Canada Place
Birdair served as roofing subcontractor for the original Canada Place fabric sail installation in 1985 and in 2011 the structure's current roof was retrofitted with 91,210 square feet of TiO2-coated PTFE fiberglass fabric membrane that matches the original five-sail design.
Fabric Type: PTFE Fiberglass
Market Sector: Commercial
Project Size: 91,210 sq.ft.
Architect: Downs/Archambault
Engineer: Geiger Engineers
Owner: Canada Place Corporation
General Contractor: Ledcor Construction
Completion Date: September 1, 2011
After 25 years of exemplary service, the iconic fabric roof at Canada Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada was updated with a new Birdair tensile roofing system.
Birdair also served as roofing subcontractor for the original Canada Place fabric sail installation in 1985. The structure's current roof was retrofitted with 91,210 square feet of TiO2-coated PTFE fiberglass fabric membrane that matches the original five-sail design.
The fabric membrane specified for Canada Place is PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, fiberglass coated with non-toxic and flame-resistant TiO2 (titanium dioxide) that requires less maintenance due to its self-cleaning capabilities. The material is also highly durable, weather and fire resistant, and has an anticipated projected life expectancy exceeding 30+ years.
At the end of the project, Birdair donated unused and slightly used construction materials, including access platforms, hoisting ballasts and temp brackets, to the British Columbia Institute of Technology for use in their skilled trade programs. To repurpose the old roof, Canada Place has partnered with Architecture For Humanity Vancouver to recycle the sails, which will be used for humanitarian purposes at home and abroad.
