Blog posts tagged with '#curvedsteelcanopy'

Robson Square Ice Rink: An Olympic Legacy Brought to Life by Precision Bending

If you’ve ever laced up your skates at Robson Square’s iconic ice rink in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, you’ve experienced more than just a winter pastime - you’ve stepped into a piece of Olympic history. Nestled beneath its instantly recognizable curved steel domes, the rink is a structural landmark that blends architectural artistry with community spirit.

It’s hard to believe this urban skating hub has had such a storied past. Originally opening in the early 1980s, Robson Square’s rink later closed in the 1990s before being revived, reimagined, and expanded in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Today, it stands as one of Vancouver’s coolest (literally) and most beloved winter gathering places.

Behind the Curves: Albina’s Contribution

Those striking cruved steel overhead domes didn’t come to life by accident. Albina had the pleasure of bending and rolling the steel that brought this structure its smooth, sweeping geometry.

For this project, Albina processed the following materials:

12¾" OD x .500" wall polished stainless steel

8 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" and 18' 9 3/8" radii

4 pieces rolled to 37' 11 11/16" radius

14" OD x .500" A53B ERW

1 piece

The result? Strong, graceful curves that define the atmosphere of the rink and continue to withstand the test of time, weather, and thousands of visitors every winter.

A Structure That Skates Through History

Robson Square’s rink isn’t just a place to chill with friends or enjoy a twirl on the ice - it’s a testament to community revitalization, Olympic legacy, and the engineering precision that made its signature silhouette possible. Albina is proud to have played a part in shaping one of Vancouver’s most cherished winter attractions.

Oregon State University Student Experience Center Canopy in Corvallis, Oregon! A welcoming, functional, and inspiring outdoor space where students can gather, collaborate, and celebrate campus life.

For this impressive canopy structure, Albina bent 8 pieces of TS 20” x 12” x .500” Wall A500 Grade B and 69 pieces of TS 6” x 3” x .313” Wall A500 Grade B, totaling 125,000 lbs!

The OSU Student Experience Center serves as a vibrant hub for the university community housing student organizations, leadership programs, and event spaces that bring energy and creativity to campus life. The canopy itself provides both shelter and style, blending modern design with functional outdoor space to enhance the daily experience of students and visitors! 

We are excited to have been a part of the Nugget Event Center, Sparks Forecourt Shade Structure project! The city of Sparks, Nevada held a ceremony in June 2024 to celebrate the completion of the forecourt project. The 11 custom curved steel shade structures provide shade for visitors and residents, and were installed with advanced LED lighting for the evening time. This project is located on Victorian Avenue, an incredibly popular street in Sparks, where many special events are held.

For this project, Albina bent
33 pieces of 6" SCH40 A500 GR B to multiple radii and configurations,
and 47 pieces of 6" XXH A53B to multiple radii and configurations.