I think most can agree that the BC Place construction is quite the eyesore on the Vancouver skyline. I've always compared it to the film District 9 seeing as the cables and rods resemble an alien spacecraft hovering over the city. Well I had the pleasure of taking part in a tour of the construction inside the highly anticipated stadium led by Chairman of BC Pavilion Corporation David Podmore with the accompaniment of Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.
After a quick safety orientation, we were led into a Canucks decorated elevator (as seen in the photos below) to the fourth floor where we entered the stadium for a first hand look of the bowl, estimated to have a future capacity of 54,500 seats. Podmore and Bell expressed their confidence in the stadium's construction timeline as well as the project continuously being able to meet the budget, despite heavy criticism from the media. With the retractable roof being the main feature of the new stadium, Pat Bell expressed his enthusiasm that this stadium will no doubt be a "world class venue." Many have also expressed their concern for the removal of the Terry Fox Plaza on Beatty and Robson, the only memorial for Terry Fox in Vancouver. However, a new memorial designed by local author and artist Douglas Coupland will be taking place of the old one in which Podmore and Bell were visibly enthused about, throwing out the word "brilliant" to describe how they felt about Coupland's design concept.
The stadium has also made the initiative to decrease its carbon footprint in its construction and final product. The new, cable-supported retractable roof will result in energy savings of up to $350,000, or 25% savings, annually. And the air-supported dome roof has almost entirely been recycled with a small section of the roof fabric provided as a gift to Celista, B.C. near Kamloops to line their community ice rink.
As of now, the cable-net support retractable roof is structurally complete with the centre "node" now free of its scaffold support. All common spaces inside, including concessions, media facilities, washrooms, dressing rooms, have been upgraded. And fifty guest suites have been newly designed and refurbished in addition to the new Club Section with over 1,000 high-value seats and two lounge areas. The new BC Place is scheduled to host its first official event on September 30th with a BC Lions home game against the Edmonton Eskimos. Shortly after on October 2, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC will welcome their new home with a match against the Portland Timbers. And with the completion of the stadium, Vancouver will have a new, more aesthetically pleasing skyline to enjoy.
Enjoy the photos below for an exclusive look inside the stadium's construction:
