28 May 2024
Bombardier Inc. (TSX: BBD.B), celebrates the grand opening of its leading-edge Global product line jet manufacturing campus at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Designed by NEUF architect(e)s, the 750,000 sq ft facility sets a new standard for precision, efficiency, and sustainability in the aerospace industry achieved within a workplace environment similar in complexity to a healthcare complex.
The new aerospace campus marks a strategic leap forward from Bombardier's decades-old Downsview Airport facility, currently slated for redevelopment. The purpose-built design incorporates innovative design and modern materials while exceeding building standards to optimize manufacturing processes for the company's signature business jets.
"Building an aircraft is an undertaking that rivals the complexity of a major building project," said Graham Kelly, VP of Operations at Bombardier. " We needed a space that could not only handle the scale of our manufacturing operations but also reflect our commitment to innovation and exceeding client expectations while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our employees.” NEUF helped do exactly that.
The new Bombardier facility's architecture optimizes efficiency with an innovative production layout, enabling faster aircraft assembly with complete lines of sight throughout the manufacturing and testing processes. The NEUF team created an architecture that successfully coordinates specialized teams, automated equipment, robotics, tooling and the mobilization of precision components and instrumentation, resulting in an efficient, accurate and safe production ecosystem where employees work in naturally daylight environments with minimal acoustic distractions. Many electrical, ventilation, thermal and humidity requirements necessitated a strategy to optimize energy use while reducing waste to align with Bombardier's commitment to environmentally responsible operations. Architectural strategies include comprehensive site engineering and coordinating fire and life safety requirements. The NEUF design team led a complex collaboration with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), TÜV SÜD Global Risk Consultants, the City of Mississauga, Transport Canada, and NAV Canada to ensure the facility met the industry's most stringent fire, life-safety, and flight operations standards.
As multimillion-dollar jets come to life, NEUF designed all aspects of this 24-hour aerospace manufacturing ecosystem to enhance employee morale and wellbeing, not just their safety. Abundant natural light and dedicated training and collaboration spaces, combined with visual connections, boost employee motivation and productivity. Minimal travel distances between workstations, offices, and the production floor increase efficiency while contributing to employee interaction and sociability. Within the Bombardier campus, the interwoven spatial and programmatic complexities are comparable to those of a hospital where safety, clear communication between staff, and precise outcomes depend upon design clarity and rigour.
With a 50-year track record designing industry-specific and complex technology-based projects, NEUF brought their unique expertise and tested design processes to create the latest aerospace manufacturing. They evolved Bombardier's existing manufacturing methodology and identified opportunities for innovation and improvement while working within a tight site, stringent safety protocols, and global aviation standards.
"Designing for aerospace isn't just about the physical structure," said Lilia Koleva, Partner Architect at NEUF. It's about creating a space that perfectly supports Bombardier's workflow, its people, and the meticulous detail that goes into every jet it builds."
Bombardier is a cornerstone of Canadian industry, and NEUF is proud to have played a role in the company's next chapter. This aerospace campus is a testament to both companies' shared drive for progress and the continued importance of advanced manufacturing in Canada, which will be studied and admired internationally for its thoughtful design and meaningful advancement of workplace methodology.
