BC Place: Stadium Refurbishment | Completed - Page 190

MJDDawg · #**3781** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 3:51 PM**

I still prefer our design to the utilitarian look of the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt on which the BC Place redesign was supposedly modelled:

Images hosted on Flickr.

Prometheus · #**3782** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 4:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sprawl

I think you might all discussing different things re lit tension wires. I read nobase2010's comment as referring to the thick outer horizontal tensions attached to the ring, while Prometheus seems to be referencing the horizontal tensions that stretch from the beams to the centre. While I agree with nobase2010 on the verticals, the horizontals form a key part of the design. They justify the beams being as tall as they are and tie the whole roof structure together. If they weren't there it would look like the old roof with some poles stuck around the rim. The verticals, both on the edge and extending to the roof from the horizontals, are the messy and distracting ones. I suppose that's why they're only lighting the horizontal ones, just as they've done on Lion's Gate.

I think we were referring to different cables.

I disagree with you, however, regarding the web of horizontal cables. The horizontal cables justify the existence of the masts structurally, not aesthetically. Aesthetically, the masts appear best on their own. Like a building's soaring spire or the regal points of a monarch's crown, the masts are most pleasing when free-standing and are justified as pure expression. Just as a skyscraper's beauty is diminished when its spire is tied down with wires, so the stadium's beauty is diminished by having its masts tied to a web of horizontal cables. Although the cables are necessary, they are also unsightly.

Hence, highlighting their existence should be avoided, not pursued.

logan5 · #**3783** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJDDawg

Images hosted on Flickr.

This stadium has permanent natural grass. How come we couldn't do the same?

jlousa · #**3784** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 8:25 PM**

Because ours is a convention centre first and the home of the Lions/Whitecaps second. With over 200 event days a year it still lost money (hoping to break even now), moving to holding only ~30 games year it would be a money pit.

logan5 · #**3785** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 8:30 PM**

That makes sense but I thought it wasn't possible to have a natural turf, but apparently it is... hmm.

peterprinciple · #**3786** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 8:55 PM**

Structure to hold giant monitors has been hoisted into place. Maybe only temporary but this whole center node combined with TV monitor structure is enormous. Has be to 100 feet from top to bottom

MistyMountainHop · #**3787** Posted **Aug 21, 2011, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

I can assure everyone that "those lights" will not be performing like this everynite. This is merely a test and a time to get things in sync.

If Mayor "Greenthumbs" or "Moonbeam" is doing his job, he will see to it that those lites are shut off after 2300hrs in summer and 2000hrs in winter or at least toned down to a slow meditative state. With the exception of rock concerts when those lites are gonna cycle like an LED graphic equalizer.....hell yeah!!!

I’m sure Chris Kuroda would have fun with them!

• Video Link

Canadian Skin · #**3788** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I think we were referring to different cables.

I disagree with you, however, regarding the web of horizontal cables. The horizontal cables justify the existence of the masts structurally, not aesthetically. Aesthetically, the masts appear best on their own. Like a building's soaring spire or the regal points of a monarch's crown, the masts are most pleasing when free-standing and are justified as pure expression. Just as a skyscraper's beauty is diminished when its spire is tied down with wires, so the stadium's beauty is diminished by having its masts tied to a web of horizontal cables. Although the cables are necessary, they are also unsightly.

Hence, highlighting their existence should be avoided, not pursued.

I'm getting confused by the vertical/horizontal references.

I think the horizontal cables between the masts will be lit, and to my eye they are necessary and aesthetically. Without the graceful downward arc of the cables, the masts would be inordinately high and spikey for the structure they rise above.

What I think the OP was objecting to are the thinner vertical cables that run from the horizontal cables down to the fixed portion of the roof.

go_leafs_go02 · #**3789** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

Structure to hold giant monitors has been hoisted into place. Maybe only temporary but this whole center node combined with TV monitor structure is enormous. Has be to 100 feet from top to bottom

That's much larger than I expected at first - and unfortunately, I think the MLB wouldn't approve it as the height to the floor likely would cause it to be hit by multiple pop flies.

Vancity · #**3790** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 7:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by go_leafs_go02

That's much larger than I expected at first - and unfortunately, I think the MLB wouldn't approve it as the height to the floor likely would cause it to be hit by multiple pop flies.

Agree. I don't think baseball is coming to the stadium

go_leafs_go02 · #**3791** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vancity

Agree. I don't think baseball is coming to the stadium

The Old roof in BC place apparently was 190 feet in height. Now, that scoreboard, I would estimate at around 50 feet in height - if not more. That gives clearance for 140 feet. Now, the screen will be nowhere near homeplate, but it's certainly tough to estimate how pop flies go up and if they would be able to hit the screen quite often.

phesto · #**3792** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 8:02 PM**

Appears doubtful baseball would work with the scoreboard in place.

As a point of reference, Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay has a catwalk above 2nd base that is approx. 190 ft high and while it has only been hit a few times in regular play, it has been an issue.

I suppose it depends on where homeplate would be, but 140 ft is awfully low for baseball to work...

Pinion · #**3793** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 8:27 PM**

I thought baseball fans loved wacky field quirks?

Are they not able to close the roof yet? Today seems like a logical day to try it.

Zassk · #**3794** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 10:02 PM**

An earlier article quoted someone from the Vancouver Canadians as saying that the BC Place scoreboard would be directly above 2nd base, which is a bad spot to have low clearance.

peterprinciple · #**3795** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 11:49 PM**

So over the past few days as more and more new seats have been installed, workers have also been removing tarps covering the tunnels. Today it's pouring rain and the roof is open. Workers are scrambling to cover the seats in more white tarp and racing to cover up tunnels with plastic. What a waste of time, money and labour. The playing surface is soaked and that means that work is stalled on installing the new subsurface of the playing field.

Why not just close the roof. Did everyone forget to check the Weather Channel forecast? Let's get it together boys and girls.

Maybe the roof doesnt work in the rain....hmmmmmmmmm.

The roof is open and now the mechanism that controls the retractable roof is getting soaked. The retracted roof material is filling with water.

Oh brother!

MJDDawg · #**3796** Posted **Aug 22, 2011, 11:56 PM**

I was thinking the exact same thing regarding the rain today.

Hope those speaker systems hanging close to the edge of the roof opening can handle a bit of water.

peterprinciple · #**3797** Posted **Aug 23, 2011, 12:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJDDawg

I was thinking the exact same thing regarding the rain today.

Hope those speaker systems hanging close to the edge of the roof opening can handle a bit of water.

So what do we figure one of those speakers costs...50 grand?

peterprinciple · #**3798** Posted **Aug 23, 2011, 12:46 AM**

Famous forgotten last words...Sunday..."Dont forget to close the roof tonite...it's gonna rain".

agrant · #**3799** Posted **Aug 23, 2011, 12:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterprinciple

So over the past few days as more and more new seats have been installed, workers have also been removing tarps covering the tunnels. Today it's pouring rain and the roof is open. Workers are scrambling to cover the seats in more white tarp and racing to cover up tunnels with plastic. What a waste of time, money and labour. The playing surface is soaked and that means that work is stalled on installing the new subsurface of the playing field.

Why not just close the roof. Did everyone forget to check the Weather Channel forecast? Let's get it together boys and girls.

Maybe the roof doesnt work in the rain....hmmmmmmmmm.

The roof is open and now the mechanism that controls the retractable roof is getting soaked. The retracted roof material is filling with water.

Oh brother!

Welcome to construction. Guess what? It's not finished yet... I was working inside a building today in Burnaby, and the roofing is nowhere near complete. Water draining through all the cored/canned holes.... the floors became little lakes an inch or two deep. Pretty difficult to do anything about it. I can't speak for what's going on inside BC Place today, but I'm pretty sure everything will turn out fine.

jlousa · #**3800** Posted **Aug 23, 2011, 1:16 AM**

Speakers are pretty simple items and there's no reason they'd stop working because of a little water,and considering they expect to have to keep the roof open in the elements occasionally I'm sure the speakers are weather resistant.