BC Place: Stadium Refurbishment | Completed

[WarrenC12]

The only reason they needed the re-development was to pay for the upgrades. This doesn't make a lot of sense. Sounds like the NDP is trying to dig waaaaaaay to deep to find a story.

People in glass houses... :rolleyes:

[androo_k]

I agree. Sounds pretty obvious if the stadium isn't done then why would we be doing casino to pay for it.

[vancityrox]

Giving a development a prefix of the district it is in gives it an quasi-official status, and implies that it is the one and only of it's type in the district. So the Vancouver Art Gallery *is* the art gallery of note in Vancouver. No matter how big or small Vancouver is, that name scales with the Art Gallery.

Calling a pub, bar, or casino the "Vancouver Pub", "Vancouver Bar" or "Vancouver Casino" would make anybody think that the establishment is the only one (or at least only one of significance) in Vancouver. It would also make most people think "What, there's only one proper pub/bar/casino/whatever in Vancouver?!" - like I said, parochial.

ANYway...

Does anybody know if there is going to be real grass in the open-air BC Place once the work is done?


Like I said, its only my opinion. I really dont find that the name will make people think its the only one. Besides the other casinos are all outside of Downtown Vancouver so I dont think the name will affect it.....Haha I like that I hit a nerve tho!

ANYway...

:haha:

[vancityrox]

If you can't spell "sophistication", you've deflated all of your argument.

And don't BS anyone by trying to claim "street cred" with that misspelling.

First off If you actually have something worth saying against the contents of my post then say it. Otherwise dont try to "low-blow" me with my spelling mistake. God knows how many you and others make in the forum and you dont see me being a little girl about it. What are you saying about street cred? LOL I have a life...i dont need internet street cred from you... :koko:

End of story.

back on topic please.

As for the turf saga, they should definitly put real grass. Just look at Toronto FC's BMO field. Everyone was complaining about the fake grass. Most of the players blasted the field for using fake turf. Also chasing out some players out of Toronto. They finally replaced it with natural grass last year. Fake turf will just cause so many problems. Vancouver is a green city, i doubt they will want to use fake grass seeing as they put grass on roofs of buildings lol.

[Pinion]

As said many times, BC Place is much more than a sports stadium. They can't do real grass.

[thenorthofvan]

just move the team to the roof of the convention center, let the coal harbour residents sell tickets on their balconies :rolleyes:

[twoNeurons]

First off If you actually have something worth saying against the contents of my post then say it. Otherwise dont try to "low-blow" me with my spelling mistake. God knows how many you and others make in the forum and you dont see me being a little girl about it. What are you saying about street cred? LOL I have a life...i dont need internet street cred from you... :koko:


It WAS pretty ironic vancityrox... I wouldn't take it too personally.

On another note, can I recommend that you use Firefox? It has a built in spell-checker and will underline spelling mistakes. You'd get red squiggles under words like "dont".

I seriously don't know why people still use Internet Explorer. Laziness, I guess. ( I don't presume to know which browser you use, just a general statement )

As for the stadium, it's funny how quickly politicians turn after they've been in power long enough. I'm referring to the current party thinking casinos were evil... who now equate them with a quick buck. I think the quantity of government lies is directly proportional to the number of years they stay in power. Maybe the two term limit they have in the US has some merit after all.

[thurmas]

I am just wondering being a winnipeger, has bc place replaced all the old 27 year old blue seats with new one's or do they have plans to do so because it looks from the recent pics that its still the old seats? I would figure with such a huge reno they might aswell do it.

[GeeCee]

It is definitely still the old seats in place right now.

[vancityrox]

It WAS pretty ironic vancityrox... I wouldn't take it too personally.

On another note, can I recommend that you use Firefox? It has a built in spell-checker and will underline spelling mistakes. You'd get red squiggles under words like "dont".

I seriously don't know why people still use Internet Explorer. Laziness, I guess. ( I don't presume to know which browser you use, just a general statement )

As for the stadium, it's funny how quickly politicians turn after they've been in power long enough. I'm referring to the current party thinking casinos were evil... who now equate them with a quick buck. I think the quantity of government lies is directly proportional to the number of years they stay in power. Maybe the two term limit they have in the US has some merit after all.

lol didn't think people would be so anal about words like " don'''''t " hahaha
I don''''t like Firefox, that is why i don''''t use it. Internet Explorer and Chrome are pretty good.

Oh and I think we should then hold an intervention for SpongeG....;)

I heard that the casino renderings are not so popular with everyone, so you think they might change them?

[artvandelay]

Can anyone enlighten me as to why soccer teams are so picky about not playing on field turf?
When I played HS football most of our games on natural turf, but from the few games we played on field turf at McMahon Stadium I thought it was pretty comparable to a natural field, some guys even preferred it. Are the soccer teams worried about more injuries or something?

It is definitely still the old seats in place right now.

From what I noticed at the medal ceremonies, the seats were still in pretty good shape. I was really impressed with BC Place renovations thus far, the concourse is looking great!

[Overground]

When people ask this question I usually will say, "you don't expect professional hockey players to play on inferior ice surfaces, there would be an uproar, or golf or tennis players to play on sub-par surfaces, so why should professional soccer players be any different?" In all fairness the sport was created to play on a grass surface, it blows my mind why that should be any different.

There is also the injury factor. Many players say that it ages their knees and shortens their career. The players don't like it and prefer a real pitch so surely that's a good enough reason.

[vancityrox]

When people ask this question I usually will say, "you don't expect professional hockey players to play on inferior ice surfaces, there would be an uproar, or golf or tennis players to play on sub-par surfaces, so why should professional soccer players be any different?" In all fairness the sport was created to play on a grass surface, it blows my mind why that should be any different.

There is also the injury factor. Many players say that it ages their knees and shortens their career. The players don't like it and prefer a real pitch so surely that's a good enough reason.

It also screws around with the bounces of the ball and the speed too.

[touraccuracy]

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0326/trv_lucasoil04_800.jpg

Source: ESPN (http://espn.go.com/travel/news/story?id=5038760)

looks damn near impossible to see anything though.

i rather a smaller stadium with decent seats for everyone. that's one of the reasons i've always liked gm place... not a bad seat in the place, plus it still looks great even though it's 15 years old.

[officedweller]

The steep angles at GM Place make the views great even from the upper deck.

[jlousa]

Most players prefer real grass due to terrible experiences with early generations of artificial turf. The stuff is constantly improving and I would argue that a high end latest generation field turf installation is very comparable to real grass. The most common problem seems to stem from what's under the turf, if there is enough cushioning then the problem with the bounces and the knee damage disappears.

[invisibleairwaves]

I really, really hope the BC Place renovations end up improving the acoustics. I don't know if it's the roof or what, but man that place sounds bad.

[GeeCee]

I really, really hope the BC Place renovations end up improving the acoustics. I don't know if it's the roof or what, but man that place sounds bad.

The new roof is indeed supposed to help with the acoustics. See 'Phase 2' - http://bcplace2011.com/#10

[GeeCee]

That article was posted on the last page as well.. still not a big deal..

[Yume-sama]

Well, clearly the NDP would have a problem with something that is being managed to be fiscally responsible and not a massive burden on the taxpayers.

[delboy]

Well, clearly the NDP would have a problem with something that is being managed to be fiscally responsible and not a massive burden on the taxpayers.

talk about hypocrites, wasn't it them that was responsible for gaming expansion through the 90's?

[Ronnie Yau]

What about the third tower of
the River Rock Casino resort in Richmond?

[SpongeG]

it was put on hold wasn't it?

[WarrenC12]

talk about hypocrites, wasn't it them that was responsible for gaming expansion through the 90's?

Yes, while the Liberals were crying that it would be the end of civilization as we know it. Hypocrisy runs deep in politics... :notacrook:

[mr.x]

So when's the marshmallow coming down?

[CPE]

I think it was sometime in May

[GeeCee]

May 3, 2010.. mark your calendars.

[officedweller]

Saw some steel framing along the rim of BC Place Stadium (on the GM Place side)

[Yume-sama]

May 3, 2010.. mark your calendars.

Oooh, that will be so exciting! How will they start? Pricking it with a pin :P?

I'm guessing a slow controlled deflation would be ideal, though. Hmm.

[Zassk]

Maybe if they poke it, the whole roof will blow away into the stratosphere with a loud rude sound.

[agrant]

Oooh, that will be so exciting! How will they start? Pricking it with a pin :P?

I'm guessing a slow controlled deflation would be ideal, though. Hmm.Stop the fans and open the doors. :)

[PaperTiger]

Stop the fans and open the doors. :)

^^Borrrring. Tape the doors shut and turn up the fans...

[Smooth]

^^Borrrring. Tape the doors shut and turn up the fans...

This gets my vote!

[Yume-sama]

Yeah, the roof should go out with a BANG! :P

[agrant]

Kids these days... :rolleyes:

[Yume-sama]

Well, I'm almost sad I wasn't in town the last time it explosively decompressed....

[nova9]

can we pack bc place with confetti then open those doors and let the wind take them. or they could replace the confetti with casino vouchers for when they are open for business!

[jlousa]

Spin the fans backwards and turn it into the worlds biggest vacuum chamber, before taking the roof off. Maybe they could suck the dirt off the fabric.

[usog]

Ooor just wait until the next storm:)

[s211]

Can anyone think of any good reason for why they've picked NOW to hose down and scrub the smoked-glass windows that surround BC Place? 'cause that's what they're doing this AM...

[djh]

Can anyone think of any good reason for why they've picked NOW to hose down and scrub the smoked-glass windows that surround BC Place? 'cause that's what they're doing this AM...

Yeah, Ravman and the Brothers and Sisters working there have finally succumbed to management negotiations and allowed the place to get cleaned-up in time for the Olympics...er...

[jlousa]

If anyone wants to watch the deflation it'll be May 3rd at 10am dependant on weather.

[dtrain]

They're spending half a billion on renos, and they're keeping the 80's glass?
It's a big part of the reason that the stadium looks so cold and outdated, I'm really disappointed that they're not replacing it.
I'm certain there is going to be a huge push by football and soccer fans to keep the temporary stadium after they experience some summer nights outdoors in a cozy, festive little environment - the exact opposite of BC Place.
Even after the new roof you'll have several thousand empty seats for football games.
It's going to be fun to watch the prov. gov't sweat over this one!

[Zassk]

It's a rickety temporary scaffolding with port-a-potties on one side and trailer-park washrooms on the other - totally unsuitable as a permanent structure, and this will be obvious by the end of the first game.

[nova9]

anyone know if the deflation will be streamed online?

[GeeCee]

Deflation has been postponed until Tuesday at 10am due to lousy weather forecast for Monday.

[SpongeG]

last chance to get your pics

[Yume-sama]

Hmm. The forecast for all week has been lousy, but it's been nothing short of beautiful in reality.

Does it really matter if it rains, though? Like... they aren't planning for it to be completely dry the whole time the roof is off, are they? :haha:

[GeeCee]

I think there is significant wind in the forecast.

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/50467--bc-place-deflation-postponed

[WarrenC12]

Anybody in a position to record the deflation today?

[mr.x]

Anybody in a position to record the deflation today?

It has been delayed until tomorrow at 10 am due to inclement weather today.

[SpongeG]

crazy wind out there

[Yume-sama]

I think they could have done it today. I was out at Granville Island, and all around Yaletown and BC Place, and it was beautiful... warm... and sunny.

Tomorrow will probably be the crappy day :P

[Zassk]

It was very windy today.

[Yume-sama]

BC Place's last day (weather permitting!)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4577738680_2118b9f6d0_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4577738680/

There were people all over the roof, all around the building
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4016/4577113357_0b2a35b62f_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4577113357/

[Vancity]

They're spending half a billion on renos, and they're keeping the 80's glass?
It's a big part of the reason that the stadium looks so cold and outdated, I'm really disappointed that they're not replacing it.
I'm certain there is going to be a huge push by football and soccer fans to keep the temporary stadium after they experience some summer nights outdoors in a cozy, festive little environment - the exact opposite of BC Place.
Even after the new roof you'll have several thousand empty seats for football games.
It's going to be fun to watch the prov. gov't sweat over this one!

I find it hard to believe that they're going to keep the glass that goes all the way around the stadium. If they're spending millions on a project like this, why not upgrade that part of the stadium just as well? I don't get it :koko:

[GeeCee]

Maybe it's uhhhhh load bearing glass..

:haha:

[touraccuracy]

^well, technically, while it's an air supported roof, it IS load bearing glass!

[WarrenC12]

4 hours and counting. I can see the dome as I type this.. looks like beautiful deflation weather. :D

[jsbertram]

^well, technically, while it's an air supported roof, it IS load bearing glass!

Why would they need to have "load-bearing glass" when the majority of the building is made from concrete?

isn't "the glass that goes all the way around the stadium" actually angled at 45 degrees? I always remembered that as the skylight of the concourse of the 2nd tier seating, and the tinted glass provided extra daylight into the building (not the field).

[PaperTiger]

The glass held in the air. The air held up the roof. Therefore...

[jsbertram]

The glass held in the air. The air held up the roof. Therefore...

a balloon is made of latex
a balloon holds in air.
therefore latex is load-bearing.

?????

I'd rather a building be made of concrete and steel, and the glass be used for decoration and looking through.

[slide_rule]

^since it's an air-supported building, its air pressure has to be higher than the atmospheric pressure and it has to be hermetically sealed.

thus if the windows of bc place blew out, the roof would collapse. thus the windows and everything else that serve to keep air pressure steady do 'technically' support the load of the roof.

no one is saying the windows support the vertical loads like pillars. but the windows are necessary because without them, the whole thing would deflate.

[officedweller]

Load-bearing in the sense that it is required for containment of the air and critical in supporting the air pressure that supports the inflatable dome. If one of the glass panels blew out, the roof would collapse.
Of course, it's not structural for the seating stands.

Damn - don't you hate it when you log in and go to the last post that you saw - post a reply and then realize that you're wayyy late in responding?

[SFUVancouver]

Does anyone know whether there is a live webcam of BC Place? Or perhaps one of downtown that includes BC Place?

[Yume-sama]

Still looks the same to me. Have they even started :P? How long is this supposed to take?

[SFUVancouver]

For those of us who cannot see the deflation today in person, here is the next best thing: http://www.23degrees.net/webcam/bc_place_roof_collapse.html

Sadly that webcam is not in operation as the owners moved to Kyoto.


Still looks the same to me. Have they even started :P? How long is this supposed to take?

It begins at 11am today.


I found this one but it just barely shows you BC Place: http://www.camtronic.com/pages/webcam.html

This one would be perfect but it seems to be on a multi-hour delay: http://www.vancouver.com/webcam/south-east/

[vancityrox]

I have a front row seat.

HAHA!

[Yume-sama]

It begins at 11am today.

Oh. This is probably why it still looks the same, then.

I can hear bells going off! And a helicopter is flying overhead :P Maybe expecting an explosive decompression?!

[Yume-sama]

It's distinctly possible that I'm imagining things, but it seems to be going down!

[SFUVancouver]

Well on my tiny north vancouver webcam I can see the roof deflating.

http://www.camtronic.com/pages/webcam.html

[Yume-sama]

3 minutes prior to deflation:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4579178058_f941eeb741_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4579178058/

25 minutes in to deflation:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4578558707_92f230cc22_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4578558707/

35 minutes in to deflation:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/4579207644_f0bcf85b67_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4579207644/

[SpongeG]

Deflation of B.C. Place roof almost complete

http://media.greenradio.topscms.com/images/02/14/0bff215d42b0a92d01bbd386c266.jpeg
11:28 AM: Centre of BC Place roof deflating
News1130 Photo by Jill Drews

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - It's the end of an era and the start of another for B.C. Place Stadium. Deflation of the air-supported roof is almost complete.

Tourism Minister Kevin Krueger and PavCo boss David Podmore did the honours just after 11 a.m., when they turned off the fans that keep the roof inflated. Many people walking around Vancouver were seen staring at the stadium, trying to catch a glimpse of the roof sinking. The centre of the roof was first to show signs of the deflation underway, sagging slightly just after 11:10.

The deflation is expected to last around an hour. After that, crews will begin stripping away the old roof material. It is being recycled by a Michigan company, which will use it for things like movie screens, purses, and even portable skating rink beds.

...

http://www.news1130.com/news/local/article/51163--deflation-of-b-c-place-roof-underway

[Yume-sama]

45 minutes in to deflation:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4578606163_40dd43d8ce_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/syume/4578606163/

[Smooth]

Thanks for the pictures Yume-sama!

[SpongeG]

yes good pics i was thinking of going down but i had an appointment and didn't think i would make it

[SFUVancouver]

Fantastic photos! Thank you so much.

[officedweller]

Thanks!

Not sure if this article has been posted before:

http://www.constructionbusiness.ca/downloads/CB_JanFeb10_roof.pdf

Below the roof eave is a 12.5 clerestory façade
clad in ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene)
membrane — a clear fluorocarbon film. This is the
first use of this material in Canada. The material
is widely used in Europe and is the cladding the
Beijing Olympic venues, the “Water Cube” swimming
venue and the “Bird’s Nest” stadium.

...

The retractable roof is a pneumatic tensile structure
of fluoropolymer coated woven PTFE fabric.
The space between two layers is pressurized to create
cushions that span between the radial cables.
Pressure in the cushions is automatically modulated
in response to roof load. The roof is opened
by evacuating the cushions and contracting the
membrane into the center gondola of the roof
above a new center-hung video scoreboard.

[Yume-sama]

A rather nifty timelapse video

QIm58GgDEig

[Smooth]

^ I think that video needs the deflating balloon sound effect.

Here's some pictures from The Province website:
http://www.theprovince.com/Gallery+Place+roof+deflates+last+time/2985802/story.html

http://www.theprovince.com/2985836.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985836.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985820.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985820.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985818.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985818.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985839.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985839.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985815.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985815.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985837.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985837.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985838.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985838.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985817.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985817.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985814.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985814.bin?size=620x400

http://www.theprovince.com/2985816.bin?size=620x400
http://www.theprovince.com/2985816.bin?size=620x400

[Overground]

Thanks!

Not sure if this article has been posted before:

http://www.constructionbusiness.ca/downloads/CB_JanFeb10_roof.pdf

Still wish they could have went with open-air in the space where that clerestory facade will go. Commerzbank is open but I'm wondering also that they needed to enclose BC Place due to air disturbance coming in and rising affecting the roof. Elements and temp might be other factors. Commerzbank has a lower flatter roof profile so perhaps it's safer for air flow.

BC Place will also be similar to Wembley as it also has an upper glass clerestory just below the roof structure.

[SFUVancouver]

QIm58GgDEig

[edit] I am video embed inept. Could someone please show how to embed you tube videos?

[edit2] Thank you Nova9!

[nova9]

[edit] I am video embed inept. Could someone please show how to embed you tube videos?

It should be [ youtube ] the numbers/letters at the very end of the url [ /youtube ]

So for example:

HF9OLrI-NKw

That was [ youtube ]HF9OLrI-NKw[ /youtube ] (I put in the spaces between the square brackets and youtube so that it will show as text.)

[Smooth]

Here you go...

QIm58GgDEig

This video was already posted on the last page ;)

[SFUVancouver]

This video was already posted on the last page ;)

Oops. It was just emailed to me by a colleague and I had not caught myself up.

[Yume-sama]

With the rain, BC Place is now the largest inflatable swimming pool in the World. Someone call Guinness.

[metroXpress]

Those are some great pics there Yume-sama, thanks a lot.

Also thanks for the video :yes:

Now it's time to look forward to the new roof!

[SpikePhanta]

Byebye White Mushroom, we'll miss you

[SpongeG]

global kept calling it the "Iconic marshmallow" I have never in my life ever heard to BC place as being referred to as a Marshmallow - has anyone ever heard it called that?

[WaxItYourself]

global kept calling it the "Iconic marshmallow" I have never in my life ever heard to BC place as being referred to as a Marshmallow - has anyone ever heard it called that?

My roommate calls it that all the time.I've heard many people call it that. I think it's more of a societal things than a media thing.

[nova9]

the chinese also call it a pineapple bun.

[SpongeG]

My roommate calls it that all the time.I've heard many people call it that. I think it's more of a societal things than a media thing.

so people really say I am going to a concert at the marshmallow? :koko: :shrug:

[Pinion]

Bondaged marshmallow was the nickname I heard the most. Does this say something about my acquaintances?

[squeezied]

I wonder if this has also garnered international media attention from the olympics

[jsbertram]

I used to call it the "S&M Marshmallow place" until I used that phrase in front of my dear sweetie aunt. I got *That*Look* you never want to get.

I've still called it the "S&M Marshmallow", but if I'm in unsure company I'll change it to the Bungie-tied Marshmallow

[mr.x]

I passed by BC Place today, workers were removing the dark glass facade windows....it looks like they're all going away! :D

[WarrenC12]

Never heard it called the Marshmallow. Only "the dome" or "Beatty St. sweatbox". :cheers:

[officedweller]

I passed by BC Place today, workers were removing the dark glass facade windows....it looks like they're all going away! :D

The - old - renders show glass (or plasti wrap?) straight up from the entrances.

From the first page of the thread:
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/4062/95653755if0.jpg

[Overground]

...are we talking about the replacement of the ugly reflective slanted glass finally?

[officedweller]

Yup.
The existing rim of the stadium is below the clerestory section - i.e. below the sports symbols in the above render. IF that is accurate (we all know how inaccurate renderings can be), it looks like glass goes straight up to the existing rim of the stadium.