Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/137453
courtesy winnipeg blue bombers For the concourse level and above, the construction team used steel and precast concrete. As Wan notes, the concrete panels were shop-fabricated from computer designs to ensure accurate fits and, in turn, a better-built stadium. The facility is also built for spectator comfort. Two cantilevered roofs protect 80 per cent of the seating area from rain and snow. Bow trusses support the roofs and extend the length of the building. Tension cables attached to the trusses strengthen the roof from above, affording a column-free structure with few obstructed views of the field. Throughout the build, the construction team met weekly to exchange information about challenges and solutions. However, one problem was insurmountable: Mother Nature. "We had one severe winter that affected our progress and upset our plans," Buchko says. Although the stadium was supposed to open in time for the 2012 CFL season, the Blue Bombers spent one more year playing at Canad Inns. Nearing completion now, the new facility, called Investors Group Field, nearly matches the old stadium in terms of the number of permanent seats with room for 33,000 spectators. But additional modular seating brings the grand total to 40,000, making the stadium suitable for large events such as the Grey Cup championship game. Buchko says construction is on track for a Taylor Swift concert on June 22 and the grand opening on June 27. Investors Group Stadium will also host games for the University of Manitoba's Bisons football team and house the university's athletics program. The new stadium is more functional for players. "Our locker room is 1,100-square-feet larger, our players have their own lounge and we have a 2,200-square-foot weight room with world-class jet tubs for rehabbing and just a very spacious area for our football operations and our administration to conduct business," Buchko says. Investors Group Field is better for fans too. Aiming for a superior concession experience, Wan designed the concourse to be open to the field, so people waiting in line for their favourite food or beverage won't miss the game action. Spectators will have a wide range of food to choose from. For visitors who want to use the new stadium for events and conferences, the facility offers 46 luxury suites, an event suite that can hold 100 and a Pinnacle Club Lounge for up to 300. The exterior is just as innovative as the interior. Situated on a true north-south line, Investors Group Field appears skewed on its site, since the street grid aligns with the Red p48-51Investors Group Field.indd 51 LOCATION 315 Chancellor Matheson Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba OWNER/DEVELOPER Winnipeg Blue Bombers ARCHITECT Raymond S.C. Wan Architect Construction Manager Stuart Olson Dominion Construction STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Crosier Kilgour & Partners Ltd. mechanical/ electrical CONSULTANT SMS Engineering Ltd. CIVIL ENGINEERING Stantec Consulting Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT McGowan Russell Group TOTAL AREA 550,000 square feet TOTAL PROJECT COST $190 million june 2013 Investors Group Field Signex Mtg.indd 1 River. This slightly offset orientation augments the curvilinear shape of the building, Wan points out. He adds that Investors Group Field has a welcoming air about it, expressing the idea that everyone, from the diehard Blue Bombers fan to the community-event organizer seeking a venue, is invited to make use of the building. "It makes an open-arms statement. That's the message we wanted to convey." n /51 13-05-08 11:03 AM 13-05-30 2:11 PM