Robson Square Rink, temporarily re-named the GE Plaza, re-opened on November 23 in time for the 2010 Olympics, which will take place in Vancouver. GE, an Olympics sponsor, contributed $700,000 toward the rink’s renovation process. The name will remain until the end of the Paralympic Games in March.

The team of Garibaldi Glass Industries, Lami Glass, and Superior Glass supplied, fabricated and installed the glass on the dual roof project. The roof glass was a mixture of spandrel and vision tempered panels consisting of 6-mm Pilkington Activ and 6-mm Advantage low-E with a fade-out dot ceramic frit applied where specified. Each pair of panels was unique and assigned to a specific position within the dome. Lami Glass laminated the panels and Superior Glass was the on-site contract glazer.

“A project like the Robson Rink roof is just another example of Garibaldi Glass’s fabrication capabilities when innovative solutions are required,” says Paul Tendeck, sales manager at Garibaldi Glass.

John Furlong, the chief executive of the Vancouver Organizing Committee, hailed the reopening of the arena.

“I think it is perfectly located to take advantage of the energy of the city, and of course, it is here for the long term,” he says.

The refurbishment is part of a much larger $40.9-million rebuild of Robson Square, which includes repair of numerous underground membranes, water features and landscaping. Of that, $11 million was spent on repair of the so-called Lower Robson Square, where the arena is located.