Gordie Howe International Bridge: An ambitious border crossing for Canada and the US

Spanning Windsor and Detroit, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is North America’s most ambitious border crossing, facilitating over $100 billion in annual trade and handling 30% of Canada–U.S. commercial traffic. With existing crossings strained by congestion and inefficiencies, this new infrastructure project is designed to improve security, increase capacity, and enable seamless movement.

In 2015, Kasian was chosen by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority as Compliance Architect on the project – the largest public-private partnership (P3) of its kind in Canada. This included planning and designing the Canadian Port of Entry, guiding the overall aesthetic vision, and delivering architecture, interiors, and signage through to completion.

The design balances complex safety and security protocols with the human experience. Together with Parsons and Morrison Hershfield/Stantec, Kasian worked closely with U.S. and Canadian government agencies, consultants, and local communities to create a cohesive cross-border experience.

An aesthetic strategy was developed around the theme of a calm welcome. Drawing from the local Carolinian Forest and the region’s automotive industry, the port of entry features terracotta, wood, aluminium, and concrete, enhanced by natural light and a neutral, minimalist palette.

The landscape design introduces native plants in a continuous green belt spanning both sides of the crossing. Public art installations and cultural references reinforce the shared identity of the region. The bridge also connects to the 28,000 km Trans Canada Trail, becoming its first international crossing.

Anticipated to create 2,500 jobs, the project sets a new benchmark for international infrastructure, elevating the border experience while facilitating trade and growth opportunities between both nations.

“The GHIB project is a prime example of what can be achieved when you champion design excellence through collaboration. We shared ideas, values and used our previous experience to improve cross-border travel for generations.” – Sanja Djulepa, Principal