The Arbutus Corridor is located on the unceded territories of Squamish Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh First Nation. It stretches 8.8 km from False Creek towards the Fraser River. For the first time ever, the City of Vancouver initiated this exciting project to pilot an innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) lighting system along a segment of the pathway.

The pathway was poorly lit at night and required better lighting to improve public safety. The goal of the pilot project was to install lighting along the selected segment of the pathway between West 33rd and 37th Avenue. Primary partnered with Urban Solar and Mainroad Transtronic to provide a turnkey solution. Primary completed the lighting design (luminance specifications, calculations and placements) and provided project and construction management services. A challenging obstacle was in the placement of some lights near a steep drop-off along the pathway. Primary came up with the innovative solution of employing helical piling for the lighting footings, saving the City future maintenance costs, and maintaining the City’s tight construction timeline. The result was a successful implementation and installation in June 2019 of thirty solar-powered LED lights that increased public safety along the pathway.