AXIM Admixtures Utilized in Precast Stadium

Project:
Ronald V. Joyce Stadium at McMaster University

Location:
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Owner:
McMaster University

Precaster: 
Coreslab Structures (ONT) Inc

Precast Engineer: 
Kassian Dyck Associates

Architect/Engineer:
Diamond and Schmitt  Architects Incorporated

Structural Engineer: 
Halcrow Yolles

Contractor: 
Vanbots Construction Corporation

Products: 
CATEXOL 1000 RX
CATEXOL 1000 SP-MN
CATEXOL 900 N
CATEXOL A.E. 160

Situation
McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, commissioned the construction of the Ron Joyce Stadium. The stadium would be the new home of the McMaster Marauders football team who have been playing their Ontario University Athletics games in 2005 and 2006 at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL would also use the stadium for training during the spring and summer.

Challenge
To expedite construction, a precast concrete solution was developed by Kassian Dyck Associates and Coreslab Structures Inc. The stadium features 6,000 precast concrete seats and temporary seating for an additional 6,000 on the other side of the field when needed for national events. An underground concrete parking garage is below the stadium grounds that will serve visitors to the stadium plus daily campus parking needs.

Solution
The new 6,000 seat stadium was built using 240 precast bleacher slabs, 19 precast guard walls, 33 precast vomitory walls and 13 precast floor slabs. Installation was completed using a mobile crane at the rear of the stadium. All precast units were hoisted over the steel frame into their ultimate location. The schedule required the commencement of the installation of the slabs in December of 2007. Completion was the end of January 2008.

Highlights
Located minutes from downtown Hamilton, Ontario, McMaster University was founded in the 1830s by Baptists. The University is named after Senator William McMaster (1811-1887), who bequeathed substantial funds to create the school. The University enrolled 21,852 undergraduate and graduate students in 2007-08.

Facts about McMaster University's Ronald V. Joyce Stadium

-$10-million donated to stadium construction by businessman Ron Joyce will accommodate seating for 6,000 new home of the McMaster Marauders football team, as well as soccer and other field sports. The stadium will also be the new home of Spring Training for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

-Stadium is part of the $43-million expansion plans for a new athletics and recreation center and the stadium opened September 2007

-Stadium's state-of-the-art playing surface will extend training time, allowing teams and individual athletes to practice in a range of weather conditions.

-Stadium use will extend to the community, hosting school championships for children and teens, as well as for regional, provincial and national competitions