The design of the Richmond Olympic Oval is centred upon three, main conceptual themes: Flow, Flight, and Fusion. These themes are reflected in a number of the building’s striking features.

• The heron, the official symbol of the City of Richmond, is celebrated in a series of feathered roof spans that tail off the edge of the building to create porches that serve as outdoor gathering spaces. The Oval’s roofline also recalls the outline of the stylized heron in the city’s logo.

• Translucent polycarbonate walls on the Oval’s south, east, and west facades show a dynamic colour variation across their length, evoking the flowing colours of the estuary while mediating the flow of sunlight to the building’s interior and displaying the muted outlines of figures inside the building.

• An irregular pattern of clear glazing in the south wall provides moments of transparency and promotes interaction between dynamic interior spaces and the street.

• The Oval’s glassed northern side provides spectacular views to the Fraser River and North Shore mountains.

• The north buttresses are articulated with a relief sculpture by artist Susan Point.

• A new integrated public art work by artist Janet Echelman is suspended over a large pond adjoining the Oval.

• The vehicular bridge over the Hollybridge Canal, near the Oval’s southeast entrance, features art elements by artist Buster Simpson.

• Public artworks are essential elements of an integrated landscape design that complements the diverse recreational opportunities, cultural experiences, and other public amenities offered inside the Oval.

• The landscape design encompasses three main, interconnected public spaces: Legacy Plaza, Waterworks, and Riverside.

Relief Sculpture by Musqueam Artist Susan Point
A signature public artwork designed by artist Susan Point for the exterior of the Richmond Olympic Oval pays homage to the Fraser River and underscores the historical and cultural significance of the Oval site to the Musqueam people.

• Carved three-dimensional reliefs depicting water, herons, salmon, and other motifs significant to aboriginal traditions and contemporary Richmond culture are inlaid into channels in 15 massive concrete buttresses on the north side of the Oval, facing a large festival plaza.

• Each channel is approximately 18 feet tall and 24 to 30 inches wide. The artwork makes a dramatic artistic statement while providing humanizing relief to the large concrete buttresses.

• When it rains, stormwater from the roof runs through the channels in the buttresses, and the carved three-dimensional forms animate the water as it runs down the face of the channel. In fair weather, the lively patterns are clearly visible for users of the plaza to enjoy.

• Stormwater running over the reliefs is collected and processed through a bioremediation pond for reuse or discharge. The pond and adjacent canal define a water-themed green space east of the building.

“This artwork is a tribute to the Fraser River, on whose shores my people have lived and prospered for countless generations,” writes Point.

“It is also a tribute to all rivers that shape the destiny of those who live by their cycle and spiritual encounters. The river alters its shapes and course over time, yet it remains at the heart of the changing communities around it.”

The use of First Nations art in the Richmond Olympic Oval acknowledges the site’s historical and cultural significance and continuing importance to the Musqueam people and is part of the City of Richmond’s ongoing commitment to recognize those interests in the development of the site.