Why connectivity is key to designing high-performance infrastructure

At their best, large high-performance infrastructure projects are more than just physical structures but rather connective environments that enable communities and nature to grow together. 

Key to designing these complex projects, comprised of roads and railways, water and energy systems, and major public buildings, is to first connect with the community and envi­ronment, says Tony Gill, senior director of the recently launched Canadian architecture and master planning practice, at global engineer­ing giant AtkinsRéalis.

Many architecture and master planning firms focus on the visual impact of a design, but Mr. Gill’s core holistic philosophy emphasizes infrastructure’s power to foster connection, sustainability and experiences.

“It’s not only about creating iconic buildings or places,” he explains. “Great design has the power to transform lives and communities. We develop vital support systems for daily life, not just buildings.”

In health care, he adds, the goal is to design a full operational experience. By ensuring that clinicians and support staff can perform at their best, patient outcomes improve. A holistic approach to designing the building system enhances safety and provides a more positive experience for everyone.

Mr. Gill points to Vancouver’s Canada Line, completed by AtkinsRéalis in 2010, as an example of how transit should function. The commuter’s arrival at the station should be “a smooth, comfortable experience,” he says.

The commuter may not notice the station’s landscaping, natural light or air quality on the train, but all have been meticulously planned to promote engagement, safety and sustainability.

“We will always remember the people and places we visited better when we have great connections,” Mr. Gill says.

For more than a century, AtkinsRéalis has built critical infrastructure and high-perfor­mance buildings across Canada, playing a pivotal role in moulding the framework that supports Canadians.

“Buildings and infrastructure have become highly complex as our cities grow and face increasing social, economic and environ­mental concerns,” says Mr. Gill. “This holistic approach makes it easier to incorporate all aspects of projects from the outset. You can’t build infrastructure projects in silos anymore.”

Typically, architects create a design and incorporate engineering requirements, some­times with each having their own idea of the finished product. AtkinsRéalis brings everyone together from the start – client and commu­nity stakeholders, architects, master planners and engineers.

This progressive approach provides a competitive, cost-saving edge. An Arizona State University study, showed that when multidisciplinary expertise is combined on a shared model in real-time, project delivery time can be up to 35 per cent faster.

Transformational projects in the works

AtkinsRéalis is currently involved with projects across Canada, including a major, urban health-care facility that aims to embody the vibrant city it serves.

Unlike traditional hospitals, typically focused on operations, this new design “will be influenced by the community, creating a great experience for patients and uplifting the neighbourhood,” says Mr. Gill.

Coordinating networks necessary for a hospital – such as routes and access for ambu­lances and large delivery vehicles – requires collaboration “to bring it to a scale that the community can live with,” he says.

Prioritizing a strong community relationship, while leveraging a tech-enabled approach, the hospital will form part of a larger hub that includes parks, retail, green mobility and a nearby community centre.

The hospital’s interior is designed to im­prove patient health outcomes by incorporat­ing natural light, views of nature and cultural characteristics unique to the community, including works by local artists.

A study by the U.S. National Institute of Health, demonstrated that up to 35 per cent of a patient’s satisfaction with a health-care experience is influenced by facility design.

Given the link between human and envi­ronmental health, the hospital’s masterplan incorporates renewable energy sources and energy-efficient building technologies.

While these digitally enabled systems may increase initial capital costs, they can deliver a return on investment of up to 45 per cent over a building’s lifetime, according to a 2024 Quebec study on the profitability of decarbonization.

Taking the ordinary to the extraordinary

With human-centered design emerging as a guiding principle in modern architecture, architects are increasingly collaborating not just with master planners and engineers but with other disciplines.

“A human-centric approach puts the end-user first, prioritizing design that connects people to the places within their communities and supports social cohesion,” Mr. Gill explains.

Architecture improves engineering by integrating what Mr. Gill calls the HATS: hu­manities, arts, technologies and sciences. At­kinsRéalis is using this approach on a school, incorporating agricultural land so students can learn to grow food, which “connects them back to the land and to spirituality,” he says.

Another recently completed design for a rehabilitation facility for physically challenged children, many of whom are in wheelchairs, included features such as easily accessible electrical outlets, a precisely calibrated ramp grade and optimum room temperatures.

“We went beyond the engineering perspec­tive and viewed the facility through the lens of its users,” says Mr. Gill.

The HATS integration is also being applied to a new correctional facility under development in western Canada, designed to emphasize rehabilitation through training, therapeutic programs and a natural waterside setting.

To reduce inmate violence, mental illness and recidivism, “we must ensure these facilities provide necessities like fresh air and natural light,” says Mr. Gill.

“If we design prisons like we’ve always designed them, the outcomes won’t change,” he says.

Unlike traditional approaches that often prioritize form or cost-efficiency, human-centered infrastructure-planning starts with appreciating the ways in which spaces will affect the well-being of the people who live or work in them.

When architects and engineers work togeth­er, facility and infrastructure design become more meaningful and well thought out, Mr. Gill says.

He refers to these complex, high-perfor­mance facilities as “mission-critical, 24/7 operations.”

“People rely on them every day, so they have to perform at an exacting level,” he says. “This includes railways, highways, hospitals, as well as power and energy.”

Connecting people, data and technology

Technology is a strong driver in this holistic practice, although, as Mr. Gill points out, “AI isn’t going to replace what we do creatively. It’s an enabler.”

Predictive AI and data analysis can model countless scenarios, analyze more design options and provide real-time insights into smart projects.

These smart facilities are increasingly inter­acting with and connecting communities while also advancing net-zero solutions. By combin­ing the arts and humanities with science and technology, Mr. Gills adds, “we create better experiences, enhance our quality of life and help safeguard the planet.”