Graham is proud to continue our longstanding relationship with BC Hydro with the award of the Newell Substation upgrades in Burnaby.
Originally built between the 1940s and 1950s, the Newell Substation serves 59,000 residents in southern Burnaby while supporting the broader regional network. These upgrades will replace aging outdoor equipment, address safety risks from older infrastructure, and improve system reliability to meet growing community demands and support the shift to clean electricity.
Key project components include:
- Full civil construction of the new feeder building including foundations, superstructure, reactor bays, envelope and interiors
- Installation of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection systems, structural steel, and raised flooring in the control room
- Site infrastructure upgrades, including ground grid modifications, duct banks, manholes, and stormwater/sanitary systems with lift stations, as well as final grading and access roads
- Challenging slab construction directly over the existing 2L39 ductbank, requiring temporary support during concrete placement
- Careful management of groundwater and localized contaminated soils
This project builds on our complex substation and infrastructure projects across British Columbia, including our success on the Mainwaring Feeder Building, taking those proven approaches into an active, energized substation environment.
Construction began this summer and is scheduled to be completed in early 2028.
