Calgary Stampede

Rounding┬áup┬áThe Roundup Centre at the Calgary Stampede is expanding to become a world-class, year-round destination. The non-profit organization hosts over 1,200 events every year and is a vital tourism destination for the region. The Calgary Stampede likes to call itself ÔÇ£the greatest outdoor show on earthÔÇØ. It is certainly the worldÔÇÖs largest outdoor rodeo, and one of CanadaÔÇÖs largest annual events, taking place for ten days every summer from early to mid-July. The Calgary Stampede Parade is also the worldÔÇÖs largest western-themed parade.Rodeo contestants compete for prize money of $10,000 in each of six major eventsÔÇöbareback, bull riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc, steer wrestling and tie-down roping, but while this annual event remains the centerpiece, Stampede Park is a hive of activity all year round, and one that will soon be buzzing even more.Since 1981, the exhibition facility called the Roundup Centre at the Calgary Stampede has hosted a number of trade and consumer shows, often drawing international visitors to the area. The current 375,000-square-foot Roundup Centre, which hosts more than 800,000 visitors at 600 events throughout the year, is the centerpiece of Stampede ParkÔÇÖs extensive collection of exhibition facilities. The not-for-profit Calgary Stampede organization holds over 1,200 events per year on the 140-acre, downtown campus. In 2000 the Roundup Centre addition was completed, and the City of Calgary added eight acres of land to the lease, bringing the total to over 150 acres. The Calgary Stampede has 45 volunteer committees working year-round to organize the various events and activities that occur during the ten day Calgary Stampede and throughout the year. More than 2,000 community volunteers contribute their leadership skills, time and energy to making the Stampede one of the most respected volunteer organizations in the world.The Calgary Stampede is governed by a board of directors that includes 20 members elected from the shareholders, eight appointed members, and the immediate past president. Directors are volunteers and are not paid for their services to the organization. Reporting to the board is an executive management team lead by Vern Kimball, chief executive officer. More than 1,200 year-round employees work with the team to conduct the day-to-day operations of the Calgary Stampede.In July 2007 work began on the $50 million Phase 2 expansion of the Roundup Centre, fully funded through Government of Alberta grants. The expansion will add 50,000 square feet of exhibition space to the existing 375,000-square-foot facility and will meet growing demand in the city. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by late summer 2009. Phase 3 of the construction master plan will add another 50,000 square feet, and Phase 4 will add a 100,000-square-foot meeting facility. Upon completion, the Roundup Centre will feature 250,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space.ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs an operating building, so we had to minimize the impact of construction to existing events. A major component to the Stampede is trade and consumer shows. ItÔÇÖs a year-round business,ÔÇØ says Jim Bellingham, capital projects construction manager for the Calgary Stampede, who is the frontline manager for construction of the facility and the liaison between contractors, consultants, subcontractors and Stampede executive management. ÔÇ£The second phase is the next major link to make the Stampede more of a year-round facility.ÔÇØThe Calgary Stampede notes that the expansion is a key step in the plan to transform Stampede Park into a year-round gathering place and destination, ensuring that the city of Calgary will continue to attract major international events such as the WorldSkills Competition in 2009 and the Global Petroleum Show, the worldÔÇÖs largest oil and gas exhibition. The facility will also be used by Calgarians for trade shows, business meetings, fundraising events, graduation ceremonies and more.Once completed in late 2009, the expanded Roundup Centre will connect to the relocated Calgary Stampede Casino, opened in June 2008. This trade and entertainment complex will be connected by a walkway to the Stampede LRT Station.The Calgary Stampede uses a ÔÇ£construction managementÔÇØ model, with Dominion Construction on hand as construction manager for the Roundup Centre. The Stampede has employed this model for several years, as it allows the organization greater flexibility in managing labor costs, as well as design and design modifications. In its role as construction manager, Dominion acts as an agent for the owner to prepare, tender and manage trade contracts and provide costing, scheduling and value engineering input to the design.Dominion Construction has offices from Thunder Bay, Ontario, and across Western Canada to Vancouver, British Columbia, and has been designing and building since 1911. DominionÔÇÖs diversified team has the capability to provide project management, construction management, design/build construction and general contracting.ÔÇ£We have a large in-house construction and maintenance crew with trades on staff,ÔÇØ says Bellingham. ÔÇ£The construction management format is successful because it allows us to use some of our own staff and helps with labor costs.ÔÇØ As a result of using the managed construction model, the Stampede was able to employ exclusively local labor, consultants and designers on the Roundup Centre project.The Calgary Stampede has a history of caring for the environment and of working with partners who share the same vision and goals. For example, Dominion Construction plans, prepares and implements a site-specific waste management program that adheres to Provincial regulations with the goal of encouraging the 3Rs Code of Practice (reduce, reuse, recycle).In 2005 an environmental committee was formed to address the growing need to minimize the organizationÔÇÖs environmental footprint through recycling, reducing and adopting operational practices that respect the land, water and air. In June 2006, the Stampede announced plans to transform Stampede Park from a parking lot into a park over the course of several years. The greening project will replace asphalt with trees and reclaim the riverbanks toward the creation of a green oasis right in the heart of Calgary.In September 2006, Stampede Park Development Plan projects began with the construction of a new and relocated Stampede Casino. In July 2007, the Government of Canada announced a $25 million grant in support of Calgary StampedeÔÇÖs greening project.In February 2008, a $65 million investment was announced to build a state-of-the-art agriculture facility and redevelop up to 50 acres of Stampede Park. The new facility will be located in the Grandstand infield, with construction set to begin immediately following Stampede 2009.ÔÇ£Greening of the park is part of the master plan. The Elbow River, a major river, runs through Stampede Park,ÔÇØ says Bellingham. ÔÇ£We support sustainable design for all construction and renovations and are an ISO 1410 registered company.ÔÇØAlthough the Stampede will not seek a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification on the Roundup Centre project, it is employing many of the same sustainable design principles including dual-flush lavatories and High-E resistant glazing.According to reports, the four phases of construction will total over $500 million by completion in 2012, the year of the StampedeÔÇÖs 100th anniversary. Bellingham notes: ÔÇ£The Stampede is a popular destination because of its downtown locations and our efforts to combine with the tourism efforts of the city.ÔÇØ ÔÇô Editorial research by Michael Fretwell┬á