Ontario Construction News staff writer
PCL Construction has completed the first phase of the multi-year Rogers Centre renovation project.
The demolition started Oct. 14 and lasted four weeks – after about 21,000 worker hours, with 500 level seats removed (all to be replaced for the 2023 season), and structural demolition of the outfield.
Work included:
- An average of about 110 workers have been on site daily, six days per week, including about 50 workers dedicated to demolition.
- 2 million pounds of materials have been recycled from the stadium, including:
- 3 million pounds of concrete.
- 900,000 pounds of steel and metal.
- A 200-tonne crane was used for heavy structural removal, while small machinery was utilized to break up concrete.
- The outfield turf has been protected or removed in certain areas to facilitate construction, while the infield remains accessible to the Blue Jays Field Operations team to continue offseason work.
- It took approximately one month to remove the 500L seats (around 17,000) and railings (Oct. 14 to Nov. 11).
- Two mobile cranes (90 tonne and 50 tonne) were used to bring the seats down from the 500-level.
Rogers Stadium Limited Partnership awarded the contract and work will continue through the offseason – part of a $300 million multi-year renovation that aims to transform the 33-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.
“PCL and our partners are passionate about bringing the Toronto Blue Jays’ reimagined vision for Rogers Centre to life,” said Monique Buckberger, vice president and district manager, PCL Toronto. “Following months of preconstruction planning, our team hit the ground running on the first phase of renovations to give the home of Canada’s Major League Baseball team a new look for the 2023 home opener.”
To meet the fast-track schedule, work is being scheduled in two shifts over a six-day work week. Demolition to bring portions of the stadium back to base is already nearing completion, enabling next steps, which opens Apr. 11, 2023, including:
Field level renovations:
- Players’ family room
- 5,000 sq. ft. weight room
- Staff locker rooms
100 level and 200 level outfield upgrades:
- Creation of multiple new social spaces with patios, drink rails, bars, and viewing platforms
- Raised bullpens surrounded by traditional and new bleacher seats, as well as social viewing areas that look into the bullpens to increase fan and player interaction.
- 100 level seats brought forward to the new outfield walls to brings fans closer to the game
500 level renovations:
- Two new social decks in right and left field
- Replacing every 500-level seat from the originals when the building opened
The scope of work “will address the most important challenges with the current stadium, while not rushing the necessary long-term work needed to maintain the ballpark for future generations of fans.”
The size of the stadium allows for multiple projects to progress at the same time, so while demolition was being completed, building began the second week of November with concrete poured in the 500L and new structural steel installation.