Phase one of Toronto Blue Jays’ Rogers Centre Renovation project is presented with global accolades.
Toronto, Ontario (December 19, 2023) – A strong representation of PCL’s commitment to innovation, safety and teamwork, PCL Construction and partners were awarded Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Global Best Projects Award of Merit. Phase one of the Rogers Centre Renovation project was recognized in the Sports/Entertainment category.
The ENR Global Best Projects Award acknowledges one-of-a-kind projects from around the globe that have a unique focus on innovations, teamwork, safety performance and how teams overcome design and construction challenges. A panel of industry leaders sorted through a robust slate of entries to select 31 projects in 23 different countries who demonstrated excellence in design and construction quality.
“Receiving this incredible recognition on such a global scale speaks to the innovation and complexity of this fast-track renovation,” says Monique Buckberger, vice president and district manager, PCL Constructors Canada Inc. “Delivering this intricate construction schedule in just six months would not be possible without the outstanding collaboration, passion and camaraderie from everyone involved. Thank you to the entire team for your dedication to bringing the Toronto Blue Jays’ reimagined vision for Rogers Centre to life.”
On July 28, 2022, the Toronto Blue Jays announced a multi-year more than $300 million privately funded renovation that would transform Rogers Centre from a stadium into a ballpark through a series of projects focused on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities. At the end of the 2022 Major League Baseball season, PCL Construction and trade partners began to execute a six-month accelerated construction schedule to bring the Toronto Blue Jays’ vision and Populous’ design to life.
With the start date of the six-month construction schedule highly dependent on the offseason baseball schedule, the team needed to be prepared to begin work at any moment. To reduce chances of delays during the renovations, there was a heavy focus on preplanning work, pre-ordering material and staging the space prior to construction. Once the team received confirmation to mobilize on site, they coordinated with the trade partners and turned the stadium into a construction site immediately.
Executing this fast-track schedule was contingent on a successful preconstruction phase. The team built a detailed construction schedule on a 6-day work week with two shifts, based on the nature of the work, in order to meet the rigorous timeline. This intricate renovation project involved approximately 14 individual projects rolled into one. The team was required to work on each scope simultaneously while working within operational confines as Rogers Centre’s back of house functions remained active during construction. With 50 workers dedicated to demolition and approximately 21,000 worker hours, demolition was completed in just 35 days.
The first phase of the project achieved substantial completion on March 31, 2023 and opened to fans on April 11 for the 2023 season Blue Jays Home Opener. Work is well underway on the second phase of the multi-year Rogers Centre renovation. The second phase of work is part of a more than $300 million multi-year renovation that aims to transform the 34-year-old multi-purpose stadium into a ballpark through a series of projects focused on modernizing the fan experience and building world-class player facilities for Canada’s baseball team.
About PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $9 billion CAD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.