Did you know?

Our roof is ten storeys high. You would have to stack five Tyrannosaurus Rex one on top of the other in order to reach the top! Talisman Centre’s area is 30,902 square metres, which would take a little over 85 million pennies (laid flat) to completely cover. We have 735 lockers! We have over 700 pieces of equipment! Combined, our sport partners boast 3,840 athletes! Talisman Centre is the most visited sport and wellness facility in Canada, and second-most visited in all of North America! We've helped train 27 Olympic, Paralympic and World medalists! Our famous track has been completed over two million times!

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Project Summary: 2010 Talisman Centre Roof Replacement

The Facility
Talisman Centre is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. On average, 4,000 to 5,000 Calgarians use the Talisman Centre every day, making it one of the most widely used multi-sport complexes in North America (about 1.5 million visits per year). Current daily facility users range from Olympic caliber athletes, to moms and tots, to students, to downtown workers, to seniors. A renewed Talisman Centre will be a key recreation facility for an estimated 40,000 new residents and 60,000 additional day commuters expected to be coming to the Centre City by 2035.

Ownership and Operations
The City of Calgary owns Talisman Centre and is contractually obligated to replace the roof. The Talisman Centre is independently managed and operated by the not-for-profit Lindsay Park Sports Society, just as it has been since its grand opening in 1983.

Talisman Centre generates about 92 per cent of its revenues through membership sales, rentals and other services. It also receives an annual operating grant from The City of Calgary. In 2007, that grant was $736,000. In 2006, it was $715,000. The City of Calgary’s annual grants are used to help cover a portion the facility’s annual $1.3M utility bill.

Talisman Energy Inc. neither owns nor operates Talisman Centre. Rather, Talisman Energy bought the naming rights to the facility in exchange for a $10-million sponsorship, a decision approved by City Council in 2002. Funds from this sponsorship augment the facility’s staff and operating costs with $500,000 each year for 20 years.

Need for a New Roof
The existing roof at Talisman Centre is 25 years old this year and is outliving its life expectancy well. The current roof is still structurally safe. However, an engineering team has recommended a roof replacement no later than 2010 to avoid expensive, unplanned shutdowns.

In 2007, eight re-roofing options were presented to Council’s Standing Policy Committee on Community & Protective Services in 2007. These options included new types of roofs, including metal and concrete, as well as building new structures over the existing roof. At that time, Council members on that committee directed The City of Calgary to conduct a more detailed study on the costs of replacing the Talisman Centre roof, and report back with results in 2008.

Since then, a multidisciplinary team of engineers studied the project from several angles – cost, quality, longevity and environmental, operational and customer impacts. This team of engineers, from the firm A.D. Williams, determined the best re-roofing option is a “Nanogel” insulated fabric roof that looks similar to the existing structure. The proposed roof will provide superior insulation and allow much more natural daylight into the building compared to the existing roof system.

Committee Report
The results of the engineering study was reported back to the Community and Protective Services committee on Wednesday, May 7, 2008.

The May 7 committee report recommended the Nanogel-insulated roof option. Funding was subsequently approved by Council, and the new roof will be installed in 2010. The lifespan for the new roof is estimated to be 30-plus years, until at least 2040.

The estimated cost of the recommended roof replacement option is $39.4M, including cost escalations leading up to 2010. In addition, the May 7 report recommended another $5.1M be invested in energy efficiency upgrades (solar wall, boiler re-piping, lighting replacements and more). These upgrades would help reduce both energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions over the 30-plus years.

Combining the recommended new roof system and energy upgrades, the total project’s estimated cost is $44.4M, including cost escalations leading up to 2010. Of this total, the City’s contribution will be $41.5M along with the Talisman Centre’s contribution of $2.9M to cost share the energy efficiency upgrades.

Recommended 2010 Shut Down
A 9-to-12-month shut down of the middle, tented portion of the Talisman Centre is being recommended in 2010. This construction process will require massive cranes and other heavy equipment on site. The closure will be a short-term inconvenience; however the result will be extending the life of this popular facility for another 30-plus years.

Talisman Centre is currently working on a business interruption strategy for 2010. For example, the two annex buildings will remain open to members and sport partners, use of the Stanley Park outdoor 25-metre pool will be considered, and other satellite facilities are being explored to house some programs and fitness equipment that members would have access to.

Member exchange agreements are also either in place or will be worked out with other recreational facilities in Calgary. These agreements will provide members with access to other local facilities.

Escalating Costs

The estimated cost of the new roof itself is higher than the $25M-to-$30M estimate presented in Spring 2007 to Council’s Community & Protective Services committee. The higher cost of this year’s estimate is due to:
• rising construction costs in Calgary that continue to increase by 1.5% to 2% every month;
• the need to replace Talisman Centre’s existing mechanical and electrical systems to eliminate cold-weather-related roof condensation that leads to partial facility shutdowns (most recently in January 2008);
• the opportunity to also address energy efficiency upgrades and timely life cycle needs while the facility is shut down during the roof replacement in 2010.

The Cost in Context
The Talisman Centre originally cost $28M to build in 1983. Today, it would cost about $222M in 2008 dollars to construct and equip a more traditional, box-shaped structure on the same site. The construction period for a new building would also require at least a two-year closure.

Together with upgraded mechanical, electrical, ventilation, lighting, and heating systems, engineers anticipate the new proposed roof will cut existing energy usage at the Talisman Centre by almost a third, lowering operating costs by 11 to 15 per cent, which at current prices, would most likely add up to millions over the roof’s 30-plus year life span.

Proposed Roof Materials
A new high-tech insulating material called Nanogel will provide superior insulation and translucency, significantly reducing artificial light hours and permanently restoring the bright, naturally-lit interior that made Talisman Centre one of Canada’s most unique facilities when it first opened in 1983.

Nanogel aerogel is a light weight, nanoporous, translucent insulating material that was first discovered by scientists in the 1930s. Its appearance is sometimes described as “liquid smoke.” More recently, Nanogel has been commercialized for intense insulation applications such as NASA’s Mars Rover, deep sea pipelines and roofing material.

The Talisman Centre’s proposed fabric roof will include layers of translucent Nanogel inside two layers of an extremely durable, translucent and weather-resistant fabric. The fabric roof includes a Teflon-like substance called PTFE. Working together, the Nanogel insulation and PTFE fabric will improve energy efficiency within Talisman Centre and provide significant energy and cost savings over the next 30-plus years.

Contacts:

The roof replacement project:
Call: 3-1-1
E-mail: 3-1-1contactus@calgary.ca

Talisman Centre customer/operations inquiries:
Call: 403-233-8393
E-mail: info@talismancentre.com

Media inquiries on the roof replacement to:
Dennis Urquhart, Communications
Community Services & Protective Services
The City of Calgary
ph: 403-268-2912

Media inquiries on Talisman Centre operations:
Robin Mitchell
President & Chief Operating Officer
Talisman Centre
ph: 403-233-8393

Frequently Asked Questions about the 2010 Roof Replacement

1. When is the roof replacement going to happen?
2. Is the current roof safe? Will it last until 2010?
3. What will happen to Talisman Centre members during the proposed 2010 shutdown?
4. Why do you want to shut down Talisman Centre for nine to 12 months in 2010?
5. What, exactly, has Council approved?
6. What is being done to communicate the shut down to Talisman Centre staff, members and sport partners?
7. What the heck is Nanogel?
8. Why don’t you just build a new Talisman Centre?
9. Why don’t you put on a more traditional roof, like metal, concrete or asphalt?
10. How will the proposed new roof clean Calgary’s air?
11. Why doesn’t Talisman Energy pay for the roof replacement?

1. When is the roof replacement going to happen? Talisman Centre is open, business as usual, until the actual construction on the building begins in 2010. The next phase of the process is to hire a construction manager to look at the logistics of how the actual construction project will roll out in 2010.

2. Is the current roof safe? Will it last until 2010? Yes. The existing roof is still structurally sound. It is 25 years old and outliving its life expectancy well. However, an engineering team has recommended the roof replacement no later than 2010 to ensure its future integrity and avoid expensive, unplanned shutdowns.

3. What will happen to Talisman Centre members during the proposed 2010 shutdown? Talisman Centre is currently working on a business interruption strategy for 2010. For example, the two annex buildings will remain open to members and sport partners, use of the Stanley Park outdoor 20-metre pool will be considered and other satellite facilities are being explored to house some programs and fitness equipment that members would have access to.

Member exchange agreements are also either in place or will be worked out with other recreational facilities in Calgary. These agreements will provide members with access to other local facilities.

Please note that The City of Calgary owns Talisman Centre, but does not operate it. For questions about Talisman Centre’s operations or what options will be available to current and future members in 2010, please contact the Talisman Centre at: 233-8393, e-mail: info@talismancentre.com or visit their customer service/information desk.

4. Why do you want to shut down Talisman Centre for nine to 12 months in 2010? The shut down is recommended for the tented portion of the building. The 25-year-old fabric roof is at the end of its lifecycle and needs to be replaced in 2010. This construction process will require massive cranes and other heavy equipment on site.

Our goal is to keep open the two annex buildings adjoining the tented portion of Talisman Centre. Use of the facilities in the two annex buildings will be determined by the Lindsay Park Sport Society Board of Governors and the Talisman Centre management team. The closure will be a short-term inconvenience; however the result will be extending the life of this popular facility for another 30-plus years.

5. What, exactly, has Council approved? Council’s Standing Policy Committee for Community and Protective Services has approved $41.5M capital appropriation for the roof replacement. The project was subsequently passed by full Council on May 12. The expectation is that City Administration will report back to Council no later than September 2009 on final tender costs and opportunities to achieve energy efficiency improvements.

The design option that has been approved is a sealed roof system with two layers of outer fabric covering an insulating layer of Nanogel. This solution will enhance insulation to a rating of R8-to-R12, allow more natural light, and maintain the iconic look of the current roof. Further analysis confirms that the third critical roof performance issue, severe condensation, results from ineffective airflow over the roof fabric during cold weather. An improved mechanical system to dehumidify the underside of the proposed Nanogel fabric is recommended to address this issue.

6. What is being done to communicate the shut down to Talisman Centre staff, members and sport partners? That process is already underway. Talisman Centre staff, members, sport partners, vendors and other stakeholders are receiving, and will continue to receive, timely updates as key decisions are made on this project.

7. What the heck is Nanogel? Nanogel aerogel is a light weight, nanoporous, translucent insulating material that was first discovered by scientists in the 1930s. Its appearance is sometimes described as “liquid smoke.” More recently, Nanogel was commercialized for intense insulation applications such as NASA’s Mars Rover, deep sea pipelines, and roofing material.

The Talisman Centre’s proposed fabric roof will include layers of translucent Nanogel inside two layers of an extremely durable, translucent and weather-resistant fabric. The fabric roof includes a Teflon-like substance called PTFE. Working together, the Nanogel insulation and PTFE fabric will improve energy efficiency within Talisman Centre and provide significant energy and cost savings over the next 30-plus years.

8. Why don’t you just build a new Talisman Centre? The 2007-08 engineering study included an estimate on the cost of a new building. To demolish the current facility, rebuild a more traditional box-style building on the existing site and re-equip it, the cost was estimated to be approximately $222M (in 2008 dollars). The construction period for this type of new building, or any significant change to the structure, would also be closer to a two-to-four year project, requiring a much longer facility shut down. This type of project would also require the construction of a parkade, as per building code requirements.

9. Why don’t you put on a more traditional roof, like metal, concrete or asphalt? These options would be much more expensive. They would require expensive structural changes and additional code requirements. These options would also require a much longer shut-down period of the facility.

10. How will the proposed new roof clean Calgary’s air? The fabric roof will feature a titanium dioxide coating. This coating will help keep the roof white and will clean off dirt. According to the manufacturer, this coating on a 15,000-square-metre roof will help clean Calgary’s air by neutralizing the exhaust of 39 cars. Titanium dioxide works by using its catalytic properties to remove nitrogen oxide from the air and then breaks it down into more environmentally benign substances.

11. Why doesn’t Talisman Energy pay for the roof replacement? Talisman Energy Inc. does not own Talisman Centre. Rather, Talisman Energy bought the naming rights to the facility in exchange for a $10-million sponsorship, a decision approved by City Council in 2002. Funds from this sponsorship augment the facility’s staff and operating costs with $500,000 each year for 20 years. The City of Calgary built the facility in 1983 and is contractually obligated to fix the roof. Though owned by the City of Calgary, the facility is managed and operated by the non-profit Lindsay Park Sport Society.

If you have any questions about the 2010 roof project, please contact:

Robin Mitchell

President & Chief Operating Officer
Phone: 403.355.1231
Email: rmitchell@talismancentre.com

Any specific or technical questions related to the facility upgrade project, can be directed to the City of Calgary by calling 3-1-1.