Science World's geodesic dome transforms into World Cup soccer ball
Over 20 working days, technicians wrapped the iconic landmark in 130 hexagon panels to create a 40-metre Trionda match ball visible across the city.
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Four rope access technicians spent three weeks transforming Vancouver's most recognizable landmark into a giant replica of the official 2026 FIFA World Cup match ball. The installation wrapped Science World's geodesic dome in 130 hexagon-shaped banner panels between May 6 and June 3, creating a 40-metre-diameter public art piece now aptly named "The Beautiful Dome."
For Patrick Lynch, a technician with Port Coquitlam-based Hybrid Access, returning to Science World was a rare professional highlight. Lynch's company had replaced the dome's exterior LED lighting system in 2023—work he called one of the highlights of his career. The Trionda installation has earned a place alongside it.
"We're always happy to go back to Science World," Lynch told Daily Hive. "Everyone in rope access wants to hang off Science World. It's a major icon of the city. It's a fun, interesting work site for us."
The completed installation now serves as a gateway to the "Last Mile," the vehicle-free pedestrian route used by roughly 80 percent of World Cup ticket holders on their walk to BC Place Stadium. The reflective ball has drawn international attention as one of the defining visual symbols of Vancouver's role as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.