Gateway Canmore Sanitary Lift Stations

Construction Projects

Project Overview

  • Project: Gateway Lift Stations (Stations 11, 12 & 13)
  • Location: Canmore, Alberta
  • Delivery Method: Engineered Build
  • Project Type: Wastewater Lift Stations (Precast Concrete Wet Wells)

The Challenge

The Gateway Lift Stations project required three sanitary lift stations to serve the expanding Three Sisters Mountain Village development in Canmore. Key project challenges included:

  • Architectural specifications requiring buildings to match the aesthetic of surrounding development
  • Winter construction in Canmore with severe weather constraints and temperature extremes
  • Precast concrete wet well installation in challenging weather conditions
  • Force main and gravity main tie-ins requiring coordination with existing municipal infrastructure
  • Aggressive schedule requiring delivery from fall through winter to spring completion
  • Three concurrent lift stations requiring efficient project management and resource coordination
  • Mountain community standards requiring minimal disruption and high-quality finishes

Our Approach

Engineered Build 

Systems Group Inc.’s role was to execute the engineered design accurately, protect the schedule, and manage field coordination, especially under Canmore winter conditions and tight development standards.

This approach ensured the lift stations were delivered on schedule, met engineering standards and municipal requirements, and achieved the required architectural finish to match the surrounding Three Sisters Mountain Village development.

Self-Performed Scope

Systems Group Inc. self-performed mechanical, structural, and process piping work, giving us direct control over quality, schedule, and problem-solving throughout the challenging winter construction period.

Prefabrication Support 

We prefabricated building components off-site while site work progressed.

  • Work on fabrication in controlled shop environment while site work proceeded
  • Minimize on-site construction time
  • Improve quality control for architectural finishes

Architectural Integration

The Gateway Lift Stations required high architectural specifications to match surrounding mountain village buildings:

  • Building finishes designed to blend with Three Sisters Mountain Village aesthetic
  • High-quality materials and construction details suitable for visible locations
  • Architectural design review and approval process with development stakeholders
  • Building proportions, rooflines, and finishes coordinated with surrounding structures

Precast Concrete Wet Well Strategy

We selected precast concrete wet wells for:

  • Faster installation compared to cast-in-place construction
  • Factory quality control and precision manufacturing
  • Reduced weather-related delays during winter construction
  • Durability and long-term performance in mountain climate

Winter Construction Management

  • Heating and hoarding to maintain workable conditions for concrete work and tie-ins
  • Proactive scheduling to work around severe weather events
  • Force main and gravity main tie-ins completed in challenging winter conditions
  • Coordination with existing municipal infrastructure and utility constraints

Results

Schedule Performance

  • Schedule met despite challenging mountain weather and winter construction constraints
  • Three lift stations completed over five year span efficiently without schedule conflicts as development expanded

Technical Execution

  • Precast concrete wet well installation executed efficiently in winter conditions
  • Force main and gravity main tie-ins completed successfully despite challenging weather
  • Winter construction challenges managed with heating, hoarding, and proactive scheduling
  • Self-performed scope provided control and flexibility throughout challenging conditions

Architectural Quality

  • High-quality architectural finishes successfully matched Three Sisters Mountain Village aesthetic
  • Buildings blend seamlessly with surrounding community
  • Architectural specifications met and approved by development stakeholders

Quality and Performance

  • Systems designed and built for long-term reliability and maintainability in mountain climate
  • Fully operational lift stations delivered turnkey to owner
  • Integration with existing municipal infrastructure completed successfully

Project Highlights

"The Gateway Lift Stations required high architectural standards to fit the Three Sisters Mountain Village aesthetic. Prefabricating the buildings off-site while managing winter construction on-site allowed us to deliver quality results on the owner's schedule despite challenging mountain weather."

— Trevor Sigfusson, Systems Group Inc.