Structure Type: Stadium roof
Project Scope:
Project Size: 378,960 sqft
Material: PTFE
Location: Vancouver, BC
Completion Date: 2011
Market Segment: Sports Facilities
Owner: BC Pavilion Corp (PAVCO)
General Contractor: PCL Constructors Westcoast, Inc
Architect: Stantec Architecture
Engineer: Geiger Engineers | Schlaich Bergermann (und) Partner

PFEIFER Structures completed the installation of 36 outer and 36 inner fixed fabric panels as part of the integrated roof system at BC Place British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. The stadium reopened to the Canadian Football League (CFL) fans in the late fall of 2011, where the home team, the BC Lions, took on the Edmonton Eskimos in the season’s opener. The purpose of BC Place’s roof replacement – part of a 17-month revitalization project for the stadium – was to replace its previously air-supported dome roof with a modern retractable roof to reveal more than 25,000 square feet of blue sky. The retractable roof has turned BC Place into a year-round, open-air facility and serves as an architectural signature for the Canadian province of British Columbia.

PFEIFER Structures was awarded the tensile roof project back in December 2009, reaching substantial completion of the job in November 2011. The fixed fabric roof covering the stadium’s 54,500 seats is comprised of 36 outer panels, each approximately 220 feet long and 10,000 square feet in surface area, and 36 liner panels, each approximately 120 feet long and 6,000 square feet in surface area. The outer membrane was Sheerfill I, and the liner membrane was Fabrasorb as manufactured by St Gobain. The PFEIFER team was instrumental in the development and design of the flexible perimeter closure system that closes the area between the ETFE façade panels and the fixed fabric roof panels. This perimeter closure system is effectively an expansion joint between the membrane roof panels and the fixed steel-framed façade that had to accommodate vertical deflections of 1.7 feet. The PFEIFER team developed a tensioned fabric hinge panel and utilized a Ferrari 1002S fabric for the construction of the 36 panels. The total surface area of the perimeter closure system was approximately 18,770 square feet. In order to meet the completion deadline of September 30th, 2011, the massive job required a PFEIFER field force of 80-85 experts per day, working up to 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. At the height of their efficiency, the PFEIFER crew installed a whopping 72 panels in just 44 calendar days.

This is to confirm that FabriTec Structures LLC was one of the key Specialty Contractors engaged in the fabrication and installation works of new retractable roof for BC Place in Vancouver, BC Canada. The Project was substantially completed in September 2011.

The new roof covers a multi-purpose Canadian football stadium seating 60,000. The new roof replaced the original air-supported stadium roof. The new roof primary structure is a radial cable net with a fixed/stationary roof and a retractable/foldable roof portion. With the roof closed the building operates as a fully conditioned indoor venue.

FabriTec was responsible for the PTFE coated fiberglass tensioned membrane of the fixed roof portion of the Project including detail engineering, patterning, fastening, fabrication and installation. The total installed surface area of a two layers PTFE roof system is nominally 65,250 m2 (702,000 ft2).

FabriTec performed their contractual scope of work diligently, on time, and in full conformance of this project Contract Documents.

Geiger Engineers was the Prime Professional and the Owner’s, Pavco, representative and I was the Engineer of Record for the Roof for the New Roof portion of the Renovation Project.

David M. Campbell, PE
President

Geiger Gossen Campbell Engineers, PC

2012 Steel Design Award
Projects Outside of Quebec
Canadian Institute of Steel Construction

Get A Free Consultation

Get a free consultation with the most experienced designers and engineers in the industry.

Similar Stadium Projects

Carrier Dome | Stadium Roof Renovation

Carrier Dome | Stadium Roof Renovation

Estadio Azteca Dugout Canopy | Stadium Canopy

Estadio Azteca Dugout Canopy | Stadium Canopy

Allianz Field | Tensile Façade

Allianz Field | Tensile Façade

Toyota Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Toyota Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Chapman University Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Chapman University Stadium | Grandstand Structure

San Mamés Stadium | Roof Renovation

San Mamés Stadium | Roof Renovation

London Stadium Renovation | Cable Structure

London Stadium Renovation | Cable Structure

Mosaic Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Mosaic Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Florida State University Doak Campbell Stadium | Grandstand Canopies

Florida State University Doak Campbell Stadium | Grandstand Canopies

Silesian Stadium – Stadion Slaski | Cable Net Roof

Silesian Stadium – Stadion Slaski | Cable Net Roof

Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium | Grandstand Structure

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena | Tension Rod Systems

Thorvald Ellegaard Arena | Tension Rod Systems

London Olympic Stadium | Tensile Fin Facade

London Olympic Stadium | Tensile Fin Facade

Baku Crystal Hall Façade | Tensile Façade

Baku Crystal Hall Façade | Tensile Façade

BC Place Stadium | Stadium Roof

BC Place Stadium | Stadium Roof

Moses Mabhida Stadium | Stadium

Moses Mabhida Stadium | Stadium

DHL Stadium | Stadium

DHL Stadium | Stadium

Estadio Akron | Stadium Roof

Estadio Akron | Stadium Roof

Arvest Ballpark | Stadium Grandstand

Arvest Ballpark | Stadium Grandstand

Pizza Hut Park | Grandstand Structures

Pizza Hut Park | Grandstand Structures

Darling Tennis Center | Grandstand Structures

Darling Tennis Center | Grandstand Structures