Archaeology and Heritage

Development and history may at times seem to be at odds. The effects of environment and time, along with urbanization and the ever-increasing need for new infrastructure, keeps our landscape changing. However, historic places and structures connect us to our past, contributing to our identity and who we are as a society.

We help our clients make informed decisions for the future of their built and natural landscape while keeping its character intact, empowering them as the custodians who connect heritage with the future.

WSP helps clients achieve their objectives by advising them at all stages of a project on how to comply with international, national, and local planning policy and best practice. Our team contributes to the identification, mitigation of developmental impacts and conservation of cultural heritage resources across the world, delivering solutions that respect the environmental, aesthetic, cultural, and historical values that shape our communities and their collective identities. We liaise extensively with the public, local architectural conservation advisory committees, and other stakeholders. We have advised on archaeological sites, landscapes, structures, and monuments internationally.

Our Archeology and Heritage services include:

Archaeology

Property assessment
Cultural resource management
Special places
Archaeological overview assessments
Archaeological inventory or surveys
Archaeological impact assessments
Implementation of mitigation strategies
Archaeological analysis
Monitoring the condition of archaeological resources
Master plan development
Ground penetrating radar
Augmented reality
3D modelling

Heritage Planning

Heritage planning policy
Heritage conservation district studies and plans

Built Heritage and Cultural Heritage Landscapes

Built heritage assessments
Heritage streetscape revitalization and design
Heritage urban design
Cultural heritage landscape surveys, analysis, research and evaluation
Historic site restoration
Cultural heritage landscape design and restoration

Building Rehabilitation

Structural evaluation of existing buildings
Structural design of new additions to existing buildings
Seismic retrofit of existing buildings and structures
Bridge evaluation and retrofit
Façade evaluation, repair design, contract administration and construction review
Performance modelling of existing wall/window assemblies for durability and retrofit

Case studies

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Centre Block Rehabilitation Project

WSP is guiding the CENTRUS joint venture and providing engineering and design management services for Canada’s largest and most complex heritage rehabilitation project.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Museum Of Nature, Ottawa

The Victoria Memorial Museum Building (VMMB) was the first purpose-built museum in Canada. Built between 1905 and 1910, the museum is one of the most significant heritage structures in Ottawa, and a Canadian National Historic Site.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

City of Toronto Watermain Rehabilitation Program

Since 2015, WSP has provided the City of Toronto with design, project management, and contract administration support for watermain rehabilitation as they work to meet their 10-year goal of eliminating the state of good repair backlog.

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Confederation Line

Ottawa’s first Light Rail Transit system is an ongoing Design-Build-Finance-Maintain project delivered by WSP as a joint venture with the Rideau Transit Group.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Eglinton Cross Town

Eglinton Cross Town - Supporting city growth through transit expansion

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Lower Simcoe Street Off Ramp

WSP reconfigures and upgrades Downtown Toronto’s Lower Simcoe Street (York-Bay-Yonge) Off Ramp.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Union Station Enhancement Project

The newest improvement project at Toronto’s Union Station will deliver an expanded transit hub and enhanced rail and platform-level infrastructure supportive of the GO Expansion plan, which aims to increase regional rail service across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Waterloo Region Rapid Transit

The Waterloo Region LRT project is the first new-start light rail project in over 30 years in Canada and will include rail track-sharing between freight trains and light rail vehicles. This article discusses where this track-sharing model was first seen and how it has been adapted to suit the projected growth of Waterloo Region.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Union Station

Digging down to enhance station function while preserving the built environment.