvement beginning with planning and extended to the completion of construction. The connection provided by the Maritime Link is one more step towards a greener future for Nova Scotia, who intends to be carbon net zero by 2035.
Macdonald Bridge Foundation Retrofit
As part of the deck replacement for the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia, existing bridge elements remaining in service were analyzed for the new loading conditions. Due to the decrease in deck weight and revised wind loads, the analyses indicated a potential overturning instability in the Halifax Cable Bent foundations. Rock anchors were selected as a means of remediating this instability, which were designed by Harbourside Engineering based on the hold down requirements indicated by the numerical analysis.
Caribou Ferry Terminal (Part 2): Repairs and Upgrades
Harbourside completed an assessment of the existing condition of a variety of marine structures at the Caribou Ferry Terminal, an important access point between Prince Edward Island and the mainland in Caribou, Nova Scotia. Harbourside oversaw the assessment of various structures, including the steel sheet pile (SSP) walls, SSP caissons, and concrete cribs. Following the assessment, Harbourside Engineering completed repair prioritization and initial cost estimates for a variety of repairs required around the facility.
Caribou Ferry Terminal (Part 1): Harbour Planning
Public Works and Government Services Canada hired Harbourside Engineering Consultants to carry out preliminary engineering and planning for proposed upgrades to the existing harbour located in Caribou, Nova Scotia. These upgrades were intended to provide increased protection to vessels in the harbour, increased berthage, and increased service areas for off-loading operations. This project was conducted prior to the founding of Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants, which necessitated the assistance of additional subcontractors.