The document summarizes an Ontario Celebration Zone Pavilion designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects for the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. The temporary pavilion was constructed in one week without substantial foundations using a catenary shape to resist gravity loads and a pneumatic form to resist wind loads. It accommodated 1500 people and included a zip line, eating areas, and two performance stages. The lightweight structure used tensile membrane fabric and compressed air, and was supported by 60 ground screws. It successfully stood for 38 days during the Games.

1. Ontario’s Celebration Zone Pavilion
By-
Anjan Mahakud
Abinash Rout
Sonali Patra
Shrabani Nayak

3. Location;-
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay
W, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8,Canada
Hariri Pontarini Architects (Architects)
Doron Meinhard, Mani Tabrizi
Area
1200.0 m2
Thornton Thomasetti (Design Structural
Engineers)
Hauke Jungjohann, Walter Woodington,
Viktoria Henriksson
Blackwell Structural Engineers
(Local Structural Engineers)
Anthony Spick, Gabriela Nuta

4. SITE PLAN

5. INTRODUCTION
 Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA) was chosen to design a
temporary pavilion as a part of the Pan American Game in
Toronto.
 The entire structure was constructed in one week and not to
have a substantial foundation.
 Program was to consist of zip-line route, eating and drinking
areas and two performance stage.
 The structure is 15m high and 60m long.
 For gravity load catenary shape is used and for wind load
pneumatic form was built.
 It can accommodate 1500 people at a time including
provisions for cultural exhibitions, large scale digital media,
headline concerts, and food services.
 Ontario was the host city for the 2015 Games which ran from
10th July – 16th August

6. FORM FINDING
The objective of the form finding balance the following;-
 Architectural expression
 Program requirements
 Wind and gravity load resistance
 FORM FOUND SHAPE (Red)
 FORM FOUND SHAPE (Orange)
 INITIAL ARCHITECTURE SHAPE (Grey)
 FINAL SHAPE (Orange and Red)
HPA Provide the three dimensional model of the form and footprint, which
are approximated by using the following parameters in a structure model –
 Boundary restraints represent the foundation.
 Inverse hanging load used to create catenary
vaults representing resistance to gravity load.
 Inflation pressure representing resistance to
wind load.
 Surface stiffness controlling the over all height.
Form founding study;-

7. NORTH PAVILION
SOUTH PAVILION
FLOOR PLAN

8. NORTH PAVILION
SOUTH PAVILION
ELEVATION

9. DETAILS
MATERIALS:-
Two types of materials are used in this structure-
• Tensile membrane fabric
• Compressed air
Two types of fire retardants textiles are used in their
construction:-
• A white, opaque textile was used for the arches whilst a
translucent textile was used for the pillows in order to
provide the opportunity for creating interesting effects
with internal lighting.

10.  The major types of load in this structure is the Gravity load and the wind load.
How ever the impact of gravity load in this structure is very low due to the light
weight nature of the structure.
 There for the wind load were overwhelming the dominant force required to be
resisted by the shape, construction and foundation of the pavilion.
 With no deflection due to the construction of the detailing, all limits were based
on user comfort at low wind speed and damage mitigation at large wind speeds.
 For very high wind speeds a wind action plan, based on wind speed and
expected deflections, was created for trying down and eventually dismantling
the structure.
 A wind tunnel study was not practical but therefore the wind load review
conducted by the structural engineer. (Canadian code-ASCE, and EuroCode.)
Pneumatic arches;-
 The large arch in the structure was molded pneumatically using EASY, with
code wind loading for both vaults and domes, taking a tributary width of the
largest distance between tube centers. This tube geometry diameters and
air pressure in order to find a combination which would have suitable
deflection and membrane stresses. Some analysis step are showing in figure.
 Deflection results from the pneumatic model were analyzed in order to
create benchmarks to be matched by a FE-beam model with equivalent
stiffness. The models were not compared for stress. Only the pneumatic
model was expected to give reliable stress results. Examples are shown in
the figure.

11. Global Beam Models;-
 The benchmarked beam elements were combined to create a global model of the large pavilion structure, the fire
elements were included.
 The global model enabled the analysis of varies tube diameters to determine their effect on deflections. Tube diameters
vary between 1.2meter and 1.6 meters, with the smaller tube used in most areas and the larger tubes and in some key
zones, such as the largest opening and the longitudinal end of the structure.
FOUNDATION;-
 Krinner ground screw were selected over a concrete block footing
because of the concealed appearance, light weight and ease of
installation and deconstruction.
 60 ground screw are specified.

12. Multiple compressor were used to maintain a constant internal air pressure
The structure stood for 38 days, the during of the Pan American and Para Pan American Games.
During the day the structure appeared bright white, but at the night it was illuminated with various colures using external and internal lighting.

13. FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION
 The system is comprised of six independent units, each
containing four 0.75kW side-channel blowers under the
control of two digital process controllers. Each unit is housed
in a wheeled flight case to simplify transportation and
handling.
 The controllers are programmed with upper and lower set-
points and switch the blowers on and off as required to
maintain pressure within these limits. Being of a virtually air
tight construction, the pavilions consume very little air (and
power) once inflated.
 During changeable weather conditions, the air pressure can
exceed the upper limit owing to solar gain. In this eventuality,
the controllers open electric relief valves to allow air to
escape until normal operational air pressure is restored.

15. THANK YOU