BMO Centre Expansion

The BMO Centre has been the top venue for consumer and trade shows, special events, meetings, and conferences in Calgary since its establishment in 1982. With a value estimated at $500 million, the BMO Centre’s latest expansion project will increase its total floor space, almost doubling its rentable area. Upon completion, the BMO Centre will become the second-largest meeting facility in Canada, surpassed only by the Toronto Convention Centre. This transformation will elevate Calgary to top-tier destination status within the competitive international meetings and conventions market.

S2 is working collaboratively with Stantec and Populous Inc. to lead Phases 1 and 2 of the project. Our role is to oversee, coordinate and execute the Enabling works and Demolition stages. The Enabling work involves preparing the existing structure to accommodate multiple stages of modifications, allowing for demolition and the establishment of temporary facilities while the new building is under construction. In Phase 3, S2 will serve as the Construction Administration Lead, ensuring continuity across all stages of construction.

Our involvement in Phases 1 and 2 requires us to navigate ten Tender packages that overlap during the different stages of construction and demolition; the demolition package alone is over 100 pages long. As the Construction Administration Lead, S2 will also manage an additional five sequential Tender packages throughout the construction of Phase 3.

To enable demolition while allowing the Stampede to maintain operations, S2 developed a rigorous schedule that alternates between Phase 1 and Phase 2 – which together comprise of five distinct stages. Careful consideration was taken to maintain public safety and access as well adapting the temporary work to allow Phase 3 to proceed.

A number of interfacing projects are also being developed concurrently, that add complexity to the coordination of the work both in terms of scope delineation and schedule of construction. S2 worked closely with the LRT team, 17th Avenue extension team, Hall F team and Data Centre team to align the Enabling Works and Demolition.

Due to the age of the existing structure and the lack of accurate existing record drawings, S2 faced a number of unknown existing conditions, requiring quick and creative solutions on-site to keep the project moving forward. S2 is working closely with PCL to adapt the scope as required and manage the tender packages accordingly to respond to the existing conditions.