[Richmond] Olympic Oval | Completed

[mr.x]

RICHMOND OLYMPIC OVAL - world's largest oval

Location: Richmond (suburb south of Vancouver)
Distance from Vancouver Olympic Village: 15 km
Venue Capacity: 8,000 seats
Elevation: Sea level
Cost: CAN$170 million


Venue Description
The Richmond Oval site is located on the banks of the Fraser River, 25 minutes south of the Olympic Village in downtown Vancouver. The site, in the northwest corner of Richmond, is across the river from Vancouver International Airport and near the Richmond city centre.

Construction Update
The Richmond Oval will be an outstanding theatre for sport with a new 400-metre track housed in a 33,750-square-metre facility. Key design elements include a state-of-the-art ice plant with superior air quality and climate controls. Facilities and systems will include offices, timing and athlete monitoring equipment, and fitness and strength training areas. Construction began in September 2005 with a completion date of Fall 2008.

Post-Games Use
After the Games, the oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness. The oval’s flexible design will allow it to be used for a variety of sport and community functions. The oval will be the centrepiece of a major new urban waterfront neighbourhood featuring a mix of residential, commercial and public amenity development.

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8483/87450853xf5.jpg


Olympic mode
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Main_Activity_Area_-_2010_Games16689.jpg


Post-Games mode
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Main_Activity_Level_-_Post_Games16690.jpg


Lobby exterior
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Exterior_-_Southern_view16688.jpg


Exterior
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_Exterior_-_Southeast_view16687.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/3D_Exterior_Elevation14766.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Oval_Elevations_-_Fullsize12324.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Exterior_Festival_Plaza_View_-_Fullsize12322.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Exterior_Neighbourhood_View_-_Fullsize12326.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Exterior_Plaza_View_-_Fullsize12323.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Exterior_Plaza_View_2_-_Fullsize12327.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/UPDATED_Exterior_Plaza_View_3_-_Fullsize12328.jpg

[mr.x]

Site of the oval in Richmond - October 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_construction_panorama15146.jpg


December 2005
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2005-12-28__Fullsize12882.jpg


January 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-01-2013513.jpg


February 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/February_2006_Construction_Site13672.jpg


March 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/March_2006_Construction_Site13673.jpg


April 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-04-0614677.jpg


May 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-05-0814679.jpg


June 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated__2006-06-1114682.jpg


June 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-0815113.jpg


July 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-1415114.jpg


July 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-2115115.jpg


July 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-07-2915116.jpg


August 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-0215642.jpg


August 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-1015643.jpg


August 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-2015645.jpg


September 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-08-3115646.jpg


September 2006-2
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-09-0815647.jpg


September 2006-3
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction_Image_dated_2006-09-2515648.jpg



Site of the oval - October 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval_construction_panorama15146.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-10-2216706.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-10-2416707.jpg


November 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-11-0716708.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-11-2416710.jpg


December 2006
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-12-1616711.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated-2006-12-2916712.jpg


January 2007
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-1116714.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-1716715.jpg
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-Image-dated--2007-01-2416705.jpg



June 2007
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-2007-03-14-Camera-217215.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Construction-2007-03-1217214.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1100/628353085_2f85656a01_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1363/626813283_e273ac4c1f_o.jpg

[mr.x]

June 2007 - taken by Bils

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval1.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval2.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval3.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval4.jpg





July 2007
http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/2007-06-15-117870.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717927.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717932.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717928.jpg

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Runnels-Installed17934.jpg






Most recent picture - September 2007
http://www.richmond.ca/ovalsitecam/roo1024px.jpg

[SFUVancouver]

Very nice job!

I had no idea it was so far along.

[excel]

The scale of this project is just amazing, love it. Thanks for the construction timeline slideshow.

[David]

holy crap, i had absolutely no idea how far along it was.
it looks lovely!

[giallo]

The detailing inside the columns is a nice touch. Quality!

[Canadian Mind]

What is the detailing for, and who is it by?

Also, with regards to the roof, what part is wood? so far I've thought the beams were the wood, but they look gray as concrete. is it the roof surface instead that is wood, or were the beams sun-bleached and are soon to be stained?

[raggedy13]

^I think they might just be wrapped in some sort of protective film. If you look at this pic, it looks like you can see wrinkles along the beams that would suggest some sort of wrap.

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717928.jpg

[officedweller]

The beams are steel trusses, as seen in this pic by Bils posted above. They are wrapped in wood siding (the pine beetle wood, I think). The plastic must be to protect the wood.

http://www.richmond.ca/__shared/assets/Oval-0717932.jpg

[bils]

anyone know what the timeline for the adjacent oval lands (ASPAC) is? .... in terms of how much will be completed in time for the olympics? they'd better get the hell on it if they plan on having something done for 2010.

there is a rezoning application sign up in front of the warehouse at the NW corner of hollybridge & elmbridge. looks like an onni condo development. the site connects right up to the oval.

[bils]

i was out taking pictures of the thousands upon thousands of snow geese in richmond..... quite a sight. anyways, here's the oval from literally a few miles away. it's making quite an impressive mark on the richmond landscape.

http://www.bilsproductions.com/ovalnov.jpg

my photo

[mr.x]

^ nice shot, it will be a great facility.

[bils]

site prep/loading has begun on the western-most lots of the oval lands..... presumably the first signs of the aspac developments!

:banana:

[mr.x]

View from inside.
http://spitsnet.nl/uploaded/ANP/img-131107-082.onlineBild.jpg

[SpongeG]

i passed by the other other eve - was gonna take a pic but never did

it looks quite cool in the dusk hours

[bils]

did a little photo tour of richmond this afternoon. i posted the other pix in the appropriate threads. anyways, here's the oval ones:
--------
the first adjacent site i've noticed go to a development application
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval01.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval02.jpg

site loading on the west side of the oval lands. part of the aspac development perhaps?
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval03.jpg

same site loading
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval04.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval05.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval06.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval07.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval08.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval09.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval10.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval11.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval12.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval13.jpg

http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval14.jpg

[raggedy13]

Thanks for the pics, bils! They're great.

All that wood is looking pretty sweet...
http://www.bilsproductions.com/oval13.jpg

[mr.x]

thanks for the pics! looks amazing already.

[officedweller]

Great pics.
Those wooden cross members are written up in a Vancouver Magazine article this month (below). Apparently they are made from small 2x4s of pine beetle lumber all nailed together.

Golden Arches

One of the lasting legacies of the 2010 Games is likely to be the stunning roof that surmounts the Richmond Oval

By Trevor Boddy

http://www.vanmag.com/articles/07dec/Goldenarches.jpg
Image credit: Martin Tessler

Fine engineering—like fine art or fine wine—is about elegance, balance, and efficiency. Consider the roof at the Richmond Oval: the most original, innovative, and pleasing structure designed for the upcoming Winter Games. Deep arches leap over the ice surface where latex-slicked speed-skaters will race round and round. Each arch is something of a V-shaped blade itself, its ice-side terminating in an acute steel angle. It’s as if some behemoth Hans Brinker is about to break through the ribbed ceiling.

Set into these vaulting blades are four-foot-deep sections of composite wooden panels. These arched panels were the largest that could be shipped on flat-bed trucks from the Deas Island factory of StructureCraft Inc. to the site on River Road. The steel blade arches went up first, beginning this summer; then arched panels were set on either side to complete the roof. Each panel’s V-rib is stuffed with acoustics-improving mineral wool; fire-suppression pipes and nozzles are also threaded through the ribs. Design engineer Paul Fast has struck an artful balance here, mixing the strength (but cost) of steel with the malleability and local sheen (plus bang for buck) of the B.C.-made beams.

Long before our standard markets for dimension lumber collapsed in the U.S. housing meltdown, Fast’s partner, engineer Gerry Epp, was designing value-added uses for B.C.’s forest harvests (as in the timber columns and plywood peeler core-space frames his firm devised for Bing Thom’s Surrey Central City). As Epp was figuring out the roof, the scale of mountain pine beetle kill was becoming apparent. With blue-stained pine piling up at B.C. sawmills (beetle discolouration doesn’t affect structural properties, but is thought to be a marketing liability, and the size of the dead pines means that only small-dimension lumber can be cut from them), Fast + Epp found a way to span one of the largest clear-span roofs in the province almost entirely with gang-nailed two-by-fours. Total cost: about $16 million.

Most of the world’s finest engineers built their reputations with steel or concrete structures. Fast + Epp may soon join their ranks by showing how a renewable resource can accomplish everything that high-tech structures can, and more.

[giallo]

I had no idea the kind of craftsmanship that was going in to this structure. The sculptured wood looks stunning

[mr.x]

I had no idea the kind of craftsmanship that was going in to this structure. The sculptured wood looks stunning

if only the same could be said for the new UBC Winter Sports Centre.

[Delirium]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/2064030347_bf2cb9002b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2403/2064819398_d3f1175598_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/2060554881_a3f5cd521b_b.jpg
from www.flickr.com

[bils]

damn wicked shots - u take those?

[vanman]

That last shot looks like a giant centipede!

[mr.x]

Richmond seeking to spend $16m more on skating oval
New money would be spent before the 2010 Winter Games to convert interior spaces into areas for 'sports and wellness services'

Kent Spencer, The Province
Published: Friday, December 07, 2007

Richmond's finance committee wants $16 million to be spent on the Olympic Oval next year, where costs have already risen to $178 million.

"This is not a cost overrun," city spokesman Ted Townsend said yesterday. "It is a change in the scope of the project."

Townsend said the new money would be spent before the 2010 Winter Games to convert interior spaces into areas for "sports and wellness services."

He said the new plan calls for a "greatly enhanced community use," which would provide a "broader program" than was previously contemplated.

If council approves the recommendation, the funds would come from $141-million worth of city property that has been sold near the oval.

Staff have recommended a 3.96-per-cent property tax increase in 2008, but Townsend said that hike is not oval-related. He said property taxes will not be raised to pay for the oval.

The speed-skating venue was originally budgeted at $155 million, with $63 million from senior governments.

The cost was raised to $178 million to accommodate a $23-million parking garage needed to deal with shifting river sands.

Critics said the latest $16 million would bring total cost overruns to $39 million.

With the rounded wooden roof taking shape on the complex in the 6000-block River Road, it will be the largest building erected for the Games.

Maureen Bader of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said Richmond's announcement was evidence of spiralling costs.

"The city has too much money. Richmond politicians are looking for new ways to spend money, rather than how to lower property taxes. Why not give all that money from the land sale back to the taxpayers? It belongs to them," she said.

NDP MLA Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton) said Richmond's budget has been "full of surprises."

"I wonder how many more surprises are out there," he said. "Enough is enough. Taxpayers deserve better."

Some of the conversion would occur before the Games because Olympic space requirements have been smaller than anticipated.

"We have the funds available to support this now," said Townsend. "It is more efficient to do improvements during the construction phase. We would save money doing them in 2008 dollars."

The building's cavernous interior would be rearranged into three NHL-sized rectangular sections.

The spaces would be designated for ice, court and turf. There would be a rink, hardwood floors, fitness centre and indoor track among the 34,000 square metres. The 400-m speed-skating oval would remain.

The latest spending plan was contained in the finance committee's $163-million capital budget, which was four times as big as normal.

A total of $1.7 million has also been set aside for oval art in the surrounding precinct.

Coun. Harold Steves said he knew the bill would be "well over $10 million."

"It's a useless building if we don't do it," he said. "This has been planned right from the beginning. Taxpayers will get a good deal because there will be enough recreational use for the next 20 years."

Council is expected to make a decision in January.

kspencer@png.canwest.com

[excel]

This thing is beast.

[bils]

the best place on earth :haha:

http://www.richmond.ca/ovalsitecam/roo1024px.jpg

[mr.x]

^ "Frodo: Oh Sam, it's hideous. Mordor must be up to something."

[SFUVancouver]

I don't know what it will be exactly but a triangular floorplate building will be built on the lower right corner of the site in the picture, where they are staging beams. I've seen the architectural model being built through the window of B+B scale models on Granville Island.

[bils]

are you sure that's the triangular lot? because for SURE they're doing site prep on the NE corner of the oval in a triangular lot as well. i drove by the development permit site and it stated something about a lowrise retail. the triangular area on the bottom right of the above photograph is on the SW corner of the lot....

[SFUVancouver]

^ Not sure at all. If they are doing site prep on a triangluar site on the other side of the oval then that's it.

[bils]

source: richmond.ca
--------------------------------------
Make Your Mark - Be a Part of Olympic History

04 January 2008

Construction of the Richmond Oval continues to progress rapidly and the building remains on track for a fall, 2008 opening.

Substantial completion of the Oval’s massive 6.5-acre roof will be achieved in early January, 2008 and the City is planning a number of events to celebrate the event.

The final section of the Oval’s unique wood wave roof will be on display and everyone is invited to put their mark on the Oval by adding their signature to the roof section, largely built from pine beetle kill wood.

Date: Saturday, January 12 & Sunday, January 13, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond City Hall, 6911 No. 3 Road
Admission: FREE

There will be live entertainment, an opportunity to meet Olympic athletes and visits by the popular Vancouver 2010 mascots. Watch for more details in the local media or visit www.richmond.ca.

Don’t miss this opportunity to make your mark on Olympic history!

[Canadian Mind]

damn, i've got stuff to do that weekend... ohwell. :(

[raggedy13]

Cool, I'm definitely going to try to make it to Richmond next weekend. Thanks for the info bils!

[bils]

Cool, I'm definitely going to try to make it to Richmond next weekend. Thanks for the info bils!

did anyone actually make it out to this thing? saw it on the news - looked like a long lineup

[SpongeG]

and there wasn't much room left for a lot of people to sign anywhere

[mr.x]

the best place on earth :haha:

http://www.richmond.ca/ovalsitecam/roo1024px.jpg

lol, kinda looks like a barn the amish built for us.
http://z.about.com/d/honeymoons/1/0/1/r/05amish_barnraising.jpg

[bils]

looks a lil windy out there!

[raggedy13]

did anyone actually make it out to this thing? saw it on the news - looked like a long lineup

Nope... :(

[SFUVancouver]

lol, kinda looks like a barn the amish built for us.
http://z.about.com/d/honeymoons/1/0/1/r/05amish_barnraising.jpg

That's such a random thought, but imagine what craftsmen like the Amish could accomplish if they ever went into architectural practice and used modern wood products like GluLam beams. You would have to work out the cranes that didn't run on electricity of diesel but there were five thousand successful years of construction before we ever started using motors.

[bils]

source: richmond.ca

Roof Completion Marks Major Milestone for Richmond Oval

15 January 2008

From the Office of the Premier
RICHMOND – Premier Gordon Campbell, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and other dignitaries marked a construction milestone for a major Olympic venue today as the final section of the Richmond Oval’s massive 6.5-acre roof was lifted into place.

“Today marks an important step forward as B.C. prepares to play host to the world in 2010,” said Premier Campbell. “Like the B.C.-Canada Pavilion at the upcoming 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing, the Richmond Oval and its unique roof constructed primarily of pine beetle-killed timber will showcase the ingenuity and innovation of B.C.’s wood products industry to an international audience.”

Premier Campbell, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Olympic Secretariat James Moore, VANOC CEO John Furlong and other special guests joined Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie and Richmond City Council in signing the final roof section before it was lifted into place. Over the past week, more than 8,000 Richmond residents, project workers and City staff also made their mark on Olympic history by adding their signatures to the final roof section.

“This is an important milestone in the completion of the Oval,” said Brodie. “The spectacular wood roof will be one of the Oval’s most remarkable features and will help make it the premier venue for the 2010 Games, as well as an international showcase for sustainable building practices and B.C. wood. The Oval will also be a tremendous legacy for our community as a centre of excellence for sports and wellness beginning when it opens this fall.”

With the roof substantially complete, the Oval is now approximately 60 per cent complete and remains on target for construction completion this fall.

The Government of Canada and Province of B.C. have each contributed $30 million to the Oval through the $580 million capital budget for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. In addition, the Government of Canada and Province of B.C. funded the Games Operating Trust, which will provide significant ongoing funding toward the operating costs of the Oval.

“Today’s placement of the final roof section of the Richmond Oval marks an important step as we drive forward to the 2010 Winter Games,” said Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics and MP for Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, speaking on behalf of the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics. (<= wow, those are the longest credentials ever....) “In 2010, the Richmond Oval will be the venue for exciting speed-skating competitions and, hopefully, for many medal-winning performances by our athletes. It will also serve as a legacy of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and will be an enduring asset for Canadian athletes and the community.”

The Oval’s massive roof includes 15 B.C.-manufactured glulam beams that are nearly 100 metres in length. The beams are linked by “wood wave” roof sections constructed from one million board feet of pine beetle-killed wood, primarily milled in Williams Lake The one-of-a-kind “wood wave” design was developed in B.C. and features arched trusses and rafters, and a curvature in the surface panels that will give the roof a rippled appearance. The Oval is the first building in the world to include a roof of this exportable new design, which is built exclusively from wood and will use more than one million board feet of pine beetle-killed wood from B.C. forests.

“The Richmond Oval will soon provide a spectacular stage for the world’s finest athletes and excited spectators to experience the thrill of competition,” said Furlong. “Some of Canada’s greatest medal potential comes from speed skaters who will compete in this venue. Today we witnessed the final section of the roof being raised just as we hope to witness the Canadian flag in 2010 raised high above Canada’s athletes standing on the podium.”

“Our entire community is proud of the contribution they’ve made to this project, which is a great example of how hosting the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games benefits our entire province and country,” said Mayor Scott Nelson of Williams Lake, where the pine beetle wood used in the roof was milled. “The extensive use of pine beetle wood in the Oval’s roof will be a critically vital tool in promoting the use of this wood as a viable product and helping communities like ours cope with the economic impact of the pine beetle epidemic.”

Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. is contributing $1.5 million towards the engineering and design of the roof in order to support and promote the use of B.C. wood.

The 33,000 square-metre Oval is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008. In addition to being the home of speed skating competitions during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Oval will become an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness, special events and other activities.

[mr.x]

neat photo:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/Features/1_Richmond_Oval.jpg

[bils]

nice shot
i presume the ground floor seen here is the parking level?

[raggedy13]

Great find mr.x2. I love how that pic shows off Richmond's ever-increasing density as well.

[mr.x]

Never before seen renderings (at least the one on the right):
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8483/87450853xf5.jpg

[towerguy3]

BC Place Stadium measures 760 feet by 630 feet. What are the Oval's dimensions?

[deasine]

Never before seen renderings (at least the one on the right):
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8483/87450853xf5.jpg

that looks amazing. *saves in computer with the rest of the venue pics*

[Delirium]

webcam shot from today (02.21)
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y102/Toronto416/oval.jpg

[bils]

extensive site preparation/loading is continuing on the western-most side of the oval lands.

[SFUVancouver]

March 22nd, 2008.

The Olympic Oval from the No. 2 Road Bridge.
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/6495/olympicovalfromtheno2roqn6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

The southwest corner.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/5633/olympicovalswcornersmalhf2.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

South elevation with roof swoops.
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/227/olympicovalsouthelevatioo9.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

South roof swoops.
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7391/olympicovalsouthroofswoyz8.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

Swooping roof detail.
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8194/olympicovalswoopingrooftx9.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

Southeast corner.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5645/olympicovalsecornersmalnh7.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

East elevation.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/9400/olympicovalnecornersmalkf1.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

Glazing going up on the north elevation.
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1583/olympicovalroofstructurow3.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

North elevation roof swoops.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8349/olympicovalroofswoopsmajg8.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

Northwest corner.
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6241/olympicovalnwcornersmaliu8.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken March 22nd, 2008.

[bils]

great pix. i didn't notice the blue accents on the west & east walls. this is gonna turn into a beauty.

[hollywoodnorth]

wow thanks :)

[raggedy13]

Great update SFUVancouver, thanks. The oval is moving along nicely and looking pretty damn good so far.

[deasine]

Wow SFUVancouver... I appreciate the time and effort you take to bring us the latest of all the construction projects (or just the beauties) in around the region. =D =D =D

PS: What's the optical zoom in your camera? 5x? 10x perhaps? =P

[excel]

amazing pictures, the wood is a great touch.

[officedweller]

Awesome. The blue on the ends draws attention away from the gray panelling above (which is pretty neutral, anyways).

[SFUVancouver]

Wow SFUVancouver... I appreciate the time and effort you take to bring us the latest of all the construction projects (or just the beauties) in around the region. =D =D =D

PS: What's the optical zoom in your camera? 5x? 10x perhaps? =P

Thanks for the feedback. I always carry my camera with me so very few of my updates are special trips. The Oval was. I had a free Saturday afternoon and I felt like a low-cost adventure (being a starving student and all) so I decided to see the Olympic Oval for myself. I had no real idea where it is and I've only been to Richmond half a dozen times in my life but I just struck off in a generally northwestern direction from the end of the 98 B-Line and sure enough I found it.

My camera has a stabilized 10x optical zoom. It's a Panasonic Lumix TZ2.

[mr.x]

awesome!!!

[deasine]

My camera has a stabilized 10x optical zoom. It's a Panasonic Lumix TZ2.

LAWL no wonder I'm like there's no possibility of a camera to achieve such clarity of shots without a high zoom (and megapixels too).

I have a silver TZ3 but I never have it with me, especially when you want to take pictures! Funny how I bought the camera in the first place (and I only know how to use a few features).

[vanman]

Very nice pictures of the oval SFU.

[bils]

from the richmond news
(http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/story.html?id=852206b2-5375-4130-8455-627a296db570&k=19444)

Aspac's holdings grow
Vancouver developer that bought land west of the Olympic Oval now buys 8 acres east of the site

Nelson Bennett
Richmond News

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Aspac Developments has added another piece of real estate to what, in a game of Monopoly, might be considered the Board Walk-Park Place neighbourhood of Richmond that it already owns on River Road.

Aspac is the Vancouver developer that paid the city $141 million for 18.6 acres of land west of the Olympic Oval.

It plans to use the land to build 12 to 14 mid-rise residential towers.

Recently, the company also bought an eight-acre parcel of industrially zoned land at the corner of Hollybridge Way and River Road from Leland Investment Corporation.

Lance Brown, Aspac's vice-president of marketing, said there are no immediate plans to redevelop the property.

There are leases in place with a number of tenants until 2012, he said, so nothing will happen before then.

"We're not going to be looking to physically take any buildings down and start rebuilding until those leases have expired," he said.

The recent acquisition gives Aspac land on both sides of the oval, which will be converted, after 2010, to a public sport and fitness centre.

"We do really want to try to link the east and west sides of the oval," Brown said.

"It's all one of a whole. The whole point is to create a complete community."

Eventually, Aspac hopes to see the Hollybridge corner redeveloped for high-end retail and residential uses.

The site is zoned I-3 (light industrial.) Rezoning it for residential and retail is not without controversy.

"I will not support rezoning it for industrial simply because we're losing our industrial land base," says Coun. Harold Steves, who chairs the city's planning committee.

The oval and adjacent residential development is expected to be the catalyst that results in a swath of River Road being converted from industrial to residential uses. The city centre area plan contemplates roughly 140 acres of industrial land being converted for a mix of residential and commercial uses.

Bob Laurie, who recently had a verbal sparring match with Steves at a public hearing on the Garden City lands, shares Steves' concerns about losing industrial land -- or "employment lands," as he calls them, to residential development.

"If we keep allowing the home building industry to use industrial land like it's their personal land bank, we're all going to end up becoming the retirement home of the world," said the Richmond real estate consultant.

However, he agrees that letting a strip of industrial land along River Road in the oval precinct to go residential is the best use of the land.

"I probably think it's a good idea," said Laurie, who sits on the city oval steering committee and the Vancouver Board of Trade.

But he would like to see any industrial land that is rezoned recreated elsewhere, either in Richmond or somewhere else in the region.

He supports changing marginal agricultural land -- like Surrey's Barnston Island -- to industrial. That's where he parts company with Steves, who does not want to see industrial land created at the expense of ALR land.

Unlike residential development -- which can actually add costs to a municipality, through increased demand for services -- industrial land provides the city with the biggest bang for the buck per acre.

Not only does industry pay a much higher tax rate, it also provides a net benefit in the form of value-added employment.

Richmond currently enjoys a job surplus: jobs here exceed the city's workforce.

But a frenzy of residential development has been eating up farmland and residential land, and Steves fears Richmond could lose that employment surplus.

"Now it's going the opposite direction because we're increasing our residential population and we're decreasing our industrial land base," Steves said.

According to the city's planning department, the city is looking into replacing the industrial land lost in the oval precinct lands through rezoning and densification in the area between Lansdowne Road and River Rock Casino Resort.

[excel]

thanks for the article.

[officedweller]

According to the city's planning department, the city is looking into replacing the industrial land lost in the oval precinct lands through rezoning and densification in the area between Lansdowne Road and River Rock Casino Resort.

For industrial? At least Lansdowne to Alderbridge should be for Richmond's Central Business District, not industrial - also locate a trade & convention centre there.

[SFUVancouver]

http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/1620/olympicovalapril172008sne6.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken April 16th, 2008.


An interesting development, the awesome blue paneling on the end and sides of the oval is actually translucent glass!

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8678/olympicovalcolouredglasds0.jpg
http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ca/) My photo, taken April 16th, 2008.

[officedweller]

Fungus problem forces replacement of Olympic skating oval roof membrane

Bruce Claggett
RICHMOND (NEWS1130) - A fungus problem in the roof insulation layers of the Richmond Olympic Speedskating Oval has forced VANOC construction crews to replace a portion of a roof membrane system.

VANOC says fungi and algae have developed on the insulation layers covering the roof but the problem is not a threat to public health or structural integrity. Project managers plan to replace the roof membrane with an improved sytem, at a cost of approximately $2 million. It will be covered by contingency funds included within the $178 million project budget.

The current roof protective system includes two layers of insulation covered by a protective membrane. The fungi and algae has developed on the paper covering of one layer of insulation.

Building managers and VANOC say the Oval is on budget and will still be ready for its fall 2008 opening.

[deasine]

"on budget" hahahahahaha I love those two words now. They are used in every single project: it's "on budget" and/or "on time."

Great photos SFUVancouver. Nice to see that they are advancing pretty quickly into the project.

[mr.x]

thanks for the pics!

[vanman]

I'm salivating. This thing is starting to look really good.

[excel]

great pics.

[raggedy13]

Great updates everyone. That's too bad about the roof fungus. Hope it doesn't take too much extra time to fix it.

[mr.x]

http://www.richmond.ca/ovalsitecam/roo1024px.jpg

[Hed Kandi]

Is it true that Richmond (and this oval) are sinking ?

[mr.x]

Is it true that Richmond (and this oval) are sinking ?

Yup, but very little....but that's enough to make the oval incapable of hosting international speed skating events within 5-10 years. The airport and downtown Richmond are sinking quite a bit as well.

[Hed Kandi]

Yup, but very little....but that's enough to make the oval incapable of hosting international speed skating events within 5-10 years. The airport and downtown Richmond are sinking quite a bit as well.

Any idea when they'll be completely submerged in water?

[vitc]

:haha: :haha: :haha: - sorry :D but that was funny

[Cypherus]

Undoubtedly this oval will have an estimated useful life of 5 years assuming soil issues. Perhaps after-wards it will be sold for scrap (like the $20 million proceeds for those BC Fast Ferries that cost $460 million). Another sunk cost to be added to the books.

[mr.x]

Undoubtedly this oval has an estimated useful life of 5 years after the olympics. Perhaps afterwards it will be used for scrap metal and sold at a deep discount of (like the $20 million BC Fast Ferry proceeds that cost us $460 million).

We wouldn't be able to use it for international speed skating events, but the oval would still be a very functional building for a community/recreational centre for many decades to come.

[bils]

Undoubtedly this oval will have an estimated useful life of 5 years assuming soil issues. Perhaps after-wards it will be sold for scrap (like the $20 million proceeds for those BC Fast Ferries that cost $460 million). Another sunk cost to be added to the books.

If you do just the tiniest amount of reading about the oval, you will find out that it has never been Richmond's intention to keep this as a speed skating facility in the long term.

[EastVanMark]

We wouldn't be able to use it for international speed skating events, but the oval would still be a very functional building for a community/recreational centre for many decades to come.

If it can't be used for speed skating anymore, that would be real unfortunate. That building is too big/nice to just use for community centre style activities. :wah:

[Smooth]

There are pictures on the very first page of this thread titled "Olympic Mode" and "Post-Olympic Mode". There were never any plans to keep the building functioning as a speed skating oval post-olympics. The plan has always been to keep the facility in Calgary as the main training venue for Canadian athletes.

[northwest2k]

Is it true that Richmond (and this oval) are sinking ?

Uhh no Richmond as a whole isn't sinking. Only certain parts. My house isn't sinking

[mr.x]

If it can't be used for speed skating anymore, that would be real unfortunate. That building is too big/nice to just use for community centre style activities. :wah:

The original plan at SFU also didn't call for a post-games speed skating facility, instead a field house. Fortunately for SFU, since the oval was moved they've gotten a proposal for a $250-million multi-sport venue at the oval site.

[Yume-sama]

It is kind of too bad the oval will not be permanent. At the Olympic Oval in Calgary it is, obviously, permanent and open to family skating along with competitions. However, they are able to change the inside of the oval to various things, including 2 NHL sized hockey rinks. Surely they COULD keep the oval and do something in the middle of it. Are there any other Olympic Oval sized ice in the Vancouver area?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2382631386_498045d62d_b.jpg
cinevideogroup on Flickr.

Usually the interior rinks will have boards and glass, making them fully functional, like this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/104979225_51aec8fa2d_b.jpg
mikeatwestern on Flickr.

[mr.x]

It is kind of too bad the oval will not be permanent. At the Olympic Oval in Calgary it is, obviously, permanent and open to family skating along with competitions. However, they are able to change the inside of the oval to various things, including 2 or 3 large sized hockey rinks. Surely they COULD keep the oval and do something in the middle of it. Are there any other Olympic Oval sized ice in the Vancouver area?

The thing is there is only so much demand for speed skating training in Canada....and it's not feasible to have two training facilities in Western Canada.

And with the oval being at sea level, it doesn't make any sense to have international speed skating events. High altitude ovals such as the one at Calgary and Salt Lake enable athletes to break record times.

As for the post-games usage of the oval, there will be two NHL-sized hockey rinks.

[Yume-sama]

Hmm well that is nice, then. I just have fond memories of skating around the oval 20 or so years ago as a kid. :P

[ravman]

The original plan at SFU also didn't call for a post-games speed skating facility, instead a field house. Fortunately for SFU, since the oval was moved they've gotten a proposal for a $250-million multi-sport venue at the oval site.

yeah that project is dead

[hollywoodnorth]

The original plan at SFU also didn't call for a post-games speed skating facility, instead a field house. Fortunately for SFU, since the oval was moved they've gotten a proposal for a $250-million multi-sport venue at the oval site.

whats the url to that project again? seems pretty quiet right now on that project....

[jlousa]

Umm the SFU mutli-sport facility is definetaly not dead, it's currently in the pre-bid stage. There is no firm start date yet but it is certainly not dead. I'll post details when they are released to the general public. I've posted the prelimary details quite some time ago, there have been some minor changes since that time.

[EastVanMark]

The project isn't going to be anywhere near $250 million.

[deasine]

But you know they should be keeping the ice... perhaps dividing the community centre in half, half for ice, the other for the rest. Because we have a hue shortage of skating places in Vancouver =(

[mr.x]

But you know they should be keeping the ice... perhaps dividing the community centre in half, half for ice, the other for the rest. Because we have a hue shortage of skating places in Vancouver =(

That's the plan if you look at the diagrams and renderings of the post-games configuration. Half of it will be ice (two rinks NHL size) while the other half will be tennis/badminton/basketball courts with a running track.



The project isn't going to be anywhere near $250 million.

My bad....must've remembered wrong, must be the project with the $60-million figure then.

[mr.x]

Some pictures from flickr:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2783177368_70eb0c57ac_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/2782319891_58b2e2ec67_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2783172730_10e24ca3be_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3276/2783170412_83965a2f46_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2783167290_388e94a7ea_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2701336078_4408cfc278_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2670700466_4cdc62b589_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2607053348_cb0c7767a1_b.jpg

[sacrifice333]

One of the coolest venues for 2010. I just hope there isn't too much shifting and/or sinking over the life of the venue.

[NetMapel]

Huh ? It's sinking !?

[twoNeurons]

Richmond is sinking

[northwest2k]

Enough about the sinking site for god sakes

The better question is. Will those ugly sand piles be there when the Olympics start. I know they're using them to prep for condos...

[Delirium]

it's looking great except i find it really unfortunate that they couldn't find a better place for those air intakes (or outake, whatever that is). looks bad and ruins the flow of the facade.

Some pictures from flickr:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3001/2783177368_70eb0c57ac_b.jpg

[jlousa]

They had to put it up so it doesn't take in water when it sinks. :tup:

[David]

ohhh that venue is looking gorgeous