The Dig-Down at Union Station - Structural Innovation and Heritage Conservation

Union Station, which opened in 1927, is Canada’s busiest transit hub. Until the 1970s, the station served as a primary gateway for immigrants arriving in Toronto. Its role shifted with the introduction of GO Transit, Ontario’s commuter train network, which has seen significant growth over the years. In 2006, the City of Toronto initiated a revitalization plan to expand and modernize the station, anticipating an increase in annual passengers from 70 million to a projected 90 million by 2036. The plan also aimed to restore the station’s historic features and develop it into a vibrant commercial and retail destination.

This presentation will focus on the innovative structural engineering solutions implemented—unprecedented at this scale in Canada. The revitalization ensured uninterrupted operations for Metrolinx (Ontario’s regional transit network), Via Rail (Canada’s passenger train service), and maintained seamless access to the Toronto Transit Commission’s subway station throughout the construction process. The presentation will also highlight the heritage significance of Union Station. The work on the heritage conservation won in October 2024 the Heritage Toronto Award for Planning and Architecture Built Heritage.

Speaker

Dr. Hassan Saffarini, P.Eng., Ph.D., PMP, LEED® AP, CAHP

Dr. Hassan Saffarini is a structural engineer with acknowledged proficiency and a rich portfolio of projects internationally. Since obtaining his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, he has accumulated more than 35 years of experience in the architecture and engineering industry, where along the way he co-founded and led a successful international multidisciplinary practice.

He has been at NORR, an architecture and engineering firm, since 2007 and is a Principal who leads large-scale design solutions, employing his project management acumen and diverse experience to deliver effectively to clients while mentoring his team  from one challenge to the next. 

Dr. Saffarini is active in multiple market sectors, taking on complex projects entailing new construction and renovations. He demonstrates dexterity and innovation in materializing daring architecture and repurposing historic buildings. He has worked for years on heritage buildings and even archeological sites’ stabilization. He was on the board of the Ontario Association of Heritage Professionals. Throughout his busy professional career, Dr. Saffarini has been involved academically and in the research field. He has published papers in many reputable international journals and speaks at conferences and other venues where he shares his experiences with professionals and the public. He is an adjunct professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and has assiduously spent time guiding students through their final year projects, a deed for which he received the G. Raymond Chang Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Presentation Moderator

Mai Abdou, P.Eng. Education Committee, PEO Oakville Chapter

Mai Abdou is the Supervisor of the Corporate Asset Management Office with the City of Mississauga where she manages the City's corporate asset management program to ensure service delivery needs are budgeted for and achieved in a reliable, safe and sustainable manner. Mai is a licensed professional engineer and certified asset management professional.