Olympic Stadium, Olympic Stadium in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district, Montreal, Canada.
The Olympic Stadium is a covered multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Canada. Its broad oval roof is divided into curved segments by radiating ribs, and a slender white tower rises from the north base, inclined at 45 degrees and tied to the roof by cables. Below the roof, dark horizontal windows and greenish glass sections line the facade.
Construction began in April 1973, but strikes and design delays left the stadium unfinished for the 1976 Summer Olympics. The tower and roof were completed in 1987, and the 66-tonne Kevlar roof first retracted a year later.
The tower's cables were meant to open and close a retractable Kevlar roof, but the roof was not completed until 1987, and it never retracted properly. The tower now has an observation deck reached by a funicular, offering views over the city and the Saint Lawrence River.
The nearest metro station is Pie-IX, just a short walk from the main entrance. Several bus lines stop nearby, and a large parking area is available for those arriving by car.
Around 12,000 precast concrete pieces were assembled on site, and each part had to fit within millimeter accuracy. The assembly resembled a giant three-dimensional puzzle that required precise planning and engineering.
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