Aerial views of the MTS Centre construction site show that steel decking now almost fully covers the 93,000 square feet of roof area over the building. The last of the major steel trusses was bolted into place just over a week ago clearing the way for the rapid installation of the decking which will be complete in mid-April.

At ground level, the cylindrical rotunda facing the corner of Portage Avenue and Donald Street has been erected allowing pedestrians and drivers passing by on Portage Avenue to fully appreciate the framework for the architectural vision of the wave of glass that will soon define the signature façade of the new entertainment centre.

Work is proceeding on the insulation and paneling of the exterior walls along Graham, Hargrave and Donald in preparation for the arrival of the more than 38,000 square feet of glass that will one day allow patrons at events to look out across the city while people on the street are able to see and sense the action and excitement taking place inside.

The structural steel for the two skywalk connecting bridges over Hargrave and the bridge over Donald is also being installed. A total of four skywalk bridge links to MTS Centre will make it possible to start at the Bay to the west and travel all the way to the Shops of Winnipeg Square, the Richardson Building and the Fairmont Hotel to the east without ever going outside.

There are about two hundred construction workers on site at MTS Centre during the current phase of activity. This will rise to as many as 400 workers every day when the building envelope is complete and the drive to finish the 440,000 square feet of interior space begins to ramp up.

This final phase of construction (late April through November) will see the arrival of more than 15,000 seats, the installation of a new centre-hung score clock with four video boards and other electronic gear. The fit-out of the rest of the interior includes completing the concourses and lobbies, finishing and furnishing all 50 of the private suites, installing the commissaries and kitchens and the ice plant and adding a myriad of other finishing touches in order to deliver a truly state-of-the-art facility by mid November this year.

For more information contact:
Jim Millican
Senior Vice President Marketing and Communications
True North Sports and Entertainment Limited
(204) 989 - 6813

[MTS Centre Construction Updates Archive]