The challenge of Ontario’s Celebration Zone —presented by the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) for the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games—was to create two large-scale, temporary structures that could be fully erected in 72 hours within the confines of Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and house a line-up of more than 500 events, including concerts and activities.
In order to achieve this, Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) turned to the inflatable building industry. Working with Tectoniks UK, HPA developed two dynamic undulating pavilions framing open views to Toronto’s waterfront while creating a dramatic art installation in the urban landscape. The design creates a sense of occasion and can accommodate 1500 people at a time including provisions for cultural exhibits, large scale digital media, headline concerts, and food services.
Built with only two materials – tensile membrane fabric and compressed air – the two pavilions cover approximately 13,000 and 4,000 square feet respectively. The larger of the two structures covered a length of over 220’, a span of 70’, and a height of 50’. Due to the long span, its complex shape, the oversized openings, and the high wind-loads at Toronto’s waterfront, a highly detailed structural analysis had to be conducted to make the structures safe. HPA engaged Thornton Thomassetti (TT) and Blackwell Engineers to work alongside Tectoniks to solve the structural challenges. Blackwell synthesized the site specific wind characteristics and criteria, and then TT built a complex pneumatic structural model. Once the dynamic structural behaviour was finalized, Tectoniks was able to fabricate the structure in 10 weeks and the structures were inflated and erected in less than 36 hours by Astound Group’s expert team.
The project delivery was a coordinated effort led by Ellis Don with event programming provided by Lord Cultural Resources. Astound Group built all the event activation structures, while Infinite Stage Design produced inventive lighting and sound that brought alive the 38 day and night celebration - as the structures morphed from translucent white during the day, to warm pink and blue at night.
Ontario’s Celebration Zone was a fun, dramatic, light and breezy venue that highlighted the best of Ontario during the games.
Client/Proponent:
Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation
Project Team
Ellis Don: Project Lead/Construction
Lord Cultural Resources: Cultural Programming
Hariri Pontarini Architects: Architects
Thornton Tomasetti: Structural Design Engineers
Blackwell: Structural Engineers
Tectoniks: Inflatable Fabricators
Astound Group: Temporary Structures and Exhibits
Parléview Ltd: Food, Beverage, Staffing, Site Operations & Management
Infinite Stage Design: Event Production, Site Operations and Management
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