Spread across 1.3 million sf in Austin, Texas the new East Austin District will provide the fast-growing city with its first pro-sports stadium and large-scale music arena.
The 40,000-seat outdoor bowl is designed for large-scale soccer and rugby matches, music festivals, and other major events. The 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena is connected to the stadium and will serve as the home for Rodeo Austin, musical acts, basketball, and hockey.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
The stadium and arena are joined by 190,000-sf of premium facilities and support functions. The separate buildings are unified by all-wooden interiors. Eight courtyards act as outdoor living rooms that connect the entire district. Visitors can gather in the public parks and plazas for communal gatherings, food truck scenes, recreation, and concerts. At the edge of the district are buildings for retail, shopping, dining, and hospitality. Youth education and enrichment are promoted via 28,000-sf of youth facilities.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
“Like a collective campus rather than a monolithic stadium, the East Austin District unifies all the elements of rodeo and soccer into a village of courtyards and canopies,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner, BIG, in a release. “Embracing Austin’s local character and culture, the East Austin District is a single destination composed of many smaller structures under one roof.”
The entire district is laid out in a checkerboard that appears as a latticed roofscape from above. The roof offers protection from the elements as well as a home for red photovoltaic panels that allow the entire district to be self-sufficient. The plan is for East Austin District to one day share its energy resources community-wide to power East Austin’s electricity and economy.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
Rendering courtesy of BIG.
Related Stories
| Jan 15, 2015
Libeskind unveils 'zig zag' plan for recreational center near Vilnius ski area
Perched on the highest peak between Vilnius' historic quarter and downtown, the Vilnius Beacon will be a hub for visiting skiers and outdoor enthusiasts.
| Jan 7, 2015
4 audacious projects that could transform Houston
Converting the Astrodome to an urban farm and public park is one of the proposals on the table in Houston, according to news site Houston CultureMap.
| Jan 5, 2015
Another billionaire sports club owner plans to build a football stadium in Los Angeles
Kroenke Group is the latest in a series of high-profile investors that want to bring back pro football to the City of Lights.
| Jan 5, 2015
Beyond training: How locker rooms are becoming more like living rooms
Despite having common elements—lockers for personal gear and high-quality sound systems—the real challenge when designing locker rooms is creating a space that reflects the attitude of the team, writes SRG Partnership's Aaron Pleskac.
| Jan 2, 2015
Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014
Construction consultant FMI foresees—with some caveats—continuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.
| Dec 30, 2014
A simplified arena concept for NBA’s Warriors creates interest
The Golden State Warriors, currently the team with the best record in the National Basketball Association, looks like it could finally get a new arena.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA course: Enhancing interior comfort while improving overall building efficacy
Providing more comfortable conditions to building occupants has become a top priority in today’s interior designs. This course is worth 1.0 AIA LU/HSW.
| Dec 18, 2014
Top 10 sports facilities of 2014: Designboom ranks the year's best projects
The list includes some of the year's epic stadiums, such as World Cup Stadium Arena de Amazonia in Manaus, Brazil, and smaller projects, like the Spordtgebouw Sports Centerin the Netherlands.
| Nov 19, 2014
Must see: Arup, Damian Rogers propose urban surf park in Melbourne
The surfing pool would offer 98-foot-wide waves that would run the length of the 500-foot-long enclave.
| Nov 18, 2014
New tool helps developers, contractors identify geographic risk for construction
The new interactive tool from Aon Risk Solutions provides real-time updates pertaining to the risk climate of municipalities across the U.S.
