The Richmond Oval

For me, the most interesting building to arise for the Vancouver Olympics is the Richmond Oval. While I certainly don’t agree with every design decision, the assets it possesses allow me to forgive the slight aesthetic issues I see. The facility has achieved LEED silver status, but more importantly, its plan for future use is a large bonus for me.  

 

The facility sits on a 32 acre site abutting the Fraser River in Richmond, just south of Vancouver. During the games it will accommodate 8,000 spectators who’ll witness the long track speed skating events and it will also house the Olympic anti-doping testing center. It was designed as the centerpiece of a new urban neighborhood including residential, commercial and various other public spaces. I’ve had a difficult time finding more information on the status of the rest of this neighborhood, so hopefully it’s seen through. For the moment though, the Oval provides enough meat to chew on.

I’ve written recently on my main problem with the current construction climate and how we deal with temporary albeit global scale celebrations, so my first interest in this building is what function will it be serving after February 28th. Happily, there’s a well defined plan for the multi-purpose sports center that will be the Richmond Oval after the games are complete. Plans call for 2 Olympic sized ice rinks, 8 basketball courts, and a full 200 meter track with a full infield and 60 meter sprint track…all operating at the same time. In addition to the actual sporting events, a civic wellness center and community gathering spaces (indoors and out) are available. The building also allows for elite training, housing offices for sports medicine, athlete testing and coaches throughout the facility. I’m personally aware of the impact this type of facility can have on a community. A multi-purpose sports facility housing basketball courts and a gym opened in town a few years ago, and it’s been a tremendous draw in the surrounding area for year-round tournament. In fact, this month a facility housing three ice rinks opened nearby hoping to see the same type of success. The ability of the Oval to accommodate both summer and winter sports training and tournaments will greatly aid in its potential long-term success. Seeing as the building could possibly be in daily use draws the question, what type of space is it? In my opinion, that depends on where you stand. Literally.

While the interior of the Oval is truly a beautiful space, the unique wooden roof structure is clearly the jewel. Pieced together from trees damaged by a pine beetle infestation that is creating havoc on the west coast, the roof is both visually interesting, and environmentally friendly. Using modeling software in designing this roof to account for structural, acoustic, aesthetic, mechanical and even financial requirements, the designers have created a functional beautiful form. The large open span is a programmatic requirement and a visual treat throughout the interior of the building. The exterior is another issue however.

I’m confused by the exterior of this building. In looking at the floor plans in relation to the elevations, there seems to be a disconnect. The large roof span that is a highlight on the interior doesn’t make itself known on the exterior. In fact, on both the north and south elevations, the long façade is broken up by a series of identical roof overhangs which form clerestories for interior daylighting. It’s not the form that I’m unsure about, it’s the repetition across the façade. These individual but identical forms lessen the impact of the building as a whole, and treat the building more like a strip mall with a long row of individually rentable spaces. I’m also confused by the treatment of the elevations; they are at the same time, overly “busy” and plainly simple. This is, I believe, a result of the repetition of the façade forms and materials. From afar, the massing seems to work much better, as the overall form is less blurred by the exterior material treatment, and the building is more recognizable as the large open volume that it truly is. I really feel like I’m nitpicking here, but I’m really not sold on the building form from the exterior. Part of that might be the design intent.

 

Cannon Design , the architects of record took inspiration from the symbol of Richmond, the heron, in their overall design idea. Initially I wasn’t sold as I didn’t get “heron” HERON PIC from the form, but after seeing the city logo, I understood a little better. I don’t really get ‘heron” from it either, but I do see the connection between the two. I am excited to see a design firm take a relevant inspiration and follow it through the final design, typically the “inspiration” defined in a design wouldn’t pass an elementary design studio critique. I do give Cannon credit for that. 

In respect to the limited information I’ve seen, I like the way the detailing was handled in the building, specifically in the roof and structure. There is an honest and clean, yet interesting method of handling connections and highlighting function with form.

Overall I’m very happy with this building, both in the design and the plans for future use. I understand the need for this type of facility as youth and amateur sports continue to grow across the continent, and I appreciate the intention of using the building as a hub for a mixed-use neighborhood. I would have liked to have seen this hub been sited in an existing neighborhood, but my lack of knowledge on Richmond city planning allows me to ignore that point for the time being. All the reports I’ve heard from the users and visitors are full of praise, and that’s ultimately the goal of any building design – create a functional beautiful space that enhances the users experience.