Federal infrastructure

Canada’s national parks cover 450,000 km² and welcome about 15 million visitors each year. COWI supports Parks Canada with inspection, load rating, rehabilitation design, and construction-phase engineering for bridges, culverts, wildlife crossings, and related infrastructure across Western and Northern Canada.

Over the past 15 years, more than 200 projects have been delivered, including condition assessments, asset management support, and detailed rehabilitation designs. Our work addresses aging and new infrastructure, safety, hydraulics, and service life, spanning from surveys and retrofit design to tendering, and resident and non-resident engineering services across the national parks network.

COWI served as the designer of record for the replacement of Pier 12 at the US Navy Base in San Diego, delivering a modern, resilient facility for deep draft naval vessels. The new concrete pier improves safety, access, and long-term performance while meeting strict environmental requirements.

The work included demolition of the old pier, deep dredging, a new pile-supported pier, and upgraded ship-to-shore utilities for safe, efficient operations and reliability. COWI provided end to end engineering services, including structural and seismic design, geotechnical and coastal evaluations, dredging design, and coordination of mechanical and electrical works. 

In support of the U.S. Navy operations in San Diego, California, COWI designed a new floating dry dock mooring facility in a joint venture partnership with GHD. Working closely with key stakeholders, the team delivered a modern, resilient facility that will reduce ship maintenance deferrals from 71 to 17.

Building on experience from the BAE San Diego Dry Dock, we developed a seismically robust gripper system that allows continued operation after an earthquake. We also completed full design-bid-build construction packages, technical reviews, environmental support, site investigations, and multidisciplinary engineering for waterfront, shoreside, and support facilities.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southwest contracted COWI and GHD to develop a design build RFP for a new permanent berthing and maintenance pier at Naval Base San Diego, replacing the aging Pier 8. The new 117  by 1,600 foot pier provides a 75 year service life and supports modern Navy vessels, including LCS, LPD 17, and LHA classes, with 140 ton crane operations and a 750 pounds per square foot live load.

COWI delivered investigations, utility coordination, site and demolition planning, dredging evaluation, and detailed pier layouts integrating marine hardware, force protection features, and comprehensive utility systems. COWI's design eliminated the need for dredging under the pier, saving USD 10 million and shortening construction. 

COWI is a trusted partner in planning, designing and delivering transportation infrastructure that strengthens connectivity and supports sustainable growth across North America. Drawing on decades of global expertise and strong local presence, we support public and private customers throughout the project lifecycle.

Across North America, COWI delivers water infrastructure solutions, designing dams, hydraulic structures, and water and wastewater tunnels through close customer collaboration, applying global expertise to ensure reliable service, long‑term resiliency and solutions to water challenges.

COWI offers engineering consultancy to federal agencies across North America. In Canada, we work with Parks Canada to inspect and maintain bridge assets. In the United States, we partner with the U.S. Navy, delivering resilient marine infrastructure.

COWI helps customers across North America strengthen climate resiliency through coastal protection and flood control, assessing risk, adapting infrastructure, and protecting communities, assets and ecosystems with robust strategies for extreme weather and rising sea levels.

COWI supports North America’s energy transition through engineering services for offshore wind, green fuels, microgrids and waste‑to‑energy. We combine global expertise and local insight to help customers reduce emissions and strengthen energy security.