Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre
2021-2024 | Jasper National Park, Jasper, AB
McElhanney served as Prime Consultant for the planning, design, and delivery of the Caribou Conservation Breeding Centre in Jasper National Park: North America’s first facility dedicated to conservation breeding of woodland caribou. This project supports Parks Canada’s long-term caribou recovery program by providing secure, purpose-built infrastructure for breeding, calving, handling, and animal care while minimizing environmental disturbance and human interaction.
The 65-hectare facility includes more than 20km of wildlife fencing, over 250 gates, and three specialized buildings: a handling barn, an administration and research building, and an equipment garage. Site planning and engineering were closely coordinated throughout the design process with animal specialists, architects, Parks Canada, and Indigenous partners, integrating high standards of animal welfare and husbandry with environmental protection, wildfire resilience, and operational efficiency – all in a remote subalpine setting within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The facility was completed on schedule and within budget despite wildfire impacts and complex site constraints, and successfully welcomed its first caribou in winter 2025.
As Prime Consultant, McElhanney provided:
- Project Management
- Planning, Engineering and Design
- Subconsultant Coordination
- Tender Preparation
- Construction Supervision
- Contract Administration
- PostConstruction Services
