Riverside Road

Transforming One of Abbotsford’s Most Challenging Greenfield Sites

What began as a greenfield industrial development quickly evolved into a highly complex construction challenge. Orion transformed a constrained site into a six-building industrial campus through disciplined planning, adaptive execution, and collaborative construction management, delivering phased occupancy while protecting environmentally sensitive habitat.

Building the Site Before Building the Project

Before vertical construction could begin, Orion overcame unforeseen geotechnical conditions, including peat deposits up to 40 feet deep, requiring extensive excavation and major civil works. A two-kilometre retaining wall was constructed to protect the adjacent Streamside Protection and Enhancement Area (SPEA), while a fish-bearing watercourse was diverted through a new stormwater channel integrated into the site’s servicing strategy. Construction was carefully sequenced with three-month staggered phases, enabling continuous progress across six buildings while coordinating individual permits, municipal servicing, environmental monitoring, and active tenant occupancy.

Engineering Confidence Through Construction Management

Challenge: Significant unforeseen peat deposits and environmental constraints.

Solution: Rapid resequencing, proactive civil coordination, and continuous environmental monitoring.

Result: Full site development completed while maintaining environmental compliance and project momentum.

Challenge: Phased construction alongside occupied buildings.

Solution: Detailed logistics, traffic management, tenant communication, and controlled work zones.

Result: Safe concurrent occupancy with no operational disruption.

Turning one of Abbotsford’s most technically demanding industrial sites into a thriving business park demonstrates Orion’s ability to solve complex challenges while delivering lasting value.