Tuesday, October 7, 2025
EllisDon announced that the final beam has been lifted into place atop the Freedom Mobile Arch, completing the canopy of what is now one of the world’s largest free-span mass timber structures. Constructed at a scale never before attempted, the canopy required meticulous planning and exceptional engineering. From its earliest stages, it stood apart as a uniquely ambitious undertaking that now reshapes Vancouver’s cultural landscape.
At the heart of this project is mass timber innovation. The Freedom Mobile Arch (formerly PNE Amphitheatre) uses glue-laminated timber (glulam) beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels to form a canopy that spans more than 360 feet. 180 glulam beams are arranged in six barrel-vaulted segments, creating a starburst-shaped roof that’s both visually striking and structurally efficient. This configuration distributes weight evenly across three concrete anchor points, allowing the structure to stand freely once temporary supports are removed.
“Laying the final beam of this canopy is a testament to the teamwork it takes to bring this vision to life. It was uncharted territory from the beginning, but that’s never stopped EllisDon before,” said Brendon Vining, Senior Project Manager, EllisDon. “From ED Forming, to all of EllisDon’s Construction Sciences, this is a milestone that speaks to hundreds of people across trades and departments working together to bring the vision to life.”
Bringing this structure to life demanded relentless coordination, problem-solving, and innovation. From the outset, EllisDon faced the challenge of executing a canopy design that had never been attempted at this scale. The geometry—intersecting barrel vaults with no internal columns—posed significant engineering hurdles.
Nothing about this build was standard. From sequencing the concrete buttresses to the precision required for timber installation, every step pushed our teams to think differently. Working closely with EllisDon Forming and Walters Steel, we pre-assembled and spliced the King Arches on a custom truss rack, each weighing over 16,000 kilograms – the weight of 29 large concert grand pianos.
The Freedom Mobile Arch is more than an architectural achievement; it is a cultural landmark poised to transform the city’s entertainment landscape. Designed to host up to 10,000 guests, the venue will accommodate a wide range of programming including concerts, esports, and community events once complete. With fixed seating, VIP boxes and suites, and expansive lawn areas, the amphitheatre offers a flexible, open-air experience that blends iconic design with public accessibility. Its arrival marks a new chapter for Vancouver’s cultural scene, inviting connection, celebration, and world-class performance.
This final beam marks the last piece of one of the most complex timber structures ever built in Canada. For EllisDon, it marked the culmination of months of precision planning, cross-trade coordination, and problem-solving at a scale few projects demand. From the canopy’s geometry to the sequencing of lifts, every step required ingenuity, adaptability, and deep expertise.
Featured image: (EllisDon)
