The new roof of the Olympic Stadium will have to let in natural light

In a call for qualification launched Tuesday, the Regie des installations olympiques (RIO) opens the door for the new roof to be partially dismantled to allow open-air events to be held, but it warns that it is a question of an "option" and that "the technical feasibility at reasonable cost must be clearly demonstrated for the Regie to decide to follow this path".

The qualification call invites interested firms to submit their application for the "design, construction, financing and maintenance of the new stadium roof" in order to find a company or consortium to carry out this major project. No information was given as to a price range for this book.

Although the project that will be retained remains to be defined, certain parameters are already known, because the Regie intends to "respect the aesthetics and the spatial concept" of the book, recalling in passing that the stadium is a "jewel of architecture recognized internationally "and that" compatibility with the original concept of the Olympic stadium and the preservation of its overall appearance must take precedence in all design decisions ".

Thus, there is no question of adding imposing steel structures to retain the new roof, but to hang it to the tower, as the original concept. However, the Regie is aiming for a flatter, smoother roof in order to minimize wind exposure.

In addition, to allow natural light to enter, the Board requires that the roof have "translucent sections" and suggests, in a sketch, a translucent band all along the perimeter surrounding an opaque coating in the center, so that light could penetrate between the technical ring and the central portion of the roof.

Interested firms have until January 29 to come forward and successful candidates will be known in March. The business case, it must be submitted to the Government of Quebec by the RIO in the summer of 2020 and the final concept that has been selected will be presented to the public in 2021, it says, without specifying a date.