Sports Stadium proves a challenge

trevor.kenney — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:33:07 +0000

There is no denying that construction of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge's new Regional Sports Stadium and Field Complex has been trying. Weather conditions have played havoc with the various phases of the project, delaying work crews and subsequently pushing back completion dates.

So, it is hardly surprising to learn that the highest profile phase of the entire project, the installation of the artificial turf field, has been deemed epically difficult by the installer himself.

"We've installed fields worldwide for the last 20 years and this would be the third most difficult, one of the toughest I've been through because of the winds," says Ivan Couto of Ontario-based IC Improvements.

"Normally, we won't install a field at this time of year because of wind but with all the delays we've had, this was our only opportunity."

Laying the roughly 120,000 square foot turf field is essentially like putting down a massive carpet. The rolls are obviously much bigger but the basic concept is the same as any house installation. What complicates matters is wind getting underneath the panels and shifting them after they've been laid, throwing off exacting measurements. Couto and his crew dealt with such problems on a daily basis.

Once the panels are down and stitched together, weather again plays a role. The crew needs a stretch of days without precipitation to apply the unique U of L logos. Again, rain delayed this stage and added more time to the project.

The next stage in the process is giving the field its bounce. As it is, the field is rock hard because it simply rests on a base of hard-packed gravel. The sponginess comes from nearly 400,000 pounds of cryogenically frozen rubber pellets that are worked into the polyethelene turf fibres.

Couto describes a process that uses recycled tires flushed through a nitrogen tank then frozen to -180 C. They are then processed through a cracker mill, shattering the tires to pellet size, after which all metal and extra fibres are extracted, leaving pure rubber.

"The nitrogen changes the density of the rubber so it becomes heavier," Couto explains. "Our fields, when it rains or players are running, don't give you that splash of pellets because of their density."

The fracturing of the rubber also creates uneven edges on the pellets so that when they are installed (to a depth of an inch and ¾) they lock onto each other and remain in place.

"That also makes the whole field consistent, there are no soft or hard spots," he says. "The advantage with the cryogenic process is that in our winters, the pellets don't freeze. It can be -50 C outside and if you play on it, it'll still be soft."

GET THE FACTS

• The installation process of the turf field averages 10 to 14 days, but the U of L installation topped three weeks

• The field is not glued or fastened down in any manner, relying on the nearly 400,000 pounds of rubber infill to keep it in place

• Maintenance of the field includes a yearly visit by IC Improvements where they brush and wash the turf. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ will regularly groom the field with a sweeper that fluffs up the fibres and removes any debris

• The lifespan of the turf field is 15 to 20 years

President Cade to step aside in 2010

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:36:45 +0000

He's overseen a decade of unprecedented growth and presided over an educational transformation that has repositioned the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a leading research and graduate studies institution. On Thursday afternoon, U of L President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Bill Cade, announced he would be stepping aside at the completion of his second term, June 30, 2010.

"Elsa and I have made this decision after much consideration," says Cade, referring to his wife. "We believe that our time as the presidential couple has been the most satisfying experience of our professional lives. It has been a great honour for us to work with all of you to advance our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

Dr. Bill Cade, who announced Thursday he would be leaving the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after the completion of his second term as ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ President expires, in June 2010, is well known for his personal involvement with students, staff and faculty.

Cade was appointed President and Vice-Chancellor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge in July 2000. Currently serving his second five-year term, he has overseen the development of many significant initiatives at the U of L, including two five-year strategic plans and the successful completion of the institution's largest capital campaign.

During his tenure, student enrolment grew by 50 per cent and today approximately 8,000 students from around the world call the U of L's campuses in Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton home. He also saw the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ evolve from a primarily undergraduate university to a leading comprehensive academic and research institution with corresponding growth in graduate programming, enrolment and external research funding (which increased by a phenomenal 610 per cent).

While the growth numbers are staggering, Cade endeavoured to keep the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ grounded in its principles. His personal style reflected well the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's roots as an institution grounded in liberal education and committed to providing its students with smaller classes and a personal learning experience.

"The best part of my job has been the people," Cade says. "The people who make up the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ are intensely proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and what they and others have contributed to it. And similarly, the people of Lethbridge are intensely proud of their ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. This sense of pride that people have in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is something that I get enormous satisfaction from."

Since his arrival in 2000, the U of L completed, initiated, constructed or planned about $200 million in capital projects and improvements. These include the Library Information Network Centre (LINC) and the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience (CCBN) (projects started under the leadership of former president Dr. Howard Tennant), the 1st Choice Savings Centre for Sport and Wellness, the Parkway Services Complex, the renovation and expansion of Turcotte Hall and the Alberta Water and Environmental Science Building, which opened this past November.

Currently three more projects are under construction and set to open in 2009/2010, including the Regional Sports Stadium and Field Complex, a campus daycare and Markin Hall – a new home for the faculties of Management and Health Sciences.

"Throughout his presidency, Dr. Cade has proudly served as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's chief ambassador and cheerleader, and has built and strengthened community relations at local, provincial, national and international levels," says ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Chair Robert Turner. "During Dr. Cade's tenure, the U of L has seen an unprecedented amount of community support in the forms of fundraising and community engagement. On behalf of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors, I would like to thank Bill and Elsa for their decade of dedication and commitment to this institution."

To view a personal letter from Dr. Cade to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community, click on the following link: www.uleth.ca/notice/display.html?b=300&s=11846

UNews - Regional Sports Stadium

Sports Stadium proves a challenge

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President Cade to step aside in 2010

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