Structural Engineering
Award-winning bridges, marine engineering, and more.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants
HEC is Atlantic Canada’s largest independent engineering design firm. We excel in the design of heavy civil infrastructure, with a focus on structural engineering. Our speciality is in bridges, construction, and marine projects. We don't need to brag: the quality of our work speaks for itself.
Based out of Atlantic Canada, our projects have gained recognition both locally and on the international stage. Time and again, we've been recognized for our award-winning work. The support from the larger Harbourside Group allows HEC to overcome the most complex engineering challenges there are. Every project we take on is elevated by Harbourside's experience. To top it off, we always keep cost in mind.
The Boathouse is a popular summertime location for the citizens of Guelph, Ontario. In 2024, Harbourside was tasked with the rehabilitation of its retaining wall adjacent to the Speed River. The project included additional design services to rejuvenate the surrounding area as well. In 2026 the project won the OPWA award for structures under $2-million.
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.
The original Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge was constructed in 1967. Though it had received some rehabilitation work in the 90s, it had been nearly 30 years since its last major maintenance project. Harbourside was hired to develop and design the erection sequence, erection methods, and temporary works. Early in its development, this project would earn the 2019 CISC Award of Merit in the category of Bridges.
Harbourside Engineering provided erection engineering services for the fabrication, transportation, and erection of four steel arch bridges for Waterfront Toronto, Ontario. Two of the new bridges cross the Keating Channel to replace the previous Cherry Street North Bridge, and the other two, on Cherry Street and Commissioners Street, cross the new river valley at the mouth of the Don River. Most of the work to build and coat these structures was completed in Nova Scotia, and they were later transported by barge to Toronto.
The original Victoria Bridge, serving as the main connection between Old South and downtown London via Ridout street over the Thames River in Ontario, needed replacement. E.S. Fox Limited (ESF) was awarded the construction project and engaged Harbourside to provide erection and construction engineering services. The replacement of the bridge involved the removal of the two-span bridge and the construction of a twin-rib arch supporting structure along Ridout Street South. In 2024, the Victoria Bridge won the CISC steel design award for engineering excellence in Ontario.
Harbourside Engineering was named as Deconstruction Engineers for the Old Champlain Bridge, which joined Brossard to Montréal, Québec, and spanned the active St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Channel as the busiest vehicular bridge in Canada. Reports indicated hazards related to the structure of the bridge, with partial or complete collapse being a legitimate risk. Its demolition ensured the safety of Québec residents, and Harbourside was awarded the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering as a result of this project.
The Highway 104 Twinning Project was a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) project, including twinning the 100 series highway between Sutherlands River and Antigonish, Nova Scotia, with new interchanges and bridges. Working as part of the Dexter Nova Alliance (DNA), Harbourside Engineering Group completed the design of bridge structures, and was awarded the 2025 Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Engineering for this project.
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.
Dufferin Construction was awarded a design-build contract for the design and construction of two pedestrian bridges in Ontario, providing a link between Stanley Park and the Western area of Fort York grounds. ES Fox was subsequently awarded the contract for the bridge steel superstructure erections, retaining Harbourside to complete the erection engineering. Construction began in 2015 and was completed in 2019, and Harbourside was awarded the Award for Excellence in Bridge Projects from the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction.
Bridge Engineering Projects
Bridge Engineering.
We’ve designed every kind of bridge imaginable. Whether it’s a vehicular bridge, pedestrian bridge, or railway, Harbourside has done it all. With our experience, we can create stunning designs that are both functional, and innovative. We don't just stop at the design though! Harbourside also manages rehabilitation and regular bridge inspections. We take care of the whole picture. Our firm's knowledge of bridge structures is the best in Atlantic Canada, bar-none.
Bridge Engineering Services.
We cover all aspects of bridge engineering. From novel designs to rehabilitation of older structures. Bridge inspections and forensics are a regular service we provide, sometimes under emergency conditions. Our knowledge of bridge structures ensures our clients receive the best value-engineering possible.
Harbourside Engineering is acting as the specialist bridge erection engineer for the Don Valley Parkway Bridge. In addition, Harbourside was also responsible for the Lower Don Enabling Works, and quality verification engineering (both structural and geotechnical).
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion is the largest highway construction project in Virginia’s history. Harbourside Engineering has been providing construction engineering services, and continued support for this transformative transportation infrastructure project.
Harbourside Engineering was retained by Demathieu & Bard Construction to design a versatile, modular gantry system to replace the 122‑year‑old Etobicoke rail bridge for Metrolinx, which aimed to modernize a critical commuter corridor. The gantry enabled the safe removal and installation of bridge spans during three short (51‑hour) weekend closures. This innovative approach reduced disruptions and avoided the environmental impacts of traditional crane-based methods, delivering significant benefits for commuters of the busy Lakeshore West Line.
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.
The original Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge was constructed in 1967. Though it had received some rehabilitation work in the 90s, it had been nearly 30 years since its last major maintenance project. Harbourside was hired to develop and design the erection sequence, erection methods, and temporary works. Early in its development, this project would earn the 2019 CISC Award of Merit in the category of Bridges.
Harbourside Engineering provided erection engineering services for the fabrication, transportation, and erection of four steel arch bridges for Waterfront Toronto, Ontario. Two of the new bridges cross the Keating Channel to replace the previous Cherry Street North Bridge, and the other two, on Cherry Street and Commissioners Street, cross the new river valley at the mouth of the Don River. Most of the work to build and coat these structures was completed in Nova Scotia, and they were later transported by barge to Toronto.
The original Victoria Bridge, serving as the main connection between Old South and downtown London via Ridout street over the Thames River in Ontario, needed replacement. E.S. Fox Limited (ESF) was awarded the construction project and engaged Harbourside to provide erection and construction engineering services. The replacement of the bridge involved the removal of the two-span bridge and the construction of a twin-rib arch supporting structure along Ridout Street South. In 2024, the Victoria Bridge won the CISC steel design award for engineering excellence in Ontario.
Harbourside Engineering was named as Deconstruction Engineers for the Old Champlain Bridge, which joined Brossard to Montréal, Québec, and spanned the active St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Channel as the busiest vehicular bridge in Canada. Reports indicated hazards related to the structure of the bridge, with partial or complete collapse being a legitimate risk. Its demolition ensured the safety of Québec residents, and Harbourside was awarded the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering as a result of this project.
The Highway 104 Twinning Project was a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) project, including twinning the 100 series highway between Sutherlands River and Antigonish, Nova Scotia, with new interchanges and bridges. Working as part of the Dexter Nova Alliance (DNA), Harbourside Engineering Group completed the design of bridge structures, and was awarded the 2025 Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence in Engineering for this project.
Bridge Engineering Service Offering
Bridge Design.
Bridge Rehabilitation.
Bridge inspections and forensics.
Bridge Constructability.
Value Engineering.
Asset Management.
Load-induced and distortion-induced fatigue.
Contract administration.
Marine Engineering Projects
Marine Engineering.
Our firm isn't just called Harbourside for nothing! Our head office is in Nova Scotia, so we understand the importance of marine infrastructure. We've managed every kind of marine engineering project there is. If you look anywhere in Atlantic Canada and you can see our handiwork in action. Whether it's wharfs and jetties or specialty marine structures, we've done it before. If it’s near water, we’re the experts.
Marine Engineering Services.
Our experience with marine and coastal structures is bar none. This allows us to provide for a wide range of marine engineering needs. Harbourside also has the added benefit of its own in-house geotechnical team to streamline most marine engineering projects.
Harbourside is currently overseeing the construction and contract administration of the King’s Wharf Expansion in Bermuda. Harbourside Engineering also performed the critical geotechnical investigations that enabled this project and was involved as far back as 2019 with the previous rehabilitation project.
The Boathouse is a popular summertime location for the citizens of Guelph, Ontario. In 2024, Harbourside was tasked with the rehabilitation of its retaining wall adjacent to the Speed River. The project included additional design services to rejuvenate the surrounding area as well. In 2026 the project won the OPWA award for structures under $2-million.
Harbourside was retained by the Port of St. John’s to provide engineering services for the Pier 20 West and Pier 21 Wharf Replacement and Upland Development project on the south side of St. John’s Harbour, Newfoundland. The primary objective of the project was the complete replacement of the existing wharves, the demolition of the existing building at the site, and the development of the upland area. Harbourside is providing contract administration and full-time onsite inspection services throughout the construction period.
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.
Carter’s Point Wharf was an existing deteriorating structure requiring replacement, so Harbourside Engineering was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours, to design the demolition and reconstruction work with a berlin wall structure. The project also included the engineering design and construction of a new launching ramp and containment cell to store the dredge materials created during construction. The project’s design phase was completed in 2023, with construction wrapping up in 2025.
Structures 404 and 405 at Pointe-Sapin wharf were deteriorated crib structures that required repair or replacement. Harbourside was engaged by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours to complete the planning, design, and contract administration for the rehabilitation of the two timber crib structures. Harbourside also upgraded the shore protection near the entrance to the Pointe-Sapin Harbour, New Brunswick, with additional breakwater along the easter face of the wharf to protect the harbour from the increased effects of climate change.
Harbourside was hired by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) to perform a condition assessment of the existing Berth 2 at the Ocho Rios Cruise Terminal in Jamaica, which was damaged by a cruise vessel in 2024. Harbourside Engineering Consultants assessed existing site conditions and assisted with design work, and Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants conducted various laboratory services. By condensing the design schedule, Harbourside helped to mitigate the social and economic impact on this region and restore functionality to the terminal as quickly as possible.
Harbourside was engaged by the Port of Saint John to assess the Barrack Point Potash Terminal Facility’s infrastructure in Saint John, New Brunswick. This investigation was to evaluate the condition of the structures throughout the facility, to estimate their remaining service life, and to recommend maintenance or rehabilitation work to extend the service life of the facility. After the condition assessment, Harbourside developed a conceptual 25-year Maintenance Plan to extend the service life of the facility to 2048.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours, to design a replacement structure for half of the Georgetown Harbour Wharf pier and a new containment cell in Kings County, Prince Edward Island. Our scope for this project included pre-design services, a site investigation and assessment of the existing conditions, and concept designs through options analysis of the potential wharf structures. The design phase was completed in 2018, and construction finished in the spring of 2024.
Small craft harbours are the heart of the Maritimes. In 2021, Harbourside was hired by DFO Small Craft Harbours through a Standing Offer to develop two separate tender packages. These were created in order to design and replace the existing marginal wharf structure for the Petit-Cap Harbour, New Brunswick.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours to design a replacement for the deteriorated launching ramp at Botsford Wharf in Murray Corner, New Brunswick. Harbourside’s scope of services included pre-design services, consisting of an initial site assessment and preliminary engineering design options, a detailed engineering design of the launching ramp replacement, and the onsite oversight of construction. The project was completed in the spring of 2024.
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.
Marine Engineering Service Offering
Wharf Structures.
Specialty Marine Structures.
Berthing and Mooring Analyses.
Marine planning and layout
Breakwaters
Gangways and Pedestrian bridges.
Metocean studies.
Rehabilitation and retrofitting of marine structures.
Dynamic loading and offloading analyses.
Armoring and scour pad designs.
Construction and Erection Engineering.
Construction and Erection Engineering.
Harbourside is an industry leader in construction and erection engineering. Our firm has unmatched experience in the design of temporary works of all kinds. East of Manitoba, we complete more large bridge, building, and marine erection designs than any other firm. Our expertise includes stick builds with cranes, launches, and barge aided erections, to name but a few.
Construction and Erection
Engineering Services.
Our clients rely on us to ensure their projects are completed smoothly and efficiently. Whether we are involved from initial design, or brought onboard for construction support, we have delivered some of the most complex construction and erection engineering projects in Atlantic Canada.
Construction and Erection Engineering Service Offering
Temporary shoring.
Retaining walls.
Temporary structures.
Bents.
Towers.
Jack-Up, Jack-Down Structures.
Barge Stability.
Temporary stability structures.
Static line design.
Fabrication jigs and supports.
Crane rigging and crane layout design.
Crane and equipment stability analyses and support structures.
Temporary foundations.
Detours
The Boathouse is a popular summertime location for the citizens of Guelph, Ontario. In 2024, Harbourside was tasked with the rehabilitation of its retaining wall adjacent to the Speed River. The project included additional design services to rejuvenate the surrounding area as well. In 2026 the project won the OPWA award for structures under $2-million.
Harbourside Engineering was retained by Demathieu & Bard Construction to design a versatile, modular gantry system to replace the 122‑year‑old Etobicoke rail bridge for Metrolinx, which aimed to modernize a critical commuter corridor. The gantry enabled the safe removal and installation of bridge spans during three short (51‑hour) weekend closures. This innovative approach reduced disruptions and avoided the environmental impacts of traditional crane-based methods, delivering significant benefits for commuters of the busy Lakeshore West Line.
Harbourside Industrial Group was hired by Tacora Resources to replace the R1 Conveyor gallery floor system with one designed by BBA engineering. Harbourside’s structural division was responsible for all construction engineering related to the demolition of the existing gallery, and the erection of the new floor system.
Harbourside was retained by the Port of St. John’s to provide engineering services for the Pier 20 West and Pier 21 Wharf Replacement and Upland Development project on the south side of St. John’s Harbour, Newfoundland. The primary objective of the project was the complete replacement of the existing wharves, the demolition of the existing building at the site, and the development of the upland area. Harbourside is providing contract administration and full-time onsite inspection services throughout the construction period.
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.
Carter’s Point Wharf was an existing deteriorating structure requiring replacement, so Harbourside Engineering was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours, to design the demolition and reconstruction work with a berlin wall structure. The project also included the engineering design and construction of a new launching ramp and containment cell to store the dredge materials created during construction. The project’s design phase was completed in 2023, with construction wrapping up in 2025.
Structures 404 and 405 at Pointe-Sapin wharf were deteriorated crib structures that required repair or replacement. Harbourside was engaged by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours to complete the planning, design, and contract administration for the rehabilitation of the two timber crib structures. Harbourside also upgraded the shore protection near the entrance to the Pointe-Sapin Harbour, New Brunswick, with additional breakwater along the easter face of the wharf to protect the harbour from the increased effects of climate change.
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.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours, to design a replacement structure for half of the Georgetown Harbour Wharf pier and a new containment cell in Kings County, Prince Edward Island. Our scope for this project included pre-design services, a site investigation and assessment of the existing conditions, and concept designs through options analysis of the potential wharf structures. The design phase was completed in 2018, and construction finished in the spring of 2024.
The original Bay of Quinte Skyway Bridge was constructed in 1967. Though it had received some rehabilitation work in the 90s, it had been nearly 30 years since its last major maintenance project. Harbourside was hired to develop and design the erection sequence, erection methods, and temporary works. Early in its development, this project would earn the 2019 CISC Award of Merit in the category of Bridges.
Small craft harbours are the heart of the Maritimes. In 2021, Harbourside was hired by DFO Small Craft Harbours through a Standing Offer to develop two separate tender packages. These were created in order to design and replace the existing marginal wharf structure for the Petit-Cap Harbour, New Brunswick.
Harbourside Engineering provided erection engineering services for the fabrication, transportation, and erection of four steel arch bridges for Waterfront Toronto, Ontario. Two of the new bridges cross the Keating Channel to replace the previous Cherry Street North Bridge, and the other two, on Cherry Street and Commissioners Street, cross the new river valley at the mouth of the Don River. Most of the work to build and coat these structures was completed in Nova Scotia, and they were later transported by barge to Toronto.
Demolition Engineering Projects
Demolition Engineering.
No other firm in Atlantic Canada has the experience in demolition engineering to match Harbourside's. We’ve completed demolition engineering designs for all types of structures.
Demolition Engineering Services.
Our expertise has allowed us to complete some of the most technically challenging demolitions imaginable. These projects have been recognized on the national stage for their efficiency and ingenuity.
Carter’s Point Wharf was an existing deteriorating structure requiring replacement, so Harbourside Engineering was hired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Small Craft Harbours, to design the demolition and reconstruction work with a berlin wall structure. The project also included the engineering design and construction of a new launching ramp and containment cell to store the dredge materials created during construction. The project’s design phase was completed in 2023, with construction wrapping up in 2025.
Harbourside Engineering was named as Deconstruction Engineers for the Old Champlain Bridge, which joined Brossard to Montréal, Québec, and spanned the active St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation Channel as the busiest vehicular bridge in Canada. Reports indicated hazards related to the structure of the bridge, with partial or complete collapse being a legitimate risk. Its demolition ensured the safety of Québec residents, and Harbourside was awarded the 2023 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in Engineering as a result of this project.
When the former Groundhog River Bridge, a vital piece of infrastructure on the Trans-Canada Highway in Fauquier, Ontario, approached the end of its service life, Harbourside was contracted in 2021 by Facca Incorporated to provide alternative options for demolition. Harbourside proposed a de-launch methodology that allowed for de-launch of the bridge superstructure on the approaches. Harbourside conducted a full analysis of the bridge during all phases of the demolition, as well as a full floating stability analysis for the barges supporting the bridge.
Harbourside was engaged by the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal to conduct full assessments on the East River Bridge in Sheet Harbour and the Sydney River Bridge in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. A cost-comparison between rehabilitation and replacement was put forward, deeming a full replacement as most effective option for both. Harbourside completed the detailed design of replacement structures for the two sites, along with providing construction engineering services for the demolition of the existing bridges.
The Shubenacadie River Bridges were in poor condition, so Harbourside Engineering Consultants produced detailed design and construction phasing drawings for the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. The project included a full assessment of the existing structures, and the resulting report presented three options to address the problems with the structures. Harbourside undertook the complete erection package for the replacement superstructures, the complete demolition design of the existing superstructures, and the detailed construction phasing.
The new Indian Sluice Bridge is a three span, twin trapezoidal steel box girder bridge spanning over Indian Sluice Bay that replaces a century-old, deteriorated structure connecting the mainland to Surette’s Island in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. During preliminary designs, Harbourside identified significant concerns regarding the constructability of the parent design and completed a value engineering alternate design during the tender period. The new bridge was opened to traffic in June of 2014, nearly four months ahead of the original schedule.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants was engaged to complete an engineered demolition plan to remove the center 40.5 m span of the existing Magaguadavic River Bridge close to Saint George, New Brunswick. Harbourside developed an innovative demolition technique where the structure was broken at mid-span to create two prop-cantilevered structures, which were then demolished by Dexter Construction with an excavator, located on the deck with a breaker attachment.
Harbourside worked with Dexter Construction on the demolition of the Sangster Bridge in Hants County, Nova Scotia, in 2010. The original demolition plan (not provided by Harbourside) proposed a temporary in-water support and lifted the bridge out in two sections due to the limited crane sizes available. Harbourside instead developed a demolition plan that supported one end of the bridge on modular barge units, allowing the bridge to be floated to one approach and demolished in sections on land.
The Ramp 9 Structure Demolition and Overload Analysis project entailed the detailed demolition design of a post-tensioned concrete box structure in the north end of Halifax, Nova Scotia, adjacent to the MacKay Bridge. Harbourside Engineering Consultants developed two systems to demolish the structure: one that involved braced pile bents to support the structure during demo from the ground, and one for the spans crossing over the roads and bridges below. Harbourside Engineering also conducted an overload review, including a full structural analysis of the structure.
Demolition Engineering Service Offering
Bridges.
Marine Structures.
Buildings.
Gantry Cranes.
Industrial Facilities.
Cable Supported Structures
Structural Engineering for the Industrial Sector.
Harbourside provides all forms of structural engineering services to the industrial sector. Our experience from all spheres helps us to provide the highest level of value to our clients. Practical solutions and innovative designs are at the heart of everything we do.
Harbourside is known for its esthetically pleasing, award-winning engineering designs. With a focus on appearance, and constructability, Harbourside specializes in Marine, Coastal structures, bridges, transportation infrastructure, and designs for the industrial sector.
Harbourside Engineering Consultants is comprised of structural engineers who are proficient in the repair and rehabilitation of various structures. Our specialty is in marine structures, coastal structures, and bridges, as well as part of the industrial sector. The Harbourside team is also responsive when it comes to emergency repairs.
Harbourside Engineering Group provides non-destructive testing and monitoring for the industrial sector. We are known for our thorough analysis and detailed reporting.
Harbourside Geotechnical Consultants is responsible for detailed inspections, investigations and studies for the industrial sector. They are responsible for the examination of soil, rock, groundwater, foundations and more.
