TD Place Stadium from concept to reality

Hundreds of workers will spend the final hours primping and polishing the stadium in time for the Ottawa REDBLACKS home opener on Friday, July 18, 2014.

There are just a few hours to go until the Redblacks are on the field at TD Place stadium, playing their very first game on home soil.

As the new stadium prepares to welcome thousands of fans, the team that designed TD Place is reflecting on bringing the project from a concept to a reality.

“The best part is to really see it develop,” said Robert Fatovic, an architect with CanonDesign, the firm that designed the stadium. “It’s been five years since I’ve been involved; it was a cold day in December when we were selected for the project.”

Fatovic, who is based in Washington, D.C., took a walk around the TD Place field Thursday evening, as finishing touches were happening ahead of Friday evening's historic Redblacks home opener.

“I’m full of pride with seeing it,” he said. “It’s my little baby coming to fruition…I can’t wait until tomorrow night to see people in the stands really having a good time.”

Fatovic says the red and grey seats were designed to make the stadium more visually interesting.

“Instead of a solid red or solid black (seats), this really creates some excitement when the stadium is not being used,” he said.

The team also wanted the Aberdeen Pavilion to be visible from the stadium, and give it a natural, park-like feel.

The wooden veil over the south stands is made of Alaskan yellow cedar.

“The wooden veil acts as tree limbs coming out of the grass berm, to help create a cover for the stadium,” Fatovic said.

Fatovic can’t wait to see the 24,000-seat stadium full of excited fans at Friday’s home opener.

The game against the Toronto Argonauts is a sell-out.