UBC Winter Sports Centre | Completed

[mr.x]

UBC Winter Sports Centre

The University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre will be a year-round sport and recreational facility. The Centre will be complete in 2008 and will serve as a Vancouver 2010 Olympic ice hockey venue for men's and women's hockey and will subsequently be a venue for the 2010 Paralympic Games.

The new UBC Winter Sports Centre will contain three principal arenas: Arena A is a regional mid-sized spectator facility which includes a 5,500 permanent seat ice arena (with configurable space to accommodate up to 7,000 seats in either NHL or Olympic ice configurations); Arenas B and C comprise a more community-focused recreational facility incorporating a refurbished 980 seat NHL sized rink and a new 200 seat Olympic ice surface.

The Centre is being designed to LEED Silver requirements and will incorporate sustainable features to minimize environmental impact.


Venue Description
UBC is a sprawling, ocean-side university campus on Vancouver’s west side, well served by public transport. Ice Hockey and Ice Sledge Hockey will be hosted at the UBC Winter Sports Centre, with Ice Hockey also taking place at General Motors Place.


Construction Update
Construction began in April 2006 on this project. It includes refurbishing the existing competition arena and the construction of two new rinks. One will be used in training, and the other will be a new 7,000-seat competition facility. To date, the renovation to the existing Father Bauer rink and the construction of the new practice rink building are complete and have been handed over to UBC in preparation for their summer hockey schools. The foundations for the new main arena are complete and the structural steel roof is being erected. The main arena is on schedule for completion by summer 2008.


Post-Games Use
Following the Games, the venue will become a recreational and high-performance multi-sport legacy facility. The new training arena will be easily convertible to ice sledge hockey training and competition.


LOCATION: Vancouver, British Columbia
CLIENT: UBC Properties Trust
CONSULTANT: Kasian Kennedy Architect
CONTRACT TYPE: Design-Build / Design Assist
VALUE: $43,500,000
SIZE: 150,600 sq. ft.
DURATION: 22 months
CONSTRUCTION START: April 2006
CONSTRUCTION END: August 2008

ARENA A: 7,000-seats (5,500 permanent)
ARENA B: 980-seats
ARENA C: 200-seats

OLYMPIC EVENTS: Women's ice hockey, Men's ice hockey, Men's Paralympic ice sledge hockey



Main entrance
http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/venue_display/ubc_winter_sports_centre.jpg?action=scale&maxWidth=525&quality=75
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/62/27013528ub0.jpg


7,000-seat Arena A
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/8/69173109rr5.jpg




PREVIOUS DESIGNS
http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/images/AAA_VEN_TWSC.jpg
http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/olympics/images/venues/UBC_Hockey200.jpg

[deasine]

Anyone got construction pics? =D

And is there a way you can like "copy" threads so that it can show in different sub-forums: so like this thread can be in both Downtown City of Van and 2010 olympic sub-forums. =P

[mr.x]

I pass by the centre everyday on my way to UBC. The pre-fabricated concrete outer wall and roof has been completed for quite some time, and the glass/wood facade at the two entrances were recently finished. I'll try to get some pictures soon.


Meanwhile, a few very outdated construction pictures from mid-2007:
http://www.joconl.com/images/archivesid/24179/100.jpg

http://www.dailycommercialnews.com/images/archivesid/24178/101.jpg

http://www.vancouver2010.com/images/gallery/en/mediaCentre/lowRes/2007/06/ubc_winter_sports_centre.jpg

[SFUVancouver]

Thanks for the thread mr.x2.

I'll look forward to seeing it when it is done. It isn't really doing anything for me quite yet.

In a way I like that the venues do not look flashy or gaudy as flash-in-the-pan architecture would yield. I think that they will age well and the decision to make them a bit more dour and utilitarian helps them look solid and permanent. It is the difference between temporary and permanence.

[deasine]

Thanks for the thread mr.x2.

I'll look forward to seeing it when it is done. It isn't really doing anything for me quite yet.

In a way I like that the venues do not look flashy or gaudy as flash-in-the-pan architecture would yield. I think that they will age well and the decision to make them a bit more dour and utilitarian helps them look solid and permanent. It is the difference between temporary and permanence.

Exactly, our venues are practical and they blend well (or look well) in its community surroundings. The one thing about the Beijing Olympics is that I don't really like their venues (although some do look spectacular).

[Yume-sama]

It looks great, and will be a great facility. I'm guessing the rinks will be available for public use? Ice is definitely at a bit of a shortage.

[mr.x]

^ imo, China overdoes everything. Like Dubai, everything has to be "big" and "architectually spectacular". It's too much sensory for the eyes.

Not to mention, the way they've promoted their Games...it's way too much. It's always "in-your-face"....i wouldn't be surprised if some Chinese are over fatigued.

[mr.x]

It looks great, and will be a great facility. I'm guessing the rinks will be available for public use? Ice is definitely at a bit of a shortage.

Yup, the rinks will definitely be available for public use when it opens. Well actually, Arena B and C are already opened. Arena B is part of the old complex and was renovated. Arena C is brand new. And Arena A, the Olympic stadium venue, is still under construction. It's a shame that the old complex had four arenas, while this new complex has three....a loss of one arena while the region severely lacks ice space.

It's interesting to point out that the original colours for the seats were yellow.

[mr.x]

Some pictures I took today:


Arena A
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2199/dscf1872qj4.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2439/dscf1857je3.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1018/dscf1858ar3.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/123/dscf1859xy7.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6928/dscf1860ed2.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1404/dscf1861ct2.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/1466/dscf1862ik3.jpg

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/8715/dscf1864xd1.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/3608/dscf1865ul5.jpg

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7835/dscf1866rx0.jpg

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/771/dscf1867ua4.jpg

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8433/dscf1868oa7.jpg

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9440/dscf1871vx0.jpg



Arena B
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3154/dscf1869of6.jpg


Arena C - figure skaters practising.
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9782/dscf1870kr8.jpg

[deasine]

wow.... looks really good now. Thanks Mr. X.

Shouldn't put it on this topic but a reminder that there is the BCYL meet up with Kevin Facon tmr. I'm going and I'm going to stop by the Winter Sports Center to see the construction myself.

[officedweller]

Nice. Thanks.

[mr.x]

The exterior of the main arena is now completely painted.....the main entrance and greenery is also basically finished.

[mr.x]

Olympic hockey venue at UBC opens
7,500-seat venue completed ahead of schedule

Jeff Lee, Vancouver Sun
Published: Monday, July 07, 2008

VANCOUVER - Vancouver's Olympic organizers have moved one venue closer to completion of their aggressive construction schedule with the opening of the hockey complex at the University of British Columbia.

On Monday the Vancouver Organizing Committee used the backdrop of a pickup game of ball hockey with Premier Gordon Campbell, Vanoc CEO John Furlong dozens of children and a pair of Olympic and Paralympic athletes to show off the three-rink Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre.

The facility, which replaced an aging four-rink facility, will host Paralympic sledge hockey as well as most of the women's hockey and some of the men's hockey games for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Built at a cost of $48.7 million, most of it from Vanoc, the facility was completed four months ahead of schedule. With its completion, only two major venues - Richmond's speed skating oval and Vancouver's Hillcrest curling venue- are yet to be finished. Vanoc says both will be done by the fall.

Two other practice arenas at Trout Lake and Killarney, won't be finished until later in 2009, according to Dan Doyle, Vanoc's executive vice-president of construction.

Campbell and the Four Host First Nations Secretariat also used Monday's event to unveil a plan to install aboriginal art in all 15 Olympic venues in 2010.

Vanoc and FHFN, which represents the four Coast Salish communities on whose traditional territory the Games will be held, issued a call for expressions of interest from First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists.

At the event the province displayed two doors made by Squamish artist Aaron Nelson-Moody for the B.C.-Canada Place pavilion at the 2006 Turin Winter Games. The doors have been in storage ever since, and only now have made a public reappearance. The province plans to install them in a pavilion it is building at Robson Square for the 2010 Games.

jefflee@png.canwest.com

[David]

nothing special... looks like something you'd see in an interior town

[mr.x]

^ unfortunately, they scaled back on the design several times to keep on budget.

[miniaturesnickers]

I was at today's press event... it looks pretty good. Nothing special, but an efficient design. Completely appropriate for it's use as a facility for some of the less "prestigious" events.

Note that there is no flooring installed in the concourse area of yet (it's just dirty concrete), no concessions, a portion of the seating (which will be removable) hasn't been installed and no scoreboard yet.

[mr.x]

Some pics that are two months old, no pics of the main arena's interior yet:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2665073027_cb809e6078_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2688660434_8575e59145_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2688660124_acbc328ded_b.jpg

[clooless]

^ unfortunately, they scaled back on the design several times to keep on budget.

What was changed?

And thanks for the update.

[mr.x]

What was changed?

And thanks for the update.

This was the original design:
http://www.gothunderbirds.ca/images/AAA_VEN_TWSC.jpg



With rising construction material and labour costs, as well as the fact they had to dig through 20-feet of permafrost as the old rink had been leaking coolant, they had to cut back on the design. As a result, the rink is also deeper than originally planned.





Not much architecturally, but still heaps and heaps better than Salt Lake 2002's secondary ice hockey facility:
http://emmalines.com/Images/Peaks.jpg

Also notice the columns that obstruct the view, terrible:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/38/98138826_7b540ca26e.jpg

[Hed Kandi]

In comparison with Beijing's Olympic venues, Vancouver's are an utter disgrace.

[mr.x]

In comparison with Beijing's Olympic venues, Vancouver's are an utter disgrace.

The Winter Games aren't known for architectural excellence....

[mr.x]

From VANOC's website:

http://www.vancouver2010.com/img/00/54/75/-/54752/prop=imgGalBig/1sm3d20/54752.jpg

http://www.vancouver2010.com/img/00/54/75/-/54754/prop=imgGalBig/1fyy3b0/54754.jpg

http://www.vancouver2010.com/img/00/54/74/-/54748/prop=imgGalBig/17857zr/54748.jpg


Looks out of place if you ask me.
http://www.vancouver2010.com/img/00/54/75/-/54756/prop=imgGalBig/gwmli7/54756.jpg

[mr.x]

Thunderbird Arena officially opened this weekend with the first Thunderbirds hockey game at the main arena last night, here's some photos I took:


It's utterly amazing inside....(except for the washrooms)


http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/8100/dscf2436fk8.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4840/dscf2437mu2.jpg

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/4404/dscf2439zo9.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7/dscf2438ds7.jpg

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2567/dscf2440cd6.jpg

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/27/dscf2441sx1.jpg

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/1056/dscf2442ab6.jpg

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5430/dscf2443zv2.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7514/dscf2447qe9.jpg

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7133/dscf2448gm0.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2239/dscf2450ov5.jpg

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/2839/dscf2451rh8.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8720/dscf2452tx5.jpg

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7272/dscf2453tx8.jpg

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2826/dscf2454kq2.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3339/dscf2456oq7.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7587/dscf2457eb1.jpg

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/8297/dscf2458al4.jpg

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4945/dscf2459wj0.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/5985/dscf2460gu3.jpg

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8122/dscf2462mv8.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6176/dscf2464vo6.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4943/dscf2466hs7.jpg

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3475/dscf2467sh5.jpg

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/7485/dscf2469ay4.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1679/dscf2470od0.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/4474/dscf2471cq0.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/5250/dscf2472ih6.jpg

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1420/dscf2474ji2.jpg

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7928/dscf2475zt6.jpg

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/1752/dscf2476rs1.jpg

[deasine]

It looks incredibly simple... not bad though... thanks for that mr.x! =)

[mr.x]

It looks incredibly simple... not bad though... thanks for that mr.x! =)

it is quite simple, but the massive size of the facility is incredibly impressive once you actually walk in. The pictures don't do justice.

[hollywoodnorth]

cool to see that concerts will be returning to the venue :) November 9th is the first I think.

[hollywoodnorth]

maybe a MOD can make this project COMPLETED its still listed as u/c

[mr.x]

cool to see that concerts will be returning to the venue :) November 9th is the first I think.

Rise Against
UBC THUNDERBIRD ARENA, Vancouver, BC
Sun, Nov 9, 2008 07:00 PM

[agrant]

Looks ok. I think it could use some artistic elements in those big voids on the walls.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/4943/dscf2466hs7.jpg
Focus Mr. X Focus!!!

[Yume-sama]

Looks like a nice facility... but it probably could use some... color :P

[dreambrother808]

the place will be dressed up for the olympics, naturally. there will be colour then.

[officedweller]

I can see souvenir booths against those blank walls.

[giallo]

^Me too. There is a lot of space.

I'd like to see local art and photography along the walls too.

[fever]

It looks like it was designed by an engineer on a budget. It's exactly what's needed and nothing more, except for the cheesy thunderbird logo on the entrance.

[mr.x]

I really hope they don't downsize the current 7,700 seat configuration to 5,500 seats post-Games.....just leave it as it is....

[Coldrsx]

spent a little time checking this baby out... and well, it is an arena alright. Love the entrance off wesbrook but the rest leaves me underwhelmed even recognizing the required viability post-games.

[mr.x]

spent a little time checking this baby out... and well, it is an arena alright. Love the entrance off wesbrook but the rest leaves me underwhelmed even recognizing the required viability post-games.

I agree.....did you check out the washrooms? They're bare concrete on all 6 sides.

[metroXpress]

Really is bare concrete on all 6 sides according to the picture you posted....this is worse than the washrooms in Richmond Oval...

[mr.x]

^ what's wrong with the oval washrooms? I thought they were really good. Except for the whole "TOILET WATER IS NOT POTABLE" stickers.

[metroXpress]

^ what's wrong with the oval washrooms? I thought they were really good. Except for the whole "TOILET WATER IS NOT POTABLE" stickers.

Yeah..I saw that sticker too! Well, I think the Oval washrooms needs more lights (too dark) and they aren't large enough...

[Coldrsx]

^ what's wrong with the oval washrooms? I thought they were really good. Except for the whole "TOILET WATER IS NOT POTABLE" stickers.

BAHAHHAHA... awesome.


and ^^ don't compare this to the Richmond Oval.

[Innersoul1]

Good looking Stadium. They need to do something with the lighting. For a new venue the lighting on the ice is marginal at best.

But well done Van City.

[mr.x]

UBC winter sports centre renamed after lawyer Doug Mitchell


Vancouver Sun
August 21, 2009 11:02 AM

VANCOUVER - The University of B.C.'s Thunderbird Winter Sports Centre has been renamed the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre — honouring the distinguished Calgary lawyer who graduated from UBC in 1962.

The redeveloped sports complex — featuring three ice rinks and the UBC Sports Hall of Fame — is a hockey venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Mitchell family has committed to raising $10 million for the sports centre and $7.5 million has been pledged so far.

Mitchell, a national co-chair of the law firm Borden Ladner Gervais, has a long association with amateur and professional sports. He attended Colorado College on a hockey scholarship and played football for UBC while attending law school.

Mitchell played professional football for the BC Lions and served as commissioner of the Canadian Football League from 1984 to 1989. He was also a member of the National Hockey League board of governors from 1980 to 1984.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[AlexYVR]

Were you there today, Mr. X?