Poor bracing of steel frames was the cause of the collapse of the field house, which is under construction near Aldersyde.

The first sections of steel framing at the Foothills-Okotoks field house collapsed on Dec. 21.

A forensic engineering report determined the collapse of the partially installed structure was due to inadequate and underestimated temporary bracing, according to a joint MD of Foothills and Town of Okotoks press release on Jan. 16.

The frames collapsed after being hit by hard winds the morning of Dec. 21. No one was injured.

Bruce Gilbert, vice-president and general manager of Scott Builders Inc., the contractor building the structure, said he has never seen such a collapse in his 40 years in the business.

He said while wind may have been a contributing factor, the inadequate bracing of the frames was the main reason for the accident.

The field house project includes three playing fields, which can be used for indoor soccer and lacrosse, a court area for basketball and volleyball, a training area with locker and team rooms, a running track and administrative and other offices.

The structure was fully insured by Scott Builders and there will be no extra cost to the either the MD or the Town.

Salvage of the collapsed structure has started and new steel has been ordered.

However, the collapse has pushed back the opening of the field house by more than two months. The field house was expected to be complete in the fall of 2013, but will not likely be open until the end of 2013.

Scott Rutherford, president of Scott Builders Inc, said in a press release the contractor will have extra workers — at its cost — working additional shifts to get the project back up to speed.

Work on the structure began in the fall of 2012.

Gilbert said Scott Builders will not face any fines for the collapse or for the delay in the completion of the fieldhouse, he said.

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