PCL Raises the Roof on BMO Field

TORONTO, Ontario — In a feat of engineering that has dramatically transformed the skyline surrounding the City of Toronto’s historic Exhibition Place grounds, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. recently raised the roof on BMO Field’s south concourse.

“A critical lift such as the one we performed to raise the roof on BMO Field is an orchestration of precision and patience to ensure that every element goes exactly as planned,” says PCL Toronto Senior Project Manager Neil Barrows. “We have been methodically planning for this moment for over two years in coordination with our partners to ensure it’s done right for the safety of all workers and the enjoyment of fans.”

Assembled onsite as one massive structure weighing over 980,000 pounds, the south canopy was lifted in tandem by two lattice boom crawler cranes. With a combined lifting capacity of more than 2 million pounds, the two massive cranes simultaneously lifted and then crawled the 377-by-68 canopy from the foot of the south concourse, enabling it to be incorporated into the roof structure that will cover the east, west and south stands. Transported from Holland, the CC2400 crane was so large that it necessitated over 100 tractor trailers to transport it to site.

PCL mobilized onsite in mid-October, following completion of Toronto FC’s 2015 season to complete the second phase of an aggressive two-year project that has seen 8,400 seats added to the east grandstand, a continuous concourse level, kitchen and enhancements to washrooms, concessions and executive VIP spaces. The second phase of the project has focused on creation of the canopy roof.

The east and west canopies were built onsite in 100-by-50 sections and lifted into place from the stadium’s exterior to prevent damaging the field. Four steel super-columns have been constructed in each corner of the stadium, their foundations plugged into bedrock using a system of micro piles drilled roughly 23 feet into the ground, along with three enormous legs forged together at various levels to support the load of the roof trusses.