Richmond Olympic Oval Wins Architectural Award for Innovation
May 15, 2009
The Richmond Olympic Oval has won the prestigious Award of Excellence in the category of Architectural Innovation from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
The jury praised the Oval and Cannon Design, the international firm which designed the structure, for its innovative use of pine beetle-killed wood spanning the “elegant” roof and the seamless integration of the mechanical systems, as well as the building’s transparency, which maximizes daylight.
“The project demonstrates that a large span structure can also manage to feel intimate,” said the panel.
“We are honoured and thrilled that the Richmond Olympic Oval and Cannon Design have been recognized for its innovation by such a distinguished Canadian organization,” says Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “From conception our vision was to create a facility that would serve the residents of Richmond long after the Games had concluded. Cannon Design shared our goal and to achieve it, they introduced the many innovative and sustainable features that have made the Oval a showcase of cutting-edge green building practices.”
In addition to the use of one million board feet of discarded pine-beetle-killed wood to create the stunningly beautiful ceiling, the Oval’s innovations include the design of composite wood ‘glulam’ beams spanning almost 100 metres, to creatively integrate with the pine-beetle wood ceiling; and the adaptability that will allow the Oval to convert from the signature venue of the 2010 Winter Games to a multi-use International Centre of Excellence for Sports and Wellness.
The Richmond Olympic Oval won one of three awards in the Architectural Innovation category. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada is the leading voice of architecture in Canada. It issues a call for submissions every two years for its Awards of Excellence.
The Richmond Olympic Oval, which celebrated its grand opening December 12, 2008, is the premier venue of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Built by the City of Richmond, the Oval will be the centrepiece of a new urban waterfront neighbourhood that will serve as an international destination and meeting place, offering diverse indoor and outdoor recreational activities, shopping and services.
