Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, Canada

Cannon Design's exemplary sports venue for Olympians in Richmond
Emphasising lightness, transparency, and translucency, the interiors of the Richmond Olympic Oval mitigate its large scale, reflecting the openness, accessibility and fun that lie at its conception. Located on the Richmond waterfront, the Oval is designed as a “legacy” or dual-use building – speed skating venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and as an International Centre of Excellence for Sports and Wellness for community uses.

The Oval is organised around three levels. On the second level, a clear-span arch structure of approximately 330 ft (100m) that houses the 400 m speed skating track and the legacy sports. The lower level provides support functions and parking, and the upper level - a mezzanine for fitness programs, spectator seating and hospitality lounge. The ice slab can be configured to support sport, court and track & field uses, hockey and skating, other recreation as well as public events.

Innovative features include the use of one million board feet of pine-beetle-killed dimensional lumber that creates a beautiful structural canopy; composite glulam beams clear-spanning the activity space creatively integrated with the distinctive roof deck; the seamless integration of building systems and infrastructure with the structure; and the manner in which the building’s dual function provides flexibility, adaptability and conversion.

The Oval was honored with the 2009 Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Award of Excellence for Innovation and the Sustainability Star, awarded by the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee in recognition of the innovation Games partners and sponsors have demonstrated in sustainable design.
source: www.worldarchitecturenews.com
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