Ontario Construction Report staff writer
Construction continues on the multi-year Rogers Centre renovation with the second phase of the project awarded to PCL Constructors Canada Inc.
The second phase of work is part of a more than $300 million multi-year renovation that aims to transform 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.
“PCL and our partners are passionate about bringing the Toronto Blue Jays’ reimagined vision for Rogers Centre to life,” Monique Buckberger, vice-president and district manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto) said in a statement. “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.”
The first phase of the project achieved substantial completion on March 31.
Phase two of the renovation features a reimagined 100 level seating bowl and structure (from foul pole to foul pole) designed specifically for baseball viewing, with an all-new, best-in-class Blue Jays clubhouse in addition to three new premium clubs and seating sections.
The three new premium clubs include:
- Batting Tunnel Club located behind home plate – third base side.
- Home Plate Club located directly behind home plate.
- The Lounge located behind home plate – first base side.
The structural demolition of the lower bowl took place from October 13 to 26, removing and recycling 29.5 million pounds of materials in 13 days, equivalent to 2.2 million pounds per day; including 26.5 million pounds of concrete and 3million pounds of steel.
Field level excavation to create below ground space for the new player facilities and premium clubs, took place from Oct. 23 to Nov. 6 when about 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– more than three times the number of workers compared to phase one demolition.
With a fast-tracked construction timeline, formwork for the new build began and the first new concrete was poured on the same day demolition completed on Oct. 26 and on Nov. 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 Nov. 13. A total of 2.4 million pounds of structural steel has been fabricated offsite and will be installed at Rogers Centre to complete the project.