the richmond olympic oval - cwccwc.ca/wp-content/uploads/...richmondoval_low-res.pdf · the...

T h e R i c h m o n d O l y m p i c O v a l

Richmond Oval 36 4/15/09 10:55 AM

3 Introduction

5 Design Approach and Objectives

7 Supporting Structure

9 Wood Roof Structure

11 WoodWave Structural Panel© System • Design Approach • WoodWave Panel Construction

14 WoodWave Panel Testing • Full Scale Structural Testing• Acoustic Testing

21 Building Code Analysis

24 Fabrication and Erection • WoodWave Panel Fabrication • Integration of Services • Erection of the Roof Structure• Exterior Glulam Posts

28 Building Envelope Design

29 Environmental Aspects, Design Details and Sustainability • General• Building Operation – Systems• Wood and Sustainability• Coating Specifications• Architectural Millwork• Gymnasium Floor• Landscaping

34 Conclusion

35 Project Credits

T h e R i c h m o n d O l y m p i c O v a l

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s

2 The Richmond Olympic Oval

Richmond Oval 36 4/5/09 5:35 PM

The Richmond Olympic Oval is the largest

structure to be built for the Vancouver 2010

Olympic Winter Games. Designed to

accommodate the long track speed-skating

events before an audience of more than

8000 spectators, the building features a 6

acre (2.5 hectare) free spanning roof that is

a precedent setting example of British

Columbia’s and Canada’s advanced wood

engineering and prefabrication capabilities.

The building is located a short distance from

Vancouver’s International Airport in the City

of Richmond, where after the Games, it will

be transformed into a multi-sports training

and recreation facility at the centre of a new

residential and commercial neighbourhood.

Construction of the project began in 2005,

and the building was opened on time and

under budget in December 2008.

The Richmond Olympic Oval 3

Site plan

I n t r o d u c t i o n



Main entrance canopy



D e s i g n A p p r o a c h a n d O b j e c t i v e s

With a plan area of 270,000 ft2 (25,000m2) and a total floor area of more than 500,000 ft2

(47,000 m2) ) the complexities and scale of thisbuilding, and the need to reconcile them withthe client’s requirement to achieve Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silvercertification, meant that a truly integratedapproach to design was essential from theoutset.

The project is also being assessed using theGreen Globes rating system which includes aLife Cycle Assessment tool, in its approach.

The process began with goal setting meetingsand continued at regular intervals throughoutthe project, at times bringing together a team ofmore than 25 design and building consultants.

From the start, the Richmond Olympic Oval wasdesigned for adaptive reuse. Following theVancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, thespeed skating rink will be reprogrammed, andthe entire building converted to a multipurposehealth and wellness facility, which is expected toattract both national and international athletes of many disciplines.

The City of Richmond wanted an iconic buildingto draw people and development to the siteoverlooking the river and the mountains beyond,while providing much needed community andsport services to its residents long after theconclusion of the Games.

Accordingly, the design team of this very large building was assigned the task not only of accommodating the Games and Legacyprograms, but also incorporating the culture andhistory of the area, protecting the very sensitiveriparian environment, creating urban sites andnew development context and establishing avisible point of reference for one of the mostprominent sites in Richmond.


The design concept of flow, flight and fusionwas inspired by the surrounding environmentof where city meets nature. Elements of curvedand linear forms were taken from the nearbyFraser River and the wild birds that inhabit itsestuary.

CannonDesign architect, Larry Podhora, describedthe Richmond Olympic Oval in the following way:“The architectural design of the RichmondOlympic Oval emanates from several poeticimages based in the cultural history of the site andthe surrounding geography. For example, thearticulation of the Oval roof evolved from theimage of the Heron, being a native bird in that

community. The roof has a gentle curve whichpeels off on the north side of the facility emulatingthe wing of a Heron, with its individual feather tipsextending beyond the base arched woodstructure. This allows for the opening of thefacility's interior to a view of the north shoremountains and the Fraser River at the NorthPlaza.”

The building is arranged on three levels, abasement parking garage, a ground-orientedentry, circulation, service and amenity level, andabove them the breathtaking vaulted sports hallwith its unique wood roof and expansive viewsnorth to the Fraser River and Coast Mountains.


Main entrance lobby section



S u p p o r t i n g S t r u c t u r e

The Richmond Olympic Oval is situated on a riverdelta where soft compressible soil extends to a depthof 700 ft (213 m). The challenge for structuralengineers and geotechnical consultants was todesign a foundation system that could meet thespecifications for international speed skating venueswhile addressing the unstable soil conditions.

An exceptionally flat structural surface is required forpreparing high performance speed skating ice. Thestructural surface must vary no more than 1/8 in. (3mm) in 10 ft (3 m) with a total maximum deviation ofno more than 3/4 in. (20 mm) over the entire length ofthe ice surface – a distance of more than 1300 ft (400 m).

Analyses had indicated that, for optimal per-formance, the ice slab should be raised abovesurrounding ground level to achieve better control ofthe internal environment of the building. Instead ofan earth berm, the engineers devised an innovativetwo-level structure on a partial raft foundation andpartial piled foundation in densified soil using a soil-structure interaction analysis to produce an ice slabwhose surface variations are less than the requiredtolerance. The two-level solution is designed not onlyto achieve excellent ice flatness but also providesadditional space for 450 car parking stalls, athleteservices, retail outlets, and a paddling trainingfacility.



The slabs of the two structural levels connect theopposing pairs of concrete buttresses that supportthe shallow arched roof and resist the largespreading loads, which would otherwise be directedinto the poor soils. The buttresses sit on pile capsthat distribute buttress loading to pile resistancepoints that have zero net eccentricity, and sominimize the chance of differential settlement.Between the arch supports, the structural columnsare evenly spaced to distribute the gravity loading onthe soils as uniformly as possible.

Internal shear walls serve a dual purpose, resistingseismic loads as well as any unintended eccentricityof gravity load that could translate into differentialsettlement. This is particularly important given the

shallow vaulted form of the roof, which is susceptibleto eccentric snow loading due to pressure differentialbetween the windward and leeward sides of the roof.

Stability is provided by more than 400 shallowexpanded base piles penetrating to a depth of 50 ft(15 m). In this particular application, a shaft wasdrilled to the required depth, filled with crushed,recycled concrete, which was then compacted toforce it outward into a bulbous shape at the base ofthe shaft. Next, a reinforcing cage was inserted in theshaft, the hole was filled with concrete and finally theconcrete raft slab was poured to form bases for thebuttresses supporting the roof arches.

North elevation section



W o o d R o o f S t r u c t u r e

The design of the main roof structure resultedfrom the cooperative efforts of the architects,structural engineers and the City of Richmond.

Composite glulam and steel arches spring fromthe tops of the inclined concrete buttresses to freespan the 330 ft (100 m) width of the arena. Thecomposition of the arch cross section is unique,using two narrow 5 ft 3 in. (1.6 m) deep curvedglulam beams joined together by a steel frame andat the bottom where the frame meets, the steel isexposed to create a ‘skate blade” element.

To achieve this, Structurlam Products Limited fromPenticton, BC, had to camber the beams in theconventional manner and George Third & Sons, a

steel fabricator from Burnaby, BC, had to warpthem in the vertical plane. The geometry ismaintained using a horizontal steel truss con-structed by the steel fabricator that results in avery stable structure and a hollow space inside,which conceals electrical conduit, sprinkler systemmains and the mechanical ducting used forheating and ventilation.

The resulting arch appears very compact, as thesteel flanges assist in carrying the bendingstresses resulting from any unbalanced snowloading.

Each of the 14 arches contains 4 pairs of glulammembers each about 81 ft (24.7 m) in length. The

centre sections have a 14 in. (350 mm) diameterhole drilled through them to accommodatemechanical services.

Spanning between these arches is a novel pre-fabricated WoodWave Structural Panel© systemfabricated by StructureCraft Builders Inc. of Delta,BC. (Note 1)

The panel system employs conventional lightframe lumber commonly used in wood frameconstruction throughout North America.

The WoodWave roof uses standard materialsincluding one million board feet (2,400 M3) of SPF(Spruce, Pine, Fir) construction grade dimension


lumber and 19,000 sheets of exterior gradeDouglas fir plywood supplied from BritishColumbia mills.

The 26 inch (660 mm) deep zigzag section andsemi-open pattern of the 2x4 dimension lumberelements not only creates efficient structure, butimproves the acoustical characteristics of theenormous hall, while at the same timeconcealing building services. The main archessupport a total of 450 WoodWave panels eachcomprising of three hollow triangular truss-likesections (Vees) made up of 2x4 (38x89 mm) SPFlumber and sheathed with two layers ofplywood (5/8 in. and 1/2 in.), the top layer ofwhich is later stitched on site to create adiaphragm.

From the outset of the project, there was adesire on the part of the client to explore thepossibility of a wood roof structure, not only asa means to showcase the capabilities of thelocal wood industry, but also for its warm visualcharacter and sustainable attributes.

Accordingly, throughout the design phase, tworoof options were developed in tandem: theinnovative, yet unproven, WoodWave systemand a more conventional steel option. Bothoptions used primary arches to free span thewidth of the main hall, infilling between them,on one hand, glulam purlins and steelcorrugated decking and, on the other, the arched WoodWave roof panel. Ultimately, theWoodWave system was chosen because of thebeneficial properties of wood, architecturalbeauty, and the system’s innovative attributes.


A composite twin glulam beam arch section cavity complete with services

Glulam arch and roof integration section

WoodWave panel bolted in place to a pair of glulam arches



W o o d W a v e S t r u c t u r a l P a n e l © S y s t e m

Design Approach

There were few international precedents forwood roofs of this size and span. Those thatexist are generally constructed using a system ofwood purlins or trusses with steel decking.However significant obstacles would need to beovercome in trying to adapt the steel decking to the two-way curvature inherent in the roofshape, and significant expense would beincurred for gaining superior acousticalperformance.

In all aspects, the WoodWave panel is an entirelynew product embodying significant tech-nological advancements. It transfers loads in anentirely new way, absorbs sound through

regular acoustical openings between splices,and is constructed using simple dimensionallumber in a way that met fire safety require-ments.

The uniqueness of the design becomes apparentwhen looking at the mechanics of the panelunder gravity loading. As the dead and snowloads are applied to the upper surface of thepanel, the forces are distributed by the plywoodskin diagonally through the spliced lumberstrands and into the supports located at bothends, where a steel tension rod is attached toeach V-shaped arch (Vee) to hold the shape andminimize deflections.

The idea for the WoodWave began in responseto the desire for structural efficiency along withacoustical absorption, requiring a panel withsome depth, hollow and with perforations. Italso needed to be curved. A system of cascading2x4’s joined together with strategically locatedshort 2x4 splice pieces (in some placesmechanically reinforced) all curved about theirstrong axis, was developed and presented to theclient, including a full scale mockup.

To fully understand the behavior of these splice members and how they would acttogether in the structure, extensive research wasundertaken. Attempts were made to model with

WoodWave panel - tension rods; sprinkler, wood strand pattern and form Spruce, Pine, Fir (SPF) 2x4 dimension lumber



sophisticated software the complexity of thestructural forces at play within the panel.However, these could not be trusted withoutphysical testing. Such testing was carried out intwo ways. First, because it was determined thatthe connections between the 2x4’s needed to be reinforced in high stress areas with screwed steel clip angles, numerous screw/anglecombinations were push-tested in shear before full-scale panel testing procedures were finalized. Second, in all, 14 full-span tests

Computer simulation image of differential loads applied to a panel

WoodWave panel - detailed drawing

measuring load and displacement were used toboth optimize design, and prove differentloading conditions. The test results were used

to calibrate the computer models, whichallowed more accurate predictions of panelbehavior in the roof assembly.



WoodWave Panel Construction

The WoodWave panels are designed to spanbetween the primary glue laminated arches. Thesaw tooth profile of the soffit and the gentleundulation of the panels minimize reverberation ofcrowd noise, and amplified sound, while theshadow pattern created by the regular gaps in thepanels creates a visual texture rare in a building ofthis scale.

Each panel comprises three hollow triangularcomposite sections of stitched together 2x4 (38 x 89 mm) material, typically 41 ft (12.5 m) long,4 ft (1.2 m) wide and 26 in. (660 mm) deep laid sideby side and connected together on top by a 1 1/8in. (28 mm) dual skin plywood membrane. The twosloping faces of each V-shaped truss splay out

from a central bottom chord of 2x4 (38 x 89 mm)members, and are built up from successivestrands of the same material laid on edge.

Each strand is vertically offset from the one belowit and fastened together for structural compositeaction. Only every second strand is continuous,with alternating strands comprising short lengthsof lumber separated longitudinally by gaps ofvarying length. The voids thus created lighten thestructure and enhance acoustic performance.Internal plywood gussets at intervals along thespan give shape and lateral stability to thesections. The incremental longitudinal offset ofeach successive row of blocks stitched together

creates a multipart action, turning short, weak2x4’s into a strong integral structural element.

During fabrication, which involves customcomputer numerically controlled (CNC) produc-tion; each triangular section is pressed into acurve and tensioned with a steel rod, giving it acamber of 26 in. (660mm) from the ends to thecrown. The result is a composite panel whosestructural performance is complex, but in whicheach component performs at optimal efficiency.Factory fabrication of the panels included theinstallation of sprinkler lines, a black fabric linerand mineral wool insulation to meet fire codes andacoustical requirements.

Panel Vees - staged prior to assembly Panel Vee with sprinkler line positioned, lined with fabric and plywood gussets drilled for services

Panel Vee with plywood gusset positioned and glued



W o o d W a v e P a n e l Te s t i n g

Before the client and design team could approve the WoodWave panel system for use in the Richmond Olympic Oval roof, a number of technical questions had to be answered.

Full Scale Structural Testing

Significant analysis and testing was carried out on the WoodWave panels during thedevelopment and refinement of the design,including testing of metal reinforcing clips whichare critical to the strength of the system andnumerous full scale loading tests.

The unique shape of the 3D roof geometryrequired the panel design to fall into two snowloading zones: either 32 psf or 48 psf (1.5 or 2.25kPa). The tests were performed following aspecific load test procedure developed by theengineers. The Vees were tested in a pin/rollercondition, where one end of the arch is held in afixed position by a pin and the other end isallowed to move on a roller support. Theloading, which consisted of concrete blocks, was applied in increments and the followingdeformations determined:

• The vertical deflection at mid-span andquarter span of the Vee

• The horizontal deflection on the roller side atthe top and bottom of the Vee

• The relative displacement of thesplice/strand/clip angle at the most criticallocation (splice nearest the support).

When the design load was reached, the panelwas left for 24 hours in order to determine creepcharacteristics , then the panel was unloaded toallow the rebound to be measured. And finallythe panel was reloaded until failure.

Test panel prior to loading with differential loads Panel Vee – metal straps and clips



It was interesting to observe that, even afterfailure under very heavy loading, when theloading was removed, the panels recoveredmuch of their original form, indicating significantresilience. In both loading cases the Veeperformed in accordance with the design criteriain terms of strength, stiffness and behaviorunder full testing load. The test configurationbeing conservative, it is reasonable to expecteven better performance of the WoodWavepanels in their final state on the roof.

Panel Vee and concrete blocks prior to test loading Placing a WoodWave panel



Acoustic Testing

Most stadium-type buildings with a rigid roofconstruction employ acoustic metal deck as theprimary treatment to attenuate reverberantsound and achieve clarity and intelligibility for speech and music. For the purposes ofestablishing a performance target for theWoodWave panel system, an acoustic metaldeck was considered to be a comparableproduct, as it also combines structural spanningcapability with acoustic performance. Acousticmetal deck generally achieves an overall NoiseReduction Coefficient (NRC) rating of 0.85 to

0.95, so this was agreed to be an appropriatetarget to be used in the acoustic testing for theWoodWave panels.

The NRC provides an estimate of the soundabsorptive property of a material and representsthe average of the sound absorption coefficientsmeasured at a range of audible frequencies: 250Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz, as measuredand calculated in accordance with the testmethod, ASTM C 423 ‘Test Method for SoundAbsorption and Sound Absorption Coefficients

by the Reverberation Room Method’, whichrequires rounding of the calculated values to thenearest 0.05.

As a result of small modifications and testing byacoustical consultants, the WoodWave panelevolved to meet design objectives.

The main sports hall measures 660 feet x 330 feet (200 m x 100 m)



Initial sound tests of the WoodWave panel werefound to meet objective sound absorptionrequirements and offer other acoustic benefits,which have resulted in excellent natural acousticperformance and sound quality within theRichmond Olympic Oval.

The Wood Wave Panel’s positive acousticalattributes were found to be:• improved sound diffusion,• low-pitched sound absorption performance,

• high pitched sound attenuation due to thelarge volume of the space, and

• beneficial high-pitched sound reflections.

The average sound absorption over the 250 Hz to2000 Hz center frequencies was calculated to be1.00. The key acoustic features that contribute tothe high sound absorption performance of theWoodWave panel system are:• The effective surface area of the ceiling is far

greater than the roof plan (or ReflectedCeiling Plan) area. This results in greater

sound absorption per unit of roof area versusa relatively flat product, such as a metal deck.

• The overall open area of the wood ‘lattice’(approximately 24%) and the uniformdistribution of the open sections results in aneffective method for allowing sound topenetrate into the panels and be absorbed bythe fibrous insulation material located insidethe hollow triangular sections.

• The end bulkheads are sound absorptive,thereby exposing an additional soundabsorbing finish directly to the space below.

Panel Vees loaded with fibrous insulation Panel Vees – underside

Continued on page 20


The Post Games Facility will accommodate

• two 80 ft x 160 ft (24.4 m x 48.8 m) ice rinks

• six basketball courts, and

• a 660 ft (200 m) running track

other areas include

• an indoor paddling centre

• movement studios

• athlete training facilities, and

• sport medicine center

The Richmond Olympic Oval




In addition to the NRC measure of acousticperformance, the WoodWave panel systemcontributes to an enhanced acoustic environmentby virtue of its performance in the followingareas:

Sound diffusion: Diffusion of sound is animportant acoustical quality within a space wherelarge groups of people gather. A diffuse soundfield is the condition when sound arrives at alistener from many directions at once, rather thanfrom only one or a few directions. For twoproducts with comparable sound absorptioncoefficients, the material offering greater sounddiffusion generally will produce a better, morepleasing sound as heard by listeners. TheWoodWave panel system diffuses mid- and high-pitched sound very effectively. While notspecifically measured, the sound diffusioncoefficient of the WoodWave panel appears to besignificantly higher than that generally achievedwith an acoustic metal deck.

Low-pitched Sound Absorption: The WoodWavepanel is very effective at absorbing low-pitchedsound. The low-pitched sound absorptionperformance is much greater than an acousticmetal deck. This beneficial acoustic attribute isnot represented within the NRC metric, but

sound absorption measurements indicate thatsignificant low-pitched sound absorption occurs,even at 63 Hz and 80 Hz center frequencies. The benefit of this low-pitched sound absorptionperformance is that music, even non-performancebackground music or music to support athleticevents will sound much better due to the lack oflow-pitch sound buildup typical within arenas andother assembly spaces.

High-pitched Sound Absorption due to Air: Theoverall enclosed volume of the RichmondOlympic Oval is significant, at approximately350,000 cubic meters, and the sheer volume of thespace serves to help attenuate high-pitchedsound. The larger a space, the further sound has to travel before it is reflected, and as thecomplexity of the reflection pattern increases, theintensity of the sound decreases due to distance.Sounds at 2000 Hz and above is absorbed by airdue to the long distance the sound must travelfrom the original sound sources to the spaceboundaries and back to the listeners. Thisacoustic spatial phenomenon is complementaryto the physical sound absorptive performance ofthe WoodWave panel, with its absorption of low-pitched sound being complemented by theabsorption of high-pitched sound within air,which occurs naturally in such a large space.

The Richmond Olympic Oval is a space forassembly and, as such, serves as the host facilityfor live events. The range of characteristicsassociated with the design of spaces hosting liveevents could be described as either tangible orintangible. Tangibles include proper sightlinesand good speech clarity; intangibles are specialqualities of excitement that are felt emotionallyand require your physical presence at the event,versus viewing via a broadcast. Proper acousticdesign can accommodate the live event. Excellentacoustic design goes beyond the tangiblerequirements and results in an environment thatenhances subtle aspects of attending a live event,thereby making the event special and memorable.

The lattice design of the WoodWave panel willoffer acoustic qualities that are not readilyapparent from the NRC metric. The moderatehigh-pitched sound reflections, which will occuroff the wood lattice surfaces, combined with theexcellent sound diffusion qualities of the surfacewill tend to enhance applause, laughter, and otheraudience sounds, thereby adding a level ofexcitement that would be lost with the use ofother materials.

Final acoustic test results are pending, howeverinitial tests have shown great acoustic potentialfor the complete system.

Continued from page 17


B u i l d i n g C o d e A n a l y s i s

The design process for the Richmond OlympicOval was begun under the 1998 version of theBritish Columbia Building Code (BCBC), but the approach to fire protection engineeringanticipated the broader opportunities forobjective-based design that were known to bepart of the incoming 2005 edition of the BCBC.Analyses by fire code consultants also took intoconsideration the planned change of use of the building, from speed skating arena tomultipurpose sports, recreation and culturalvenue - and assumptions were therefore basedon the stricter requirements of its post-Gamesconfiguration and multi-function assembly use.

According to the BCBC, the expecteduse of the post-Games structure isclassified as a Group A, Division 3Assembly occupancy – a class-ification that covers the possibility ofthe building being used as a venuefor exhibitions, concerts and othersimilar events. With a 2-storey plus

mezzanine building height configuration, thebuilding’s roof assembly and its supports werepermitted to be of ‘heavy timber construction’,and there were no limits to the building area, solong as the building was protected by automaticsprinklers. This set of basic code-provisionsprovided the base line for the evaluation of anywood option considered for the building.


Note: The American commercial and institutional designs, technologyand regulatory requirements arevery similar to Canada's. When itcomes to addressing wood designand construction, there are severalcommonalities between the US andCanadian codes. Suchcommonalities could possibly permit the use of the WoodWavepanel concept in the US and inoverseas market.



Under the high-level objective of ‘Safety’, the‘Fire Safety’ objective of the BCBC concernsitself with the fire performance of a building as it relates to limiting the probability ofunacceptable risk of injury, which includes sub-objectives related to fires, explosions, structuralintegrity, fire safety systems and movement ofpersons. The BCBC also contains requirementsrelevant to the objective, ‘Fire Protection of theBuilding’, which includes sub-objectives relatedto fire, explosions, structural integrity and firesafety systems.

For large buildings, it is now common practicefor fire growth and smoke behaviour modellingto be carried out, even in cases where thebuilding meets the provisions of the buildingcode outright. In this regard, the RichmondOlympic Oval had two important considerationsin its favour: the roof elements, even at thelowest point, would be a considerable distancefrom any likely source of fire (the main glulamarches spring from 10 ft (3 m) high concrete

stanchions); and the buildings large volumewould delay any build up of smoke in theoccupied areas of the structure.

The code consultant carries out its fire andsmoke modelling using Fire Dynamic Simulation(FDS) software, which uses the principles of fluiddynamics to predict the behaviour of fires ofdifferent types within a virtual model of thebuilding. This 3-D model is constructed to accurately represent the volumetric config-uration of the subject building, with eachbuilding element given attributes correspondingto its thickness and construction type.

Based on their own experience and accumulateddata from real fires, the code consultantengineers chose fires of different sizes withdifferent points of origin in the buildingaccording to the risks associated with thebuilding type in question. This type of analysisenables the engineers to compare the effects ofdifferent building configurations, partitioning

systems, automatic sprinkler configurations,surface materials and construction types.

The BCBC defines ‘heavy timber construction’as:

“a type of combustible construction inwhich a degree of fire safety is attained byplacing limitations on the sizes of woodstructural members and on the thicknessand composition of wood floors and roofsand by the avoidance of concealed spacesunder floors and roofs.”

In the case of heavy timber roof trusses and roofarches, generally, they are required to becomposed of members having a minimum widthand depth of 3 1/2 in. (89 mm) and 5 1/2 in. (140mm), respectively. In the case of spacedmembers used in built-up trusses or arches, thewidth (thickness) of individual members isallowed to be reduced to 2 1/2 in. (64 mm) wherethe space(s) between members are blocked orthe members protected on their underside by a



wood cover plate at least 1 1/2 in.(39 mm) thick.If the roof is protected by automatic sprinklers,then the reduced width is allowed to be usedwithout the blocking or wood cover.

In the case of the roof of the Richmond OlympicOval, the analysis was based on the assumptionthat a roof of conventional heavy timberconstruction comprising beams, purlins andsolid wood decking was used. As not all of the elements of the WoodWave panel systemconform to the prescriptive minimum sizerequirements of heavy timber construction, itwas necessary to create a physical model thatincorporated the panel’s smaller framing andcurved geometry, and to compare its fireperformance with that of a model constructedwith conventional heavy timber elements.

The highest fire hazard scenario for theRichmond Olympic Oval, a 50 megawatt fire,was modelled – roughly equivalent to a portablebuilding being set alight in the main exhibition

hall. The modelling results confirmed that thefire performance of the WoodWave option wouldbe similar to that of a conventional heavy timberroof structure over the prescribed test period.

Further fire modelling enabled the fire protectionengineers to fine tune the locations of thesprinklers for maximum efficacy, ensuring thatthe downstands (lowest point) of the glulamarches, and the curved soffits of the panelsthemselves, did not interfere with the distri-bution of water from the automatic sprinklers.

For economy and ease of installation, thesprinkler branch lines were installed in eachWoodWave panel in the prefabrication shop andthen simply connected to the main sprinklerrisers or supply mains on site when the roofpanels were installed.



F a b r i c a t i o n a n d E r e c t i o n

WoodWave Panel Fabrication

The manufacturing process was also studied ingreat detail. It was clear from the beginning thatan automated press would be required toprocess the near infinite number of unique 2x4pieces required by the design. Due to the projecttime constraints, it was decided to create two custom machines, together capable ofproducing 4 panels, or 12 Vees, per day.

The "strand-builder" machine produces longbuilt-up "strands" of lumber. Each Vee requiresthirteen 2 x 4 (38 x 89) strands, 42 ft (12.8 m) inlength, spliced together with offset splice

blocks. The machine is fed dimensional lumberand blocks at one end, cuts and connects them into the correct length strands, nailing onsplices for connecting to the adjacent strand,and ensuring that all connections and splicesare in the correct place for its particular locationin the Vee. The second custom built machinepresses a cassette of strands into an invertedVee shape for fastening together and attachingthe bottom steel tension rod. When pressure isreleased, the Vees hold their new curvilinearshape.

Strand fabrication machine

Panel Vees – strand orientation and spacing Panel Vee – inverted plywood gusset and shaping template



Finally, adjacent Vees are grouped, aligned andtied together with lumber trimmers and a top skinof plywood into a WoodWave Panel consisting of 2 or 3 Vees. The panels are then stored untilneeded at the site.

The whole process was further complicated by the variety of panels required. In all, 20 differentpanel forms, with up to 3 variations each, werefabricated.

Integration of Services

In order to accommodate the sprinkler system,shop drawings were coordinated with the mech-

anical contractor to plan the locations andinstallation of the branch pipes and automaticsprinklers, e.g. slotting the wood bulkheads tosuit the pipe. The mechanical subcontractorprefabricated his piping complete with auto-matic sprinklers, and the pipes were installedduring the panel assembly process.

The final appearance of the roof is virtually freeof the visual clutter of mechanical and electricalservices. Main sprinkler pipes, ventilationductwork and electrical conduit rise to roof level in the triangular void between the angledglulam arches. From here, the sprinkler pipes

connect into the system pre-installed in theWoodWave panels. Automatic sprinklers arealmost invisible, being positioned in the gapsleft between the wood members in the non-continuous laminations.

Erection of the Roof Structure

At the steel fabrication plant, located in Burnaby,BC, the 112 sections of glulam beams were setinto the steel truss components to create the Veeform of the twin arch prior to shipping theassemblies to site. Each Vee arch is comprised of8 individual glulam beam sections. Erectionproceeded with the end sections of the first twin

Sprinkler system connections and patternTop down roof view of an arch prior to sheathing;sprinkler system main lines, electrical conduits, ventilation system ducting, strut connection detail,

WoodWave panel to arch connection detail, glulam arch steel forming and bracing elements



arch lifted into place and connected to thebuttresses while the free end was supported onscaffolding. Once aligned and stabilized, the twomid sections were linked together with bolts,welds and epoxy. They were then lifted intoplace and final connections were made. Dragstruts and temporary bracing secured the arches to each other until WoodWave panelswere installed.

Installation of the WoodWave roof panelsfollowed the erection of successive pairs ofmain twin arches and temporary arch bracing.While the first pair of arches was erected and

braced, ground personnel ensured the roofpanels were properly secured for lifting. Asecond team, in man lifts, waited to positioneach panel and bolt it into place at the sixconnection points. After a number of bays werecompleted, a third group completed the panelinstallation by adding and stitching thecontinuous layer of plywood that creates thediaphragm for the roof.

Glulam Arch section - fabrication details

Staging of glulam arch sections on the site slab prior tothe final connection of the two center span sections

WoodWave panel connection plate, tension rod, nut and wood component detail



Exterior Glulam Posts

Where the roof extends beyond the building onthe north and south sides, glulam posts are usedto support the overhangs. These posts areComputer Numeric Controlled (CNC) milled YellowCedar and are oval in cross section, and tapered attheir ends, and connect to concrete buttressesusing an elegant connection. The 28 posts on thenorth side are milled from rectangular stockmeasuring 13 1/4 in. by 18 in (335 x 458 mm) witha finished length of 37 ft 9 in. (11.5 m), while the 6posts on the south side that support the mainentrance canopies are milled from rectangularstock measuring 14 in. by 22 1/2 in. (350 x 570 mm)with a finished length of 27 ft 10 in. (8.5 m).



B u i l d i n g E n v e l o p e D e s i g n

The roof of the Richmond Olympic Oval isconstructed on the ‘warm roof’ principle. Theinsulation is placed above the structuralplywood deck and beneath the waterproof layer,reducing the risk of condensation.

Above the WoodWave panels are two layers ofrigid insulation totaling 4 in. (100 mm) inthickness with an R-value of 25. They are held inplace with Z-girts, and covered with a PVC

membrane finished in a light colour to reflectheat and minimize thermal stress on the roofingmaterial.

The exterior walls include large areas of glazingwhich, in some places, extend up to theunderside of the WoodWave panels. On thenorth plaza, the glazing extends upward to meeta horizontal drag strut in the form of a steel tubewhich connects together the steel columns

between the main arches. The drag strut issituated directly below, and runs parallel to thejunction between two consecutive WoodWavepanels.

A plywood skin extends vertically upward toclose off the gap between the horizontal strutand the underside of the panels.



E n v i r o n m e n t a l A s p e c t s , D e s i g n D e t a i l s a n d S u s t a i n a b i l i t yGeneral

The size of the building, the site constraints, andabove all the requirements to precisely maintainindoor temperature and humidity to provideoptimal conditions for speed skating limited therange of possibilities for solar orientation, andmade the design of the envelope, especially thelarge roof, particularly critical. The client notonly wanted to create the world’s finest speedskating facility, but also wanted the building tobe designed for an extended service life. This

translated into a concern for durability and forminimizing the cost of maintenance over the lifeof the building.

The final LEED rating of the building will not beknown until the summer of 2009 – although thearchitects believe it will comfortably achieve theclient’s goal of LEED Silver certification.

The building is also expected to achieve a ratingof a minimum of four (4) out of a possible five (5)Green Globes. The Green Globes system is abuilding environmental design and manage-ment tool that delivers an online assessmentprotocol, rating system and guidance for greenbuilding design, operation and management.The Green Globes rating system providesmarket recognition of a building’s environmentalattributes through third-party verification.



Building Operation - Systems

The mechanical team developed environ-mental systems that sought to maximizeenergy reutilization. These strategies includeheat recovery from the ventilation and ice-making systems. The use of a water-basedsystem permits waste heat to be transferred todomestic hot water preheating, and excess iceplant capacity can be diverted to buildingcooling.

Ventilation air is carried overhead in ducts,which are concealed within the main structuralarches, and distributed with directional andadjustable nozzles that will support futurereconfiguration of the main space. As a result,no ventilation ducting will be visible in thedramatic ceiling. The air currents that arecreated by these high velocity overhead airvents will enable different conditions oftemperature and humidity to be maintained inimmediately adjacent areas of the building,depending on the specific needs of the activityin question.

Ventilation system directional nozzles embedded in the glulam arches

Ventilation system main duct fabricated within the glulam arches cavity



Wood and Sustainability

Because wood requires little energy to process,and has no toxic by-products, solid sawn lumberis by far the least energy intensive and leastpolluting of the major construction materials.

The mass of wood in this building sequesterssignificant volumes of CO2; while at the sametime having a positive impact on overallemissions; had alternative structural materialsbeen selected.

Virtually all of the lumber used in the WoodWavepanels and roof framing was harvested fromcertified forests in the interior of British Columbiathat have been affected by the Mountain PineBeetle (MPB).

The BC Ministry of Forests and Range estimatesthat as of 2008, the cumulative area of provincialCrown forest affected was about 32.5 millionacres (13.5 million hectares). Research hasindicated that the affected trees can stand for atleast five years – and perhaps as many as 15years – without significant loss of structuralproperties. Nonetheless, allowable annualharvest rates have been raised, and new marketsand applications for MPB pine are being activelysought to maximize utilization of these trees and minimize the negative environmentalimplications of loss through decay or fire.

To this end, the Richmond Olympic Oval show-cases MPB material. By specifying wood, theOval’s roof demonstrates that this solutionintroduces a new, innovative application in

construction. Rather than being underutilized, theaffected trees can be turned into buildings andother durable products, locking in their carbonindefinitely. Most of the lumber and all of thestructural panels were produced from CanadianStandards Association (CSA) or SustainableForestry Initiative (SFI) certified forests in BritishColumbia. As such, they can be considered aslocally sourced under third party green buildingrating systems such as Green Globes and LEED.

Canada has 40% of the world’s certified forests, far more than any other country. Canadais recognized as a global leader in forestmanagement with more than 95% of its’harvestable forests independently certified byeither; CSA, SFI or the Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) systems.



Coating Specifications

WoodWave PanelsInterior: None

Exterior: CBR Products: Broda Clarity Wood – Stone Acrylic Finish (WS) Applied over;CBR Products: Broda Clarity Masonry – Concrete Acrylic Sealer (MC) Applied over;PeneTreat Wood preservative

Glulam BeamsInterior: Target - EMTECH® U9300: Ext. polycarbonate water based urethane top coat

Yellow Cedar PostsExterior:Target - EMTECH® U9300: Exterior polycarbonate water based urethane top coatApplied over;Target - EMTECH® 8800 Universal Waterborne Sealer


Architectural Millwork

A number of wood based cabinets, counters, displays and a variety of screening panels have been created through the business and special usage areas of the facility. Wood doors, moldings and trims have also been used to accent the building.

Some of the wood incorporated into the finishing details originatedfrom the trees harvested on the site prior to construction.

Gymnasium Floor

Surface:Robbins Bio Channel Classic 31,000 square feet of Maple lumber – 25/32 in. x 1 1/2 in. wide, 2nd and better XL Maple MFMA-FJ

Substrate includes:997 sheets of 4 ft x 8 ft x 3/4 in. plywood - Exterior grade; Standard D Fir CSP

System includes:Low VOC sealer and finish

Landscaping

Cuttings were taken from trees that had to be felled on the site toaccommodate the project. After being propagated in a City ofRichmond nursery, they have been planted along the site’spicturesque new Samuel Brighouse Heritage Boulevard; a streetnamed after a circa 1870 pioneer who previously owned the site andwho had planted the original trees.




C o n c l u s i o n

The project vision for the City of Richmond andits design team was to create “a unique desti-nation that serves as a dynamic internationalgathering place and an outstanding centre ofexcellence for sports and wellness at the heartof an exciting urban waterfront”.

The Richmond Olympic Oval has accomplishedthis, and much, much more.

Through creative design, engineering and theinnovative use of regionally available woodproducts, this unique facility delivers the city aniconic building that connects the culture andhistory of the site to the economic reality ofBritish Columbia. The extensive structural use

of wood, including MPB, in the uniqueWoodWave solution for the building’s roofsystem clearly captures the design poetic of‘Flight-Flow-Fusion’.

The flexible, safe, innovative and integrateddesign of the WoodWave panels, working inharmony with other building materials andsystems, is a testament to the attributes ofwood.

British Columbia’s wood design and fabricationindustries will be very proud of their accom-plishments at the Oval for years to come. The Richmond Olympic Oval is truly atransformative building.



Project Credits

Firm Address City Prov. PC Phone Website

Owner: City of Richmond 6911 No. 3 Road Richmond BC V6Y 2C1 604 276 4000 www.richmond.ca

Design Team: CannonDesign 710-1500 West Georgia St. Vancouver BC V6G 2Z6 604 688 5710 www.cannondesign.com

Project Manager: MHPM Project Managers Inc. 2609 Granville Street, Suite 310 Vancouver BC V6H 3H3 604 714 0988 www.mhpm.com

Construction Manager:Dominion Fairmile Construction Company Inc. Suite 130 - 2985 Virtual Way Vancouver BC V5M 4X7 604 631 1000 www.dominionco.com

Acknowledgement for technical information:

StructureCraft Builders Inc. 8279 River Way Delta BC V4G 1G9 604 940 8889 www.structurecraft.com

Structurlam Products Ltd. 2176 Government St. Penticton BC V2A 8B5 250 492 8912 www.structurlam.com

George Third & Sons Ltd. (Corporate Office) 78 Fawcett Road Coquitlam BC V3K 6V5 604 639 8300 www.geothird.com

Note (1), Page 9WoodWave Structural Panel © is a copyright of StructureCraft Builders Inc.

Photography:

Cover Photo: Stephanie Tracey, Photography West Ltd.

Photography: Craig Carmichael Photography

Jon Pesochin, Green Tea Photography

KK Law Creative

Stephanie Tracey, Photography West Ltd.

StructureCraft Builders Inc.

Ziggy Welsch – George Third and Sons Ltd.

Wood WORKS! is a Canadian Wood Council initiativewww.wood-works.org


FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WOOD WORKS!, CONTACT:

US Program

1 866 966-3448

National Office

1-800-463-5091

Alberta Program

1-877-523-4722

BC Program

1-877-929-9663

Quebec Program

1-418-696-4325

Ontario Program

1-866-886-3574www.wood-works.ca

Richmond Oval 36 4/15/09 10:55 AM

the richmond olympic oval - cwccwc.ca/wp-content/uploads/...richmondoval_low-res.pdf · the...

Documents