Richmond Speed Skating Oval

Location: Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Project team: Winwood Construction, wall and ceiling contractor; Cannon Design Architecture, architect; B.C. Ceiling Systems, Winroc and Dryco Building Supplies, suppliers; CGC Inc. and Dietrich Metal Framing, manufacturers

The Richmond Speed Skating Oval is an outstanding theater for sports, with a 400-meter track housed in a 33,750-square-meter facility.

The building has offices, timing and athlete monitoring equipment, and fitness and strength training areas. It also has a state-of-the-art ice plant with air-quality and climate controls.

After the Olympics, the oval will become an international center of excellence for sports and wellness, and will be the centerpiece of a major new urban waterfront neighborhood with a mix of residential, commercial and public amenities. Its flexible design will allow it to be used for a variety of sport and community functions.

Judge’s comment: “The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are to be thanked for this special building, and the wall and ceiling contractor is to be thanked for an outstanding interior space. The magnitude of the job, detail required and the short schedule made it a very challenging job.”