Richmond Oval, Canada’s new arena featuring a 6.5-acre timber roof, has officially opened.
It was opened by British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell; federal minister of state for sport Gary Lunn,; and Richmond mayor Malcolm Brodie with a two-day community celebration.
The roof features 15 glulam beams, 100m in length, supporting a “wood wave” design constructed from one million board feet of pine beetle-killed wood from British Columbia forests.
It will host speed-skating events during the 2010 Winter Olympics before expanding to its full-use model capable of hosting a number of activities, including indoor track, volleyball, basketball, badminton, gymnastics and wheelchair sports.
“This world-class sporting facility is a legacy not only of the Olympics, but also of the innovation of British Columbia’s construction and forest industries,” said Mr Campbell.
“Like the Bird’s Nest stadium or the Water Cube in Beijing, the Richmond Oval will be a lasting symbol, known around the world.”
