Western Canada’s newest and largest convention center isn’t just big; it’s a striking blend of design, technology and ambition. 

“It's a once-in-a-career building that will be admired by people from around the world,” says Chad Gray, a project manager for PCL Construction.  The company served as construction manager for the massive expansion to Calgary’s BMO Centre, which opened in the summer of 2024.

“There’s an immense sense of pride, just walking through here,” beams Glenn Chase, a PCL building systems manager. “You get such a feeling of euphoria when you look at the finished product and see what you’ve accomplished over nearly four years.”

Located on the grounds of the world-famous Calgary Stampede, just southeast of downtown, the expansion more than doubled the size of the facility to more than a million square feet. Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) acted as the development manager on the project, in partnership with owner Calgary Exhibition & Stampede.

Designed by Stantec, Populous and S2 to mirror the rolling prairie landscape and mountain views Calgary offers, it's now considered a Tier 1 convention facility, meaning it meets the highest international standards for hosting large-scale conventions, conferences and events.

“I think the part that always struck me was the owner’s commitment to the highest level of quality,” says Gray. “This was never going to be just a square box. This space was designed and built to be a landmark.”

From the start, it was clear that the iconic design would not translate to a simple build — but PCL’s teams were up to the challenge.

“There were many unique spaces and almost no components that were easy to build,” laughs Michael Roy, a project manager for PCL. “I think it was really clear to the team early on that this could not be done without a heavy technology lift.”

In recent decades, several technologies have changed the way major construction projects are planned and built. Not every tool is used for every project, but when properly targeted, some key advancements can greatly enhance the process. In the case of the BMO Centre, several innovations helped to achieve the vision of the owners and designers, including 360-degree camera technology, laser scanning and the latest building information modelling (BIM) advancements.

1) Reality Capture

Photogrammetry — essentially, the science of obtaining information about the sizes and shapes of objects and spaces through pictures — has existed since the late 1800s. But only through modern computing and technology in recent decades has it become advanced enough to use reliably for detailed construction. And today, thanks to advanced drones and 360-degree cameras, it’s an incredibly powerful tool for mapping out a physical space.

“Every time you capture the site through a series of photographs, reality-capture platforms put those pictures together using photogrammetry and creates a simplified model of that project at a specific point in time,” says Giancarlo Da Silva, an integrated construction technology manager with PCL.

Throughout construction of the BMO Centre, PCL used reality capture extensively to document the various stages of construction. Drones flew outside, capturing detailed images of the building’s envelope, while workers walked the interior with 360-degree cameras, creating a walkable model with photos from hundreds of angles — much like Google Maps Street View.

The main benefit: having a virtual version of each stage of the project at the click of a mouse greatly enhances the depth of communication between the builder, the owner, designers, engineers and other partners. By providing real-time access to updated project images, all stakeholders can stay informed remotely, reducing the need for site visits and improving coordination across project phases.

“There was a comprehensive photo documentation scope,” says Da Silva. “We took photos throughout construction, which I think helped us to understand and communicate where the project was to the client. It was essentially an open book.”

PCL has recently consolidated all its drone and 360-degree ground capture under the banner of DroneDeploy.  By bringing all imagery under one advanced platform, PCL is now able to seamlessly stitch together all captures and easily share them as a single package, or a series of photos catered to a specific need. It has also allowed PCL to share images more easily across the company, so project teams can give and receive accurate advice by viewing the same detailed imagery of specific projects as colleagues and subject matter experts across Canada, the United States and Australia.

“Having all that information in the palm of their hands, no matter where they're at, just elevates the game for everybody,” says Andy Degroff, senior manager of integrated construction services. “And it’s evolving quickly. It’s now at the level where we can take these images, put VR goggles on somebody’s head, and they can virtually walk through this mesh with this platform.”

Since switching to DroneDeploy, PCL has taken more than nine million aerial images and 36 million 360-degree images on around 2000 projects.

Degroff says the latest reality capture technology doesn’t just enhance collaboration between stakeholders; it also reduces overall project risk, in terms of delays and surprise costs. Simply put: there are fewer unknowns when everyone can see the same thing.

“The more data that we can capture like this, the more we can eliminate those risks,” he says. “As a company, I think PCL is at the forefront of construction technology in terms of adoption, utilization and integration.”

2) Laser Scanning

While reality capture relies on photographic imagery to document a site, laser scanning takes a different approach, using precise measurements to digitally reconstruct the physical world with remarkable accuracy.

A laser scanner analyzes objects and spaces in detail to collect data that can be used to create accurate 3D models.

The expanded BMO Centre’s envelope featured complex geometry with curves, facets, tilts and twisted aluminum and glazing surfaces. The most challenging element was the canopy, which extends from the roofline into the central plaza. Its soffit, fascia, double-funnel pavilion and standing seam assemblies included more than 5,000 unique panels, molded to an extremely high degree of accuracy.

“Because of the volume and complexity of the panels, they were fabricated before the steel structure was erected,” recalls Roy. “Then, construction of the structure relied on model data and field laser scanning to ensure precise alignment. This approach preserved design intent and quality, while meeting schedule demands through advanced construction technologies and strong team collaboration.” 

For decades, a well-known mural, known as the Neon Cowboy, welcomed visitors to The Corral — the building that used to be where the BMO Centre expansion now stands. Before it was removed, PCL teams conducted a detailed laser scan of the 3D concrete relief mural and its neon lights, using the data to produce a new Neon Cowboy for display on the main floor of the expanded convention center.

“That’s a really unique example of how we used our technology to protect the history of the building,” says Gray.

3) Building Information Modelling

Over the last couple of decades, the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become an industry standard for major construction projects — but the power and scope of the technology continues to evolve.

BIM refers to any system of digitally storing and sharing detailed information about a building project, including 3D imaging. Modern advances have helped to avoid conflicts such as clashes in routing for mechanical, plumbing and electrical components.

“That allows you to really build the project twice,” says Alex Najm, a PCL quality manager. “First, it’s virtual, so you can make sure it all works, then you actually build it.”

In a project of this size, multiple stakeholders used some form of BIM, from designers to trades, such as mechanical and steel contractors. The various digital platforms used by the many partners didn’t always work well together, so for the general contractor, stitching them all together and forming one model out of many was a significant challenge.

“There’s so much data being captured out of the various models, you need some powerful equipment to keep those programs up and running, to avoid computer crashes,” says Chase. “With the right people on our team, we managed to mesh all of these models together and share that data during weekly clash detection meetings with our trades.”

That modelling revealed nearly 300 moderate-to-complex clashes, in addition to the thousands of minor conflicts identified by the individual BIM programs. Each clash, if not identified before construction, had the potential to cost time and money.

“It’s that type of elemental coordination that really lays out your path to success,” says Chase.

“There are a lot of companies that use BIM,” says Giancarlo. “I’m not convinced there are a lot of companies that implement and use BIM well, and I think that is something that PCL does well.”  

In some projects, the use of certain technologies is a contractual obligation. In this case, PCL was hired to bring the design to life. Exactly how, was up to the team of builders.

“None of this was a client requirement,” says Audree Spackman, an integrated construction technology specialist. “PCL decided to go out of our way to use these technologies, because we know how to use them well, and we knew they could provide an immense benefit, allowing us to build this project well and to build it safely.”

Construction tech is often lauded for its ability to improve efficiency. In this case, PCL’s team members say the primary benefit is what they see every time they look at what they have built.

“Yes, we save time and we save money, but every general contractor is using tech to save time and money,” says Gray. “The real win here was giving the client the exact end product that they wanted, and not compromising, ever.” 

“Advanced construction technology enables the design and construction teams to bring bold, complex designs to life with precision and certainty,” says Kerri Souriol, vice president of park development and major projects for the Calgary Stampede. “For the BMO Centre Expansion, PCL partnered with the entire project team to leverage these tools to achieve our critical success factors: delivering on time and on budget.”

While technology played a vital role, the success of the BMO Centre expansion ultimately came down to the skill, vision and dedication of the team behind it.

“You can have access to all the best technology in the world,” says Degroff. “But no matter what, our best tool will always be having the right people.”