Edmonton hockey fans have been patiently waiting for a new complex to house their beloved Oilers, who have been playing out of the aging Rexall Place — the NHL's second oldest arena — since 1974. Fortunately, Edmonton won't have to wait much longer, as their new hockey throne Rogers Place is expected to be puck-ready for the 2016-2017 season.

Rogers Place, image via Katz Group Properties

Led by the City of Edmonton and Katz Group Properties, owners of the Edmonton Oilers, the arena will accommodate 18,641 hockey fans. The $450 million CAD project is hoping to obtain LEED Silver certification, and if achieved, this would be the first NHL facility in Canada to earn the distinction.

Rogers Place construction, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Erected on a 16-acre site downtown, the building boasts integration with a neighbouring casino, a 1,000-seat community rink, and the newly opened MacEwan LRT Station, making transit an easy and convenient option. An expansive pedestrian connection, the Winter Garden, juts out from the building like an oil drop, stretching over 104th Avenue into a future public plaza. Both the plaza and Rogers Arena are essential elements of the massive Ice District site, a mixed-use entertainment complex poised to contain a hotel, an office building, and Edmonton's future tallest tower.

Rogers Place Winter Garden, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Designed by 360 Architecture (acquired by HOK in 2015), Dialog Architects, Manica Architecture, and ATB Architecture, the arena's curved form has continued to impress passersby. Rectangular stainless steel panels are beginning to be installed alongside the building's existing curvilinear glass.

Rogers Place construction, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Forum contributor Daveography captured the start of this process with new images from the site depicting these sheets, which are most likely wrapped in a protective blue coating to avoid any damage associated with the ongoing construction of the building. Renderings for the project indicate a more traditional stainless steel grey look, with some blue accents at ground level. Though construction has already been a sight to behold, the cladding's sleek and contemporary aesthetic will surely invite new architecture enthusiasts and photographers to the site.

Rogers Place cladding installation, image by Forum contributor Daveography

Rogers Place and the Ice District are a highly visible symbol of Edmonton's urban renaissance. Although slumping oil prices have prompted worries about the provincial economy, the city's development scene continues to be one of the hottest in the country, as new residential units, hotel rooms, and modern office space are added to the Albertan capital.

Rogers Place, image via Katz Group Properties

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