The BMO Centre expansion marks the completion of its steel structure with the final 90 ft. piece of steel set into place. In just 11 short months, crews have installed 9,000 metric tonnes of steel to form the structure of the BMO Centre’s 565,000 sq. ft. expansion, which now stands taller than the adjacent GMC Stadium and Saddledome on Stampede Park.
The $500M expansion will double the centre’s capacity for conferences, meetings and events. With more than 100,000 sq. ft. of new exhibition space, 38 new meeting rooms, two new ballrooms totalling 70,000 sq. ft., and a dramatic central gathering space anchored by the largest indoor fireplace in Canada, the BMO Centre will be a state-of-the-art venue that showcases the best in both technology and western hospitality.
“This is an incredible milestone on a key project that will help the Calgary Stampede welcome the world—and our community—in 2024 and beyond,” said Joel Cowley, chief executive officer, Calgary Stampede. “We can’t wait to open the doors to western Canada’s largest convention centre; we have already seen great interest in our remarkable new gathering space, with conferences already booked for June 2024, onwards.”
The steel that comprises the massive structure was fabricated in seven steel shops across Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. In the ballrooms, steel spans are up to 180 ft. long and 19 ft. deep – the length and depth of an Olympic swimming pool – allowing for an impressive column-free space. The building is also designed to support loads up to four times greater than typical assembly-type buildings, enabling the building to host any type of event imaginable. In fact, the load allowance in the exhibition hall allows for fully-loaded semi-trucks to be driven inside the building.
The award-winning team of architects for the project are Stantec, Populous and S2 Architecture. PCL Construction and M3 Development Management are delivering the project with the support of contractor and trades teams. RJC Engineers, in collaboration with Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), as well as Walters Group, have been instrumental through the installation of the steel structure.
With the steel structure complete, crews will now turn their attention to completing the building envelope and making the structure weather tight, before moving inside to install drywall, elevators, electrical systems, and finishings. The BMO Centre expansion will officially open in June 2024.
