Queen’s aims for touchdown with stadium build

Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. is in the midst of building a new outdoor turf stadium, envisioned as one of the top facilities of its ilk in the province.

The revitalized Richardson Stadium will boast an artificial turf field, U-shaped seating built to modern accessibility standards, a state-of-the-art scoreboard and improved broadcast and webcast capability.

Also included are improved lighting, enhanced sightlines, new washrooms and multiple concession locations.

Scheduled to open in time for the 2016 Gaels football season, the facility is situated on the site of the former stadium built in 1971. The horseshoe seating will accommodate up to 8,000 fans.

The project is being undertaken by a team that includes Shoalts and Zaback Architects Ltd. and general contractor M. Sullivan & Son Ltd.

H. H. Angus & Associates Ltd. is providing mechanical and electrical consulting engineering services. McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers Ltd. is the structural engineering consultant.

The new stadium is the third to be constructed on the university campus. The original George Richardson Memorial Stadium was built in 1921 on the main campus.

To accommodate construction of the new facility, the 1971 stadium — including grandstands — was demolished. One building, which in part houses locker rooms, is being renovated.

Demolition work was completed in November by site services contractor Gordon Barr Construction. The site is located at Johnson Street and Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd.

To prepare the site for construction a variety of infrastructure work was carried out.

John Witjes, the university’s associate vice-principal (facilities), physical plant services, said all support infrastructure has been installed including water, storm and sanitary sewers and electrical and IT services.

"The new water and sewer services had to be up-sized to accommodate today’s standards, while electrical and IT services had to be installed to meet the requirements of the new stadium."

The majority of the infrastructure was installed last summer.

Witjes said construction of the new stadium is scheduled to be completed by mid-August.

"The schedule for the project is tight, and this presents the main challenge," he said in an email.

Stadium construction got underway last October. Construction costs are estimated at $16 million. The total budget for the project is $20.27 million.

The university contributed $3 million, mainly to fund necessary infrastructure improvements at the site.

Queen’s alumni Stu Lang and Kim Lang donated $10 million while The Richardson Foundation contributed $5 million.

Last fall, the Gaels community was asked to provide feedback on three potential end-zone designs for the revitalized stadium.

With more than 5,000 votes cast, design B featuring a blue end-zone with Queen’s in gold and tricolour swooshes on either side emerged as the clear fan favourite.

The revitalization project is a priority within the university’s $500 million Initiative fundraising campaign and is the next step in its efforts to enhance its athletic and recreation facilities.