Rogers Centre reno Phase 2 updates shed light on fast-tracked work
by arslan_ahmed | November 22, 2023 3:21 pm
[1]A photo of the stadium on October 10.Photos courtesy Blue Jays Media.
The second phase of the $300 million multi-year renovation of the Rogers Centre is progressing rapidly, with PCL Constructors Canada Inc. having been granted the contract for the ongoing work.
The project targets the 34-year-old multi-purpose stadium into a ballpark through a series of projects focused on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities for Canada’s baseball team.
The following are the updates of the construction work under Phase 2:
Demolition and excavation
The structural demolition of the lower bowl took place from October 13 to 26, removing and recycling 13.3 million kg (29.5 million lb) of materials in 13 days, equivalent to 997,900 kg (2.2 million lb) per day; this included 12 million kg (26.5 million lb) of concrete and 1.36 million kg (3 million lb) of steel.
Field level excavation to create below-ground space for the new player facilities and premium clubs took place from October 23 to November 6. During this period, approximately 780 truckloads of materials were removed from the ballpark, while 530 loads were brought in.
To facilitate the excavation, a temporary bridge was installed over the site of the former seating bowl. At the peak of demolition and excavation work, 10 excavators were on site with 344 dump trucks cycling in and out of Rogers Centre over the temporary bridge in one day.
An average of 350 workers have been on site daily, which is more than three times the number of workers compared to phase one demolition.
[2]A photo showing the fast progress on site by November 13.
New build
With a fast-tracked construction timeline, form work for the new build began, and the first new concrete was poured on the same day demolition was completed (October 26).
On November 9, a major piece of mechanical equipment was delivered by crane from Bremner Blvd. into Rogers Centre through an opening in the roof.
The first structural steel column was put up on November 13. A total of 1.1 million kg (2.4 million lb) of structural steel has been fabricated offsite and will be installed at Rogers Centre to complete the project.
Approximately 500 truckloads worth of concrete are expected to be poured.
“PCL and our partners are passionate about bringing the Toronto Blue Jays’ reimagined vision for Rogers Centre to life,” says Monique Buckberger, vice-president, and district manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto). “Following the complex, fast-track renovation completed in just six months for the 2023 season, the second phase of the project will deliver an even greater volume of work in the same time frame, as the 100-level seating bowl is demolished and rebuilt to bring Blue Jays fans an experience designed specifically for baseball.”