The new 1,800-seat stadium at Simon Fraser University is the first ever outdoor home for SFU Athletics and a new facility for community and student events. The crowning piece of the design is a striking CLT canopy which cantilevers 16 metres, providing weather protection and unobstructed views.

In order to achieve the vision of a seamless floating plane of CLT, innovation and careful structural detailing was required by the structural engineering team at Fast + Epp. Designed by Perkins Will and built by Chandos Construction, the stadium was completed in August 2021.

The current building site was a grassy mound situated between the modernist Lorne Davies Complex (LDC) building by renowned local architect, Arthur Erickson and the SFU running track. The structural solutions had to ensure the LDC building and running track remain operational throughout the construction schedule. Being on top of Burnaby Mountain, high seismic and snow demands also added complexity to the design.

To meet the loading demands and facilitate efficient construction the project material choice follows the principles of the “right material for the right place”. Concrete was chosen for the main primary framing as a durable material that can achieve the unusual stand geometry, efficiently achieve gravity and seismic demands. The mass of the concrete structure provides a counterweight to the overturning forces associated with the canopy cantilever, which combined with ground anchors, provide global stability to the cantilever system.

Custom fabricated shaped steel box girders were used to facilitate the long cantilever canopy, tapered to match the structure demand, and maximize material efficiency. High strength stainless steel rod, using a specific grade of rod commonly used on oil rigs, was used for the “tie back” to minimize spatial impact on the public concourse and provide high durability for this critical structural element. Prefabricated CLT panels facilitated a simple canopy surface construction.

The structural solution drew on local expertise trade including specialist steel and CLT fabricators based in British Columbia, contributing to the local economy. The prefabricated strategy resulted in fewer errors on site and a shorter overall construction time and minimise impact on site adjacent ‘live’ sites. The completed use of wood structure celebrates the sustainable credentials of the wood product as both a structure and a finish.

 Latreille Architectural Photography