The first tower crane is now installed at McGill’s Sustainability Park site on Montreal’s former Royal Victoria Hospital grounds. It marks a transition from years of site preparation toward building construction—but McGill’s Oct. 6, 2026 report said construction work was expected to begin within a few weeks, with the site expected to be in full swing in about six weeks. Those were forecasts, not confirmation that all construction had already started.
What the first crane means for the project
Installing the crane is a visible milestone after extensive preparation, including decontamination, asbestos removal, demolition and excavation. It signals that the site is moving toward construction of the Sustainability Park, a teaching and research hub planned for the former hospital grounds.
The development combines one new building with the restoration of three heritage pavilions. McGill describes the historic structures as roughly 130 years old, making careful excavation and vibration control important as work advances near them. The project was formerly known as the New Vic Project; McGill’s Sustainability Park project page provides the university’s project overview.
Crane specifications and planned site rollout
McGill Reporter’s Oct. 6, 2026 account gives these specifications for the first crane:
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- Height: 75 metres.
- Jib length: 66 metres.
- Stated maximum lift: 20,000 kilograms.
The crane is intended to handle formwork, move construction materials and remove demolition debris. McGill says three cranes are planned for different work areas. The first is the tallest of the three; the other two were expected to be installed by the end of October 2026, according to the same report.
From preparation work to building construction
Site preparation began well before the crane arrived. McGill’s Oct. 6 account says decontamination started in January 2022. A major asbestos-removal operation followed, and pavilions M and S were demolished between January and September 2023. Excavation and other enabling work also took place before this construction milestone.
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The distinction matters: a crane installation is evidence of progress and readiness for the next stage, but it does not by itself establish that every part of permanent building construction has begun. The Oct. 6 report described that work as expected within weeks.
How the project is handling materials and heritage structures
McGill says the project is targeting a 90% material recovery rate, with materials sorted, weighed and catalogued for reuse or recycling. Its Oct. 6 account gives examples of that approach:
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- Concrete from demolition was crushed and reused as gravel for site access roads.
- Cast-iron radiators were refurbished and converted to electric operation.
- Some lights were reused in student residences.
Alongside material recovery, excavation near the heritage pavilions requires care to limit vibration and protect the structures. McGill identifies these protections as important to the work ahead.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Geothermal well count: figures vary by report date
McGill’s Oct. 6, 2026 article describes an eventual geothermal system of 173 wells, each 250 metres deep, intended to supply most winter heating. Earlier McGill reporting used a different count: the Feb. 13, 2026 McGill Reporter article described 171 wells, each over 250 metres deep. McGill Procurement Services also reported 171 wells on Sept. 25, 2025, saying they could provide up to 50% of heating needs in the worst winter months.
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The cited accounts do not explain the change from 171 to 173 or establish that the descriptions use identical scope. The figures should therefore be read as report-specific, not as a single unchanged specification. The Feb. 2026 McGill Reporter article said the complex was expected to open in 2029; McGill’s Sept. 2025 coverage also gave a 2029 delivery target.
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