Perkins&Will
Owner/ Client: Simon Fraser University
Interior area / exterior area, in square metres: 2,776 square metres
Exact construction contract value / building cost of the project: $21 million
Date of Occupancy: June 1, 2021
The SFU Stadium is a new prototype: an events venue that is also a year-round public space on campus. On event days, the stadium provides a variety of viewing experiences: a terrace with food and beverage service, 1823 formal seats and 300 informal seats for socializing. Outside of event days, the seating area is a covered public space that is used for gatherings. The primary design element is an elegant canopy roof appearing to float over the central section of seating. The intent was to make the expression of the canopy as minimal as possible to frame the view from the seats and to focus your attention on the activity on the field.
Abridged Project Credits:
(see Architecture Canada publication out in Fall 2024 for more details)
Architecture firm - Perkins&Will (Perkins + Will Canada Architects Co.)
Client - Simon Fraser University
Photographer - Latreille Architectural Photography
Building Envelope - Perkins&Will
Structural Engineer - Fast + Epp
Mechanical Engineer - Introba
Electrical Engineer - WSP
Civil Engineer - Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd.
General Contractor - Chandos Construction
Code Consultant - GHL Consultants
Audiovisual - IBI Group
Sustainability - Perkins&Will
The jury appreciated the quiet, and clear response of the SFU Stadium project to its context and purpose. The main architectural feature of the project is the canopy that shelters the stadium seating. The design’s simplicity was well executed and was an elegant choice given the context of the brutalist backdrop of the Lorne Davies Complex Building. The jury noted the efficient use of materials including CLT and the handsome honest detail of the structural approach. In a time of excess the SFU Stadium illustrates restraint and elegance that will no doubt remain functional and beautiful for many decades to come.
2024 Jury