Stantec selected to design master plan for Isla Grande in Holbox, Mexico

The plan will detail sustainable development opportunities for the barrier island community

HOLBOX, Mexico – TSX, NYSE:STN

Leading global design firm Stantec has been selected to lead a sustainable master plan and vision for a new eco-tourism resort destination on Holbox Island. The plan will identify the type of sustainable developments that can be achieved on the island, along with the vision for developing the land. Additionally, the plan will include recommended infrastructure technologies along with detailed guidelines for the development.

The 16-mile-long barrier island, located in the north of the Yucatán Peninsula facing the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Mexico, is home to a diverse ecology and wildlife habit that has spurred growth in tourism in the region for the last 15 years. The natural beauty of the island along with the growing trend for nature-based tourist destinations has created a need for resort expansion within the local community. The master plan and vision for the island outlines the development for eco-resorts and hotels, and residential communities, along with a retail welcome village, a marina, a permaculture farm, and a marine science center. The plan for development also implements resiliency and sustainability efforts for the surrounding island ecosystem that leaves over 90 percent of the island undeveloped and reserved for conservation.

“Developing a resort community along a 16-mile shoreline with a focus on experiential design that tells the story of the island’s unique habitat and ecology will enable guests and residents to be immersed in nature-based solutions and provides an emotional connection to what it means to live in an ecological sustainable place”, said Greg Meyer, principal at Stantec. “We’re passionate about creating destinations that respect the surrounding environment in order to create a resilient future for communities.”

The Stantec team has created a master plan to sustainably develop the 11,200-acre island. Along with infrastructure for tourism, the plan will include proposed goals for roadways, nature trails, common areas, and support infrastructure all within the vison goals of low impact to the land and sea. The team will also create plans for water and wastewater management, renewable power, data strategies, and sustainability and resiliency strategies. The overarching goal of this plan aims to create experiences that are valuable for the island’s tourism industry while preserving the natural habitat of the island.

Stantec has built a 45-plus year reputation as community planners and experience designers. The firm is known for creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure to provide value for generations to come. The Stantec team designed the award-winning Robinson Preserve Expansion project in Bradenton, Florida, restoring native habitats for tidal estuarine fish, rare coastal upland forests, and a high-functioning coastal wetland system. The firm also completed the Red River Gorge Regional Tourism Study in Kentucky, creating a strategy for the future of tourism development in the area driven by principles based on sustainable economic development and natural resource protection.