SUMMER 1988 FACIUTIES MANAGER 4J by William S. Mutch of $300 million-about two-thirds of n the faU of 1981 in Baden, West it for new buildings. More than $100 Germany, the city of Calgary was million was earmarked for Olympic­ I chosen as the site of the XV Winter related facilities. Olympics. After three previously un­ Because of the vast building pro­ successful attempts to become host gram required, the department was this event, Calgary became the first reorganized. A new department of Canadian city to host the Winter campus development was created to Games. The entire community was ex­ be responsible for all new construc­ cited about the prospect although the tion, planning, and design of addi­ event was more than six years away. tional facilities together with the reno­ The University of Calgary was cho­ vation, alteration, and upgrading of sen as the site of the Athletes' Village, existing facilities. Other physical plant the speed skating events, and the activities were under a separate de­ opening and closing ceremonies. This partment of buildings and grounds. choice was no doubt influenced by Both department directors reported to the presence on the organizing com­ the same vice president and main­ mittee of the University of Calgary's tained an extremely dose working dean of physical education, Dr. Roger relationship. Jackson, who is also president of the Long before the Calgary Olympic Canadian Olympic Association and a Development Association began to member of the International Olympic assemble its Olympic bid, the Uni­ Committee. versity of Calgary's administration The additional facilities required had drawn up a shopping list of need­ for the Games, together with other ed improvements and facilities. The planned additional buildings, would list included a major expansion to the involve the university's physical physical education building, an ex­ plant department in its greatest-ever pansion to the student center, addi­ expansion of facilities. The total uni­ tional housing, and a winter sports versity capital expenditures over the complex. When Calgary won the right period 1982 to 1987 were in the region , to host the 1988 Games, the possibility Bill Mulch is APPA '5 treasllrfr and is Ille fillall· The maill OIYIllI/ie flllme wllidr bUrrled during dal officer, bllildi"gs alld grounds and camplls tile gQmes alld Qsimlilalt'CI tepee which ItttS raised dl!lJl?lopme/lt at tlJe Ulriwrsily of Calgary. durillg tile ope/liJlglllld c1osil/g ceremOllies lit the University MeMaholl stadillm. C/UTIES MANAGf;R .~ Closiug ceremouies. Temporary seats lIuder tht fireworks held 15,000 pro/lIe. Noll' tire flllgs of tlll~ fifty-sevell ptlrlicipating III/HOIIS. IIrside the Olympic UllIJ/ jusl prior fo QII not,,'. Undml(Qlh the rMin S«tion of tntlpomry Sftlting showing Ihe complexity. (md II good portion of1M 125 milts ofslm scaffolding uStd. SUMMER 1988 FACIUTIES MANAGER 4J arose to complete all of the projects, The support spaces all either side taping, casting, and rehabilitation which we did. of the Oval contain locker rooms, areas; The university, in the six years pre­ classrooms, judges' and officials' • a fitness center with a six-lane, ceding the Games, was the most ac­ spaces, Zamboni rooms, turf storage, 200-meter, high-performance running tive construction site in Calgary with ice-making equipment, and mechani­ track; nine major projects completed. Five of cal rooms. 11 has a long-span roof • six gymnasia including one for these projects were Olympic-related structure with an interesting system basketball and volleyball with and were as follows: of segmental precast concrete arches. retractable seating that can accommo­ date up to 4,000 spectators; Approximate Gross Building • seventeen international squash Cost (Cdn $) Area Added Olympic Oval $40 million 26,176 m2 and racquetball courts; Physical Education Expansion $28 million 22,500 m2 • an outdoor pursuits area with an Olympus a(ld Glacier Halls $12 million 14,650 m2 indoor climbing wall sixteen meters McMahon Stadium Expansion/Improvements $17 million 4,476 m2 long, five meters wide, and twelve Athletes' Vi11age and Related Projects $11 million meters high. This building, which was funded All of these projects were completed The Olympic Oval is one of the by the provincial government within time and budget deadlines. finest speed skating facilities in the (Advanced Education), was part of Funds for these various projects were world. Speed skaters from around the Athletes' VilJage during the provided by the federal government, the world broke all nine Olympic Olympics and will continue to be the provincial government, OCO '88, records and eight of ten world records used as a training center for Cana­ and the university. there. dian and other athletes from around ArPA members attending the the world. OLYMPIC OVAL Rocky Mountain Regional Conference Although this facility was con­ in September this year will have the OLYMPUS AND GLACIER HALLS structed primarily for speed skating opportunity to tour this magnificent These two three-story aparhnent­ events, the Olympic Oval is a multi­ facility as well as talk to the style residence buildings formed part functional field house. In winter it engineers who designed its unique of the Athletes' Village and were includes a 400-meter speed skating features. funded by the provincial government track with hockey or figure skating Funding for this facility came from (Olympic Secretariat). Because the on two Olympic-size ice surfaces. In the Canadian government. source of funding was not the normal summer it includes artificial turf and mortgage-type funding. and because facilities for football, soccer, lacrosse, PHYSICAL EDUCATION of the added rentable space, attractive field hockey, tennis, and track and EXPANSION rents will be available to all students field events. Electrical conduits cast This building, linked to the whose rents normally go into the into the floors allow on-the-spot mea­ Olympic Oval and the original physi­ mortgage pool for all residences. surement of athletes' vital signals cal education building, was described with direct transmission to the uni­ by one writer as "a glistening jewel" McMAHON STADIUM versity sports medicine computer ter­ and by another as "comparable to a The site of the opening and dosing minals. Mercedes Benz." Locally it has been ceremonies, temporary and perma­ labeled "Rog Mahal" or "the house rient changes were made to this facili­ that JackCson) built" in deference to ty to accommodate the Olympic cere­ the involvement of Dr. Roger Jackson, monies as well as future use. Among the dean of the physical education the changes were: faculty. • replacement of the artificial turf; Special features of this three-story • installation of a press box eleva­ addition include: tor; • human performance research lab­ • construction of the Olympic Vol- oratories considered to be the most unteer Center; advanced sports science facilities in • upgrading of the sound system; North America, perhaps in the world; • addition of permanent seating; • a sports medicine clinic with • improvement of the signage; twel'{e examining rooms, an X-ray • erecting and dismantling of tem­ facility, physiotherapy facilities, and porary seating; The funding of these changes (at approximately $17 mi11ion) was cial government (Olympic Secretariat) --L ~~ --'--_,_h_,,_ed_,_lm_o_st_eq_U_a_llY_b_y_'h_e_p_ro_v_'"_-_" 1-- and '88, the Games organizing _ aco 44 SUMMER 1988 FACIUTIES MANAGER committee. Two of the changes in the Iy we planned to add 13,000 tempo­ other processions. Both these prob­ stadium deserve some further elabo­ rary seats to increase the capacity to lems were overcome by using a mod· ration. SO,OOO. The demand for tickets for the ular truss system and "bridging" the buildings and openings with the Olympic Volunteer Center opening and closing ceremonies was so great that the contractor, Anthes stands built above. The large grand­ This is a two-story facility with the stand rose to 100 feet and required lower level containing office and Equipment Ltd., suggested that the number of temporary seats could be heavy duty shoring. meeting room space and an upper level with kitchen, dining room, and increased to accommodate 60,000. When completed, the temporary grandstand practically duplicated the lounge-type space. It was built as an Therefore, temporary seating to ac· commodate 23,000 had to be erected permanent seating in design and administration and training center for included aisles, exits, internal walk­ the Games' 10,000 volunteers. II has prior to the Games and dismantled recently been turned over to the uni­ after the Games. This was accom­ ways, stairways, and cross platforms for lateral access, all designed to meet versity and will house some universi­ plished using a unique Canadian· developed scaffolding technique building and fire codes. A special ty department administrative offices. known as Anthes Sure Lock Modular platform, raised a meter above the It will also be used (or special events, Grandstand. The concept was pio­ last row of seats, formed a walkway small conferences. and meetings. The where the flags of the fifty-seven par· professional football club will also use neered at the Alberta Summer Games at Fort MacMurray in and devel­ ticipating nations provided a dramat­ it during home games as a socializing 1984 ic backdrop to the ceremonies. Televi­ area for the Red and While Club, a oped at various large sporting events sion cameras were also stationed on supporters group. throughout North America. The con· tractor's previous experience enabled this platform. This was believed to be Temporary Seating the work to be carried out within This was a fascinating project al­ extremely tight time limits. though it did not carry as large a price Other complications were that the tag as some of the others described. temporary grandstands had to be McMahon Stadium, the scene of the built above existing buildings and opening and closing ceremonies, has large tunnels had to be left to allow permanent seating for 37,000.