Winter Games Legacy for Cannon Design

Publish Date: January 2005

For those companies interested in securing Olympic-related business, advance planning, sticking to a schedule and being ready to respond to an opportunity are key. In fact, it is similar to the training an elite athlete does prior to a big event. “First you create a training program, then you train, and then you compete. Don't assume that because you're here, you're ready,” says Cannon Design Vice-President David Roach. “The best prepared and best trained athlete who competes every day at a level that equals their personal best will win — and it's the same for business.” And Cannon Design's training program has paid off.

The company recently won a contract from the City of Richmond to design the long track speed skating facility for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Cannon Design will lead a team of architectural and engineering specialists in designing the Richmond Olympic Oval, which will become a landmark multi-purpose sports, recreation and community facility on Richmond's waterfront, along with the new City Centre Waterfront Park and public plaza surrounding the building.

The project cost is $155 million. The firm's selection adds to Cannon Design's already impressive Olympic résumé. Bob Johnston, Cannon Design principal and lead project architect, is considered Canada's Olympic Oval expert. His experience includes work on the long track speed skating venues for both the 1988 Calgary and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.

The 2010 win was also the result of early planning and a focused six-year strategic business plan that began in 1998. “Once you've obtained Games experience, it creates a profile for your company and the opportunity to leverage that expertise in markets where you have a specialty,” says Roach. “And while the Olympics are the pinnacle event, there are other world-level events as well, since a sport's technical requirements are the same.” During the period between the Calgary and Salt Lake City Games, for instance, Cannon Design was involved in the Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games and World Championships. Roach stresses the importance of relationships when a company is forming its Olympic business strategy. Getting to know the people involved throughout the organization is essential, as decisions are made at many levels. Take the time to fully understand the requirements of both client and project. Once you understand where your product or service fits into the organizing committee's mandate and where the “buy” decision is made, you are then in a better position to present the value your company brings to the Games. For other businesses looking for Winter Games Opportunities, Cannon Design's experience shows that advance planning and strategic thinking are required to achieve Olympic success. In turn, this creates a legacy that can be capitalized on post-Games.

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