B.C. Place Stadium renovations were not complete when it reopened Sept. 30, 2011.
Contractor LMDG Building Code Consultants sent a provisional occupancy letter on the day of the B.C. Lions win over the Edmonton Eskimos to B.C. Pavilion Corporation project consultant Chris Beaton with a list of eight conditions.
The public must be protected from all construction activity on site, including handling of construction materials and the provision of adequate barriers, said the letter, co-signed by LMDG partner Emmanuel Domingo and obtained via Freedom of Information.
The letter said internal and external exit routes and access to fire extinguishers and hose cabinets must be kept clear of any obstructions, including construction activity during public events.
Attached to the letter is a one-page list of 22 Building Code deficiencies, six of which were under the heading occupancy related issues as of Sept. 30, 2011. Those included exterior construction hoardings and gates on the west side and mag and thumb locks at two media-designated doors that prevented emergency exit. Proposed mitigation involved stadium security guards staffing the specific doors and gates.
Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services inspected the stadium, but not city hall building inspectors. The property is governed by the B.C. Enterprise Corporation Act. Vancouver Coastal Health Authority found trouble at 10 concession outlets, mainly for lack of hot water for cleaning and handwashing.
Nobody answered LMDGs phone number and email to Domingo was not answered.
The Liberals like to claim its on-time and on budget and both aren't true, this shows that it wasn't really on time, said NDP critic Spencer Chandra Herbert. They earlier said it would be open in July. We know it nearly doubled its budget. I just hope it works from here on out.
The original, 1982-inflated roof ripped and collapsed five years ago this week. A report published a year after the Jan. 5, 2007 incident confirmed the snow-melting system was not used before a sudden air pressure spike caused an avalanche that ripped the fabric roof.
The incident sparked plans to replace the roof before the 2010 Winter Olympics, but the estimated $253 million job was delayed for fear it would be finished only two weeks before the opening ceremony. The post-Games renovation budget ballooned from $365 million to $563 million, but the final cost has not been announced.
Meanwhile, PavCo invited 296 people to enjoy the reopening in luxury. Premier Christy Clark and Minister responsible Pat Bell were among 21 people with 46 tickets to the exclusive B.C. Place Suite. Guests included PavCo executives and directors, CKNW talk show host Bill Good, and the widows of both Jack Poole and original B.C. Place chairman Alvin Narod.
Liberal lobbyist and Clarks campaign strategist Patrick Kinsella was on a longer list of people invited to the Edgewater Lounge, but was seen by a reporter in the B.C. Place Suite at halftime.
It seemed like it was a real push on government to give tickets to anybody that donated to them, supported them, influential lobbyists, Chandra Herbert said.
The NDP caucus declined invitations. Several MLAs, including leader Adrian Dix, bought tickets for public seating areas. NDP MPs Don Davies and Libby Davies were invited, but did not attend.
On principle I would not have gone to that, Libby Davies told the Courier.
