March 17, 2010

CANNON DESIGN

Once fully decommissioned, the Richmond Oval will become a multi-use facility

2010 Winter Games

Venues decommissioned in Olympic afterglow

Dismantled temporary villages will provide social housing around B.C.

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

The end of the 2010 Winter Olympics has triggered a series of construction and renovation projects, which are part of the decommissioning process. The projects will ready the Richmond Oval and the Olympic Villages for their long-term uses.

“From the construction side, the conversion of the Olympic Oval will start once VANOC gives the building back to the city at the end of the month,” said Bob Johnston, principal and national sport leader with Cannon Design.

“VANOC had full use of the Richmond Olympic Oval to do all the Olympic set up. Because it is not a Paralympic venue, the temporary structures, such as temporary seats, the spectator access area and the north plaza, which had tents for the concession and washrooms, need to be removed.”

The $178-million Richmond Oval was designed to be transformed into a centre of excellence for sport, health and wellness.

For example, Johnston said a typical 400 metre speed skating oval is designed to include two rinks inside the loop.

“The city wanted the ice, but not in the area it is usually installed, because it would take up a tremendous amount of space and limits the multi-purpose function of the building,” said Johnston.

“What we did was move the ice to the east end of the building. The centre of the building is the court part and the hardwood floor for four gymnasiums is already there.”

This means the Oval’s main activity space will be divided into three activity zones, which include an ice zone, a court zone, and a track zone.

The ice zone will include two Olympic-size ice rinks capable of hosting all ice sports.

The court zone will accommodate up to eight full-sized basketball courts or other gym activities.

The track zone will include a competition standard 200-metre running track and a 60-metre sprint track, with infield space available for additional indoor uses.

The centre can be converted back to a speed skating oval for special events.

Construction will begin on April 1, when VANOC hands the building back to the Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation.

In late April or early May, several fitness areas will reopen, including a specialized high-performance fitness centre for elite athletes and a 2,000 square metre fitness centre.

The courts and tracks will open in July and the ice zone will open near the end of summer.

A similar decommissioning process is being undertaken at the Athletes’ Village in Vancouver.

“Basically we were involved in setting up all the facilities for the athletes at the Vancouver Olympic village,” said Ramin Roohi, manager of the special projects division with ITC Construction Group.

“VANOC had all the commercial units under the building and we turned it into a medical centre, gymnasium, internet lounge, media room, wheel chair repair centre, prayer rooms and religious centre.”

Roohi said about 44,000 square feet of space had tenant improvements, which included areas for staff to receive mail, send faxes and a computer data centre.

“They are still using it, but I am putting a price together to bring it all down,” he said.

“VANOC has to bring back all areas to the same level they were before the tenant improvements.”

Returning this area to what is called shell space will start at the end of the month when the 2010 Paralympic Games are over.

Langley-based Britco Structures manufactured temporary accommodations that were used at the Whistler Athletes’ Village by about 600 athletes and officials.

These buildings, which consisted of 74 modular components, will be dismantled after the games to provide social housing in five communities around BC.

They will be shipped to Chilliwack, Enderby, Saanich, Sechelt and Surrey to create 156 permanent affordable housing units.

Two permanent structures at the village, including a 43,000 square foot lodge built to accommodate 200 athletes and a 20-unit, 27,000 square foot townhouse complex, will remain to house future athletes.

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