The spark of discovery

TELUS Spark

From the start, the vision for TELUS Spark was clear—stimulate visitors and create excitement about the possibilities of science. The challenge was to deliver the physical structure that would promote an environment of engagement while maintaining budget and schedule objectives within an overheated construction market. Our integrated team of structural engineers, commissioning specialists and project management team worked with the client and architects to deliver on all fronts.

The site for the TELUS Spark is a 15 acre site north of the Calgary Zoo. With the desire to be a place where people can explore the fascinating world of science, technology, and art interactively, large open spaces host exhibits and presentations that engage the mind and senses interactively. A feature gallery provides space for touring exhibitions, while a multi-story atrium can accommodate a variety of conferences and events.

To address the construction market, we applied rigorous risk management strategies including a procurement strategy based on team quality and a fully collaborative approach. By using a CM-as-Agent approach to contracting for 75 percent of the work, we achieved cost control.