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3 | T h u rs d a y , D e c e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 6 | O A K V IL L E B E A V E R W hat sm art infrastructure m eans to Ontario by Julia Le Oakville Beaver Sta ff Investment in big infrastructure projects have come a long way since Infrastructure Ontario (IO) was created 11 years ago to manage, build, finance and enhance the value of Ontario' s vital public assets for the provincial government. Take the new Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH), which opened December 2015, for example, Ehren Cory divisional president of project delivery for Infrastructure Ontario, told guests at the Smart Infrastructure Symposium last Friday (Nov. 25). Its innovative architecture and technology work to deliver high-quality patient care, he said. Cory, the afternoon keynote speaker at the Oakville Convention Centre, was among numerous political and business leaders, academics and technical experts engaged in discussion about what smart infrastructure is and how to create project plans and deliverables. The forum, hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and the Professional Engineers' Oakville Chapter, also saw Adam Vaughan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and MP for Spadina-- Fort York, and Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig headlining the event. With investments in infrastructure promised by senior level governments, the symposium was an opportune time for the industry' s decision-makers and innovators to gather and discuss the issues surrounding infrastructure, Ehren Corey stated Caroline Hughes, chamber chair. Cory told about 250 attendees that in delivering projects, such as new hospitals, colleges, highway or transit lines, it looks at how to do so efficiently and effectively while maximizing potential for innovation and minimizing, avoiding or managing risk. "It' s not just the bricks and mortar on these walls anymore, it' s increasingly digitally-enabled infrastructure," said Cory noting in lab testing and drug dispensaries at hospitals like OTMH, technology is used to reduce error, improve speed and overall improve patient experience. Other hospitals, such as Humber River Hospital in Toronto, have technology embedded in the infrastructure too. Humber River, which was completed in October 2015 is known as the first digital hospital whereas the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital, currendy under construction, is lauded as the first digitally "smart" hospital in Canada, Cory said. "Each generation is incorporating new technologies in new ways to facilitate patient care," he said. "That' s become a new part of our reality, certainly different from where we were not long ago." IO is also changing the footprint of its existing assets by not just fixing roof and flooring, but adding new energy-efficient and "greening" elements, such as rooftop gardens and solar panels, while adhering to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards focused on healthy indoor environments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and efficient use of energy, water and other resources. Other unique projects, such as building on Toronto' s West Don Lands during the Toronto 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Am Games, were built to revitalize the area. The athletes village has been transformed into a YMCA and George Brown College student residence, Cory noted. "It creates not just a building, but a community," he said, noting it contributes positively to the economy. Cory boasted how IO has a good track record for delivering projects on-budget and on-time while meeting high standards for design, quality, and health and safety by leveraging private sector partnerships to expand, modernize and replace Ontario' s aging infrastructure, "recognizing all of our projects, everything we do, is public and private partnership in some way" That' s because IO makes sure it has front planning and a budget at the outset. Cory criticized `shovel-ready projects' as code for "lets get started and then we'll figure out what we're building later." Noting those projects leave too much room for drastic changes, he emphasized how important it is to "measure twice, cut once." "Be really clear in what it is you're trying to buy when you go to buy," he said. "We try to do that on standard documents and standard processes so there are no surprises in the market." Part of building smart is also having the right people to handle these big infrastructure projects, Cory continued. IO arms itself with advisers, engineers, and architects, and expects its private sector partners to hire the right contractors for the job. Cory also highlighted the challenges it faces in smart project delivery. While it works closely with Metrolinx on transit projects, invests in new hospitals, court facilities and Greater Toronto Highways, he said IO tries to minimize the impact on people wherever they can by building rules into its bidding process. For more on the event, visit www. oakvillechamber.com. | w w w .in s id e H A L T O N .c o m I will pay $15 for the kettle Make it $20 and its yours. NEED MORE C O U N TER SPACE? Tradyo is a mobile app that connects you with buyers and sellers that are nearest to you. Snap photos and post items you w ant to sell or chat with the sellers of things you w ant to buy. Really, it's that simple with Tradyo! 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