Gallery
“Every visit to the Richmond Olympic Oval is awe-inspiring. Much was said about the visual impact of Beijing’s Bird’s Nest and Water Cube. While the exterior of these buildings was stunning, the interiors were rather pedestrian. The interior of the Oval is majestic. The use of wood and the vistas across the Fraser River to the mountains are utterly worldly. The unique integration of art and sustainable technologies in water collection and recycling is inspired. The Oval will remain a jewel of a legacy from the 2010 Games. ”Chris Rudge, CEO & Secretary General, Canadian Olympic Committee
Description
The Richmond Olympic Oval serves as the centerpiece of a new, urban, waterfront neighborhood featuring mixed development. This signature speed-skating venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has transitioned to an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness, and venue for community events, creating a lasting legacy beyond its Olympic Games purpose.
Historically, indoor long-track facilities that have been built solely to host Olympic speed-skating events have faced significant revenue and operations challenges post-Games because of their size. Facilities must be convertible for other uses to be cost-effective.
The Oval’s level of program convertibility and multi-sport use is unprecedented in high performance sport buildings. The main activity space allows ice sports to co-exist with other sports or community uses simultaneously; at any time, the facility can revert to the speed skating oval. A model for cutting-edge sustainable design, the facility is breaking new ground for sports and wellness facilities. Its green features earned LEED Silver and are expected to yield significant operational cost savings over its lifespan.
Distinctions
- The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
- Award of Excellence for Innovation in Architecture
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“Innovative use of the discarded pine-beetle-killed wood integrates the spanning system with the mechanical systems and creates an elegant roof that still manages to feel intimate for a large span structure. The building’s structural design permits an effective amount of perimeter daylighting to support interior functions”
- The Institute of Structural Engineers
- Award for Sports or Leisure Structures
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“Blade-like glulam arches combined with an ingenious, high profile and daring use of a timber resource currently under threat.”
- Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC)
- Sustainability Star
- Canadian Interiors Magazine
- Best of Canada Awards - Honourable Mention
- ArchDaily
- Building of the Year Award - Sports
- Wood Design & Building Magazine
- Wood Design Awards - Honor Award
- Inform Magazine, Inform Awards
- Interior Design - Honor Award
- International Property Award (Bloomberg, Inc.)
- Public Services Development
- Athletic Business
- Facility of Merit
- Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design
- Green Good Design Award