Toronto Pearson kicks off decade-long expansion with progressive design-build team

Key Takeaways:

• The GTAA has chosen the Pearson Accelerator Construction Team—Kenaidan, Alberici, Amico and Obayashi—to deliver the initial “Accelerator” phase of the airport’s LIFT program under a progressive design-build model.
• A separate procurement is now open for the T1/T3 Revitalization, giving design-build teams a chance to bid on large-scale interior, systems and commercial upgrades to Pearson’s two busiest terminals.
• With traffic projected to reach roughly 65 million passengers by the early 2030s, the decade-long LIFT program is expected to generate thousands of skilled-trade and professional positions and a steady pipeline of MERX tenders for contractors and suppliers.

The Whole Story:

Toronto Pearson International Airport has tapped a Canadian-led consortium to deliver the first construction package in its multi-billion-dollar LIFT overhaul and has opened bidding for a sweeping makeover of Terminals 1 and 3.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority said the Pearson Accelerator Construction Team — a general partnership of Kenaidan Contracting Ltd., Alberici Constructors Ltd., Amico Major Projects Inc. and Obayashi Canada Ltd. — will plan, design and build the “Accelerator” phase, which includes early air-side, utility and building-systems upgrades. The four firms, which together have worked on more than 170 airport projects worldwide, will be supported by a design joint venture of Egis Canada and Mott MacDonald, with architectural and engineering input from Weston Williamson + Partners, WSP Canada and Woods Bagot.

The work will proceed under a progressive design-build contract, a collaborative model the GTAA says should speed decisions and keep costs in check.

At the same time, the authority has launched a competitive procurement for the T1/T3 Revitalization program — a project to renew passenger-processing areas, building systems and commercial space in Pearson’s two oldest terminals. Tender documents are posted on the MERX platform, with a shortlist to follow in 2026.

“These three major milestones are advancements of Pearson LIFT, investing in Canadian infrastructure to position Toronto Pearson to compete well into the future,” GTAA president and chief executive Deborah Flint said in a statement. “Protecting and reinforcing Canada’s global connectivity is critical to strengthening supply chains, and fueling growth of Canadian innovation, business and jobs.”

Pearson handled 46.8 million passengers last year, up 4.4 per cent from 2023, and expects traffic to climb to about 65 million by the early 2030s. The LIFT program, which follows the 2004 opening of Terminal 1, is meant to add capacity, modernize aging assets and cut emissions through more efficient building systems. The GTAA says the effort will generate thousands of skilled-trade and professional jobs over the next decade, with future construction packages to be advertised on MERX.