BC Place roof collapses

[slapshot™]

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/canwest/111/global_bc_stadium_roof_210.jpg?size=l

The roof at B.C. Place stadium - home of the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League - collapsed shortly after noon during a storm that brought wind and heavy, wet snow to the area.

There were no report on injuries after the inflated fabric roof fell into the empty stadium.

The stadium was opened just before Expo 86.

About three weeks ago, Graham Ramsay, BC place's business development director said that contrary to some reports in The Province, the Teflon roof did not need to be replaced, as a review conducted by its builder shows it is structurally sound

[TimmyTabasco]

Oh My God! :nod:

Bound to happen, especially during this nutty weather

It doesn't look good for the Olympics..

[Iced Tea]

The word is a section came loose from the concrete rim and then all the air escaped.

A few rolls of white duct tape will fix this problem. :D

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/home_leisure/-/node_G3BCVKRSRPgs/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSHCV1ZFXKge/bgel_HN6XQX5NFFbl/gvel_HNRSZRP7W3gl/theme_us_homeleisure_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html

Good to see that the building manager is keeping on top of maintenance of the dome. It warms my heart to know that BC Place has never had any problems like that of the Big O. :rolleyes:

Jeez Louise, you don't have the manufacturer do the only checking on the fabric. Even if BC Place workers know squat about fabric roofs, they can surely spot stress problems or tears.


Edit: CBC.ca has some nice pictures of the collaspe.

http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/canada/224/

Turns out it may take quite a few rolls of white duct tape; that is nasty tear. :eek:

[Iced Tea]

B.C. Place probes dome collapse
Stadium officials say controlled deflation followed accidental tear
Last Updated: Friday, January 5, 2007 | 7:34 PM PT
CBC News

Officials at Vancouver's B.C. Place are searching for answers after the stadium's inflated dome roof — destined for the spotlight in the 2010 Winter Olympics — collapsed on Friday.

With a sound "just like thunder," the Teflon-coated roof fell, leaving the torn fabric hanging over the Vancouver landmark and a giant hole in the city's skyline.

B.C. Place officials said the collapse was an intentional controlled deflation after one panel of the roof was torn off.

However, general manager Howard Crosley told a news conference Friday afternoon that it was still not known what caused the initial problem.

"At this particular point in time, we're still assessing what that was. We also conducted a standard evacuation of the facility in the interest of public safety."

'Like elephants running through your living room'

Two City of Vancouver workers told CBC News they heard the fabric flapping, followed by what sounded like an explosion, ripping a hole in the inflated roof of the building that is to host the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Part-time stadium worker Trevor Holness was inside the facility during the noonhour when he noticed that the roof was sagging.

He said he was warning other workers about the possible danger when "huge gusts of wind caught the slack in the roof, and it was an intense sound."

He described it as the sound of "elephants running through your living room. It was thunderous."

Holness said there was a seven-metre tear in the roof that "grew across the bottom and travelled up one side, and there was like the whole corner flapping, the sound was insane."

Paul Walker, who was also working inside the stadium, told CBC Radio the tear sounded "just like thunder." He said that the air in the dome then started "being sucked out really fast."

He said water started pouring down from the hole in the roof. It had been a snowy, rainy day in B.C., but there's no word on whether that was a factor.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Crosley said a new panel to repair the roof has been ordered. But he could not say when the roof will be repaired and the dome re-inflated.

Poor maintenance cited by NDP

The New Democrat MLA for Delta North says a lack of proper maintenance may be to blame for the roof collapse.

Guy Gentner first raised the issue in the legislature last May, warning the roof was in bad shape.

"B.C. Place Stadium is close to its end. The roof is ready to fall down, according to the service plan. Its anticipated lifespan is coming to an end. Could the minister tell us when the life cycle replacement is due on the roof at B.C. Place Stadium?"

Olga Ilich, who was then the tourism minister, offered this reassurance.

"Apparently the roof is expected to last another 15 to 20 years if it's maintained properly in its current state," she told the house.

She also confirmed that it costs more than $300,000 a year to maintain the roof.

The stadium, which is home to the B.C. Lions football team, seats 60,000 and was built in 1983, three years ahead of Expo 86. It has been the largest air-supported stadium in the world.http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/01/05/bc-dome.html

Here is a picture of the culprit that was caught minutes after the attack on BC Place. If anyone can identify the culprit, they are asked to call the police.
http://www.washington.edu/cambots/archive/seagull.gif

[THE HACK]

More troubles for the stadium as its leaking water badly into the stadium.Time for a retractable roof?

Cheers